Just the way we left it...almost

We returned this morning on the almost always painful redeye from SLC to NYC.

When we went to the airport two weeks ago we didn't think that we'd actually fly out because our flight, the day before, had been canceled as well as ALL flights from New York/New Jersey because of "the big storm."

In a half-hearted effort to give hope a chance, we grabbed whatever was packed in our luggage and left in the wee hours of the morning.

We carried our suitcases down five flights of stairs, rolled them the two avenues (despite the nine or so inches of snow that had fallen) to the subway, subwayed to Penn Station, trained to Newark, airbused to some parking lot, rolled our suitcases through the snow once again, and started waiting in line.

The only things I could think about were:
1-How we had promised God and ourselves that we would NEVER complain about the weather again because we got the best weather on our wedding day...so I was thinking about that and any other non-complaining thought in my head.

2-How we were probably going to have to wait at the airport until dark only to roll our suitcases back to the parking lot, wait for the airbus, so we could wait for the train, in order to get back on the subway and roll our luggage through the snow to our little fifth floor walk-up. Blerg.

3-And how bad I would have been at being a pioneer.

Ultimately, it wasn't bad at all.
While I waited in one of the many eternal lines (surrounded by sleepy, screaming strangers), Ryan looked for other alternatives.

And in what can only be explained as a Christmas Miracle, Ryan found Bianca, the Continental agent, and told her he would "lick her face" if she got us on a flight.

Whether that was the reason or not, she got us on (even though he didn't actually lick her face. I will admit, however, that I kissed her face and hoped it made up for Ryan not licking it.)

So we made it to Seattle only twelve hours later than planned. (Again, let me emphasize: CHRISTMAS MIRACLE.)

And besides the melted snow, the strange smell in our garbage can, and the way the streets feel like a ghost town when all the tourists are gone--it's basically the same old place.

...but since the nostalgia of the Christmas season (and especially of our family) is still fresh, allow me to share a few pictures of one of the best Christmases I've ever had.
More to come, this week...