As Christmas draws near, Alan and I are getting excited for our long-held Christmas Eve tradition of watching NORAD Tracks Santa throughout the day and into the late night.  We have done this for several years now and love watching the video clips of his latest location.  Last year was our first Christmas in Arizona and since we were so new to the area (we had only been here for 3 months at that point) we decided to drive around the valley and check out the Christmas light displays.  We are so glad that we did and have since decided to make that another Christmas Eve tradition.

This year, we're planning on checking out the light display at the Mormon Temple in downtown Mesa.  We drove by there earlier this month and it was gorgeous.  You can actually park and walk through the lights on the the temple grounds and we're hoping to do that tomorrow if the weather remains as nice as it has been.  We're also planning on visiting a nearby Mesa neighbourhood (near Southern Ave. & Harris St.) that does an annual luminary display.  We stumbled upon them last year on our Christmas Eve drive, while looking at light displays, and plan to check it out again this year.

We have a great menu planned for Christmas Eve with leftovers to be served on Christmas Day.  It sure saves on the work and leftovers are always so delicious.  Since our first Christmas as a married couple, we have always made it a point to make Christmas breakfast extra-special.  We usually make something that we don't usually have throughout the rest of the year.  This year we're planning on having biscuits with homemade sausage gravy (Betty Crocker has an amazing white sauce recipe that we use), Disaronno Sparkling, and Tim Hortons coffee.  Alan surprised me with a couple of packages from the Tim Hortons in Ypsilanti, MI.  He got them in October when he had to go back up there for business.  We used to stop at that one on the way to the Detroit Metro Airport so it was a special surprise.

For Christmas Eve dinner, we are planning on having honey-glazed slow cooker ham, homemade creamy macaroni & cheese (my recipe that I adapted from a Paula Deen recipe - I'll give you a copy of it you have pay the right price!  *cue maniacal grin*), candied yams, and stuffing.  For dessert, we're having Dream Salad in waffle cone dishes and Key Lime Rum Cake.

Alan has the week of Christmas off and doesn't return to work until January 2, 2013, so we're planning a short trip up to Laughlin, NV.  We'll make the Aquarius Casino Resort our home base for a few days and take some day trips into California and around Nevada.  Our biggest trip will be to the Mojave Desert National Preserve for some day hikes.  From what we've seen in pictures, we're in for some beautiful sites!!!  I promise to post some pictures this time.  That is one of my New Year resolutions - to be more timely and diligent in posting vacation pictures to our blog.

Speaking of New Year, we're planning on a quiet night at home this year.  We're going to enjoy some great food, playing board games, and watching the ball drop on TV.  We always do a champagne toast and this year we'll do it out on the balcony, just like we did last year.  In Michigan, you didn't dare go outside because it was so frigidly cold or there was tons of snow.  Here, it's usually in the 40s - 50s, which is just cool enough for a light jacket or sweatshirt but not cold enough that you need a full snowsuit.  Anyway, I'm rambling, but just wanted to remind everyone how awesomely gorgeous the weather is here in the winter.  *cue the taunting giggle*

Overall, 2012 has been a year of blessings, challenges, growth, and love.  We pray that 2013 brings everyone great blessings, memories, and joy!  We love and miss all our family and friends but think of you often.  Cheers to a new year and cheers to family and friends!!!

Love always,
Alan & Jodi