O Christmas Tree...

We bought a new pre-lit tree this year.  We've always had colored lights in the past, but I think our tree is beautiful this year too.  I enjoyed pulling out all the old ornaments and remembering where we got them. I try to collect them from places we have lived or visited.  It was so much fun to decorate with Katie.  She loves the tree.  Now every morning since having the tree up, when I bring Katie downstairs from her room, she points over to the corner and says, "Look, a tree!"  It is the cutest thing.  It's like she can't believe there's a tree in our house.  Here are a few pictures taken on my cell phone, which actually takes really good pics, but these were w/o flash in low light.

Do you put up a real or artificial tree?

Christmas Party

We held our 3rd annual Christmas party for our friends a couple weeks ago.  It's something we look forward to all year now.  It is much less stressful to plan and prepare for than the Halloween party. :)We played fun games, ate tons of delicious food, and talked and laughed.  I made a lot of the food and everyone brought a dish or two to share.  There was food on every counter space available in my kitchen!  I don't think anyone left hungry. 

 

This is the only picture of me cause I was too busy hosting. :)

 

meat, cheese, and cracker tree that Stacie and I made, isn't it fun?

Traci and Logan

Amy and Scott (on the right)

Marcus, Bethany, Rachel, Todd

Brock, Jessica, Stacie, Ben

Cathryn and Alex

Jacob and Matt :)

(Haley was out with their newborn baby, so Jacob filled in as Matt's partner for one of the games.)

We played this game last year.  You put a paper plate on top of your head and draw a Christmas picture.  It is more fun than it sounds. :)  It is hilarious to see everyone's finished drawing.

We also played the popular unwrapping game from last year.  I think it's the favorite.  If you roll doubles you get a chance to unwrap the gift, but first you have to put on the coat, hat and gloves.  Sometimes you'd barely get the clothes on, and someone else would roll doubles and run up for their turn.  The present was a Subway gift card.

I didn't get pictures, but the other games we played were:

 

Christmas Characters Who am I? (an icebreaker/mingling game)

Christmas Hink Pinks (riddles with rhyming answers)

Wrap the Gift (couples stand together with one arm around the other so each have one arm free, then you have to wrap a gift and the fastest couple wins)

Right/Left (sit in a circle with each person holding a wrapped gift, listen to a story and when you hear "right" or "left" you pass those directions and keep the present you end up with.  We gave goody bags filled with candy, oranges, and popcorn.)

We also gave prizes for each of the games.

 

If you want more detailed instructions or handouts for any of the games, let me know, and I can send them to you.  I had a great time at the party, and I think everyone else did too! 

 

New family pictures

We had new pictures taken in November so we could use them for a Christmas card.  They were taken by our friend, Katie, who did a wonderful job.  Here are my favorites. 

Which ones do you like?



Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat...

In November, Jacob had the chance to go goose hunting with his boss and a couple friends.  He'd been looking forward to it for a while.  They had practiced skeet shooting at a range a few times.  He said they all had a good experience and their guide told them they were the best shooters he'd seen in a long time.  They got 37 geese between the four of them.  I haven't cooked any of the meat yet, but we did eat some goose jerky that Todd made, which was really good.  Jacob kept joking that we were going to eat a goose for Christmas dinner, but we didn't. :)  I'll have to cook it soon so we can try it.

 

They guys had to get up at 4:30 am to go out and set up all the decoys.

waiting for the geese to come

Dr. Gardner, Todd, Logan, Jacob

They are already talking about going again, but I think it will be a while before they do.

Thanksgiving 2012

This year we spent Thanksgiving at Rachel and Todd's house with their friends, Brett and Chantee, who drove up from Corpus Christi.  We each contributed food to the meal and everything was delicious.  Although, I need to remember not to make sweet potatoes next year because I was the only one who ate them!  Or at least I won't make so many. :)  These are the only pictures I took that day.  I guess I was too busy relaxing.

 

  In the morning Jacob played football while Katie and I watched the Macy's parade and I baked in the kitchen.  I also made stuffing and a pumpkin pie.  When we left the Kosters house that night, Jacob carried our dishes out to the car.  He stacked them precariously on the backseat and before he could shut the door my pie slipped off onto the driveway and the glass shattered into a thousand tiny pieces.  No more leftover pumpkin pie. :(  Oh well, it is pretty funny now.  Note to self: use a metal pie plate next year...

 

Jacob did a little bit of shopping on Black Friday while I stayed home with Katie.  On Saturday he went with friends to see the movie Skyfall and later I went with some girlfriends to watch Breaking Dawn II.  It was pretty good and I thought it was one of the best of the Twilight movies, but I am kinda glad that series is over. We also put up our new tree that weekend and decorated the house for Christmas.  I love the holidays! 

Family, Fish, and a Ferris Wheel

The weekend before Thanksgiving, we had a few of Jacob's family members come visit us.  His mom came with his sister Truly and her three boys.  They drove out from Idaho Falls.  (Yes, with three little boys.)  It was fun having them here.  One night we went out to eat and then enjoyed seeing the Christmas lights and fireworks at a local holiday festival.

Cyrus, 17 months old

We all went to Teagan's soccer game one morning.  It doesn't show it in this picture, but he loves playing. :)

We also went downtown to the aquarium.  Katie loved seeing all the fish.  I didn't love how she stuck her hand in the touch pool where the sting rays were and then wiped her wet hand all over her mouth and face.  Yuck!

We rode the carousel twice, which she liked better than when she rode for the first time back in April at Sea World.

She also enjoyed the train we rode through the shark tunnel.

But her favorite ride was the Ferris Wheel!  I was so shocked because her cousin closest to her age plus a couple of the adults hated that ride.  I've always loved the Ferris Wheel even though I am afraid of heights.  So it made me happy that Katie loved it too.

 

breakfast with Grandma Angela and the cousins

Kael (7) and Katie

Katie and Grandma

The day they were leaving Katie climbed right on in with her cousins.  I guess she wasn't ready to say goodbye.

Even though it was a short visit, we were grateful they could come and spend time with us.