Wrapping It Up

It would seem that I've been taking an unplanned blog break. I don't believe I have ever gone this long without posting. But with the holidays now behind me and the schedule settling down a bit into something that resembles a routine, I think I'm ready to jump back in again.

I don't know why I stay away. It's not like I didn't write a million posts in my head. I just couldn't bring myself to sit down and write. My muse was missing, I guess.

So to get me started again, I need to catch up. Here are some of the things I meant to blog about and never did. (It might be long, sorry.)

• Sometime around the beginning of November our TV was acting strange. Since we had purchased an extended warranty when we bought it (2 days before Noah was born) we sent it in to be fixed. Turns out it couldn't be repaired and we were authorized to get a replacement. That was such a horrible no good very bad experience. I don't want to hash out all the details yet as it still makes me upset. Needless to say, we got a new TV but don't like it and feel like not only were we treated horribly, we had to spend way too much money that we didn't have regardless of having a warranty. I'll share the story soon enough. For now, just beware of big electronic purchases at Best Buy.
  

• Thanksgiving was fabulous! We spent the morning at home then went over to my parents house for the feast. It was great spending time together and seeing everyone. The food, was divine. I wish I could post some pictures of the great day but I was lazy and left my camera sitting in the bag the entire time we were there.
  

• Shortly after Thanksgiving, we started the Holiday season by going to Winder Farms for scones (a yearly tradition). They were warm and yummy and since we went a bit early in the month it wasn't a mad house like usual. We actually could sit together and hear each other talk.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  None of the pictures in this post are cleaned up or edited. O well.
  
  
  
  
  
  Afterward, instead of driving around and looking at decorated houses, we decided to go to Temple Square downtown and look at the lights. It was so much fun. It was the most enjoyable night.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
  

• Lilly had a Christmas concert for school. She had one last year but didn't get to go. The first time it was canceled and reschedule due to a blizzard. But the day it was rescheduled for she ended up being too sick to go. It was a real treat seeing her all dressed up and singing Christmas songs. She got to be right up front and center. It was just too dark and I was too far back to get any good pictures. But I think you get the point. Daddy even snuck out of work for a few minutes and came with us. 

• The last few years we have had to skip our extended family Christmas party since we were on lock down. We had planned to skipped this year too due to the H1N1 flu and just wanting to keep the kids healthy before Christmas but we decided since Noah has been doing so well that we would go if everyone was healthy. It was SO much fun. We always have such a great time and this time was no different. We always meet at my Aunt and Uncles beautiful house (seriously, the word work is something) and my uncle makes a fabulously delicious dinner of prime rib. Everyone else brings side dishes and desserts. Everything was so good. I definitely over indulged. Then we draw numbers and play the gift stealing game. We laugh and tease and visit. It's the best party of the year, hands down. And it was so nice to see my family. Most of us live so close to each other but due to busy life schedules we just don't get to see each other much. My cousins kids are adorable and fun and just way too cute. My grandparents even came back from their summer home in Arizona so we got to see them too. It was just a wonderful night.
  

• The first week of December I got the news I had been suspecting (I was keeping hope but I still wasn't surprised). The company I have worked for for the last 9 years was laying me off. My last day was to be December 4th but was stretched out till the 31st. I spent the entire month worrying that come Jan 1st, I was going to be unemployed. Not only was I worried about bills and expenses but I was also hurt. Hurt that after 9 years of hard work and loyalty it was so easy to just cut my position. Where was their loyalty. But I stayed positive and kept praying. On Christmas Eve my boss (who had been fighting for my job the entire time) called to tell me that he had finally convinced the Vice President to allow my position to be "hidden" under a different title. My hours are being cut (and my work load increased) but my layoff is officially off. I still have a job. I am beyond grateful. See, I don't choose to work. I wish I didn't have to but due to medical expenses (and less than stellar money management skills during that time), I have to. That said, I am extremely grateful that I am able to do it from home so I can still be the primary caretaker of my kids and make decent money (to help pay off that hefty debt) while I'm at it. Not only did I feel like my loyalty was being repaid, I know the Lord answered my prayers.
  

• Christmas Day marked the 30 year anniversary of my birth. Also known as a Birthday. I am now 30 years old. 3 years ago the thought of turning 30 really bothered me. In your 20's you are still considered a young adult. 30, though, means you are all grown up. As I mentioned, 3 years ago this was hard for me to wrap my mind around. That I was really going to be 30! But after Noah was born I guess I finally felt like I had enough experience under my belt to have earned the grown-up title. My birthday came and went and here I sit, a 30 year old, and it really doesn't phase me. If anything, I figure the next ten years will be wonderful. I spent the majority of my 20's being sick. My 30's are going to be the years of great health.
  

•  Christmas Eve and Christmas day were wonderful. Some of the best in recent years. Christmas Eve I spent the day cooking a Thanksgiving style feast. We invited my parents and sisters over for dinner. It was so much fun having a big special dinner on Christmas Eve. We have never done that before. But I think it's going to be a new tradition. I was very pleased with how it turned out. I didn't screw it up!! The turkey was tender and juicy (all 20lbs of it) and the rolls and stuffing and the gravy and corn.... man I'm making myself hungry thinking about it. The only disappointment was that I didn't invite my brother and his family. I was so worried about messing it up and feeding all those people (stupid the things we worry about, eh?) that I had planned just to have it be my parents and the girls still living at home. But they were here, I realized how stupid it was of me to fret about it and I really regretted not inviting them over. After dinner, my dad read the kids The Night Before Christmas and we watched the cute Prep and Landing Christmas cartoon.
  

Then, I let the kids open their first Christmas present (new jammies). It was kinda sad (and cute at the same time) because Lilly was so excited for toys that when she saw jammies she couldn't hide her disappointment.

• Christmas morning we woke up (around 830am... I'm gonna enjoy that while I can) and realized Noah wasn't feeling well. I should have suspected it when he didn't sleep more than 30 mins at a time and screamed all night. But I was tired and didn't. Luckily he wasn't too sick to enjoy everything but he was sick enough. Still, we had a fabulous time. Lilly peaked around the corner of her room and jumped with excitement when she saw Santa had been there. Santa brought Lilly a new doll house for her barbies and Noah got a block table that even has a train set on the other side. There were balls (Noah's favorite) and a few new barbies (all 3 colors of the 3 Muskateer Barbies that Lilly wanted so much). They even got soft new blankets for their beds along with a few small items.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  When gifts were done, I made breakfast burritos for everyone. My parents came over to see the kids gifts and visit for a bit. It was really nice having them come over. Later that afternoon, after relaxing and playing around, we went over to my parents house for dinner. My mom had made a yummy ham and shrimp salad and warm rolls. Then we did our family gift exchange. My sisters are so sweet and get the kids gifts too (we siblings draw names to help us keep the cost down... something to think about when their are five of you plus spouses). My parents spoiled me. We had discussed, several times, that we would keep it small since times were lean but it sure didn't turn out that way. I got a gift certificate to my favorite clothing store and a Belgian waffle maker. Two things I had been wanting forever! It was fabulous. That night, after the kids were in bed, Shane and I relaxed and watched a movie. I hated for the day to end.
  
  
  
• By the time New Years Eve arrived, Noah's cold had spread like a wild fire. We were all sick. This particular virus had it out for us "grown-ups" too. While the kids weren't feeling well, Shane and I felt like we were on our dealth beds. The kids went to bed early. Shane fell asleep on the couch (after a long day at work) at 6pm and snored the night away. I welcomed the New Year in on the couch with the worst sinus headache I have ever had.
  

• Now that we are officially in 2010, things are going good. The pain and exhaustion flare up that I had almost the entire month of December is finally calming down and I am feeling better. I'm busy with work. Lilly is back to Pre-School (I have to register her for Kindergarten this month!! There is something I just can't wrap my mind around yet) and Noah started his first once-a-week preschool through the Early Intervention. Today is the last day of Holiday hours (Shane's work- the same company I work for- really stuck them hard this year. Open to close weekend shifts all month and extra extended holiday hours.) for Shane.

I'm excited for all the opportunities this new year will have in store for us. I am hopeful for a year full of joy and laughter and lots of smiles. I hope everyone else had a wonderful Holiday season and a Merry Christmas. My wish is that 2010 will be a year of happiness for everyone.

And who knows, between all that laughing and smiling I plan on doing, I may even blog a little.



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