Decking the Halls

     I spent part of today decorating the "mom" Christmas tree. I have never had to decorate a tree 360 degrees. It took every decoration that we had in red, white and green (and silver, as you'll note). We decorated in red downstairs, and upstairs, I bought kid-friendly colors.
     John's mom and dad gave us their "old" tree (they got a pre-lit one!)--and it's the perfect size for this room. The room isn't huge and has a sofa and piano in it. The box with the tree in it was full of goodies. It had 4 strings of lights (that all WORKED) and a surge protector in it! As I was putting the lights on, I told John, "We're going to need an extension cord!" John replied, "Dad sent you a surge protector." Wow. It was a complete tree in a box! Lucky me.

     The kids are MOST excited about the advent calendar (seen here on the console table). Asa is not thrilled he has to wait until December 1st to get his candy!
     Asa helped me decorate the tree today and he helped choose the bags and boxes that went into the windows.
     Next up... John gets to light and the kids get to decorate the family tree. They are fighting over... I mean, enjoying, the experience as I write.

Black Friday at the Phippens

Today, we didn't go shopping (although we did hit some Black Friday specials online). We got ready for Christmas. We broke out the Christmas trees (we got a spare one from John's mom and dad and have that in the living room). Asa and Xandri were thrilled to follow the color coding and put the tree together. John carried up our "umbrella" style tree, and like all other years, it got him. He has a scratch from the extremely sharp bits on the tree. After 10 years, moving, and all, our tree needs a good fluff. I haven't gotten around to that part of Christmas yet. It took most of the day to get them up, get the other stuff in, and find the lights in all of what we have.

For Black Friday, I wanted to have a celebration that didn't have anything to do with "stuff"--so we had a special dinner. I set the table with a black table cloth, and we had "black" food. Black Angus beef, black "Forbidden City" rice, and "Black Forest" brownies (brownies with cream and cherries.

Jack is usually very happy. He enjoyed today playing with his best friend Skyler (who is 9 and lives behind us in the "mirror image" of our house).

Asa, who has stopped eating at home completely (as far as I can tell), puts on a happy face. He's been practicing for "Whiniest Child of the Year," but smiled for the camera (after 3 tries).

For two days in a row, Max has been denied a long enough nap. He was dissolving into a puddle of weepy, but he was thrilled to "help" dad make the "Black Forest" brownies (brownie bites from Costco with cherries and whipping cream). He also hammed it up for the camera...

Yup: that's peek-a-boo.

Here he's showing you his good work. I think everyone had a sigh of relief when they were tucked into bed. It was a long day for the kids. They are also tired of each other. I guess that's the trade-off if you're used to going to day care. The same 2 other kids all day long for 3 days starts to wear on you, and them! I'm a bit worried for Christmas break!

The Thanksgiving Wrap-up

We went to Mark and Kristen's home for Thanksgiving. It was a bit odd to be wandering about their house... when we knew where all the light switches were. The strangest bit was that all the art work was "missing." I also hadn't realized how BIG the bedrooms were.

We divided the feast so that no one had to do TOO much work. I, as expected, did NONE of the cooking. I want people to survive the holidays.

John cooked a gorgeous turkey (he says it got a few degrees overdone, but it was moist and yummy). He also made sweet potato soup, stuffing (with apples and bacon). It was so, so yummy.

Kristen set a gorgeous table, complete with little hands for the kids to write what they were thankful about on each of the fingers.

Mark didn't even complain when we raided his fridge for diet Coke... forgetting to bring our own because that fridge has always "magically" filled with diet Coke for the past 19 years.

It was so nice of Mark and Kristen to invite us to their home. There was lots of room for everyone to sit (the kids love sitting at the counter. They got front row seats to John and Mark carving the bird.

The knives are sharp enough to cut yourself on... right, dear?

This is the traditional list of "Things I am Thankful For." My mother has hung one of these lists on the same door for ... forever, I think. It was really great to read it. My favorite entry is the one for "diet Coke" and the runner up was the "iPhone." Too cute.

Here's a shot of the kids: Kristen is helping them write what they are thankful on the fingers of the hands in their "turkey" name cards.

Jen got an idea for turkey cookies from Family Fun. They were cute.

A really good time was had by all, except Max. He took a face plant in some leaves. Of course, once we got him a bit calmed down, I shot pictures. A good face plant in to a pile of leaves is worth a thousand words, right?

Thanks again, Mark & Kristen!

Thanksgiving "Break"

Today, I took the kids on an adventure. First we took Kallie a birthday present. Kallie is my best friend's daughter, and she's the kids' favorite babysitter. Then, I took a check to Jackie (daycare). Max was SCREAMING because we were parked in front of her house and he assumed we'd be leaving him there...

Then, as a "treat," we went to the dollar store. They could pick one of whatever they liked, except that Xandri kept wanting candy and I was so mean that I wouldn't let her choose candy (um, dollar store. Stale, old, possibly expired). So, then we went to the shoe store next door. Let's just say that kids shoes could quite possibly bankrupt me. Asa required two pair because he's got 2 gaping holes in the toes of the darling "Team Canada" shoes we bought him in August. Xandri got new church shoes, and Max's feet had grown half a size. Max chose "Spiderman" shoes. They have Spiderman and Iron Man on them. He's also quite positive they have Batman on them. Don't tell him they don't. He'll insist they DO. Shoe shopping for children is my definition of Hell. I'm quite sure that is one of the rings in Dante's Inferno.

After that, the kids went to Aunt Jen's while I braved the grocery store on the busiest day of the year. Whoo. Not recommending... however, I did run into Phyllis Bestor, who I haven't seen in 9 years! She got to see Max, and we talked a bit. It was so very nice to see her. She's the single most influential person in my teaching career. The only other people who come close are Stacy! Miller, Melodie Bestor, and Margaret Mortensen. Phyllis gave me my start, my wings, and my confidence.

Now, we're home and Xan and Asa are fighting in the toy room, Max is asleep, and John is working of a mad after discovering all his day's work has been for naught. Can't wait for the Thanksgiving doings tomorrow!

Almost Christmas

I find myself exceptionally excited for Christmas this year. I don't know if it's because I've denied myself the Christmas music until after Thanksgiving, or if it's because I haven't shopped at all for Christmas this year... but I find I'm excited and anxious to get to Christmas!

I haven't gotten John pinned down on anything Christmas yet, but I am planning to start the decorating while I'm home on Black Friday. I have the calendar planned out, and now I need to find the actual calendar pieces from last year (or make ANOTHER one, which is often what happens). The first activity of the Advent Season this year is to have a Black Friday celebration.

For Black Friday, I have a black tablecloth, black rice, and black chargers for under the plates. We're having a black and white dinner, and I am hoping it will be really fun. We don't go shopping on Black Friday, but I wanted my kids to have something fun to do over Thanksgiving break. We'll start the season then, and have our black rice, black Angus burgers, and Black Forest cake for dessert. I think it will be really fun.

This week, John is taking Jack and Xandri to see Guys and Dolls at MVHS tonight. Tomorrow, John is baking pies with his Varsity boys at our house. On Wednesday, we're getting ready for Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving, Mark and Kristen are hosting my side of the family at their house (mom and dad's old house). John is working on the menu... On Friday, we're celebrating "Black Friday" and decorating for Christmas. That's what I have going on this week... On top of that, I have 75 research papers and 100 other papers to grade. It'll be a busy season!

My cousin Cole is getting married this week in the Cardston Temple. A big shout-out to him and his bride Paige. I talked to my Grandma Viv and they are excited. Weddings are times of such excitement... I wish we lived closer and could be there. I think that's been my mantra most of my life. That's the biggest reason I intend to live close to my parents. I want my kids to always have memories of little times and big times when they are with their grandparents. My grandparents never missed any of my big moments, and I enjoyed spending time with them in the summers. It's just the moments like Thanksgiving and Christmas that I wish we'd had more of. I saw Grandma JJ and Grandpa Allan a lot in the winters for Christmas and often at Thanksgiving, but the last time I was home in Raymond in the winter was when my cousin Dustin got married. Before that, I was there when my aunt Barbara got married. I definitely don't have many winter memories of that.

I can't wait to hear how the wedding goes and hopefully see some Facebook pictures of the day.