December 2015

We had so much fun this Christmas Season- though our plans changed dramatically and we did not end up going to Paris because Brad's conference was postponed. Instead we had a more relaxed holiday at home. The night before Brad was supposed to leave he had a kidney stone, and the morning I was supposed to leave it snowed 14 inches! Needless to say we were both happy to avoid the traveling stress being sick and buried in snow. Brad's conference has been rescheduled for March but this time he will just go for the 3 day conference and then come home. I keep telling him and am putting it in writing so it actually happens that we will get to go to Paris another time- we are young, there is no rush. 

I read in an article/or Angie gave this advice can't remember which that part of the joy of travel is doing/seeing something new- that doesn't mean you have to travel far, just experience something new. So we are going to try to compliment our seasonal traditions with new experiences. And my good friend Becca stated "Traditions should magnify not control your life." I love that motto in preparing and enjoying the holiday season. If the tradition continues to magnify our lives we will continue it, but just because it is a "tradition" doesn't mean it needs to continue.

 So this Christmas season we...

-1st Time Visited The Festival of Trees (I absolutely loved it- tissues needed. Brad was bored after the first row, and Jefferson liked to look around. So probably a girls night future event for me)

- 1st Time Did the Elf scavenger hunt @ Gardner Village (I had fun, Brad liked the history of Gardner Village, and Jefferson liked looking around, We found a great store for educational kid toys and did some shopping) 

-Tradition Took the train into the City to hunt for an ornament  and had a night out visiting the giant gingerbread house at The Grand America, the Macy's candy windows, the Lights at Temple Square, City Creek, and dining at The Red Iguana (taste of)

- 1st Time Took a romantic Spa Trip to Lava Hot Springs and left Jefferson with family. (So romantic watching the snow gently fall while being in the outdoor pools, and such delicious food. A definite repeat should happen, though Brad was not such a fan of his first massage.)

- Tradition Made Christmas cookies and delivered with carols to friends. (But this year sweet Marce baked with us- so fun and great baking tips)

- 1st Time Made Gingerbread Houses while playing Name that Christmas Tune with mom and dad J (so much fun, dad did the construction, mom did the architectural design, and Brad artistically did his own thing while I added the finishing touches. A definite event to do again).

-Tradition Celebrated a cultural Christmas Eve with the Jefferson family (this year we did a French theme, the food was delicious! And for the 1st Time we played a collective game of Sonic as a family- so so so funny.

-1st Time We opened presents with Jefferson and sang songs around the piano and Brad played his guitar. (Singing around the piano is my favorite Christmas tradition. After the first fun surprise, Jefferson figured out that inside the wrapping is something fun for him- so he had fun opening his gifts.

-Tradition We gave Jefferson a memorable ornament, and got a memorable ornament of the year for us. This year we got University of Utah football ornaments to remember all the fun football games we went to. (We have done this tradition since we got married, and my parents did this tradition since I was born, I even wrote out a ornament inventory this year so we can remember the ornament memories.)

-Tradition We had Christmas lunch with the Dennis family and gave gifts. (I tried out one of the boy's hover boards and went around and around in circles and couldn't get off.)

-1st Time We played some serious Sonic- and not once, twice, but thrice!!! in the middle of an intense game Jefferson turned off the Wii. He even crawled under the bench we put to block him. But later we found him trying to play on his own,

-Tradition We watched movies and relaxed. (Star Wars was fun, but the best movies were on the couch at home.)

- 1st Time We went to a dance party with our Latin friends for New Years Eve. (Jefferson was soooo cute shakin it. It was funny teaching the Boot Scoot Boogy to our friends. The Latins party like Americans without the alcohol for New Years, We each had 12 grapes and the party went all night. A definite party we want to go to again.)

-Tradition We celebrated Los Tres Reyes with our friends and for the 1st time made Tamales. Karla brought back the bread from Mexico and Maya found baby Jesus.

Jefferson is 14 months and cuter than ever. He is so funny toddling everywhere and teasing us. He is holding his own bottle now and likes to eat everything we eat, his favorite is Tamales, and lil crunchies. He knows the signs more and all done. His hair will make the Bieber jealous. He looks like an unhappy puffy marshmallow in his coat in his car seat. And he giggles nonstop when you poke his belly. He answers to Goose, McMonkey, and Duke. We can't get enough of our little man.