What I'm Loving Wednesday

Just in time! What am I loving this fine Wednesday? Holiday shopping. I know, I know - how could I possibly enjoy the crowded Malls and frantic shoppers...a question to which I have no logical answer. I simply love the rush, the excitement of shopping at this time of year. Everything is festive, glittery and on sale. I honestly don't mind sharing the Mall hallways with the other Holiday crazies, some are more feisty than others, that much is certain. I just love the huge decorations and the Christmas music playing in the background...love it. I often feel sympathy for the over-worked employees who don their tired Santa Hats in hopes that it will revive some sort of Christmas cheer. I try my best to thank them for their help and wish them a happy afternoon. Not always an easy fete after standing in line for 18 minutes behind a woman in a blinking Christmas sweater...

Happy Shopping!

Holiday Bustle

How is it that it's only the 4th of December and I'm feeling so pressed to have all my Christmas things done? I am feeling so behind! Our house still needs lights put up, we got our tree yesterday but it still needs to be decorated, I haven't bought a SINGLE Christmas gift and my house is currently littered in boxes and bags full of decorations that need to be set out. I mean, at this point why even decorate at all, right? The month is pretty much over.

As I mentioned, we do have our Christmas tree. We buy a live tree from this guy who turns his front yard into a tree lot every year. Cody' s family bought their trees there every Christmas, so we're just carrying on the tradition! And this year? We got a flocked tree!! I must admit, I was never a huge fan of the flocking - but I think the first year we were married Cody talked me into it. I loved it! It was so 50's Christmas-y and looked so great all decorated. When my tree is done, I'll post pictures - I'm so excited!

As far as lights on our house go...well, I need Cody to do that. Poor guy has been sick all weekend (we've ALL been sick...some nasty cold thing. I didn't get it as bad as my kids or Cody, but we're all a bit sniffy and coughy) so I think we'll be able to get them up this weekend. Why the push? Well see, we live in a neighborhood filled with Griswald's. I swear, half of the power in this City is being used to light these homes. Take a gander -



And that's just a sampling! Sorry about the blurriness - I think Cody and I need to take another trek around the neighborhood and snap more pictures. There are quite a few homes that look like that. Ours won't be that bright. I mean, we're not trying to make our house look like the noon-day sun, or anything. But it will look very festive and I can't wait until the lights are up!!

Well, I would so love to sit here and post all day, but alas - Christmas errands await. I have a plethora of places to go to and I'm not sure I'll survive. Wish me luck on my Merry errands!

Happy December!

Pine Cones and Holly Berries, December is here!! The best thing about this day? I woke up to 4 " of snow!! It's a Christmas miracle! Cody and I were running errands yesterday and it was cold and rainy - there has been much doubt about having any snowfall this year. I was so excited to see the falling snow this morning, it instantly put me in a Holiday mood - hot chocolate for breakfast, the decorations are being hauled out and Christmas music is playing. I plan on making gingerbread cookies this afternoon and I think I'll be making a turkey for dinner. I mean, c'mon now, it's Christmas!


Is everyone making their Christmas lists? I'm not sure what I want this year...I would love a cool life jacket to wear whilst wake-surfing next Summer. I'm not pro enough to have such a stellar vest, but if I look the part with it on, who cares, right? I think I will post some of my Christmas wants during the month. So tell me, what do you want for Christmas?

Flashies

Normally I do my Flashbacks on Tuesday, but I simply could not wait! Before going to bed last night, I was flipping through channels when I came upon something I haven't seen in years - an episode of 21 Jumpstreet. Hello! Me and my brothers and sister were so in love with this show!! I remember watching it every week, so devoted to Johnny Depp and his complex co-stars.

Last night's episode did not disappoint - it was a very deep story about the young detectives going under cover at a school for troubled teens. They were sure that this one kid was dealing drugs, yet he was so smart in school. It all but begs the question, "Why for must he be so troubled? This youth with such chiseled features and college potential?" Yet when they get to know this brooding young man, they discover that he is not 18 years old as his school records indicate, but a mature 22!! *Gasp!* When confronted about this lie, the heartbreaker confides that he is just....so afraid...of growing up. I mean, why can't we all be 18 forever, man! I wish I was making it up, truly I do. But apparently adulthood was a very serious fear for the youth of 1987. While I mock the silly plot line, I still watched the whole episode - loving every minute of it. I mean, a young Johnny Depp? Me. Yow. Anyone else have the theme song in their head? Just me? Ok.

Another blast from the past that took me by surprise - have you any idea what show is being resurrected for the new year? American Gladiators. Oh please, please, please tell me that I'm not the only person who watched this show when I was little.


Why I watched it, I'll never know - overly muscled persons in spandex that fought your average civilian with over sized foamy q-tip weapons. The Gladiators did what they could to discourage your everyday contestant, be it shooting them with foam darts or outrunning them on a obstacle course fit for hamsters. This show must have been a smash hit, because it's back. Oooooh, it's back. I think it's coming on in January with bigger! Badder! Meaner Gladiators and tighter spandex! Is it possible? Is it physically possible? When I find out the premiere date, I'll have all of you over to tune in. Bring popcorn.

Days Go By..

What a busy couple of days! This week is going by so fast, I can't keep up. Monday I met Hannah at the local McDonald's for some burgers and play time for the kids. Hannah was watching our friends' two little boys, so there were 7 kids to keep track of! We had the best time - I so love the McDonald's Play Zone. It was nice to have to kids run around and Hannah and I were able to chat. We met the nicest girl named Cheyenne (Cheyenne? Are you here? Leave a comment so we can stay in touch!) and her two little boys. The three of us talked for over an hour, it was awesome. Later that night I started making (and finishing up) a bunch of onesies. I'm mailing them out this week, I'll post pictures before I do - they are turning out SO cute!


Yesterday I ran some errands with Cache and Cole and while shopping at Target (no, I really had to go there, I promise...), Cache started to get really sick - luckily we didn't have to call for a clean up on aisle 7, but almost! Poor little dude, I think he's getting a bad cold. Once we got home, I got ready to go sing with Hannah for a YW thing. It was really fun, I always have fun with Hannah.


Now it's Wednesday and I have to finish up the onesies, finish up the painting, tidy up my house and take care of a sick little boy. Pretty sure I'll be staying indoors today. But! I wanted to ask you for some Christmas gifty advice. Every year Cody and I have a stocking competition - whoever gives the best stocking stuffed with giftys gets bragging rights for the whole year. Last year, Cody TOTALLY beat me, hands down. He gave me the coolest presents and just looking at my stocking, I knew there was no chance of me beating him. This year? I have to win. Any ideas?? Oh yeah, and no suggestions about me wearing only the stocking...

Slowly but surely...

The Christmas Season is upon us! I am SO excited, I can't even begin to tell you! I'm slowly getting all my Christmas things out so I can start decorating my house. I fully intend to saturate my house with Holiday cheer, I can't help it. I watch all the cheesy Christmas shows, listen to Christmas music 24/7, bake like Betty and buy too many presents. I'm also planning on sewing our Christmas stockings this year! Lots to do, lots to do...

Speaking of lots to do, Cody and I always have projects on the horizon. They mostly get talked about, never accomplished. We are putting a wood-burning stove in our Family Room and I would LOVE to have it done for Christmas, but I don't know how realistic that is. I guess if we had 2 or 3 solid days to work on it, it could get done...who knows. I truly hope it gets done soon...that will help me determine where to put our Christmas Village. We did start painting, so that should be done this week! I can't wait until the painting is all done so I can really get into Holiday mode. Now if you'll excuse me, I must join Cody in the kitchen to bake some Sugar Cookies...

Thanksgiving...

What a day! There are many pictures to accompany this post - buckle up.

First things first - the 5k!! Alright, it was more like a 6k since it was 4 miles...I got up early and layered up before going up to my parents house to pick up Andrea and Rich. The temperature? 23 degrees. We got registered and sat in the car with the heater on full blast waiting for the race to start. Hannah met up with us and we were all jumping around in the cold to prevent hypothermia. It was SO cold! Brr, I'm getting chilly just thinking about it. Here we are before the race...

Hannah and I showcasing our enthusiasm at the starting line...
and we're off!
The race began and we started trotting slowly. I heated up pretty quick which made the running bearable, but on one section of the course there was an extremely icy headwind - whew! I crossed the finish line in 50 minutes which isn't great, but hey - it was my first time and I'm pretty proud of that!
It was fun doing it with Andrea and Rich, and Hannah did an awesome job! I don't know that I will do that run next year, but it was fun. Now I just have to commit to doing a triatholon in April with the girls in Vegas...we'll talk about that later.

I baked some pies for dessert - here are the fruits of my labors (crumbs on the stove, nice). They were yummy!

After the race I took the boys up to my parents house for the Thanksgiving feast. A delicious meal, indeed! Cache decided to help my Mom frost her famous sweet rolls...well, by 'help' I mean he helped clean out the bowl.


Here we are sampling the sugary goodness.
I was able to take a little nap in the evening and then Rich and I rocked out on Guitar Hero. Cole hung out with my parents and watched his Mom jam.


His rockstar face is way better than mine, c'mon now.

Cody was able to come over for a few hours and it was great to see him - I'm about to head out the door so we can go have lunch at the fire station (Cody is working a 72). My sister and her family are here until Sunday, so I'm sure some more pictures will be taken and posted! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!...everybody ready for Christmas?

Thanksgiving thankfuls:

1 - My parents - I can ask my Dad anything, he seems to always have the answer! And my sweet Mother, overcoming her scary disease and having the strength to make Thanksgiving dinner! I am so lucky to have them as parents.
2 - My siblings - Andrea, Marty and Rich. They are my bestest friends, hands down. I love that we are so close.
3 - My Husband - Ahhh, Cody, still makes my heart jump. I love him so much, I don't deserve him! He is my world.
4 - The freedoms we enjoy. I feel extremely lucky to live in a country where our freedoms are so abundant. I know I take it for granted all too often.
5 - The knowledge of the Gospel.
6 - My children. It's still crazy to think I'm a Mom, I mean - we all know that I act like I'm 17. I feel so lucky that these little boys are mine. My children make me a better person...I love them so much.
7 - Having good friends. Recently I have re-connected with friends that I haven't seen in years and I love that. My life has truly been blessed with good, solid people I can call friends - they have shaped my life and I'm a better person for knowing them.
8 - Music. Whatever your fancy, music is so inspiring. I was listening to Christmas music while I was baking pies and the whole mood in my kitchen was so light and warm. Music can bring back to many memories and I love that I have come from a family who values music.
9 - My mind. Yes, my dear little brain. I have a knack for remembering things in detail. When I was younger, I would get teased for it quite a bit. I can hear something once and nearly remember it word for word. I didn't so much use that to my advantage in High School however...pity. But I am thankful for my sharp mind - it's a steel trap!
10 - My blog. What would I do without this outlet! I love being able to use this as my journal as well as a little window into my silly life for faraway friends and family to keep tabs on me.

Again, HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone!