A Very Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year, and I think Pete was even more excited than the kids this year (which is unusual as he will tell you himself he is a bit of a Grinch), that is because he got the boys a pet snake! This took some major convincing to get me to agree - I'm still a little nervous around her and refuse to be present when they feed her (frozen mice) but she is very pretty and the boys (including Pete) think she is cool. Logan came up with her name - Genesis, there is a girl in his class with that name, but it is rather appropriate for a snake, lots of "s" sounds. Other than the snake, we all made out pretty well. My parents were very generous this year and bought each family a Wii - which we haven't stopped playing since - I'm hoping to get in shape with the Wii Fit. I now understand all the hype as it really is an entirely new way to play and it is more fun with multiple players which makes it great family fun.

We celebrated Kylie's 2nd birthday the day after Christmas. We always have our Bangerter Family Christmas party (my Dad's side of the family) on the day after Christmas, so this year and last we've just met back at my parent's house afterwards for cake & ice cream and presents. It is very low-key but Kylie seems to enjoy herself, I'm sure as she gets older we'll have to do something different, but for now this works well. I can't believe my baby is 2 already - but she has been acting like a two year old a lot more lately. Her favorite thing is to flood the bathroom by unrolling the entire roll of TP into the toilet and then trying to flush it, oh it is going to be a long year. It's a good thing she is so cute!

We wish everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year! Oh, and Go Utes!!!!!!!

Christmas necessities

For me, there are a few necessities for the Christmas season:

1) black Friday shopping with my Mom - living 2 hours from any real stores, I try to get all my Christmas shopping done over Thanksgiving weekend and it is fun too (most of the time).

2) music, I LOVE Christmas music - that is what really gets me in the spirit - but I refuse to start listening to it before Thanksgiving - though I may cheat and play some on the piano before then - favorites: Kurt Bestor, John Denver & the Muppets, David Lanz, Enya, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

3) lights, preferably on a tree (and some years that's all there has been on our tree) but on the house is good too - I love to sit in a quiet room with only the tree lights on, it is so peaceful.

4) gingerbread cookies - thanks to Pete - he makes the dough, cuts them out, bakes them, and makes the frosting, he also does most of the decorating, though I try to help a little. They are very yummy and there are some friends and co-workers that have insisted he make them every year or else!

5) classic/favorite Christmas TV shows or movies:

*Christmas Eve on Sesame Street is a nostalgic favorite - I use to watch it every time it was on TV when I was very young and cried every time it was over, now I get to enjoy it with my kids.

*It's A Wonderful Life - in B&W, not the colorized version

*Elf

*A Christmas Story

And I hope to re-start a tradition this year with my own family that we did growing up - listen to "Don't Forget the Star" by George Durrant. We prefer to listen to it rather than read the book, as the narration by the author and the music really bring it to life. It is nearly impossible to find on tape/CD, but I was able to find a downloadable version online at LDSAudio.com so I've got my own copy now.

For any of you who want to see Pete's "manly man garage" I refer to in our Christmas card, here it is (it's huge!):

We wish everyone a very merry Christmas!