Christmas Time

We spent Christmas Eve with my family, like we do every year.  This year we went to Toad's in Ogden to play some mini golf.  Dave had to help me with my game.  I am absolutely terrible at mini golf (and all sports)  Dave did really well though.  He got two hole in ones which I can never do ha ha.  My whole family was able to come which was so nice.  We all took turns holding my niece so each person could take a turn playing, she was so good about it.

After playing some mini golf, Dave and our brother-in-law Mike played the arcades.  As you can tell shooting up aliens really made their day.  Dave's smile says it all.  They are so funny.

I also got to snuggle with my favorite kitty, Joe.  He is the best kitty snuggler ever!

One of the traditions we do on Christmas Eve is to make some type of eatable craft. This year we used peanut butter cups to make Christmas trees and then pipes green frosting on to them. The best part of this is to eat the goodies at the end 

I would say that Amber's tree was the best one made. She was able to pipe that frosting very well onto the peanut butter cups, thus making a very desirable eatable Christmas tree.

Temple Square

Last night Dave and I met my parents for dinner at Temple Square.  We had tried to get reservations for The Roof but they were already booked so we ended up going to The Garden.  Our table was right next to the window so we had a beautiful view of the temple and all of the Christmas lights.  It was so fun to be able to spend time with family.  

After dinner we went and walked around Temple Square and looked at the lights.  We also stopped by mine and my Mom's favorite part, the large nativity.  We stayed while the nativity story was told and then reminisced about years past when we have come to see the lights.  I'm so glad we were able to make it this year, it really helps us get in the Christmas spirit.  I am so grateful that the Savior was born and for all that he has done for me.  I know my happiness comes from having the gospel in my life. 

Nieces Ballet Recital

Every year our nieces have a ballet recital a couple weeks before Christmas.  Dave and I really enjoy going and supporting them.  They do so well and get so excited to have us there.  This year they did "The Wizard of Oz".  I would have to say that I think of all the years that we have been going, this year was my favorite.  Maybe it's just because I have always loved that show so it was fun to see it as a ballet but I really enjoyed it.  The girls did great, it is so fun to see how much they improve every year.  My nephew had to hop into the picture, he didn't want us taking a picture without him.

After the ballet we went back to my brother-in laws house and watched "Guardians of the Galaxy" and ate pizza.  My little buddy came and snuggled with me for a bit.  I love that!

Work Christmas Party

Every year Dave's work throws an amazing Christmas Party, this year was no different.  I am always surprised by all they do for their employees.  We had such a fun time sitting with Dave's friends that work in his lab.  They love to tease each other.  They are trying to get me to let Dave grow out his beard, which is never going to happen, no matter how manly they say he will look. 

We had a really fancy dinner, it was so delicious.  I don't usually like pork but it was really good.  They had put a yummy chutney sauce on it so I was sold.  After dinner came the entertainment.  David Osmond was the MC this year.  He performed a few songs and then a instrumental strings group called the Bellas performed.   After that they had an illusionist from Vegas put on a show for us.  It was fantastic!  I have watched Chris Angel and David Copperfield on TV and thought what they did was impossible but it was even more amazing to see a show like that in person.  The illusionist who performed was named Rick Thomas.  The things he did were unexplainable, it was so much fun to watch.  The illusions were he would cut the boxes and pull them apart when they had a person inside of them were unreal.  I think our favorite part though would have to be the end when he and an assistant levitated and he passed a ring around her to show that there were no strings.  I don't know how they did it but it was crazy!

Afternoon at the Museum

Dave's work is amazing and has passes to Thanksgiving Point for their employees to use, so a couple weeks ago we went with my best friend, Lindsey, and her family to the museum.  We had so much fun together.  I never feel like I get to see them enough.  They live an hour away from us so we don't get to see them as much as I would like.  Dave and I have been to the museum a few times now, but it never gets old.  I have always had this weird love of dinosaurs since I was little.  My parents used to take us to Dinosaur Land in Vernal when we were little and I just loved it.  I thought I was going to be a paleontologist when I grew up.  So needless to say I still have fun going and looking at dinosaur bones.  Dave and I both like the brontosaurus best.   Lindsey's kids were loving the area that has water and sand with toy dinosaurs so Lindsey and I got to catch up while Dave and Brian played with the kids in the water.  After the museum we tried a new restaurant in American Fork, The Wild Zucchini. It is like Cafe Rio only it is Italian food.  I had a salad and it was really delicious so I'm glad we tried it out.  

United for Adoption

Dave and I had the opportunity to attend United for Adoption's Second Annual Conference in November.  It was such a good experience and I am so glad we went.  It was so nice to meet and connect with people who are in our same situation and understand the ups and downs of the adoption process.  There were some really great classes and we learned so much.  We went to a class about communication and it just reinforced to me how much I want to have a good relationship with whoever becomes our birth mother.  A birth mother there talked about how talking to a birth mom was like talking to a human.  It was a funny thing to say but so true!  We all have fears and are in uncharted territory.  It was good to realize that she is probably just as nervous and scared as we are.  We also went to a class on positive parenting.  This was Dave's favorite class and I really enjoyed it as well.  The therapist teaching the class had actually been adopted when he was a teenager and it was so helpful to see things from a different perspective.  Lastly, we were able to attend a birth mother panel.  It was our first time attending one and it was so helpful to hear how things are from a birth mother's perspective.  Open adoption is amazing!  Adoption really is about love.