christmas bells are ringing

Christmas has come and gone. Seemed to happen kind of fast this year. Every year though, we are reminded how blessed we are. We have amazing family, friends, ward members, and neighbors. Each of them impact our lives on a daily basis...for the good. Life is good.

Our Christmas was good as well! We have both had a few days off of work...5 of them! It's been great to be able to spend a few days with my family and a few days with Daren's. We have really enjoyed being together. It's our last Christmas with just us and Bear doggy! Next year we will be have baby Doree here to make it even more magical!

We traveled to Salt Lake Friday morning. We spent all day Friday, Saturday, and half a day Sunday (Christmas) with my family. My dad has been really into Star Wars recently so him and Daren decided to have a Star Wars marathon. I think they were hoping to get through all of them...but only made it through about half. I'm sure they will finish it in the near future. We spent a lot of time relaxing, playing games, and laughing...mostly at my dad who is still trying to master the art of a selfie.

On Christmas Eve we had a nice prime rib dinner and then headed to Hogle Zoo to see the Zoo Lights. It was rainy and a little cold but we had a great time! We even rode the carousel! It was great fun! My mom lead us around the zoo with her magical star wand. HAHA!

On the way home from the Zoo Lights, we stopped by the Holladay Cemetery to look at this giant LED tree. I think the picture would do the tree justice...it was huge and so bright! Very beautiful!

Christmas was on a Sunday this year. It always seems to make it a little bit more special. We had breakfast in the morning and then went to church. It was a nice meeting, especially for my parent's ward. We sang Silent Night as the closing song and I couldn't sing it...I was too emotional! Pregnancy hormones! After church we came home, opened presents, and then had a nice lunch with my grandpa and Aunt Val. 

Oh! And overnight it snowed like 10"! We woke up to a white Christmas! I had one happy husband! 

I didn't take any pictures of us opening gifts at my parent's house! Boo on that! But I did take a picture of the favorite gift of the year...my mom and dad went to Build a Bear and stuffed Doree a teddy bear. My mom was SO excited to give it to us! It sounds like they both had too much fun making it for her! It is so cute! Her name is Princess Dora!

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We ventured back up to Logan after lunch. We were grateful to make it home safe. The roads were not ideal conditions! We headed over to James and Susi's for more fun. But first...Daren HAD to open one of his presents. I think he knew what it was and wanted to take it to James and Susi's...haha! He is like a little kid. I love him! And on't worry...he was right about what it was. His collection is now complete again!

We spent the rest of the night  playing games and making memories! By the time we got home to do our Christmas it was 11:30 at night. HA! Long day! But somehow we mustered up the energy to open more presents! Luckily, Santa had everything ready for us when we got home...

This is one of my presents...it looks nice from the front...but then I turned it around and half of it wasn't wrapped. HAHA! I guess he "ran out of paper"...even though we have almost a full roll of that kind! HAHA! Too funny!

Bear doggy got a new bed for Christmas this year...he actually got it about a week early. I think he really likes it! It's much more fancy than his last one that had almost no stuffing in it!

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is playing games! Last night we spent hours playing games with James and Susi. I haven't laughed that hard is so long! I was worried I was going to go into labor...or Susi...but I think she would prefer to go into labor! Me...not so much!

We have done a few more fun things this Christmas season. Last week, Ang and her family were in town so we have a big Christmas party with Daren's family. We ate, played games, opened presents. It was chaotic but great all at the same time! Especially with all these wild boys around...

We also went to a Christmas Sing along at the Tabernacle. It was actually pretty fun. Kind of long but fun! I think we would go again next year!

It's been a great season. A busy one, as usual, but wonderful. I am so grateful to be able to spend so much time with family and friends! It really does make things more wonderful. Next year we will have a tiny one to celebrate with. Eek! That is wild!

Merry Christmas!