A Very Merry Chirstmas

Jonathan and I shared our first Christmas together this year. We were very excited, but mostly for surprising the other with gifts. Poor Jonathan has a hard time surprising me, but I thought he did a good job. We enjoyed an early Christmas Morning, just the two of us at our home. Then we quickly split to make it to all the families.

First we stopped by my Mom's and had a yummy very traditional "Pop Eye Pancake" breakfast. With the help of my step-mom I made my mom a new temple bag. I have been working on it for a long while, so I was very excited to finally give it to her.

I also got to run next door and see my bestie Heather. It is always so good to see the Thompson family! I miss seeing them as much as I used to.

Then it was on to my Dad's house. We got to go to church with them, and I got to see a lot of familiar faces I haven't seen in ages! It was so fun to see old friends in that ward. After church we spent some time opening gifts and visiting with my Grandma Hansen, and Gpa and Gma Peterson before they make their way back to Pennsylvania.

Our last stop was to Curtis Country! It was so nice to see all the family there. Most of them live far away, so it was really nice to visit with everyone. It was especially fun to see the nephews Cohen, and Beckett. They are a hoot! We also got to play a lot of games with Heather and Cam. They got us a new one for Christmas called Lost Cities. Boy oh Boy is it fun! My goal is to get good enough at it that I will be able to beat Cam when we see them in February!

Hope all of you had just as much fun with family on Christmas. Let us never forget why we celebrate this day, and the Joy our Savior brings to us.

2 Two's Years Old

Last Sunday, I was fulfilling my calling in the Nursery (aka- playing and having a blast teaching the cutest youngsters ever!) One of the little girls held up her hand showing me how old she is while saying, "I am two years old!" I topped her comment by holding up 2 sets of two's with my hands replying, "Well this week I am going to be 2 two's! Her face lit up, and her eyes got wide as if she couldn't believe anyone could be that old:)

So yes- as of yesterday I am 2 two's years old!

I have to say my birthday was made great by the people who love and care about me the most!!

On Monday my mom and grandma came to a live session with me at the SLC Temple. It was so nice enjoying the spirit with my two biggest role models. After we ate at The Garden on the top floor of the Joesph Smith Memorial building via my grandma. It was a really great view and food! My Mom gave me a new camera for my Birthday- I love it! It takes really nice pictures:) Thanks Mom!!

Then on my actual birthday- Jonathan took the day off work... and I really got the special treatment!

First the day started with Breakfast in Bed...

We then got up and Jon surprised me with my first present- when we got married someone gave us a cake platter that turned into a punch bowl. One day it fell and shattered into a million pieces. I was really sad because I thought it was really neat, and I loved it a lot! So when I got out of bed to my surprise there was our cake platter with a huge cupcake underneath it. My first reaction (being tired still) was, "Jon, you fixed it!" But he was thoughtful enough to have found a replacement of the exact one that broke for my birthday! So cute:)

Then we made an oh so excited trip to the DMV! We renewed my license, and officially changed my name to Holli Anne Curtis on it as well. Now I just need to change it in Weber State's records! When we got home we had lunch, Jon sang a solo "Happy Birthday" to me, I made a wish, blew out my candles, and opened the rest of my presents. Jon picked out the cutest pair of brown boots just like I wanted- I was amazed at his fashion sense!

Then Jon let me play all of my favorite games. I smeared him in Ticket to Ride-- That was a birthday present in of itself! Although I won't mention what game he beat me in...

After the competition we ate at our favorite restaurant Sonora Grill. I even tried something new there which I don't do very often. After we enjoyed a cup full of frozen yogurt!

Your thinking my birthday should be about over by now huh? Well it's not!! Jon took me to the Salt Lake Anniversary Inn for a night away:) The room he picked out was amazing-- and the company wasn't so bad either...

I am so grateful to all my amazing friends and family! You are what made my day so special!

And after reading this try to remember I am "loved" not "spoiled." :)

It's beginning to look at lot like Christmas...

All around our house!!

I am so excited to celebrete Our First Christmas with Jon:)
I put up Our Christmas Tree, and it turned out so cute! I even got most of the gifts wrapped. I don't have a ton of Christmas decorations, but I had fun putting up what we do have.

The next picture is Jon's favorite Christmas Decoration:)

For our stockings, I decided that it would be fun for Jon and I to decorate our own!
They turned out so cute, and being homemade makes them priceless:)

After all the decorating for Christmas, I can't figure why my Mom doesn't love doing it! Maybe I will find out when I have to take it all down...



Gone with the Wind

Yesterday a storm came rolling in with 70mph winds along with it. We lost power at our apartment which meant it got really cold... I cuddled up on the couch with a bunch a blankets to keep warm, and then about 6:00 that night the power came back on. A lot of our neighbors are still dealing with no power. Weber State cancelled classes because students were getting hurt walking to and from classes. The Union building ended up with some damage, along with a lot of cars and trees.

In our neighborhood the wind uprooted a lot of trees and broke some windows, but luckily didn't do any damage to our cars. We probably ended up with the least amount of damage, and the least amount of time without power, which I was grateful for!

We were happy that we were prepared with flashlights, a lantern, a portable gas stove, and canned food. Its nice to know that we are prepared in an emergency, no matter how short lived it is.

Feast, Family, and Festivities

This year Jonathan and I celebrated Our First Thanksgiving at Mimi's Cafe in Provo with my Mom's family. We had a great time visiting with family, and enjoying some great food. The best part was no cooking, or mess to clean up!

After we enjoyed dessert at my Aunt Emilee's house.

This also means I got to enjoy the company of my favorite puppy Mia! I was surprised that she remembered me, and loved me just as much as she used to:) because I hadn't seen her since before the wedding.

I have so many things to be grateful for... but spending the day with the people that I am most grateful for was the perfect way to celebrate Thanksgiving.



My Sweet Gma and Gpa



Beautiful Kiersten and I



Watching Football with Jon

Goof Balls!

 Later that weekend, we spent the night with Jon's family welcoming in Christmas with the Annual Curtis Family German Advent. Jon's Mom went to Germany on a Mission, and carries on this tradition with her family.

We light a candle on the German Nativity. Once the candle is lit, the heat from it spins the fan on the top. It's really cool!

We eat German treats:) Made by Jon's Talented Mom... Jon loves "Black and White Cookies"

Then we play Charades and the Chimes. You don't know how competitive Jon's Family is until you play a game of Charades with them!

Now all I have to say is... Ta-Ta to Thanksgiving... and Come on Christmas!!

Our Nest is Blessed

About a month before Jon and I were married, we decided to start looking for a place to call our own. We diligently searched, spending many Saturdays looking at apartment after apartment...

One Saturday after searching all day, we made one last stop at a basement apartment a couple blocks from campus. I immediately fell in love with it! I was already picturing in my head how I was going to make it our own. The couple renting it out had us fill out an application, and said they would call us and let us know of their decision. Sadly they mentioned they had already had a lot of interest in it.

We crossed our fingers and said our prayers... and the next Monday they called to let us know the apartment was ours if we still wanted it!! And OF COURSE we did!

So without further a do...Get ready to begin your Virtual Tour of "Our Home."


Front Door



The Kitchen... Notice the dirty dishes in the sink, I can't ever keep up on them!

I hope you can notice the color theme... Red & Black:)

The LG Front Load Dryer was one of our first big purchases!



Where we hang our keys:)

The Dining Room... I love the window into the Kitchen!

Table Centerpiece... The Letters were from our Wedding Cake.



The Ceder Chest my Dad made me:)

The Living Room

Our 2nd big purchase...

Our Trusty Fouton:)



Our Wedding Book

 

Can't have a Home, without a Bathroom

The only thing I don't like is... No tub, but we have a huge walk in shower!



The Office

His Desk



Her Desk



The Bedroom.. (My sister asked Jon if he was sleeping in a girls room.. Hehe)

The Night Stand (Fun Fact: Jon is the first person I have shared a bedroom with!)

Room Divider we used at the Wedding

On top of my dresser... Little Memories from our Special Day.

But... The very best part of Our Home is the part you can't see... Its the spirit I feel here, I am so happy to have such a great place we can call home...