Post Christmas Slump

What the heck....does anyone hate it when Christmas is over? Thanksgiving is like the best day ever...you eat tons of food and get to be with family...maybe catch a flick or two...enjoy the time off work AND start the Christmas season! Christmas music is bumpin', snow is fallin', friends are callin', & the food is the bomb. It's the day after Christmas that the "feeling in the air" is gone & you're back to the everyday rustics. Well, all I have to say is I miss that Christmas magic in the air. However, I had one of the BEST Christmas seasons of my life! It's funny how that "special someone" can change the feel of the season....oh how I love Sini! Ok ok ok...I know enough of the lovey dovey stuff. Guys, we had so much fun this December! How were your Christmases? I wanna hear about them....I love reading your blogs & seeing what fun traditions you have & the fun acitivities you participated in! Christmas day was super fun! I don't know about you all but I was so happy we got so much snow...one of the reasons was b/c I was with my family & we were at home with a cozy fire eating lots (I do mean lots) of yummy food & watching movies & playing games!

Here are some photos of our Christmas break!

Our favorite restaurant it The Cheesecake Factory....we go there once a week...it's like an addiction.

This was one of the nights where the snow was falling but there wasn't any wind blowing so it wasn't really cold. We just walked & walked forever....we got COVERED in snow but it was so fun!

Mikey & I making the fire...well Mikey TRIED to start it...it wasn't until I stepped up & utlized my Young Women's Girl's Camp skills! Then there's Sini trying to get warm by the fire...I just threw him in the snow (that's right folks....he needs to know his role! hahaha...I'm joking...)!

Sini & I had to make a ton of pies for Christmas day (they are the BEST pies...so they are in high demand) & instead of letting me do it by myself...Sini helped me...we had an assembly line...well...it was just me...and Sini (does that count as a line?)...The pies were a hit! Now I'm craving them...great...this always happens!

All in all Christmas time was so much fun! Now it's on to the New Year...into uncharted waters...I'm not goona lie...I'm looking forward to this year. This will be the first year that I actually make resolutions/goals (write them down~according to my brother Manti if you write them down you're more likely to achieve them) & try to accomplish them! I hope everyone had a memorable Holiday Season....blog on!

Tis the season

This Christmas has been so fun. Sini & I have done everything we can think of...except sledding...we haven't been sledding yet....I don't know if his Tongan blood temperature will be able to handle it hahahaha. I can't believe Christmas is almost here...I feel like once it's here it's over so quickly! So this year I've been taking things slow & enjoying every minute of the season. Sini & I went on a walk during one of the snow "storms"....it was (dare I say...at the price of sounding overly cheesy) magical. The snow was falling so softly, the night was reflecting off the the snow so the street lamps weren't necessary....it wasn't too cold...but it wasn't warm either. It was wonderful. In the past Sini has hightailed to the warmth of Hawaii for the the winter season, but this year I couldn't allow that....no....I just begged him to stay (begged is over exaggerated...all I did was look at him funny & he knew Hawaii was not an option). So this season marks the first snowfall of Sini's memory. I feel so lucky that I get to share these experiences with him. Sini has seriously brought a tremendous amount of joy to my life....& no I'm not trying to get sappy with my love for Sini, but I truly love him & all that he does for me....so sue me for wanting to share that with the world *big gasp* what'll I tell mom? In all of my 27 years I have never had a signifigant other to share Christmas with, & I wouldn't have had it any other way. Sini was def worth the wait!
Sometimes people write about their top 5 favorite moments of the the Holiday Season & as I sit here at work....with a little time on my hands...I thought I'd do the same....maybe you'll have the same idea & blog about it!
Top 5 Favorite Holiday Memories '08:
5: Walking outside & seeing Sini shoveling my driveway so my dad or my mom wouldn't have to do it. (It was so thoughtful...no one asked him to do it...I know it might seem like a little thing but it meant so much to all of us...who didn't have to do it).
4: Advent Sunday with my family
3: Christmas Tea with the Campbell Girls (yes I'm a Campbell girl by birth...I might not look like it....but it's something to envy hehehehe)
2: Taking Sini to see the lights at Temple Square for the first time in his life.
1: Going to Candlelight Christmas at "This is the Place" w/"Haisy" (Daisy & Hema) & the boys.
Now I know that the Holiday season is not yet over....so this list is "just for now." I love watching everyones reactions when they open their gifts. Stay tuned for post Holiday blogs! Hopefully I'll have funny family stories too tell...fingers crossed...everything crossed!

Christmas Bingo!

Every Christmas season we have a family tradition called Advent. On the first Sunday of December my family gets together to celebrate Advent Sunday (which is a German holiday...mind you, none of us are German. My mom served a mission in Germany & imported this family tradition). We eat dinner, catch up, but most importantly we play a few rounds of the ever competitive & amusing "Christmas Bingo." To begin...we have been doing this for years now, since I was a little girl, so naturally, our family has grown...some of us end up with the same cards, & the once crisp red dots that were used to mark are bingo cards have been somewhat replaced with dry kidney beans, however that does not stop our ever ambiguous quest for victory! What is the prize you ask? The highly coveted "couch of stuff" supplied by none other than the dollar store. I realize that some of you reading might mock the vigor displayed for the game.....I will inform you that Christmas Bingo is not a game....it is a Christmas Tradition! We take traditions very seriously around here. Much to our dismay bingo is quickly over & reality sets in once again, yet once Christmas Bingo is played we can officially start the Christmas season.

I love Advent Sunday b/c it gives me a chance to reconnect with my mom's side of the family, all of whom I love dearly. Advent is always a fun way to start off the season & I know as some of you read this you'll want to "bite" (copy) this tradition from the Campbell family...I advise you to beware....Christmas bingo can get pretty intense!

The 1st times.....

This year marks the first Christmas that Sini & I will spend together. Sini had never been to see the lights at Temple Square *gasp* it was such a fun experience to watch him as we walked on Temple Grounds...this might sound cheesy, but he couldn't stop smiling *warm fuzzy feeling*. Ask yourself this question: Have you ever taken someone to see the lights at Temple Square for the first time in their life? If you haven't I suggest that you find a "Temple Square Lights Virgin" grab them by a limb and drag them there...even if it's against their will...the outcome: genuine happiness. The lights at Temple Square were fun to see. The air was crisp & smelled like winter. It was fun to see different families with their kids running around. The Holidays are such a magical time of year. It really makes me stop & think of how grateful I am. *Note to self: make it a point to be just as grateful as I am during this time of year all year round.
Just last week I "won" tickets to "Candle Light Christmas" at "This is the Place." We invited Hema, Daisy, & the boys to go with us. It was SO much fun! I think we started a new Christmas tradition. We rode the "Choo-choo Train" around the Brigham Young-esque village, listened to old fashioned carolers, visited "Father Christmas" talked to a chimney sweep, had hot cider, & sat by the camp fire. It was so fun to see the kids enjoy themselves...it was even more fun to see the "big kids" enjoy themselves....

My assesment of Twilight...

I had been waiting for the crowds to die down at the box office before I went to see Twilight but my anxious fiance wanted to surprise me by taking me out to see the much anticipated film. Such a kind gesture from my husband-to-be, I'm sure it wasn't his first pick for a date night movie, but in his own words "he knew it would make me happy"...I know right? As we got ready to go I tried to brace myself for screaming teenage girls, maybe even cat fights between Team Jacob & Team Edward, however, much to my surprise there were "children of all ages" & also to my amazement there were a lot of guys there. I was a little worried that everyone would get jealous that I was with Jacob Black aka Sini, but I knew I could "take 'em" if they tried any funny business. Are you ready for my assesment of the film? I went with the lowest of expectations, as not to be too disappointed....and just as I had expected....not a great film. I know that a lot of you loved the film, & I truly apologize if I offend you or hurt your feelings...I mean no harm...but I thought it looked like a low budget film...I thought the acting was not great....& the special effects were worse. I felt rushed throughout the whole film. The whole time I was watching it I kept thinking to myself..."wait..they forgot this part....wait...they forgot this part." The highlight of the movie (for me) was Jacob Black...sigh....I have always been on "Team Jacob" (don't hate) I take pride in the fact that I found my Jacob Black (Sini) & am going to be married to him on April 11th. When the film was over Sini took me to dinner, & while we discussed the film I found out that he actually liked it *confusion* huh? Who would'a thunk.....As for those that loved the film...keep on keepin on...to each his own. I hold no animosity in my heart. I hope that they'll "go the extra mile" & spend a little more money on "New Moon" hopefully it will improve the sequel...fingers crossed!