Christmas!

I love Christmas! I never realized how much I look forward to my parents house being completely decorated, until I wasn't around to see it. I kept telling myself that I didn't want to store a Christmas tree, but that didn't last long. Black Friday Lyle and I bought a little tree for our new little condo. We bought our condo in October and I feel like we're just settling in. It's in the Avenues in Salt Lake and I love this area! Our apartment was right downtown, and while I miss that, I love the ambiance of the neighborhoods here. Fall was absolutely gorgeous will all of the mature trees turning colors! I'll post pictures of the condo eventually when my house is clean. Lately we've been too busy with finals and our little trip, but my finals are over and Lyle is done as of tonight. I'm so looking forward to 3 weeks without school but I know that it will go by too fast.

We've done a few fun Christmas things so far, with a lot more to come as Christmas gets closer. The most fun thing so far is going to Pittsburgh and all of the different things we could see there. There were so many huge decorated trees everywhere all over in buildings and outside. The gingerbread houses were pretty cool too. We also went to temple square with my family. I love spending time with either of our families! We haven't had a family party yet, which is slightly weird because this year they are all after Christmas, but that's ok because it means that Christmas just lasts longer!

One of my favorite things I've done for Christmas is making my nephew's Christmas present. One of my nephews is 4 and him and his brother like to play superheros. My mom had given the older one a reversible superman/batman cape when he was little, but I thought it was time that the younger brother got one too. I decided that this one was going to be super cool, so I started my sewing project. Not only is it reversible, but the emblems on them are velcroed on so that they can be interchangeable. I just finished it and wrapped it today! It was the last gift that I needed to wrap and it's a very good feeling to be done! These are the four that I've made, but really this project can be added to as his interests change.

Batman

Spiderman (even though I know spiderman doesn't have a cape)

Captain America

Superman

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas! And I wish those that still have shopping to do the best! Good luck!

Pittsburgh!

So we just got back from Pittsburgh late last night. It was a very very short trip, where we spent more time on a plane or at the airport than we actually did in the city during those two days, but it was worth it. We went to see a hockey game and the Penguins won, in overtime! Lyle wanted it to be close and exciting and it was. Overtime is sudden death in hockey, so the first one to score in overtime wins it all. It was very intense.

This is the marquee outside the arena.

We watched the Stanley Cup Finals together last year and Lyle was so excited that they won!

The guy on the ground in the middle is Sydney Crosby aka the cutest guy in the NHL.

I have a lot of pictures of everyone's backsides. I guess that's the problem when they are warming up on the opposite side of the arena

Our awesome front row seats!! We sat right next to the visiting team's penalty box.

The first face off at the beginning of the game.

The blue guy in the middle is Malkin. He's pretty much amazing.

The Pittsburgh Penguins players.

My view of the game. It was pretty intense.

Lyle is even the one taking the picture but he can't take his eyes of the game.

The team after they won.

Malkin was the MVP of the game.

This is a replica of the Nativity that is at the Vatican.

Our 4 star hotel that was actually cheaper than anywhere else. It was very elegant and the lobby was always full of people eating and they had a real pianist there for the background music.

This tree is in the middle of an ice rink. All of the buildings that surround it have a cool castle like top. It was pretty neat.

There were so many gingerbread houses that were for sale, with the proceeds going to charity. Some were absolutely amazing.

There were also "Santa" figurines from all different cultures. This is the one for Italy. It's really the person who scares bad kids, but oh well!

There were some cool bridges in Pittsburgh because it's in the middle of two rivers. The PNC baseball park is right on the other side of this particular bridge.

Our last view of the city as we were driving out.

Overall it was a good trip. It was nice to get away, even if it was just a weekend trip. The game was so much fun!