Can you believe that Christmas has come and gone? I can't. Time always seems to slip right before my eyes. I wasn't prepared for Christmas and some how it just came right up and vanished. Christmas was wonderful. I am always so happy to be home in Utah with people that I love and cherish.
Here are some of the highlights of our trip to Utah:
Feeding the homeless. This is something that we do every single year. This year was different. I can't explain it. We went to a different shelter and the need was more apparent than ever. It was truly eye opening. I have never experienced something like that in Utah.
We spent Christmas Eve Eve, as my Dad likes to call it, with my Dad, Rhonda and Chase. We ate the most delicious salmon dinner and watched a movie. A Crookston tradition that I look forward to every year.
Christmas Eve with the Henriods. Full of fabulous, delicious food, singing, dancing and lots of laughter.
Christmas morning, it was such a joy to watch all of our nieces/nephews experience Santa. The Joel Henriod family got a dog, there was much excitement.
After a few minutes with the Henriods we went to over to my Grandma Bev's house. This is one of my most favorite Christmas traditions. A small house full of a lot people. People are standing/sitting in every square inch. Waffles, quiche, oj and of course bacon and butter (lots of butter). And a lot of joy and happiness. I love this part of Christmas. I love being at home full of all my childhood memories.
We headed back over to the Henriods to spend our afternoon with Mitch's family. All the siblings were there. Once again, we ate delicious food and enjoyed ourselves.
Christmas night was spent with my Mom at my Grandma Mary's house. This is also a Christmas tradition with my family that I look forward to every year. There is always a little drama and a lot of love. My Grandma is legally blind and I love to sit by her as she opens presents and tell her who each present if from.
Christmas was a success. Our first year of marriage, we spent Christmas at 11 different places and it was terrible. I think that Mitch was doubting his decision to ever go home for the holidays again. This year, we and all our family, were able to enjoy all of Christmas.
The rest of the break was filled with my favorite food (Bombay House, the Dodo, Tony Caputos (twice), Jolley's candy, nachos (how can one go to Utah and not eat nachos?!!), Sawadee and Red butte), a day at Alta, Make-up Club (aka Food Club), high school friends brunch, lots of needed running with SJ K-Ville, hiking with Rach, time with my mom, breakfast with Lara (I feel so lucky that we actually were able to meet!) a day with Rich cousins at IKEA (I can't believe they talked me into going!), long nights (never went to bed before midnight), movies, games with the Soffe's, a New Year's Eve that wasn't terrible and all-in-all a great time.
And now I am back to reality. Work is busy. It's somehow cold outside, I almost feel like I am back in Rochester, and I start school in three weeks. My heart skips a beat or two every time I think about it. I can't decide if I am nervous or excited or just a little of both.
I hope that all of your holidays were filled with a lot love, a lot joy and as little drama as possible.
