Christmas Eve

Its Dinner Time in the City

This year since I am very pregnant, Caleb and I had a quiet Christmas at home. On Christmas Eve we had a fabulous meal prepared by Caleb. We ate ham, funeral potatoes, green bean casserole (which I don't like) and jello (which I made). We carried on the tradition started in my family many years ago. Once dinner starts the lights go out and you use candles for the rest of the night. We had one small catch this year and that is that we did not have any candle sticks to put on our candelabras. This did not stop the fun though because we had fat candles to use. Once dinner was over Caleb and I played the part of my dad who insists on using the regular lights to do the dishes. I must admit it is much easier to do the dishes with regular lights.

 

Caleb pigging out on his second helping

Me with my first and only plate.

Caleb finishing his second helping.

Earlier in the Day

Another tradition we have in my family is preparing goody plates for our neighbors and friends. So I spent a portion of Christmas Eve baking cookies and making puppy chow. Later that evening we delivered plates to our neighbors.

Here I am cleaning up after the baking the cookies. One of the down sides of pregnancy that no one told me about is the fact that a pregnant belly tends to collect food spots on the under side of it and of course you cannot see them there (powdered sugar).

The plates of cookies and the puppy chow. The puppy chow was then put in the middle of the ring of cookies.

The Finished Tree

Camberly got started decorating the tree as soon as I got it in the door. Camberly decided to keep the tree decorations simple. I think it looks wonderful. What do you think?

The finished tree.

Camberly by her work of art.

Saturday Fun

Ward Christmas Party

We started our Saturday with the ward Christmas brunch. Camberly and I brought a breakfast casserole. We ate first and then the primary put on a program. The program was very funny and entertaining.

Christmas Tree Shopping

After the ward Christmas party we went Christmas Tree shopping. Last year we went to this farm just east of Rochester called Wilbert's Christmas Trees. We decided we like the experience so that is where we went this year. This is how it works you are give a hand saw and a tree wagon and then you are sent out to cut down the tree of your dreams. Here are some pictures of our experience.

Camberly picked this one. It was the 4^th or 5^th tree we stopped to look at.

Me cutting the tree down, which was harder than it looks. It only took 20 minutes to cut down, ok more like 5 minutes.

Camberly and I have a 50/50 relationship and since I cut down the tree it is just natural that she pulled it back to the car. Ok, so this picture was staged, I pulled the tree back to the car.

We got it all strapped down to the top of the car and headed home.

Happy Birthday Caleb!

Happy Birthday Caleb. I just wanted make sure you knew that I love you and am so glad we have had the past seven years together. You are a great husband. Thank you for all the things you do around the house and taking care of the cars. Things that I often take for granted. I am so excited for the baby to get here (maybe he will look like you--pretty cute). Enjoy this last year in your twenties. Love you.

Lots of posts at once

It seems that I tend to blog in spurts. This is probably related to the fact that I download and label the pictures only periodically. So today there are several new things.

This is one of my favorite pictures of the dogs. It is just the way they often sleep. Sylvester loves to curl up in a tight ball with his head on a pillow. Sadie likes to lay on the top of the futon all sprawled out. Usually she stares out the window waiting for something to bark at.

Dog-Baby exposure

With the baby on the way we have been wondering how Sadie and Sylvester will take the new addition to the house. They have not really had any exposure to babies. Friday we offered to watch Ethan so his parents could go out and also to give the dogs a little baby exposure. At first they were nervous. Then they warmed up and wanted to sniff and lick him. By the end they could have cared less that he was there (especially Sylvester). Sadie is usually not much of a licker but baby slober must taste great because she wanted to lick his feet, hands, face, head, etc. It was a good first encounter for them and hopefully means they will do pretty well. Although I am sure if they will be a little jealous not always getting all the attention anymore.

Cradle

This is the cradle that Caleb's parents gave us for the new baby. I got some cute boy bedding to go with it. Now all we need is that baby to get here in a couple months. It is so fun to gradually get more ready.