Merry Christmas Everyone!

Our first Christmas together was a success and full of memories that will last forever. We laughed, we cried and we missed our families, but I don't imagine Christmas in Idaho could get any better. We feel very blessed by our families and I feel very blessed to be married to someone who loves me very much!








Santa came!! Ah the visions of presents under the tree on Christmas morning. However, it was like torture having to look at this ALL DAY LONG!! My patience was certainly tested, having to wait for Jed to get home from work to open presents! Next year I think we will get up at 3 am to open presents! :)


Santa brought Izzy a new bed! "Finally! I kept rolling off my old pillow! Thanks Santa!"




"Oh boy! Santa put some toys in my stocking too!" (Izzy had all her toys destroyed in less than a half an hour. She's a machine!)



Santa brought the kitties a new litterbox. It's called the Booda dome. :) It's supposed to keep the litter in the box, which is a hard thing when you own a cat like Raja who likes to throw litter like it's her job!



I loved this picture of Izzy! She's so cute, when she's not getting in trouble. Notice her toy says 'Naughty'. :)



I love our new blanket from Ma and Pa B. It's gorgeous!





We also got a package from Auntie and Uncle Tim (you guys are bad, by the way!....but THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!!) The package contained a few different things as you will see in the next few pictures. Jed got a tape measure...the one tape measure in our house has legs and hides on us all the time. Hopefully with 2 the odds of finding one will be better!



This is possibly the best present I've ever received! A bug zapper swatter!!!! I can't even wait to try it out!!! BRING IT ON FLIES!!!!




Izzy got a Bimple bone from her cousin Maddie! (It's already gone!)



Cow salt and pepper shakers!! I can't wait to try these babies out!



Ness and Raj got some catnip mice and treats from their cousin Kiki!



Raja LOVES the catnip mice!!




It's hard to see what this is because of the flash, but this is a framed picture of home. Jed had to wait a moment to take this picture....until I was done crying. (Don't worry! It was a good cry!) I couldn't think of a better present!



Cow oven mits....these will match the apron great!

Thank you so much Auntie and Uncle Tim (Maddie and Kiki)! This was such a thoughtful package and brought lots of smiles. (I laughed so hard at the cow poop! {chocolate covered sunflower seeds}). We miss you so much! Love you lots!!!



What did you get Jed?




A TomTom from Jacob! (And Jacob said you have to share Jed!!!!) Thanks Jake!




Santa put some other toys in the kitties stocking too. This is their kickaroo. They love this thing....it's filled with catnip and the grab onto it and kick the junk out of it!


Getting all drugged up on catnip toys!








Raja fell asleep with her face in the Kickaroo! Haha! This is a cats brain on drugs. :)




One more present under the tree...a pretty little princess Raja. :)


One present we didn't get a picture of me opening, was the small package mentioned in the previous post. We also were using our video camera and taping a few things. So, Jed video taped me opening that one, which contained the order confirmation to my PIANO!!!! I was so excited and happy I started bawling!!! Haha! Glad we got that on tape....NOT! :)


Thank you everyone for a wonderful Christmas. More presents are trickling in too. We love you and miss you all!!!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve Feast

Christmas Eve was very bittersweet for me, this year. I missed my family terribly, but overall, Jed and I were able to have a cozy evening with very full bellies. I tried my best to carry on the Christmas Eve feast tradition that I'm used to, it was very good, but it probably would have tasted better with our family! :)




Menu: Mozzerella sticks with marinara sauce, cheese and crackers with beef log, sweet and sour meatballs and of course....SHRIMP! This meal probably sounds quite odd to most, but it's the only Christmas Eve I've known (plus and minus a few things).



Dig in!




Ness would have loved to help! "Please pass the shrimp!"





It just wouldn't be Christmas Eve without shrimp! :) Uncle Tim and I usually have a contest to see how many shrimp we can eat. I might have won this year!!! (or at least given him a run for his money!) Haha!




After dinner, Jed wrapped his 2 presents. He claims he's horrible at it, but I think it's just so he doesn't have to do it. (This little package he's wrapping ended up being my favorite....you'll see why in the post to come!)



The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.....

Looks like Santa already stuffed the kitties stocking!





Raj wanted to wait for Santa to come, but she fell asleep.

Happiness is....

Happiness is a heated blanket, 2 kitties on my lap, and talking to my Mommy on the phone! :)


I'd like to think the cats just like sitting on my lap but, sadly, I think the heated blanket is the lure.




She's almost angelic.......when she sleeps!

Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

One night I was blogging before bed and I looked up at the window and saw this....



This can't be a good sign. By the next morning we had this...



The snow was almost up to the bottom of our living room windows! Not to mention the wind blowing and making 4 foot snow drifts!




This is looking out our front door...there is suppose to be a sidewalk in there. The snow completely covered one of the rows of hedges! Getting to the mailbox could prove to be challenging.




Izz is not afraid of deep snow! What fun!




Jed trudging through the snow to the mailbox. What a good boy!




Now we have snow covered gum drops!

No shovel? No problem!

Jed and I have yet to invest in a snow shovel. With all the snow we've gotten, we REALLY need to! The mailman couldn't even get to the mailbox. So, as one of the perks of living near a very large farm....Jed gets to borrow loaders and with one swipe (maybe two) our driveway is cleared! Although, it is a little difficult using the loader to clear the sidewalk, so I guess we do still need a shovel.

Yay for Window Treatments!

We finally got some curtain rods to hang up our curtains in the formal dining room!



My happy helper! :)




One window done!



At this point, I was sure Jed would lose some fingers. He was cutting through one of the curtain rods with a utility knife. I couldn't watch. (He does still have 10 fingers)



Ok, so it's not finished. I sort of forgot that I needed another set of 4 rods to hang the red panals underneath the red valances. So we aren't quite there yet, but it is a BIG improvement! I will post the final outcome as soon as we get those other rods.

Fun in the Snow!

Since we finally got some snow, and there are no hills to slide down, we decided to take Izzy outside to burn off a little energy.



Izzy loves the snow!




Jed and Izzy playing fetch....with a tree.




We ended our play time playing bury the puppy! Haha!



We thought we would tire the dog out a little. The only thing we succeeded doing was tiring ourselves out!

Double A Christmas Party

On Friday, Jed and I attended an "Ugly Sweater Christmas Party" at John's house. I had never heard of one of these, but apparently they are more popular than I was aware of.

(Make sure you have no liquids in your mouth when you get to the fourth picture....)




Everyone brought a dish to pass. I brought bacon wrapped weenies smothered in brown sugar, a new favorite! (Thanks Auntie!!! :))





We were also instructed to bring a white elephant gift. One of our gifts was a gift set from Hickory Farms and the other one was a 6 pack of Charmin toilet paper. Can you guess which one Jed picked out??




This was the gift I so luckily won at the white elephant! Jed and Sam are going to hang it in their office. :) Jed won the Hickory Farms pack we brought.




No, there was no alcohol involved!! Hahahaha! This photo will make me laugh for years to come! Yes, these are some of the managers of the Aardema dairies.

The boys had to blow up and fill the legs of panty hose with balloons and then put them on their head like reindeer antlers. (My cheeks hurt from laughing so much after this little activity)





No, don't adjust the color on your computer. Our sweaters really are that hideous! Jed and I made a trip to a thrift store in Twin Falls and were lucky enough to find these beauties! Jed's was so hairy I was tempted to trim it before left! And I never knew they made purple, bright orange and puke yellow sweaters! Boy, have I been missing out!!

Overall, it was an evening filled with many, many laughs! (Jed just wished I had left the camera at home!!! Haha!)