Happy New Year 2012!

As I sit here blogging on January 1st 2012, I can't believe that the year 2011 is already gone. We've had such a great year. Jordan graduated, has a good job, started his Masters program, we went to Cancun together, we grew our first garden, we've made great friends, started running regularly, and are happier then ever.

So in honor of a good 2011 year, we had a killer party with our pals Casey & Nick. This might be the last big hoorah we have with them before baby boy Hill joins their family in February.

We were trying to pack all the calories possible in, before we all start watching what we eat starting Jan. 1st. Haha

Michigan Rummy and watching Goonies

3...2...1... Happy New Year!!!

Bustin' out the Bubbly

And getting his groove on at the midnight dance party.

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I love New Years Day because I feel like it's a fresh start, which I occasionally feel like I need. I like making resolutions. I want to be a better person, and I am honestly going to strive to be better in 2012. I'm going to try to strengthen my body, spirit, and mind more this year. And...the scriptures say the Lord will judge us on the desire of our hearts, so I figure writing this down is a good place to start :)

Christmas Day

Ho, Ho, Ho Merry Christmas!!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Christmas fell on a Sunday this year, which I actually really enjoyed. We got up and had our usual Christmas festivities, and then headed off to church and had a nice spiritual reminder of what the holiday is really about. Jordan and I had a scripture countdown, and read scriptures pertaining to the birth of the Savior all month long. It was nice to have time each day this month to think about our Savior, and the true meaning of Christmas.

Jordan spoiled me again like always. Some of my treasures this year were a docking station for my new Iphone that I got for our Anniversary, and some nice running clothes.

Oh, and ALL the Harry Potter Movies!!! Yeah!!!

Jordan came away with movies, clothes, and a new razor.

This was my favorite part of the day... Jordan had told me earlier that the only thing he wanted for Christmas was a Garmin GPS Running Watch. Well, we opened presents, and he didn't get one. (Needless to say, he acted a little disappointed.) So then we headed over to my parents house, and my Dad came down the stairs with a giant present for Jordan saying Santa got the wrong house. Inside the giant box was a small box that had his GPS watch in it :) He was so surprised, and so excited!!! Hehe I love surprising my sweetheart.

-I love Christmas, and am always sad to see it leave. I seriously think it'll be a while before the decorations come down this year. Merry Christmas from our home to yours!-

Christmas Eve

I love Christmas Eve. It was extra fun this year having Julianne and her family up from Arizona with us. Every year there's more and more people, and yes it's crazy and chaotic, but it's tradition, and I love it. We started off the night with a wonderful Christmas Eve feast, and then acted out the Nativity.

My mom always puts together a cute Nativity program so that everyone has a part, and she plays all the music to go along with it.

Then we played a rousing game of Christmas Minute To Win It

Adam on Christmas Card Cliffhanger

Trying to get the gingerbread cookie into our mouths without using our hands.

Ornament Kiss

And my personal favorite... Booty-Shaking the ornaments out of the box

And to finish off the night we drove through the Layton Christmas Lights together.

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night."

Celebrating The Season

We've had fun getting ready for Christmas this year. Here are a few things we did to celebrate the season.

When Jordan and I got home from our running our Thanksgiving day race we were surprised with a package on our stairs. Inside was an adorable elf named "Elenore". She came with a note saying she'd come from the north pole to watch over our family until Christmas, and then she'd send Santa our report. My sisters all also "mysteriously" received similar elves that day. Jordan and I have had so much fun with this little elf through the holidays. We've found it in random places like the car, closet, fridge, bed, etc. -We had an elf named "Edgar" when I was little that I loved, and I'm so excited that "Elenore the Elf" can be a part of our little family now.

We decorated Gingerbread houses, and made Christmas candy.

I had fun decorating the house as usual. We bought a Christmas train to go around the tree this year, which the neighbor boys and Jordan have LOVED! (PS... the neighbor boys asked where my "real" tree was, because apparently having 3 little trees is lame. Oh well, I think it's cute.)

I went to Alyssa's 3rd Grade Christmas program.

Jordan had a nice work party at the Davis Conference Center. We went and saw the Christmas Carol play at the Centerville Theater with my parents. Our ward had a very nice Christmas musical fireside. We went and saw the lights at Temple Square. I had a Girls Night out at Olive Garden with Jordan's Sisters, Mom, and Grandma. We were on the ward Christmas party committee, and had a fun ward breakfast. We have had so much fun with Julianne's family being down for the holiday. I have tickled, wrestled, teased, and kissed those kiddos as much as possible while they've been down here. We went to the Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert, and we celebrated 4 wonderful years of marriage together.

I love this time of year.