merry little christmas

  There are a lot of really good things about my job, and quite a few not-so-good things . . one of them being no vacation days and another being any time the residents are sick, I get sick too (I am just now recovering from two days with the flu)!  BUT, I managed to smile/beg/coax my way into getting three days off for Christmas and we just had a splendid time with my family in Merced!

For our Christmas presents to each other, Ben and I bought tickets to see the San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker.  It was awesome, if I do say so myself!

It was my parents' turn to host the Rowan Family Christmas Eve party and Ben and I were in charge of games.

Aunt Ellen won this Willie Mays "The Catch" Christmas ornament and Uncle Creed was so happy.  The game was "Who Can Name the Most Christmas Songs in Two Minutes" and Aunt Ellen was a shoe-in.

 The next game was two teams against each other in a race to unwrap all the Hershey's Kisses first . . while wearing mittens.

Then we played "Throw the Marshmallows Through the Christmas Wreath" and whoever got the most through in 30 seconds won.  Good times.


The usual "program."

Tommy wrote a *very lengthy* poem about his favorite soccer team - Manchester United.  It was hilarious.

Ty played the bagpipes.  Did you have that at your Christmas party?

Grandma read from Luke 2.

Then it was time for presents.  All the ladies received stained-glass pendants hand-made by Grandpa.

Christmas 2012

Christmas morning - I think we set a new *late* record with 8:00 AM.

Mom & Dad both bought each other new sheets.

Traditional Nerf guns in the stockings.

Emily bought everyone a present at the "Secret Santa Store" at her school.  Dad got a new tool set!  It was tender.

I got Ben this Colts Huddler.  No, not Snuggie,  Huddler.

My adorable new apron from Randy & Sandra.

We got to Skype with Elder Rowan, all the way from Pascagoula, Mississippi.  He's doing great, folks!

Before we drove back to Walnut Creek, I wanted to go "shopping" at Grandpa's Glass Shed and pick out a few more pendants.  Pretty awesome, huh?

~

The day after Christmas, my old roomie, Mckenna, had her wedding open house just down the freeway.  She looked totally gorg and it was awesome to see her and Joanna/Jack/new baby Molly!  Sometimes I wish my roommates and I could all live together again for just one week and it would be so much fun.  ...  But then I remember how I got annoyed by them and I'm glad we are happily married, living with our husbands, and still great friends!  ;)

Christmas Beginnings

Christmas time is here!  And it is so fun to decorate!

We love our little pre-lit four-footer!  At Christmastime last year, we gathered all of Ben's personal Christmas ornaments and when we unwrapped and put them on our tree this year Ben was so happy I thought he might cry!

Also, Ben's sister Kristi made this angel tree-topper and gave it to us last year.  Isn't it so perfect?

Kristi also made us these Christmas stockings and gave them to us when we got married.  They are too cute!

Ben's other sister, Ashley, made us the advent calendar.  Apparently it was a pretty big deal in their house growing up because I have heard so much about it!  The poem reads:

December first to Christmas is the longest time of the year.

Seems as though Old Santa never will appear.

Untie a candy every night when the Sandman casts his spell,

And Christmas will be here by the time you reach the bell.

Ben can recite it by memory.  You should ask him.

I sewed a piece of candy to each date's little circle thing and we get to take one off each night.  Attached to the final date is a bell that we can ring on Christmas day!

I am super impressed by Ashley's cross-stitching; the advent calendar is gorgeous.

I made this pennant banner one night and I am really proud of it!  Just a little ribbon, some cute paper, some hot glue, and a brown colored pencil!

I love our Christmas centerpiece, too!

Okay new topic.

Ben's company had their Christmas party on Saturday!  It was at the Exploratorium in San Francisco - how cool is that?  The dress code was cocktail attire/black tie optional and that proved to be a bit of a struggle.  I borrowed a dress from Mom and two from a friend in the ward, as well as some jewelry and tights.  I decided to actually try things on the night before which wasn't smart because nothing was really working.  Two of the dresses, I couldn't even zip up!  That has never happened to me before.  So it was like 9:30 the night before and I'm swearing off of ice cream (but not really) and wondering what to wear.  We decided we could go out shopping the next morning before I went to work but that was kind of stressful, so we were looking online to get an idea of where we could go and what we would find.  Then we saw that Kohl's is open until midnight, so we got out of our pajamas and back in our jeans and did some late-night shopping!  We had such great luck!  We found an adorable, affordable dress.

The party was fun.  Good food, good live band.  It was just so fun to have a dressy night out with Ben, and of course, I got to meet all of his co-working and they all raved about Ben's work.  No surprise there!

And last but not least, on Sunday we had our traditional Christmas sugar cooking decorating evening.

YUMMY!