Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Merry Christmas Darling


This year was mine and Nate's first Christmas together. Last year, just a week after proposing, Nate went home to Oregon for Christmas. I missed him a lot, but I would get the biggest smile remembering that I would never again have to celebrate a Christmas without him. And I have to say, Christmas with Nate is the very best!








This year, Nate and I were blessed to celebrate three different Christmases! First, on December 23 we celebrated our own little Christmas-where Santa came early to stuff our stockings! We were both so excited to wake up and give each other the gifts we'd picked out! It was the very best Christmas of my life- and it technically wasn't even Christmas day.

That night it was off to Bend, OR where we spent the next five days celebrating Christmas with the Raus. We were blessed with beautiful snow, great food, and even better company! We were so excited to see Nate's parents, siblings, and all the nieces and nephews. It was a lovely Christmas. I'm so grateful for such wonderful in-laws who made my first Christmas away from home so happy.



On Sunday we got back to Salt Lake, and after a delicious dinner with my family we opened presents and celebrated our third Christmas with them. It was so fun to hang out with all of them, hear about their Christmas, and exchange gifts. It was hard to be away from them on Christmas for the first time in my life, but they were so kind to save some of the celebrating for when Nate and I got home. It was a wonderful night!

Lucky for us, the celebrating isn't over! 4th Christmas will be on January 13th-when this girl gets home. We saved a few presents, and the decorations are still up for that day,  and I have a feeling it will be a very exciting celebration. 



I can easily say that this was the happiest Christmas, and Christmas season of my life. It didn't have anything to do with gifts, or presents-but had everything to do with who I spent it with-Nate. I'm so glad that I get to spend all my Christmases, and all the days between, with him. 

Sunday, December 14, 2014

It's Christmastime


It's Christmastime and we couldn't be happier about it around here! We decorated a little bit early, but since then have been busy enjoying different holiday activities. We went to the Festival of Trees, we sewed a couple wonderful (if I do say so myself) stockings, we checked out the lights at Temple Square, we've wrapped presents, addressed Christmas cards, been shopping, made yummy peppermint treats and watched Christmas movies.

Yesterday marked a year since Nate proposed to me, and the magic of that time mixed with the all around happy of Christmas has made for a very wonderful holiday season so far.

Christmas is always my favorite time of year, and this year it has been even more exciting and happy-my first Christmas with Nate.





Thursday, December 4, 2014

Thanksgiving

Nate and I have spent Thanksgiving together before. It was last year, in Bend. 
We had a lovely time. His family was so gracious, and kind.
However-this boy wouldn't talk marriage with me. Here he was inviting me home for a big holiday and he would give me no mention of the future.

One accidently dropped Sierra West Jewelry business card, a happy teeth brushing experience though and I knew, even though wouldn't admit it, that he wanted to marry me.

Less than three weeks later we were engaged-ring and all. 

For all those reasons I love that Thanksgiving.

Luckily-this year, our first married Thanksgiving together, was very different but just as wonderful. We spent the weekend up at my parents house, enjoyed dinner at my darling Aunt's home, watched movies, shopped on Black Friday, decorated for Christmas, and checked out the lights. It was a very peaceful, happy Thanksgiving.

And luckily, just like last year, this guy is the thing I'm most thankful for.



My first time making sweet potatoes was a success!








 The same spot where we got engaged, just shy of a year ago.