Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime

Christmas was wonderful, as usual.

We started the festivities on Christmas Eve with a nice dinner with Kirk and Gretchen. We had ham and rolls (Gretchen), and salad and cheesy potatoes (me). I know, I got the easy stuff. After dinner, Kirk read the Christmas story while we acted it out with homemade puppets.

Our neighbors invited us over because Santa was coming to their house. It was great. Except for the fact that our kids hate Santa. Carter, however (and apparently Gretchen), love him.

 This is as close as Sam would get.

 Afton, too. That's our neighbor in the black dress.

They have a rule where before you get your gift from Santa, you have to sing a song. So it was nice to sing some Christmas carols (and the OU fight song - we live next door to the biggest OU fans in the world) to feel the holiday spirit. We went back to our house for dessert and to open PJs from G&G Cheney.

Christmas morning Dan and I got ready for church and woke the kids up to see their stockings and eat some breakfast before 8 a.m. Sacrament meeting.

After church we opened the rest of our presents and enjoyed Christmas tree-shaped beignets (perhaps a new tradition?) using Cafe Du Monde's recipe. Delish.

We went over to Kirk and Gretchen's house for leftovers that night and played some mean speed scrabble.

Merry Christmas!

Dear Daddy,

Sorry you're having a rough day. And sorry that the garage door and water dispenser on the fridge are broken. If we knew how to help you, we would. Love you! Can't wait to see you soon!
Love,
Afton and Sam

Christmas Lights

This week was much better than last week. No one threw up.

I took a basic photography class with a friend before Thanksgiving. Since then, I've been practicing taking pictures in "manual" mode. Here are a few random shots:

It's fun to practice. For me, at least.

Wednesday night Dan and I went on a dinner date. It was fun. Dan is the best. Saturday Gretchen watched our kids while we went to the temple. It was really nice. Later that day we took them dinner and then we headed over to Prestonwood Forest to look at their lights. It's a big neighborhood where each street has a different theme and people really get into it. It was so busy. Everyone else had the same idea we did.

I thought this house was cool.

The winner for this year was a house who set their lights to music. We tuned our radio to a certain station. They had choreographed lights for 2 songs. I got some of one on video. I didn't have the best angle...
But it was pretty awesome. I'm guessing this song is from some musical version of "A Christmas Carol." I'd never heard it before. And I didn't really think about it before, but I noticed now that their neighbor's house is for sale... I wonder if this crazy light show has anything to do with it.

If the video doesn't work, try copying this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5b6BQ28tmo

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

What we've been up to:

Last Friday, the stake adjacent to ours hosted its annual Nativity Viewing/Christmas Program. They have a huge room set up with hundreds of different nativities. At the same time, they have musical performances. While we were there, the local high school orchestra was playing Christmas music. It was really nice. I love this event. We went two years ago and I fell in love with a few mosaics. They were there again this year so I took some pictures.

I just love those. I want to do something like that some day.

The next day our neighborhood had its Winter Festival. No winter festival is complete without camel rides:

(I know, I didn't get the camel. It was just the two of us at that point, so I had to take our picture.)

Train rides:

A petting zoo: (Sam loved chasing around that baby pig. I made him stop after a minute or two.)

After Afton woke up from her nap, she and Dan joined us for the hayride:

The kids also made sand necklaces (which broke open and spilled sand everywhere) and reindeer candycanes.

Santa was there but the line was too long.

Sunday I got pretty sick after church and spent a lot of time in the bathroom.
Monday afternoon/night Dan got what I had and spent all night and the next day (his birthday) feeling sick and barfing.
Here's the happy shot before he blew out his candles.

Wasn't he the picture of good health? Poor guy. (Red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.)

Friday Dan and I dropped the kids off at Kirk and Gretchen's to head over to Dan's work's Christmas party. Right before we got to the guy's house, Kirk called to say that Sam threw up all over the place. So we turned around, picked up the kids, and spent the rest of Friday night holding Sam and a bucket. He slept on our bedroom floor and every time he stirred at all, I freaked out and flew out of bed to make sure he wasn't going to barf all over. He threw up about six times that night. I caught all but one. I've discovered a hidden talent.

Saturday morning was our church Breakfast with Santa.

 Success. That's as close as Sam got.

Birthday boy

Last night was Dan's last night of his 20s. How do you think he spent it?

A) On a fun date with me.

B) Buying a motorcycle.

C) Violently throwing up.


.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
If you guessed A, that's how I wish we spent the evening.

If you guessed B, that's how Dan wishes he spent the evening.

If you guessed C, you are correct. Even this morning (his 30th birthday) he's been sick. If you've got a minute, leave Dan some birthday love to tell him how great the 30s are. I'm sure he needs it!

Thanks, Dan, for being such a wonderful husband, father, and best friend! I love you so much and can't imagine life without you. I hope your day gets better. (So far, it can't really get much worse.)