Sneak Peak

While I am waiting for pictures to graciously be sent to me...here is a little preview of one of the happenings while in Georgia. Back to short and blond. When I feel like doing my hair appropriately (it's New Year Eve, I'm feeling a little funky today) additional shots will follow, because really, what is more exciting than pictures of my smooshed-up-way-to-close-for-comfort face??

Conclusions

1. Blogging has become another one of those things that I need to do, put off, get behind, and guiltily and half-heartedly begin again.  Kind of like exercising, or eating dinner before dessert.  New Year's resolutions to rectify all three of these issues.

2.  I hate the snow just as much this year as I did last year.  On the Friday before Christmas we got buried in snow here.  Well, buried by my terms, which is more than 6 inches falling in a less than 10 hours.  This was also the day that we were to embark on our 14 hour drive to Georgia. Meaning, I spent the day cleaning, laundering, and packing to prepare while the kids watched TV.  When I was done with all my chores, we headed outside to play in the mounds of fresh snow.  Instead we got poured on, lasted five minutes until we were fully drenched and ran inside for some hot chocolate.

3.  Driving overnight may be better than flying.  We debated all of Friday whether or not to brave the snow and start our journey South.  Allen got home at 6 pm, declared we would drive, and began loading the car.  We were on our way out of Summit by 7pm.  Out of the snow by 9.  Parked in front of my parent's house in sunny, seventy degree Georgia at 8:30 am.  No vacation days wasted traveling.  A little sleepy, but no worse for the wear.  The kids slept. ate or watched movies the entire duration.  Plus, we could bring as much crap as humanly possible.   Quite a pleasant way to travel.

4.  We (my mother included) need to do a better job of paring down Christmas.  I really tried for a small Christmas this year, but seemed to fail, pretty miserably.  I will choose to blame this on the husband and Grandmother.

That is all for now.  I have grand intentions of inundating my blog with unexciting pictures as they are emailed to me, Megan and Father.   

Miracle of Miracles

Ryder snapped this shot of Linley and I on our way out the door this morning.  Note: we are sans tights or coats, with expressions of exuberant jubilation.  This can only mean one thing: it is sixty degrees outside.  Sure, it is doomy and gloomy and raining and my photographer refused to snap a shot outdoors because his hair may get wet.  This doesn't matter.  There is no ice to be found.  Rain.  Oh heaven.

Abomination

It was 15 degrees when I took Allen to the train this morning.  And windy.  So really, much colder than 15 degrees.  Which means, it officially feels like hell.  Frozen over.  Twice.

The Return to Normalcy

Regular life has resumed.  Phew.  So, let's recap:

Saturday night before Thanksgiving- my parents arrive from Georgia just in time to catch the BYU game.  We'll leave it at that. Okay, well I'll add awesome for the Mountain West to have three teams in the top 20.  I will not comment on the order.  Sadness.

Sunday-Primary Program.  Perfectly wonderful.  Added bonus: Grandma and Grandpa present to watch Ryder perfectly recite his line, "I can help my family by setting the table."  Perfection capped off by Ryder falling off his chair at the end of the closing song.  Hello hilarity.  He obviously gets that from his mother.

Tuesday night- little sister Amanda flies in from BYU and little brother Grant flies in from Georgia.  The festivities may begin.

Wednesday- bake until my little heart's content.  And hot dang, my pumpkin cheesecake was divine.  

Thursday- Completely fabulous food surrounded by fantastic company.  Sweet and dreamy Thanksgiving.  This is the only picture shot throughout duration of trip.  Shameful.

Friday-  Awake at 3am for some serious shopping with mother and sister.  An additional 30% off everything at Saks.  What.  Happy Birthday to me.  Complete first shopping excursion at 10am.  Come home, eat, sleep, shower.  Return to shopping at 1 pm.  Arrive home at 6 pm.  Handsome hubster takes me to Benihana to celebrate the fabulousness of me turning 27.  

Saturday- say goodbyes to all.  Thank you for the wonderful time had.  It is now Tuesday and still Linley is asking every morning, "Where is Amanda? Where is Grant?  Where is Grandma and Grandpa?"  Where is the muzzle I ask.  

Sunday: Put up ghetto Christmas tree and decorate house.

Monday:  Allen's last day off.  Put up doors.  Go to BJs.  Go to bed early.

That leaves us with today.  The return to normalcy. Which means, I have really got to go do some laundry.

Looking back on the week conclusion:  I have a pretty dang fabulous life full of some pretty amazing people.