Ear Candling

I've been curious about this for some time...but too scared to try it.  Last night we were at Ginger's Garden Cafe and Herb Shop-best place in Springville-and we came across some of these ear candles.  I was skeptical and said no right away, but Rob convinced me to give it a try since my ears had been bothering me for a few days (like on the verge of ear infection).  I know all of the criticism that goes along with these things-they are dangerous, they burn people's ears, they don't work, yady yada yada- but i'm telling you that after one ear, I could tell a huge difference between that one and the one that had not been done yet.  Mega pressure release.  It was quit soothing and sort of fun.  I enjoyed it.  I'm sure people shouldn't do this all the time, but it beats shoving a Q-tip in your ear and packing in the ear wax.  I woke up today...no ear ache.  Not saying that these things did the trick, could have been a coincidence, just saying that the experience was a lot better than I expected.  Plus-i'm sorry but if you've ever burnt yourself with these things then you did it wrong, because there is just no way.  It is not like a regular wax candle, it is more like a thick cloth/wax thing.  No wax melts down the candle, it burns off...no drips, no mess.  

Christmas Break

BEWARE:  LONG POST

We went home to Arizona for Christmas Break.  It was warm and beautiful.  

A few highlights:

1: Our Anniversary!  Yes, we made it an entire year...who would have thought!

2.  African Soweto Choir.  I have been dying to see these guys in concert since my senior year in high school and it was everything I anticipated.  They are incredible.  The Campbell's found tickets and we all went on our Anniversary.  It was AMAZING.

3:  Christmas Eve.  So fun.  We spent Christmas Eve at the Wynn's my house and participated in the Christmas Eve Annual Talent Show.  Very entertaining if I do say so myself.   See pictures below.  Then, ended the evening back at Rob's where we started our (Ellie and Rob's) first Christmas tradition.  A Nightmare Before Christmas singalong party.  Not only is it a great movie, but an even better sing a long.  It was hilarious and so much fun.

4.  Christmas Day.  We went to the Campbell's to be with the girls (Lucy, Carmen, Eden) for presents.  It was fun to be with kids on Christmas, it has been a while since I've been with little kids for Christmas.  I forgot how much fun it is.  The morning consisted of  presents, playing fairies with Lucy and Carmen (in some sweet dress ups), and French Toast = awesome.  

Dress up #1

#2

#3

Matt was especially happy.

More Dress up.

Fairy Princesses.

Eden and Rody.

5.   Christmas Dinner.  My family came to the Campbell's for dinner on Christmas Day.  Both mom's are great cooks so dinner was fantasitc.  Then we played Draw Charades (also known as Pictionary).  We had three teams, and played six rounds, and we all tied.  It was great. We were getting a little competitive (hard to imagine...i know!) so we decided to end at the tie.  

6:  Family Pictures.  Both the Campbell's and the Wynn's decided this would be a good thing to do.  For some reason, taking pictures with my family (everyone over the age of 14)  took a whole lot longer than with Rob's family (three kids under the age of 7).  Ironic don't you think? 

 Still no Campbell Family Pictures.  If I get my hands on them I will post em.

 

7:  Chihuly exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden.  He is a pretty famous glass artist whose works are displayed at the Met, Smithsonian, and many other places.  It was quite a sight.  The glass sculptures amid all of the desert plants looked incredible.  I don't know which I enjoyed more, learning about all of the desert plants I have never heard of before, or looking at all of the incredible glass.  Here are some cool photos.