Christmas again....and again!

Bryce and I were able to celebrate a few Christmas's this year. We celebrated with Bryce's family Christmas Eve, my immediate family on Christmas day and with my grandparents a few days after Christmas! We did Christmas with my family a little different this year in that we let the kids open up all their gifts on Christmas morning and enjoyed the gifts with them and then later on in the afternoon we opened up our gifts. It seemed to work out a lot better!

My family is not one for chaos so we switched things up!:)

The kids loved all of their new toys and WOW did they get spoiled! They are such fun kids!

I know I'm a little biast (sp?) but isn't she just the cutest thing ever?!!


I swear this picture wasn't staged!:)

If you know Bryce and I then you know that we (originally Bryce) love the Red Sox! We have turned my parents into Red Sox fans so we like to shower them with Red Sox gear! We're always good for a Red Sox gift! And.....

Bryce says that if you are a "true" Red Sox fan then you should like the Dropkick Murphys. They are the band who sings the song "Shipping up to Boston" which is played at most, if not all, Red Sox games. :) Jonathan Pappelbon, an amazing closing pitcher for the Red Sox, danced the Irish Jig to this song after they won the world series! Just a little history for ya.:)

Bryce and I got some great gifts this year! Thank you, thank you! I love.... my subscription to US Weekly, my Stampin' Up stuff, Pampered Chef stuff, MAC makeup, Carrie Underwood CD, "Kathy" purse, money! and everything else not mentioned. I will not lie--- I love gifts!!:) We are also thankful that our family is concious of getting us small gifts that we can fit in our suitcase to lug back to Omaha!

We ended our Christmas day celebration with an updated family picture. We thought it was pretty good considering how hard it is to get a 3 year old and an 18 month old to actually look at the camera.:)

Four days later we took a road trip to Blanding to celebrate Christmas with my grandparents.

I thought I'd start out with a picture of the littlest tiger....I mean biggest, furiest cat you've ever seen!!!

This is my mom's cat Ali. She is also the meanest cat you've ever met! She basically only lets my mom and I pet her. She hisses at almost anyone else if they get too close! I'm just glad she seems to remeber me even though I only go home twice a year.

It was a long trip to Blanding from Tooele but we were very thankful to be able to spend time with my grandparents! I can't even begin to express the love I have for them!! We are a pretty close family, which I am so grateful for. Above are my dad's parents and below are my mom's parents. They are all such wonderful people! They would do anything for their grandchildren!

Bryce and I got a money tree which was such a cute idea! We bought a new camera for Christmas before we left Omaha and are thankful that it will now be payed for!:) Thanks again everyone! Christmas was wonderful!

We miss you all already!!!!!

A Wonderful Christmas Eve!

Bryce and I spent Christmas Eve with the Shields family this year! We had a wonderful time and love spending time with all of them!
Bryce's mom worked so hard all day in the kitchen! She is a wonderful cook and loves to make sure that we gain lots of weight during the holidays.:)

Bryce's brother Scott and his beautiful family flew home from Michigan to spend Christmas in Utah! It was the first time I met my new niece Molly!

Bryce's sister Karmen was nice enough to host our Christmas Eve dinner and party in her new, huge, beautiful house!

On Christmas Eve Bryce's family cooks a delicious Italian dinner.....

We play games......

And exchange gifts! Karmen's family had Bryce and I this year! They gave me the Willow Tree Nativity which I was extremely excited about! I have been wanting one for a few years! Thanks Bartons!

Molly is so adorable! I just love this picture! We have an immediate bond because Molly was born on my birthday! It was fun to get to know her a little bit.

What a cutie!! Just waiting for Santa to get here!:) Merry Christmas Eve!

Christmas Lights at Temple Square!

On Sunday Dec.23rd my family, Bryce and I ventured out in the cold to enjoy the beautiful Christmas lights at Temple Square.
My parents had never been there before so it was a wonderful to experience it with them. The spirit of the Christmas season was indescribable! I can't think of any greater place to be reminded of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ than the Salt Lake Temple surrounded by millions of beautiful Christmas lights.

This is my beautiful niece Tenli who had to be "contained" in the stroller but seemed to enjoy the lights and never complained about the cold.:)

My cute little nephew Jett really bonded with his Uncle Bryce and loved to pretend that he was being thrown in the snow!! He has so much energy and is so fun to be around!

Jett was so excited to see the Christis statue that he saw through the window. We walked up through the visitor center and he was yelling "look, look...it's Jesus". It was so crowded! There were a ton of people there all looking in "awe" at the beautiful statue of Jesus.

Bryce and I are grateful we could experience Christmas at Temple Square with my family!
It was a wonderful night!

The Nielsons-- December 2007

Lunch Reunion!!

While Bryce and I were in Utah we were able to meet up for lunch with a few of my roomates from college. We met at Macaroni Grill in Salt Lake and caught up on each other's lives.
Mindy and Garrett live in Vernal, Utah, where they both work. Garrett owns his own landscaping company and Mindy is an office manager for an oil company. They're basically rich!(inside joke) They are a great couple and keep everyone laughing! I hadn't seen Mindy for almost 3 years! It was great to see them!

Chelsea, Max and little baby Jack live in LaVerkin, Utah. Chelsea is an x-ray tech and Max manages a golf coarse in Hurricane. This was my first time meeting little Jack and he is absolutely adorable!! He has an amazing head of hair!:) Chelsea and I have been able to see each other a few times over the past year and seem to keep in touch pretty well. It was great to see them as well!

I miss these girls like crazy! They are amazing friends! We have a lot of great memories from our college experience at SUU. I am so grateful for their friendship. Sarah was unable to meet with us but I think that we should make this an annual occurance so maybe next year. Love you girls!!

Advanced Surgery Center Christmas Party!

Bryce and I went to my work Christmas party last night at Champion's country club. It was really fun! Maybe I lived a sheltered life in Utah but I had never been to a country club where they have free valet parking, a coat check-in where they give you a number, a live band, and a free bar where you order your drinks. Bryce and I ordered a "Rum & Coke"- - -hold the Rum!:)
Our office manager presented each one of the staff and doctors with a "gag gift". As you can see I got a trash can! The story behind this is that at work I am (believe it or not) the "clean freak" and I am always organizing and cleaning off the nurses station. A few times, during this cleaning-up, I have thrown away a paper or something that someone needed. It has been a running joke at the surgery center that if you can't find something ask Brittany because she has probably thrown it away.:) My friend Lexxi got a bag of kisses because she is a very touchy and "friendly" person. One time one of the nurses was having a bad day and Lexxi jokingly asked her if she needed a kiss and the nurse said "NO thanks but you can give me a hug if you want." It was fun to see all the "gag gifts" that were given. They were all pretty appropriate.

Bryce had met most of the people I work with but hadn't met any of the doctors. It was great to introduce him to all of the doctors I have to put up with!:) One doctor who is awesome and one of my favorites said "I'm sorry you have to put up with her! She is always nagging me to sign stuff." Rude!:) Bryce also got stuck talking to a "not so sober" husband which was pretty entertaining. Anyway-- we had a great time! Merry Christmas everyone!