December 2011

Early(ish) December:


Ward Christmas Party Decorations:


Taylor Family Christmas Party


There were hundreds more pictures from the Arave Family Sing-Along and from Christmas morning, but I have shared those elsewhere.  If you are interested in those pix and you didn't get them from the Christensen family blog or email, let me know and I can share them with you.

December Rundown:
We had lots of fun this Christmas!  I was a busy bee making Christmas gifts, which was something that really helped me get into the spirit of Christmas.  Our ward Christmas party was at the beginning of the month, and my friend and I were put in charge of the decorations.  We had a very small budget and very big ideas, and we were able to pull it off pretty well I thought by using things we already had, borrowing where necessary, and in general spending very little.  Another friend and I planned a Christmas playgroup for our neighborhood and we did some fun ornament crafts, which turned out to be a big hit with the kids.  BJ and I went to a free dance at the senior center featuring a live big band.  That was fun.  We had a fun Christmas party at the Taylor's house, complete with nativity and musical program, and of course, the present exchange at the end.  A couple of days before Christmas, we flew to Oregon, and arrived just in time for the Arave Sing-Along, a 20 year tradition!  BJ and I sang a spoof on Baby, It's Cold Outside, which we sang as newlyweds 7 years ago, but this was the "7-year sequel".  It was funny.  Gabe sang "Silent Night" and did an awesome job enunciating and singing with a big voice.  Not shy at all, even in front of dozens of people he didn't know.  It was so cute.  We celebrated Marissa's birthday the next day by eating at Macaroni Grill and seeing "We Bought a Zoo" in the theater.  It was fun, but the kids didn't like the movie much.  On Christmas, we went to church in the morning, then came home and took pictures all dressed up, then we got back in our jammies and opened presents.  We like to drag it out for hours by only letting one person at a time open a present, and rotating who's turn it is by age.  Haha!  Tradition... The rest of Christmas break was spent visiting family, shopping, getting to know the significant others of Tayler and Cara (Heather and Dan), watching movies, doing a few crafts, and being sick.  Bleh.  Also, BJ and I took a vacation from our vacation (thanks Mom and everyone who helped watch the boys while we were gone!)- a one night stay at a bed and breakfast nearby.  It was a restored 100 year old mansion- and it was lovely!  We would definitely recommend it.  We were the only ones there that night, and the lady let us wander around and check out the other rooms.  We had dinner at a place called Dundee Bistro and I had the best pulled pork sandwich of my life.  I usually don't get that excited about food, but it was amazing and journal-worthy.  I need to go back next time we are in Oregon just so I can have that sandwich again.  Haha.  We made delicious fondue on New Year's Eve and stuffed ourselves silly.  We flew back home on New Year's Day, and were surprised with a washed and vacuumed out car (thanks, Mom and Dad T., for that surprise and for picking us up)!  We got in so late and were so hungry, that we ate and then went to bed at their house.  Fortunately the next day was still a holiday so we had some time to unpack and rest etc.  It was also about 55 degrees outside- can you believe it?!, so we had some fun with the kids at the park before going home.