It's Holiday Time!

Please don't get mad at me for being festive about the holidays! Last year, I went all out in introducing our traditions! This year, I am just going to express some thought about Christmas!

First of all, the craziness, but absolute fun, that is involved in this holiday is...

Black Friday--in my vocabulary, Black Friday is very... black. As in sort of evil. Every year the craziness percentage gets higher and higher. And since million less people came this year, due to a crappy economy, I think that people expected to get more and more gifts and wacky Christmas stuff for less. I mean, 3 people were killed guys! Trampled! PEOPLE!!

Psycho Christmas Concerts

These are the killers, but sometimes fun. Little town resorts put on plays and cute musicals and kid-friendly shows. Your middle school has a big Christmas Concert. The town mens choir you didn't know existed is singing at the High School next Friday. Oh! And you know that little theatre downtown? Yeah, they are doing How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Can't miss that!

Lights Shows

I LOVE these! We went tonight with Scott and Suzanne and their family (along with Cami Searle, our cousin, Ali and Steve's daughter) to Thanksgiving Point to see the lights show. We hopped in the back of the truck and went through. After we were done, we skidded off to JCW's (a family favorite) and hit the road back home. It was great and our spot in line was actually pretty good (the wait was at the most, two minutes). Pretty worth it.

Shopping Deals

I don't mean Black Friday. I am talking about at the True Knit place that you go to in the middle of December because your mittens are old and torn and you need a new pair and they give you buy one pair get one pair free. You need six pairs anyway, so you pay for three! Heck ya! On with the shopping deals!

The Set-Up

I love this part. The anticipation for almost or more than 365 days and it's finally here - setup day. The tree is up, the lights go on, the ornaments fly trough the branches of your new beautiful Christmas tree, and all of your extra and truly just-so-cute-you-can't-take-it-down wooden snowman figures. Oh and the nativity set you got as a wedding present from who knows who! Don't leave that out! And, if you're cool unlike we are, the lights outside that you border your house with! If you can do that, you are WAY cool!

Family Parties/General Parties/Work Parties

The cheesey, Voice Male work parties at fancy hotels downtown that only children 18 and older are permitted at, or the neighborhood grandfather's party that just happens to have a hired and decorated Santa Clause at. Not to mention your family party that you can't miss. You are exchanging gifts, for heavens sake! Go, go, go!

Family and Friends

I can use family time around the holidays. They are way special!

Gifts

Hehe. Gifts are an important part of Christmas. Mostly giving them, though. When you give, you receive. It's wonderful to recieve, but better to give. Buying gifts is a pain in the rear!

Nativity and Scripture Story

The true light of Christmas is the light that shines from inside you when you read the scripture story. Without Christ's birth, the world would be a much much much worse off place. That is the true meaning of Christmas...

Thanksgiving (on our side of the spectrum)

the Amerian pastime (oh wait, that's baseball... well... they played that, too!)

What's Thanksgiving without a football game?




To start off, Thanksgiving was FABULOUS! With rolls, deviled eggs, slow-roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, and unlimited amount of random pies, stuffing, green bean casserole, and so much more delicious foods that made perfect sense and added wonderfully to the festivities

Great food, great family!
aka, Matt and Corie as well as Steve and Ali and Scott and Suzanne and Mitch and Nicole and their families.
Party hosters: of course, Ali and Steve

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!

Twilight!!!!!

Here's one way to spend an exciting, Twilight-adventured Friday at the movie theatre!! It all started on Tuesday night, when I was at my friends house. A bunch of us were there, planning a huge celebration. Well, a celebration. The next day (Wednesday) we decided to take on another adventure - shopping. We went to the University mall and shopped for hours, trying to decide the perfect movie apparel. We finally agreed on leg warmers (black) and some handy arm warmers. Colorful, cute, and trendy. Our shopping was done after a small meal and some chatting. When we got back to my friends house, we practiced our cheer routine on her front lawn a couple of times, then my mom picked me up. But the party doesn't end there. We had a nice Thanksgiving dinner at Ali and Steve's and got to see Matt and Corie along with Scott and Suzanne and their families. Perfect. Wait, I am NOT finished.

After some bustling of getting home, packing the extra food in the fridge, and changing into pajamas, I got a phone call from my friend Kaitlyn saying I could come over and decorate. "Decorate what? It's Thanksgiving!" "Decorate shirts for Twilight". Aw, yes. The next day was Twilight. So my dad drove me over for a late night, and we painted shirts. Mine read "I <3>

Finally, I went home, got some rest (very little though... see what excitement can do to you?) and woke up at nine. I was supposed to be over at my friends house, wearing my shirt and leg and arm warmers, with crazy makeup and my hair in a side ponytail by eight-thirty. Oh well. When I got there, I ate some crepes and we were on the road.

On our way there, my other friend called and asked if she could join the fun. Of course! So finally we got EXCELLENT SEATS - pre ordered tickets - near the middle on the theatre, in the center spot. Bingo. The lights dimmed, the movie started. I was about to SCREAM!!!!!

My final review: it was FANTASTIC. The previews I thought that the Edward couldn't be the right guy but GUESS WHAT??? I was wrong!! He was perfect - both Bella and Edward did a great job. All the characters were very well casted. I was so HAPPY!!!! I highly recommend this movie to all!!! It's so sweet and funny!!!

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thankful

1. The Gospel. I realize that not many people have this book in their lives.

It has strengthened my life SO MUCH!! I love it!! 2. Pianos. I have taught myself to play Apologize by One Republic, Love Song by Sarah Bareillas, 100 Years by Five for Fighting, Saturady from Chicago, Clocks by Coldplay, and Wintersong by Sarah McClachlan, and You're Not Sorry by Taylor Swift, all on the piano by ear. It's so fun, but can be stressful. Oh well

3. Nature. Like...beaches and stuff. I truly LOVE the beach. I like Lake Powell a little bit more. But we are some of our only family members to go to a Florida beach, since we used to live so close. I love the waves, the sand, and OH it's just all so fun!!

4. Family. I love my family so much - they have such a great spirit and are so darn funny! I actually do love coming home from school. Not just because I hate school - but also because they are kind to me (and I can always expect a nice batch of cookies almost EVERY day!)

This picture describes Ethan's everyday fiasco life.... i just found it. He's a beauty!!!