Although Christmas and New Years have come and gone, it has been a while since we gave a "life update"! Erik and I had a great Christmas and New Years together. It was kind of "bitter sweet" in a way because we knew that our future holidays will never be just Erik and I anymore; next year at Christmas we will have an eight month-old little boy to celebrate with! No, more pictures of just Erik and I!
Our Christmas celebration began by getting our tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We went to a tree farm up by Sumner that my family has gone to ever since I can remember to pick out our Christmas tree. It has become a fun tradition because we now bring home two trees-Erik and I's and then my parents'.
We celebrated Christmas five times this year. Our first celebration began on Christmas eve with Erik's parents and siblings. We went over to Erik's parent's house in the afternoon and exchanged presents and then ate dinner together. Following dinner we went to church with Erik's family and my family-something that has been a unique tradition being that both sets of parents live here in Cedar Falls. After church we went over to my parents house for home-made pie. Our second Christmas celebration occurred Christmas morning with Erik and I exchanging gifts at home with each other. After the two of us celebrated, we headed to my parent's house to celebrate our third Christmas with my parents, brother, and grandma. After exchanging gifts with my family, we ate lunch and then prepared for my mom's side of the family to arrive. About 3:00, 21 of my aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. showed up for our fourth Christmas celebration. We opened presents, ate dinner, and played some board games-this was by far the most chaotic celebration, but it was great! Our last celebration came the Sunday after Christmas when we went to Erik's grandparent's in Dows. We were supposed to go on Saturday; however, the freezing rain kept us home and we made it there on Sunday.
After celebrating our final Christmas in Dows, we headed up to my parent's cabin in northern Minnesota for a week. We had a great time relaxing, cross-country skiing, watching football, and spending time with my parents, brother, and my brother's girlfriend. New Year's eve we went out to eat at a nice restaurant and worked on a 2,000 piece puzzle of Time Square. :)
We had a great holiday, but now it's gone and break is over-back to school for me and work for Erik! Not much else is going on, I am almost 28 weeks along in my pregnancy and still feeling really good. We have been thinking of a name, but haven't decided for sure yet-plus we won't tell you what we decide until the baby is born anyways. :) Enjoy the pictures below of our holiday excursions!
Our Christmas tree!
Christmas eve at Ashley's parent's house.
Christmas morning at Ashley's parent's.
A picture in the woods of Minnesota with max.
New Year's eve at Boulders Restaurant.
