Christmas in Just One Post

Christmas celebrations always start on December 1st for us with the advent calendar. I have done it every year of my life. It is my favorite Christmas tradition. When my mom stopped doing it for me when I got married I cried. My grandma had always done it in the past. My mother graciously gave in and does it for Scott and I now, but this year there was also presents for baby!

We got our Christmas tree from Clark and Linda. If it seems like it is leaning, it probably is. The top was broken in transit, but Scott toiled for hours to make it work. We decorated it with ornaments that Scott collected growing up with a few additions of our own.

Every year Carol has a fantastic brunch before Christmas. We have a wonderful meal followed by presents from Carol and Stan. Carol travels the world and brings us back all kinds of beautiful things from exotic places. She frequents Disneyland in her travels and she doesn't forget us when she is there. Erik's presents are always an event. As shown by the video. Carol has a love-hate relationship with my family's wiener dong Reeses (Rastus to Carol). She claims she can't stand her, but yet she always gets presents too. Reeses gave Carol a new statue for her home. Carol and Stan also manage to find awesome potato heads for us too. This year was no disappointment.





Christmas Eve we went ice skating with the Cannons! If I thought I was awkward and waddling on solid ground I was really awkward on the ice. We all had our moments of clumsiness. But we had a great time. That night Kiersten, Erik, Scott and I went to Rodizio Grill with my dad and Cindy. Yummy. Then we went back to his house for an entertaining game of Apples to Apples, followed by presents. We went back to the Cannons and opened our Christmas PJs (Pirate Santa pants of course) and the family gift . . . ROCK BAND!! Everyone and I do mean everyone plays this game!

We had Christmas dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Richens house. Grandma made her traditional crown roast and we had our fair share of her delicious homemade chocolates (my other favorite tradition!!! Really they are unbelievable!)

We had a Bruderer kids Christmas Party at our house before everyone went back to real life. We had a yummy dinner and exchanged sibling gifts. Of course Adri and Sally were spoiled rotten. Adri found a "crocodile" in our baby's room the last time she was here and she grew horribly attached. Luckily Scott and I were able to find another one at IKEA. Watching her open it was awesome! Sally of course found my old dance costumes in about two second and talked me into dressing up with her.

On New Year's Eve we went bowling with the Cannon Clan. Scott is still a force to be reckoned with thanks to his BYU bowling class! Gwenya however faired quite well. I believe the Nilssons beat the Cannons twice in a row! HA! That will make for quite the rematch next year!