Christmas Prep

Did you guys participate in Black "Friday" (technically it was black Thursday this year)?? Or how about Cyber Monday?

Gotta be honest... I've NEVER been a black Friday shopper. I like my sleep, i dislike long lines, and crazy people. For real.

So after work Friday afternoon, i had to run errands anyways and went out. BIG MISTAKE. HUGE.

Since we don't have kids (or extra cash just for the heck of it) we really didn't have anything that we NEEDED. (or heck--WANTED.)

But i will say this.

As of today here is my list for Christmas:

Jace: DONE (except for stocking stuffers)

Mom/Dad: (mostly done)

Mom/Pop: DONE

Jen/Ken: DONE

Jeff/Melanie: DONE

Joe: DONE

Grace: DONE

Corbin: (in progress)

Alyssandra: DONE

Jane: DONE

Baby Boy 1: (in progress)

Baby Boy 2: (in progress)

Its a good thing too that I have most of it done. Time keeps slipping away from me it seems.

I blinked and it was Thanksgiving.

How did that happen?!

Now that I have that taken care of, I'm gonna spend the next two days decorating my house, and then I'm going to need to focus on my Relief Society's Christmas Program...

Dec. 6th will be here faster than I can imagine! 

Continuing in Gratitude...

Day 21:

Hot Chocolate, Big Mugs, and Yummy Treats!

Day 22:

Having a fireplace of our own and actually USING it!

Day 23:

Decorating for Christmas!!! with my new Michael Buble CD playing in the background!

Day 24:

Grateful for our beautiful nieces and nephew (SOON to be nephews!)

Day 25:

My wedding ring and the love and commitment that it represents.

In my expert opinion...

I've discussed this with MANY people...and its been decided that as a whole, people are divided into

 2 sides:

PEPSI people VS. COKE people.

My family is VERY one way. I grew up drinking Pepsi in my bottles for heavens sake! (thanks dad!)

I've only ever seen Jace's family buy coke for the one brother-in-law...

I've had coke multiple time through my life...

and i tried again today...

and in my expert opinion, I've come to the conclusion...

THAT COKE STINKS! 

its too sweet. 

blah.

I'm gonna stick with my Pepsi. 

Grateful for:

Thanksgiving is drawing closer and the end of November will be here before you know it!

Time is moving too fast for me.

Alas, keeping up with my grateful days:

Day 16:

Good friends all through jr. high, high school, and college. (Katie, Troy, and Emily) In this picture its me, 

troy, and Emily while Katie was taking the picture. All three were in my wedding party. I was invited into Emily's and i'm one of Katie's matrons of honor.

Day 17:

I had bad teeth. Not horrible, or gross by any means, but i had multiple things wrong with my smile. My grandpa graciously paid for my 2 years of braces and i'm FOREVER grateful for the beautiful smile i now have.

Day 18:

Jace and I were in charge of Family Home Evening this month for both extended families (Hunts and Wights) We did something different for each family, but focused on our blessings and gratitude for both. 

Day 19:

Ever since i turned 16 my hair has decided it wants to change me into a brunette. I have always been a natural blonde, and i'm grateful for the chemistry and bleach used to help keep me that way as I'm getting older. I'm also grateful to have the money to get my hair done.

Day 20:

I'm grateful for laughter. I'm grateful for fishy faces which produce alot of laughter in my family.

Why?

Why do the Holiday's not only seem to be able to bring out the ugly in situations, but also seem to create MAJOR stress?

Is it too much to ask to have a stress free Holiday season?

Jace has come to hate Christmas.

I'm ALWAYS super sick---from stress---and then it LINGERS for like 2 months.

I love my family, and i love their traditions.

I married into a family that love their traditions as well.

I have been trying my best every year to make it work where we celebrate equally with our families WHILE trying to create new traditions for me and jace and our future family.

Its chaotic. Its sometimes painful. Its always stressful. And no matter what, SOMEONE is always feeling like they got the short end of the stick.

And I'm sick of it! Any advice for people who live in the same area as both sets of families? How do you make it work?

Gratitude Dude.

I love the months of November and December.

We reflect and think of what we are blessed with and what we are grateful for...more than normal.

For the most part people are kinder and have more love and service in their hearts. 

Which is totally awesome, dude.

(yes, apparently i'm in the 80's and/or a surfer)

Now, onto days 11-15:

Day 11 just happened to be Veteran's Day. I am so grateful for those who HAVE served, ARE serving, and who WILL serve our country. Thank you for your sacrifice and service, your love and your support!

Day 12:

Technology is awesome. I can chat with friends and family down the road, or in a different state, or make new friends in different countries. It also allows me to not die of boredom at work by providing me access to Hulu and Netflix. Its amazing!

Day 13:

Jace and I both have jobs. And right now, that is very very comforting. I'm so grateful to know that we have a steady income in this VERY uncertain time in ALOT of peoples lives. 

Day 14:

We have PLENTY to eat. We have never wanted for food, or never had the money or opportunity to go grocery shopping. We have a stocked pantry and are working on our year storage. (actually right now we are working on our 72 hour kits...baby steps, right?)

Day 15:

Memories. I'm so grateful for memories. I had my maternal grandparents both die when i was young 

(5 and 8 years old), and an aunt (12 years old) and an uncle (22 years old). I loved them all so much, and so i'm grateful for the memories that i have made of them. This is a necklace that reminds me of one my grandma wore every day.

Its the little things

Its the little things that make you realize how blessed you are.

like finding that $50 you thought you lost. (good thing too, since that's what you were going to use to get your hair re-highlighted and without it, you would just have to suck it up looking lazy and gross)

...or like a husband who brought home donuts and INSISTED they were for you since you had a stressful day (i'm sure they were all JUST FOR ME...yeah right!)

...or how about going on a nice walk outside with your husband and just...talking. without phones, computers, Netflix  or halo to distract us. (can you guess who's distractions are who's?)

...or the fact that even though i'm grumbling about having to work Saturdays AND Mondays now, i HAVE a job.

I am truly blessed and i need to remember that much much more.