Look at me, blogging!

Ha!:) This post was started on December 29th! I love blogging and set a goal this year to do it twice a week. Goal starting now.  My friend Rachelle texted me last week to ask me what was up with my blog, she said she feels she's the only one blogging lately, so here I am Rachelle, joining you in the blogging world again! So without further adieu lets continue the December 29th post :

Wow its been a long time since I've blogged way tooooo long. I didn't realize it until I wondered if I blogged about Christmas and realized I hadn't blogged since December 4th!!!!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

December has been a crazy crazy month for me. I worked three jobs in the month of December. I told Sharon that and she said what are you, crazy?  I am crazy I have a hard time giving things up and saying no so this December was way more busy than expected or wanted. I also played the piano for the children's choir at church and the choirs at the school.  I worked my normal two jobs the after school job for about 1 1/2 hrs a day, my Daily Herald job that is 4 hrs/ night and then the Bookstore job I did last year but only 2 hrs/day.  It was nice to have the extra money but it made life way too crazy and hard to enjoy the Christmas season.

I very much enjoyed the time once school was off and I couldn't work the bookstore and didn't have to work the after school job. I felt like I had so much time during those few days before Christmas.  Lou has been off since Dec 20th working on our house, slowly but surely I will no longer be living in a remodel situation.

The day before Christmas Eve we did a lot of shopping as a whole family getting gifts for family members and sneaking while at the same store to get gifts for each other.   One of my favorites was at Deseret Book I think between me and Lou we went to the register four different times sneaking gifts from the kids and each other.

On Christmas Eve we went out to lunch at Nicolitalias as per our tradition but this time we were joined by our dear dear friends the Uffenordes. It was a blast.  We then headed up to Salt Lake to Lou's parents house.  We arrived and decorated gingerbread cookies. We had  a nice dinner of soup and salad.  We had our Christmas program with costumes that Leann made last year, I was Mary, Josh was Joseph, Kira was an angel, Lou and Mark were Wisemen,  Jeff was a Shepard and Leann I think was in the inn-keeper. We sang songs and I played the piano.  We then opened Christmas eve gifts which were jammies for the kids and puzzles and games for us. We played Christmas bingo, which was a blast, ate yummy mint M&M's and Cadbury hard shelled eggs. It was then time for the kids to go to bed. After they went to bed we played a game called Discombobulation which I bought. It was so fun and so funny. the only sad thing is it is for 3 or more players so Lou and I won't be able to play on our own, I guess when the house is done we'll have to start hosting game nights again. (anyone interested? )  We ended the night by watching a Christmas Story (not my favorite).  The next morning the kids woke up super early to a grumpy mom.  We opened our presents. I was truly spoiled.  Lou got me a Kindle Fire, I was so surprised, I think my jaw actually dropped when I opened it. Its been so fun so far. Perfect little tablet for me.  Lou also got me a set of Simply Calphalon pots and pans. (He got it cheaper for what the link says) i love them already, they cook so evenly, they are so clean and nice. I just love them and love planning our dinners because of them.  Kira got me a case for my Kindle Fire, Josh got me this CTR ring.  Lou's parents and my parents fit in with kitchen goods it was just so perfect!

After we opened presents we had breakfast then headed back to Provo to go to our ward. We had to go back because the kids were singing and I was accompanying a friend who was singing.  After church we went back to Salt Lake to play with our Christmas toys.  Jake and Mandy came around dinner time we exhanged gifts. They got us a mini-donut maker! (yay, more kitchen stuff!) and the kids had fun playing with their cousins, Claire and Jane.

We spent Monday just lounging around and ate a yummy rib dinner before we had to head back to Provo for real life again.

Over break Kira liked to do puzzles, she can do 400 piece puzzles now. I don't think I can.  Josh liked to play on our new Wii.  It was so wonderful having them home. I miss them now that they are at school again.
Now we have been in normal school/work routines for a week. I love it because I  love routines, though I have been very tired lately which makes its hard to get up with the kids.  

So last week was a dream Jazz week for me.  I won tickets on Tuesday to sit in a suite, the Jazz beat the Bucks. Then on Friday I was invited by Greg Miller to sit with him courtside where the Jazz beat the Grizzlies. I will  have to write an entire separate post on my courtside experience.

Kira is already looking forward to Valentine's Day, she is making cards already for kids in her class.  I need to join her, January is my least favorite month, so looking forward to Valentine's Day is a great plan.