...December...

Happy New Year everyone!  Hope the year brings you all happiness and peace to you and your families.

Stepping back a little bit let's recap December...It was BUSY!  I was determined to have a nice quiet holiday season and Christmas and I got a quiet Christmas, but not a quiet holiday season.  However, it was fun!

We started out our December by going to Utah to visit my sister, her husband, my brother and his family.  They had a new addition in October and so we were there to meet the little guy and witness his blessing.  We had a wonderful time despite the cold!  I now remember why I left Rexburg, ID and came home to California!!!

We played and played and played with my nephews...they even used me as a jungle gym.  They are so funny and kept us laughing the whole time!

We were able to attend a session in the Salt Lake Temple.  I had never been before and I absolutely loved the experience.  I would like to go back again and again and again.  I realized this temple's meaning to me too as I remembered I had pioneer ancestors and my Grandmother's Uncle (I believe) worked here in this temple.  I felt very close to those who had gone on before me.  

We walked Temple Square and looked at the Christmas lights.  Boy was it COLD!  It was windy and blowing right into our faces.  Again, I was reminded why I love California so much...but I did enjoy the lights and the displays.

We were also able to celebrate Chuck's birthday while we were there with family.  We had dinner, a Cold Stone Ice Cream cake, and opened presents.  Chuck was great and let the nephew's help open his presents. We also ate at a BBQ place for his birthday.  Everyone loved what they got, but my food was WAY too spicy to enjoy.  

I apparently don't have all the pictures on my computer, I think other's are on my Mom's camera.  Here's one more from our trip though...

Chuck with the new baby!  So Sweet.

I wound up leaving my camera at my parent's house for a few days and so I don't have pictures of everything.  The next event for us was my work holiday party.  It was held this year at a beautiful hotel in Berkeley.  We got dressed up, mingled, ate really good food, danced a little, chatted with my co-workers and stopped for milkshakes on the way home!  

I then had an office holiday party also with good food, good conversation and an ornament exchange.  

My sister and brother in law came into town for the week before Christmas and we celebrated my Dad's birthday by going and seeing the second Sherlock Holmes movie.  Don't ask me if it's good, I was so tired from work when we went in the evening I really don't remember much from it.  

We ate, had good conversation, played games, decorated Christmas sugar cookies (a family tradition) and celebrated Christmas with them early.  

Christmas day Chuck and I had breakfast then headed to church for a nice Christmas program.  We then went over to my parent's to open presents and have lunch.  We then played Monopoly until dinner time.  Again, good food and good conversation and good company.  Christmas these past few years just hasn't been the same since my Grandfather passed away, but each year it gets easier and more and more enjoyable as we set new traditions.  

Chuck and I rang in the New Year together quietly (which is what we wanted since we had been so busy).  We had appetizers for dinner, and I had put together a few small "treats" for dessert.  We played a game that Chuck got for Christmas and then watched "Crazy, Stupid, Love", kissed at midnight and went to bed! 

*Note, we also saw "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" and "War Horse".  

Looking forward now to the New Year and all that it will bring for us.