Christmas Eve

M2B =) day 678.  Saturday, December 24th.

Saturday, December 24th happiness:  Happy Christmas Eve!

We started off the morning with a Christmas Eve breakfast.  Usually this is a Christmas day thing, but because Christmas is on Sunday, and we all have church, it just wasn't going to work out this time.

I don't know why, maybe because I was having too much fun enjoying my family, but I only took like 3 or 4 pictures this morning.  I did get the important one:

my dad cooking the delicious steak and gravy.  Thanks dad!  In addition to breakfast, we all took a turn skyping with Jared's family.  It was pretty cool.

Brian had to run off to work =(    but Joe and I kept up our tradition of making gingerbread cookies for Santa....

...and then watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Tonight, we made the trek to see Brian's family.
Good times!
Here is what happens when you let Brian take over the camera.  You get lovely shots like this...
....and this one:
There were many more like that too.  He called them his "art" shots.  Don't worry, he took some good ones too.  

I tried to get a photo of everyone, but it looks like I missed grandma and Joe in this one.
Guess what the theme of the evening was:
Yup, that would be "Red Solo Cup".  Guess how many times I heard them sing that song tonight?   Guess how many times I never want to hear it again?  =)      It's ok.  They had a fun time singing it together.

Joe and D worked on a puzzle that uncle Mark sent.
It was getting late, so we had to travel home so Joe could open his Christmas Eve jammies.
Not a bad way to spend the day.

Happy Day!

shopping, Organ Stop and lights

M2B =) days 673 - 677.  Monday, December 19th - Friday, December 23rd happiness:

Monday, December 19th happiness:  No School today!  Woo hoo.  I finally got to do a little Christmas shopping.  I have never been this behind on the shopping - ever.

Tonight Joe and I watched a Christmas movie.  It is one of our favorites.  We have been waiting all season for it to come on.  "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa."  We love it!

Today was a good day.

Tuesday, December 20th happiness:  I have no photos today because I was too busy shopping.  And guess what?  I got it ALL done.  Woo hoo!  I  hate shopping, but I made a plan, I set out and I didn't come home until it was finished.  I won't lie.  It feels good to get it out of the way.

Wednesday, December 21st:  Today was Joe's last day of school.  Woo hoo!  Tonight Brian and Joe took me to see Sherlock Holmes, since I got sick last weekend and didn't get to see it with them.  I LOVED IT!  Love love loved it.

Thursday, December 22nd happiness:  While I was out grocery shopping this morning, Joe cleaned my house.  Best. Christmas. Present. Ever!  I have it good.

Also, I have been wanting to have the kiddo's over for a while, but I have just been too busy.  Today I was not.  I had Rowan, Addy, Josh, Max and Evan over to watch a movie and eat popcorn and m&m's and just play.  It was fun.

Tonight, we celebrated Michael's birthday at Organ Stop.  I look forward to this all month long.  I love Organ Stop. 

Afterwards we stopped for gas on the way home and saw this:
Remind me never to eat at Rio Rico Mexican grill.

Friday, December 23rd happiness:  Joe helped me wrap some presents today.
Tonight after Brian got home from work we went and looked at some Christmas lights.

We stopped at the Christmas village first.  I love this place.

Next, Thanks to a tip from Sheri, we found The Nightmare Before Christmas house.


And finally, we went to a house that had a ton of lights, that were set to music.  You tune in your car radio and watch the lights blink in time with the music.  I love it.  While we were there, these 2 cars pulled up.
Fun Stuff!  I love Christmas.

Happy Day!

Rain and cheesecake and flowers and presents

M2B =) days 677 - 672.  Tuesday, December 13th - Sunday, December 18th happiness:

Tuesday, December 13th happiness:  Rain today!  That is always good for some happiness.  

Tonight I went to Cheesecake factory and got this:

It is caramel apple streusel cheesecake.

I got to go with some pretty awesome girls!  We were celebrating Tawsha's birthday.  Good times.

December 14th happiness:  I went for a walk with Sheri tonight.  I loved being out in the cold weather and I always love hanging out with Sheri.  

Thursday, December 15th happiness:  This morning was not great.  I was feeling completely tired and overwhelmed this morning.  Then I turn on the radio and "Move Along" was on.  LOVE that song.  It is one of my all time favorites.  I love how music can instantly make things better.

Today in class was our Holiday Party/Mug Exchange.  It was fun.  I got lots of photos of the kids with their new hot chocolate mugs.  And I got lots of fun pictures of them singing karaoke. 

I also got some awesome Christmas gifts from my kids today.  I think my favorite had to be this spoon:
Tonight, as per Christmas tradition, Joe and I went Christmas caroling with the Trezise family.  Joe played guitar and we all sang.  It was more fun than the boys are making it look in this photo. 
Friday, December 16th happiness:  Last day of school before Christmas break.  Can I say WOO HOO?

The third graders got to go see a production of the Nutcracker.  It was a dinner theater, so the kids got dressed in their fancy clothes.  They got to eat lunch AND dessert, and then watch the play.  Afterwards they got to meet the cast and get pictures and autographs.  Good times.
Saturday, December 17th happiness:  Brian and I did a little shopping today.  It was fun to get out and about.  We were supposed to go to the movies this afternoon, but I got super dizzy.  So instead Brian and Joe went to see Sherlock Holmes and I took a nap. =(

Sunday, December 18th happiness:  RAIN!
Sheri and I went to Grandmothers this afternoon to wrap presents.  I got distracted by her gorgeous flowers and had to stop to take some shots on my way in.


This is Sheri, happy to be wrapping presents.  (This is before illness set in)
I didn't have much to wrap, since I haven't really done any Christmas shopping yet.  I had a couple of things, and then I helped Sheri with her things.  Sadly, Sheri started to feel sick to her stomach and we had to leave a little early.  

It was a good time while it lasted.  Grandma is so nice to let us come every year and invade her home and use her wrapping paper and tags, and she always makes us the most beautiful bows for our presents.  She is the best!

Happy day.

Gingerbread houses and Christmas songs

M2B =) days 673 - 676.  Friday, December 9th - Monday, December 12th happiness:

Friday, December 9th happiness:  I went to bed early last night, and I woke up today feeling so good!  Nice!

Finished mom's tree today.  Woo hoo.

Saturday, December 10th happiness:  Today we did the annual gingerbread houses at my mom's.  Usually, Joe gets distracted after a little bit and he goes off and hangs out with the guys.  This year, other than choose the yellow color, he did the whole thing himself.  I had this brilliant idea of how I wanted my house to look this year, but it was NOT working out.  Starting with the fact that I made the yellow too bright.  Joe took over for me and fixed it so it turned out super cute. 

Right now I am kicking myself for not getting photos of any one else's houses.  

Tonight was the Del Rio ward Christmas party.  Brian, Joe and I came because Joe was performing with Dallin.

He hung out with the guys while they were waiting to go on.  
Adam and Jared performed Silent Night.    They were fantastic, of course.
Later, Alex and Dallin performed "I'm Gettin' Nothin' for Christmas" with the rest of the Young Men.
Finally, Joe and Dallin performed and original Christmas song.  It was so good.  I got chills and it brought a little tear to my eye.  If you didn't get a chance to see it, both Dallin and Paul put the video on facebook, and you can also look it up on YouTube.  
My future rock star!  This was Joe's first time performing in front of a live audience (other than his family).  

It was a fun night.  Afterwards we got Rosati's pizza.  A-mazing!  So Yummy.  

Sunday, December 11th happiness:  After a long, busy week, I needed a day to unwind.  I love lazy Sundays with nothing to do.

Monday, December 12th happiness:  RAIN!

Happy Day!