Merry Christmas X3

We always have Christmas with my parents before Christmas, because we celebrate Christmas with all of my extended family on Christmas Eve at my aunt's house, which is a 2.5 hour drive for us.  We open all of our presents at my parent's house so we don't have to travel with them.  Then on Christmas Eve we celebrate with all of my mom's side of the family.  We play a "chinese christmas" game and pick numbers and choose a gift or steal one.  It is fun and someone always brings a funny gift or a really awesome gift everyone wants.  Then the kids open all of their gifts, but usually they open them so quickly they hardly even know who they are from.  Anways, we enjoy spending time with all of my family.  We then woke up on Christmas morning at my Nanna's house and Santa brought us a few surprises in our stockings.  We left on Christmas morning and had lunch with Karson's parents.  It is usually just the four of us and we enjoy spending time with them as well.  I love Christmas!  It is a great time to spend time with your family and reflect on Jesus's birth and how he has blessed us. 

Sisters

With Dad

My Family!

Dad & Mom

cousins.....

and more cousins.....

 

Aunt, Nanna, & Mom

 

Sisters

 

Karson & I

In our matching pajamas

Karson's parents 

Merry Christmas!

Love, the Swartz family 

 

Atkins friendly & delicious!

Recently, Karson went to the doctor and we found out that he has high blood pressure.  This is rare for someone his age, but it is hereditary.  So with that plus the recent weight gain, he decided to get back on a low carb diet.  I have tried to think of meals that are low carb and delicious.  It is hard for me since I love carbs, but we have adjusted well.  I usually give him larger portions and then I have smaller portions with a baked potato or something (got to have to the carbs).  Anyways, here are some of my latest meals.  They are all pretty easy and we have been using the heck out of our electric skillet.  We got it as a wedding present and never used it before, but now I use it at least 3 times a week.  It's large so I can actually cook the meat and then add the vegetables to the side and cook them.  Karson even uses it sometimes for breakfast to cook eggs and bacon.  It also uses less electricity than the stove, which saves us money.  Enjoy!

sirloin steak w/ bell peppers & broccoli

chicken w/ mixed vegetables

 chili

fish & zucchini

FALL is here!

I know I haven't posted in a long time, so I wanted to show you what I have done to decorate for fall.  I love fall and this weather feels great! 

This wreath I made with fabric for only about $4, I copied my friend Amanda's. 

The wreath I have on the front door.