The Carters: 2010

Our First Christmas

We had an amazing first Christmas together. We wanted to start a few traditions that we will be able to continue when we have a family. To begin the day on Christmas eve, we made some cut out sugar cookies. Bryce had never made these before and had a blast decorating them. He also said this was the best cookie dough ever... I agree!

After making cookies we played one game of settlers. For my early Christmas present I actually won the game. Bryce never loses this game so I don't know if he let me win or not, but I enjoyed the win regardless!

At 12:01, technically Christmas day, we opened our presents from each other first. I bought Bryce some Reese's candy and Inception. I got Dancing with the Stars and a wheel for Mario Kart on the Wii.

After opening our presents from each other we got to open our "Big" present from Santa. We had gotten so many things for the Wii already, it's a good thing we were good and got our wii from Santa :)

After opening our Wii, Bryce had one more surprise present upstairs.... Wii Fit.

Like the children we are, we couldn't wait to play our new games so we played our different Wii games until 3:00 am. Look at our intense faces!

It was a perfect first Christmas. Hope everyone enjoyed their holidays!!!

Grandma's Christmas Party

The Saturday before Christmas, Grandma always has her BIG Christmas party at her house. We usually have around 80 guests, have more food than we have at Thanksgiving, and Santa comes when we finish eating. This is one of the best Christmas parties I've ever been too. My grandma works for weeks trying to clean her house, and we spend the entire day before making food, but it's definitely worth it. I LOVE IT!!!
We had so many people there helping that we actually finished getting everything ready before the party started and we had time to play a huge ULTIMATE GO FISH GAME! Bryce played go fish for the first time with my family about a month ago. Since then he's been addicted and always wants to play. To make the game a little more challenging we played with two decks and instead of asking for a 2 you had to specify which suit you wanted as well. ULTIMATE GO FISH!!!

Since Bryce and I won't be around for Christmas we got to open our presents from my grandma early.

Isn't she amazing?!? The day before I actually told her that I really wanted a black frame with the Bountiful temple, but she must have read my mind because she had already made it for me. Thanks Grandma!!!

When sisters stand shoulder to shoulder, who stands a chance against us? ~Pam Brown.

Sunday night we went to watch Skyler sing in a musical tribute to Joseph Smith. It was amazing!!!

Christmas with the Wilcoxs

Now that Bryce and I are married, holidays are a little complicated. We want to spend time with both families, but with one family in Logan and the other family on the other end of the state in Cedar City it's difficult to see both on Christmas. Because of this, we decided to do all of my family's Christmas traditions a little earlier. We moved Christmas Eve to Monday, December 20th and Christmas to December 21st. We had to make sure and inform Santa that Christmas was coming a little earlier at our house this year :) My family was awesome for not only being willing to change, but excited to move all our traditions up a few days. We had a blast and we didn't have to miss out on very much!!!

When we were younger, one of our Christmas traditions was to drive around Logan and see all of the lights. Well a few years ago we decided that the lights were always the same and so we decided to watch a Christmas movie at the theater instead. We had so much fun that night that watching a movie at the movie theater became our new Christmas tradition. Unfortunately, since we were doing Christmas Eve on December 20th there weren't any Christmas movies playing so we decided to watch Despicable Me. We were one of maybe three families watching the movie, and you could really only hear our family laughing, but we had a blast. Despicable Me was a lot better than I thought it would be and the little minions were hilarious. We quoted sayings from the movie throughout the rest of the night.

Another one of our Christmas Eve traditions is to open pajamas, and one present (which is always a game) that night. Afterwards, we all change into our new pajamas and play the new game we got, as well as some of our other favorites games until well into the night. This year we played LIFE, Snarf, Scum, Golf, Alaska, Phase 10, Monopoly Deal, and our new game Word on the Street.

Christmas morning comes early at the Wilcox home. We are usually up and opening presents by 5:00 am. My dad always looks out the window at our neighbors and says "The Sainsbury's aren't up, the Cooley's aren't up, we're the first ones up again this year." Secretly I think he enjoys this little competition with the neighbors, even if they don't know it's actually occurring :) After opening our presents on Christmas we are usually driving to my grandparents' houses, but since Christmas came early this year we were able to stay home and enjoy spending time together.

Presents Santa brought for Bryce and Shelynne

Bryce's new hat from Brittanee, hopefully he doesn't lose this one this year :)

An itunes card and Reese's from Skyler

My new jacket from Skyler

It's crazy, Brittanee and I almost picked out the exact same shirt for each other. I was actually looking at the same shirt she bought me, but my mom directed my attention to another display of shirts. We have such great taste I guess.

BYU Cougars sweatshirt... This had to have come from Skyler!

Sour Skittles and an Alex Boye CD from Bryce and I.

Backyard sports game from Brittanee

My dad's new tackle box

He loves popcorn!!!

My mom's new calendar we made for her!

I think my mom enjoyed her nerf gun as much as she liked the calendar :)

Santa also brought the boys Flarp. "It's this jelly-like substance when pushed upon makes noises that should only be heard in the bathroom" - Bryce Carter. Needless to say, the boys loved it!

Our sparkling cider for breakfast. Bryce was a big fan!!!

After we had an amazing Christmas dinner, we made a gingerbread house. Each person added their own little touch to the house. Dad made the structure. Bryce made the chimney and the lightposts in the front. Skyler did the snow on the bottom and the red and green decorations around the house. Mom added the wreath and the licorice archways. Brittanee made the red walkway. I added the two children looking out the window, and Brittanee and I did the lights on the roof.