I love love love Christmastime, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't just a teensy bit sad when it's all over. This year was wonderful as always, celebrating the birth of our savior, spending time with family, and having fun with traditions. One tradition I would love to see continue year after year was the banquet Daystar held for people that serve in the church at the beginning of December; it was so much fun to get dressed up and eat dinner with wonderful people. I uploaded 2 pictures below from the banquet of me and Jen and me and Enoch. Thank you Jen for taking great pictures! Alexa Stutts (a very talented photographer in our church-Google Alexa Stutts photography to check out her work) also took some very hilarious and memorable shots in her photo booth. Thank you Alexa for taking the time to do that for everyone!
Traditions at our home include making and eating alot of food on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! We tried some new recipes this year and we found the perfect Crab Dip recipe along with a very yummy spinach artichoke dip recipe, and a dip called Santa Fe Cheesecake was a huge hit. Us kids spent alot of time cooking on Christmas Eve while mom wrapped presents; then we all proceeded to fall asleep on and off while watching The Polar Express (Christmas movies are also a big deal around here-I lost track of how many times I watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and The Santa Clause). Mom never ceases to amaze me with her gift giving every year. It's like she can't help but spoil us even at the ages of 19, 21, and 22. My big gift this year was a dutch oven-LOVE it.
I try to do something crafty for my mom every year for Christmas; this year I used an idea I found on Pinterest (I'll admit I'm kind of an addict) to make her snowflake Christmas ornaments. It involved cookie cutters, fabric, and Elmer's glue. Very inexpensive and cute :)
Sighhh, now it's time to look onward to 2012 and the last semester of my undergraduate career. Student teaching here I come!
