Monday, December 31, 2012

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

We got back on Friday from our wonderful visit home to Wisconsin! I'm so thankful that we got to see so much family and friends! Our first married Christmas:)

The drive home to Wisconsin, as always, took forever (ie 13 hours) but once we got out of the car and into the house, all of that was forgotten. I always dread the drive but the minute that we get home (either home) I forget about the drive and am just happy to be where we are.

Saturday December 21 Matthew and I had a couple's massage, my Christmas gift to him. It was an amazing experience and I recommend Body Focus to anyone in the Eau Claire area. Thanks to my dear friend Emma for the suggestion in the first place. Probably the most relaxing hour we've had together in a long time.  In the evening we went with my parents the annual Nightcrawlers' Christmas party where we were greeted with open arms and warm smiles. It was great seeing all of them and celebrating with them. Troy passed away last November and this was the first time I was around all of the Nightcrawlers for an extended amount of time and really, really noticed that he was missing. Lots of love to Mari and Angie! Troy was an amazing man!

Sunday December 23 we packed up Henry Honda and traveled to Bird Island, MN to celebrate with the extended Beckler  and McNamara clan's. What a blast! All of the Becklers, except cousin Ashley (who is currently in Malaysia doing mission work), ate a meal together. Grandma Beckler said it's the first time that has happened in a long time. Delicious food, great company and wonderful family.

Christmas Eve we drove back to EC and I went out to my parents house to see Jake, Kayla and the getting cuter every day nephew Rowan! What a wonderful thing to spend so much time with him. Christmas Eve was dinner and gifts and falling asleep to Miracle on 34th Street at Matthew's parents house.

Christmas Day we had brunch at the Beckler's and headed out to my parents. We opened gifts, ate a delicious meal, played Cards Against Humanity, watched Rowan sit, giggle, drool, roll over (basically just stared at him because he's so cute). Holidays are different with a baby in the house! It was great having Jake and Kayla home for Christmas! We've really missed them the past few years:) One of the highlights of Christmas was bundling Rowan up and taking him outside for a ride in the sled my parents have had since I was born (a gift from Grandma Kate). There are pictures with me and Jake in the sled at varying ages and it was super sweet to put Rowan in there all snuggled up. He was really tired at that point so I'm glad he was such a trooper.

Boxing Day meant saying goodbye to Jake and Kayla as they headed back to Madison. I went to the dentist for a cleaning (my first one since April 2009, I'm pretty sure) and since no one else was around and I really wanted to see it before it left the theatre, I went to see Breaking Dawn Part 2 by myself! I felt surprisingly empowered to go to the movies by myself.  Wednesday night, I had dinner with my awesome EC girls at Stella Blues (YUM) and went back to Emma's newly remodeled house complete with an adorable dog to chit chat and play cards. I guess we're all getting older because Emma kicked us out by 9:30 and I was home and asleep by 10:30. It was great to see all of them and catch up. I really hope we'll get to move to the Twin Cities when Matthew's done with school and I'll be able to see them more often.

Our last full day in EC, we slept it! I went for a snowshoe with my dad in the woods which was delightful. I really love being at home (though if you know me, that's no surprised); just the quiet, snow, sun  and general comfort of being around familiar things. After we packed up all of our stuff (and the car) we headed back into town where I dropped Matthew off and headed BACK to the dentist. For a girl who hadn't been there in 3.5 years, two days in a row was a change. I chipped my tooth the week before Christmas so I had to have that filled in and the dentist said he might as well fix the cavity I had while he was already in there. I left with a numb cheek and 1/4 of a fake tooth and stopped by Siri's house for a quick visit on my way to Matthew's for dinner. After dinner we took Carter for a walk and I went to see Les Miserables with Nicole. I really enjoyed the film; Anne Hathaway was surprisingly excellent  and I LOVED Aaron Tveit as Enjolras! Who knew Tripp (from Gossip Girl) could sing!? He blew me away. Amanda Seigfried as Cosette left a LOT to be desired. Overall, I'm going to see it again and Matthew sounds interested in going too:)

Friday we drove and drove and drove and drove. Friday night we got home and slept and slept and slept.

I had a GREAT time at home!! Loved every minute of it:) Thanks to all of our friends and family who made our first married Christmas a very special one!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

20 days...

until Christmas! T-Minus 16 days until we head home! I can't wait to be in Wisconsin celebrating with my friends and family! Hooray! Let's hope there's some snow!

It was 65 degrees and rainy here yesterday. Not entirely weather to get you into the holiday spirit but I'm managing. I've got all my gifts wrapped and the ornaments on the tree and the few decorations we have are up. The kitties are obsessed with trying to knock the tree over so I'm hoping that it'll last for the next few weeks. It was standing this morning when we woke up, so here's hoping.

I have had a super productive two days! Monday I stayed home, cleaned the apartment (except the bathroom--Matthew said he's going to do it on the weekend) put up the Christmas tree and went to after-school. We didn't go to band and to be honest, it was really nice. Mondays are a long day when I'm basically gone from 6:30/7am until 10pm at night. 

Yesterday I powered through some trainings for work and got a ton of paperwork done. It's stuff that I've been putting off for ages and it felt really good to have it all finished! The last of the gifts I ordered for Christmas arrived yesterday so I wrapped presents, did some paperwork and watched The Holiday. Such a cute movie. Also talked to the lovely Jessi:)

Matthew's been super busy at work. He had a project due last night, a test tomorrow and he wants to send his proposal out on Friday. Cross your fingers that he can get everything done this week (and manage to find time to get some sleep too).

Right now Ellie is purring and snuggling in my lap. What a life I lead:)

Sunday, December 2, 2012

They match

Cuuuuute gif:) http://cheezburger.com/6812581888