Tis the Season for ...

  

 This is the time of year for Christmas lights (downtown Lexington at night),

 snow (Lexington's first snow for the season!),

 ice skating at Triangle Park,

 Christmas (and school) shopping,

 visiting with friends (Hna. Rice visiting Aubrey in Rexburg, Idaho),

 visiting family (Aubrey has stayed the weekend with Brittney several times this winter),

 family newsletter pictures and, 

festive Christmas sweaters (that Merinda wore her last day of school, and Brittney wore for her last day of work),

 Christmas decorations! (Mom's shower curtain, it's just so cheery, and matches her bathroom perfectly!),

Christmas goodies (treats Merinda and I made for our friend's this year),

and last but not least, working off all of those Christmas goodies!!!

However you spend your holiday season, we hope it is everything you wish it to be!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Tis the Season for ... Company Christmas Parties

 This year we drove up to Detroit again for Brad's Company Christmas party. Brad had some meetings beforehand so we grabbed lunch at Frisch's Big Boy, definitely not our first choice but choice number one had a gas leak due to the cold weather. Speaking of the cold weather and snow, I think this pictures describes it quite well! 

  The party was held at an Italian restaurant, and this was our table before everyone arrived.

 Brad's boss Herman, and his wife Elizabeth. Herman gave a little speech and made a toast. Brad and I really like Herman, he's a very nice and thoughtful person.

 Brad's old boss, and our good friends Gordy and Maureen (we love them!). I apologize for the fuzzy pictures but the lighting was so dim this was the best I could do.

 Another Brad who is a coworker, and his very sweet wife Gretta.

 Brad and I being all festive, but the bags under my eyes tell it all.

 For dessert Brad ordered the homemade donuts and cream cheese a la mode!

I ordered the chocolate mousse pie (this picture so does not do it justice!).

It was a quick trip to Detroit and back in the snow and cold, but it very nice to see and visit with all of Brad's co-workers, who are all just great people!

Tis the Season for ... Brad's Birthday

 

 Brad turned 51 this year, and I can truly say that I feel sorry for whoever's birthday is in the month of December! I totally forgot it was his birthday until I was looking over my calendar mid-morning. And sadly, his birthday "party" was as weak as it looks. 

 Luckily, both Brittney and Aubrey remembered their dad's birthday from the get go, and then Brittney joined our little celebration in the evening via FaceTime (Aubrey was taking finals, and Merinda had pep band).

 Mom came through for Brad once again this year with a very thoughtful card and gift (I hope he knows that he has the nicest mother-in-law in the whole world!).

 For his one and only real birthday gift, Mom gave him "Phonesoap".

 Brad and Breck reading about how this nifty little gadget cleans and disinfects cell phones and their cases. Brad then tried it out, and immediately felt better (and so did I because his phone is seriously disgusting) about having his cell phone on the kitchen table, and everywhere else he goes! 

 Breck gave Brad a health drink, non-gmo organic black licorice (who knew!),

 
 and the most awesome card! 

And of course, I slaved over Brad's favorite, German Chocolate cake (from Kroger), and diet Dr. Pepper (yeah, pretty sad, I know). 

Brad's only birthday requests were hugs from Breck and I, and to watch La La Land (which we did, and enjoyed very much!).

Tis the Season for ... Church Christmas Parties

For our ward Christmas activity this year, the primary leaders and young men (YM) & young women (YW) put on a progressive Christmas Story.

After being divided into small groups, we walked to different rooms in the church building where the Christmas Story was being told. 

The Angel Gabriel telling Mary she would conceive a son.

 Mary pondering while singing a beautiful song.

A YW Narrator 

An angel telling the shepherds in the fields to "fear not..."

Another YW Narrator 

 

 YW Narrator and the Three Kings (Pres. Holt, Bishop Manwaring and his first councilor Brother Alexander), who also sang "We Three Kings" and did a pretty good job.

 Our little group with Breck in the forefront, Merinda in the corner wrapped in her blanket (our church building is always freezing in the winter), and Veronica.

 After the story telling concluded, we met in the cultural hall as we waited for the other groups to arrive. 

 Visiting with our BFF Veronica.

We all then watched the conclusion of the Christmas Story and sang "Silent Night"

And the youth and leaders sang "O Holy Night". 

 

 (Jade, Merinda, Corrie, and Nikara)

 I just had to add this last picture of our family and the Holts totally exhausted after deep cleaning the entire church, after the ward activity. I tried to think of it as a service opportunity so that I wouldn't be totally frustrated that it was our weekend to clean the church building, short handed, in addition to the other million and one things we have to do in the month of December.

 For Aubrey's ward Christmas activity in Rexburg she went to a fancy steak dinner in the Manwaring Center ballroom. (Aubrey in her new black dress)

 Yep, this is an Aubrey plate, but for poor college kids, this is gold!

She also sent me a picture of all the other goodies she took home. I think she was pretty excited about the steak since her left-over steak made it into the picture!