Christmas in St. Louis

Every year Jared and I go back to St. Louis and spend Christmas with my family.  This year was no exception and although it was the shortest trip we've had there so far, I think it was the most fun we've had.  The first night we were there my sister Kristin got engaged!!!  I like her fiance a lot and he picked out a gorgeous ring that is perfect for her.

They are super cute together and plan to get married sometime this summer.

The next few days were spent hanging out with family and just relaxing.

I went to work with my mom one day that we were there and I had so much.  I know it sounds nerdy but I love reconciling accounts and I got to help her do that.  And THEN my dad hired me to do his financial statements for him.  Woohoo!!!  And since I am now an employee of Dillan Plaza Family Medicine, I scored a sweet new computer compliments of Dr. Craig Pope so that I can do my work. :)  Thanks Padre!

We had all of our regular traditions on Christmas Eve and Day plus one new one.  I decided to make Christmas Dinner and suprise my mom.  So my baby sister Alyssa and I created the menu which consisted of

Strawberry Bisque

Green Holiday Salad

Roast with Mashed Potatoes and fresh Green Beans

Chocolate Cream Pie

Alyssa, Kristin and I all worked together on creating this magnificent feast and it seriously was one of the most delicious meals ever if I do say so myself.

Christmas was super duper fun.  Jared and I decided to have a small Christmas this year since we purchased two new four wheelers so I only gave Jared a few things.  One of which was a jacket that I have been trying to find for years, so he was stoked to get it.  BUT Jared decided that he wasn't going to go small since the 4 wheelers were more for him.  So he spoiled me. :)  Here's a couple that I got...

Tiffany & Co. recently came out with a line of charms by Paloma Picasso and I looooovveee them.  So he added these two to my collection. :)

This next gift is a craft that I found on a blog a while back and I've been wanting to make it ever since.  Jared suprised me and made this all by himself, what a guy!

This picture hardly does it justice.

The other big thing from our trip this year is that we had a beautiful white Christmas!

So Jared did what any 26 year old would do...

He built his first snowman.

That's right.  I said first.  I guess that's what happens when you're born and raised in So-Cal. 

By the time he was done this thing was 8 1/2 ft tall.  When Jared does something he does it the best it can be done.  It was kind of funny actually because a lot of people walked up the lawn to get a picture with the snowman.

As always the trip went way too fast and ended earlier than we would have liked for it to, but we had such a blast with my family!  And we can't wait to do it again in a year. :)