Christmas in Provo...

Christmas day this year started the day with opening presents at about 6:30am so we could be dressed ready for church at 9am... when we came back from church I made a BIG BREAKIE... eggs ,bacon, peppered bacon, sausage,tomatoes, mushrooms, hash browns, toast and fruit danish....Then we headed to Baldwin's for lunch/dinner.. We had a great time (didn't take camera) and came away with some new recipes..... here are some of photo's from our morning...








Eden has been saying that she was going to get a barbie bus for months.. We were going to by her one for her birthday in Feb so we didn't have to travel with it but we found it was half the price over here .... So Santa brought her a bus....
Hope everyone had a great Christmas Day like we did... and after having 2 Christmas's away we are happy to celebrate 2012 Christmas in Tassie....

christmas Lights

Tonight Christmas Eve we went and drove around to find some Christmas lights...
It is freezing so there was no getting out of the car and stopping... Drive by style tonight...


We also we for a drive out to Spanish Fork (about 20 mins away) to see the Festival of Lights..
It was set at a park and you drove your car around, which meant NO getting out off the car, so with our hot chocolates we enjoyed the lights....



It was packed with cars which was good because you got to have a good look at the display...



Last night on the way back from a Christmas party in Brigham City we decided to stop at Salt Lake City and go and see the lights at Temple Square...


It was freezing as well but this time we were prepared with coats, hats and gloves...







We have rang all our families and some friends as it is Christmas day in Australia now...
And the milk and cookies is ready for Santa.....
This is the best Christmas as we have no assembling to do this year.. just get something from the car...
Merry Christmasxxxxxx

from this to this..

On Sunday we went for a drive to get away from this.......


To this.... Yes SUN and warmth.. How we have missed you???
Where was this, you ask?? Well the photo below is a giveaway... VEGAS ....


It was good to have a look around the different themed casino's again and see the pretty Christmas decorations... We hadn't been to the Venetian before and was keen for a ride on a gondola... until I saw the price that is!!!!

We had a great time.. We even took the girls to a "Vegas Show"..... A magic show, Eden like it cause he made a Barbie appear...

There was heaps of cool stuff out for Christmas, like ice skating!!!

We also got the chance to visit one of our favourite restaurants to have one of our favourite desserts... Rainforest Cafe and the Volcano Cake.....
It was a good small break before the packing begins......

another birthday....

Last week I celebrated another birthday.. Being in Provo this year my presents started coming early.. The week before my Tasmanian friend Jacquie sent me a cheesecake from Oregon..A California friend sent me a BYU blue wig.... I think I might be wearing it on a plane soon...and just when I thought I was having cadbury withdrawls, in the post comes a big box of chocolate
I wanted this Snowman from the bookstore, but knew that Gaz isn't into decorations or as he calls them "dust collectors'.. Elaine surprised me by going back into the store and buying it for me.. Not only did I go out for lunch several times, I got some phone calls from back home....
But the most fun was going out for dinner on my birthday with Gaz and the girls to Texas Roadhouse.. The staff know us as the "Aussies" and Gary asked the waitress if they do anything for birthdays... All of a sudden the waitress brings over a horse saddle and tell me to hop on....
Laughing my head off I climbed onto the saddle with my hands over my face in embarrassment..
All of a sudden the staff are shining lights in my eyes and yelling the dinners to give me a "TEXAS YEEEEHAAWWWW"... sorry no photo's everyone was laughing too much to even think about grabbing the camera..
Thank you for all your messages and birthday wishes....
I had a great day.....

Santa...

With Gary busy with assignments and final exams we haven't been really doing anything...
Plus the temperature has gone down in the minuses ...
After my birthday dinner (Oh, yeah so maybe we have been doing things) we went to go and visit Santa....We were all ready decicded on what deal to get and paid for it and waiting in line.. Then we looked at each other and laughed at each other clothes as we thought we looked like a "homeless family"... I had beanie hair and Gaz had his trackies on.....
Yes we did go to the restaurant like this but things are a bit relaxed over here with clothing...
So we decided tocome back another time..
we are very happy with the result...
Merry Christmas everyone..xxxx

Christmas Message...

A couple of months ago I put our names down to receive some tickets to the Annual Christmas Devotional.. It is always held on the first Sunday in December but back home we usually don't attend it as it is a delayed telecast and nearly always held on the same night as "Carols by Candlelight" I was stoked to receive the tickets in the mail..
So another thing crossed of the list..
Gary couldn't go as he was swamped with assignments and it was going to be a 4 hour round trip.. So Elaine was looking after Eden anyway so we asked Emma if she would like to go...

The Conference Center was decorated with the most amazing Christmas tress.....
I love watching Conference live and this made me want to attend the telecast and be late for the "carols next year....'...
So can someone PLEASE save us a spot!!!

Baldwin.....

About 16 and half years ago, I met this lovely young lady... Well back then she was a Missionary and because of this I got to spend heaps of time with her and learn about her "cowboy" family. Last night we finally got to spend some more time together, Jill (Sister Baldwin) Sheets lives in Ogden and we have just not had the chance to meet up.. But we made up for lost time by having a fun filled evening.. We drove to Heber where we meet Jill and Michael and the kids, we hugged and got back in the car and drove to Jill's sister's house where some of the family was waiting..
our night started driving to a nice resort in midway which was having an free community event which consisted of "nativity scenes" from all around the world and made out off different materials..These two were some of Eliza's favourites..There was about 200 and it was great display.. They also were making caramel apples and other activities but we didn't have time as people hadn't eaten yet and tummies were rumbling..
So off to Wendy's as we were going to see a production of"the best Christmas pageant ever" and we had about 15 minutes to eat and talk..
The play was great and i wish i could have taken some photo's.. After the play we went back to Jill sister's house for dessert and talked some more...
We loved spending time the the Sheets/Baldwin Family....
So many great families in USA and so little time.....

the Winner...

The Winner is...... Kylie.....
Thank you for all the comments... Kylie will be receiving a package of MY favourite candy....
I wonder what it will be.....

10 000

When I entered the "world of blogging" I didn't really think that anyone would read it.........
But today "the woodwards" reached it's 10,000 viewer.... YAY!!!! But like any blogger I am a bit curious to know "who reads our blog?? I have a few faithful followers who comment on most posts, but this time " I WANT MORE"....
So, I'm going to Follow Nettie's Blog and have a giveaway....
Leave a comment and email address on this post and for an extra entry, leave a comment on the last post-
Eliza Mae Photography...
Winner will be drawn on Friday(USA) time....
Oh and the prize will be a parcel of my favourite American Candy... (will post anywhere) xx
Good luck .......

Eliza Mae Photograghy

Since Eliza installed "Instagram" app on her itouch she has been spending time taking photos and editing them.. Here are some of her favorites and mine too...
Phebe loves being the model..
The chairs at the Marriott Center..
My wonderful layered jello salad that I made for thanksgiving...
Eliza, I didn't recognise her without her basketball shorts on....
The fall leaves....
The view from our window......
Now I want an iphone so I can play with the app as well.....