Mary did you know?

There are two Christmas songs that I don't like...
1) Mary did you know. Lindsey and I always laugh when we hear it together because both of us hate it and we hear it ALL the time.
2) The Christmas Shoes. Just give the kid the shoes already you greedy store keeper! Sheesh. The ultimate in depressing.

Anyways. The Christmas celebration continues.
December 6th: We had Christmas FHE at our Bishop's house. We went around the circle and told some of our favorite memories of Christmas, and fun traditions that we do. I told The Dollhouse Story, which is one that I will never forget. Oh you sneaky family you. It still makes me laugh. It was so fun to just go around and hear all of the fun and Christmas-y things that people do. It really helped to bring the spirit of Christmas. The only qualm I had was my seating location. I was sitting next to their revolving tree that had a reindeer that was just at my eye level. Every time the tree revolved around the reindeer stared me down...I made Brady take a picture with it.

I don't think this photo does it justice.
December 7th: A VERY busy day. My goal for the day was to read Luke 2 because I knew that there wasn't going to be much time for festivities. Benita (FINALLY) came home from NY, so her Sara Beth and I ended up laughing our heads off on my bed until like 12:30 AM. I had to be up for work at 5:00 AM, so I ended up going to bed. What is more Christmas-ish than laughing with friends, anyways?
December 8th: Ginger bread houses! SO FUN!!

 Alex's "Falling Water" inspired by the late Frank Lloyd Wright, and my classic house.

 My house and Mark's "pyramid."

 Moss did some great work with his assistant Sara Beth. They built in the rich neighborhood.

Rodney's duplex's and Benita's extremely stable floor plan.

Ryan Moss, Dean Peterson, Benita Bates, and Alex Merchant.                    Rodney Hansen, Lance Moses, Sara Beth Johnson and Mark Keller.

The Pride Family Christmas House Decoration Contest. (We missed you Lola and Ryan!)

December 8th: Christmas Music Day. Nothing but Christmas Tunes...allllll daaaayy longggg.

Favorites as of right now? 

- Christmas With The Rat Pack

- Nsync Christmas, still...it's hard not to love it when you know every word to every song.

- Glee Christmas. 

- I'm ok with Jessica Simpson's new Christmas album. She still kinda bugs.

December 9th: Ward Christmas Party. Always a good time. 

December 10th: Elevate Christmas Party. I love the people I work with!

I hope your holidays continue to be festive and fun!

Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

I had to sing that a lot of times in my head to make sure I got enough "la's." This December has turned out to be extremely awesome thus far, and here is why.

I decided to do something "Christmas-y" every day until Christmas. I, unfortunately, hate winter. So, I decided to make this winter AWESOME. It's all in your attitude, right? This is what I've got so far...

December 1st: Baked gingersnaps and gave them away to hungry neighbors. What smells more like Christmas than gingersnaps?
December 2nd: Made a count down to Christmas, paper Chain and watched the classic clay, stop-motion film, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. "Just put one foot in front of the other..." Did you know that was made in 1970? No wonder why it feels like Christmas when I see those. I've probably watched it every year of my life since I was BORN. I love them. It was more like Ryan made the paper chain while Sara Beth and I exchanged Christmas music and watched clips of Conan O'Brian wearing jeggings. Worth it.

And voila...the final product...
(and of course more phone pictures...)

December 3rd: I drug my friends to the live nativity at the Provo Tabernacle. They are good sports. It was quite humorous...Basically there was a 40 year old recording that the "cast" mouthed to awkwardly, a chinese Angel Gabriele, two individuals having a sign language battle, and a baby Jesus that almost crawled off the stage. Needless to say we were trying to hide our laughter 90 percent of the time. Oh, and I forgot to mention the live animals outside. Oh hello Sally...

We ended the evening with some warm soup at Gloria's Little Italy, hot chocolate, and a showing of How To Train Your Dragon. That movie is precious.
December 4th: Christmas Gift Planning and Sara Beth and I participated in some ABC Family Christmas Movie Marathon...Hello Harry Potter, which we later drug our neighbors in to as well. I also met up with Janae for some frozen yogurt, which was SO fun. I feel like frozen yogurt can be holiday-appropriate for any holiday of the year, or any non-holiday.
December 5th: Read two Christmas talks. Roxanne and I are trying to read a Christmas themed talk every day (I had to catch up from yesterday, so I read two today.) It has been awesome to help get me in the right spirit of Christmas. Today's talk was exceptionally great. What are you going to give Christ for Christmas?
Church was really AWESOME today. It was definitely decked with holiday cheer, and the Christmas devotional was great as well. President Uchtdorf is awesome.

So far I feel like the month is off to a great start :)
Oh and yesterday I received the BEST news ever...The Fitches are moving back to Utah!!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh. this made my day.