Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and will have a fabulous (and safe) New Year's.  We stayed in Arizona for the second year in a row.  I did miss a WI Christmas, but overall Andy and I had a nice Christmas together...just the two of us.

The Nutcracker
The weekend before Christmas, Andy took me to see the Nutcracker in downtown Phoenix.  I have always enjoyed this show at this time of year.  It takes me back to my childhood.  Back to the first time I saw the Nutcracker when I was about 10 years old and my grandpa took me.  I enjoyed the experience and as a little girl it meant a lot to me that my grandpa took me to see the Nutcracker and only me...not my sister.  Since then I have enjoyed going in December and try to go every year.  It was a great holiday date night with the hubby.

Christmas Eve
After many last minute trips to the store Christmas Eve arrived.  We spent the day cleaning the house and making appetizers to have our friends (Mike and AJ) over.  They brought their puppy Cooper and this provided our dogs with entertainment.  Cooper tired out our dogs by 10pm, but he wouldn't let them lay down.  He wasn't done playing.  The three friends played until 3:30am.  This allowed for our dogs to sleep for the next two days straight.  It. Was. Awesome!  After that, I have decided we need to do more doggy play dates with Cooper.  After stuffing our faces with many yummy appetizers we played board games and watched movies. 

Christmas Day
After our friends left we opened our many presents that we received from family back in WI.  Again, we were shocked at how many gifts arrived at our house.  We were overwhelmed, again, at how many gifts were sent to us.  We spent about an hour opening everything.  I wish I took a pic of all the gifts under the tree for only two people, but I didn't.  I am horrible at picture taking.  I think that will be one of my New Years resolutions for 2013.  After presents we headed to the movie theater to see This is 40.  I thought it would be a very funny movie, but it was only mediocre.  Not as funny as I thought...it is a renter!  After the movies we made our own ham dinner at home and enjoyed the peace and quiet in our house while the doggies snored on the couch.

Overall it was a good holiday for us.  We spent a lot of time together and spent most of this month with our good friends.  I did not get all my cookie baking done this year.  I only made peanut butter balls and I did not make the Dove blossoms that I love so much.  I purchased all of the items needed to make the cookies, but just never quite got them done.  I also got my holiday cards out late.  Epic fail!  According to Shutterfly people will be receiving our cards between December 29th and January 4th.  Another oops on my end.  I was a little disappointed in myself for being so late, but time crept up on me and before I knew it, it was the end of December.  Enjoy our holiday cards when they finally do arrive.  One other thing I wanted to do this December, but did not get to: Zoo Lights.  I have been wanting to do Zoo Lights since we moved here, but again, time got away from me and now I will have to wait until next December to do Zoo Lights.