Festivities.

It was quite the Holiday Season for us, very busy. It started the day after Oliver graduated. We headed up to Bear Lake {aka the Frozen Tundra, or North Pole} to be with the Binghams {my mom's side}. They held the family party at a beautiful lodge and it was wonderful to see all of the cousins. I have never ventured all the way up to Bear Lake in the winter {usually stop as soon as we reach The Beave}, but I thought the ice blue lake and snowy background was beautiful. I decided that I prefer the Winter scenery to the Summer.

{view from the lodge window}

{all the Johnston Sisters at the party}

After the party we stayed at the Holbrook's condo in Sweet Water with my parents, siblings, and the babes. It was fun to spend a weekend away before all the craziness began.

Next on the Holiday Agenda was bake sales and soup lunches at the Chev Store, it turned out to be quite the success {thanks to Maeve's moral support on the phone telling me that my tortilla soup wasn't disgusting - it actually turned out to be a crowd fav}. All of the money that we made went to the food bank. I don't think I have ever cooked so much in my life.

Every year we spend Christmas Eve with my parents {and Christmas day with the Youngs}. This year was a good one. Bethers and Mike made it magical for the babes, and in return made it magical for us. My favorite event was "The Johnston Bell Ringers"...each grandchild had a bell and Dad lead them in Jingle Bells, I will never forget Peanut's face as she enthusiastically rang her bell...hilarious. See Mia's blog for footage. We stayed up late playing games with Bruce and Micah {the wives were on Santa duty} and then we went home to our own tree.

Christmas morning we slept in {until 8:00}, opened presents, played 3 games on our new scrabble board {thanks Ty and Holly}, and then headed back to my parents for breakfast. We enjoyed breakfast with my Mom and Dad, Mia and Bruce, Micah and Lisa, and all of the kids...it was delicious and butter-filled as usual. It was then time to head up the street to the Youngs {I love that our parents live so close now}.

{view of Christmas morning from the East Bench of Farmington}

Oliver enjoyed a snowy morning hike with his father, while I spent the better part of the morning playing Nerf Guns with Riv and sitting by the fire browsing design magazines. Sher made a spectacular Christmas Lunch and we enjoyed it with all of the Young Six, Grandpa Sam, and Marian. After eating way too much, we went to Grandma Bertie's to eat lunch again. It is always fun to be with the Youngs, but it was especially nice this year. For the rest of the evening Oliver and I went and hid in the theater watching movies for hours.

{Oliver enjoying a turkey leg, Sher has discovered the art of the perfect turkey.}

We may have made our blog private so that PETA couldn't come after us. sorry if this makes you want to barf cousin tara. I really feel that this photo captures the essence of Oliver, especially after his month of being a vegetarian...this is what he has been doing ever since his meat hiatus. Oh and for those of you don't know, Oliver was a vegetarian in November {I tried, but I sold out for a hot dog}. He was reading the Qu'ran at the time.

We left the Youngs at around 10pm, and I didn't think we were going to make it home. It snowed about a foot in a half in a few hours. Santa brought us snow as an anniversary present.

Two years ago on the 26th Oliver and I got married in the SLC temple. Marrying Oliver was the best decision I ever made, but getting married the day after Christmas was probably one of the most ridiculous ideas I have ever had {do your mother a favor and get married in the Spring or Summer}. On our anniversary we woke up early and checked the snow reports. Little Cottonwood Canyon was closed, so we went to breakfast. We met Sherry, Grandpa Jerry, and Spencer at Granny Annie's {same as Sill's or Dr. Doug's, but has 6 years of built up grease opposed to 75 years}. After breakfast we headed up to Little Cottonwood. We got there right as they opened the canyon. We spent the day skiing with Spencer and Sherry and they took us to a fantastic lunch buffet at the Seven Summits Club {amazing}. They headed home, but Oliver and I spent the rest of the weekend skiing and relaxing at the Cliff Lodge. It was a wonderful Anniversary.

{I found this picture here, we were too busy skiing - and I may have forgotten to put the battery back in my camera after charging it.}

After spending the weekend with my beloved husband, I ditched him for my sissies. Mia, Maeve {and Little Mister}, Bethers, and I headed up to the cabin. The cabin is always beautiful, but there is something special about being there in the winter. We stayed up all night talking. When it was time to go to bed Miles woke up for the night. Bethers cuddled him all night so that Maeve could get some sleep. If he wasn't the cutest Bubbers in the whole world we may not have been able to forgive him.

New Years Eve we went to Dinner with Micah, Lisa, Ty, Holly, Mia, and Bruce. The food was mediocre, but the company was great. We then rang in the New Year at Micah and Lisa's house playing games, snacking, and watching the celebrations on TV.

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New Years Day we spent with the Pews and Grandma Glo. My mom had everyone over for a fantastic lunch; the Johnstons know how to do meals. It was nice to see all of the Pew Girls, and it was a good way to conclude the holidays.

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...and now it kinda feels good to be back to the daily grind, kinda.