Merry Christmas

Noche Buena, Noche Loca.

These days we have been super busy, and it's not just work related. We have been busy partying. This might sound like a good thing, but at this point I'm exahusted. We are greatful for our awesome friends, and family but I kind of wish I could just sleep for the next few days. This Christmas eve will be spent with both our families, on the same day in two different countries. Yes, that's a lot of driving! But we really don't want to miss out on being with them, even if it means driving all over, and not getting very much sleep because let's face it, in Mexico we party all night (it's tradition to open gifts at mid-night even when you are 5 and delirious from lack of sleep).

This year, I've done absolutly no baking. Although I'm sure the ladies I visit-teach didin't mind getting Godiva truffles instead of my burnt sneaker doodles this year.

I didn't spend any time making gifts or wrapping them in cute packages. Generic it is...


Gifts for our out-of-state family will arrive late.

We didin't send grandma Reinhart a personilized christmas letter, I'm worried Ben won't be her favorite any more and the yearly piece of china will stop (she sends a plate per year, no I'm not kidding).

We didin't get a chance to feed the homeless in capo beach, adopt a needy family, or sing christmas carols to the elderly at the community center, we basically sucked at doing any service projects this year. I guess we'll just have to try to be service oriented all year long in 2011.

On the bright side all of the gifts are done (even if it's just gift cards and movie tickets). At least the nieces and nephews will have real gifts.

It might be a crazy Christmas but at the end of the day I'll get to snuggle with my parents (it never gets old), play soccer with my brothers and spend time with my Benji.

Oh yes, I also had a birthday this month and I just remembered I have yet to send thank you cards, crap! So when exactly am I suppose to fit Jesus into this equation? I kid, I kid. My mom gave me a brand new baby jesus for my nativity (that's for another post), and no I'm not kidding about this part either.

Not your grandma's christmas card.

I love getting Christmas cards in the mail, but this Christmas card tops the list. Our super talented friend Cory made this of his wife and kids, so in case you were wondering she isn't a single mother...

A Very Dotty Brown Christmas from Cory LeSueur on Vimeo.

Temple Square in SLC is always beautiful this time of year.

If you like the video you should check out THIS.

Uncle Ben

There's no denying Ben is everyone's favorite uncle. On Thanksgiving our nephew Jack who recently turned 3 came running in (after ringing the doorbell 3 times in a row) looking all over for Ben and we had the following conversation:

Jack: (with a worried face) where's YOUR uncle Ben?
Me: Using the potty, he is potty trained you know.
Jack: Yeah me too, just like uncle Ben.

A few reasons why the nieces and nephews love Ben so much:

Because at any given time he....

1. Turns into a crazy monkey (see video)
2. Turns into a wild chicken (much different than the monkey)
3. Turns into the snuggle or tickle monster (depending on circumstance)
4. Turns into a talking horse (this one is my personal favorite)
5. When he pretends to be a water ballerina.

Yeah, pretty much there's no competing with uncle Ben. Even 1 year old Weston gets excited to see him. I will always be boring aunt Sarah who "doesn't let us eat chocolate." -Charlotte (age 4).