Christmas in Draper

So...my feelings about the blog are blah right now.  I don't know why but I am just feeling weighed down by it.  Everyday I notice I am getting more and more...and MORE behind and I am not loving it.  Mark and I made a goal to be a lot more present in our family relationships and it has been great.  A big part of that is spending less time on the computer/phone because it is (not ALL of it - but a good chunk) a time waster.  

The less time I spend on the computer every day the better the day goes...every time!  It's crazy and yet I still find myself falling into computer traps.  Which is incredibly annoying to me.  Anyway, so I am trying to figure out a time where I just make a commitment to blog for the week and then shut off.  BECAUSE, in actuality, I love our blog.  Every Christmas I make a year scrapbook for us as a family and make each of the kiddos their own individual scrapbooks.  By far, most of the stories and material for that comes from the blog.  And I LOVE these scrapbooks.  So...that is my inner frustration (which is now an outer frustration) about why I am (and have been) so behind in blogging.  Must work on it!

ANYWAY, moving on...

December seemed long and short and crazy all at the same time.  Looking back it was all a giant whirlwind that just came and went in a blink.  It felt more stressful this year and less meaningful which was a bit disappointing.  All of that was completely my own fault.  I had expectations for things I wanted to do, as a family, with the kids, personally and it just felt like almost none of it happened.  And then I felt guilt about it now happening.  Can I blame that on pregnancy hormones?  I am going to.  As I side note - this pregnancy is rocking my world.  It has been so rough emotionally.  I am a total wreck...all the time.  Am I growing the world's greatest diva?  I don't know, but the emotions are way real.  

Okay, I promise I will stop going off on tangents.  Seriously...I am going crazy.  

We made a fun trip down to Draper to visit family and to take in some of the Salt Lake Christmas goodness.  The kiddos and I ended up coming down early to avoid a storm that was coming.  We came down Tuesday morning and got to spend LOTS of time with family.  The kiddos made a snowman with Gramps and Aunt Melina.  There was lots of playtime and holiday baking.  

Wednesday night we had our first "official" Clegg Family Christmas Party.  My Mom is trying to start some new traditions and I think this one is going to be great!  She made such a yummy dinner and it was fun to connect with everyone.  

THEN after dinner, we sent Gramps downstairs with all of the kiddos while us girls (and Benjamin) did an "our favorite things" exchange.  It was so fun to see what each of us brought to share!  

Thursday afternoon/evening my parents and I (with the kiddos) headed up to Salt Lake to see the lights on Temple Square.  We walked around City Creek a little bit, grabbed some dinner, and then saw the lights!  The kiddos were a little...whiny...but it was beautiful.  

Mark drove down late Thursday night and joined us - WOOT!

Friday morning Mark, Benjamin and I did some Christmas shopping.  Then we came back and got ready for our date!  Mark and I were invited by some of our friends to go to the Tabernacle Choir's Christmas Concert with Kristen Chenowith.  We ate dinner before at Buca di Beppo and then RAN over to the Conference Center for the concert.  The concert was beautiful and amazing and I loved it.  I laughed, I cried, what more can you ask for?!

Saturday morning we had breakfast, packed up, and headed back home (but not before making a Costco stop!).  It's great that we are close enough to family to be able to share memories and time with them - especially around the holidays.

***Also, I am still having a hard time with my pictures getting uploaded to the computer!  Must figure out this problem!!!***