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.