Christmas, New Years and a Masquerade. Oh My!

Christmas was so wonderful and a much needed escape from the city.

Yes, even this city girl needs a taste of the small town every once in awhile.

I hadn't spent Christmas in my hometown in at least 5 years that it was overdue.

Christmas Eve was spent at my Uncle and Aunt's house where we feasted on soup, enchiladas, relleno's, chips/salsa. The normal Mexican feast.

Sadly we missed our tamales but that was made up for the day after Christmas.

We sat around, chatted and laughed.

What the Binghams do best.

Christmas morning was great, I got things for my house

 which was very much needed and appreciated. 

We headed back to my Uncle and Aunt's for waffles and where I ate my weight in sausage.

I wish I was lying but there were witnesses.

I was then invited to go skeet shooting with my cousins.

Pictures below

Another thing checked off my bucket list.

I was surprisingly good. Even the boys were impressed.

I got about 6-8 depending on who you talked to.

A lot of guns were shot at the same time and in true man fashion, 

debate was played on who got the pigeon.

Overall it was as great Christmas and one of my favorites.

Thanks to the Bingham family for making it memorable!

View of snow top Mt Graham from G-rents home

My Grandma as a slew of nativities and this one is my favorite

Stockings hung with care

Their neighborhood always does the luminaries, so beautiful

PULL!

New Years Eve was quiet. 

I was going to go out with my friend Emily but sadly she got sick.

I've had that happen, it's not fun.

So I had made the plan to stay home and celebrate with just me and the food network.

Mary Ann found out and requested that I come play with her and her family.

At about 9 I made the trek out to south Gilbert where I just missed the firework show but made it just in time to play Redneck Life.

 A game that makes me proud that I don't live that lifestyle.

I can't imagine having 8 kids from different fathers.

Having debt up the wazoo and cars that you pray don't get taken away.

Oh and to be able to keep your teeth, I sadly lost all of my by the time the game was over. 

Thanks Dad Haws for such a memorable experience.

The only resolution I made this year was to read 1 book per month.

I can't say that that will be kept but it's worth a shot for this girl who hates to read.

New Years Eve started like this
Perfectly content

Every year Mary Ann throws a masquerade party.

Where you get dressed up, graze on yummy food and meet people

I can't say I really met anyone new but I still had fun.

She asked me to make these snowflakes for part of her decorations.

I thought they turned out great. 

Thanks to my job for allowing me to have the time to do all those.

I heart thes girls!

Looks good, right?!

 Now it's back to the daily grind and normalcy.

I am happy to have a routine again. 

Always nice to have a break for 2 weeks but I am always glad when it's over too.

Is that weird?

Gratitude Rocks!!

- beehives who are willing to shovel manure, my bed (traveling a lot makes one glad to be back home), the birth of our Savior, Book of Mormon, an ipod to drown out the snoring