and finally our 12th date of Christmas

Our 12th date was BOXING day!

We got up that morning after laying in bed for awhile,

and went to Walmart and Target to exchange a couple of things we got for Christmas, 

as well as get a new HDMI cable for our new... Blu-ray player! 

(Thanks Jeff and Mindy!)

While we were at Target,

Jace found a pair of fancy gaming headphones (can you believe I don't know the technical term?! ::sarcasm::)

That were put in the wrong place.

We always get $50 each in grandparent money for Christmas. He also had $20 in shoe money from my parents. That equaled JUST enough to get a present that he was giddy about.

So he got $100 headphones for $60. 

and he was pretty stoked.

Since we were at Tempe Market Place, I wanted to go to Barnes and Noble...

I had just found out a series i love had a book come out awhile ago that i didn't know about!

So I went to pick it up, and guess what?! They aren't selling that book in stores--only online!

Talk about LAME!

However, the guy there ordered it for me so I don't have to pay shipping...and that was pretty cool.

We made a quick stop over at Michael's while we were there to pick up something for my friends bridal shower on Saturday!! (we are FINALLY getting closer to her wedding!)

And then we moseyed on over to the park where Jace's family was hanging out with their kiddos. His mom and dad were leaving that afternoon to go back out on their mission.

Then we went home, ate dinner, set up the Blu-ray, watched a movie, and played a game on the Xbox.

All in all, a great 12th date. 

11th date of Christmas

is happening tonight.

Both of us work today.

So we are counting our family visits as our 11th date.

We'll start off with good food and lots of visitors on the hunt side (mom and pop, grandma and grandpa hunt, and jen and ken are here!) as well as their annual crepe paper ball program. (i'll take pictures and then explain after christmas)

Then we'll mosey on over to my parents house for our Christmas program.

and go home and drink hot chocolate, eat cookies, and probably watch a He-Man She-Ra Christmas. There is NO better way to welcome Santi-Claus into our home :)

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

10th date of Christmas

Temple Lights!

We normally go with our friends Bryan and Megan, but things are crazy this year!

Jace's parents were able to come home from their mission for a week,

and Kara agreed to sing with her old singing group at the Temple.

We went and heard her sing and then looked at all of the gorgeous lights.

The display just keeps getting better and BETTER!

No pictures because:
#1. i forgot my camera in the car
and
#2. it was too insane there to try and go back for it.

9th date of Christmas

Tonight what we are doing is going out to dinner and leaving a nice big tip for our server. 

Nothing like a little extra cash for the holiday (as well as the fact that they are having to work 

and people are going a little crazy right now.

Also, we are buying stocking stuffer's for each other.

We bought a combined Christmas gift this year and have been 

enjoying it  IMMENSELY!!!

(the TV hutch)

8th date of Christmas

Our 8th date was simple.

I went over to color and cut my Mother-in-law's hair (they made it from South Dakota!)
and when I got home,
Jace and I ordered Matta's,
Went to Walmart for OUR LAST GIFT!,
and then played video games.

Its the simple things. Also, we didn't die at midnight.
Good deal.

7th date of Christmas

I went Betty Crocker crazy last night.

I don't know what it was for sure, 

but after I made dinner and cleaned that up,

I felt like I should bake some cookies.

We have alot of family stuff going to go on in the next couple of days, 

so I thought that i could bring cookies to them.

Jace's favorite is Oatmeal Chocolate Chip...and I really don't like those...

and so they don't get made very often. 

So my first batch last night was oatmeal choc. chip, and Jace was happy.

I cleaned my Bosch and got set for batch #2.

Snickerdoodles.

My mom's recipe is TO. DIE. FOR.

delicious.

Cleaned the Bosch one more time for batch #3.

My mom's chocolate chip cookies.

I have PERFECTED this recipe.

It is my favorite.

Jace was there...but playing Halo. 

(hes had a rough week, so i let it slide that this was supposed to be a DATE lol)

6th Date of Christmas

Goodie delivering to ward members!!

I spent all afternoon baking banana bread and cookies

so that when Jace got home from work

we would be ready to go!

I didn't realize how many stops we had! (and neither did Jace who grew increasingly more impatient!)

But I'm happy to report that all was delivered and it helped get me in the holiday spirit for sure!!

5th date of Christmas

Designing our Christmas cards!

We bought new clothes...

A dress that doesn't make me look like i weight a ton (literally),

Jace got a new 2 piece suit.

We made a sickly Joe take a picture of us.

And then that night we picked out a card and voila!

1 hour photo at Walgreens saves the day!

We (I) spent the next two nights addressing them

while Jace kept me company watching TV shows.

(bad picture! it says: Jace is working for Wells Fargo and I'm doing hair at home. 

We are so blessed! Our love to you! Jace and Andrea)