It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Now that I'm a "grown-up" an "adult" or whatever you call us married people that don't have kids yet...I believe that the holiday we call "Christmas" is more like an evil game. Some people have mastered the art of re-gifting, some use their annual Christmas cards to brag about things like how well their business is doing or how one of the kids got all A's this year, and others have gone so far as to buy $30 gifts for a gift exchange that only had a limit of $3! Another thing, 4 words: Day After Thanksgiving Sale. It's madness and adults go over the edge every time. No wonder people get so stressed out during the Christmas season, it's because they are too worried whether this person will like their gift, or if they spent enough money on that person. It's all a show. Then there's that phrase that it's the time to give and not receive....well, have you ever been to a gift exchange where you play the game "Rob You Neighbor"? That game was invented for stingy people!

I guess I didn't notice all this drama when I was a kid. I was quite oblivious to how much time, energy, and MONEY that goes into this Holiday. But nonetheless I still love Christmas with all it's festivities and awkward moments.

My favorite part of the holidays has nothing to do with gifts...I love the carols, the cookies, the lights, and especially the PARTIES! Braden and I have already been to 3 this year. Here are some pictures:
Formal Christmas party with my work at the Pasadena Hilton. It was a lot of fun...and we danced the night away! The group at Kurt and Kellie's 2nd annual Christmas party! Great food, fun games!

Lake Arrowhead

Last weekend Braden and I went to our Kurt and Kellie's cabin (actually Kurt's family's cabin) in Crestline near Lake Arrowhead. Here's a picture of the cabin:Altogether there were 3 couples, Dan and Delaine, Kurt and Kellie, and Braden and I. The rest were Dawn, Melissa, and Jenna, and Mark. Here's a picture of all of us:
We left Friday night after dinner and all piled in our car and Kurt and Kellie's SUV. The ride there was a little scary...like the time my dad drove my family up Pike's Peak in Colorado on road that barely fit two cars...in our 15 passenger van...yeah anyway, so it was a very windy road up the mountain, but we made it safely. When we got there we took all our bags and things inside, had a tour of the cabin, and then it was time for the battle of the beds! There was one queen size bed upstairs, one downstairs, and two futons. To see who got to sleep on the beds we played a game called "four men on a couch". It's sort of a memory game...it was really fun, but it would take too long to explain how to play. Anyways, we got the futon, which is way better than the floor! haha! We all ended up watching (or fell asleep to) the animated movie called "Monster House". It sucked.
The next morning we all woke up and went to a little breakfast place called "The Loose Caboose". It was amazing! Dan got this omelet concoction that had everything you could imagine in it and it was as big as his plate....he ate the whole thing! Go Dan! Braden and I both got pancakes, eggs, bacon/sausage...it was so yummy! After that we took a walk around part of Lake Arrowhead. Kurt brought his frisbees and we played some disc golf, making trashcans and large trees the targets as we ventured around the lake. Here's some pictures:
We also did some shopping at a nearby outlet center. That nights we ordered pizzas for dinner and played a board game, cards, darts, etc. It was great fun and it was great getting to know everyone that came. When we got back Sunday afternoon Braden and I were dead tired. Back to reality though! haha!

Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for Thanksgiving! Here's why: