Robb + Jessie Married & in the Badger State
New Year’s Resolution
Something Robb and I realised while looking through photographs from 2008, we don’t have any photos of us together!
Our goal for 2009 is to be more intentional of taking photos of us together.
Here is one to ring in the new year from our fun in the snow on Christmas Eve. We attempted to build a snowman, but the snow we get in Madison is pure powder. And thus, excellent for snow angels.
We hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones. We surely did.
If only in my dreams…
Dear Friends and Family,
It is a joy to write Christmas wishes to all of you as Mr and Mrs Stankey. Just a year ago Robb was finishing up his first semester as a PhD student in Genetics at University of Wisconsin–Madison. As soon as classes were finished, he was on a plane home to Seattle for our January wedding. It was such a delight to share our happy day with all of you who were able to make it.
The transitions we went through in January (marriage, moving to Wisconsin, and Jessie starting her Masters program in Food Science) were difficult, but after a year, have made us stronger.
Madison, Wisconsin is a lot like Seattle (minus “The Mountain,” Rainier, our friends and family, and the Pudget Sound). We have attended some great concerts and events, traveled up North for a cranberry festival, consumed some delicious beers and cheeses, had several good friends visit from Seattle and Texas and crash on our futon, driven both the length and the width of the state, gone on several day trips to Chicago, and Jessie ran her first half-marathon (in the snow, no less!). We are looking forward to training hard this winter for the MadCity (Half) Marathon this May. (Madison is affectionally known as “MadCity”).
As we write you this note, we are enjoying the warm glow of Christmas lights while outside our windows Madison is covered in a blanket of freshly fallen snow reminding us that winter is nearly here. Last year we endured a record breaking snowfall in one season (over 100”). Perhaps this year we will break another record?
We have a lot to be thankful for this year and a lot to look forward to this upcoming year. In January we are taking our first major vacation to see some of our extended families in Southern California (the perfect time to escape the snow!) and we are looking forward to some cross-country skiing and … perhaps ice fishing? One never knows.
May your and your loved ones have a blessed Christmas season and joyful New Years.
Much love,
A Treasured Tradition
Robb’s family has a cool tradition. Every Christmas, Robb’s parents would give him an ornament so that when he moved out and got married, he would have his own collection of ornaments for his first tree. We thought we’d share some of the ornaments with you.
I can’t get over how pretty our tree is. And next year, it will be different. My childhood handcrafted and gifted ornaments will eventually make the journey across the continental divide to join Robb’s ornaments.