The First Annual (maybe?) Christmas Letter!

Dear Friends and Family,
 

It has been a big year for us and though we can’t promise this letter thing will be an annual tradition, it felt appropriate to share with those we love a bit about the happenings around our household.

The most important event would probably be that we BECAME a household this year! We actually went out for the first time during the 2010 holiday season {TSO Concert, baby!}, but really got serious about the romance thing in January. We fell for each other over a mutual love of good food, Disney movies, and an understanding that the search for the perfect cookie need never end. Mrs. O'C introduced Mr. C to Smart Cookies, the joys of fishing, and Bandslam; Mr. C brought everyday romance, to-die-for crepes, and essential French phrases (Bin...je ne sais pas, moi!) to the relationship. And it worked!

In the midst of all this exuberant LOVE, life continued on. Mrs. O'C started a new job at JSD working as the coordinator of the Teaching American History grant. It has been a real change from the classroom, but the perks are seemingly never-ending (i.e. the office is 2 minutes from home!) The job has also had her traveling all over—California, Idaho, Washington DC, and even PARK CITY!
 

Mr. C started a New Job (#1) in March, and then started a different New Job (#2) in June, and thought that since the best things come in threes he might as well start another New Job (#3!)—working as a Quality Assurance Engineer for the LDS Church—in December. This should be the last “New Job” for quite a while. (We hope!) Mr. C continues to study computer engineering at the University of Utah and hopes to graduate...one day. Spare time is a rare thing with full time work and ridiculously difficult engineering courses, but on the occasions he does get some down time Mr. C is still arranging music, playing the guitar, and doing a fantastic job of making Mrs. O'C happy.

We got married (Finally!) in September and have spent the past few months enjoying wedded bliss and trying out as many new recipes as will fit in the weekly meal plan. We have an adorable condo in WJ, and were actually successful in hanging pictures over Thanksgiving so it looks more like Home. We’re currently serving as Nursery workers in our ward and singing in the ward choir. We should also note that we’ve set a goal to watch as many Disney Classics as we possibly can before next summer, so you could say that life is pretty busy around the C home. 

All this excitement then begs the question: Could 2012 ever hope to be as mind-blowingly awesome as 2011!? To that we answer with a hearty: Absolutely! Hope springs eternal, as the saying goes, and there’s no better season for hope than at Christmas! Besides, there are new bakeries opening all the time and in that kind of world, life is bound to be Awesome.

Best wishes to you and yours for a wonderful holiday season—hopefully full of cookies and hot cocoa— and a New Year as AWESOME as you!
 

Merry Christmas!!
Mr. C & Mrs. O'C