2012 - a Year of Adventures!

Happy New Year! We certainly celebrated the new year with family and friends. My dad's side of the family (the Robinsons) came down from Ogden to Salt Lake to eat good food, visit and share memories of Christmas past. It was so fun to hear everyone's different stories and traditions. My dad shared a funny story about one year, when I was little, someone had convinced me that there was a scripture in the Bible that proves that Santa is real! And as a child, my faith in Santa now had a solid foundation! Ha ha I really liked that story. As an adult, I still find myself believing in Santa. This year, I clearly saw the resemblance between Santa and our Savior (both love children, love giving, and sacrifice their all for the happiness of the world).

New Years Eve night, we met up with some friends and went bowling. Chuck won every game, like he wins everything.. I don't know why I try! Afterwards, we picked up some Martineli's Sparkling Cider and hung out at our friends' apartment eating snacks and candy, playing Rock Band and hanging out late into the night. We watched the ball drop and watched how old Dick Clark is looking. We were up until 5 am enjoying the new year.

Most importantly, we look forward to what the new year will bring. Being finished with school, I am still working at the U hospital in the Maternity Ward and hope to take care of my sister-in-law in April when she delivers a girl! New to my career, I look forward to the many adventures it will bring. It is my goal to keep up my exercise routine, since I have lost 8 pounds since October, and want to get into great shape. We are working on reading our scriptures and praying together everyday this year, as well as increasing our temple attendance since Chuck will have more time on his hands. Chuck has many adventures ahead... He is quitting his job Jan. 6, and starting classes at the U and SLCC on Jan. 9. He is majoring in Health Education and Promotion with an emphasis in EMS. His career goal is to become a Paramedic and Fireman. He has applied for a summer job as a Wild Land Firefighter... don't know what I think about it yet, but we don't know if he will qualify just yet. We have a couple trips planned this year, that you will hear about later. As usual, we plan on continuing to play soccer as often as we can! We wish you a Happy New Year!

One Blessed Christmas

Throughout December, Chuck and I tried to capture the Christmas spirit... We put up a much improved Christmas tree from last year with new ornaments, put lights in our window, hung our stockings by the wall with care (no chimney), in hopes that Santa Claus soon would be here! We awed in wonder as we walked through the Festival of Trees at the South Towne Expo center and envied the talented gingerbread house makers. A night out with Santa (the Robinsons side) spoiled us with good eats at a steakhouse downtown, good presents and good entertainment at the Kurt Bestor Concert. A ride on the Heber Creeper Polar Express (the Martins side) brought holiday cheer as we sang songs, heard xmas jokes, drank hot cocoa and watched the nieces light up when Santa arrived! For the 12 days before Christmas, we read a set of scriptures each night about the birth and life of the Savior. With the spirit of Christ in our home, it made up for the few snowflakes that fell and the expectation of working on Christmas. I was scheduled to work Christmas Eve night and Christmas night. So we tried to make the most of our time during the week of Christmas. We saw the lights at temple square with some of the Martins. Chuck and I, and my parents went on a date two days before Christmas to my favorite chinese restaurant Enjoy, and afterwards we enjoyed visiting with friends from Washington. Christmas Eve day, we went to dinner and a movie with the Robinsons. After much dismay, to my surprise, a call from work said I wouldn't have to work until sunrise! I found out that Chuck was going to surprise me at work with egg nog and chocolate doughnuts, and my parents were also going to bring me a pull apart too! I ruined their service, but I am so grateful for their thoughtfulness. We spent the rest of the evening playing games at my cousin's house, put on our new pajama bottoms (Christmas Eve tradition in the Robinson family) and slept til morning. Excited as can be, I awoke at 6:30! Chuck made me wait until 8:00 am, first time in years that I opened presents in daylight. I made us some hot cocoa to start, and then we took our stockings apart. A brand new ornament and a handmade card for each. Chuck sure knows how to buy for his wife! After opening our spoils, we got ready for the day and headed to sacrament at my parents' ward. Then off to the Martins for lunch and presents. It was fun to be around the nieces and nephew, to see how much more they understand Christmas this year, and to watch them open presents. Chuck's mom made the nieces beautiful aprons and skirts, and the two little ones a ball each to play with. After most of his siblings left, I took a nap in preparation for work that night. We visited with his parents for awhile, and then left to meet my parents at their house to open presents there. We certainly feel blessed by our family for all the nice things they gave us, but most of all for the love we felt being with them. I did end up working an 8 hour shift that night, but I am so grateful I got to spend Christmas morning with Charles, just the two of us in our own home. We certainly tried to focus on Christ through all the commericalism and gifts, remembering that Christ is the greatest gift ever given. It will go down in history as One of the best Christmases filled with so many blessings!
p.s. pictures to come...