So, last post I said was, and I quote "hoping for a bit of snow" when I went home for Christmas. I just really wanted to point out the part where I said a bit of snow. Because it dumped 7 inches on Omaha the day before I flew home for Christmas, and I got blamed for it because of that comment! :)
Despite the snow, I did make it home okay, and it was quite lovely to see all the white for Christmas. I had quite a good time, and spent a lot of time in a car getting to one place or the other! I made it to Grand Island, Nebraska - 2 hours west one day to see some dear old friends there. Then the next day found myself in Des Moines, Iowa, - 2 hours to the east to meet some of my Iowa City friends there as well. Of course I got to see a few wonderful friends in Omaha as well, and was there just in time to celebrate my brothers birthday.
My friend Ester here asked for some pictures of snow, so I got some in Des Moines. Even though most of you know what snow in the midwest looks like, I'll post them anyway (since I don't have any pics of people from the trip)! It was quite beautiful to see the snow hanging on the boughs of the trees. I'm glad I got to see snow, but I'm even more excited that I only had a 12-day winter and got to come back to Southern California!
Other highlights were that the Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake from Thanksgiving made a debut at Christmas dinner as well! Yum, Yum. Christmas was just the four of us in Nebraska City this year. But we got a Christmas evening tour of the powerplant Dad works at. I've never liked walking on grates on the sidewalks in big cities. I didn't like it any better when the grated metal floors we were walking on were about 28 stories up! Not my cup of tea. But it was neat seeing how it all works.
Lastly, the Christmas trip home ended up in a trip to Kansas to see all sorts of family from both sides. We had a bit of a Christmas celebration with Grandma and aunt on my mom's side, until I started feeling horrible and we had to end it! We also got to see an aunt and my awesome cousins on my Dad's side. But sadly, I didn't get to see as much of anyone as we usually do after I got sick. That was a huge bummer.
I did spend New Years Eve in Omaha though, with my general New Years Eve peeps - Katie, Danielle, and Nick (although we were minus a Jon). It was great to continue the tradition! Early the next morning I flew back home, ready to leave only because I wanted my own bed! I was sad to go. It was so good to see everyone I got to see, but sadly I missed seeing a number of people I had really hoped to see. I guess it gives me a good excuse to come back as soon as I can! I miss you all already!
