X-Country Skiing!

I'm in love. I'm in love. And I don't care who knows it! I have been sitting at home for the last 2 days sick. I was about to rip my hair out. I cannot be in the same place for that long! Yikes! So I downloaded a map, layered on some clothes, packed up my skis and my sore throat, runny nose and I went cross country skiing!

I did the mitten/main loop this time! And it was awesome! Never having been cross country skiing before I studied up with the help of my friend YouTube, and studied technique and etiquette. I walked out there like I hadn't just spent the last ten minutes scraping of the price tag off my brand new skis. No one wants to be the newbie!

So I went to where everyone else was getting geared up, clicked into my bindings and I was off. A little faster the I had intended to take of and had to go collect one of my gloves that I hadn't had the chance to put on before my skis started making the decent without my consent! Smooth! So much for looking like an old pro! Ha!

After displaying my skills at the snow plow, I found myself in Narnia! Ha ha just kidding, but it was so beautiful! I only had to stop and fix my gear twice. I was a little too prepared with clothing! And only took one spill when someone was passing me and I got startled. Only slightly embarrassing.

I think I only freaked a few people out when I was following them mimicking their every movement to see how it was all done.

My favorite part was loading my car up with my skis. Just seeing all my fun gear in my car knowing all the adventures I'm going to have this winter! Now j just have to decide which bumper sticker to slap on my car. Like "I'd rather be cross country skiing", or "I brake for cross country skiers". A bumper stickers not a decision you can rush into. Ha ha! No but seriously it's amazing!

Then I got home and warmed up by the heater with this girl! Anytime the heater is on you can find Cleo wrapped around it. She looks like a lizard on it's heat rock.

Then to celebrate the birth of my new hobby, I whipped out a bowl of the BEST tomato soup EVER!

And discovered the best substitute for sour cream. Plain Greek yogurt! Blew my mind! Try it ASAP! You won't be disappointed.

Oh and then I hung out with one of my best friends a 32oz of Diet Coke! (Ok let's be real it's a 44oz, and I'm not scared!) We just love pictures together! To sum it all up by 5 o'clock I have had the worlds most perfect day!

Best of Friends

This is the reason I will never own just one dog!

No one could love a dog like another dog can! It is cute to see the special bond these pooches have with each other.

Drew and I were reading in the living room and these two joined us for a little Sunday afternoon snuggle.

I heart them, almost as much as they heart each other. Seriously could this be any cuter? I think not.

Too precious!

The NeverEnding Christmas!

My parents, one of the families I work for and my REI dividend bought me cross country skis!

I wasn't going to get them because they never had my size or I missed the sale. Then my road bike went on sale and that was that. However this screaming deal came up and the money that I got for Christmas it was another Christmas miracle! Hands down the best Christmas EVER!

The Gifts Just Keep Comin'

Drew got his skilsaw from my parents! Merry Christmas Drewpal!

Happy Christmas

Christmas was/ is Amazing! We are just waiting in the theater waiting for Sherlock Holmes to start. (More on that later). Anyway we woke up early this morning anxious to exchange gifts! This is the first year we have done this! With the help of early Christmas money, selling puppies and Drew I got a road bike! I don't think anyone really understands how excited I am. It perfect it was the exact one I wanted. And the last one in my size. A Christmas miracle!

I am so in LOVE!!

Drew with the help of the same said money got a miter saw. And is smitten. Since we bought it he has said goodnight to it EVERY night.

Drew surprised me with this awesome projector! I love it, and can't wait to hook my phone up to it and other fun gadgety things!

A very blurry picture of the projector on our wall! You get the idea!

Then after opening stocking stuffers, and more we headed to my mom's again for a waffle breakfast.

Watching the grandkidlets opening their presents is so fun!

Lizzy and Sara Jane opening Polly Pockets. Kami couldn't be more excited!

And Cookie was surprised with a robo hamster from Mimi. Not a big fan of rodents, but these hybrid robos are pretty darn cute!

Yes we stayed all night and day in our onesies! Ugh... They are just too amazing!

Probably my favorite picture of the day. My mom was helping Hardy figure out his toy, and Sara Jane was crawling all over her. She just LOVES her Mimi. The best part was my mom didn't even notice.

Kami leading the White Elephant gift exchange.

Nick scored a sweet Chuck Norris shirt. I got a reindeer costume for my car. Amazing, and Drew scored some candy! Happy as a clam!

So now to wrap up the day we are going to see Sherlock Holmes. I can't wait Sherlock was one of my favorite books. On vacations my dad and I would find used book stores and I would pick a book. This is where I got my Sherlock Holmes books. Such great memories! Anyway Merry Christmas! Hope it was as amazing as ours!

Christmas Eve...

Too amazing not to post immediately! The festivities began when Drew and I both finished work and headed straight to my mom's house. We started out with a great dinner. And then were surprised with a visit from on of my dad's very best friend. Jerry performed for us The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. And he was phenomenal.

I love Cookie, our nephew, just lounging on the ground.

The captive audience. Jerry was a much bigger hit then last year when my parents had a 'Norwegian Santa' come and stomp around the living room. He was a little intense!

Jerry was so animated it was better then watching the movie.

The grandkiddlets were mesmerized.

And a Christmas Miracle that Meghan and Wes both made it home for the holiday!

After Jerry left my dad spoke to the family about Jerry and what a truly remarkable man he is. Very inspiring, not only is he a lawyer but is a very successful business man in the Salt Lake valley, but last year at the age of 61 he went back to school to get his nursing degree so that he can serve medical missions for our church.

Then we started our Christmas Eve program where Nick, Drew and I played, We Wish You a Merry Christmas on our iPhones! Beautiful.

Then to really bring in the Holiday spirit the boys performed Poker Face for us! Wonderfully done! Then as always my mom played a slide show of Christ, with beautiful pictures and great music. Then my dad read to us from the scriptures. It was terrific to say the least.

Then it was time for wrestling and tickle torture! Always a good time!

This is why Drew is the best uncle! I can't wait for him to smash our kids heads with pillows! Ha ha they LOVE it! Anyway, then it was time for Drew and me to scamper home to open our Christmas Eve presents! Pajamas! The next few pictures will show you why Drew is my best friend and my Mr. Wonderful! He is the best sport and up for anything!

Our onesie pajamas! So terrific!

How great are these? Sock monkey and reindeer feet! Drew was SO excited! After donning out new PJs we headed out to drive around Christmas and Bible Street.

Driving around Christmas and Bible Street in your new pajamas has been a tradition in my family since I can remember. It is fun to continue the tradition with out little family.

Christmas Street as always did not disappoint!

Bible Street is where all of the homes have scriptures in front of the house that tell the Christmas story. It is one of my favorite traditions. It is fun to go with Drew even though he was jealous I had more scriptures to read on my side of the street to read!

Terrible picture but my favorite scripture (I am a little biased) Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace good will toward men." Then Drew wanted to start a new tradition, and I am always up for that! We went to Maverick to get hot cocoa. And Drew insisted that we stay in our onesies! And that is why I LOVE him!

Our pajamas were a huge hit! And can you blame people?

I cannot tell you how much I love Andrew!!

And my version of hot cocoa... Diet Coke! Just as amazing, and just as Christmasey! Now off to sleep and really celebrate Christmas... I just don't know if you can top our Christmas Eve.

I Want to be Here Right Now...

Just if you were wondering!

But Boondock's with these two, is pretty amazing!

Scrapper!

We made a run to the dump today! And became the ultimate scrappers! I'm not even scared to admit it! As we were pulling up a lady was unloading these beauties! Before she hefted them into the abiss we asked her if we could have them! We did a thorough exam of the woman and decided she was clean! Ha ha and off we went!

Couch and matching recliner seat included! Jealous?

In-Laws....

This is what I married into! And I couldn't be happier!

Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel...

Elementary school during Christmas time was magical! I get to relive those glory days with the kids I nanny! It's the best!

The other night we played with a dreidel. Caleb taught us what all the letters meant.

Gimel means you take the pot, nun means you do nothing, shin you have to put one in and hay means you you get half the pot. The game is over when someone has won all of the pot!

And this kid, Caleb, had the craziest dreidel luck. I'm pretty sure his dreidel was loaded so it always landed on gimel. I have never seen anything like it.

The group! We had a blast!