Our First Christmas '09

What an amazing Christmas break in beautiful southern California!! It was an absolute dream down there with the awesome weather and ZERO snow!!! We spent a few days with my family and a few days with Brian's family and we had a Christmas to remember!

While with my family we went to a street in Orange County called, "Candy Cane Lane," the houses on this street truly understood the meaning of "decking the halls!" It was mind blowing! All of the homes were beautifully lit and we could really get into the Christmas spirit walking this street!

Joseph and Ava

Bezza and Madeline (Mark's oldest daughter)

David and Samantha (Mary's youngest daughter)

Mark and Stella (his youngest daughter but his wife, Amanda is due with there 3rd in May!)

Brian and I (Brian holding Samantha, whom, by the way would not let anyone else but Brian hold her all night!!!)

Brian and Samantha

Brian and I decided that we would start a Christmas tradition of opening one present on Christmas Eve. We would choose which gift the other opened though and low and behold we both opened See's candy!! Brian got me my favorite See's candy and I got him his favorite See's candy!! It was hilarious, not only did we both get each other See's candy, but we both decided to let the other person open it!!!

Brian on Christmas morning... I could barely get him out of bed so I sent Whitney (Mary's middle daughter who is 3, to wake him up) But he was all smiles once awake!

Christmas time with Brian's family!!! So fun so fun!!! This picture is right in front of their amazing, right out of a magazine, Christmas tree!!! We opened present under the tree and ate a delicious Christmas meal!! Mick, Charla, Robert, Me, and Brian.

There was even a stocking for me!! I couldn't believe it! Brian and I were truly blessed this Christmas and everyday of our lives! We are so grateful for our families!

We also went to WoodRanch with Joel and Stephanie and their girls, Natalie and Sarah, but I didn't get a picture of all of us at the table!! I am still bummed about that!!!!

Last, but certainly not least, one of the many gifts we were given from Mick and Charla, was all of our bedding!! My dream bedding that I have secretly fantasizing about since I saw it in Restoration Hardware!!! I could not believe we were given so much!!!!

Let me just say that this is the most comfortable bedding ever, not only does it look like a cloud it feels like one too!! Thank you Charla and Mick!

First Snow Fall... and it just won't stop coming!

We woke up last week to one white world! The first snow fall of the season. We all know the song lyrics, "let it snow, let it snow, let it snow..." but make it stop!!! It hasn't stopped snowing for a week now!!

Really, do we really live here???

Our vehicle is absolutely buried...

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree

Best Christmas tree experience ever! We went to the Christmas tree lot expecting to over pay for our tree, well that was not the case! Brian went up to one of the guys working their and asked him, "which tree can we get for $25?" (Us knowing very well that every tree we had looked at thus far was at least $40.) But the very generous man showed us an array of trees we could choose from! We picked a winner! On the lot we thought it looked somewhat "mini" but when we got the tree into our living room we couldn't believe how perfect it was!

Our tree, pre-ornaments, it was a struggle to try and get the tree to stand up strait, but Brian managed to work it out!

This Santa was a hand-me-down from Charla, Brian's mother, the lights on it didn't work at first, but Brian didn't some "tweaking" and it works just great! We love our Santa Star!

All decorated and ready for Christmas time!

Short Story Time

Well, we did a lot of work on our old house, as you have seen. But we are sad to say that we have moved... It was just too loud for us. Living beneath 4 single guys with a house that is built out of paper was just never a combination that was going to work for us. But you live and learn. Now we have moved to a little more south orem than our previous address, and we LOVE IT! So quiet! Upper level of a 4 plex and great neighborhood!!!!

The down side... the kitchen was probably meant for people who don't care as much for cooking and baking as we do... all of one countertop and 2 full size cupboards. But, Brian, being the amazing man that he is, thought of shelves! He is a go getter, so once he thought about it, the game was on! We got shelves the very weekend we moved in! They are the best thing that happened to our little kitchen and now we have ZERO complaints!

The BEFORE'S

The AFTER'S

These amazing little green bins we found at Crate and Barrel! They serve an amazing purpose and fit nicely in my kitchen.

Thanksgiving in beautiful southern CA

Well Thanksgiving started with a BANG! The ten hour drive down to awesome weather was well worth it though. I was in charge of making delicious rolls and apple and pumpkin pie. I didn't get a picture of my pies (tear) but I did manage to take pictures of the rolls, which being my first time making them, got better and better as each batch progressed.

We went to the Grove down in LA Rob, Mick, Brian, Me, and Charla to watch a movie and eat some dinner. It is such a treat to be able to walk outside and not freeze to death. (Don't let the sweaters deceive you, it was way nice... but I always manage to get chilly)

Ok, so this tree was HUGE! HUGE is possibly an understatement at best!!! So beautiful and bright, getting the holiday spirit off to a great start!

Mick, (Brian's step father) busted out this Chef's hat the he got on set at CSI. Pretty much everyone had a go at wearing it, I'm bummed I didn't get a picture of Charla in it though, she wore it the entire time we played Pictionary. I would discuss the "event" that Pictionary was... but my team lost.

Such a fun trip! I am counting down the days until Christmas break! Back to southern California for some more sun and family time!

Brian's SURPRISE party!!!!

Well, it looks like I was able to pull it off!! The surprise party that Brian NEVER thought would happen! (Brian told me when we were dating that he would never be surprised at a Birthday party thrown for him because he would always be able to tell if one was being thrown...) Well on the contrary Brian!!! We did pull it off and YOU my love, were SURPRISED!!

Can you see that pretty lady in the back corner of the photo? Cute red and white hat on?? Ya, well Rachel helped me put all of it together! Also Charla, Brian's mother, who is not in any pictures because she is the very person who took this photo :)

The most delicious ice-cream cake from Cold Stone, I would have made the cake but I didn't have time!!!! Cold Stone was a great second choice!

As one of Brian's gifts from me was time to "play" in Guitar Center, I wish all could have been there to witness this. Brian went from amp to amp plugging in and out. He also picked the most expensive guitar to play with that he could get his hands on!

Before the party and Guitar Center we went to dinner in Salt Lake at a place called the Red Iguana. It is Mexican food truly authentic and delicious. The people who started this establishment are from Vera Cruz Mexico, seeing as how that is where Brian served his mission I thought it would be a good yummy fit for him!

Happy Birthday my love, I love you

Wedding Pics on my camera!!

well i just thought to add some of these pictures because they were taken from my camera on our wedding day by my lovely sister rachel lyons :)

i enjoy this shot because i have a lot of handsome studs behind me that are all smiles

typical biggest eldest brother littlest sister moment

my niece sarah was one of my flower girls, i'm really glad we got a picture with her and brian

some of my side of the family nieces and nephews, it was a treat trying to get all of those kids to stay in the shot for longer than a second

three of my nieces (starting from left) jackie, sadie, sarah, and sarah- brian's little sister