12 Days of Christmas Letters

It's December! My favorite month of the year. And this year I'm psyched because it will be the first Christmas I get to spend with Devin. Last year, he was out of town and then came back on the 28th and surprised me by proposing. So, it was still a fantastic month, but I'm excited to have him for actual Christmas this year. Because we are both in college, we are pinching our pennies. I have saved up quite a bit to get him some pretty awesome gifts, but I wanted to do something extra special too!

This year I'm showering him with something cute but frugal:
"The 12 Days of Christmas Letters!" 

What are these you might ask? Well, I've written small little letters about special moments in our life together. To give you a few ideas so you can make your own, I've included the letters I'm going to give him this year. 

First day we met (1)

You would think I would remember this like it was yesterday, but I'm sure my awkwardness blocked the painful memory for me. I believe it was either during our ward's "Break the Fast" (and you were holding a snowman mug which I awkwardly commented on) or it was during the Mix n’ Mingle event at our apartment (which wasn't any less awkward because I was probably wiping up drool in between long stares at you) . I remember you invited me up to your apartment during the Mix n’ Mingle to watch a movie with your friends. Erica and I came up near the end and watched part of the movie you guys had on. Then Erica and I left early because it was a total action movie and they freak her out. And like that wasn't awkward. So let’s do it over? And I guess we can be awkward if you really want to.  Let’s celebrate tonight with hot chocolate (in snowman mugs) and a movie!  Love you!

Hustling me (2 games of basketball)

Well this one is just embarrassing. Do I need to say more? All I remember is being so psyched that I was beating you at basketball and then feeling bittersweet that I now had to take you out on our first date. Well it turned out really great, so I guess I can’t complain too much… Anyway, let’s celebrate tonight with a game of basketball (real or on the xbox!)

We kissed! (3 times that night to be exact…)

This is absolutely one of my favorite memories of us. I liked you so much, and you made me wait so long! But it was so perfect because of that! It’s the only kiss I can remember feeling fireworks during (I know that sounds cheesy but I don’t know how else to describe it). I think after that moment, I sort of knew that we were going to be together for a long time, or that we were supposed to be. And that was the other awesome part. We kissed for the first time after we decided to date exclusively. I knew you liked me for me.  I can’t wait to tell this story to our kids when they are getting ready to date. What a cool example of saving your kisses for the one you love!  Let’s celebrate tonight with lots of kisses (and of course Hershey's kind too!)

New York (4 days long!)

Talk about sweeping a girl off her feet! This was such a cool experience. Absolutely one of my top 10 memories of us. I still remember sitting at Texas Road House (my favorite restaurant) and you pulling out the tickets to see Stomp. I thought that was so cool, and then I found out that the tickets were for a show in New York! I freaked. I’m so glad we got the chance to walk our little feets off all over that city together.  Central Park, Times Square, Indian Food, etc… I will always have a special place in my heart for New York because of that trip. Let’s celebrate tonight by eating some good ol’ fashion New York hot dogs. :)

First time I said “I love you” (at 5am)

I remember this night like it was yesterday. We went semi-skinny dipping in Utah lake super late at night during late fall/winter.  (I know you checked me out!) Afterwards, we almost died of hypothermia as we sat soaking wet in your car wrapped in blankets with the heater turned up to high. I remember we didn’t want to go inside because we were so cold, so we just kept talking. I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I blurted out "I think I love you." Then I semi-yelled/chocked it out again. I was so embarrassed because I had never told anyone that before, let alone been the first to say it! But you made me feel great. We laughed and talked and you told me you loved me too. I was in heaven. Let’s celebrate by thinking of all the reasons we love each other!

First Date  (6 activities:  brick oven pizza, hay ride, big slide thing, make-out maze, pumpkin patch, carving pumpkin)

This was so fun. My favorite part was when you tackled me in the maze and then we made out. I still remember being peeved that I was the one that had to take you out, but it was ok, because I liked you so much! I also remember being really nervous you would think the date was cheesy or dumb, but then I found out that you worshipped pizza and I knew the date was a homerun! Let’s celebrate tonight by eating some yummy pizza!

When you proposed (It was supposed to be 7pm J)

Remember this night? I sure do. December 28^th! What a surprise. I was so bummed to miss our first Christmas together, but what a surprise I got when you came home early and whipped out a bright shiny ring and asked me to be with you forever!  That was probably the best day of my life until our wedding! Remember how you also gave me that sparkly gold necklace for my Christmas present, ON TOP of my engagement ring? That was awesome, and I love you for being so giving and cute and sneaky. Remember how we also went to the melting pot afterwards?? Let’s celebrate by going back to where you popped the question - Temple Square!

The months we’ve been married now (8)

Can you believe it? I seriously don’t know where the time went. It seems like it was yesterday that we were just hanging out. Now we’re all married and serious n’ stuff. And I love it. These have been the best 8 months of my entire life. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier. Thanks for making me the happiest me I could be. Let’s celebrate tonight by laughing and being happy (whether that be youtube videos, tickle fights (yes I said tickling), or knock-knock jokes. Let’s  laugh out loud tonight.

The months we’ve had our first apartment together (9 months)

Ok,  I know I’m kind of pushing it on this one… but we did get our apartment in early April and it is now late December, so it’s almost 9 months! But seriously, I think we forget about how freaking awesome our apartment is and how many fantastic memories we’ve had in it. Let’s celebrate our first place together by making a list of all the awesome things we’ve done in it, and doing something awesome in it too! (pillow fort?)

Our Honeymoon (10 days long)

By far this is my favorite vacation I’ve ever had before! We went to so many cool places and saw so many cool things! Nassau was so fun, as well as swimming with the dolphins. The sting ray experience was really cool too. I loved finding those huge seashells and making you carry them for miles… hehe.  Dinner was fun too! Dressing up and gaining weight. Now those are the times to remember… I think my favorite part was being on the beach in a romantic wonderland with my bestfriend.  Let’s celebrate tonight with some romance!

Our wedding day (sealed at 11:00 am)

My favorite day with my favorite person in the world.  I couldn’t believe it was actually happening and that I could be with you forever after that day. Words can’t describe how I feel about our wedding.  It was an amazing day with so many memories, family, and friends, but the only part I really really cherish was being with you and celebrating it! Let’s celebrate tonight by watching our wedding video again.

The year we met (2012)

2012 had so many great things to it!  It was my second year of college, I was rooming with my best friends, I felt so content with where I was in life. The best part, though, was meeting you. Who knew that I would meet my soul mate that year… Who knew that we would get engaged that year… Who knew that we would go to California and get soaked by Shamu, attacked by flamingos, watch the sunsets together, and fall in love on the beach . Who knew… I love the year 2012. Probably my favorite year besides this one (is that weird to have favorite years?).  Let’s celebrate last year by thinking of all the great things we did together and all of the awesome things we want to do together this next upcoming year. I love you so much babe! Merry Christmas!