A Wonderful Weekend of Christmas

Merry Christmas!!! A day late granted, but really who's going to have time to blog on Christmas.

This year was awesome!! and jam packed with loads of family togetherness. As far as juggling families the first Christmas, Gav and I rocked it. And managed to do it not just one day, but three. We're awesome.

Friday:
It was my dad's family's party, where we managed to make out like bandits with the bingo prizes. (see previous post)

Saturday:
I had to work, which kinda sucked but since Gav still needed to do some shopping its was ok. He picked me up after work and we went out to meet his family, cousins and all, at Chin-Wah; a yummy chinese place in Sandy. We had to wait a while to get seated but there was like 25 or so of us so it was kinda to be expected. FYI the walnut shrimp, Fantastic. After dinner we went back to his parents house, no cousins this time, for a small gift exchange. His family everyone draws a name and gets a gift for that person. This year, since we're going to Boston next summer we were told to do inexpensive, preferably home made gifts. I drew his dad this year, and after racking my brain for a long while I had a stroke of brilliance and made him a putting green. His sister Lisa had my name and gave me a home made heat rice bag and two matching hand warmers. I've used them pretty much constantly, they make life so wonderful. Gav got a case of Frosties sodas and we had great fun taste testing them! Orange soda is the best one in case you were wondering.

Sunday:
CHRISTMAS!!!!!! I don't know why but neither of us slept well, and by not well I mean we were both awake around 2:30 in the am and couldn't go back to sleep. Gav finally fell back asleep around 3:40. I, however, was awake until about 5 and then got up and got ready just after 6. Hurray for holidays on no sleep. Before we left for his sister's house Gav and I opened our presents to each other. I totally won the present lottery. As a combined Christmas and birthday I got a spa day, which I'm so excited to use!!! He got a new hat and a super warm jacket that I might have to "borrow" on occasion.
The rest of the morning went by quick. We had breakfast at Emily's house. And got some great entertainment watching her and Maddie try to kill themselves on Austin's new motorized scooter and watching Greg try to figure out how to use The Force (also Austin's). After that we went over to Lexi's and went to church with her and Curtis. Things calmed down after that because we just went back to his parents house and helped get lunch ready. Around 2:30 most everyone had gotten there and so we had a yummy lunch, Gav and I unfortunately had to pace ourselves because we were going to dinner at my families at 4. After everyone else got there we sat down to do presents, I wasn't really expecting that part so it was a double surprise when I got handed mine. Gav got a new driver and a box of D2 golf balls and I got a bunch of books and a very cute pair of boots. I'm very proud of the boots because Gav and his dad picked them out by themselves with the only female input coming from the shop girl, I was impressed. Then we, together, got a movie gift card from his aunt and a bag of goodies that included a chocolate cookbook that has some seriously yummy looking recipes in them. And then all the adults got different Red Sox shirts to wear on our trip.
After that we drove over to my sisters house to have dinner with my family. Again, way yummy but we couldn't eat as much as we might have like. Dinner was followed by another round of presents. There's so many people in our family that we do gifts by the individual family, instead of people. This year we had my sister Brit, and by luck of the draw she had us. It made it very simple. We got them a board game, a couple movies and a bag of treats. Their gift to us has made it so we have no excuse to be unsociable. We got a bowlful of homemade caramel corn in a super cute bowl that my niece, Shannon, painted by herself. Oh, FYI, most of our gift Shannon came up with, and rocked it. We also got a fondue pot, a gift certificate to our fav pizza place, season 4 of the Big Bang theory, and a game called Banangrams. I'm sure I'm forgetting something but I'll add it in when my brain is functioning better. From my parents we got Dominoes and Utah Pass of All Passes. My dad gave all the guys one of his favorite books and the girls got their traditional figurine, except this year it was a dragon instead of a fairy. After presents games got broken out and the night ended with an impromptu dance party in the living room.
Christmas is by far the best time of the year for a lot of reasons, but family is by far number 1.

Let the Family-ing begin

Last night was my dad's family Christmas party. This party is always pretty exciting and something I look forward to every year. This year it was especially nice because my aunt and uncle who moved to Missouri two years ago were there and a couple other cousins whom I haven't seen in years were there too. There's always good food (and wassail, the best hot drink ever!!) and a lot of laughs. Because there are well over 30 adults (not to mention their kids) we don't give gifts, instead we bingo for them. Every one brings 2 small gifts and sets them out on a long table. My dad is our traditional bingo caller, complete with a plethora of really bad puns, but apparently the years of calling have taken their toll and so, since I can easily be louder than anyone else, I started calling half way through; but not before snagging myself a few good prizes. Between the two of us, Gav and I made out like bandits.

Since only the adults get to play bingo Santa brings little gifts for all the kids. Usually my brother in law, Stew, is Santa but this year his work party was the same night so this year, after much pleading, cajoling and ordering from my aunt Cindi, my dad got to play the big guy in red. The only trouble was that once he put on his glasses he had a hard time keeping the beard on and it had to be tightened several times. All in a great and successful family party.

Adding a little spirit to the holiday season

Last night I went to a live nativity with my family. It was fun, FREEZING, but fun. Everyone was way into it. They even passed out dates and pita(unlevened) bread to everyone as we waited in line, and hot chocolate once we got inside.

Shephards with their flock, their sheep are behind them a little higher up.

Obiviously the baby Jesus

The Camel; a big hit

They were passing out hot chocolate and bagels

The chicken lady, another big hit

The Festival of Trees

This last Saturday Gav was working late so I went to the festival of trees with my mom (My mom is the holiday decorating equivalent to Yoda). I haven't been to the festival since I was really little so it was fun to go and see all the awesome trees (and get a little inspiration for next year!). We didn't realize you could take pictures until half way through because you used to not be able to but once we realized you could we snapped a few.

White Collar Tree: My favorite!! But that could be because I have a bit of a crush on Neil Cafrey.

Denver Broncos Tree: This one was for my nephew, Braeden, who is a huge Broncos fan Girlie Tree: This explosion of pink, blue and green reminded us of three of my nieces.