Picturesless Christmas

We set off to our Christmas up north to spend it with Robs Family, and I had packed my camera, thinking that I would be able to capture some wonderful memories. I pulled out my camera only to realized that I had left the memory card at home next to our computer. Opps! So we have no pictures of our Christmas.

Our Christmas was really nice however. We started it off celebrating Holly's birthday (Robs sister) and then did a few last minute stops to the malls up in Salt Lake. Then we were off to Bear Lake. It was so much fun. Robs parents have a home up there and so we nestled in out of the 5 degree weather outside.

(found a picture online of Bear Lake during the winter)

We had a good time, we watched movies, played games, the guys got air pellet guns on Christmas Eve and so there were lots of in the house ambushes. A few pellets to the face and thousands and thousands of pellets to be vaccumed from the floor. (I am sure Robs mom was rethinking that idea) We had a great time with family this year.

Carmel Popcorn - Christmas Tradition

(YUMMY- is the only way to describe it)

Every year it is one of our traditions to make carmel popcorn. It is such a fun and yummy treat, that I thought I would post the recipe on my blog. Hope you all enjoy it as much as we do. (Oh yea the secret to this carmel popcorn is the the popcorn. For all of you in KY I have seen it sold at meijer over in the deli section, and for everyone else... I found it at the walmart-Subway eating place. So I had them pop me some and I bought 2 bags)

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Carmel Popcorn Recipe

1 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups light karo syrup
**2 tsp vanilla (later)
Popcorn (store bought)

Nuts - (smoked almonds are our favorite)

Combine all these ingredients in pan bring to boil and then take off stove. Add vanilla, Puts nuts in syrup Almonds, and/or Cashews (OPTIONAL Pecans, Gumdrops, Coconut.) Then pour over popcorn in a LARGE bowl.

The 12 Days of Christmas

Last year I did the 12 days of Christmas for Rob and this year my sister was requesting all that I did, so I thought that it might be fun to post it to my blog.

12 Days of Christmas

On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me

A partridge in a pear tree. Well, I couldn't find a partridge

And it's not the right season for pear trees.

So just stick these in your own tree!!

(a large can of pears)
On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Two turtle doves. I hope these will do--

(Have you priced REAL turtle doves lately??!)

(Turtles Candy and 2 bars of Dove Soap)
On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Three French breads.

(Well, that's close enough, isn't it? Even if it's one

French bread and a few other Varieties!)

(package of bread mixes)
On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Four calling birds. My mind's a blank--(But this CD isn't!)

(CD of Christmas music)

On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Five golden rings. I didn't know dimensions,

so better safe than sorry, I bought "one size fits all!!"

(5 glazed donuts!)

On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Six geese a-laying around watching TV.

Here's a snack just in time for a Monday night moo-vee!!

(chips & salsa)

On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Seven swans a-swimming. (along with about a

thousand Cheddar Cheese goldfish!)

(Cheddar Cheese Goldfish crackers)

On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Eight maids a-milking. Now, don't be all agog--

Remember, these are Christmas cows--They only give eggnog!

(Eggnog)
On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Nine ladies dancing--Just "pop" one of these in your microwave

And watch these babies move!

(9 bags microwave popcorn)

On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Ten lords a-leaping. Oops – I’m fresh out of lords--

Hope you won't mind a little substitution...RIBET!!

(10 chocolate frog suckers)

On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Eleven pipers piping on the last day of the year.

Save these for 2006--In eight days it will be here!!

(New Year's Eve noisemakers, & hats)

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Twelve drummers drumming Christmas wishes for you.

These 12 days I've had lots of fun -- I hope you did, too!! Merry Christmas

(12 gingerbread boys in a tin drum)

Our 2007 Christmas Tree

When we got here to Utah I really wanted to get our tree put up- feeling that it wouldn't feel like the Christmas season without any decorations up. Rob found our tree, and put it up, while I searched for our tree lights, and decorations. Well I found the decorations, but the lights have not been found. I convinced Rob into buying 1 box of lights. Hate to say it but I think we probably put somewhere around 800-1,000. lights on our tree. But this year we have, yes we have 1 box of 400 lights on our tree. And Rob usually puts the lights on the tree but this year he was a little busy with work, so I decided to put the lights on. Pretty interesting to say the least. All I have to say is that this year our 6'5" tree has only 3/4 coverage with lights. The bottom of the tree looks pretty sad, no lights, and no ornaments. Ya pretty pathetic- but oh well. Atleast I got my tree up, and yes it has helped to make it feel a little more like Christmas time.

(just posted this and then got to looking at our tree. I don't think that lights are what looks pathetic, I think that its the red bow (if you can call it that) I guess thats could be a new years goal: Learn how to make a pretty bow)

Utah...We Made it!!!

Our GREAT Trek out WEST.

Wow what a trip. I am exhausted. We headed out on our journey Monday expecting to make it a 3 day adventure. The trip did not start out as well as we had hoped. We rented a Budget Truck and Car Trailer. Rob drove the truck and trailer and I followed him in my car. The car trailer was not working well either. Rob called it the "Death-Mobile", which actually earned its name the longer we were on the road. For every bump in the road the trailer would cause the truck and trailer to fish tail. Causing me to STRESS out dramatically. Ya So I think I saw Rob almost tip over 3 times. When we finally made it to St. Louis, MO (only after it taking 2 hours longer), we were able to trade out the car trailer for a car Dolley. Which improved the trip somewhat. Still every bump on the road made the truck and trailer toss back and forth.

(Still on the Road, somewhere in Texas or New Mexico...

I am probably praying that the budget truck stays on all fours)

So our Trip too 4 long days, long hours on the road, and lots of gas. My parents live about 3 hours away from our home, so we stopped for the night and spent a good portion of the day with them, before ending our journey. We both hated to get back on the road after visiting my parents.

(At my parents home... Picture taking in front of the "Death-Mobile" This was a much needed break from all that traveling)

After 4 days on the road, we finally made our destination. We were so blessed to have made it. Our town home is very spacious, and so all our belongings (& junk) fit well. The only negative to our home is that the kitchen is probably the smallest that I have ever lived with, so this could make cooking somewhat of a challenge if not non existent...(probably not if you know my husband.)

(we made it... but Rob's work wasn't done yet

what with all the moving in- YUCK)