The Christmas Post...I'll be succinct...at least in words.

What type of a Mormon Mommy Blogger would I be if I didn't rave about my fabulous Christmas and slather my blog with festive photos of my perfect daughter and so attractive husband as we celebrated the most precious time of the year?

That's right; I'd be kicked out of the club if I didn't brag about our joyous time. Here goes:

Idaho:

Saw the rip-roarin' rendition of the local theater's "A Christmas Carol":

A friendly gathering with friends from HS. So fun to see you & your cute families!

An attempt at a Bird Fam pic...this is the best we came up with:
Oh wait, maybe this one showcases our charm a bit better:

Lots of playing with this cute lil cuzzy:


The Bird Fam tradition of Santa Clause on Christmas Eve:


And who could forget Christmas Day?

Utah:

Snowmobiling up to the cabin:


Sledding:

Worked on an endless puzzle, but just never gave up hope and it did get completed:

Cruised Price, UT up to Pinnacle Peak in Papa Atwood's Rhino...
now that was fun:

Tea Parties with this cute cuzzy:

Lots of snow play:


And although there is no pic to prove it, I was quite the Annie Oakley at shooting targets. I improved MUCHO from the last time we shot and I put a hole in the back of Dad A's truck...oopsies...still sorry about that one. This time there was no bodily harm to vehicles; just tin cans, pop cans, and wood blocks hanging from trees.

Thanks for such wonderful memories, families & friends!
We had loads of fun & love you all!

Ever wonder what celebrity status would be like?

Well I happen to know. And it's a rough life.

I had the paparazzi following me around for an afternoon and I could hardly take a step without being harassed.

Okay fine, here's the real story:

My sister and I were downtown one afternoon and I was gussied up in my sexy coat & boots. She said, "Wow, you look like a celebrity. I'm going to play paparazzi."

I was like, "No. I can't, well okay" (you know, like from Tommy Boy).

So she took a few shots of me marching around town. Sounds totally juvenile I do realize, but I'm not gonna lie, I felt super cool.

And there was a bystander who watched as if I was clearly a legit celeb.

Ahhhh...it was glamour at its finest.

Don't be suprised if you see my mug slathered on the cover of Star or US Weekly.
Possible captions included:

"Stars, They're Just Like Us"
Hayley & A scurrying around for last minute Christmas errands.

Has she given up her contract with Versace? She was spotted around town in new Dolce & Gabana shades (not true, they're Ralph knock-offs from Ross).

Hayley attacks paparazzi with piercing words:
"I'm warning you! One more shot of my baby and my lawyer will be here in seconds flat."

Hayley's words:
"Fine, here's one to grace the centerfold of Star Sightings."

"That's it! We're done! The fact that you're in my passenger seat is a serious offense!"

here i go breaking promises

I know I promised to stop posting my Dear Savvy Shopper blog finds on this blog, BUT PEOPLE, YOU HAVE GOT TO GO TO MY OTHER BLOG AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS!

Expires December 25...aka - hustle your bustle!

Let's just say I just got
$75 worth of gift certificates to ROK BISTRO
for a grand total of
SIX DOLLAR HOLLAR! Yes, $6!



And let's just say I just purchased
$20 worth of gift certificates to Aldo
in Los Altos for a grand total of
ONE DOLLAR AND TWENTY FREAKIN CENTS! Yes, $1.20.

If you don't subscribe or occasionally check out dearsavvyshopper, you may just likely be missing out on a steal like this one.

Go on. Get clicking HERE!

And leave me some feedback either on this site or on DSS so I know you were able to take advantage of this steal. Thanks!

Happy cheap dining!

And I now renew my vow to stop posting
Dear Savvy Shopper info here...
wink, wink.

(to be said like they do on Friends) My Christmas-ey DAY OF FUN!

PWC (Tat's place of employment) has a big, fun party with LOTS of good food in a FUN & EXCITING venue giving me a good reason to get all DOLLED-UP every Christmas.

Did that happen this year? No. That blasted economy. The heart-filled company of PricewaterhouseCoopers decided to give the cost of my one night a year that I get to feel like a fancy princess and eat lots of delectable food for free ... to charity. How sweet of them.

However, Avy didn't miss out this year. They did provide the kiddies with a visit to Santa George (it kind of creeps me out that they call him that, but that's what all the emails referring to the event called him).

Here was the good time:











After Santa George's visit, we played at Christmas in the Park in downtown San Jose. SO CUTE!!! If you have never been, GO! It's so Christmas-ey and will make your day jolly and bright.













Later that evening, I got in touch with my culturally artistic side and hit up the holiday favorite; The Nutcracker. Very lovely!

Here Fishy, Fishy.

Our delicious anniversary dinner up in the romantic City of San Fran:



The yummy guppy's tail:



The tasty morsel's face:


The rush-hour traffic we braved to get up there:



The beautiful Bay Bridge:


The beautiful, festive Union Square:



The scrumptious Ghirardelli Shake we shared so romantically with 2 straws:



The yummy German Pancake Breakfast made for the Mr..... made with Love:



The Happy Couple of 4 Fabulous-Heaven-filled Years:

My trek to Bethlehem...

...will have to wait another year. Boo-hoo.

So the Baptist church down the street does this AWESOME live display of the city of Bethlehem every Christmas. It's huge! They build up a real mini-city with buildings, characters, ornate costumes, Middle Eastern music & dancing, bead-making for the kids, wine making via children stomping grapes with their tootsies, live animals such as donkeys and camels, an acted out Nativity scene with a real baby...and so on.

(pics courtesty of the Bethlehem Exhibit)

We've lived down the street from this incredible display for nearly 4 years now, and every year Tat & I say, "this year we're going."

This was the year. We organized a large group of fellow Family Home Evening celebraters and planned on walking to "Bethlehem" and then returning to the Atwood manor for wintery libations & sugar.

Unfortunately I had to miss it...again. Little Avycakes had been runny nose-ish and fussy-pants all day, so she went to bed at 5pm.

Oh well, at least I got to enjoy some fine company after the party returned.

A few of those that made the trek to Bethlehem.

The goodness that awaited the travelers' return.

These cookies from TJ's were something new to the Atwood shopping cart. I highly recommend for hot cocoa parties...yum!

A wee-little trekker making multiple trips to the goodness table.

And of course no get-together would be complete without the men-folk pulling out the chess board; something I'll never understand.

*Note to self*

Dear Hayley,

What were you thinking? Next time you try to make small talk to the stranger in the elevator, don't say something like this:

Moron Hayley: "WOW! Looks like you're gonna have a baby soon! What's the due date?" (thinking that based on the size & shape of her mid-section it was any day now)...


Very Pregnant Stranger: "Oh, I'm due the end of March."


Moron Hayley: "Uhhhhhhh..."



Sincerely,
Your lame-brained self