Running in Circles: Christmas

Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Hazel really got excited for Christmas this year. She happily made cookies with Brice for Santa, we wrote him a note and made sure to tell Santa that Rudolph was our favorite reindeer. We talked so much about the nativity and the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Hazel happily helped gather packages and loved helping me wrap Brice's presents- and she also enjoyed telling him what we wrapped.

#stinker.

Hazel got some awesome gifts from family members, grandparents, Brice and I and Santa. This year she got a scooter, a play kitchen, new duplos, and a magnetic Beauty and the Beast set. Brice and I replaced her special "Kajsa" puppy that she lost over the summer and has talked about non-stop. that pretty much sealed the deal about Santa for her.

Henry wasn't so interested in his first Christmas. He did manage to sleep in until 7:50 so we were thrilled! Henry just sat back and watched Hazel work and mostly he just wanted to snuggle with his mama. Henry got to open up some new shoes and bath letters.

We had a wonderful Christmas at home, just the three of us!

We were pretty bummed to "miss-out" on a family Christmas this year, but I was just about full-term and not loving or permitted to travel long distance. The holidays are just so great surrounded by more people and food and activities that you even know what to do with.

Plus we don't own any puzzles

#holidayfail

We spent Christmas Eve with friends for a potluck dinner and then had a fun Christmas morning watching Hazel open a few gifts. She finally got excited about opening presents and would ohh and ahh and yell "Surprise." She had a a hard time waiting though while Brice or I opened a gift too!

Brice has stayed busy making a mess on the balcony-sawdust has been everywhere! He's been busy making himself a standing desk for his office at work. It's turning out great, but I am not a fan of outside and inside spaces being overcome with tools, wood pieces, and sawdust.

I am definitely nesting, but not all that much more than my normal OCD self...cleaning, hanging pictures and curtains! (finally), organizing, and cleaning our carpets.

Hazel has loved playing with her new baby doll, reading a dozen new books, helping Brice "make noise" outside ( which translates to using the power drill), Skyping with grandmas & grandpas and helping me cook in the kitchen.

We feel so blessed and so grateful for the wonderful things that happened in 2014- and we can't wat to see what the new year brings!

HAPPY 2015!!

Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family!

We are so grateful for the spirit of the holidays, for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and for the fun traditions we have gotten to share with Hazel. She wasn't really too sure that anything was different this morning but she did sleep in until 8:00 am, so Brice and I were feeling merry!

^ Cookies for Santa ^

^ Hazel say "Cheese" ^

^Taste-testing the cookies for Santa ^

^ Gifts- Hazel is enjoying a new stool Brice built, warm boots, the cutest little beanie, new dishes just her size, and some fun new tractors ^

^ She thinks her new bowls are a stacking toy- yep, works for us ^

^ This girl isn't obsessed with new shoes- either is her mama ^

^ Enjoying "Monkey-bread" for breakfast and testing her skills with her new fork ^

We're really looking forward to spending some time with Brice's family and spending a little Christmas money that we didn't get a chance too. Thank you Hannah & Andrew for the tractors and game AND thanks to our cute neighbor Amberly for the beanie!

We've celebrated 3 Christmas' being married and have never had a tree! This year was going to be another tree-less holiday but Brice brought home green butcher paper, we cut up some tissue paper, and let Hazel go to town with the glue stick. Merry Christmas from students on a budget ;)

Hopefully next year we can have a real yummy smelling tree with lights and ornaments!

Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson

Riding Boots

Gym Bag

My Favorite Candle

Running tights
Nike Running Jacket

Instyle Subscription

Cake Stand

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear OR watching the excitement through a child's eyes. This girl seriously makes us so happy.

So does Christmas music, retro pjs, girly headbands, and her smile.

It is snowing this morning for the first time this winter and that helps too!

photo cred: Alana Dunn

Shopping for a little babe is so much more fun than shopping for Brice or myself for that matter. I think the gift-giving rule "one you want- one you need-one you can wear- and one you can read" is the way we will do things around here. At least as long as there's only one baby to spoil ;)

Evenflo Symphony All in One Convertible Carseat

Wooden Puzzles

Winter Beanie

Cute little outfit set

Classic Books for kids

We feel so spoiled after this Christmas!

Brice got lots of things to ~~distract him from school~~ keep him busy. A sweet Kindle Fire that the attacked, hacked, and fixed and a DVR so we don't miss any BYU sporting events or episodes of Chopped for me! Within hours of opening his Kindle he changed the programming and added the android system on to it. It is sweet!! He also got two sweet Iowa Hawkeye camping chairs, a Mad-Bomber hat, a new fleece Columbia jacket, and of course some new wrenches.

What is a Christmas to that man without new tools?

I feel spoiled to.. my presents revolve around my favorite addiction...Running! Brice got me sweet Nike running gloves. When I got back from my first run wearing them, I took them off and grabbed Brice's face with my warm hands! That was a big moment for us! I also got a sweet fleece jacket, new running shoes, a fancy food processor, snacks from my momma, the cutest dessert bowls from Anthropologie, lots of crafty goods, and all the wipes I could ever need to clean our car. (One of my biggest peeves is a dirty car- I know I know..wait until I have kids...)

We have a target gift card or two that we want to use to get some new games, so let us know if you want to join for a fun game night!

Thanks for spoiling us with all the swag we can handle!

This Christmas break was exactly what we needed:

too much fun!!!

We played lots of speed scrabble, Skip-Bo, and interrogate Andrew. Brice grew out a nice beard...and I hate to admit it but it is oh so sexy! We visited Amish Country, built all sorts of wood projects in Grandpas' workshop, went on walks in the woods, and baked and ate way too many Christmas treats. Played with Brice's new Kindle Fire (thanks Mom and Dad!!), put my new running gloves and shoes to work, built a wall in the basement, and caught up on some fun reading. We LOVED all the time spent with Craig, Heidi, and Owen. Teaching Owen to say "woot-woot" during the basketball games was my favorite part. We are so glad we got to spend more time with Hannah and Andrew and completely support their idea of getting married in Hawaii! I'm so glad Emily and Matt came into town on our last night so Quinn and Zack could give Brice a kick in the b-u-t-t!

Doug and Lucinda- Thank you so much for having us for such a long stay! We feel so loved and grateful for all the love and support you send our way. We have loved being spoiled this last week and can't wait to visit again!

Dear Santa,

We have been very good this last year! We both tried hard in school and have continued working. We play nice on our intramural teams, try and make new friends at church, and try not to get frustrated when certain neighbors leave their laundry in WAY TOO LONG!! We're not perfect, but I'd check us off as Nice not Naughty. If I were really lucky to write Santa here is what I think our lists would look like...or in other words:

ATTENTION Family Members: Here are our Christmas Wishes :)