Christmas 2015

Christmas this year was very casual.  We didn't have stockings, we barely decorated (not even a tree), and we had it 3 days before Christmas because of my husband's work schedule.  With me being super pregnant and having to pay for 1-2 doctor appointments every week, we weren't sure we could do much for anyone.  We were able to manage with a few simple things and homemade items for our siblings, and my parents are getting their first granddaughter so they're okay with that, plus we got them a few treats that they like.  Christmas was held at my house with just my husband and I and my parents.  Although small, it was still fun to cook dinner for them and open a few gifts. 

My parents got us a Cuisinart food processor! (And some ammo for my husband but I forgot to get a picture of that!) They knew I was looking into getting a food processor and they found this one for half off on Amazon! Awesome! There are so many recipes that say, "put it in your food processor..." and then I get sad.  The blender and magic bullet just do NOT cut it for some things.  Literally.

My husband made whipped cream with the
food processor the next morning!

My parents got a Burberry tie and blanket from my sister and her husband.  (He works at Burberry so once in awhile they get the good stuff for super cheap! They mailed the gifts to me a few weeks ago and it was so hard to not open them!)

My husband also got a tie and they gave me some Burberry perfume! It smells amazing!

My mom got the gun she's been asking for! Hopefully she will let me shoot it one day!

Please excuse the mess and my lack of presentableness.
37.5 weeks pregnant.

Of course our baby got some Burberry items as well! A bib, onesie, and hat! Can't wait!

Our dog, Sophie, had some fun too!

It's hard to tell, but she's discovered wrapping paper and kept stealing it whenever she could!

She likes bows too!

So it was time to open what my husband gave me.  He wouldn't answer me whenever I would ask if we were able to buy gifts for each other, and then he bought me something without telling me until the day before.  I opened the box and this is what was inside:

     

Um... what?! I sat there staring at it not knowing what to say.  Then he laughed and said, "Just kidding, I'll go get your present from the garage.  I didn't feel like wrapping it." Ha! And wait, how did I not see this in the garage?! He's good!

A freaking KitchenAid! He knows I've been wanting my own since the beginning of time.  I grew up using my mom's for pretty much everything.  Since not living with my parents for a few years, it's been weird and difficult to take the time to stir and knead everything by hand, especially being pregnant.  Pretty sure he got this for me because he knows there will be more cookies around the house now that I have this!

Isn't it pretty all set up? I love it! 

This Christmas, the whole holiday season really, I am feeling so grateful for everything!  We were able to get pregnant fairly quickly after a miscarriage, we have a house and a crazy dog, my husband has a good job, we have amazing friends and family, we are healthy, and we have the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is, of course, the reason for everything and I am SO grateful! 

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Thanksgiving 2015

I've always loved Thanksgiving. Family, food, and whatever else we can fit in... every year is different! This year, we actually took family pictures! My mom took advantage that both my sisters AND their husbands could make it to Vegas this year so I helped her schedule a photographer and a time/place and we got it done! The last time family pictures happened I was probably 10 years old, so this was pretty exciting.  My sisters and their husbands (including my husband) don't understand the point of family pictures, but as stressful as it is, I love having them.  It's nice to see how we grow and change throughout the years.  Plus, they make good Christmas presents for grandparents! Here are a few of my favorites:

33.5 weeks pregnant!

Other things we were able to do:

- We (my sisters, one of their husbands, and my husband) saw Mockingjay Part 2.  LOVED IT! Even my husband liked it... probably because this last one had a LOT of action in it.  He read the books a long time ago while we were dating so he couldn't remember much, which meant he enjoyed it more than he thought because he couldn't see what was coming.  

- Thanksgiving x 2. We had Thanksgiving on the Tuesday before so that my husband could make it (he works graveyard Wednesday - Saturday) and then we had one on Thanksgiving Day so that my brother-in-law's brother could make it.  Definitely fun to have it twice! I think Thanksgiving should be held monthly!

- Games. Various card games, Clue, and games from apps on our iPhones that connected together. Always a good time.

- Meet baby Noah! My younger sister had her second baby in September so this was my first time meeting him! He's so squishy and cute! I love him! He had his baby blessing at my parents' house on the Sunday before Thanksgiving after church, which was also my birthday.  I'm glad we got to be there for that!

- Be part of Kaden's shenanigans. He's almost 3 years old and so much fun! Funny story: my dad was scratching Jadie, their toy poodle, and she was making a grunting sound and Dad said that she sounds like a pig.  Seconds later, I burp (inside myself of course haha) and Kaden says, after a few seconds of silence, "You a pig."  We were all crying from laughing... I love kids! 

             My husband's shoes          
             

My dad's elephant skin boots

It really stinks that my sisters live in different states, so I hope that it isn't too long before we can all get together again! Happy Thanksgiving!