12 dates of Christmas {sixth}

On the sixth {and final} date of Christmas.....

We went on a getaway weekend to Salt Lake City! It was the first time we've really gone anywhere and stayed in a hotel since our honeymoon so I was really excited! On Friday night we saw a play called Savior of the World which was INCREDIBLE. It was the perfect way to remember the reason for the season. Saturday we spent pretty much the entire day drooling over the new City Creek Center mall. I've never seen so many name brand stores in my life! In the late afternoon - early evening we went to look at the beautiful temple lights. The statue of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus floating in the reflection pool with candles everywhere was by far my favorite part!! And now for the pictures...























These displays were hung in Macy's windows and were made entirely out of candy, it was amazing!





I'm definitely hoping we can do this again next year!

12 dates of Christmas {fifth}

On the fifth date of Christmas.....







We walked around downtown Pocatello to look at all the lights. It was freezing cold that night so we didn't last long before we were headed home to warm up with some hot chocolate haha but walks at night are kind of our thing in the summer time so we miss them lately. Ever since I have learned how to create bokeh with my new camera I've been obsessed with it, especially with all of the colorful Christmas lights! So don't worry, I narrowed it down to just one to include here. ;) I'm still working on creating it in the background with my subject in the foreground, like the one of Nic above ^. Except I underexposed his face. Definitely still learning! I"m going to miss all these pretty Christmas lights in the city when they are taken down in a few days.

Kissmas morning

My kissmas dreams came true when I was given the biggest kiss I have ever received in my life on Christmas morning {not to be mistaken with on the lips of course}! I have one sweet mother-in-law who made my first Christmas morning away from my family one I'll always remember. It was nice waking up in our own little apartment to SNOW just the two of us this year and reflecting on all we have to be thankful for, especially the birth of our Savior.

I made my very first eggs benedict for breakfast {don't let that fool you, the sauce was out of a package}, a West family tradition on Christmas morning which my mom would be proud of. Then I showed those two how to REALLY play gin rummy. 3-of-a-kind aces almost every hand! Nic fulfilled his modeling career with all the clothes he was given, another one of my biggest dreams to come true. I think it safe to say I was spoiled this year. :)

Hope you all had a VERY Merry Christmas!!

12 dates of Christmas {fourth}

On the fourth date of Christmas.....















we made sugar cookies and holy smokes, the recipe made about a thousand and one! Nic called himself the "mass producer" haha and frosted just about every single cookie while I went along behind him and decorated. These were THE softest sugar cookies I have ever eaten before. They also freeze really well and are still as soft when thawed. I found the recipe on the web somewhere so I don't claim any credit as it being a family favorite or anything but it's a good one in case you are ever on the hunt. :)

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1 1/2 c butter

2 c sugar

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

5 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

Directions :: Cream butter and sugar until smooth. Beat eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover and chill dough at least 2 hours (I chilled over night). Bake at 400 degrees for 6-8 min. 

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12 dates of Christmas {third}

** Somehow December seems to have gotten away from me this year. I mean, how is it Christmas Eve already?! While I am sad to say we didn't quite make it to 12 dates of Christmas, doing this series made me more aware of how much time Nic and I are getting to spend together and while it seems to be very little these days, {thankyouverymuch work and school} I've loved every spare minute we have had to do Christmasy things together. So here's to a few more dates that I am WAY behind on sharing with you.**

On the third date of Christmas.....







we drove around the city looking at Christmas lights as the snow was falling all around us! This is one of my favorite things to do around Christmas time. I'm not sure if it was from a lack of snow this year or what but I was surprised to find that not very many people put up lights on their house. We did however manage to find an award winner with a lit up car and an open garage with a manger inside, so so neat!

"Lets go deck the halls and light the lights" - Merry Christmas Eve!!!

12 dates of Christmas {second}

On the second date of Christmas we "attempted" to make gingerbread houses and let me tell you what, it was not as easy as it sounds by any means. Nic has been extremely busy working on his capstone project for his Master's degree so I had been waiting for an evening when he had a little extra time to spend with me. I had built up this fun activity for us to do together and it kind of turned out to be a disaster. haha Looking back now I just laugh but at the time I was pretty bummed out about it. I literally spent an hour just trying to get four graham cracker walls with mounds of frosting on them to stand. haha When I finally did, I tried adding on a roof and everything caved right in. Needless to say, the fun part of even decorating that little house was a mute point. Nic however was the master of the graham cracker tower so I'm glad one of them turned out :)

Better luck next year?!

I believe in angels

Over the last week, I have sat down on multiple occasions to write this post and every single time I simply stare at my computer screen realizing that anything I could possibly say in words would seem so insignificant. I've come to learn that feelings and emotions come from a much deeper place than words ever could. So to say that I'm completely heartbroken for all the mommies and daddies who lost a little one to welcome home last Friday from school feels like an understatement. To say that I'm so sorry for their loss or to say that I wish this world wasn't so broken somehow just doesn't seem enough.

In any tragedy, all we really have left is love. For those lives that were lost, for those that were left behind, and for one another. While I don't have the perfect words, my heart and prayers go out to those families in Connecticut.

I am always in complete awe of the perspective that children have on life. Like, "If you're feeling blue - try painting yourself a different color." I believe that there are 26 new angels who will be helping to do just that. Painting the world a different color than blue to mend broken hearts.

If you haven't already seen this tributary video, I hope you take a minute to watch it. It touched my heart.