Holiday! Celebrate!

Christmas has been hailed as "the most wonderful time of the year." Part of that feeling comes from traditions, time spent with family, and holiday parties. December can often become jam packed with such events, but the way I see it is, the more more time you give to creating these memories, the more Christmas spirit you will have. Here are a few things we did this year to boost our Christmas spirit:

Nelson family progressive dinner. 

Five stops. Food at each one. Talent show, singing (which isn't always a good thing in our family), white elephant, Christmas story, goodies in a tape ball- we had it all! At the end we had a visit from none other than Santa Claus....

Jace played the guitar for his talent

Lauren's white elephant

Jace and Santa

Lauren and her great-grandma "Ma"

Dinner + Letters to Santa:

Window seat at Maggiano's inside the Fashion Show mall. Everything was fantastic and we were stuffed. Afterwards we mailed our Christmas lists to Santa at Macy's. Normally, this would be followed by a trip to the Bellagio  atrium, but this year the consensus was to stroll around the mall instead. Needless to say nobody had to twist my arm! On the way out we took some pictures by a Christmas display in Nordstrom- obviously not going for the perfect shot!

Ethel M light display:

It was a cold, brisk night so we made our way through the lights in fast forward. Lauren brought her friend Taylor and Jace had Brett tag along. Though we froze, it was worth every second to see the brilliant lights sparkle and glow. We even toured the factory and got a complimentary piece of chocolate.

Lauren and Jace all spiffed up for Christmas Sunday....

Las Vegas Paving party:

This year the party was at Mandalay Bay. Dinner, dancing and photo booth fun. A great way to thank your employees for a job well done. 

(the Santa in the background is kinda creepy...)

It's beginning to look a lot like......

Christmas!!!!

A tree has taken root in our living room for the holiday season. Lauren and Jace  worked like elves to make it sparkle and shine. Lauren even added a personal touch to the tree with a photo of One Direction.... and yes I allowed it to stay.

Every year we design a gingerbread house. This year I thought that if I didn't mention it nobody would mind and we could skip it. Not the case. Jace called me out on it and before long there was sugary frosting, a rainbow of candy, and pre-made gingerbread scattered on our countertop. As usual it was delightful! There is just something about a candy house, I believe every child has dreamed of living in one. I can still recall dreaming of sugar coated walls adorned with candy after having read Hansel and Gretel. As a child it seemed like the perfect place to live, colorful sweets and fluffy treats at every fingertip, then I grew up and became practical. Of course gingerbread walls wouldn't keep the rain out and candy cane chairs were bound to attract ants, not to mention the dentist bill and sugar diabetes. Oh, to be young and naive again and believe in those sugar plums that danced in my head........

and as a true 1D fan would, Lauren "tagged" on the back of the gingerbread house.....

A Few Littles

A little bundle of things that we did in November....

Lauren participated with her cheer team in "Cheer for a Cure" at the UNLV football game. They performed during half time and did a great job.

As a bonus, Jason and Jace were able to enjoy the football game....

One Saturday the weather was so perfect that we were drawn to Red Rock- oh and it was free National Park day. Lauren was hanging out with a friend so Jace brought along his friend Brett. Yes my nerves were all in a tizzy as I watched these boys scurry up and down the layered red inclines, but everyone survived and enjoyed the outdoors.

And last, but not least....

This is what happens when I leave my sunglasses and camera lying around.

Classic.

Thanksgiving 2012

Our Thanksgiving celebrations teetered between traditional and unconventional this year. Yes, there was a plump turkey, buttered rolls, fluffy potatoes smothered in gravy, and the stereotypical pumpkin pie.  The change from the norm came with the timing. My parents decided it would be best to celebrate the Sunday before Thanksgiving day. Normally that would have spared our stomachs from having to digest two mega-meals in one day, but this year most of Jason's family were going to St. George to feast and we were not. That left us eating our Thanksgiving meal early and having Thanksgiving Day wide open. 

What to do. What to do....

Sunday Thanksgiving Dinner

DC, Jace, and Clark

Lauren with cousins Maddy, Ava, and Hannah

Cousin Rachel, Grandma "ma" and sister Karessa

Thanksgiving Day

After sleeping in and lounging about, we caught a matinee at the theaters at Red Rock. The kids went to Wreck-it Ralph while my parents, Jason and I watched Lincoln. The plan was to have dinner at the Grand Cafe inside the hotel after the movie, but a long snake- like line caused us to detour. Instead we piled in the car and drove to Mimi's. Dinner wasn't as good as our Sunday feast, but there is something to be said for not having to cook it or clean it up! 

Typical teen,  I warned her I would post it anyway!!


To top of the night we walked through the warm, rich fall display at the atrium in Bellagio. It was beautiful as always and put the finishing touches on our Thanksgiving Day. Jace was amazed at an enormous pumpkin that weighed in at 1084 lbs.

Though our Thanksgiving was a little bit different this year we still got to enjoy good food, family and lots of reasons to be thankful. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Say Cheese!!

Family photos. 

Deep in your heart you hope for the best but expect the worst. Maybe I just have my sights set too high but they almost never seem to win me over. Yet they must be done, otherwise how could we look back on them  in 20 years and laugh our heads off about how we looked. At least in these pics there are no perms to make fun of, but nevertheless, I'm sure we will find something hilarious.

This year we did individual and extended family photos at the same time. We all drove out to Nelson's Landing for the photo shoot then had dinner at a Mexican joint in Boulder City afterwards.

The family shots....

Handsome Jace

This kid cannot help it. If the sun is shining both eyes cannot be open- that's why we call him "Popeye"

Jason and I

Miss Lauren and the Little Dude

  

Lauren looking lovely....

The Nelson sisters....

All of the girlies....

all the boys.....

Grandma & Grandpa with all the grandkids....

The big picture.....

This picture is a classic in my book- here's why:

I had finally gotten the disc with all the pics on it. I was filtering through and scrutinizing each photo when I happened upon this hilarity. My hyena calls echoed through the house, so the family couldn't resist knowing the reason for the outburst. I pointed to Jason in this pic as he was standing next to me and asked him why the crazy face. His response was that was the "funny face" photo. I preceded to roll the cursor over everyone else, revealing their intentions to look good in the photo. Point taken. Evidently Jason was the only one to get the "funny face" memo.

Merry Christmas!!

Our 2012 Christmas card complete with family photo. 

Everyone should have one....

Of course I brought my little camera along for the ride and snapped a few photos too:

THE END!!!