Merry Christmas!

Christmas was great.  Long.  But great.  It started at 5;30 a.m. and the last present was opened at around 10:15 p.m.  No joke.  But it was great.  I love Christmas.  Everyone is so happy.  (Even me when I hadn't eaten hardly anything ALL day and was tired and wanted to go home.)

Anyway, we got spoiled.  But that isn't important.  What is important is that we still made sure that the celebration was about Christ and family.

Christmas Eve we were with my family and we focused that on Christ, and giving, and family.  We had a really good time.  The Nativity play was hilarious but Katherine was a good Baby Jesus.  (She is 2 and can NEVER sit still).  And nobody in my family got mad or frustrated with one another the entire night.  Christmas miracle!!!!

Christmas was good.  I was up at 5:30.  Is anyone surprised about that?  Derek and I had our Christmas and went to his family up in Bountiful.  We spent the morning, went to church, and by the time we were home, Austin, Derek's older bro, had flown in from flight school (AF).  It was so great to have the entire family together.  We were there all day and it was great.

Christmas miracle #2 - my mom was supposed to work from 7:00-1:00 (she is a nurse) and at 5:30 a.m. she got a call saying we don't need you today so enjoy Christmas.  YAY!  Christmas miracle for mom and she slept well.  Another Christmas miracle.

We spend the evening at my sister's house.  Addie (my 7 year old niece) was on T.V. for a chior concert she was in and had about 8-10 close up shots.  It was awesome.  We had dinner, played with the girls, and opened presents.  

We eventually got back home and still had to do Christmas with my parents.  And we got spoiled.  My favorite gift is the beginning of the Willowtree nativity.   (Mary holding the Christ child, Joseph, a Shepherd, 2 sheep, and a donkey).  I am so excited.  We will just say Santa and Mrs Claus did a REALLY good job this year.

But that is the thing.  Christmas isn't about what you receive.  It is about Christ.  It is about giving and loving. So what did we give.  Love and appreciation to our parents.  Family calendars and Captain Bob and Mrs. Bob shirts to my parents.  A digital photo frame with all the pictures loaded to Derek's mom and just the flash drive of pictures to his dad (he is on the road a lot for work).   We draw names for siblings so for my sister and her husband we got a new game and their favorite candies (they LOVE games and doing date game nights).   To Derek's cousins (who's names we drew) a remote control helicopter and a gift card to some music store.  To the nieces: a little Nativity box to share.  For Addie (the science buff) we got her a tube you put in the bottle for blowing up diet coke and mentos plus a lot of diet coke and mentos.  For Katherine, the animal loving 2 year old, we got ABC bath toys, and a planet earth coloring book and crayons.

It was a good Christmas.  Hope all yours were filled with as much love, fun, laughter, and family as ours was. Also, I hope you were able to think about and appreciate the reason why we even celebrate Christmas (and I am not talking about a big fat guy in a red suit).  The real reason.  Christ.

Much love to all.  Enjoy the rest of the holidays and have a great New Year.

Temple Square

We went to Temple Square last night.  And we chose the best time to go too.  During dinner time on a week night.  Not crowded at all.  It was awesome.  The lights aren't as plentiful as during my childhood and years past.  But that is understandable.  Bad economy.  And, I think it is more focused on Christ.  We watched the nativity show on the lawn.  Saw the Christus.  Looked at the lights and all the different culture's nativities.  (They had a South American (Argentine for Derek) and  Maori (NZ for me).  Awesomeness.

We also saw the Joseph Smith movie in the JSMB.  And they changed it.  A lot.  I like the new ending better, but all in all, I like the other movie better.  I will say it is still very good and I think you should all go see the new one and see what you think.

We ended the night at the Salt Lake Roasting Co. for over-priced but delicious hot drinks.

It was fun.  A bit chilly.  But fun.  Sorry, no pictures though.

What Others Call It

My dad says, "What were you doing in the middle of a frozen lake?"

My sister says, "Isn't it ironic that the smallest one here fell through?"

Derek says, "Why did you leave your foot in there for so long?"

I say, "Of course."

So you can probably gather that I was doing something out in the middle of a frozen lake and yes, I fell though the ice.  Luckily for me, it was only to half way up my shin.

You see, here in Utah we have not been being blessed with our usual snows.  It is cold.  It is smoggy.  And there is no snow.  Boo.  I hate it when there is no good reason for coldness.  But we make the best of it.

On Saturday, Lisa, Derek, and I went hiking up Bells Canyon.  Part way up there is a lake.  The lake is frozen.  We walked and slid all over the lake (but not in the very most middle).

Derek found a full on Cabella's hunting arrow under the ice and dug it out with a large rock.  

During our play, I broke through the ice.  Luckily, it wasn't deep and it was mostly mud and I was wearing hiking boots and wool socks.  The funny thing was, Lisa had just been standing and walking right where I broke through.  Guess I found the weakest spot.  Go me!  I win and have the muddy pants and boot to prove it.

We didn't make it all the way to the waterfall because eventually being in so much shade and walking on snow my foot started getting cold for some weird reason.  But it was still really fun.

 I broke through just below this spot.  But isn't it cool how the ice froze?

Deck the Halls

We got our tree on Monday.  Christmas Trees are my 2nd favorite thing about Christmas (Christ of course is #1).

 Isn't it so cute and wonderful?  None of this fake tree junk.  Nope real.  It smells wonderful.  It looks wonderful.  It makes me happy.  And,  we inherited my mom's tree skirt because she bought a new one.  I am so happy I always loved this tree skirt.

 We don't have an angel for the top of our tree yet.  So if you look closely (the lights are a little blinding) you will see 3 birds.  They were birds from inside the ice block flower arrangement at our wedding reception.  

It is tradition in my family for each member to get a new ornament for something they did that year.  So our tree is COVERED is just random things and I love it.  Anyway, I found this one for Derek.  Isn't it awesome?

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

That is right.  He's making a list, and he's checking it twice and I tell you what.  The town of Helper, UT is getting presents, not coal.

What on earth is she talking about is probably the thought racing around in your brain right now.

I shall explain.

It is a Storrs' (as in Derek and I's) tradition (2 yrs. and running) family tradition to attend the Helper Electric Light Christmas Parade and it is hokey and awesome.  It makes the Christmas season official (even though the house had been decorated since the day after Thanksgiving.)  When the Santa float goes by blasting 'Santa Claus in Coming to Town' and covered in lights and people I couldn't help but get up and dance in the lightly falling snow.  That is right people it has at least snowed somewhere in UT this winter.

It was awesome.  I love it.  I would move there, but Derek said No.  I can't understand why...

And, I was prepared this year.  Not only did we dress a LOT warmer, but I brought food for the way down and a big ol' thermos of hot water with cider and tea to drink, blankets for the bleachers...

 Derek eating on the way down.  He wanted me to take a picture of the "awesomeness" of the cracker i gave him covered in homemade hummus and avocado.  

 I was so glad I brought the hot water and drinks.  They were helpful.

 Coca-Cola van.  It reminds me of the commercials when I was little

Sorry the video of the Santa Claus float and my excitement wouldn't upload.  But I am basically acting like a little kid dancing all around and you know what I have to say? "So what if I still act like a kid?  I still look 14, I think I have every right to act like a kid."  (Plus I think it is healthy)

All in all, twas great.  (minus the snow storm we drove through in Spanish Fork Canyon)...

Time for a break

So who goes road biking on December 2 in Utah?

Apparently, I do.

It wasn't bad until the wind him and the sun went behind the clouds (it was almost 4 by the time I got home).  It was fun, but I probably won't bike in this cold of weather again.