Christmas in Kansas!

 Why was our Christmas in Kansas so great this year?! 

Tractors! 

As soon as you see the green tractors, you know you're in Kansas.

Nothing runs like a Deere.

Music!

We sang carols to Phyllis at her nursing home.

We also joined in the ward choir at church.

Pizza!

Christmas Eve pizza is a family fave.

 

Family Games. 

Christmas morning and gift giving!

Christmas is so much FUN with baby dolls, xylophones, fire trucks, trains and gum. 

When I bought our plane tickets for this trip several months ago, I wanted to fly back on the weekend, but it was more expensive and Aaron and I both needed to get back for work. Turns out the snow storms happening around the US caused our plane to be cancelled Thursday evening so United rescheduled us for the next available flight - Saturday morning. That's right - we got to spend more time at home and we were beyond thrilled!! 

The grand-kids sure love papa and grandma Donna. 

 

Is it Christmas 2014 yet? Hopefully we'll able to be together again in two years. :) 

Party Time

What a weekend! Aaron and I attended three Christmas parties over the weekend. Phew…

 Friday night was the Security Forces’ Holiday Party at the Holiday Inn in D.C.

It was fun to finally put a face with a name when I met the people from Aaron’s flight that he talks about.

Luckily I found something to wear an hour before the party started. I left work right at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and ran to the H&M that’s around the corner from my office. Sale rack = success.

With over $10,000 in prizes, we were a little depressed that our tickets weren’t selected in the raffle. (“Good thing my party is tomorrow night,” I said to Aaron. “We’re sure to have better luck!”)

Saturday evening was our ward Christmas party and everything turned out according to plan. We (the RS Presidency) were in charge of the event and everyone seemed to have an enjoyable evening. We started setting up at 3:30 p.m. and the party started at 6:00. I played a couple of Christmas piano duets with a friend and I didn’t want to stop! I just love everything about Christmas music. (Sorry no pics!)

The second after the duet ended, Aaron and I ran to my work Holiday party at the Grand Hyatt in D.C. (Sorry again, no pics. But, I wore the same dress that I wore on Friday night so you’re not missing anything exciting, well, except Aaron is in handsome shirt and tie combo.)

After we had mingled with my co-workers and Aaron met everyone, it was time for the raffle drawling.

The prizes?

2-round trip tickets to anywhere in the U.S. and then the MCs would add in, “This time, the tickets can also be used for a flight to Hawaii… to Europe…to the Caribbean.” They gave out about 15 sets of tickets.

The winning numbers included 762913, 762914, 762915…Guess what number I had? 762912.

One. Number. Off. I should have spent 2 extra minutes in the bathroom when we arrived at the party!!! #betterlucknexttime

In other news, as of December 11, I’m officially 29! It was fun day celebrated with a little Café Rio for dinner with Aaron’s parents. I felt so loved hearing from so many family members and friends via cards, text messages, FB posts, e-mails and voice messages. Thanks, guys!

 Christmas is next week! I can’t even wait for the partying to continue.

Spontaneous trip to NYC.

I've always wanted to visit New York! During my internship in D.C. back in 2005, I was THIS close to heading up to the big city with other interns I met that summer at the PR firm. Something just didn’t feel right about going to a party city with a group of immature 21-year-olds. Who knows what would have happened. So I canceled last minute.

Aaron also was THIS close to going to NY during High School, but that fizzled out.

I’m glad the almost-this-close trips didn’t happen for Aaron or me because we had a fun weekend exploring a new city together!

You won’t believe all that we were able to see and do in just a short weekend. I’ll prove it.  

         

 We loved NY! And with just a short 4 hour bus ride away, we’re already talking about what we want to do next time we head north. Oh, I failed to get a pic of all the NYPD cars and vans roaming the streets. Aaron decided he wants to be a cop in NY. I mean, I loved NY, but I don’t know if I loved it enough to move there so my husband can work in the police department.

 Don’t forget, tomorrow is my twin sister’s birthday!! ;)

My favorite month is here!

It's December! It's Christmas time!!

Aaron and I went to the temple on Friday night and enjoyed a view of this as we walked up to the temple. 

I just love this place. 

Ohhh. Don't forget tonight is the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. Watch it here.

Enjoy!!