christmas break

Better late than never, right?

Our Christmas this year was perfect. Too perfect that it was really hard to come home after 10 days of no work and quality time with family and friends. Between gaining the most-amazing sister-in-law ever, late night Mario Kart tournaments, 3-day road trip with the two of the cutest kids ever, dying and cutting my sister's hair, eating, eating and eating, the annual Pollei Family bowling night, meeting up with some of my best high school friends, and quality time with family, I think it's safe to say it was a much-needed break.

Christmas Eve nativity & pinata, so funny to see Kiki dive for the candy

I don't know who loved who more... Kiki didn't leave Steve's side all break, 

then again, neither did Steve.

Trip to Temple Square to see the lights. Always incredible.

The kids loved tracking Santa on Google Maps on Christmas Eve!

 

Until next year!

The month of December in Washington, D.C.

We have had a lot of fun lately.

Nothing out of the ordinary. 

But this place is really starting to feel like home. 

We feel so blessed to have the jobs we do, 

for Steve's opportunity to go to the school that he does,

and to live in such a beautiful city.

This doesn't mean it wasn't terribly hard to leave Salt Lake last weekend,

but it means we are really starting to feel settled.

Spending our first holiday season in the District was very fun.

Although Steve's 1st semester of finals kept us from enjoying the first half of the month,

we certainly did a lot the week before we went to Utah for the holiday.

We went to the DC temple to see the lights and festivities, 

window shopping around Georgetown, 

visited the Botanical Gardens (absolutely AMAZING - so many poinsettias!),

checked out the White House tree and walked historic neighborhoods,

enjoyed festive baking, eating out, listening to Christmas music, 

and celebrating our Christmas on December 21st before heading to Utah.