Christmas Festivities 2014

Dallas and I made a list of things to do during Christmas season. I had wanted to do a service project - like Secret Santa or help at a shelter or something else...but it didn't happen. I will have to be better next year.

However, we did get to do some of the other things on our list. We watched a few Christmas movies, such as It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas in Connecticut. During one of our FHEs we also practiced singing and playing Christmas songs. Then, the next week we went and sang for our neighbors and dropped off some cookies. That was super fun. I really enjoy doing things like that with Dallas.

On one Saturday (the Saturday of our baby shower) we went to the Festival of Trees. I heard about this from Dallas' family during one of his grandma's family dinners. I had never heard of it before, but it sounded exciting, so we went! We parked about a mile away (because we ate at Chipotle and we decided to just leave our car there and walk since it was a beautiful day). I loved the walk and being with Dallas and I think we were both surprised at the amount of Christmas trees when we arrived. It was amazing! It is also such a great idea - I'm pretty sure all the proceeds go to helping individuals at the hospital. By the time we finished it was dark and I was super hungry. I hadn't eaten anything at Chipotle...the last time I'd eaten were the little snacks at the baby shower that morning. For the last few days, I'd been super picky about what I'd eat because I'd been throwing most of it up. That night I felt like eating pasta...maybe alfredo, so, we went to Noodles and Company. We both chose super yummy food. But...I still threw it all up later that night. :(

Dallas with a tree that his cousins made - an I SPY tree!

Amy with two amazing gingerbread houses - we wish they had
more gingerbread houses - we really liked them!

Dallas waiting for our food at Noodles and Company

Amy trying to get the camera back from Dallas

Another Christmas activity included celebrating with our ward. We enjoyed a dinner and played a white elephant game that helped us get to know everyone better. I really liked the way they did the game - everyone wrote down something that nobody else knew about them. Then, when their paper was read, they got to go choose a present. However, nobody was allowed to open presents till the very end. It went pretty quick and gave us a chance to get to know everyone better.

We also had a Christmas celebration with Dallas' side of the family. His grandma invited everyone over for dinner. Afterward we passed around some treats and toys while grandpa read a story - we had to listen carefully for if he said "left" or "right". At the end of the story, everyone got to keep whatever was in their hands. Then we ended with the nativity and singing carols together; some of the grandkids played the carols on bells.

For Christmas Eve, we went to my parents house and made dinner with them and Stratty and Lynnsi. It was probably the calmest Christmas Eve dinner of my life, but I really enjoyed it!

I'm sure there were more festivities, but this is all I can remember. Next year I want to be better about writing sooner, doing more service, and creating other traditions, both fun ones and Christ-centered ones.