The Nelson Narrative

Most years I do a “year in review” post around this time but since it’s the end of a decade I thought it would be fitting to do highlights of the decade instead.  So here it is, my decade in review: 2010 – The girls turn 2, family vacation to Long Beach, WA 2011 – 5 th anniversary trip to Hawaii, but the girls and Paul’s parents come with because there is no one to watch them for us (maybe his parents would have, I don’t know, I don't really think so), we adopt our cats, Cleo and Maisy. 2012 – My mom, recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, has a stroke and ends up in a Alzheimer’s care facility (not really a highlight).  Family trip to Leavenworth, WA 2013 – The girls start kindergarten.  Family trip to Coeur d’Alene, ID 2014 – Seahawks win the Super Bowl, I return to work part-time, girls’ first trip to Disneyland 2015 – After working at my job as a contractor, I get hired as a full-time employee (a few weeks earlier on 12-

This is one of those rare mornings that despite not having to work (I took today and tomorrow off and go back to work on Thursday) I was ready to get up way earlier than normal and now I'm sitting at the computer with a cup of coffee and the house is really quiet because the girls are still asleep and Paul just left to go the gym and run errands.  It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a morning like this. So tomorrow is Christmas Eve.  Wow.  We shook things up this year and are having Paul's parents come here and then on Christmas Day we are going to my brother and sister-in-law's.  My side of the family alternates Christmas Eve/Christmas Day every year, and since we go up there every other year, it was always on Christmas Eve.  Normally we would have gone up there last year on Christmas Eve and this would be our year to go to Paul's parents', but last year we decided we wanted to start going up there on the years they do Christmas Day, because it was h

I'm trying to post as many days as possible in December.  I think this is the 3rd year in a row I've tried that.  The previous years I've petered out about now. Anyway, just a super short post today to commemorate the 14th anniversary of our engagement day!  You can read about it here .  Again, I wish I had pictures but I don't.

I like making bucket lists for various seasons.  I had a summer bucket list I failed miserably at, a very short fall bucket list and now it's time my Holiday Bucket List: ·          Drink a peppermint mocha ·          Go to the downtown Macy’s for old time’s sake, as it is closing early next year ·          Drive around the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights ·          Watch a Christmas movie that I’ve never seen ·          Bake cookies.  Used to be a given, but not in the last several years. ·          Go to the Nutcracker (I've been wanting to take the girls to this since they were like 4 so maybe this will be the year) Should be very doable.

I can't believe it's December!  It snowed today, which seemed fitting since not only is it now December but we've all been in a festive holiday spirit all weekend (well, except for Olivia being sick).  Here is some of our Christmas décor so far.  I still need to add lights to the mantel and a star or something to the top of the tree (hard to find anything that's not too heavy!) I am not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow.  It's been such a nice, relaxing, low-key weekend.