The Reason for the Season

Lately, I've been feeling a bit sorry for myself for some really dumb reasons--like the fact that I can't do the home improvement projects that I want to do to make my house cute.

Tonight, I slammed my finger while putting away my Kitchen-Aid mixer. Like usual, I was moving too fast and trying to do too much at once. It felt like I slammed my finger in a car door and I literally cried like a baby.

All three of my kids gathered around me and hugged and kissed me. It melted my heart.

While I was curled up feeling sorry for myself, Sam turned on Mr. Krueger's Christmas for the kids. As I was watching, I was reminded of how much I love my Savior Jesus Christ and how much he has done for me. If you haven't seen that show, please get your hands on a copy. I think it is even on You Tube. I know it was made in the '70s and it is totally old school but I love the scene where he visits baby Jesus in the manger. It will change your Christmas season. As I was watching, I looked around at my cute kids watching so intently with the sweetest looks on their faces. Ryan would make a "meow" sound every time the cat came on the screen. I realized all at once that I am so blessed and I have been given more than I ever deserve--I have everything I could ever want with my own family.

Just a cheesy Christmas post but I didn't want to forget how I felt tonight in the midst of the harried, crazy Christmas season.

And to All a Good Night

Recently Sam started a new job. He took an in-house position with a company that he loves and it has been a dream job so far. I'm so happy to see him leaving for work happy everyday.

Last night was the company party at Thanksgiving Point. I'm three months pregnant and officially in the awkward stage. I no longer have a waist of any kind and am basically just looking chubby, but not pregnant. The fact that I'm naturally built like a chicken doesn't help.

So finding something to wear to the party (to meet all of his new coworkers and boss) was a bit excruciating. After trying on all of my too-tight party clothes and then trying on all of my frumpy loose fat clothes. I ended up dragging out the maternity bin from the basement and decided to embrace the maternity thing.

Here is the result:


I also wore my long red coat for as long as humanly possible to disguise the awkward outfit. I ended up having a good time and realized no one cared what I wore.

When I got home last night, Luke and Sammie had convinced the babysitter that they could both sleep in our bed. (Moving them is a total pain and look how comfortable they look:)


On to today:

I threw a baby shower for my darling friend Brittney. Brittney was one of my laurels when I was young women's president and has also done all of my overnight babysitting for the last two years. When she got married her cute husband babysat with her. Yes, you can hate her for looking this good with less than a month to go:


The food turned out well and I think my spray paint job on the plate stand was well worth it!:


This this seems to be a random post with a bunch thrown in, so here are the kids in their Christmas pjs:


Sammie and Luke love Mr. Peeks. He is the elf that comes to visit our house each December and watches the kids and reports back to Santa.


The kids take good care of him. This is how I found him tonight tucked in with a place mat as a blanket:

The Nester Would be Proud

I'm throwing a baby shower on Saturday morning and for the food table, I'm using a red table cloth with white polka dots.


I needed a cream color plate stand to put my polka dot plates on. I found an old metal one in the basement--totally not cute--wish I had a picture. I took it out back and spray painted it cream.


With plates:


When I got done with that, I was so excited I grabbed this picture off my wall. I've always hated the goldish frame.


I sprayed that too. I'm not loving the cream but I think it is an improvement:


Now I'm wandering my house looking for other stuff to spray. Someone stop me.

Sam Brought Home a Bird

Not a live one--he knows I would leave him if he ever did that. He went to Harmon's Friday night for a few groceries and came home with a 26 pound frozen turkey. However, the word "turkey" was never used. We simply referred to it as "the bird."


I first thought he was out of his mind. He assured me it was his bird and he was going to take care of it. He called his buddy Jason last night to get tips on how to prepare the bird. Jason is an avid outdoorsman/food network junkie/hunter extraordinaire. He is also a lawyer but that is beside the point. He gave Sam some mad tips on how to prepare and stuff the bird.

Sam set out to thaw the thing last night. He was supposed to be changing the water every 30 minutes but he never did:


He spent the next 12 hours teasing me about the neck and gizzards.

He came home early from church today (because he "is sick" and he needed to babysit his bird.)

He took these pictures on his phone of the bird stuffed with apples and oranges and rubbed down with oil and salt and pepper. Impressive:


I came home from church to the smells of Thanksgiving dinner. About 5 hours later, this bad boy came out of the oven:


The unglamourous refuse from the bird (most had already been dumped:)


The finished product (have I ever mentioned we ain't fancy?) Do you like the Crescent rolls on paper towels..classy:


Sam and I stand behind the bar to eat and the kids sit at the bar. Just how it is at our house. I prepared all the side dishes (from boxes and frozen bags!) Thanks Sam--I didn't think you had it in you but it was a darn good bird and I will be eating turkey sandwiches for weeks.

note-I can't believe I posted this after all of your posts with pictures of your beautiful Thanksgiving feasts. I know how trashy this whole operation was..but that's how we roll.

I have a Turkey and a Bun in the Oven

Except I don't have a turkey in the oven--we went out out to dinner. Yes--that was an announcement. I'm 12 weeks along...details to come.

What I Will Be Watching Tonight

It is a Warner tradition to watch this movie the night before Thanksgiving. It is a classic.


Who doesn't love John Candy (Uncle Buck anyone?) and Steve Martin?


"Those aren't pillows!"

I am grateful for really funny movies....and to the cop who pulled me over last night and didn't give me a ticket.

Happy Thanksgiving...gobble gobble.

What's Your Sin?

I'm guilty of most of the 7 deadly sins right now.

The first being Sloth. I haven't posted in over a week. Pure laziness coupled with nothing good to say. November is busy and boring at the same time. Let's get to Thanksgiving so we can chow down and start decorating for Christmas!

The second sin I'm guilty of lately is gluttony. I have a new addiction. It is the salmon salad at Cafe Rio.


I know what you're thinking--that's not on the menu. No my friends, but give it a try. Get the creamy tomatillo dressing and you will be in Heaven. I ate the whole thing tonight and the shell and now I have a major gut bomb. The scary thing is I think we are eating there again tomorrow night with friends before New Moon. By the way, if you want to read a very funny critique of New Moon, go here. Christie is one of those bloggers who makes me laugh every single time she posts.

The third (and worst) sin of which I am guilty is envy. I have it bad. My friend Mandee just had her cabinets re-done by Telisa. Mandee will probably be mad at me for posting this picture because the kitchen isn't done yet--they are still doing a back splash, etc but I had to share--Isn't her kitchen lovely? I'm so jealous. And yes, her whole house is this cute.


Fourth, I have so much hate in my heart for everyone who is trying to eat at In-n-Out Burger this week. You are killing me people. I can barely get out of my drive-way before I hit major traffic. We are talking horrendous, can't even go near 12300 south, horrible traffic--cops are everywhere directing cars. It is crazy. For the love people--wait a week or a month. I want a burger too, really bad. But I can't take this. Artic Circle ain't a bad second.


Finally, I'm guilty of greed and pride. I pray constantly to have Heavenly Father take away my pride. I'm not joking on this one. I love nice things. So much. I love cute clothes. I just bought myself this jacket at the Loft. I'm adding it to my Christmas list and then crossing it off myself. Clever right? I have a Friends and Family pass at the Loft good through Sunday I can email out if anyone needs it.


So what sins are you guilty of lately?