A White Christmas

Christmas this year was so fun! (when is it not?) We were lucky enough to spend 5 days in Utah with my family. There was lot's of time spent laying on the couch, many trips to Target for everything last minute, terrible heart burn and the fattest swollen feet you've ever seen. What could make for a more eventful Christmas?

All I wanted to do this year was go to the Nutcracker, and let me tell you, it was down right AMAZING! I've only seen it once before, but I've been in it many times. As soon as the music started my eyes started to well up with tears. I couldn't stop myself! It was the worst taste of reality ever: I will never dance again, and I will never be able to dance on toe in the Nutcracker. After things got underway I was fine, and it was seriously amazing! I might resent my mother a little for not making me tryout for Ballet West, at least once. She claims it was because she didn't know how to get me to Salt Lake every day, but after watching even the young girls I didn't care! That was not a good enough reason!

After the most amazing two hours of my life at the Nutcracker we met Jim, my dad, Casey and Winter at City Creek for dinner and Christmas Lights. Probably the worst idea ever. We waited 2.5 hours for the Cheesecake Factory (WHO WAITS THAT LONG AT A CHAIN?!), and saw hardly any lights because everyone in Northern Utah decided they were going to Temple Square at that exact moment. It didn't help that I was cold and SO HUNGRY! But it all worked out, we saw the basics (Nativity scene? Forget about it), and I eventually got fed. I was so happy that night that this baby wasn't actually here yet. I couldn't imagine dealing with a stroller in that madness!!

On Sunday I had the fun opportunity to see some of the girls I grew up with! I was so excited because I hadn't seen Kenzie since she got home from her mission, and Linsey got home just days before, and Jenna I hadn't seen since my wedding 2.5 years ago! We had so much fun catching up and laughing like we were children again. I can't lie though, I mostly enjoyed talking to Jenna about the aches and pains of pregnancy, finally someone who understands!!

Christmas Eve was just like any other, lots of delicious food, eating 2 hours after we planned, and family! I think Jim played a lot with Paisley on Christmas Eve and it was one of my favorite things to watch! She just loved him and he would go along with her silly games. I on the other hand, am not exactly the baby whisperer that I thought I was. Jack just screams when I hold him and is totally content with Jim. There is something wrong here! After dinner my dad always read from Luke 2 and we have to play with the nativity scene as he does it. This year was the most fun to date! Paisley LOVES my parents really old Nativity set and she gave everyone their people and then she would take them from us and set them up how she believed they should be. Everyone was crammed in the stable, and if the cow could have been any closer to the baby Jesus he would have been sitting on top of him. Kids really do make Christmas that much more magical.

Christmas morning was so much fun too. It was so exciting to watch Paisley get so excited about the presents she got, and help Jack open (and play) with his presents. I felt so bad for my poor husband because he really didn't have any surprises waiting under the tree. All the clothes he knew he was getting and even tried to wear them before Christmas! (not completely his fault, our suitcases were getting heavy, and he is the best man alive and always sacrifices his suitcase space for my things) I did manage to surprise him a little by putting picture of what was waiting for him at home in his stocking. It just not as fun because you can't play with a picture of a drill, or a blower, you just get to think about how they are sitting at your house waiting for you, AND that dang joint credit card, there really are no surprises. All in all we were spoiled this Christmas and I wouldn't have it any other way. With this baby coming I know our priorities are going to shift and we wont be able to spoil each other like this until we are old so I was more than happy to buy everything on his wish list, despite what he thought. This year my sister in law made my dad a slide show of pictures that all of us kids had taken in the last year and it was so fun to watch! It was 22 minutes long, and both my parents cried through the whole thing, that's how you know it was a good gift! My mom made sure to let everyone there know that we were not the reason why she was crying, she was crying over the Hong Kong Rowlands. I can't figure out why, because we all know I am the favorite child and not Cody! ;)

I love this picture because Paisley’s outfit is sooooooo cute, and because you can see how messy my moms house got, and Jim is reading Jack a book. So cute!

Wednesday was such a fun day too. I got up early and headed over to Annie's house for breakfast with the girls in the ward. It is so crazy to see where we all are at this point in our lives, but when we are together it really feels like nothing has changed. We stayed and chatted for nearly 3 hours! I seriously love those girls, but nothing could ever convince me to move back to Utah. The rest of the day was spent packing, taking pictures and yet another trip to City Creek. I can't thank my parents enough for putting up with all of us for 5 days. It's hard enough to keep a clean house, and then have your kids come stay and make themselves at home? I was having a panic attack for my mom just thinking about it, but she sure was a trooper, even when Paisley peed on the couch! I can't believe that Christmas has come and gone, that means the next thing to focus on is getting this baby here! YIKES!

The Day after Christmas it snowed and snowed and snowed. It was amazing!