Better late than never!

At least when it comes to hearing how Christmas and New Years went, right? Well, I'll keep it short and sweet. With all of the crazy weather that Portland and Seattle was having, we weren't sure we'd make it to see either of our families at Christmas, but you know me, I don't let much stop me from going home, so we set out to celebrate Christmas. Let me tell you, I have never had to chain up to go anywhere, so it was quite entertaining watching Nathan chain up the car. It was also kinda funny, albeit a little frightening, to see him fall on the ice cuz he wasn't being super careful. Granted at the moment I thought he hit his head and all I could think about was how I could never drive in the snow to get him to the doctor, but now, looking back, I laugh. We made it up his parents hill alright, but had to turn around and leave for his aunts house. Apparently the drive normally only takes 20 minutes or so... I don't know how long it took, but it was at least an hour. People are just kinda dumb on the road, but Emma got to see her great aunts and second cousins and open presents... It was a good time! *Can I just say that I stupidly packed heals to go with my sweater that day? I KNOW! Stupid Kami*
Christmas morning we woke up early, too early for my liking... This is why Emma won't believe in Santa, the good Lord did not intend for me to be awake so early in the morning! (I'm sorry if there is a child reading this who does believe in Santa - let's just say, I'm putting in a call to the big man and telling him that he has to make a special delivery on the 24th) After all that, we drove to Olympia. The drive wasn't too bad, there were massive snowflakes falling at one point, it was pretty crazy. We videotaped it though, so it's doubtful anyone will really see the footage. Olympia's roads weren't too bad, but man, when we got to my parents house - WOO! Now, let me just preface this part with this - my dad called and recommended that Nathan chain up before he tried to make the trek up the cul-de-sac because the snow was packed pretty thick. What does this mean to Nathan? Give it a shot! So we made it about halfway up before we had to back up and go around the block (which really means drive back down the hill, across the freeway, turning right and driving a mile, then turning right again to go back across the freeway and driving another mile to turn right onto the road that we started out on... It's way more than around the block). We chained up and still had some trouble getting into the driveway! Later that night, we had to have our neighbor and KC push the car. The snow was a beast!
Unfortunately, we had to drive home on my birthday. The drive was so long, it was as if it was never going to end! We did get unpacked and were able to just rest on Sunday.
New Years was quite eventful for us. Not! We stayed home, but were both determined to make it to midnight. It was the first year that we didn't have anything to do but hang out at home! It's definitely weird to have holiday's when we know we would have had a youth event to attend, but have nothing to do instead. It's a bittersweet moment when we get to it. Emma slept right through the new year, and I'm okay with that. She has no idea what it means anyway!
Well, this is the short version. I'll try to get some pics up soon of Emma's first Christmas. I'll also have to blog soon about my newest adventure... Driving a stick shift. Look out drivers - it's as if I'm in drivers ed all over again!