Christmas 2013

This Christmas was a million times better than last Christmas.

Last Christmas wasn't so fun because Payton had just been born and I was still really sore {and hormonal} from having a c-section.

Also, I didn't put much thought or effort into the gifts I gave because...you know...I JUST had a baby.  And that's one of my favorite parts of Christmas...GIVING gifts.

Also, because I was a new, stressed-out, sore, and hormonal mommy I never really got in the TRUE Christmas spirit.  I think I was too engrossed in the whole new-mommy thing that I never really thought about the birth of Christ.  Let me tell ya...I WILL NEVER LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN!

So THIS Christmas I did my best to keep my mind on Christ.

I thought a lot about our Savior's birth and everything else surrounding it.  I thought about Mary bringing the Son of God into this world and how heavy of a burden BUT also blessing that must have been to her!  I thought about the sacredness of it all and the humble way he came into this world --- in a stable.

So this Christmas the ornaments that I bought represented our Savior's birth.

This Christmas was more fun also because Payton was older.  Yes, she's only 1 and didn't understand what was going on at all, but she enjoyed opening presents and playing with her new gifts!  It's true when they say that Christmas is more fun as a parent than as a child.

Merry Christmas, Ya'll!

Can you believe I actually sent out Christmas Cards?

Meeting Santa at Bass Pro Shop

Christmas Eve breakfast at Rudy's.  Walking around with Cousin Brooke.

All dressed up and looking all grown up for church the Sunday before Christmas.

These antlers had bells on them and she would shake her head when she wore them so she could hear them jingle.  Or she would take it off and play with it instead of wearing it.

This girl was IN LOVE with the Christmas tree.  Her favorite was pointing {and trying to grab} all the ornaments.

She got a wagon for Christmas and it was an instant hit.

Watching the fire daddy made to burn all the boxes and wrapping paper.

She also got blocks and loves them.

Our First Christmas

Well, I guess technically our first Christmas together was last Christmas.

Which was spent with my family.

At our cabin.

With 11 adults.

5 little-ones.

Cramped quarters.

Playing games with my family where my brothers were on their best behavior...NOT!

And it was freezing outside.

Oh, and did I mention that we had only been dating less than a month.

Oh, and that he comes from a MUCH smaller family.

We only stayed one night, but it still amazes me that even through it all he was such a great sport and still wanted to continue dating me.

He must have really liked me.

This Christmas was spent in Houston with husband's family.

My first Christmas away from "home."

Honestly, it was kinda hard 'cause I really missed my fam...especially my nieces and nephews.

But it was fun to be a part of new family traditions.

We spent the majority of Christmas Eve

baking

sitting around the fireplace

discussing politics

eating

arguing about politics

eating

being entertained by Brooke

(the one and only grandchild...she's 4)

eating

playing some games

laughing

being entertained some more by Brooke

arguing some more about who knows what

eating

laughing some more

and then finishing it off with a viewing of JOY TO THE WORLD!

Christmas morning we
went to church
(with Elder Scott...his daughter is in our ward)
opened presents
hung out by the fireplace
ate yummy Christmas lunch
hung out some more by the fireplace
drank yummy hot cocoa
discussed/argued lots of things
and did a lot of playing with Brooke and her new toys!

ALSO...
we skyped with my fam!!!
I love Skype.
I got to see all my nieces and nephews and talk to them.
Oh, and my parents and my brothers, sister, and sister-in-laws.
Elliot came up and with his sweet voice told us, "Merry Christmas!"
Landon did his famous stare, obviously in shock over seeing us after so long,
and finished it off with a cute "Merry Christmas" as well.
Emery showed us her ballet dance.
Ian sang "Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer" and showed us his "hilarious" cowboy boots like Uncle Nick's.
Paige blew us some kisses and gave some really valiant attempts at saying our names.
And Jamison gave us the cutest little smiles.
We also did our sibling Christmas gift exchange.
The kiddos did the nativity...which was pretty much total chaos but totally cute!
Then mom came out with a huge bucket of presents for the kids to unwrap.
Again...total chaos.
All the while Nick and I are sitting in our quiet house watching this all on the internet.
I love modern technology!

And then a couple of hours later
Elder Mason Rhett Crandell called!!!
Can you believe that he comes home in 10ish weeks????????

{BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!}

Candy Cane Blossoms

Forget rolling out the sugar cookie dough to the perfect thickness,

cutting out the dough with cookie cutters,

and frosting them.

These are SOOOOO much easier

and cuter,

and yummier!

They're my new favorite Christmas cookie/treat!

Recipe from HERSHEY'S

What You Need

1 bag Hershey's Peppermint Kisses

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 Tbsp milk

Red and Green sugar

What To Do

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, remove wrappers from kisses

2. Beat butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla in large bowl until well blended

3. In separate bowl stir together flour, baking soda, and salt

4. Add flour mix alternately with milk to butter mixture, beating until well blended

5. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in red or green sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet

6. Bake 8-10 min. or until edges are lightly browned and cookie is set

7. Remove from oven; cool 2-3 min. then press kiss into center of each cookie

8. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.  Cool completely.

{ENJOY!!!}

I pinned it and then I made it...

This tree skirt.

I LOVE it!

Click HERE for directions.

I made mine a little different from them.
I used cotton material instead of linen 'cause the cotton was on sale for cheap.
I think I like the way mine turned out better.
It doesn't fray as much as the linen.
And I think it's a little more classy this way.
Just my opinion.

Anyway, it was really easy.
A little time consuming, but just throw on some Christmas movies and
get to some cutting and gluing and you'll be done before you know it.

PS...I still gotta finish decorating the tree :)