Our very own Christmas Tree!

Ben and I weren't going to put a tree this year because we still didn't have the house put together and a tree would be one more big mess to deal with. One Sunday we went to my parents house and after seeing their tree I just couldn't take it any longer...I had to have a tree.

The People that lived in Ben's house before they did planted two trees with the sole intention of one day making them Christmas trees. We decided that we would cut the first one down this year.

Ben and I got ready to go outside...there wasn't any snow on the ground yet; I still bundled up and I was still cold. Ben is a lot tougher than I am.

We had our choice between two beautiful looking trees. The one on the right looks just a bit bigger so we decided that is the one we would cut down. As we stood gazing at the tree we thought it didn't look too big and it was straight. I was so excited to get it in the house and decorated; then it could really feel like Christmas.

It didn't take long for Ben to cut down the tree with his handsaw. Just in case you wanted to know...yes a tree does make a sound when it falls.

Before we could take the tree in the house we had to get all the fall leaves out. Ben shook the tree with all his might. It really didn't make much of a difference. We had to stand the tree up and go through each branch combing out the leaves. We did learn something though...a fresh cut tree has extremely sharp needles. We had these little red welts all over our skin. Even though there were a lot of leaves left we decided it was time to take the tree in the house.



Have you ever seen the National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation? Well if you haven't here is a quick recap...Clark W. Griswold takes his family out to the middle of nowhere to cut down there own Christmas tree. They walk for miles and Audrey (the daughter) is FROZEN by the time they finally find the right tree. (Of course Clark forgets the chainsaw, but that is not the point). When they finally have it in the house it is all tied up with a rope and it is time to unveil the tree. Snip...wosh...the tree is so large it breaks out the windows and covers most of the living room...well that I we felt with our tree. It didn't break any windows but it was huge. We could barely get it through the front door and the two of us could hardly get it to stand up by itself.

After several hours of clean out leaves, stringing up lights placing decorations and trying to keep the tree straight we finally were finished!

Before Ben and I were married he always decorated his tree with U of U apparel. He has a U of U blanket that is used as a tree skirt, an strips of another blanket (they look like scarfs) strewn about the tree, red balls, and red and white lights as well. The tree topper...he uses a U of U Hat with a button that says U and Me!. Ben loves his decorations and I like a little bit more traditional look...we decided to let Ben decorate this year. It turned out that the U of U went 13 - 0 and beat OK in a bowl game. Ben was glad his tree was decorated appropriately for the viewing event.

Sinter Klaus Eve/Day

Sinter Klaus...do you remember in elementary school when you put your shoes outside the classroom door and at the end of the day you had candy in them...that was Sinter Klaus.

Sinter Klaus (I hope I get this right): A young man named Nicolas lived in Myra (modern-day Turkey). He was raised as a Christian. His parents died when he was a teen leaving him great wealth. Shortly after his parents death he was appointed to be a Bishop. He personally felt the need to make sure the needs of his parish were met; of course he disguised himself when he would visit the homes of the needy. Italian sailors took the story and teachings of Saint Nicholas back to their lands. Eventually it moved into Germany and then Holland. The Dutch are credited with bringing the ancient bishop to the New World.

Of course now it is even better...Sinter Klaus travels with his horse (I can't think of his name...sorry) and Zwarte Piet (or "Black Peter"). On the evening of December 5th you put out your wooden shoes and hope that you are visited by Sinter Klaus. If you have been good you will wake up to traditional gifts such as the initial of your name in chocolate, other Dutch goodies, and some small gifts...(I think). However, if you have not been good you will be visited by Zwarte Piet who will find you in your bed and swat you with a stick...if you have been really bad he will take you to Spain and make cookies out of you...

Ben and I were pretty hopeful that we would get treats and not be hauled off to Spain...I have always wanted to visit but not that way...



Oh, you leave carrots in the shoes for the Sinter Klaus' horse...they need fuel. By the way, those are carrots from our garden!

Sinter Klaus treated us well.

I loved being able to celebrate this fun tradition with Ben. We are excited to have our kids learn about their heritage too.

Christmas

Merry Christmas!



Christmas is the best time of the year. We are focused on Christ, families and taking care of one another. Ben and I had a fantastic Christmas. We were able to spend time together as our own little family and time with each of our extended families.



Ben's sisters warned me that he doesn't sleep on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. I think he was being nice when he only made me get up at 6:30 a.m.






This is our perfect Christmas tree. We loved it! We were so sad that we had to take it down. This is Christmas morning before Ben and I opened all of our presents.

Even Santa came to visit...he treated both us very good...

Of course Ben's sock is the U of U sock!

H's sock

Ben is opening a present from me...

Ben calls me "Super H" (in fact he named our indoor soccer team that...they love it). I love when he decorates my gifts with his special touch.

I was so super excited over the presents Ben gave me...he is so amazing.

Halloween

Our first Halloween



Ben is the master pumpkin carver.



(Nice shirt Ben...it's my favorite)



We were strongly encouraged to plant a garden last year. We took so much time to clean out the garden space, we built a retaining wall, planted, watered, weeded, and on and on...what did we get from it...maybe a handful of peas, green beans, carrots, a couple of moldy peppers and tomatoes and one small green pumpkin! It was a cute pumpkin.






At least we were creative with our one little green pumpkin.





Ben's master piece...he is so amazing.




Usually for Halloween I dress up as a "college student" (I can't pass a chance to wear tennis shoes to work). This year I wanted to do something a little different. Kamee spent a lot of time (very late at night) making my skirt. It was fun...and Ben got pushed into dressing up too...

We got over to Kamee's a little late. Teya was still dressed up but we missed Pierce and Kamee's customs. We still had fun seeing their treats.

Virginia and North Carolina…our honeymoon!!

After our first class together over 10 years ago at WSU we are finally married...







For our honeymoon we decided to go to Virginia (where Ben served his mission) and North Carolina.






We visited Historical Williamsburg and Jamestown





This is in the palace. There were weapons ALL over the place. It was amazing to see how they were all on display.

This is the side yard of the palace...I think I want to move.

The law finally caught up with Ben...I was obviously guilty by association.

Ship at Jamestown

The Outer Banks in North Carolina were amazing. We love lighthouses and had so much fun driving along the amazing coast seeing light houses, the ocean, sand dunes and quaint cities.

This is a picture of the staircases in the Cape Henry Lighthouse.

Wright's brother Monument at Kitty Hawk

We decided to go to space while we were there...lots of fun.