Coming home is a time for me to look back at the year and see how much has changed. Here are some photos from my Christmas with family, the 1st time in 2 years we've all been together. This post is longer than normal, but I'm happy to share photos and memories from the end of 2015.
For Christmas Eve mass, we love to go to the cathedral downtown because it's so beautiful.
After mass, we are off to Grandma & Grandpa's house - the annual tradition. They host everyone, make the yummiest meal, and it's always a special night.
Grandma gave me a goblet of my favorite ;)
My 2 brothers, beautiful sissies, and beautiful mommy.
Blue steel back to back!
G & G have the most beautiful house.
The kids started to play a game, (I forget what it's called already!), Where you can only ask yes or no questions, and will hopefully guess what you are.
Then comes presents time!
I got to capture G & G opening the gift from Cait and Brice, baby booties! We also FaceTimed Jenny and Peter -- they sent the Chicago flag to Colorado :)
Christmas morning was so easygoing and happy. We all knew it was the day we got to tell the world that we were going to be aunts/uncle. This has been such a hard yet also fun secret for me to keep for a few weeks. Whenever anyone would ask me how I was doing, even during finals, my answer was always great and wonderful, because I just felt so excited about this. I'm so happy for Cait and Brice.
Then we took a sibling trip to Boulder.
We ate yummy food all day, wen't to Ozo coffee shop, walked around on Pearl Street, went to the Sink for dinner (all sisters being 1st timers), and saw the Boulder Star. The Boulder Star is something I've wanted to see for quite some time. When we got there, we thought the lights were supposed to turn on, but they hadn't. We decided to start climbing. ~15 minutes later, Cara was already trying to go back down the small --but steep!-- mountain, and they finally turned on. Luckily I wore my hiking boots, and I knew the view would be worth it at the top. I left the siblings for a bit and went all the way up as a lone ranger, fell a lot, all while carrying a camera that I probably shouldn't have. Anyway, the view was definitely worth it.
Another stop Cara and I made -- the new Restoration Hardware. Have you guys been yet? Man, it's beautiful in there. We did a little photoshoot too. What's new :)
Lastly, here are some small moments of break that made me really happy.: painting with my best friend and giggling the whole time, cooking with my dad, eating at one of my favorite restaurants in Denver, going on walks with my dad and seeing a big sky, and hugging my puppy Theo + waking up with him.
This year has been a very good one. Although there were some rough times, things started to fall into place and I feel more like myself than I ever have in my whole life. I can reminisce for who knows how long, but I just want to say I'm grateful for all that has happened and who I'm surrounding myself with. My independence and health, both physical and mental have made huge leaps this year, and I'm really proud of that.
Here is to a new year of change. I'm ready for ya!