Our Christmas Season So Far...

We have had such a fabulous season so far. I have really felt the spirit of the season and I am so happy. We have been able to enjoy many different activities to help us celebrate Christmas. We have attended a few Christmas parties and rode on the Polar Express.We are going Caroling this Monday with friends. Our favorite part has been that at night pretty much our whole long street has lights up and we so enjoy driving through our street and admiring the lights every night. Brooklyn cannot get enough of the lights either. Brooklyn and I went and saw Kade's Christmas program at his preschool RCF. He was Joseph and did so good. There is nothing better than watching a bunch of four year olds singing Christmas songs.

Wade and I took a date night on Monday. We dropped off Brooklyn at my parents, went to Outback for dinner and then did all the Christmas shopping for his family and the rest for Brooklyn. I remember when I was 12 and baby sat for a family one year when the parents went Christmas shopping together. I remember thinking when I get married I want to always go shopping at night with my husband like they did. Don't know why, but always wanted a husband that would do that with me. And what do you know? For the last 5 Christmases I have gone on a Christmas shopping date with Wade. I love every minute of it too!

My most favorite part of this season so far was attending the South Meadows Ward Relief Society Christmas dinner. I had to miss my wards dinner because I had dance class that night, so I was so happy to go to theirs. My two favorite people, Sara and Teri are in that ward so I enjoyed it even more. We had an UNREAL dinner that I actually had seconds of :( and then three women were asked to bare their testimonies of our Savior Jesus Christ. Teri was one that was asked, so that was special for me too. The testimonies were incredible and really got me thinking were I am at and where I need to be going Spiritually. They also had a short video of Jesus that went along to Celine Dion's ,Oh Holy Night. I need to find out how to buy that video because it was so moving and so beautiful. Anyway, there was music of course and dessert. I just had such a fabulous night. I even came right home and opened my scriptures up and read about my Savior.

Anyway sorry for the novel but I just have really enjoyed these last few weeks and wanted to document it. I even got my Christmas cards out and pretty much have all of my shopping done! I also got my package out for Wade's parents, brother and my two nieces, so I am feeling very accomplished!

Ok well I also got this email from my friend Sara and thought I would put reply to it on my blog.


CHRISTMAS TAG!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper because I love to take the time and do it, I have to have my Christmas music blasting though. But I love gift bags for all other holidays.
2. Real tree or Artificial? REAL TREE! I could NEVER have an artificial one. We go and chop ours down for 10 bucks! Nothing beats a big, fresh tree!
3. When do you put up the tree? As soon after Thanksgiving as we can.
4. When do you take the tree down? Usually sometime after the new year.
5. Do you like eggnog? I do, but only a little glass at a time. If it was a year round drink I don't think I would like it. But I love to have a glass or two during Christmas.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Oooo... that is hard. It was so long ago I am not sure I can remember. But I know I loved playing pretend office, so I got a lot of real office supplies. I also loved the basketball and hoop I got one year. At 16 I got my first cell phone and that was a major deal of course! My parents never failed us, we always got exceptional gifts!
7. Hardest person to buy for? Surprisingly not Wade, he just takes some time to think about and some creativity. Probably my dad. He never wants anything and tells us to forgo his gift and get an extra one for my mom. What a guy huh?
8. Easiest person to buy for? Brooklyn and ME!
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes...kind of. It is the little one I got last year for 4 dollars at the Church Book Store. Guess I need a real one huh?
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, are you kidding me. I love mailing them out. I love to receive them too. So if I haven't gotten yours, you better get on it :) j/k
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Oh I don't think I can remember a bad gift.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Wade and I LOVE the Home Alones, Santa Clause 1 and 2 and Miracle on 34th street(the new one) I don't like old Christmas movies.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? The day after Thanksgiving and not a day before!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Maybe, but I cannot recall.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Everything! I actually don't care much for the actual dinner, I like all the treats (not sweets), well maybe some sweets, that we eat all day long. We actually don't do this at my families, but when we spend Christmas at the Iversons' they go all out with yummy snacks and treats. This year I am bringing that Iverson tradition to my families house.
16. Lights on the tree? Only white lights allowed on our tree. Wade feels the same way so it works for us.
17a. Favorite Christmas song? Mary Did You Know? Deck the Halls, I love them all!
17b.Christmas Carol? Away in a Manger, Oh Holy Night, I love them all!
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Both. But when our kids are old enough to really understand Christmas and Santa, we will spend Christmas at home and hope that the Grandparents come to visit.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes, but only if I sing the song along with it.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star...angles are not our style.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We open our pj's on Christmas Eve, and the rest in the morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Are you kidding??? Nothing about this time of year is annoying.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have a mix of themed ornaments which a are silver or red and sparkily but also some sentimental value ones too! I love all of our ornaments.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? I just want meat, salad and rolls please!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? It stinks when you are pregnant at Christmas. I can't really think of anything I want this year. Wade and I decided we are doing date box gifts. We both are giving each other 2 or 3 complete date night gifts. Not just dinner and a movie either. They have to be really involved and everything has to be paid for up front with gift card, ect. I am SUPER SUPER excited!

Hope this didn't take to long to read and if you made it to the end, Thank you!