Bittersweet.....
Christmas in my opinion, is the best holiday of the year. I can't help but get excited about this holiday. I usually want to start preparing in September, and decorating right after (sometimes before) Thanksgiving! I enjoy it for many reasons. First of all, its a time of year where we focus on the birth of Christ... and how undeserving we are of this magnificent gift. I know I let a lot of things get in the way of that, like: presents, decorating, and shopping; but I love how I am so easily reminded of the true meaning of Christmas through simple things like The Nativity (great movie!!!!) and Christmas songs like "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing", "Noel", Joy to the World", "Away in a Manger" and "Do you hear what I hear". Even in secular stores play them in the background. I also love taking extra time to be with friends and family and giving gifts.
I've always wanted to "come home for Christmas" I know it sounds cheesy, but ever since I was in middle school, I thought of how one day when I was married, I would live somewhere else, and then "come home for Christmas". This was our first year doing that; Devin and I flew to Phoenix to be with our family. It was fun to be so excited to see each other! I loved seeing my niece and nephews, although they seemed so BIG and it kind of made us sad, it was fun to see how much they have grown in just 6 months. I got to meet my newest nephew, Daniel Benjamin, for the first time! He's a chunk! He is so kissable, with his big soft round cheeks, and rolls all over his little body. I wish I could've spent more time with him!
Devin and I had a heck of a 10 day trip. We had lunch and dinner planned every single day with different people. It was INSANE! Although we had such a great time with everyone and enjoyed visiting, there were actually a few people we were sad to not be able to meet up with. But it was a little too much for us. We were ready to come home! We cant wait to go back again, maybe not during a holiday, so it will be a little bit more "low-key." Maybe next year we will be a little more prepared...and maybe, just maybe, one year our family will fly out to ALASKA for a white Christmas with us : ) What do you think guys?!?!? Com'on! It's only a 5 hour flight!
We left on December 22nd, because we wanted to have our first Christmas in Alaska to actually be IN Alaska! We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas day with Matt, (Sarah was working). We had a great time putting a puzzle together, watching Christmas movies, and making a fab Christmas dinner that consisted of a Honey Baked ham : )
The bittersweet part for me is when I have to take down all of the decorations knowing it will be another 11 months until I get to pull them out again. But, theres just something about the start of a new year that makes me feel so refreshed. It's like a clean slate to start a new year, with new beginnings. As I reflect back on 2009, I see how much change we went through, and how God took us down a path we had no idea we would take back in January 2009. I look to 2010 with high expectations as to what He is going to do in our lives. I love that I never have to worry about what might change this year...because our lives are in His hands.
Thank you friends and family for all the fun we had with you!
We love you, and miss you already!
...............................
Here are some pictures of our trip!
We stayed at Devin's sister, Janan's house!
(Thanks for having us guys!)
Braden - who is now in Kindergarten! Crazy! (5 yrs. old)
Sadly, I didn't get many pictures of Braden.... we were playing and having too much fun together to stop and take pictures!
My sweet nephew, Daniel Benjamin! (3 mo.)
See! I told you he's a chunk! I could just eat him with a spoon!
Miss Hannah Banana, (2 1/2 yrs. old)
This picture makes me laugh! It's as if she's saying "who me? I would never doing anything wrong" Man, she's developed such a personality, I love her!
Rylan, our little man. (2 1/2 yrs. old)
Rylan is obsessed with trains right now, especially Thomas the train! So we got him some more train tracks and a new train....he loved it!
And we loved watching him play with it!
Rylan loves to lay on daddy's (Travis, my our brother in law) tummy when they watch movies!
We were so glad we got to spend time with Stetson (one of our best friends)! Devin says he is one of his best friends, but I say he is one of OUR best friends!
So there.
My sister, Melissa, and her chunky little boy!
My mom, working on our "Christmas" puzzles.
One of me and Devin's favorite family traditions!
Although this year was a tough one...too much snow mom!
Are you guys even done with it yet?!
Nathan (my brother-in-law) and Devin trying to fix our Polar Express train at my mom's house.
By the way,
this is how you say Merry Christmas in Arizona.
Devin and I went down to Tucson to visit my dad and his wife. We went to a cute neighborhood called WinterHaven to see Christmas lights.
It was so much fun!
My favorite house! I love gingerbread men!!
Who wouldn't want to live on Christmas Avenue?!?!?
Oh! I almost forgot to mention that I'm the best wife in the whole world... I went hunting for deer with Devin. Yes, I know, I deserve a trophy.
j/k, I had a lot of fun just being with my hunter husband. He's fun to watch. We got to hike/walk a lot, and it was a gorgeous day! (I say walk because I now know that there is no such thing as hiking in AZ... I discovered hiking when I moved to Alaska.... it's a lot harder...and prettier.)
And hey look, I even scored my own camo hat and shirt. Oh dear.
