Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year....Belated...

As if any of you are really surprised....

Anyway, we had an excellent holiday season (check out me being politically correct!). In seriousness I use that term because the whole thing from Thanksgiving through New Years was just awesome!

The only sad part of the season was that my best friend Lauren moved away to Hawaii to go to BYU Hawaii. I'm sure she is having a great time at the beach as we speak and I am definitely jealous! At least now I have an in if we ever want to visit!

Hanging out at Chili's

We were lucky to get last minute tickets to see A Christmas Carol at Hale Theater and had a yummy dinner at Chili's afterwards.

Christmas Eve was fun as usual with my family. We had the traditional dinner of appetizers only, which included some brand new additions this year: cream cheese wontons, shrimp wrapped bacon, and brie! After that came a special visit from Mr. Claus himself, a fun game, and then a lesson from my Dad and the traditional nativity scene acted out.
As usual, the night ended with singing around the piano.

Crazy Family Games!

The cutest little shephard

Baby Jesus (Lucas)

Everyone wanted to help play the piano...

Christmas Day was wonderful and Matt spoiled me silly and I love him for it! We woke up on Christmas morning and opened our gifts to each other and then headed to Sandy to spend the day with Matt's family. We had a delicious salmon brunch, opened gifts and later had Christmas dinner. After that we went over to my parents and visited with them for awhile and ate a little bit more...we were definitely stuffed by the end of the night. Since it was snowing all day on Christmas, it took us about an hour to get home. Finally when we got there we headed over to my sister's place to watch Dark Knight.

Playing with our new Wii!

The day after Christmas was very special for my family. Eric and Heidi were able to have Lucas sealed to them in the Timpanogas temple and it was an awesome experience and we couldn't be happier for their family.

During the season we also got together with my girlfriends from high school (the SCC) at my parents house. We had pizza, an FHE lesson, and a great time catching up with each other.

Jeni, Julie, Chalece, Shyla, Nikki, Me, Amy, Teran and Lauren

Group Hug!

New Years Eve was spent at Eric and Heidi's place playing our new Wii, eating lots of delicious food, games, and even some dancing to ring in the new year.Fun games...but a big mess...

Me trying to take Eric down in boxing...I lost

The guys snowboarding on the Wii (check out their faces!)

Midnight dancing

Last but not least, we celebrated the new year with a couple of baby blessings, first my nephew Lucas, and then our friend's new daughter, Maylee Souter.

James and Allison, Matt and me, Ryan, Nikki, and Maylee, Brittany and Andy

We didn't sent out Christmas cards or a newsletter or anything like that, but we want all of you to know we are thankful to associate with all of you as friends and family. We have been so blessed this year and have so much to be thankful for. We are so excited to begin this new year and hope that it can be even better than the one before!

Love, Matt and Camille

Tis the Season!

I love Christmas. I love absolutely everything about it. The food, family, fun, decorations, shopping, parties...and most of all the feelings associated with the whole month. Here are a few fun things we have been doing this season.

The first weekend in December I went with my friend Shyla to visit our best friends, Lauren and Teran, in Logan for a girls' weekend. We got to catch up with each other, do some shopping, and see Teran perform in a Christmas Concert. Thanks Lauren and Teran for being wonderful hostesses.

Teran and Shyla

Trying on new headbands and shirts and Ross

For our sensational six activity this month, we went ice skating. I haven't been ice skating for quite awhile, and I definitely wouldn't say I'm good at it...but we had a great time.

I'm a natural!

Me Nikki and Brittany

Last night my sister, her kids, and I went to Energy Solutions Arena for a huge Christmas sing along. It was so much fun, and especially fun for the kids. There was live feed to some soldiers in Kuwait and it was very touching to see them, and was a vivid reminder of those who aren't as blessed as I am during Christmas. Regardless of your opinion of the war, we should all be grateful for those who are putting their lives on hold to protect us.

Santa also came, along with the Jazz Bear and some others. It was so much fun and really got me into the Christmas spirit to hear so many voices singing good old fashioned Christmas songs. It was a cold night, but the kids wanted to take Trax. We about froze to death, but it was worth it to be able to stuff our faces with hot dogs and spend some time with my sister!

Bundled up like an Eskimo

Andrew stuffing his face...

Messy mustard face

Riding home on Trax

Holy Macaroni!

Weird post title? Maybe...but its how I feel. I have had several friends ask where we have been, in regards to emails, phone calls, blogging, etc, etc.

We had a relief society enrichment night last Thursday, and it was a HUGE undertaking. We had a bake off and made cookbooks with recipes from the sisters in our ward. We are talking, 40 hours of work the week prior to the activity, and I won't even go into the week of and the weeks before that. Anyway, that is where I have been. The night went beautifully, and if any committee members are reading this...THANK YOU! You guys were absolutely wonderful and definitely helped me to keep my sanity.

Here is the result of many many hours of decorating with the help of my wonderful Mom.

Anyway, I have been absent from blogging for about a month, so we have some catch up to do...as in...clear back to Halloween. So, here goes!

My sister and I thought it would be fun to throw a Halloween party in her awesome new house. We spent the day of decorating and cooking and had so much fun. We had a fish pond where Matt played the friendly ghost as the kids put their fishing pole over the blanket and he surprised them with some fun prizes. We had a doughnut eating contest, and even got the adults involved! It was an awesome party, if I do say so myself.

Hitler Andrew helping us get ready for the party.

Scariest costume of the night...yikes!

Lucas kicking back to relax

The friendly ghost

The mummy game

Both October and November included sensational six activities. In October we got together for pizza and a scary movie. November was a delicious Thanksgiving Dinner.

Also in November my best friend came to visit and ended up staying the night. We had a blast pulling out an air mattress and sleeping in the living room...it felt just like high school. She wasn't originally planning on staying, so when she decided to she needed to borrower a few things (i.e. toothbrush, pjs, etc). Matt pulled a good trick and gave Lauren some of his biggest, baggiest pajamas, folded up to look small. When she put them on and saw how big they were, we all had a good laugh, and for some reason, she kept them on the whole night...

Crazy sleeping bag static hair!!!

Yo, sup dawg?

Also in November was a fun game night with some friends from our ward. I only have a picture of the appetizers I made...I was really proud of them.
Don't leave out the U of U game, which, despite its sad ending was a fun time with my family. That same day we made gingerbread houses at my Mom's house with all the girls. Fun, fun, fun!

Matt put his U apparel on all the kids. Don't be fooled...they aren't all U fans

All the kids love hanging out with Uncle Matt

Finally we arrive at Thanksgiving! This year we went with Matt's family to San Diego to spend the holiday with Matt's Dad's side of the family. It was the first time I have been out of Utah for Thanksgiving, actually, I think for winter period. It was really weird for Thanksgiving day to feel bright and sunny and to be walking around without a coat on. We had a fun 12-hour car ride down (can those 2 concepts be said in the same sentence? Just kidding, it really wasn't bad). Matt's Dad rented a mini-van for the trip. We had 2 different Thanksgiving dinners, spent a day at the Beach playing frisbee and just strolling on the sand, did some shopping, and just had a great time. Thanks Mom and Dad Tanner!

This is after 6 hours on the road. We stayed the night in St George

Morning brotherly wrestling match

Shopping!

Hanging out at the pier

Mushy parents...ewww....

Thanksgiving dinner

Nana and Bompa

Jameson and Yesenia

Wahoo!!!

Lunch in Mesquite

Well, whew! We have finally arrived back in the month of December! Thanks for joining me on this journey through the past 2 months!