Traditions

Okay so I was going to post this earlier but never got around to it. I have been thinking a lot about family traditions lately...you know being the holiday season and all. I have always LOVED holidays...and birthdays...which to me are like your very own special holiday! I think its so fun and important to make a big deal out of holidays....some obviously way more than others! When I was little I can remember some of the fun traditions we did as a family and how Thanksgiving and Christmas always seemed like such big events, that were to be anticipated and looked forward to. Things have definitely changed as I have grown up. It made me sad this year to see that my family has pretty much lost the feeling of the holidays being much of a big event and any signs of tradition. I was a little frustrated Christmas Eve when it seemed like things were just going to be almost like another day. To me, there should be food....LOTS OF FOOD...food that is special and you usually only eat for the holidays! There should be movies you watch, or games you play, or songs you sing, or stories you read, or activities you do, w your families or friends or whoever it is that you spend your holidays with! Things that give you those fab memories and make you look forward to every holiday season! I love it to be a big party!
So I sat down w my dad and we made out a list and went down the store to get all that yummy food we needed to be eating! I decided that if no one else was going to do it, I would make sure we had things to make it feel like a special day...dang it! I made pies, and appetizers and some foods I have always loved to eat for Christmas. I made my family do some of the things we used to do...and I felt better about it! Ha. It did turn out to be a nice day spent w the fam, but it made me realize how important traditions are to me. I have thought a lot about what traditions I want to have w my own family, whenever that time comes. I want to have those things that my kids anticipate and can expect every year. Things that they can grow up remembering and carry on to their own families as well. So here is to Traditions...may they be remembered and passed on, and new ones started!

Home Sweet Home

Can you believe that Christmas has already come and gone once again?! I have been at home in Redmond WA for the past week and man was it nice to go home. As soon as I got off the plane and could smell the familiar aroma of coffee, from the oh so near by Starbucks, (since there are coffee shops seriously everywhere you turn in Seattle), and the smell of the rain, I realized how much I miss Seattle! I really dont go home to visit enough these days. I just get so caught up in my life that I forget about going home. What's weird is that I have lived away from home so long now that it doesn't feel as much like home anymore. I mean it will always have a special place in my heart and I have so many memories there, but it does all seem like its my past. Especially cause things have changed so much there since I graduated High School and moved away. The whole entire area has grown and changed SO much, I swear everywhere I drive I think to myself..."What the?....How long has that building been there? or When did that road get widened? or How long has that entire development of homes been there?" Then I go to my church and only recognize like half of the people there. Which is weird cause I grew up going to church w so many of the same people that I have known my whole life. Now I'm just known as Clyde and Bonnie's daughter, who I'm sure they wonder is a real person, since they just hear about me.
Anyways, I spent most of my time hangin out w the fam, my neighbors (who are like family) and some old friends. We did the usual shopping, movie watching, and lots of eating! It was good to see everyone that I have missed! I actually was able to get together w a couple of the girls from High School. Kelsie, Hannah and I drove downtown to Anne's apartment for a brunch. It was so fun to be together again! I hadnt seen or talked to Anne in 4 years! We really do need to keep in touch better w that girl!

Kelsie, Anne, and Hannah

Me, Anne, and Hannah

Christmas was enjoyable w the family. We exchanged some nice gifts but mostly just enjoyed spending time together. I hope that everyone else was able to do the same.

Break!

SO can I just start out by saying how nice it is to be able to just relax and not have to think about anything! Last week was finals week for me. It was a pretty rough week for me cause I ended up getting pretty sick, which is great timing, but I made it through and I ended up acing all my finals! I am pretty proud of myself! Its so crazy to think that Im already 1/3 of the way finished. A couple weeks ago we started our clinical internship, which is where the public comes in and I massage 5 people in a row for an hr each. It definitely tires me out but its not as bad as you'd think and Im building my stamina. Its pretty interesting massaging complete strangers...already got some pretty funny stories! Im really glad our school does this clinic though because it is such good experience for us and helps us get better jobs once we graduate. Well I'm off now for 3 weeks of just relaxing...whoo hoo!

I went down and spent some time in Cedar and St George this last weekend. I spent the day w my friend Janene and her kids, who are so big now! She is prego w her third too...just movin right along as a mommy! Always good to see them. Then I made my way down and spent the rest of the weekend w Marc. They moved into their new house that I helped them remodel before I moved. It all looks amazing! So weird to have them not be living in Hidden Valley, where we were at for over a year! I went w Marc and Jason to pick up Marc's new little Golden Lab puppy...which we almost died doing. We were on the freeway going 85 when a car parked on the side decided to pull in front of us going oh 20, so by the time Marc was able to swerve to miss them, out tail end spun around and we slid off the freeway into the dirt sideways, facing traffic. It was SO scary! We managed to come out of it w just a flat tire, amazingly enough. We all thought we were going to roll. We were definitely being watched over cause it could have been way worse! Oh and the idiots never even stopped to make sure we were alright! There are way too many people out there who shouldn't be allowed to have a license! Anways, we spent the weekend babysitting Sadie, the new pup, and just relaxing. She is SO adorable and has such a cute personality! It makes me want a dog so bad. It was really good to see Marc again. They were lucky enough that I brought my table down and showed them my Swedish massage skills. Man sometimes I really do miss St George!

Well tomorrow Im headed off to Seattle! I'm really excited cause I havent been home since last Christmas. It will be good to spend a week w the fam and Im also excited that more people will be home this year. Gotta love SEATown!

Christmas Time!

It's hard to believe that Christmas time is already here! I swear it was just last week that I was down in St George basking in the blazing heat! But never the less its freezing outside and the seasons have changed! Even though I don't love the cold I do love the Christmas season. It seems like the holidays come and go so much faster than when I was a kid. I remember how I used to count down the days til Christmas morning and how it seemed to never come fast enough! Now that I'm all grown up, it seems like it comes too fast! In the excitement of the season starting...I have been reminded just what makes me love this time of year! (once again no particular order)

1~ The music! I absolutely love listening to all the fun Christmas music! However I do think that it shouldnt be listened to until AFTER Thanksgiving.
2~ All the decorations! How can you not love the way all the houses look w colorful lights and pretty christmas trees?! Its all so fun!
3~ The giving spirit that everyone has. Its such a nice change to have complete strangers have such a caring and loving attitude, willing to help others out. Its just too bad that more people don't keep that spirit all year.
4~ Christmas baking and cooking! Oh I just love food! I love to cook and bake and especially eat! There is so much yummy food this time of year! I love the traditional foods that mostly come out this time of year.
5~ Giving people I care about gifts that let them know how much they mean to me. I love when you find that perfect gift.
6~ Snow. K normally I dont love snow...its so cold! But, during Christmas time I love it just because it adds so much to the season. I think it makes it feel more like Christmas. Seeing everything covered in white fluff, is just so breathtaking.
7~ Christ's Birth
8~ All the smells...of baking, candles, trees etc.
9~ Shopping....I always love shopping but its especially fun this time of year w all the sales, decorations, and excitement. Yes, even w all the crowds.
10~ Spending time w my family and friends. I love all the parties and the quality time just spent making memories together. I love going home to Seattle too, since I don't get up there often enough.

I challenge everyone who reads this to make your own list of what you love and appreciate about this special time of year. That way you can take it all in and not let it pass by so quickly.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!