holiday times in photogs

BOY did we have a great time in Minnesota for Christmas. The trip was short, but sweet. We made it home just in time for the big Moore Fam Christmas Eve, spent Christmas morning with both our fams, spent Christmas afternoon Yankee-swapping with the Trettels, ate a fancy Christmas dinner at the Manns, and had three days to spare for chill time with our fams. Just a few of the many highlights of our trip:

	Driving around Minnesota with the Jer. We made it to the Mann’s from Chicago in about 6.5 hours. The drive went surprisingly well considering we left after work on the 23rd. Also considering our dog’s tender constitution.

My sister’s boyfriend Mathematics (some people call him Matt) made it to Christmas Eve at Grannie and Grandpa’s. There’s Figs and him wearing the traditional tissue paper crowns we get inside our crackers.

Father Mann on Christmas morn’ in his Christmas head ware.

Christmas Dinner at the Mann’s. After dinner we sang Christmas Carols and gave each other tips we had to pass on from the year 2010.

On our last night we made a big dinner at the Moore’s. Jeremy, ma and I made this delicious (and impressive-looking) braided sweet bread. Yums.

Lovely things

I don’t think it’s great to begin every post apologizing for disappearing. On the other hand, it’s been far too long since I’ve taken the time to write here: I’m aware. Here’s me acknowledging my absence.

Well would you know it, I think we’re slipping into winter over here in the Midwest. Many leaves have fallen, most of the remaining ones are dead and brown (or might as well be), and the low for tonight is 31 degrees. I’m inside a coffee shop wearing a scarf and a down coat. ‘Nough said.

I spent a weekend in Minnesota at the beginning of the month. It was quite possibly the most delightful weekend I’ve ever spent visiting (the only downside was the absence of my husband). It was the first time in 7 years I had been back while autumn was happening. I couldn’t believe how much color was in the trees, and how much I took this for granted until I’d been away from it for so long. We enjoyed the season by going for chilly family walks and visiting an apple orchard. My grandpa turned 80 and my grandma threw him a big bash. It was so much fun spending time with all my grandparents’ neighbors and old friends. My grandpa is a really wonderful man, and it was so special to be able to actually celebrate him in person.

I think the best thing about this trip was how normal it was. We’re usually in Minnesota for the holidays or a lengthy, fun-filled summer vacation. Everyone is on vacation and there’s lots going on. Going home for a short weekend in the middle of fall was a totally different experience. Everyone was in the middle of living their normal lives. My mom and I bummed around town together. I met my friend Katie’s new baby twin girls in her home. We ran into a wonderful couple we know and love with all five of their kids at the apple orchard. My sister and I had coffee one morning before she worked. I was struck by how precious the normality of life felt. I love my family so much and I have always loved going home. But this trip made me long to live near them like never before. I came back to Chicago feeling disappointed at the complexity of life.

This trip made me want to move to Minneapolis and have kids, oddly enough. It made me want to be able to have my parents over for dinner without having to ask an entire weekend of them. It made me want to be able to call my sister up and meet her in uptown for coffee and walking. I can imagine such a wonderful life for us in Minnesota.

On the other hand, I’m 100% sure God wants us in Chicago now. He’s made it far too clear for me to think otherwise. And I like it. I’ve been so blessed by the people we’ve connected with here. My job has been so good for me. I’m excited about going to grad school. I love our church. I’m excited for Jeremy to start seminary. We’re experiencing another great city, and learning a lot along the way.

I guess for now the best I can do is pray that someday God brings us back to Minnesota for a time. And I can be thankful for the proximity he’s offered us to family in the meantime. We’ve got such great families. I’ve spent many days recently thinking about what a great life I have. I’m not sure how or why it turned out that way, but I’m beyond thankful.

oh to be in Minnesota

Autumn at the Basillica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, MN

I need a vacation. We need a vacation. It’s time for a vacation. (Here comes your warning: this is not necessarily a good mood post.)

We have not left the state of California for almost one full year. An entire year we have been within the borders of California. That’s gross (no offense, California).

I have not seen my family since May. MAY. That’s almost a half a year ago. That’s dumb. They get to hang out with each other all the time.

It’s lovely and fallish and rainy here, but there is no one to enjoy it with. My friends live about a century away. OR they have regular jobs, which require them to work every day like normal people. So. No coffee dates. No pumpkin spice lattes, unless I want to bike down to the ghetto Starbucks down the street in the rain, to sit inside the laundromat/arcade (what?) by myself.

The cat peed on our comforter. And I slept with it before I noticed. Ick.

Jeremy and I still own the Mazda. Blegh.

I have to do these online modules for work, which means I get to sit in front of the computer for hours on my days off.

You’ll have to excuse my negativity. I’m not saying I have the worst life or that everything is going crappily. I just need a vacation. I’m not the kind of person who says things like “I need a vacation.” But come on. You saw that picture up there.

We’re due for a trip to the Midwest. I haven’t been in Minnesota during the fall in over 5 years. Since High School, people. And in case you didn’t know, Minnesota is the absolute BEST place to be for the season called autumn. My mom and sister called me today while they were out running errands together. It sounds like it snowed there for a day or so, but it’s all gone, and the leaves are still all there and love.ly. I’m sure they probably stopped at some point for a little bit of Caribou (or at least they would have, had I been there to persuade them). It’s probably getting dark early, and I’m sure my mom is making delicious things for dinner.

The Manns are there with their tandem bike. The lakes are there with their beautiful walking, biking, and running paths. My grandparents are there with their nice homes to visit. The air is fresh and brisk. You have to wear boots, or at least real shoes. My pappy is around most of the time, with his silly jokes and delightful sense of humor. The unfriendly cats are roaming the house, and it’s so easy to make them hiss (and ah, what a blissful pastime). I’d like to go.