Christmas Festivities . . .

Zoo Lights:

A couple weeks before Christmas we went to the Hogle Zoo to see the zoo lights with Craig's family. We figured, why not, we have season passes. Well, come to find out, the season passes didn't work for zoo lights. What?! We still went, because we were there, and the kids were looking forward to it. The lights were really good . . . lots of animal lights, but it was really cold!

Family Christmas Parties:

Craig's mom's side (Clegg) of the family has a family Christmas party every year where they act out the nativity, and have family members in the orchestra for it. We also have a dinner and gift exchange.

Ambree was an angel, Cade was a Shepherd, and Craig was a wise man. I didn't have a part this year, so I was the photographer, and part of the choir.

I think Ambree stole the show with her "singing" with the angels. It was pretty funny! Not to mention the fact that one of the wise men's gifts to baby Jesus was a bunch of necklaces in a little chest. She decided that they were hers, and took them on and off during the whole nativity. At one point she got them all tangled with her pig tails and halo. LOL.

Christmas lights at Temple Square:

We took the kids on the "train" down to temple square. They thought the train was pretty cool, but they seemed more interested in playing in the snow than looking at the lights!

Christmas Eve:

For Christmas Eve, we have a tradition of opening two gifts . . . pajamas and a book. They got matching girl/boy versions of gingerbread pajamas and Cade got a Toy Story Christmas book and Ambree got a Dora Christmas book. They both loved their gifts!
So excited for Santa to come!

After opening presents, we had dinner and hot chocolate for dessert. We then put out cookies for Santa, talked about the true meaning of Christmas, read their new stories and went to bed. . . the kids at least . . . we were up a little later. ;)

On Christmas morning we woke up to a very white and snowy Christmas! It was snowy all day! Above is a picture of our big window, covered in snow! Below is a picture from the next evening after all the snow.

The kids waiting patiently on the stairs to see if Santa left any presents for them!

Looks like he did . . .

The kids seem pretty excited about the things that Santa left!

This was our first Christmas with just the four of us. It is nice to do a big, noisy Christmas with a lot of relatives, but it was also nice to just spend a relaxing evening and morning with our little family.

Tis the season for . . .

Lots of time with family and new Christmas clothes!

for cute hair styles and Christmas bows!

Tis the season for lots of yummy food!

It may be fattening, but it puts you in the holiday mood!

Choc. mice: Dip maraschino cherries with stems for tails in dipping chocolate, attach Hershey kiss for face and peanut halves for ears. When it is all dry, use frosting gel (in little tube) for the eyes and nose! Too cute to eat! :)
A healthy Christmas appetizer: Cut whole wheat pita bread like a pizza, to make triangle shapes. Add pretzel to bottom for the stem, guacamole and diced red pepper for the tree and ornaments. Yummy!
I really like eggnog, but it is so fattening and a little too thick. A came across this this season, and I love it! They make a version that is just eggnog, without pumpkin, which is really good too!

Tis the season for the weather to be cold!

and for stories to be told . . .

about all the ornaments hanging on the tree!

Tis the season for sitting on Santa's knee!Tis the season for Christmas decorations all around!

And for family traditions to be found!

But most importantly, tis the season for remembering Jesus.

His birth . . .

His life . . . and all that he teaches!

Merry CHRIST-mas!!

coupon search!

OK, this is random, but I have been trying to get into couponing. It's been going pretty well, but my 10 weeks of getting 4 Sunday papers at a time is almost up and the amount I have to pay is going up as well! I am having a hard time figuring out if the amount of the papers is more or less than what I am saving by couponing, not to mention the time it takes! Anyway, I am just wondering if any of you know a way to get a good rate on a newspaper. Right now they want $2.30 per week per paper, which isn't bad if you only get one paper, but when you get four, it adds up! I have heard that some people get one paper for $1.00. Anyway, just wondering if there are any tricks that I don't know about. Also, if you live by me and get the Sunday paper, but don't use the coupons, maybe I could just buy the coupons from you for $1.00. Just let me know! Thanks!

Thanksgiving and Andreason Family Reunion . . .

It seems like I am always pretty late in posting about holidays. At least I didn't title this one, "Oh yea, we did celebrate Thanksgiving". :) We went to St. George for Thanksgiving, to celebrate with my mom's side of the family, which is the Andreasons. Ever since I was a baby, we have celebrated Thanksgiving in St. George with my mom's side of the family. And then we would usually do Christmas with my dad's. This year we had close to 50 people at Thanksgiving Dinner, which we did at the church, since there were so many people. It's hard to believe that when we were young we did it at my grandmas little town home! Funny how time changes things. My cousin Lyndi, who lives in St. George arranged the whole thing, and it was beautifully decorated and the food was delicious! Thank you Lyndi!! Since we would travel from California every year for Thanksgiving, we would stay a few days and make a family reunion out of it. Sometimes we had a lot of people there and sometimes not very many, but we almost always had games at the park, a pinata, and a talent show! So, we did the same thing this year with the next generation and it was a lot of fun! Check out Cade and Ambree showing off their talents!

I took a few pictures of my kids, but they didn't turn out, so, here are some pics of me with my siblings, minus Justin, who wasn't able to be there . . . we missed you!

Jenny, Derrick, Brittany, Steven, and Me!

Sisters! Ignore the fact that there is bad lighting on this one and I am sandwiched between two young (18 and 20) girls! If I look older than them, it is because I am! I am almost 30 you know! :)

I love Thanksgiving, and the time to reflect on all our blessings. I am so blessed and thankful for all I have! I just hope I can remember this tomorrow when my kids wake up at 6:00 am and fight with each other, and throw their food and plates on the floor, and make messes all over the house . . . yes, I am thankful! :)