Holiday fun and fabulous news!

Despite the worst weather I can remember, today has been one of the greatest days we have had in a long time. Nate was offered a job in Mesquite today, and he starts tomorrow! He isn't super excited about driving to Mesquite everyday to work, but we are both so happy that our days of having no money are going to be ending!

Also, tonight we had the annual Twitchell Family Christmas Party at my Aunt Lori's and Uncle Karl's house in Hatch. About 20 of us braved the blizzard conditions, and snow-packed roads to make the trip. We had a wonderful time! We ate yummy food (I made my first turkey and it was pretty good I think), laughed and told old stories, and then had a white elephant gift exchange. It was a pretty mellow one this year, not enough stealing went on in my opinion!

I never did post a "Thankful for" post at Thanksgiving so I just wanted to mention a few things now.

I am so thankful for Nate, for sacrificing the California life so that we could be here in Utah close to our families, and for being such a wonderful father. It is going to take some getting used to with him going to work again. For the last month and a half I've grown to depend on him for lots of little things that I'm positive are going to overwhelm me when I have to do them all by myself!

I am thankful beyond words for Hudson. He is the biggest joy of my life. I love that he has so much to learn, and though it terrifies me, it also excites me that Nate and I are the ones who have been entrusted with his life.

I am thankful for wonderful parents, mine and Nate's. Without them we would be living on the streets, cold and hungry. They have been so supportive, literally, since we moved and I don't know how we'll ever be able to repay them for all they've done for us.

I am thankful for my crazy, though dysfunctional at times, wonderful family. For 3 cousins who are like sisters to me. For the kindest aunt who always out does herself to make sure everyone is taken care of. For 2 uncles who have always been there with "fatherly" advice. For my Grandparents who are so much a part of my life. It is hard to see them get old, and to know that their time here is getting shorter. I'm so glad they were here to meet Hudson. I wasn't sure if I would have kids in time for that to happen. They love him so much.

And last, but most importantly I am thankful for Christ. Christmas is my very favorite season. I love the lights, the music, the shopping, and the pretty wrapping paper. But I love it for another reason. I love that for an entire month we celebrate our Savior's humble birth, and that for that month I, along with hundreds of thousands of others, really try to grasp what the birth of one tiny little baby meant for the world. Imagine being the earthly parents of the Great Redeemer...

Here are some pictures I stole from Ross's myspace page of the family party... Hudson of course was the center of attention in his little reindeer outfit. Hudson and Uncle "Krazy" Kids love him for some reason

The reindeer outfit got a little too hot so he was a naked boy.

Hudson and Grandma. How rude of her to laugh at his sad face... But it's just so CUTE!

Hudson and Ross. Ross LOVES kids. He's gonna be a great daddy someday, but for now uncle will have to do!

Auntie Tani and Hudson. She made him the beanie on her flight from Denver to Vegas!

Cousins who were able to make it

Best Freaking Cousins (and Steve and Max)