Holiday Season

When you are a child, you don't realize all of the traditions that your family has. It isn't until you get married that you realize how different your family's traditions are from another.  Being with my family this year, Spence had to learn all of my family traditions. :) He was upset when we didn't put on a program... I reminded him that we are the only religious ones in my family and that my family has only been going to church for about five years now. We had never put on a program... These are the traditions of my family. :)

Our Christmas traditions always start on the first of December. We read one chapter of Luke every day. There are twenty-four chapters so we finish up on Christmas Eve night. :) Since my grandparents on my mother's side are divorced, we usually have my grandpa Nelson's Christmas party one of the first weekends of December. They give gifts as couples, so if you are married, then you get a couples gift. This year they gave us cute gift wrapping supply kits. I was glad because I didn't buy any gift wrap or bows yet so this was perfect!

One of the following weekends, my mother and father take us to Teppanyaki.  Last year Spencer went with us. After that, it became his favorite place. He was super stoked to go this year! My favorite part of dinner is when they flick the shrimp at you to catch in your mouth. It is super delicious. After we went to temple square to see the lights. This year it was super duper cold. It was really crowded too. I could barely see any lights because there were so many people. After we all went to get hot chocolate and to watch a movie.


The next tradition or party that we have is on Christmas Eve, we get together with my grandma Nelson (Wynn is her new last name). This year, that party was at Aunt Paula and Uncle Randy's since my grandmother lives clear up in Layton. Instead of drawing names or getting a present for everyone, our family decided that having fun with each other is more important. We bring a gag gift to play the white elephant game with. Then we usually have an ugly sweat or outfit contest followed by games. I love this because it makes the time and fun we have together, the important factor. This year, Spencer won the ugly outfit contest. He wore an old 70's costume. It was so disgusting. The white elephant gift is the best. Everyone brings something hilarious. This year, Spencer got a towel that says where he is supposed to wipe his face and butt... haha I got granny panties with wipes. This is always the funnest part of the night. The game we played this year was minute to win it. We counted off randomly. I was put with Paula, Sharon, my mom and Grams. Needless to say, we won! :)

On Christmas day, my family usually wakes up to our stockings (this is definitely the best part). Then we open our gifts. This year I got Spencer a shot gun and wrapped it in an over sized box. He was so confused. He was so excited when he opened it. I was nervous for what he got me... I really wanted the new iphone. When I opened up the package it was a droid box, when I opened up the droid box, Spence had put his OLD phone in it. Everyone started laughing. He told me that I really get an iphone, we would just have to go pick it out. :) We were all spoiled!


After we get ready for the day, we head over to my grandma Peterson's house. There we eat lunch and open presents. Grandma got us sleeping bags to go with our camping collection we got for our wedding. Around 6 that night we got to Skype Neal. I was super excited because I haven't met Neal yet. He comes home in about six months... I'm super stoked to meet my new brother-in-law. :) We were able to three-way skype with the whole fam. It worked out really well!!

New years eve was really fun as well. My mother made us a yummy dinner consisting of steaks and crab legs. Then we went night sledding. Zacky found this really steep hill in our neighborhood. By the time we got there around 8.. it was completely ice. We were all scared to go down it. We made a deal that we all had to go at least four times. The first time I went down, I hit my head. Gotta love sledding! On the way home, we tied a sled to the back of the four wheeler and pulled Zack all the way home on it. It turned out to be a really fun night!

On New Years Day, we went shooting by Utah Lake. When we first got there, everywhere was closed. We were so grumpy. It took a good 30 min to find a place open to shoot. Once we got going it was really fun. Spence was able to shoot his new shotgun. He ended up really loving it!  After shooting we went to my grandma Peterson's for black eyed peas, and Chile Verde. Black Eyed Peas are disgusting.... But they are supposed to bring you good luck! Can't pass that up! :)

We were really spoiled this holiday season. I am very interested to see how our Christmas will be next year up on the farm. It will definitely be different. I am excited to learn the Jenne's traditions.. and perhaps be part of a program? :) but for now it is back to the real life... work and school.