December is going by amazingly fast. I guess that is what happens when you are really busy. Today was supposed to be the last day of school, but it was canceled due to the snow from yesterday and the icy roads. It's kind of nice to have an extended break, but I'm a little sad about not being able to say goodbye to my students and have closure before the break. Oh well, I guess January will be here soon enough and I'll be back in school. So now I find myself with a lot of time on my hands (the whole day), and I thought it would be a good time to update the family blog!
At the beginning of the month, I came home from one of my night classes, and found my wonderful husband tidying up after hanging Christmas lights on our little house! I was so thrilled! He is very good to me. We had talked about putting lights up, but in the back of my mind, I doubted that we would get around to it. Coming home to this was delightful surprise and I have really been enjoying them all month long. I also bought a wreath for the door from one of my students doing a fundraiser. I think our house looks very Christmasy!
Last weekend, we went up to Bellingham to witness the wedding of our good friends, Lauren and John. Their wedding was really beautiful and holy! For me, attending a wedding
after being married is a lot different than
before being married. As an unmarried person, I would often think of how I longed to be married. Now I think I can enjoy weddings a lot more. They serve as a renewal of my own commitments and love for Andrew.
Lauren and John also had some great ideas for the reception. Here are a few I thought were particularly neat: Their favors were Christmas ornaments with their names on them. During the reception, they played Christmas music. The toast was done with hot cider spiked with rum (I couldn't have any, but I thought it was a cute idea). As they left the reception, all the guests got a jingle bell and we formed a jingly isle for the couple to run down. As they drove away in the car, the snow started to fall! It really was perfect. Lauren and John, we love you both and you will be in our prayers!
After the wedding, we went home to Mom and Dad St.Hilaire's and decorated the tree with them. We had cut it down together that morning, and when we got back it was up and ready to be trimmed! During our dating relationship, this was an event I participated in every year. It has become a tradition I look forward to every year. I also look forward to our children being able to help out in the coming years.
The tree-decorating crew! Baby St.Hilaire is getting really big. Last Wednesday, after we had the ultrasound, Andrew felt him move for the first time. We were at our Holy Hour and it felt like the little guy was doing aerobics! I grabbed Andrew's hand and placed it where I was feeling the movement. He smiled and nodded his head (we were trying to keep quiet in the church). Since that day, I have felt him move more and more. Just this morning, I told Andrew that I seem to feel him now even when he is just being still. These milestones keep us in awe of God's creation. We are so honored to be parents and we love our son so much!
Here is the latest belly picture. After looking at it, I think I was slouching. But I was not trying to stick out my belly even more, I guess my posture is just going down hill!
20 weeks along And finally, on to the snow! Yesterday, the snow came down, and down, and down. It snowed for almost 10 hours. I think we got a total of 4 inches at our house. We made a trip out to Safeway (a short walk from our house). I bought ingredients for some cookies I wanted to make. They all turned out delicious. I made
Buckeye Balls (Andrew liked these the most),
Chocolate Toffee Chrunchies (I liked these the most), and my mom's "Jingle-bell Fudge." This fudge is very easy to make and tastes oh-so-good! Just make sure you use condensed milk and not evaporated milk, like I did last night. Because of this mistake, the fudge did not harden. I put it in the freezer and that seemed to help. It turned out all right but could have been better, had I used the right ingredients. I really like cooking and baking, I just feel like I never have time and I don't have much experience. This cookie-baking day really put me in a good Christmas mood. After making cookies, Andrew and I watched Elf, one of our favorite Christmastime movies.
Now we are waiting to see how the driving conditions will be today and tomorrow. We were supposed to go down to Newport, Oregon, with my parents, for Christmas. They have a
house down there on the coast. But we are a little weary of the weather and getting stuck somewhere. We shall see what happens. I was really looking forward to going down to Oregon, but my focus on Christmas is to celebrate the Christ-child's birth, to be with my family and be safe, so I will be happy if we stay here too.
Our house covered in snow!
Our little snowbird!We hope everyone has a wonderful, holy, and safe Christmas!