The Allred's Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas! This was the first Christmas Clint and I have spent in Ohio, and my first Christmas away from my family in Utah. Although we greatly missed being with our lovely families, we had a very nice relaxing time and enjoyed the last chance for a quiet Christmas just the two of us. Of course this just made us more excited about thinking what NEXT Christmas will be like!

The month of December was a particularly busy month for Clint's work schedule, but we did a good job of fitting in festivities and traditions that we have already established. One of our favorite traditions is that we read A Christmas Carol together. So after Thanksgiving we went and bought a nice copy that we will read for years to come. It is so nice to cuddle up together on the couch with a nice warm blanket and just read for a few minutes throughout the week.

We also carried on our tradition that we started last year and baked gingerbread houses. It makes the entire house smell like Christmas! Its a lot more work then buying a kit, but its part of the fun! Its also a good excuse for us to invite some of our good friends over and host a mini Christmas party.

Here is Clint hard at work. This year, being 7 months pregnant, by the time I had baked the gingerbread and made dinner for our friends I was pretty much pooped. So I really didn't contribute much to the decorating of the house. I think I mostly just sat there with a glazed look on my face. Ha ha! Clint said something to the effect of, "Our house turned out better last year because you let me do more to it this year." I wouldn't say that! But even though I was pooped I still had a fun time.

Another tradition we have is to go to the German bakery and pick up Lebkuchen, Clint's favorite Christmas cookie from his mission in Germany. I think this might be one of my favorite traditions, its so fun to go to German Village and Clint gets so excited to speak in German to the store owner. We have decided wherever we move, we will find a place that sells Lebkuchen so we can keep the tradition alive. Of course, we come home and eat it with a cup of cocoa and read some of our book. We also went to see the lights at the Zoo this year. It was really crowded, but we had a good time. Again, pregnant Laurie got worn out so we didn't stay as long as we probably otherwise would have, but the lights were fun. We both agreed they are not quite as majestic as the lights on temple square, but there are tons of them and they are synchronized to music, so its pretty cool.


These lights reminded us of our little family!!!
Christmas Eve was very relaxing, we had some yummy appetizers from old family recipes, Grandma's Crab Dip and Parmesean Cheese Puffs. And then we played games, read our story and had some dinner. We probably had a nap or two in there too. Since we weren't going to be with family this year, I wanted to really try to make our Christmas feel like home, and it did! The food was just like Moms. :)

Here I am enjoying a nice cup of spiced cider (Clint's one request) and some appetizers.


We decided this year to go to Midnight Mass. We figured since neither of us had ever been and we probably won't get the chance to go again for a long time why not? Staying up til midnight for me and Clint is pretty much impossible. So we went to bed at our normal time ( 9:30-10:00 ha ha! I know we are like senior citizens in so many ways) And set our alarm so we could make it. It was pretty cool to see and we both stayed awake the whole time! Hooray! But man, I think we both felt a little sleep deprived the next day...Better get used to that, right???

Above is our Christmas fire. Clint put it on his lap top while we had stuffed french toast and eggs for breakfast. He is a silly guy. From time to time he would get up to "throw a log on the fire" I love that boy.
Here is a family picture of the three of us and our tree! We are so thankful for this time of year. Even though it gets really busy, its so nice to take time and do things together, and of course to reflect upon the birth of the Savior. While we were listening to the 1st presidency Christmas devotional, drinking cocoa, snuggled up on the couch with our tree all lit up I just had one of those moments were you realize, this is as good as it gets. I am lucky to have such a good husband who sacrifices to spend time with me. And we are thankful for the knowledge that we have about that Savior, that really is what makes this time of year so wonderful. Hope you all had a great Christmas too!