Christmas turned out just fine after all.

After all my stress about getting ready for Christmas and mustering up whatever Christmas magic I could, it all turned out great despite my worrying. I managed to get up a cute little tree and some stockings.

And that is about it for decorations. On Christmas Eve we had a small dinner with my sister Rebekah's family and actually watched about half of the movie Rad that my brother in law Sean found on Youtube. Nothing says Christmas like a good 80's movie. 

On Christmas day we woke up and opened the presents we got for each other and the gifts my parents spoiled us with. We always say we are sticking to a strict budget but we end up spoiling each other. I did not really even create a Christmas wish list because life has just been busy and I have not been thinking about it that much. Sam was so sweet and for like the last 6 months he had been creating a list of things I had mentioned that I wanted or would like to have. So even though I did not really give him any ideas he surprised me so many cute and wonderful things. What meant more than the presents did was how thoughtful they were. That is what makes presents great. 

After a quick breakfast we headed over to Sam's parents. We got to talk to Sam's little brother Joe who is on a mission in Ohio. We got to talk to Joe for about 2 hours! We talked with him through facetime so it was cool to actually get to see him. I think he was a little homesick but he is doing great and is starting to become more and more comfortable as a missionary. Since most of my family was all gone somewhere else we just spent the day with Sam's family. We ate delicious food and we were thoroughly spoiled by Sam's parents. We watched a classic Christmas movie and just lounged most of the day. Pretty much all of us were sick so it was nice to just relax.

Overall it was a pretty great Christmas. I had a big realization that even if I do not do any of the normal traditions I love about Christmas, it will come anyways, and all you can do is just enjoy it. That is precisely what I did. Even though we were spoiled with things I really felt that this Christmas was not about the gifts at all. I realize that is really cliche but it is just so true. I am mostly just grateful to have family (especially when you spend a holiday without all of them). I am grateful to have Sam's family to spend the day with. I am most grateful for Sam who has taken care of me while I have been sick this whole month. He is so thoughtful and just being with him made it a wonderful day. Now I get to look forward to my birthday, the new year, and getting back to normal, or at least the life I consider normal :)

Merry Christmas!

It's really not beginning to look like Christmas at all.

This time of year everyone is eagerly anticipating Christmas and are finishing up the final touches on gift wrapping, decorations, and Christmas parties. Well, that is not the case for me and Sam. I have pretty much done nothing to get ready for Christmas and it is a little depressing. I love holidays. I mean LOVE. I love the planning and all the excitement. I love Christmas lights and decorations. I love turning on Christmas music while I hang ornaments on the Christmas tree and hang lights around all the windows. I have done nothing. Not one twinkling light.

The reason for this lack of holiday cheer really started with Thanksgiving, which we also did not celebrate this year. Well we did, just not on Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving day we headed out with my brother Matt's family to help them move to their new home on Bainbridge Island just outside of Seattle. Even though we had a big Thanksgiving dinner the Sunday before, it was still a little weird knowing everyone was sitting down to a nice turkey dinner when I was driving through western Idaho. We were lucky enough to stop at my grandparent's house and my Grandma made us a delicious lunch with a little pumpkin dessert. The saddest part of the day was when we made it to our stopping point in Baker City, Oregon. We went in search of a place for dinner and not one place was open. NOT ONE. Not even McDonalds. Where did we technically eat our Thanksgiving dinner? Maverick. Yes, that is right. We ate Maverick gas station food while watching the Price is Right in our hotel room. My niece Leah may have shed a few tears that night, but the kids were really big troopers and they never complained. 

We finally made it to Seattle the next day and helped Matt and Debi move everything in to their new house, which is super cool and in such an amazingly beautiful place. I am not going to lie, it made me think of moving the the beautiful northwest someday. We spent the weekend with them in Washington and then had to say a sad goodbye to their family and head back to reality in Utah.

I say back to reality because being in Washington was really relaxing for me and as soon as we got home that meant we had to move as well. We are going to be moving into Matt's house now that he is gone. Here is the deal. My parents are moving into the upstairs of Matt's house and they are selling their condo. We have now moved out of Bethany and John's house (since they are now back from Massachusetts and Bethany is pregnant with twins!!!). So now we have moved in to Matt's basement and will be living with my parents. Are you confused yet? I don't blame you if you are. Anyways... we left Seattle late Monday night, and had to get back to work the next day. We then spent a crazy tired week packing and moving little by little all week while trying to paint our new bedroom.

Unfortunately I came down with a cold last weekend, and unfortunately that cold turned into bronchitis. And unfortunately I also caught a case of pink eye two days ago. So I finally made it to the Dr. and finally made it back to work after being out for 3 days. Let's just say I am grateful it is the weekend. But I am still surrounded by unpacked boxes with no Christmas cheer in sight. My goal is to get into the Christmas spirit, decorate a Christmas tree, and buy some presents no matter what this weekend. Oh did I mention that we are helping my parents move tomorrow? Let's just say I am a little tired of moving.

Even though the holidays have not been very conventional for us this year it has also really put things in perspective for me. Between Thanksgiving and now I have had a hard time feeling holiday magic and cheer, but I have been trying to really focus on the true meaning of Christmas. I keep trying to tell myself that the decorations are not that important and that there is no need to feel any stress about not having any of the traditional Christmas things done. I am trying to focus on the fact that I will get to spend time with family. I am going to focus on the fact that Sam only has one more week of school and then I will get a lot more Sam time for the next three weeks. Tonight we are going to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert and I am so excited that I get to hear about the true message of Christmas in such a beautiful place.

So hopefully I will recover from all the sickness soon, get a tree up, eat some peppermint ice cream and eggnog, and try to feel a little Christmas magic soon. I have a feeling that even with all the craziness in my life, it is going to be a great Christmas either way.