Another Christmas here and gone. This week has been a busy one. With last weekend's snow storm we got a bit backed up. We had our bi-weekly doctor appointment with Carissa's doctor now that she's in her third trimester. It's crazy to think that we're so close. Nana and Papa were in Kentucky visiting uncle Chris and auntie Chelsea and the storm delayed their return. They finally were able to come home late Monday night. Auntie Rainy and uncle Jason flew in from Salt Lake City Tuesday afternoon. Because of the snow still on the roads it was a long trip. About 6 hours round trip to the airport and back. I was going nuts thinking I was going to miss the kickoff of the BYU bowl game. I did but I survived. And the shellacking they put on Oregon State made me forget I missed the first 3 series off the game. Wednesday was spent shopping with the entire county. But it was nice to get out of the house after being cooped up in it for a few days.
Nana and auntie Rainy put together an amazing meal for us Christmas Eve. We had chateaubriand steak with Bearnaise sauce, sauteed green beans and onions, with roasted potatoes and Irish garlic butter. It was so delicious. For dessert we had molten lava cake with peppermint ice cream.
Leah was so excited on Christmas Eve. She helped me mix up some chocolate soy milk (Santa is lactose intolerant) and put some cookies and a carrot out for Santa and his reindeer. But then come Christmas morning she slept until 9am and she had completely forgotten Santa had come until we told her. Silly kid.
It was fun to watch her open her gifts, which were plentiful. She is certainly spoiled. Leading up to the holiday if you asked her what she wanted she would tell you a Ni Hao Kai-Lan doll. Her good uncle Jason and auntie Rainy gave her exactly what she wanted. It was the first thing she noticed under the tree. It was also the first thing she said in her prayer last night, thanking Heavenly Father for Santa for bringing her Kai-Lan.
Carissa and me went pretty light on Christmas this year. We decided not to get each other anything for Christmas. We both admitted that this was much more difficult than we thought it would be. In fact there were a few times where I literally had to put back a gift that I wanted to get her. We budgeted our money on how much to spend on Leah and many of our gifts to family were sewing projects that Carissa put together. It was an awesome morning watching Leah open and play with her toys. She's so much fun. She loves to pretend so two of her favorite gifts were a toy blender and stand mixer set and also a toy doctor set. She spent most of the day checking our vitals and then 'baking' us cookies to help us feel better.
We're just grateful that at this Christmas we were able to spend it with family, that we have a roof over our heads, food on our table, and our health. We hope all of you also had a great holiday and that this new year may be prosperous.
Nana and auntie Rainy put together an amazing meal for us Christmas Eve. We had chateaubriand steak with Bearnaise sauce, sauteed green beans and onions, with roasted potatoes and Irish garlic butter. It was so delicious. For dessert we had molten lava cake with peppermint ice cream.
Leah was so excited on Christmas Eve. She helped me mix up some chocolate soy milk (Santa is lactose intolerant) and put some cookies and a carrot out for Santa and his reindeer. But then come Christmas morning she slept until 9am and she had completely forgotten Santa had come until we told her. Silly kid.
It was fun to watch her open her gifts, which were plentiful. She is certainly spoiled. Leading up to the holiday if you asked her what she wanted she would tell you a Ni Hao Kai-Lan doll. Her good uncle Jason and auntie Rainy gave her exactly what she wanted. It was the first thing she noticed under the tree. It was also the first thing she said in her prayer last night, thanking Heavenly Father for Santa for bringing her Kai-Lan.
Carissa and me went pretty light on Christmas this year. We decided not to get each other anything for Christmas. We both admitted that this was much more difficult than we thought it would be. In fact there were a few times where I literally had to put back a gift that I wanted to get her. We budgeted our money on how much to spend on Leah and many of our gifts to family were sewing projects that Carissa put together. It was an awesome morning watching Leah open and play with her toys. She's so much fun. She loves to pretend so two of her favorite gifts were a toy blender and stand mixer set and also a toy doctor set. She spent most of the day checking our vitals and then 'baking' us cookies to help us feel better.
We're just grateful that at this Christmas we were able to spend it with family, that we have a roof over our heads, food on our table, and our health. We hope all of you also had a great holiday and that this new year may be prosperous.
Here's some additional Christmas pics from this holiday season. For FHE one evening we made gingerbread house. Leah surprised us with how much she did herself. At my dad's company Christmas party I got asked to play Santa. I joked that it took me losing 50 lbs to play the jolly old man.
Carissa showing off her sewing skills. This was for my brother Terrence and his wife Colleen.
O' Christmas tree! Who can find the Lakers ornament?
