Zion and Merry (belated) Christmas!

(I apologize in advance for font/format issues... I'm editing on my phone!) 

Our trip through Zion was a huge success! Gavin was a champion napper in his car seat for a couple of hours so Jake and I were able to enjoy he beauty all around us!

When he woke up, we took a nice hike through one of the canyons. 

Gavin was in awe of the beauty!!

My grandma (the one who broke her hip in San Diego, but is now doing amazing!) was here for Christmas too and she showed off her impressive agility by hiking with very few breaks! She's amazing!

Definitely put Zion on your Bucket List. It's surreal.

The next day was Christmas Eve and Jake and I made trip #2 to Cafe Rio. Just as amazing, if not better than the first time. 

Sly photo skills here. 

Gavin has been making huge development strides since we got here... He's crawling at lightning speed and is determined to climb on anything and everything. He loves standing and shows off all day long :) 

Gosh I love him.

We went to a beautiful Christmas Eve Mass... 

Followed by Christmas Eve dinner and Gavin got to open one present (my family tradition as a child!) Surprisingly he got really into it (although he was definitely more excited about the tissue paper than anything, haha). 

He loved his first Airplane!

Christmas Day was wonderfully relaxing with Gavin opening more presents,

A long run with my favorite guy, 

Plenty of Christmas movie watching, and more smiles from Gavin. 

The best Christmas I could imagine. 

I hope you had an amazing day filled with lots of love, family/friends and relaxation!! 

Vacations are for running.

I think we can all agree the best way to start a vacation is a morning run.  The earlier the better.  On Saturday, Jake didn't exactly share my enthusiasm...



Our faces show how we each feel about the run...



(Don't be fooled though, it was actually 10am! He considered this early because we were still on Alaska time.) 

Luckily he warmed up to the idea and we did 8 wonderful miles surrounded by red rocks. A HUGE perk to visiting family? A built in sitter. They practically kick us out of the house so they can hog Gavin. Win-win. 

After nap time, Jake, Gavin and I hit the road to run some errands. Note to self: the Saturday before Christmas is not the best day to go shopping. It was madness out there! 

Hanging out in the car! Champion shopping companion!

Then that night we went to the Live Nativity performance at Tuacan.  It was a short, 15 minute show of the nativity of Christ - complete with camels, donkeys, angels, and more!  It was a beautiful way to start the final countdown to Christmas.  It's so easy to get caught up in the shopping part of Christmas, I loved taking the time to focus on the true reason for the season!  

Though it was long past his bedtime, Gavin loved the lights, music, and of course the mandatory 150 pictures I have to take :)

 

These two. 

A wonderful day with some of my favorite people! 

 

Home for the Holidays

A few weeks late, but better late than never!

There is no place like home.  Especially if your home is in a place with 4 hours of daylight and temperatures that don't go above zero.  Nahh... it wasn't so bad.  Although I definitely forgot how much of a production it is when you leave the house:

Warm up the car for 20 minutes, check!
Long underwear, check!
Down coat, check!
Down skirt, check!
Wool socks, check!
Hat, gloves, scarf... check, check, check!

Although I was horrendously sick while I was home, we were still able to fit in many dinners, drinks, and parties with friends and family.  I don't think I had a spare minute to relax the entire 10 days I was home.  It was well worth it to see many of the friends that I haven't seen in over 9 months!  Did I mention I'm excited to graduate yet?

Dinner with Riley and Max!

Best sweaters ever.

Cheesy smiles!

Such great friends!

Jake had to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day :(, but I was lucky enough to have his family to celebrate with.  I even got a surprise visitor at Jake's parents house on Christmas Eve!

My Christmas Eve visitor!

It's a Christmas Miracle! :)

On Christmas day, I made homemade Cinnamon rolls for Jake's station and brought them over.  I spent the morning there with Jake and got to experience the "tough" working conditions that firefighters have. (Fully stocked kitchen with free food, fully equipped gym, TV room, movie room (with theatre seating & popcorn machine), and best of all, a pole to slide down!) I think I chose the wrong line of work.

Beautiful Christmas morning 

Merry Christmas at the Fire Station!

Yes, there is a fire pole!

What to do on Christmas at a fire station? Play pictionary, of course! 

I don't think they have enough sweets.

Clearly, they don't think so either.

Snowy, white Christmas!

All in all, it was a great vacation home!  I am counting down the days until I am home for GOOD!  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

Happy (Belated) Holidays!

#10 - Just Hear Those Sleigh Bells Ring-a-ling...

(Do not hate me for what you are about to read...)

November 10: I am grateful for the next 6 weeks of Christmas 

I know, I know... it's only the second week of November.  It's not even Thanksgiving yet.  But guess what?  Christmas is BY FAR the most wonderful time of the year... snowflakes (How do Californians survive without it?!), hot cocoa, Christmas carols, baking cookies and of course the star of the whole event... it is the celebration of Jesus being born into the world :)  So to all of you who are disgusted with the Christmas ads, bright Christmas trees at Target, and amazing movies like "The Holiday" on TV - don't hate. It's far more fun to get wrapped up in the joy of the season.

After working yesterday, I had (and by had, I mean I needed one thing) to stop at Target.  Somehow, an hour later, I came out with three shopping bags.  Interesting. My shopping adventure was especially long because of my detour to the following aisles:

Candy Cane deliciousness

Hard to tell thanks to my iPhone photography skills , but those are little Gingerbread Peeps.
I bet the Easter ducks are jealous.

WHY didn't I think of that.  YUM.

Just like I decorate my tree at home.  (ha!)

And in case Target didn't make it clear what season it is, while I was studying last night, my 'Maroon 5' Pandora station decided to play this song:

"Baby, it's cold outside" - Apparently Maroon 5 and Johnny Mercer are in similar music genres. 

As we get closer to Christmas, you can look forward to:

1.) Many Elf Movie references. 

2.) Pictures of hot cocoa, likely with an accompanying medical textbook

3.) My favorite Christmas treat recipes

4.) Perfect gift ideas for your loved ones... like this:

For that special someone who can't seem to get that banana peeled.
It's just so difficult.

5.) And last, but not least, I will try to share my love of Christmas with you.  After all, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear (See #1).