Christmas

We had two wonderful Christmases.  We left on Wednesday for Idaho , after being up all night sick, and the weather was a little rough so it was a long drive, but we made it.  Alex 

was home too, so it was the first time my whole family had been together since last Christmas.  My friend Heather made me the cutest crafty gifts, and I had fun seeing friends I haven't seen in a while.   My family has big Christmas Eve traditions that are really important to me, and I love sharing them with Erik.  On Sunday morning we woke up and opened presents and went to church.  The little girl in front of us, probably about 2, walked right over and sat on my Dad's lap and started showing him all her necklaces.  It was so cute to watch him with that little blonde girl on his lap, he's gonna be the best grandpa (but not yet, no one get excited).  

Matching purple Christmas ties

We came home on Monday and had Christmas with Erik's family on Tuesday.  Between the two Christmases and my wonderful husband (who knows to cheat when I put a spending limit on gifts) I was so spoiled it's embarrassing.  I'm excited to be blogging on our brand new laptop, which will really help facilitate my next semester of school.  It was a gadget Christmas for my family; they all got iphones, my brothers got kindles, we got a laptop, and Erik got me a GPS.  We got stockings full of cough drops and Emergen-C from Erik's mom, which was definitely much needed, we've had a hard time staying healthy this winter.  Erik's parents got him a new Iphone, and I got wedding China and super cute earrings.  We are too spoiled.  

 In other news my piano recital went well, I wanted to take lots of pictures and print them out for the parents, but my camera ran out of batteries and I walked away with just this one. 

My cute little student Jace.  He brought me flowers, how sweet was that?

I've been enjoying aweek of pre-child-stay-at-home-wifehood (PCSHW), but will be ready to go back to work next week. It's been nice to have a break from school, but I'm looking forward to my classes this semester.   Come visit us.  After a whole week of PCSHW, my house will probably even be clean. 

It's been a busy month or so.  We had Thanksgiving with Erik's family, I finished my first round of graduate school finals, and we went to Seattle to see a Seahawks game.  My Christmas piano recital is tomorrow, and we're heading to idaho in a few days for Christmas.

1) Thanksgiving

I am not a good cook.   Most nights Erik's dinner choices are leftovers from last time we ate at his parents' house, taquitos, cereal, or a baked potato.  But I really tried for Thanksgiving.  Erik and I volunteered to bring cinnamon rolls, orange sherbert salad, and fudge.  I woke up and watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and got cooking.  Toward the end I got Erik to join in, and everything turned out decent. 

 We had Thanksgiving at Erik's parents' house with his immediate family, both grandmas, and an aunt and uncle.  Both Debbie and Aunt Karole and amazing cooks, so it was pretty dang yummy. 

 After dinner Debbie really wanted pictures of her three boys together.  They're 27, 26, and 24 respectively, but watching that photo shoot they were closer to 7, 6, and 4.  They all insisted they were too full and sleepy to take pictures, but I thought this one was kinda cute .

The day after Thanksgiving we decorated our Christmas tree.  I love Christmas so much and couldn't wait to get our tree up.

The next two weeks were all about studying for finals and final papers.  I'm embarrassed to admit that I did not handle the stress well and was a tiny bit grumpy. Erik was patient with me though and we got through it. Grades aren't posted yet, but I'm more than a little nervous about my health care policy class.

Just this last weekend we went to Seattle to go to a Seahawks game.  Erik was able to get really good tickets through a customer at the dealership, and he was so excited.  It was cute.  We had fun having a little weekend away together.  We saw our friends Blaine and Mel, went shopping, and went to the game.  It was freezing, but a lot of fun.

Photo courtesy of Blaine.  Turns out he's a super photographer

Shopping.  I heart H&M.

In the hotel lobby right before the game.  Look at that big smile.  I clearly did not know how cold I was going to get.

The Sea Gals were so stinking cute.  I love them.  I want to be them.

We had a great time.  It was a great kickoff to Christmas.  We'll be in
idaho next week.  Call me to do something so Erik will think I have friends.  Awesome, thanks.