A Glimpse Into Our Christmas - 2012

Our Christmas Tree -

For the last several years, our trees have consisted of little wooden
trees that hold lights because we didn't have room for a proper tree!
We were so excited to get our tree this year and to have it in our living room!!

We have a random assortment of Christmas ornaments
ranging from some that we bought our first Christmas together
and some straight from Broncos country!
(and they're not tacky AT ALL ;)
Our newest ornament is our Utah State Aggie gnome!

 

A short visit ...

Nate's parents & Tom came down the weekend before Christmas
and it was SO GOOD to see them and to spend some time with them!

We had our traditional Christmas Breakfast,
we took a drive to Reinhart,
Lynnette & I shopped while the guys watched football,
and we had a great time catching up!

Oh ... and I ate Shrimp (which I've never done -
apparently hanging with family at Christmas
inspires me to be more brave ... )

 











Christmas Day ...

We slept in, we had our Christmas cereal,
we watched the 'Rockette Spectacular' on Netflix,
we nixed our plans for a fancy Chinese Food lunch and had leftovers instead,
and we skyped with our families - for hours -
and it was perfect!

It was our very first Christmas where we didn't have to leave our house,
and while we missed hanging out with our families,
it was kind of nice that way!!









Nate surprised me and got me a heavyweight punching bag!
I have been wanting one for years (I know, I'm strange)
but I LOVE it!!



It was so weird to be so far away from all of our family,
but our first holidays away from home were still sweet
and we feel very blessed!!

... Pre Christmas Snow Storm ...

We weren't expecting to see any snow for Christmas this year,

but we were sure surprised when it came down in nice, big flakes

the Thursday before Christmas!

Of course, with all the rain, it was melted by Christmas Day,

but we were pretty excited to see it nonetheless - 

and of course we I took way too many pictures!!

Here are some pics from when we went to lunch and ran errands!

Nate tried so hard to hide from the camera!!

And these pics are in our front 'yard' ...

Watching out the window inside the warm house - silly cat is never far away!!

I get the feeling that snow days here 

(and yes, some schools were cancelled and the Interstate was closed down

 - seems so silly for a little snow storm ; ) will be few and far between, 

but I'll sure be happy when we get them!!

a love letter ...

 Dear Grandma,

There were so many things that I wanted to say to you when I last saw you. We came to visit you before we moved to Oregon, and you looked so fragile, and while my heart ached, I am so grateful for the hug we shared and for your soft 'love you, too.'

If the situation had been different, and your mind had been more clear, I would have told you how grateful I am for you. You were such a strong, beautiful woman, and the love that you shared with Grandpa was so obvious and so beautiful, and I loved to watch the two of you together.

I would have told you that I am truly sorry that I didn't spend more time with the two of you, especially when I lived closer than a lot of your other family. I let school and work and life get in the way, and that is something that I will always regret.

 I would have told you that I have so many special memories of you and I want you to know that I can still hear your voice in my head (yours too, Grandpa)! I can hear you telling me about the rest of my family, I can hear you telling us that we don't have to 'run off so soon,' and I can hear you offering me cookies or treats as I walk into your home.

I know that you are in a better place now - and I hope that Grandpa isn't teasing you too badly - I know you have some lost time to catch up on!

I miss you both and I love you both so deeply, and I will forever be grateful for the time that I got to spend with you and the treasured memories that I have of you. 

I love you,
Clarissa

P.S. I was cleaning out my blanket bin yesterday and I found the afghan that you made us for our wedding - I held it close for a few moments in gratitude that I have something tangible that can remind me only of you.