overdue

{What?! Alayna is updating her blog?!}

Hello friends. It's been a while. What can I say? Life has just been crazy busy. I'm sure you all understand. Afterall, I am not the only terrible blogger out there. But this has for sure got to be a record for me. No promises that things will get better...

Anyway, Christmas is just 3 days away. I can't believe it! No, I DON'T believe it. As much as I love living in AZ, it's just hard to wrap my head around Christmas when it's 60+ degrees. I miss the snow and cold this time of year. And with no annual trip to UT this year, it's been different.

I've had my fair share of Christmas festivities. Starting with the annual decorating of the gingerbread house with my nephews on Thanksgiving.
Such a work of art! And very difficult for me to just sit back and watch the dirty little fingers touch and/or lick everything, and place things in unusual places. My mother says that next year she will get one just for me...so I can do what I want with it. Haha. I love it!

Next item on the agenda, the work Christmas party, catering to our hispanic co-workers with Mexican food, a mariachi band and a pinata. Good times...mostly.I decided, in an effort to save some money, to make all homemade Christmas gifts this year.

Never again.

Not sure that it's worth it...and not sure that it saves on the funds. Seriously, that took up all of my time and was a huge factor into why I don't blog anymore. So for OUR sake...I promise not to do that again!

However, I am somewhat in love with the results and proud of my efforts. Hopefully my friends and family enjoy the gifts...

With that being said, my home and other aspects of life have suffered from my lack of time. I had to take a day off of work just so I could decorate my Christmas tree and clean my house! But I am happy that I can now just enjoy laying on the couch, looking at my awesome Christmas tree. Matchy matchy ornaments and white lights...makes my OCD heart happy!Other Christmasy happenings have happened, like the annual trip to the temple to see the lights, drinking QT hot chocolate on a regular basis, wearing sweatshirts and I even wore shoes one day this last week {gasp}. It's been a very eventful and exciting month!

But perhaps a near favorite event, not Christmas related, was the birth of my puppy babies.Look at sweet Frederick with our babies! I am trying to convince Freddy to give me a puppy, but let him raise it, train it and take care of it...at his house. I think he's almost convinced.

Or maybe not.

But in all seriousness, how can you deny this face? Swoon.

Speaking of babies and swooning, I have some great news! On December 16th I became an aunt...again...for the 8th time! My 7th nephew, cute little Chase William, made his appearance and swiftly found his way to my heart. I love him!
And finally, no Christmas would be complete without a white elephant gift exchange. I was lucky enough to open these tinfoil hats, made by my friend Lisa. Think of the movie "Signs" and then think of people wearing these hats saying, "So the aliens can't read our minds." That is the preface behind the hats.

So one day I brought the hats into work and my co-workers and I did all sorts of crazy things with them. Mostly inappropriate and unable to be posted, but just believe me when I say that we shed some tears due to laughter. Here is Saije and me, hiding in a makeshift cornfield, so the aliens can't find us. And here is another representation of the tinfoil hats, the bug eyes.I'm sure your imagination can take you all sorts of directions for different photo ops. I would love to hear your thoughts...

Anyway, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope you enjoy your time with your family and friends. And I also hope you find the time to focus on the real reason for this season, our Savior Jesus Christ. Because without Him, there would be no Christmas. That is my goal this year, to focus on the true meaning of Christmas...because so far I am failing.

I can't wait to share my homemade Christmas gifts with you...AFTER they are opened.

I will blog again.

Guaranteed.

{Merry Christmas, yo}