A Little Pre-Christmas Cheer

This is the best time of year. I can't help but feel nostalgic and smiley and excited and grateful around Christmas time.  I LOVE the ward and family get-togethers, the delicious smells and FOOD, the constant singing, the lights and decorations around town, Christmas Hymns in sacrament meeting, and remembering the sweet story of Christ's humble birth. And I hope that I can pass on Christmas' spirit to my daughter.  

 I think she's getting it.

We aren't buying Scarlett presents to open on Christmas because I already know that there are some wickedly excited family members on the job, and I figure she doesn't genuinely care about much besides cords and climbing and food (She's especially passionate about popcorn, so we allow her to eat an edited de-kerneled version.  She comes from a long line of popcorn lovers.)

She also loves remotes, cell phones, and specks on the floor.

However, I am excited to shop for Scarlett next Christmas and find something that she's really into.  Maybe she'll be into dolls, or horses, or tornadoes (my nephews had a ongoing obsession with tornadoes, so cute and so weird). Shopping for kids is fun.

And apparently, so is shopping for ourselves.  Brian and I got a few Christmas upgrades in our home.

 We got rid of our big entertainment center and got these shelves and wall mount for our TV.  It looks nicer and makes the room feel much more open.

Brian installed a bike rack so our first babies don't take over our human baby's room.  Hurray!

And we got a dog! Just kidding, anybody who knows us knows we would never get a dog.  Some of Brian's colleagues hosted a little Christmas party.  Ben's cute pup Aidy and Scarlett really hit it off. Last time they met she was quite afraid of her, but that evening they reconciled their differences and got into each others' personal space and didn't seem to mind. 

 Ben. Home owner, dog-owner, host.

 Micheal, and Anh-Vu being a crazy fun Vietnamese man.

 Natalie and Scar-child.

 Puppy love.

 Intimate party of 4 men, 1 woman, 1 baby, a dog and a cat.

We even got presents! I got a Swiffer Wet Jet, Brian got a bunch of steak, and Scarlett got a monkey leash.  So thoughtful, they're all too nice.

To me, Christmas is about spending time and appreciating the people you love, and especially about  the Savior, His birth, His message, and the hope He brings to our future.   I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!  Family, we are so excited to see you next week!