Christmas Spirit.

First of all, can you believe Christmas is in 4 days? Seriously, it creeped up on me this year. I just got all me shopping done yesterday so I am a little more relaxed today. I offically hate holiday shopping. Parking a mile from Best Buy last night solidified my hatred. Shopping for Brennon made me feel like I don't even know him because I had no clue what to get him. He just so simple, sports crap or clothes is pretty much all he asked for. Anyways, I have been wanting to post pictures of my little decorations for a while because I LOVE them and wish I could keep them up all year. When I walk in the house, our tree automatically makes me just a little bit happier. It looks a lot prettier lit up but I literally tried every setting on my camara and they were all blurry with the lights on. And I mean every setting.

I dont know why the one bulb is so freakin white. Isn't it pretty? I am freakishly proud of it. Probably because of my lack of craftiness.

My lovely centerpiece. And yes our table needs some work. Thats our project for after Christmas.

My cute little mini wreath thing I got from Deseret Book for 3 bucks. Why do little things like this make me so excited that I post them and bore you all? I do not know.

This however is worth posting. My mother got me this adorable little wooden nativity scene that I love. And its very Danica-friendly because there is no way I could break it. Unless I took a match to it. The snowman in the background is from Kirtlands also for 3 dollars. Again, very excited.

This is also a post that is WAY overdue but I will post anyways. On Dec. 2nd, the night of the Christmas devotional, at the temple lights, Evan and Cara first held hands and decided they were dating. I'm sure there is much more to the story, but thats the jist of it. So, to celebrate this anniversary, and to just get together and start the holiday season, we go to the temple every year and then go have hot chocolate. This is the 2nd annual tradition and it was a blast.

That big growth on Bethany is actually her adorable baby Haylee. In case you were wondering.

And last, but not least, the Hatch Family christmas party/gift exchange. I'de like to document what everybody was doing during this glorious party.

The children+uncle: tricks on the tramp.

The women: preparing the meal and gifts, as they should be.

Bethany: being very social.

The cute 10 year olds reconnecting with nature while playing video games in the shade of an orange tree.

The crazy 3 year olds looking innocent.

Then came the gist exchange and white elephant exchange. The children got inpatient so they started wrestling.

This is how it started:

And this is what it became:

The highlight of the white elephant... a very family appropriate statue.

Sam looks a lettle too happy.

And I will end with this somewhat disturbing picture of who stole the fertility statue. Like father, like son I suppose. :)

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!