Holy Colee!

I, um, didn't so much get all my cards sent this year... So for those of my computer literate friends, I am sorry, but this post will have to serve as your Christmas Card.


Friends, Family, Countrymen :)

It is hard to believe it has been an entire year since I sat down to write this letter the last time. It feels like everything has changed and yet remains the same.
It seems this year was a year of firsts.
It was the first time mom flew over the ocean :) I was invited to go on a reward trip with work. So Mom and I were able to go to Hawaii! It was so much fun. We were able to attend the temple and go to the Polynesian Cultural Center, as well as drive around the island. I can hardly wait to go back and see everything else. There was just so much!
It was the first time I flew first class (for more than an hour) – also for work, but I went to the Philippines. I bought my first pearls and have now met everyone on my team. Being alone in an airport where English is an official language only by law, was quite an experience. The shopping was lots of fun, but again – SO MUCH to do. I definitely need to go back; maybe with less work to do.
It was my first time preparing for a hurricane and praying I am able to get out of town before it hits. I was in Baton Rouge the week before Gustav moved through the gulf. I have a new respect for the people who live knowing those storms are coming through every year and are able to stay and thrive.
I planted my first garden. I also learned a lot about snails. They ate more of my garden than I did, but for next year I am ready :) I know it is silly, but salsa made from your own tomatoes and peppers really does taste even better than normal.
Cannon sold his first pig. It was a good experience, that mom is pretty sure she never wants to repeat, but I am still pretty sure she won’t say no when he asks again.
It was the first time Mom and I have made jam - all by ourselves. If I must say so, it turned out most excellent. If we ever run out of it, we have even learned a few things to make it even better next time.
It was the first time I turned 30… and whether or not it will be the last has yet to be determined.
In September, Daniel and MinDee had their first baby. Cannon’s new little brother is Trayson. He is growing like a weed. :)

I must admit though, I guess my very favorite first this year is something that will only happen once. I got my first engagement ring! John and I will be wed as soon as the government decides to process our paper work. So next year is also set up to be a year of firsts and we are super excited about all of them!

May this season be one of happiness for all! Merry Christmas!
~~ Nicole

I am very blessed to have a job that allows me to telecommute. Because of that I have been able to attend a lot more things at home than in the past. This weekend I was able to come home to see my little sister Angelia's high school musical. This year they did Oklahoma, and Angelia was cast as Aunt Eller. I have never actually seen Oklahoma all the way through, so it was quite interesting. Of course she did a fabulous job :) And I am offering only a slightly biased opinion :)
Tonight I went to my family Christmas party. We had about 90 people there (we know because we did actually put a number on everyone as they came in.) It was great! Everybody brings a treat to share, and we get to catch up and chat and of course there are presents :) I had to miss last year, so I was super excited to get to be here this year. I must admit, I do miss going caroling like we used to, but it's just so nasty cold that we can't talk anyone into it any more ;) I still vote we bring back the chili and donuts!

Tonight is the night where I admit I am a DUMB GIRL. I went outside to grab the mail and noticed my tire was low. So, I decide to go quickly to the tire store before it closes... about 2 blocks from home the low tire is no longer low - it is FLAT, but I think the tire store is only 10 more blocks, so I will drive slow and be fine... well, about the place the tire store is SUPPOSED to be, the tire is no longer flat, it is a seperate entity from the rim. So I pull over and call the store and say, um, where are you? He says, we're 90 blocks south... So, the internet has the wrong address, but there is another store just 10 blocks east of where I am, so we call them. They can't help so we call another store that is not far. They can't help either. Finally they try to send me to the competitor when I say - but my tires are BIG-O, so I have a warranty. Then it clicks and they give me the warranty dispatch phone number. An hour later the AAA guy shows up, changes my tire, and sends me on my way. I now have to apply for reimbursement for the AAA fee, but even if it never comes, it was totally worth just not being stranded. I am such a DUMB GIRL.... shouldn't I be able to change my own tire?

Tonight I did watch, so I at least kind of now how he lowered the tire from under the truck, and I get the basic concept of lugnuts. Now... maybe I should figure out where my jack is and how it works.... I hate being helpless.

It's been kind of an interesting week. Wednesday I went home to attend my great uncle's funeral. It was a lovely service for a great man. I learned a lot about him, which is unfortunate that it takes a funeral to get to know people. I also learned that he and my grandpa also have a sister and another brother. The other brother has been gone for a while, but the sister is still living. Yeah, I have an aunt I've never known about. Families are an interesting thing.

I came back to SL on Friday, which means I missed Mom's Christmas party, but I did avoid the storm (thanks, Kel). The snow is beautiful. The thing about SLC winters is that they are really good about cleaning the snow off the roads. It doesn't always happen same day, but you can bet if there is 2 days with out snow, the roads will be clean.

Saturday night I was the fortunate recipient of Matt's extra ticket for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert. It was amazing. We forget when we hear them on the radio or CD just how awesome the choir really is. They also brought in 2 special guests, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Edward Herrmann. Brian Stokes Mitchell was, wow. His voice was entrancing. I couldn’t not enjoy it. I had not been familiar with a lot of his other work, but I did know him from Frasier and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air… Edward Herrmann I knew from Gilmore Girls…. I watch too much TV…. ANYWAY… it was really a good good night. Good, like I am going to have to buy new CDs good. Thanks, Matt!

Mom hit her 100 mark today!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! My mom rocks :D

It can be done. I woke up this morning with 1 goal - FINISH CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. I am here to testify that if you put your mind to something, it CAN be done :) I still have a little putting together to do, but the shopping is over. It's a really good feeling.

I totally spent yesterday as a tourist. Some of my family members came down to go to the temple with friends. They decided to bring down the kids to see the lights. So, I got to play tourist. We all met for lunch and then I took the girls to the zoo. Oddly enough, December is not as bad a time as one might suspect to visit the zoo. Of course, it helps that we STILL don't have any snow. I think their favorite part was the elephants and the monkeys. The elephants, just because of how "HUGE" they are, and the monkeys because they can pick their nose and eat it with out being told to stop ;) The penguins were actually really cool, too.
After the zoo, I brought them back to my house, because believe it or not, they wanted to see where I lived. Oh, I also made sure they saw East High - cuz, HSM ROCKS! (I have seen the first one - once... neither of the second or third)
We met the parents and went to the LDS church office building. I had never been up to the 26th floor observation deck, but it really is a pretty cool view. You can see the whole valley. There's a lot of stuff I haven't explored in the 4 1/2 years I've been here.
After dinner we hopped on trax - so now everyone can say they've ridden it (even if it was only 4 stops, round trip) and went to see where Channel 2 news is filmed. The kids got to be on TV, what more can you ask for??
We then went back down and walked around temple square. The lights are as beautiful as always. It amazing to think of the work that goes into making such a fabulous tradition for us, every year. My favorite part is the nativity scene on the north west lawn. It's short, and simple, and I've seen in a hundred times but it is my favorite message of happiness.
After the lights, we went over to the conference center. I have also been there a number of times, but I have never taken the tour. It was really cool to have little things pointed out as we looked at the artwork and were able to listen the Choir practice. Radio and CD are great, but nothing compares to listening to them live, even just practicing.
It was a super fun day for me. I wish I could find more excuses for them to come visit :)

After having about 15 people ask me if I was dying this morning, I decided to break down and go to the doctor. She sent me home with 2 inhalers, cough syrup and a monster antibiotic. And orders to go for a chest x-ray. The good news is the x-ray came back clear. The other good news is the inhalers actually let me breathe! It's amazing... After 2 weeks, I had almost forgotten what it felt like!