Day One Hundred and Ninety-New Years Eve

Doug and I both had to work all day today before we could party. To celebrate New Year’s Eve we went over to Brock and Aubrey’s place. We had pizza and then played Settlers. They got the game for Christmas just like we did. Brock of course killed us all but it was fun playing. Doug now loves the game and likes to think about new strategy he can use the next time he plays. The last time I had played was with Rob and Valerie back a million years ago when I was around 12. We can’t wait to go see Val and Rob one day and play with them.
After the Settlers game Megan, Jared, and Jared’s sister Emma came over. We talked for about an hour or so and then rang in the new year with some apple cider and mid night kisses ;)

Doug and I went home and stayed up until 3:45am watching the 7th season of 24. We started it while in California and have to finish before school starts next week!

I really can’t believe this year is over. 2009 was an amazing year, but I never thought 2010 could have topped it. Highlight of the year was marrying the best looking man ever. I’m excited to see what 2011 will have in store for us. We will be going to Europe with my parents this year and will celebrate our 1 year anniversary. We’ll see what else happens, let’s just hope for another year like 2010.

Day One Hundred and Eighty-Nine- The 3 Musketeers

Dear Snow, I’m sick of you already! Thank you for getting my car stuck in you this morning going up a drive way, it was the perfect way to start the morning. The temperature is 20 degrees with wind chill so it’s a lot colder! I’m not sure I can handle another winter of these bitter temperatures. Call me a wimp or whatever you want, I don’t even care. I’m not suited to live in the snow long periods of time.

Tonight two of Doug’s good friends he grew up with came over for dinner, Reed and his wife, Lisa, and Brock. Of course if Brock came over, I had to have Rachel come over too. I have to take advantage of her being up here. Anyway, Doug had a really good time watching football games and catching up with Reed and Brock. The three of them are so cute together. Is that weird of me to say? Oh well, they are the type of friends who even though they haven’t seen each other in a long time, they get back together and it’s like nothing has changed for them. They are still those little boys that grew up together. We had a lot of fun with all of them tonight and are so glad they were all able to come over.

Day One Hundred and Eighty-Eight-Snow Day

Today was my first real snow day of the season. I was at work all day and so I didn’t have to go outside too much. It snowed/rained most of the day and then around 5pm the temperature dropped and the wind picked up. So we had snow blowing everywhere. My boss Doug was kind enough to give me a ride home in the storm. He was a pro driving in the ice and snow covered roads. Doug, my hubby, wasn’t feeling well or else he would have braved the weather to come get me.

While at work I decided to practice taking some pictures with our new camera....here they are...

Day One Hundred and Eighty-Seven-Cutest little guy

Tonight we went over to Brad and Tamara’s for dinner and then we went to Trafalga with their family. We all the unlimited passes and so we get to do everything there for free. If your wondering what Trafalga is, don’t you worry I will tell you because I had no idea what it was when I first got to Utah. I like to compare it to Golf n’Stuff. It has mini golf and then a bunch of fun activities. The one in Lehi has a 9000 square foot lazer tag course and a huge rock climbing wall. Tamara was a rock star and climbed ¾ of the way up the wall and I didn't even try.
After Trafalga, we went back to their house and Tamara taught us a little about our camera, since she is the camera expert in the family! It was SOOO helpful! I now like to think I know what I’m doing when I take a picture but I still have a lot of learning to do.
Here are a few practice pictures

Isn't Benjamin a stud? (Tamara took this picture)

Day One Hundred and Eighty-Six-NEW CAMERA

Back to work for Doug and Sick day for me. What I failed to mention before was that I was sick basically the whole time in California. Today I woke up and it was pretty bad. I had lower back aches and a head ache. I decided to stay home and try to get some laundry done. I only got some of the laundry done because I couldn’t sit up for very long because of my back.
Anyway, high light of the day was we got our camera. This was a Christmas gift we got for both of us. We are way excited to go over to Brad and Tamara’s tomorrow to have her teach us how to use it!!

Day One Hundred and Eighty-Five-Heading back to Utah

We woke up quite early again to hit the road back to Utah. The drive back wasn’t too bad because I seriously slept most of the way. I’m glad we were able to drive down and back with Camille and George and spend time with them. They are such a fun couple. I’m so excited for Camille to have her sweet baby in February.
Doug and I had such a good time in California, but it just went by way to fast. I’m glad I we were able to spend the amount of time we did with both of our families. I loved being around family and getting to know the Bell’s a little more.

Overall Christmas break was huge success!!

Don't mind our road trip faces. I was asleep for most of the drive.

Day One Hundred and Eighty-Four-Christmas Day

Christmas morning we watched Bree and Dixie open up their gifts and then we went over to Jason’s parent’s house for more present opening and food. The Miles were kind enough to have us join in on the fun of opening up gifts with them. They gave us quite a few gifts along with their kids. After presents we hung out and ate Reds. It is a really yummy bbq place in Simi. The boys then all headed to the living room to watch the Laker game…big surprise there. Finally it was time to leave the Miles house. We packed our things up at Stephanie and Jason’s and went to the Bells. It was really hard to have to say good bye to them….especially the girls. Dixie didn’t want Doug to leave and just wanted him to hold her. I wish I could have spent more time with them…but that’s what you get when you’re splitting time between families. Even though it was short, I’m glad Doug and I were able to spend the time we did with them. These are the times and memories with them I cherish.
As we headed out to the Bell’s house that night I couldn’t help but think about how much I don’t want to go back to Utah! Why did I ever leave this beautiful place? That’s right I followed the man of my dreams and luckily it worked out. If it weren’t for him, I would be back in California in a heartbeat. I have such a hard time leaving California for a place that gets blankets of snow! I told Doug that night on our drive this is what I love about Christmas…It’s warm, no snow, I can walk outside without a jacket on, and you can go to the beach if you want.
When we got to the Bells we played a few card games and then watched Inception. It was our second time watching it and I was still a little lost at some parts. We sure do love that movie though.

Our first Christmas morning together. Don't mind our half asleep looks
The girls and their lolly pops from their stockings


Bree and her new doll from Grandma Pam. Isn't Bree the cutest?

Love my sister
Seriously how do you say goodbye to a face like this?

Day One Hundred and Eighty-Three-Christmas Eve aka Craft Day Part 2

Today we all got up and started crafting again. Mom Bell told us we had to be done and have the table cleaned off by 3 to help with dinner. So we made the most of our time and cranked out a bunch more crafts. By the end we all had made A LOT!! I felt so bad for Doug, I pretty much had neglected him for 2 days while I sat at the kitchen table with my sister-in-laws to do some crafts. Good thing he loves me so much and understands.
After the crafting was over we cleaned up and got ready for Christmas Eve dinner. Before helping with dinner, Doug and I ran over to Rachel’s so I could give her a Christmas gift. I’m glad Doug was able to come too, because he got to spend some time talking with Brock.
Back at the Bell’s house, we helped set the table, and make last minute food. I LOVE the Bell’s traditional Christmas Eve dinner. It was sooooo good. But wait, don’t even get me started on the dessert we had. It was a definite party in my mouth. It was oreo crust with mint ice cream, then fudge or some type of chocolate, and whipped cream. Doesn’t that sound amazing? After dinner, Dad Bell gave us a spiritual message relating to how we spend our time and certain relationships that we need to continuously nourish. It’s a tradition in the Bell family that everyone that is there Christmas Eve gets a present related to the message. We got beautiful clocks that say Family’s are forever in the middle of it. Overall my first Bell Christmas Eve was a blast and one I will never forget.
After the festivities of the night were over at the Bell house we drove out to Stephanie’s house again so we could be with them on Christmas Morning. When we got to their house they were all in Steph’s bathroom getting their nails painted by Bree. Even Jason was getting in on that action. He had is finger nails painted a zebra print and his toes where just a plain color. We tried to get Doug to get his painted too, but he settled for a clear coat instead of a color.

All the crafts after 2 days
Rachel and I
Doug and Brock
The Bell family Christmas Eve Crew

Day One Hundred and Eighty-Two-Craft Day

Today is what I like to call girls craft day at the bells. Mari, Lori, Julie, and I crafted from 1pm to 10pm straight. We only took a few breaks for dinner and Joann’s runs. We made a bunch of head bands and flowers out of fabric that Lindsey taught us how to do. It was a lot of fun spending all day with them. There were quite a few laughs during the day along with burns from the hot glue gun. Thanks for teaching us Lindsey!

At the beginning

At the end of the day and Mari is still smiling

Day One Hundred and Eighty-One-Girls Day

Isn't this the cutest face ever?
Today was another day at the Steph’s house. Doug left early to go to his house and so steph and I had some time to ourselves. We took Dixie for a walk and boy does she love the outdoors. Cutest thing ever happened, we were walking by a tree and we stopped to look at the leaves. I pulled a leaf off the tree and the water that was on the tree went all over Dixie. She laughed and laughed and laughed. Stephanie and I then had to do it over and over again at every tree we passed.
That night Rachel picked me up from Steph’s house and we went to Nikki’s house for a girl’s night. It was so good to catch up with them and eat lots of goodies. There was tons of laughing and joking and trips down memory lane. By the end of the night you would have thought we were all on something, we were laughing at anything and everything. We were about to leave and Rachel couldn’t find her keys. She had looked everywhere. So we dumped out her purse to try to find them. After cleaning it out, still no keys. Then I looked through her pile of stuff that she was taking home and there they were. We spent an extra 15 min going through her purse when they were with her stuff all along. Girl’s night was a lot of fun. We did miss Stephanie and Loreal though. Hopefully next time they will be able to make it.

Day One Hundred and Eighty-Painting with Steph

After taking my parents to the airport this morning we drove out to Steph’s house in Moorpark. This was our first time at her new home and boy was it beautiful! I can’t even tell you how excited I was to get to see Bree and Dixie. Bree is SOO big now. It’s so fun to be able to have a real conversation with her. She really is growing up so fast. Ms. Dixie is soo fun to play with. She has a thing for men and so who did she want to go to the whole time…DOUG. She loved being held by him and always wanted to play with him. That day we went thrift store shopping and bought some fun things to paint. Here are a few pictures of the things we painted.

Day One Hundred and Seventy-Nine-Candy Cane Lane

Today we were able to just spend some nice time with my parents. Doug and I ran a few errands and then just stayed at home with my parents. That evening we drove down Candy Cane Lane in Oxnard. It is 2 streets with historic homes that decorate their homes for Christmas. Usually we walk up and down the streets but because it was raining we opted to just drive. It was nice to spend some quality time with my parents.

Day One Hundred and Seventy-Eight-Christmas a little early

Since we were at my parents house for a few days we were able to go to my home ward for church. It was so nice to see a bunch of people I grew up with. My ward had a beautiful Christmas program that really brought the spirit in the meeting. That evening my parents gave Doug and I our Christmas presents. My dad gave Doug these things called Bucky Balls. They are basically magnetic balls. Doug spent HOURS playing with them. This is a picture of Doug showing my dad how to make the balls into a cube.