The Christmas Season

is here! I have been saying since about May or so that I am so excited for Christmas! So excited that we set up our Christmas tree on November 7th :) Our home is so Christmas-y, I'm in love :) 

Thanksgiving was also wonderful. Pumpkin pie, Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Special, Family pictures and a whole lot of gratitude for my amazing husband. He made my first Thanksgiving away from family so special. He's the best.

We've had our first snow, walked around a Christmas tree lot, saw reindeer, and have driven around the city to see the lights. Christmas is the best. 

I'm obsessed with this hat... can you tell? :)

And while most people up here are sipping coffee as they walk around this chilly city, we got my favorite treat- gelato. And the Fainting Goat has the best. (Anyone who comes to visit us will be getting this with us!) 

And there's a Christmas tree on top of the Space Needle! I die!! 

My favorite Christmas traditions:

• sleeping by the christmas tree the night after we set it up
• watching christmas movies- especially Elf and the Grinch
• writing cute things on our christmas gifts
• hanging lights in our bedroom
• driving around to see christmas lights while singing christmas songs

I'm in love with this season and the feelings it brings. The year is coming to a close and as it does it allows us to reflect on our blessings, to think others and the love that we have for our families, and to celebrate our Savior. Brandon and I have been very blessed this year and with that have also experienced some of our hardest challenges. In church today the speaker said of our Savior- "He lives, he loves, and most of all he listens." I am so grateful for my Savior- his sacrifice and his unconditional love for me. This last year has confirmed to me that He truly listens and I am grateful for the knowledge I have of him as my Savior. What a wonderful experience it is to celebrate his birth and reflect on his life and sacrifice and for us.  

Merry Christmas!

Love, the Griffeth's

She's Home!!!

My little sister Brynn came home from her mission over a month ago and I have finally gotten around to editing these pictures. I was so glad that I could make a trip out to see her come home! What a happy time for my family to finally be reunited with her after 18 long months. Brynn was an AMAZING missionary and I am so grateful for her example and service as a missionary. So happy to have you home Brynn!! :)

A Visit from the Griffeth's

Brandon and I love to show the city to visitors. It gives us an excuse to explore this exciting city and me an excuse to practice with my camera. 

Brandon's parents came up to Seattle to go on an Alaskan cruise so I got to show them around the city for a few days. Pike's Market is still one of my favorite places to show people. 

It's exciting to see new places we haven't been to yet, like the Ballard Locks... 

...and Alki Beach. 

So glad we could have you visit Kent & Vicki! 

Our First Few Days in Seattle

We did it. We MOVED. Some days I still can't believe it. 

And you know what?? WE LOVE IT HERE!!! 

Yes, we have not had any Seattle rain just yet and that will be quite the adjustment, BUT summer here is absolutely GORGEOUS!!

We got into town on a Saturday night at 9:30 but there was still 9 people who showed up from our ward to help us move- so nice!! Don't worry we thanked them with cookies later :) 

Church the next day was so great- our ward meets behind the Seattle Temple!! And everyone is so friendly and welcoming to us :) 

After dinner that Sunday we decided to take my parents into the city to see Seattle for the first time. We drove up to Kerry Park because we heard it had a great view of the city and boy that was true! (Although that was the smallest park I've ever seen haha) 

We spent that evening driving around the city being tourists going to the Space Needle, the EMP Museum, and down to the water's edge to look at some of the house boats.

My dad was pretty excited to touch the Space Needle :) 

Anyone else feel like watching Sleepless in Seattle now? Yeah, me too :)

Although we still had plenty of unpacking to do we spent Monday on a few more Seattle adventures. First stop- Pike's Place Market. 

I die over this perfect fruit... it deserves two pictures. 

ha ^

The Market had so much to see! People everywhere, things to buy, food samples to try. Ah- so fun! Although I must admit this place smells very fishy. 

Go figure :)

This was much more pleasant to smell :) 

And I couldn't leave the market without buying some flowers :)

Yeah... Pike's Market is my favorite thing we've done so far for sure :) 

We were ready to eat some Seattle seafood so we found an Ivar's within walking distance and made our way there- stopping at a few cool places along the way of course!

We even happened upon the gum wall! (which I must admit I did not know it existed in Seattle) 

I can't decide if this is really cool, or totally gross... 

And I just liked how this place looked :)

Going here to eat was one of those trips when everyone loves the food that they've ordered... Love when that happens. 

From the restaurant (the building with all of the seagulls on it) we could watch the Ferries for Bainbridge and Bremerton going in and out of the port, loading and unloading bikes, cars, trucks and so many people!  

So we knew we had to have a turn :)

So windy. So cool to see this city from the ferry. 

There wasn't a whole lot to do on Bainbridge Island but it sure was a pretty little place. We walked down to the water and then around main street for a bit.  

And we had to go get some gelato- my first!

Nutella Gelato... also deserving of two pictures...

Seriously. So. Good. 

And then it was time to take the ferry back to Seattle.  

Wow. Still can't believe this is a thing I can just "go do" here.

We saw so many things on Monday and woke up so tired on Tuesday that we relaxed most of the morning until we went on a "hike" to Snoqualmie Falls

Everything is so pretty here!! 

I'm so glad that my parents were able to come help us move. It was so fun to show them around and explore more of Seattle than we probably would have on our own in those first few days. Speaking of visitors... who's next? We'd love to have you over!! :)