December Cheer!

In preparation for the Christmas season, we headed to our local tree lot and bought our first ever real tree. It was a little taller than we thought, but it fit in our living room very nicely. We loved having the lights of the tree on during the overcast December days, it brought such warmth into our home. I specially enjoyed it during those days studying for finals / writing papers when the tree would keep me company and remind me of the reason for the season: the birth of Jesus Christ. We are very thankful for our many blessings this year, our family and friends, a house to keep us warm, a little one on the way, and the gospel that blesses our lives every day.

Pondering... are the branches even on all sides? which way should the tree face?

Then we headed to Arizona for Leanne's wedding. Leanne and Mitchell Brown were sealed in the Mesa LDS Temple on December 18th. Isn't she so pretty?


The reception was fun, especially the live band starring two of the Smith brothers and the very talented Madeleine.

We were back in Virginia for Christmas and had a Peruvian-style Christmas eve with Alicia, Yessy, Yoshi, and Roman who was visiting from Utah!

Our baby: 30 weeks (7 meses!)

This picture was taken in early December, before the tree went up.