The Cluff Family

Friday night Tanner announced to me as we were going to his work Christmas party that he had an early Christmas present to give to me when we got home. I was SO excited because I love surprises and I had no idea what it could be. Well Tanner can't hold on to surprises very long so he told me what it was like 10 minutes later. He surprised me with tickets to the Ballet West Nutcracker for Saturday night. I had been secretly giving him hints that I wanted to go but I really didn't think he would do it... or that maybe he would forget, but no he didn't and the next night we had a lovely evening at the Nutcracker. This was Tanner's first ballet and I think he actually enjoyed it... for the most part. I guess you can't force someone to love something as much as you do. I grew up going to the nutcracker and being in the nutcracker in various ballet productions that it has been a tradition for me that I wanted to share with him especially for our first Christmas together. I know that he did this mostly for me but at least he pretended he enjoyed it and we had a wonderful time. Hopefully I will have daughters that share the same passion for ballet as I do so I can take them someday and give Tanner a break ;). I guess next on the list is a sports game for him. Thanks Tanner for the best Christmas present you could have given me this year. I am one who thinks experiences are way better than receiving material items... especially when those experiences are with those you love.

December is the only month that I can really tolerate the snow and that is because of Christmas. I love Christmas. Tanner and I had fun decorating and putting up our first tree together. We didn't need to buy a single ornament because our moms gave us tons to fill up our tree. It has mostly ballerina and nutcracker ornaments but it is the cutest tree. We also decorated a gingerbread house and it was a project. I didn't realize how messy it can get. Tanner was acting like he was building a real house and took everything very seriously. I accidentally made the frosting very runny but I think it is the best gingerbread house I have ever seen :). The gingerbread kits never give you enough candy but we made it work. I love how festive our apartment looks now and I love coming home from work to see it. Now I have a reason to hibernate in my apartment with my husband and it is not because of the cold. We are planning on going ice skating and to see the lights on temple square so hopefully I'll take some fun pictures. Till then....

I am so happy to be blogging again! Tanner and I suffered for 2 weeks without Internet and I really don't know how we survived without it before. This blog is going to be catch up from Thanksgiving.
We had a very scary drive down to Arizona as you can see... our view was not crisp and clear. We were driving on a sheet of ice all the way to Cedar City and our windshield was impossible to look through. Tanner was freaking out while I stayed calm in the passenger seat. I am just glad that he was driving and not me :). The minute we made it to Arizona, we met his family at a restaurant that the Cluff family loves called El Charro. It is a hole in a wall/Mexican type of restaurant but it is surprisingly really yummy!
The Thanksgiving weekend was so much fun. I loved being with family and being able to relax. I felt like I was able to relax TOO much and didn't feel like I did ANYTHING! Next time I am going to make my mother in law put down her cooking utensil and make me do something! The food was delicious. This was my first time having turkey from a pit in the ground.. WOW it was soooo good. Tanner and I also experienced black Friday for the first time and it was definitely an experience... I'm not sure if I would do it again. We waited for 5 hours outside Target because we wanted to get a 40 inch TV for $300. I didn't think I could freeze to death in Arizona but now I think you can. We were both so cold huddled under 5 blankets patiently waiting till 4AM. We got our TV and we were so excited! It made it all worth it to wait. We also got our first fake Christmas tree and some $1 towels. As I was standing in the huge line, a woman behind me was talking to me for a while. She started talking about how crazy this was and how materialistic she thought black Friday was and I kind of felt stupid with my huge TV and my Christmas tree in my cart. I probably won't be doing it again.... well unless there is something I really need (want ;)).
The next day was a struggle for me as I tried to catch up on sleep but over all the whole vacation was a success. You can never play enough games, or snack on enough pie. I loved my first Thanksgiving with the Cluff's and I look forward to more. Sorry I didn't take any pictures :(