a look back at winter vacation...

As per tradition of posting on our blog on only a semi-annual (at best) basis, here's a look back at our winter vacation.

We had an awesome two weeks eating, sleeping, shopping, traveling, new-car-buying, baking, eating out, playing, watching movies and house sitting. Here's a look back at what we did on our two weeks from school/work...

I kicked off the winter break a few hours early by watching the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas at school with my kids. Alot of them had no idea that there was an old version, and I had no idea it was only 23 minutes long! (I swear it was way longer than). We may or may not have eaten alot of candy canes that day too.

Here's a few highlights from our break.

We ate an **amazing** traditional seafood dinner at the Willie's house to celebrate with Don's dad before he headed to visit family.

I have been wanting a Kindle for quite sometime and Don being the adorable husband he is, surprised me with one. So sly!! (Don't mind the nastiness/pastiness of this picture, yuck).

Christmas eve we decided to sleep in the living room...just because we were being festive (my family judged us when we told them that). Don is trying out his new razor.

Dawson was festive for the occasion. (Note: I had to take this picture like 265 times before he would hold still, there may have been a bribery of treats involved).

With my family Christmas day.

Christmas night we headed to Temple Square to look at the lights. We even found the Cambodian bag.

Don's sister, Lauren, and mom came with us to brave the cold!

First married Christmas

(Don't mind that this is out of order). In the days leading up to Christmas we did a TON of baking. (I don't know what I was thinking). Here are some gingebread cookies that we made.

Snuggie gingerbread man

Cyclops gingebread man

Abominable snowman gingerbread man and Colonial gingerbread man

Don surprised me with dinner and tickets to the Nutcracker

I am SO SO SO lucky he knows how to cook (he may or may not have had to teach me when we got married...)

The food was amazing!!!

Off to see the Nutcracker! 

For a few months we have been looking for a new car. One day, while running errands, we decided to stop by the subaru dealership just to browse...and then before we knew it, we had traded in our cute little red Ford Focus (I cried a little inside) and drove away with our Subaru Impreza. We are LOVING it. An added bonus is that I don't feel like my life is in danger when driving to work before the plows have come on days it has snowed. Go, Subaru!!

For our wedding, one of our friends that I work with gave us a weekend in Vegas. So we decided to leave the cold and go enjoy some sunshine.

This Statue of Liberty is made from Jelly Belly's. Pretty impressive.

The best show in Las Vegas, one without people, just fire. 

 Hope you all had an enjoyable break and a happy new year!