Christmas 2012

christmas this year started out with a real tree for the nortons...we've had a faker for the life of our marriage thus far, and this year the lights went out...so dave suggested we get a real one. i obliged and it was such a great night. i loved picking the perfect tree and the smell of our home was amazing. we're sold of real tree's from this point forward!

 here's christmas eve at the zengers

 where we literally open presents one by one - kid by kid - youngest to oldest

 annual pic with my cute gramps. he truly is so awesome and with 40+ grandkids he gets all of us a great gift and amazingly remembers our names :) 

christmas morn started a not too shabby 8am

 kaya got a stocking full of toys 

 that she managed to destroy 2 before we left for my parents

 then dave  got his beloved beats headphones

 our cute house on christmas morning - it was such a perfect day - fresh snow and blue skies.

then we ended the night with the one and only - benihana. this tradition is the best i must say :)

hope everyone had a super christmas!

thankvember

so many things to be grateful for this year, but my focus has only been on a few important things. dave and i are with child and we have talked about this for a long long time - but it is now here and present. being pregnant has been pretty great and i haven't had any complications nor trouble. i can't be more thankful for this as i have some very close to me who have loved and had lost. we got to find out the gender yesterday and sitting on that table is one of those moments you have in life where you realize what truly matters and also "what did i get my self into!" but the blessing and the miracle of this child trumps all that is scary and all that is hard. seeing dave and his emotions and words and actions with me being pregnant makes me smile every single day to know he's going to be an incredible dad. i've always read posts about other moms and how cheesy their thoughts are but i'm apart of that club now and while i'll ease on the cheese i just can't get over this little miracle.

a few other worthy thanks

my family

kaya monster

a job

a house

a car

food

health

love

it's my birthday!

so many things ruining my birthday week - the election, my brother colemen coming home from his mish, my friend getting married on friday....oh the problems in my life :)

i kid i kid - these are all super and i just wanted to express gratitude for all that i have. life is simply amazing and i have lived such one that is truly blessed with a loving husband, two great families, crazy awesome friends, a home, a car, a job, ridiculous traveling, a stinky pup, a miracle on the way and the list goes on...

and i'll be dining you know where this week - so that's pretty fantastic!

halloweeny

my costume this year cause quite the controversy...

but it was pretty easy to make and a lot of fun to wear

halloween dinner party

every month a group in our ward gets together to have dinner - a night away from the kids, amazing food, great decor and great company.

this month i hosted with my friend julia and we had a "disgustingly delicious" night

 

 zombie blood punch

 human ribs

 vampire bite cupcakes, dracula buns and a spooky salad

 i made name cards for everyone - julia ghoulia, disgusting danny, monster melinda, bloody brooklyn, devilish dave, creepy chris and batty becky