Goodbye Ashley

This past weekend was a sad one, as it came time to say goodbye to my best friend of ten years so she could leave me and move to warm and sunny Florida. Ashley and I met when I moved to Utah my sophomore year of high school. Ironically, we didn't really like each other when we first met, but somehow, we started hanging out more during our junior year of high school, and we became best friends.
There have been many times throughout our friendship that we have had to say goodbye. The first being our Freshman year of college when I dropped Ashley off across the country at what was then Southern Virginia College. She returned to Utah for a short time, and then it came time to part ways once again when she decided to move to San Diego. Shortly after that, I then left for a year and a half for my mission in Chicago. Upon returning from my mission, we moved to Provo to be roommates for the first time, and it was a blissful time with so many great memories: the Southbeach Diet, working out at 24-hr. fitness (when we actually mustered up the energy), watching reruns of NYPD Blue, eating regularly at the healthiest of restaurants - Burger Supreme, taking Sunday naps in our shared room, crushing on stupid boys and strategizing ways to see them and make them love us.
After a year and a half of living together, Ashley decided to move forward in her eternal progression and she got married. That, too, was a type of good-bye.
Although we have had many times that we have parted ways, this good-bye is the first real one, as we will now be across the country from one another for the rest of our lives. This good-bye just made me realize even more that I am really growing up. (You'd think at age 27, I would have already realized this, but I think I've been in denial). It is amazing to think back to that time when you were still in high school, or even the beginning the years of college, and you don't even come close to understanding the changes that life will bring. It seems like I went from being a young, single girl, without too many cares to being a married woman preparing to raise a family in just a blink of an eye. It is truly amazing how quickly time flies.
With time's passing, and changing circumstances, it is nice and comforting to reflect on the great memories of the past. It is also a blessing to reflect on the friendships you've had and to think about the impact others have made on your life.
So although it is hard for me to say good-bye to Ashley and let her move clear to Florida, I know that it is part of life, and a good part of life. And I can say that I have truly been blessed by her friendship and the experiences we have shared together.

And the stockings were hung...

Unfortunately, we don't have a fireplace and mantle to hang our stockings on, so our little shelf will have to do for now.
My make-shift holly-berries with pine. I think it looks much prettier in person. My little pine tree branches have pine cones in them and are frosted. They are so pretty with the berries.
Porter has found that he loves to lay and play underneath the Christmas tree. He is sooo cute. If only our Christmas tree skirt wouldn't end up all tangled every day from him running around the tree with Emmy. I guess I can just count my blessings and be grateful that they haven't attempted to eat our ornaments or any part of the tree.
A horrible picture of me and Dave at the Festival of Trees. We went with my parents, Kathryn, and Brittany. It's just not the same to us anymore without going for a Sunshine Generation performance. Yeah, we're all geeks, but we have great Christmas time memories from it all.
And of course a cute picture of my too perfect sisters, Brittany and Kathryn. Their cuteness just makes me sick.


The weekend after Thanksgiving I was so excited and motivated to decorate my house for Christmas, and I got parts of it done, but still have yet to finish. I've been waiting to do all my decorating to post pictures, but at the rate I'm going, my house may be as decorated as it's going to get. I thought I'd post pictures of the few things I have done. The tree is a work in progress, so I am not going to post that picture yet. Of course I do have a cute one of Porter under the tree, so that I will have to post that one even though the tree is incomplete.

Even with all the decor, I still don't feel like it's Christmas time. I was so excited for the holidays as soon as October came around, but I'm just having a hard time getting in the holiday spirit and really feeling like it's Christmas. I've been trying to do all I can -- listen to Christmas music, decorate the house, work on making Christmas gifts, and we even went to the Festival of Trees. However, I'm just not feeling it. I am going to blame my lack of Christmas spirit on work. Work just seems to get in the way of everything. Unfortunately, work is going to have to remain a part of my life, so I will continue trying to get into the spirit of giving and holiday cheer.