Who knew that so few people know the words to "O Christmas Tree"?!
Last night was my big family Christmas party. The one that I was putting the music together for. As crunch time came, my visions of a re-usable song book bound together for everyone's singing pleasure, came crashing to a halt. Due to lack of time, my vision took a drastic change to "just get the stupid words on the paper so that they have something to look at". Since I had approximate 1 hour to finish the job and get it printed, I opted not to write down the words to all the songs. Seriously, who doesn't know the words to "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "O Christmas Tree"?! That would be my family.
The party went well though. And people got a kick out of my typos... or maybe I just got a kick out of my typos. Best one: In "Sleigh Ride" I typed "Let's take that road before us and sign a chorus or two". Best part is that without fail everyone sang sign! Oh the power of the written lyrics!
Enough of that. This week's highlights:
1. Most funnest book club ever! (it's my blog I can write it how I want to) We read "The Bright Side of Disaster". I quite enjoyed the book even with the bit of language that seemed to be stuck in their now and then. It was odd to think that some of the things that she was dealing with, I may never go through myself. (It was about a woman having her first child. It's more complicated than that but it does give you an idea.) Mostly I loved getting to know more about the delightful women who are in the book club with me. It was soooo good to laugh uncontrollably with everyone! Looking ever forward to next month.
2. I attended Activity Days for the first time of my entire life seeing as Activity Days came after my time (which kind of makes me feel old.... oh well). It was such a boost to have the girls happy and even excited to see me! Seriously, there really is nothing like Primary kids to give you a huge self-esteem lift.
3. The afore mentioned family Christmas party has come to a close. Sigh.
4. I didn't eat sugar for 5 whole days!!! Wow huh! For those of you who know me, that's like a Christmas miracle itself. I usually form a severe addiction to all things sugar/chocolate on Halloween and it lasts until roughly Easter. This new achievement actually started thanks to my husband. For the drive home from Hurricane after Thanksgiving, our "meal" consisted of Mountain Dew (my caffeinated beverage of choice), Nibs, Cheese Nips, and an embarrassingly large bag of Reese's Pieces. The Reese's Pieces and Nibs I blame entirely on Cecil by the way. We were both really quite ill by the time we got home and new we would be but didn't care. And the saddest part is that neither one of us would have changed a thing in retrospect. That's when we knew something had to be done. Sugar free week-days and sugar weekends. We have to do it together or we'll both fail. Seems to be working well so far.
So, yesterday morning I got up at the unbelievable hour of 8 O'clock and made myself a list of things that needed to be done. Then I promptly went back to bed. 9 rolled around and I got up and ambitiously did nothing on my list. However, my "nothing" turned out to be exactly what I really wanted to do.
Since the weather has turned colder I have wanted to rearrange the furniture in our living room. We have gas fireplace that we haven't used yet and up until yesterday our very large couch was in front of it. It made sense to do it that way since we weren't in need of additional warmth during the Summer. Now that there's a chill in the air and frost on the ground I can thing of nothing better than curling up in front of the fireplace with a good book. I quickly recruited David to be the muscles and we have a cheap remodel of the house. Gotta love what a little move of the furniture does for ya!
Our new look complete with the man with the muscles.
Reading nook created behind the love seat.
The fireplace... in case you couldn't tell.
And if that wasn't enough for the day, we decided to clean up the garage! Not entirely our fault that it was in such a state. Our landlord had some shelves that he planned on taking with him, but just never did. So I David asked what he planned for them and low and behold they had been sitting in the garage unused since March for nothing. Up they went and up off of the floor our stuff went! It used to be in a pile in the corner and surrounding the car on one side so you couldn't open the door all the way. It looks so good now that we had to keep on taking a look during the day cause it just looked so nice! Hopefully we can keep it that way.
Well, it's been 4 years since David and I said "I do's"... Technically it was 4 years on September 3rd. We headed to Steamboat Springs, CO to celebrate. It was quite the trip and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Perhaps when I get ambitious I will post some pictures. So... in those 4 years do you think we've figured anything out yet?
An incomplete list:
1. Never attempt to switch sides of the bed no matter how big the bed is. You'll never have a good night's sleep that way.
2. 4 years does not mean that we are used to each other in the morning. We just have to put up with each other in the morning. (well, he puts up with me,I get ornery if I'm not regularly fed)
3. We still have a long ways to go in the 'figuring each other out' field.
4. Whenever we vacation we go through this awkward phase of "I'm not used to spending this much time with you and although I love you, you're driving me mad!" It doesn't usually last long and on the bright side, this is the first time we've been astute enough to figure out that it has been happening all along. I think in the future we can rush through the "irritating each other" phase in hopes of the "we really do still like each other" phase coming a lot sooner. Better pictures that way.
Though we still don't have each other figured one there is one thing for sure. I sure do love my husband. I couldn't have hand-picked a better match for me. He knows me enough to put up with my stupidness and laugh at my jokes. He's truly the kindest man I know and the most fun to be around... even if it is so I can drive him mad.
So, this week has been quite eventful, but strangely difficult to write about. I have spent the majority of the week at the Caribou County Fair in Grace, Idaho my home and I have learned a few things. I still have love for my home town although I feel it best at this time to point out that I lived on a farm outside of the city limits. Having spent 4 days at the fair grounds (and I mean days.. not a few hours here and there... all day long) with all the noise and people... that it brings with it, I have done some evaluating.
First. I think it would be an extremely difficult thing for David and I to move back to Grace or the surrounding areas. Not because it's a bad place, but I have really grown used to restaurant selection and paved roads. I can always visit mom and dad for peace and quiet.
Second. I will never be a part of an adult dance group that performs at the local fair. Rockin Rythym Cloggers... not for me. I was actually part of the group when I was in the 7th grade... I really was in shock that it was still going. Who cloggs anymore?
Third. I will always try to look in the mirror before I go out of the house. If I'm okay with it then it's my fault if I get mocked.
Fourth. Greeting cards just don't sell (at least not in Grace). If you're into that then you make them yourself. Were I to do a booth again, I would raffle a quilt.
Fifth. Always go to your high school reunions, you never know who you are going to run into. My good friend Connie attended and I haven't seen her since she got married right around 12ish years ago. Perhaps I should say one time good friend since we've not been in contact for so long. But I really was surprised and glad to see her. What an opportunity to reconnect! I have been thinking a lot about her for the past year and didn't really know where to find her. Her parents had moved away and I didn't really know where anyone else was to find out about her. So what a pleasant surprise to see her at the reunion! Who knew!
So that's what I've been up to. Lost in the nostalgia of high school days, hanging out at the fair grounds, and being thankful for the life I have. I guess it was worth it then wasn't it.
K, so it's been quite awhile since I have had so much to look forward to. Usually it's doctor's appointments with not so good news, but today is different. Yesterday we moved a good chunk of our stuff into our new house. In fact, we only left the pictures on the wall and minimal furniture. Our cupboards are practically bare. We'd give Old Mother Hubbard a run for her money. We did take the liberty of purchasing Totino's pizzas, pot pies, and cold cereal for our daily fare while still in our pink-ivy wonder. Pathetic, I know. But I really don't care.
The good part is that I put away all of our food and food storage, plates, cups, mixing bowls, spices, etc. into the new house and I actually have room to spare!!! I have cupboard that are currently empty! I never realized just how lacking our kitchen really is in the realm of cupboards and space to put things. It made me want to do a little dance!
It is exciting. It's nice to have this tender mercy fall right into our hands. It's felt as if we were stuck in a rut with life. We've needed change, but now is not the time to change jobs and we clearly have not much say in the size of our family right now. So a change of home scenery is just what the doctor ordered! And fortunately we are still close to some of our good friends in the ward. It's been decided that if we lose contact just because we are no longer in the ward that we are all grounded. Besides, I was in Primary, not like I got to "hang" with people at church anyways.
Long post I know, but life is just so good right now. Feels good to wallow in the positive for a change.
