Holiday recap: Part one

Happy 2012 everyone!

It's been over a month since I've posted.  Want the list of excuses?  Well, I went home for the holidays, and then there were the holidays, then I came back to Minneapolis and dove into work, which is CRAZY right now, I spent an afternoon in the ER with Linn (he's fine, just broomball-related stitches and a mild concussion), I had to deal with the insane bureaucracy of the U to get my semester figured out, then the semester started.  How's that for excuses?

I'm going to welcome myself back to blogging by doing a two-part holiday recap.  I was worried that January 24th is too late to do a holiday recap, but then I decided that January 24th is exactly the right time to do a holiday recap.  January is rough for me because I have a hard time transitioning back to real life after big events.  In fact, one of the first things I told Linn when we were together was to expect me to cry after holidays and vacations--like being home with my family for Christmas.  By January 24th the excitement of December has passed and we've been unceremoniously thrown back into work, school, or whatever your "real life" is.  And the days are dark and cold.  So what better time to share photos and memories of the holidays?  I have to believe I'm not the only person who feels this way in January, so I hope you can forgive me my blogging lapse, enjoy my holiday recap, and conjure up warm memories of whatever you were doing a month ago.






Growing up, Christmas always started on December 6th with St. Nicholas Day.  This is a Scandinavian holiday, but my mom likes it, so we always celebrate it despite our lack of Scandinavian heritage.  I love having a little pre-Christmas celebration to open the season, so Linn and I decided to continue the tradition.  Here's how it works:

On the evening of December 5th, you put your shoes out.  Growing up we left them outside our bedroom doors.  Linn and I opted for under the tree.

When you wake up the next morning, St. Nicholas has visited and left little gifts!

This year St. Nicholas left me several lovely things, including this gorgeous red turnip shaped like a Christmas tree ornament.  Linn got a handmade clay house ornament to celebrate our first Christmas in our first home together.

But even more exciting than a turnip and an ornament was the package that Linn received a few days later from my parents.  I figured it would be something practical and simple (last year they gave him a flannel shirt--a cool-looking and very warm one, but a flannel shirt nonetheless).  But no.  They sent a toy.  Linn couldn't have been more excited.

                 

Pretty cool, yeah?

Well, that's all for now.  Stay tuned for Part Two!