holiday fun

 christmas has come and gone already,

but as busy and sick as i've been i'm just now getting 

around to posting about it. 

we'll let the pictures do the talking!

{going to the nutcracker for the 12th time, literally}

 friends.

we had a yummy dinner at red butte.

and a lovely night catching up.

the snow was falling like crazy,

it was a perfect night for lots of cozying up,

laughing and sharing stories.

cute linds, em and laura.

sure love them.

jules, jane and cait.

what babes.

friends are the greatest.

this break with friends:

movies, parties, dinners, double dates,

new years, chitchats, black tie event and pictures.

happy 2011!!!

here are lovebird's friends.

we brought in the new year with them.

apples to apple, toasts, and....

our own ball drop.

 {first picture in 2011}

a puppy?

meet oatis.

no words quite describe his cuteness.

you could say i'm in love with him.

only one problem....

he's not ours. he belongs to crew.

santa brought him fro crewser.

ironic, right? considering i was the one who

asked for a puppy.

it's okay, i'm still in love.

gifts unwrapped

well, well well....
woke up to a lovely christmas, yet again.
(man, santa claus is good)

pearl earings. a husband's requirement for every wife. and i got mine! yay.
camera bag. "so sick", as lovebird would say. thanks core.
clothes. can't go wrong there.
a new painting for our house. we love it.
candles. i'm obsessed, in case you didn't know.
a new purse. never can have too many.
nail polish. excitement.
books. i'm a reader. thrilled.
orange peeler. trust me, you'll want this one.
a phone call from a missionary. pure joy.
falling whistle. (personally my favorite gift.)
a nixon watch. yes, that makes several for lovebird. but, he loves them.
boots. obsessed. i've had my eye on them for quite sometime now.

the list goes on. and obviously, i listed more of mine than i did of lovebird's. but that is simply because i'm overly excited about my gifts. i wasn't expecting a thing, and of course i was blessed. now, i know christmas isn't about the gifts... but, i still wanted to share.

also, sorry for not blogging so often. i have come down with a nasty flu. i couldn't even get myself out of bed yesterday. so, stay healthy! wash your hands every five seconds. trust me, you don't want this.

family spells christmas

i had a moment today.

in fact, a very uplifting one.

today, as i sat the table for my family of eight for Christmas eve dinner

i realized at that very moment that those were the most 

important people in my life.

family.

i am so lucky to be able to spend the holidays with my dearest family.

i am much anticipating their company.

my heart aches to those that aren't as fortunate to look across the dinner table

and know that they have a family who loves them with all of their heart. 

i certainly consider this one of my richest blessings.

my heart also aches for the homeless, the needy, the orphans and those

lonely souls out there at this time.

i wish with my whole heart, that there was something great enough that i could do 

to replicate what a home and family feels like.

i know this may be deep.

but i had to "record" my uplifting moment of the day.

it was too important to go unnoticed. 

please cherish your family as you have a lovely Christmas. 

count down

{our little christmas tree}

christmas is coming....

and our little home is decorated!

we are ready.

bring on the holidays!

lovebird and i are anxiously awaiting to celebrate

our first christmas together as lovebirds.

plus, it's a little more special than usual, because lovebird

grew up in jewish household. so....

so many christmas traditions and ideas are new to him.

and isn't he lucky to be married to someone so in love

with christmas? well, holidays in general.

he's in for a treat.

the advents have started.

{i purchased this one this year}

our house glows from the candles.

the christmas tree is delightful.  

our fireplace holds two stockings

and a garland i made.

check it out....

and best of all we are ready to start our own traditions.

they are so important to me.

what are your holiday traditions?