thanksgiving weekend.

I fell off the grid for a little bit there, whoops! Once we got back from our {incredible} trip to Portland - more on that soon - it was practically Thanksgiving. And now it's the holiday season -- whaaaat?! 

Thanksgiving was spent with extended family on my dad's side, including my cousins from Indiana & Chicago that I hadn't seen in far too long. I had the joy of meeting this lovely lady's beautiful baby girl, Nadia. And I got to stuff my face with some stuff that I wouldn't normally stuff my face with. I made my first cranberry sauce and a grain-free, refined-sugar free pecan pie (not too pretty to look at but quite yum). Also made this and was surprised at how tasty it was for how simple it was to make. It was a wonderful, relaxing day, as was the most of the weekend. Lots of lounging going on, which was pretty awesome. And only a tiny bit of shopping.

Saturday was one of my favorite days in a long time (besides every day in Portland). Joel and I picked out our Christmas tree, went to a few stores to get some lights and such, had a delicious impromptu dinner date and then came home and decorated the tree while listening to our newly acquired, quirky-as-ever Sufjan Stevens Christmas album.  It was really the first time we were able to have a day like that, as Joel is usually so busy with school around the holidays. It was pure bliss. We seriosuly rarely have full days together period, and I got really excited thinking about how it could become the norm soon, with Joel getting very close to no longer being a student. This makes me extremely happy. 

This is our best Christmas tree yet. I'm looking at it right now and it gives me warm fuzzies. I am definitely in the Christmas spirit after this weekend. We even had our first snow! It is pretty much winter now around these parts (it's coollllllld). Want to soak up every minute of this season, it goes so quickly.