Newman Christmas

Every year we get together with my family for Christmas a week or so before Christmas day. It's always a lot of fun with cousins, aunts and uncles! And of course grandma and grandpa! We eat food, play games, laugh and eat more food. And every year I seem to only capture a few pictures...case in point. But it was a fun filled weekend! 

 

The Hodges Gingerbread House

Our yearly gingerbread houses tradition began and ended as it always does.  It began with a beautifully constructed house precisely constructed by Dad.  However, when the kids and mom start piling gobs of candy on top, it inevitably succumbs to the laws of physics and gravity and implodes.  You can see the hopeful, excited faces of the girls, but also the look of trepidation as they seem to know that the end result is inevitable.  Then, the look of sorrow and acceptance as their edible constuction falls to the dust.  Dad has accepted it's fate before construction began, but he still feels a slight twinge of sadness in his heart each year.

Nailed it!

 

Avery's Nativity

I have this dish with all sorts of weird fake nuts and figures...it's suppose to look cool, and you know, decorative. However Avery got a better idea in using the decoration. She made this adorable nativity out of it! Baby Jesus is the center of Christmas and I am glad she felt that way too. I love the nuts she used as the wiseman and Mary and Joseph. 

 

Live Nativity

There is a family in Twin Falls who puts on a live nativity every year. It's such a neat experience going and see the animals and the family who portrays Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. It was a beautiful night...and a cold one!

 

Ugly Sweater Winner!

Every year at Family Health Services, we hold an ugly sweater contest.  The winner for two consecutive years has been yours truly.  When I walk into the clinic wearing this monstrosity, the first wave of emotion is extreme nausea by the front desk girls, followed immediately by the dry heaves.  The nurses, on the other hand, try to bring their A-game sweaters to bring me down, but they ultimately end up crying tears of bitterness and sorrow when they witness my sweater in all it's glory.  The competition and the sweater get a little stiffer each year.

 

Carmel

This is a picture of me and my cat, Carmel. She is sometimes grumpy and growls when you pick her up, But she likes to cuddle with me and circle around me. The reason why I called her Carmel is because her fur is like Carmel coloring. 

 

Birthday Girl

It's my birthday! yay! 

 

Charity Santa Run

We partcipated in a Santa Fun Run! Where the money donated goes to help others in need in the community. So glad we could support and be apart of it! But it was sure cold!

 

Leaning Snowman

Avery's poor Snowman...

it was feeling pretty down so Avery tried to help it up but it just wasn't having it. 

Good try Avery. haha!

 

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year we invited my family but no one could come except my parents and our good friends, the Francoms. It was a fun few days of Rook, movies and Nerf War! 

 

Relief Society Auction!

We had a fun dinner and Auction night for the sisters in the ward. It was a lot of planing and so many sisters brought things forward to auction off. It turned out great!