the holidays

yep, you read that right. i'm not gonna sugar coat it. i have no excuses, i'm just that far behind and i need to move on with my blogging life. good news: i hardly took any pictures so this should be a relatively short post.

living in arizona has been good to us. every year living here we have been able to go home for thanksgiving AND christmas and spend time with all of the people we love most. we were fortunate enough to do it again this year. i'm realizing now how lucky we have been to live so close and that we may not be so fortunate in the years ahead to make it home for both holidays. sniff.

thanksgiving

i took absolutely no pictures on this actual holiday... simply just enjoyed stuffing my face and being surrounded by wonderful family at my grandma's.

however over thanksgiving break, i had two baby showers and it was so much fun getting lots of pink things. a big thanks to my my mom and mother in law for throwing the lovely events. both did a fantastic job putting together all of the decorations and food for them.

here are some shots of the one my mom threw me.

so pretty and feminine. :)

waiting for the guests to arrive... like mother, like daughter.

sisters (minus one) and little jen.

of course, i forgot to take any pictures during the shower or at the shower my mother in law threw me... thank you to everyone who helped put them together! i'm a lucky girl and got lots of things that will definitely help out.

christmas

we were able to drive home for christmas so that we could load our car down with baby shower and christmas gifts on the way home. and i am grateful that i was no further along than 28 weeks to endure the 10 hour car drive. thinking about doing that now at 33.5 weeks makes me wanna die. don't get me wrong, my pregnancy has been great, but there is just no comfortable position these days.

we didn't do too much other than family parties and hang out with family during our short week home. all i really cared about was getting to eat my mom's sticky bread christmas morning. mmm.. :)

right after we heard a news report that salt lake had the worst air in the nation, we went to see the lights at temple square with jeff's family.

the report also advised that pregnant women shouldn't be outside because the pollutants in the air could cause cancer to the unborn fetus... great.

don't let the expression on my face fool you... worry is my middle name and i tried to convince jeff that we shouldn't go. nonetheless, we had a great time! i just can't help but think of that when i look at these pictures. i think i've got the worrying part of motherhood down.

christmas morning we went over to my sister's house to see what santa brought my niece. the snow white cleaning supplies were a big hit. :)

after christmas at both families' we went to grandma and grandpa gardiner's annual party on christmas day.

uncle jeff is definitely a favorite. :)

i seem to remember my camera when nieces and nephews are around...

visiting with grandpa bob.

there was barely enough time, but my friends and i were able to squeeze in a get together/shower for sara and i at good ol' jeremiah's bright and early at 7 am the day after christmas. it was a blast. but i can't help but always leave feeling like that wasn't enough time to catch up with everyone. it was so good to see all of you girls. :)

jeff's friends are always pretty diligent at having some sort of get together over the holidays. we went to dinner and it was also a blast. there are always lots of laughs.

well folks, that's about it. the holidays were good to us. i got a new camera for christmas, so let's hope i can document 2010 a little better.

and stay tuned, baby updates coming soon.