Christmas... gone?

I feel a bit torn this time of year.  I have so completely and thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas season that I can hardly believe it's coming to an end.  So much so that I might be fighting it just a little bit.

I understand the reclaiming of the living room, the getting back to usual and comfortable routines.  The getting back to "normal".  This year though, I'm not so sure I want "normal" back yet.

Did you know that the United States is about one of the only places that ties the Christmas season with the shopping season?  It's true.  In countries throughout the world the 12 Days of Christmas actually start on Christmas Day.  The celebration lasts till January 5th or 6th depending on when you choose to end it.  You can check out your friendly Wikipedia page under "12 Days of Christmas" for all the details.  It's a bit baffling but I find that I really like the principle.  It may be because I didn't get all the people visited that I wanted to.  Or the fact that my Christmas card ambition that started in October didn't come full circle and actually get delivered.  But mostly it's because I'm just not ready for all of the Christmas songs to go away.  I'm not ready for the lights to come down and be plunged unceremoniously into the January blahs.  I want to keep the lights that break up these dark days.  I want to continue to feel that "Christmas Spirit" that goes away all too quickly.

So yeah.  I'm the crazy person that will keep the tree up until sometime in January.  You will continue to hear Christmas songs on my playlist, though not as many.  I will still have Christmas on my mind, whether sharing the stories of this year or planning for the Christmas Season of next year.  And for the record, I'm going to try really hard next year not to let the commercialism of the shopping season determine how I will celebrate the birth of our Savior.

May peace on earth, good will to men last a little longer this coming year.

"Twas the Night Before Christmas and...

I have no idea what to do!

For the first time in 36 years I do not have a pre-planned Christmas Eve.  David and I usually find ourselves with family, but since Christmas is on Sunday and we are a definite part of the Sunday program... well.  Just doesn't make sense to go anywhere till after the program. 

It's odd.  I have been looking forward to this time of our lives so much and now I find myself at a complete loss! What to do on Christmas Eve.

So.  What do you do?  Fun family traditions?  Non-traditions?

I'm considering options but I really don't want it to be a "stay at home and clean the house" type of Saturday.  I want something special, just not quite sure what will fit the niche.

Needless to say, your suggestions are more than welcome.

In all the earth is growing...

I love Christmas.  I love the feelings of warmth and joy that surround the season.  I love the tree and the lights and the songs and decor.  I love the white blanket of snow that covers up the "dead" of Fall.  I love that people are doing things for each other.  I love that it's a bit easier for each of us to feel a little less selfish and look out for the needs of others.  I love that we try to find ways to surprise the ones we love with the perfect gift.

At the same time it does get a little stressful.  The perfect gift is often quite hard to find and sometimes never makes itself known.  It's easy to fall into the trap of commercialism and think that maybe the simple Christmas that you have planned this year is kind of stupid.  That you should budget more or throw caution to the wind and stop worrying about how much to spend.  And then...

You stop.  Remember your goals.  Remember why the good feelings that come with Christmas are actually there.  In sacrament meeting today we sang "With Wondering Awe" for the closing hymn.  It's one of my favorites.  "With wond'ring awe the wise men saw The star in heaven springing, and with delight, in peaceful night, They heard the angels singing: Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to his name!"  I know that Christ is the reason for the season.  It is Him that makes this time of year so special. 

I have the privilege of leading the music in sacrament meeting every Sunday and I have really come to love it.  I have paid more attention to the words of the songs that ever before in my life.  I try to add expression to the words and feel in my heart what it coming out of my mouth.  "By light of star they traveled far To seek the lowly manger, A humble bed wherein was laid The wondrous little Stranger."  "The heav'nly star its rays afar On every land is throwing, And shall not cease till holy peace In all the earth is growing.  Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to his name!"

The message of Christ, His birth, His life, His death, His resurrection, is the light of that star.  Every year we get that reminder and it "shall not cease till holy peace in all the earth is growing."

This year we will have a simple Christmas.  We'll enjoy the lights and the music.  We'll give small gifts of love.  We'll skip the debt, the shopping mania and the stress.  We'll enjoy the company of family and friends and thank God for the gift of this season, the gift of good friends, the gift of forever families.  And most importantly we'll thank Him for the gift of His Son.

Blessings

I woke up this morning next to the man I love (that would be my husband in case anyone is wondering) and couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the blessings that are a part of my life.

To start out with, have I mentioned how much I just love my in-laws?  Well it's true.  This Thanksgiving was held at our house.  Usually we are at either my parents or David's parents, but it was a little different this year.  We hosted it at our house and invited my in-laws and my parents.  Ten adults were in our not so large house and the Thanksgiving feast fell to me.

I admit, at first I was a bit nervous but as assignments were made and the cooking was well underway I only semi fell apart a couple of times.  Once was with the pies.  Banana cream to be exact.  First round (fortunately made on Wednesday), the crust decided to not cooperate and balloon up behind my back.  Couldn't fill them if I wanted to.  After a terse round of choice words, I sent my sister to the store to buy some frozen crusts.  They baked up wonderfully so I made the filling.  That wonderful home made banana cream pie filling which I have made several times before and has always turned out so very tasty and perfect and wonderful and this time decided not to set up... not even a little.  We had banana cream soup.  Tasty banana cream soup, but soup nonetheless.

Second almost tragedy was the yams.  When doing a large amount of yams in the crock pot it is best to start them cooking several days before.  Okay. Slight exaggeration.  However, when the turkey was done and we were getting the last of the food all prepared, the yams were as hard as ever.  Thanks to the genius of people who can think with a more level head than my pregnant self right now, into the microwave they went and turned out beautifully!

So, dinner was on the table a full 15 minutes before we had planned and it went beautifully!  And my mother's mashed potatoes were so creamy. We all talked and laughed and laughed and talked and just enjoyed the day.  And then my wonderful wonderful father-in-law did the best thing ever!  He did the dishes!  I mean it! How cool is that!  The rest of the evening was spend playing games and laughing and talking, eating pie and enjoying each other's company.  I was thrilled.  Thrilled to have everyone there, thankful to hear people talking, and just overjoyed that my parents enjoyed it as much as everyone else seemed to.

Friday brought on a breakfast of Dutch pancakes and bacon and then a loading of the car as people traveled back home.  David, Abby (my sister who is living with us now) and I then pretended to clean things up but really didn't.  Sat in our pajamas, watched three movies, played board games, ate leftovers and stayed in pajamas the entire day! The most glorious Black Friday ever.

So today I am here.  Overwhelmed a bit with thankfulness for all the wonderful people in my life.  For my family on both sides.  Both sides of which I just absolutely love.  Words almost cannot express how much.  Thankful for my home, for our neighbors, our ward family, our friends.  Thankful for the incredible women of book club and the joy and laughter they bring to my life.  Thankful for my friends at work and the support they are to me.  Thankful for the bestest husband ever who makes me laugh and understands me when I go crazy.  Who loves me.  Thankful for the little guy that will be a part of our lives even more in February.  Thankful for doctors who know what they are doing.  Thankful for God.  For his blessings, his tender mercies, his hand in all parts of our lives.

Today we will decorate for Christmas.  Get a tree, put up lights, and start making our own magic of the season.  That magic that comes because of this special time of year.  When we think of others and how we can give to them.  When it is a little easier to follow the teachings of Christ and put the needs of others before our own.  To celebrate his birth and the miracle of his life. He is the reason for the season.

Ok, I'm back...

... literally.

This happened a few weeks ago, but it really does need to be blogged about.  So I hopped in my car to go to work and noticed that with the cooling of the weather my tires really needed a boost of air.  So I stopped at the Chevron because they let you use their air pump for free.  I was dressed in a sweater and scarf and gloves as I bent down to check the tire pressure and fill them up accordingly.  It was at this moment that I realized that bending down for long periods of time are not fun in my current pregnant state.  In fact, I was unable to really bend and ended up squatting, all legs out and butt bigger than life type of squat.  And still I struggled.  One of the hoses didn't work so I had to change in the middle and over all the quick stop to fill up the tires ended up taking a ridiculous amount of time.  I wasn't worried though cause there weren't many people around.... at least I thought.  It was after I got up from the last tire all red faced and big butt squatted out that I noticed the car to my right.  The one that hadn't moved for a while.  The one that had a male driver in it patiently waiting for his turn at the air pump.  The one that witnessed my whole show of big butt squattedness.  I couldn't even pretend that there was any kind of view to admire.  There was no delicate super-model bending over.  Just large and in charge.

Two thoughts:  "Oi" and "Dude, what kind of a person are you to watch a pregnant woman struggle while you sit in your car!"  Chivalry just might be dead my  friends.

Constant Vigilance!!

Let's talk about some things that I have learned during this whole pregnancy experience.  Things that many many many of you already know, but since this is my first time and I'm fairly fascinated by everything... well, you're just gonna have to bear with me.

1.  I think it's the coolest thing since sliced bread when my little guys starts moving around.  I am almost spellbound at times.  I'm pretty sure it's the single most cool thing about pregnancy.  The weight gain, sickness, sleeplessness, etc.  Yeah.  I can do without those.  But movement.  That's just cool.

2.  Speaking of sickness.  I have learned that no matter how good you think you feel, don't stop taking that little yellow pill that really does help whether you think so or not.  You see, yesterday I got all busy and spacey and forgot to take said pill at all.  Usually I take two.  Yesterday I took none.  This morning I paid the price.  Rather than the busy and fruitful plan A day, it's turned into a plan B day which is take it easy and stay close to the bathroom.  Yes my friends, the yellow pill really does work.  Constant vigilance.

3.  A baby belly is liberating and should be enjoyed... at least for awhile.  As I went to the gym that one time last week, I looked around at all the skinny little things there working out and for once I didn't feel less than.  Sure you may be tanned and toned and fit and skinny... but I have a baby!  Booyeah! (Okay, I have no idea how to spell it but that's the feeling.)  I can be proud of my belly instead of hiding it from prying eyes.  It's quite nice to hit that point of "obviously pregnant" instead of "is it just me or does she seriously need to lay off the fried foods".

4.  Not all French Fries are created equal.  Sometimes I crave them.  In order to save some money we purchased a bag of frozen French fries.  I am here to tell you that unless you plan on deep frying those babies (which we never do) then it's a waste of time. Always go for the real deal.  Center Street Grill has some good fries by the way.  So does the Marketplace on campus.  Oh how I love meeting days when I get fed at work.

I'm sure if I thought about it there would be more profound lessons and such, but let's face it, you're lucky to have gotten this at all!  Apparently the porcelain gods have a way of focusing my attention.  Here's to plan B my friends, may your day be spectacular!

Stream of Conciousness

I can't put things together in my head.  I sit down to write and well... it's not pretty.  Nothing comes together.  So today you get random.  It's all I can give.

1.  I was introduced to Twizlberry yesterday and I'm pretty sure the baby is going to be craving it a lot.

2.  It's my job to take care of my baby so I really can't deny him can I.

3.  I love people who set a good example, especially in leadership positions... like those who are leading the youth, particularly the young women.  (more on that later if I can concentrate long enough to put things into words.)

4.  I went to the gym today.

5.  I did not die.

6.  Of course I didn't try very hard and I read a book the entire time.

7.  I really enjoyed it.  I might even try again sometime.

8.  This week has been all over the place.  Mostly because my dad has been in the hospital.

9.  The last three days turned out to be for nothing which kind of stinks because he was going a bit stir crazy.

10. However kudos to Logan Regional because they took the last three days off the bill.  I think that's pretty cool myself.

11.  Yesterday we had a pizza party in my dad's room and my brother and his "clan" came and we ended up having a rather rowdy bout of  surgical glove balloon volleyball.

12.  And my nephew kept hitting the call button for the nurse.

13.  I'm not sure what the hospital staff thought of all of us, but we still had fun.

14.  11 people in a hospital room is rather crowded.

15.  Dad is doing okay though. Has an appointment in Ogden on Monday with a heart rhythm specialist.  That's good news.

16.  I like potatoes.

17.  It's a good things cause I get them for free.

18.  I wonder if the baby will like chocolate when he's out of the womb cause I don't think he likes it now.

19.  Did I mention Twizlberry?

20.  Would it be bad to have that and only that for lunch?

21.  I did go to the gym after all.

Have a lovely weekend ya'll.  Perhaps you'll even hear from me again before another two weeks goes by!

Catching Up: The Montana Days

Okay, so like forever ago, or really the weekend of Sept 25, 2011, David and I skipped town and headed to Bozeman Montana to spend time with my brother Eli and his family.  They were so good to put us up for the weekend and let us intrude on their space.  It was really fun though.  Filled with late nights, lots of  laughter, games, a quick tour of downtown Bozeman (most everything closed at 5 pm on Saturday! We were more than a little surprised) and a trip to the lake.  I honestly can't remember what the lake was called and I'm totally blaming it on pregnancy brain. It was fun though.  So for your enjoyment:

Axel just could not stay away from floating things and dirt.

David and I in all our glory.

Eli, looking cool as ever.

Velvet and Axel, Eli and Grady.  The fam.

My husband showing of his rugged handsomeness mixed with a healthy dose of cheese.

Did I ever mention he cannot go by a body of water without skipping rocks... no?  Well it's true.  He was the expert, right up until he fell over a rock and landed on is backside that is.  Classic.

I have no idea what they are looking at but it must be good.

Grady and Velvet.

All in all it was a fun time and a much needed break from the Logan that I love.