Sunday, November 30, 2008

Newlywed Christmas Tree

Today, after the Mr. and I got home from Oregon we decorated OUR first Christmas Tree as Newlyweds. I definitely need to make an ornament to commemorate this.

Here is our beautiful little tree


Yes, it's fake, but oh well, we live in So Cal and we know that living things can't survive in our condo. It's a 4ft. pre-lit tree from Michaels. It's SO easy to put up -- just add ornaments.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Newlywed Annual Pilgrimage: Thanksgiving in Oregon

A couple of years ago (before the Mr. and I were Mr. and Mrs.), we faced the decision that every couple makes about how to divide the holidays. Luckily for us, it was easy. The Mr's favorite Holiday is Thanksgiving, so he asked to do Thanksgiving in Oregon with his family. Which worked out great, since Christmas is WAY bigger deal for my family.

So for the past couple of years we've been doing our Annual Thanksgiving Pilgrimage to Oregon -- but this is a our first year we've done Thanksgiving as husband and wife (bonus: we finally get to sleep in the same bed!) and I really now feel like I'm a part of his family.

Thanksgiving is Oregon is always a wonderful time. I'm really blessed with great parents-in-law and brothers-in-law.


The Highlights


Thanksgiving Dinner:The food, the coziness, and the annual "what I'm thankful for" round table.

Some of the table decor



Chopping Down the Christmas Tree: Growing up in Southern California there isn't exactly an abundance of Pine Tree Farms around. So going out in the cold with the whole crew to chop down a tree at "Mike's U-Cut" is an awesome experience.

The boys and me with the fresh cut tree


Hanging out with the boys: I'm an only child and the Mr. is the oldest of four -- so having "siblings" a whole new experience. When him and his brothers get together (ages range from 18-26) it's like they're kids again. The wrestle and pester each other like baby lion cubs or something. We also got to watch USC destroy Notre Dame at his brother's new house, which was great.

Here's the Mr. attacking his youngest brother with a pine branch


Game Nights: Even though I'm horrible at Settlers of Cattan - I still had a great time playing all kinds of games. A big family is cool because most games are best played with more people.

Me and the boys playing "Liar's Dice"

(The Mr. is participating in No-Shave November, so forgive him for looking like a grungy tree-dweller. He shaves tomorrow.)

What are some of your Thanksgiving highlights?

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Signs of Adulthood - Attending Baby Showers

A couple weekends ago we attended our first co-ed baby shower (much to the Mr's chagrin). My Manager had a football-themed shower for her baby boy in Saratoga (the Mr and I were already up in Nor Cal for the USC vs. Stanford game so it worked out perfectly to show up in our USC gear).

The Mr. and I representing for Southern Cal deep in Nor Cal territory. Go Trojans!


The Mom-to-be (she's still thin, I hate her)



Our gift for the parents-to-be (an animals mobile and lion pillow from Babies R Us). I was really impressed with my reusable gift-wrapping skills ($3.99 reusable basked from Michaels, tissue paper, and grosgrain ribbon).


One of the only people at the baby shower younger than me, my co-worker Brittany.



The food! Delish!





What are some of your "Signs of Adulthood?"

Meet the Newlyweds Next Door

According to Wikipedia the average age of first marriage in the United States is 25.3 for Women and 27.1 for Men - which places the Mr. and I at juuuuuust under average by .3 and .4 respectivly.

We met in college... at the campus bar (don't judge, you went to the campus bar too if you had one).

We got engaged after dating for 3.5 years on Manhattan Beach after a romantic dinner.

We were married in medium-sized West Coast wedding in the summer-time.

We live in a condo in the 36th largest city in America, Long Beach, CA.

We go to church on Sunday and work for Fortune 500 companies Monday-Friday.

All and all we are your typical newlyweds, the hypothetical "newlyweds next door".


(that's us, right after our wedding)

We struggle with the same things that most twenty-something newlyweds do: chores, finances, maintaining friendships, and the awkward "too old to go night clubs, too young to stay in on Saturday night" phase in life.

We don't quite feel like "the adults" yet. But we're not still sitting at the kids table either. This is our journey.
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