Emily is an amazing cupcake decorator, so while she made her awesome cupcakes, Nick and I made sugar cookies. I had never made sugar cookies before and I had so much fun doing it! Everyone helped us frost them, which is a good because there were so many cookies!!
After making the cupcakes/cookies we ate a delicious dinner prepared by Nick's fabulous mother. It was delicious!
Little did I know what awaited me after dinner...a Goodrich family tradition that I had no clue existed. Every Christmas Eve, Nick's family well, let's just say that it's basically a giant family talent show. It was so much fun to watch everyone show off, and it's a GREAT thing that I was exempt this year (for lack of knowing of the tradition) because each and every person in my new family has more talent in their little finger nails than I do in my entire body. Seriously, I was blown away. I am going to have to find a new talent this year or face being humiliated in front of my own family! Logan sang a song, while Emily played the piano, Laura played her harp, and then Emily sang a song while Doug played the piano. Doug is an amazing sight reader! Wow, I was extremely impressed by everyone. I also found out that Nick still possesses a talent that I didn't know he could still do, he can play the saxophone. He hasn't picked up a saxophone in eight years and after just a few warm up notes, whipped out an entire song! I was amazed!
Nick playing "O Holy Night"
Em and Doug - "Breathe of Heaven"
After everyone finished showing off their fabulous musical talents, we listened to The Polar Express on tape. Then we got our "first gift of Christmas", which was Pj's.
After that everyone started to settle down. The presents were all put under the tree and it was off to bed. Even though I was too excited to sleep...
Oh, and just so you all know, Nick's family doesn't get excited about Christmas. Laura told me that they usually wake up around 10, eat breakfast, then open the presents, and if any of you know me, that is literally impossible for me to stand. So I convinced everyone to wake up at nine, open presents and then eat breakfast, which worked out just great! And Doug promised he would get excited about Christmas with me, so that was good too. Thanks Doug!
It snowed all morning...and kept snowing. It never stopped and they probably had about a foot of fresh snow by the time Nick and I left to hit up the Jewkes' Christmas celebration!
It was held at Aunt Julie's house this year. Missy, Alex, and their daughter Elsa flew up for the holidays from Ohio so my whole family made the venture down to Sandy. It was so much fun to have everyone together for Christmas again like the old days! It was especially great to see Missy again and meet Elsa for the very first time! She is such a little princess! She was dancing around the living room singing songs from sleeping beauty and playing with her new princess dolls. She also was convinced that my brother Jesse was her Prince Charming, and was attached to him the whole night! It was so much fun!
As I mentioned earlier, it kept snowing, and snowing. By the time we left it was basically a white out. The roads were super slick, and since my car wouldn't start (long story) we had to leave it in Alpine and borrow Nick's family's Suburban to make the trek to Aunt Julie's. We headed back to Alpine and the roads were a mess! When we got to the Alpine Highway, a cop informed us that there had been a terrible accident and they had to close the road. We got back on the slick freeway and took an alternate route. By the time we got there, the roads were so terrible and my car still wouldn't start, so we ended up spending the night at Nick's parents house again. We woke up early the next morning (5:45) because Nick had to work. Luckily my car decided to start! We headed home, Nick went off to work, and I cleaned the house. Lucky me. All in all, it was a great Christmas and although it was a little scary and weird to be spending it with a new family who had different traditions, I had a blast!
Merry Christmas everyone!
**I know the videos of Nick/Doug and Em aren't working...i'm trying to figure it out, it's being difficult.
