Merry Christmas post!

I haven't blogged much the last few months or you would know I LOOOOOOVVVVEEEE everything Christmas!!! Lights, decorations, music, niceness, feeling, hot cocoa, DC visitor center, nativity sets, snow, sweaters, scarves... everything.

This year I worked Christmas Eve and after some funny business we got out of there an hour late. And I had been pretty sick the previous few days... and sadly I fell asleep an hour after getting home... I woke up to this... It's A Wonderful Life in my fuzzy socks on the coach

and my cute husband making homemade cinnamon rolls ( I was so sad I was sick because I just didn't feel good enough to make my favorite holiday baked goods) how nice is he... so we finished watching the movie, and I kept falling asleep.

Christmas morning

We had two little house guests... they were a little excited being in a new place (which equaled lots of barking) so Brandon would run them right before we went to bed so I had some chance of getting some sleep... and by the day after Christmas I was feeling a bit better.
My favorite present..... YAY!!!! a weighted keyboard.
Love it!! and I really like that it can be turned down... I can play at midnight without bugging anyone. Not that I'm ever up that late. ;)

Then we headed over to the Egglestons to meet up with Joyce and the Owens. So much fun playing with the new toys and DELICOUS food. Thanks so much for having us over! IT's so nice to have family away from family.

Looks like an intense moment... learning all about how the remote control car works... yahoo!



And a little more catch up... Young Women trip to the visitor center

more catching up- gingerbread house making

catching up for me, in anything can get overwhelming but I can't not post holiday fun pictures

you know the song that says "I may be right, I may crazy"... well this should have been before the Thanksgiving post... that's right, in true Danielle fashion, I put up our tree right after Halloween. Brand's such a good sport... on an accurate time note (I'm sad, I took it down this week) reminds me of another song "I cry the day I take the tree down, I want the season to last all year round"

I didn't realize how blurry this picture was, but I do love the *Lights*
In my spare time (ha ha ha ha) I've been trying to get my craft on, with some help from some good friends and the idea inspired by Grandma Rip... Ta Da.... I made a homemade ornament and I thought it turned out pretty cute.
Love this time of year. I don't know what's going on with my right sleeveGingerbread House Making
We had quite the party. Egglestons and Joyce. LOTS of frosting. 4 houses. tons of candy. Fun Fun FUN

The Creation

Joyce's masterpiece... how cute is her roof, and tree, and window
Aerial view of the Pezely gingerbread house... love the cinnamon toast crunch shingles, Brandon's little igloo fort, Santa's sled from Isaac.

I'm sad... Rachelle's house was adorable!!!! cobblestone siding, flower box in the window, I can't find a picture. :( but it was really something

Gingerbread take 2

Lisa and Taylor brought their adorable boys over for a messy night of deliciousness and fun.
Work in progress (he's SO excited) :)
Hard at work

Proud of this one... Lisa your eyes are open in every picture!

One of my favorite traditions!

Catching up-Thanksgiving

How cute is my nephew?!?!? LooOOOOve him! He's seriously so cute!Our Thanksgiving spread... delicious!!! I love food! I love Thanksgiving! I love having a day where you can't help but think of things you're so greatful for.
Oh the food... why don't we have more Thanksgivings during the year? we were in Arizona with Brandon's family... It was so fun, first actual holiday that we were with real real family (the blood kind :) on the actual day--- we've always been so lucky and have spent holidays with real family (the not blood kind).
So fun... sibling picture... I think Brandon's pretty good lookin handsome, and Jade is gorgeous! They look so similar, but I'm glad they look good in their own gender way :)

And more of the cutest little guy ever!
I know this isn't the best framed picture but his little smiles and eyes just get me.

I do wish we got a picture to document the shopping... oh the shopping, shopping, shopping. We started Day After Thanksgiving shopping at 11pm Thanksgiving night and went to Walmart (always crazy!!!!!!) and then the mall there that is open all night, then the other big stores... came home for a little cat nap and then Jade and I went out for another 7 or so hours. It was interesting, tiring, entertaining, crazy, and so so much fun.

What a fun trip! Thanks Pezelys!

Jana and Christopher come to visit

We were so lucky, a few weeks ago, Jana and her family came to visit and see the sights because Christopher had to work in PA.

This picture is of us on 10/10/10

Jana and I went on quite the adventure. We drove (I know, brave huh?) into Manhattan and spent the day seeing New York.
riding the subway

riding the ferry to see the Statue Of Liberty

Played at Toys R Us in Times Square

Played the HUGE piano at FAO Shwarz- which secretly I've always wanted to do... so fun!
Found the Manhattan Temple- such a peaceful place in the midst of a chaotic city... love the very evident difference.

Then the next day we headed to Philly... spent the day at the very fun Please Touch Me Museum and had some Philly cheese steaks.

Then to DC

We got to see so many things, it was so fun. We missed the Bureau of Engraving and Printing though... still sad about it, sorry!

And at night we tried to fatten them up Pezely style... homemade cotton candy, homemade ice cream and smores with HUGE marshmallows

more DC

Can I just say that Jana is such a wonderful mom... she's so patient and cute with her kids... I want to grow up to be like her. Really.

I'm already going through withdrawals.... it's too much fun being able to talk and talk to Jana all day. And their kids are adorable!!! I can't wait to spend more time with her and "my friend"

Come back soon! or one of needs to move closer. ;)