Here we come a Christmasing

BD's phone was a bit broken this weekend, and shhhhhhh, but it was kinda the best thing ever! I practically had his full and undivided attention for a few days straight. Not that he isn't always and constantly and nonstop to the point of annoying giving me that kind of husbandly attention, I mean, what kind of blog do you think this is anyway? Ahem.
ANYWAY. The long weekend, was awesome. Four straight days of sleeping in, plus naps? Gimme. Last year we were busy planning and stressing about our big adventure in Brazil and we didn't even attempt to deck the halls knowing we wouldn't be around to enjoy it. Instead I was overly stressed about leaving behind a living will so that my family would know where to bury me (thanks for that, mom!). Last year on Christmas day I drank cocoa juice for breakfast and spent the day in the Bahian sun next to an infinity pool under a palm tree listening to waves crash below. Spoiled brat alert. This year I'm content to be home, embrace the winter wonderland, and rub Christmas glitter all over myself.

All in one day we had lunch and dinner with friends, and let me tell you we felt super popular. Like, high school popular, except less Abercrombie. Sometimes it seems we go months without doubling. But I guess we secretly like it that way too. Our double dating adventures ultimately brought us to see the lights on Temple Square. I'm usually not one for big crowds and freezing my tush off, but for this one special tradition there is always time and place. This year I especially enjoyed the nativities from around the world on the East side. Just sayin', the Japanese baby Jesus is ta-die for cute.

You know who else is cute? That little munchkin, Leah. She was a perfect angel that night all bundled up in the cold, not exactly sure what to make of all the lights and people, but nevertheless seemed thrilled to be part of it. When I'm not sitting next to her at church, she blows me kisses from her bench. Heart melt, big time. We're pretty lucky to have friends who will  hang out with us, and equally impressed that their kids are impeccably adorable and perfectly behaved, even in a toy store. Sheesh.

The best Thanksgiving ever

It all started Thanksgiving morning when I woke up with a giant raspberry being blown on my stomach courtesy of the Mr. He thinks he's so cute sometimes. We stayed in our warm cozy bed for a while and recognized the many ways in which we are blessed and all the who's and what's that we are thankful for. And because we had already declared this the best Thanksgiving ever, BD got up first and started making breakfast burritos (score!) while I stayed in bed for one more round of solitaire (double score!). I was on a pretty impressive winning streak, after all. Before long, BD was spandexed-up and headed out on a brisk bike ride and I prepped my kitchen for pie making with the Thanksgiving Day Parade turned on in the background. We set the DVR to record the National Dog Show, because duh, cute doggies. With the Mr. exercised, showered, and shaved and all the food prepped, baked, and bagged we set out for Mom and Papa Ed's.

I am of the opinion that the best part of large family gatherings is the symphony of chaos that occurs in the kitchen right before. There's nothing like a warm, crowded kitchen with busy bodies everywhere, catching up on this and that, tasting and stirring, rolls in the oven, rolls that won't rise, turkey shrapnel flying, gravy that needs salting, appetizers that need eating, everyone happy and hungry and stepping on one another trying not to get burned or doused or otherwise. A blessing on the food and somehow, miraculously, everything makes it to the table warm and perfect and tasting like Thanksgiving should. Then the pies come out, and well, that is why it was the best Thanksgiving ever.

Our families, both sides, are ever changing. There is a cute new boyfriend on the scene, a soldier still away from home, newlyweds with big smiles and unshaven beards, newly engaged couples with sparkly rings, babies on the way, babies hoped to be on the way, a surprise visit from the great nieces and nephew, new ballroom dance shoes, others on the road away from home, talk of new jobs, new gadgets, a call from T&T, and of course the WHATTHEWHAT?! revelation of the day. Gotta have that. We love and cherish our families and all the crazy they bring into our lives. And we very much appreciate them accepting the crazy that we likewise bring into theirs.

Hugs and kisses and just like that we were back in the car headed home sweet home. Only, we ran into horrible stand still traffic on the north bound freeway, which is never fun. But since this was the best Thanksgiving ever we squashed our complaints and instead prayed for the families that were affected by whatever it was that had shut down the freeway. They were most likely not having the best Thanksgiving ever and if I could have I would have given them my leftover pumpkin pie. By the time we arrived home we were so full that we vowed to never eat again, and so tired that we vowed to sleep forever, and ultimately so thankful that we vowed to never forget our blessings, which are many.

A Girly Girls Weekend

I've just spent a most cozy and snowy weekend at Sundance with my girlfriends. We mostly huddled around the fire and dished about babies and botox and blogging. Hello 30. We stayed in our pajamas. We finally remembered the name of that one prehistoric Will Smith rap song. Impressive. We shopped some. We slept some. We confided one with another. I ate a chocolate donut. It was delightfully relaxing indeed. I'm not supposed to, but I will tell you anyway, that at least one of us waded naked into Deer Creek, up to the chin, at dusk, and with snow on the ground mind you, all for a dare of $35. I won't say who, but she is mommy to my absolute favorite little toe-heads, one with the most adorable lisp your ears will ever hear, and another who calls me Jenny with so much sincere enthusiasm that I've had no choice but to adopt my new name. Turning 30 will not slow (her) us down. Hugs and kisses to all who came and made it a memory.