A Very Merry Christmas

So this Christmas was a wonderful one. I got everything I could ever ask for and more. I am so blessed to have so many thoughtful people around me. My sweet husband bought me an hour massage at Sanctuary Day Spa (my FAVORITE place in the whole world...next to Disneyland that is) and he gave me a 40 inch art piece that he had made from the following picture (I had mentioned on our Anniversary in passing that this was my favorite picture from our wedding and one day I wanted to blow it up and hang it on a wall in our room. Well, he paid attention and that's exactly what I got):

My Mom gave me an ottoman (which I picked out from the Seethaler's furniture store, Envy) and some awesome clothes that I can't wait to wear!

My Dad gave me cash. He's given me cash since I was 9 and I always look forward to spending that money. I always make sure that I buy myself something I really want instead of just letting the money go into household expenses.

Meg gave me 2 pairs of jeans (which I needed SO badly!!!!) and some dang awesome tops (which I didn't necessarily NEED but I definitely WANTED them).

My in-laws gave me clothes and other things as well. I needed work clothes so badly and haven't had a moment to shop, so I appreciated all of the clothes I got!

And finally we get to the present I gave Meg. It was actually a present I gave myself as well, but this has been a tuff one to keep quiet. I have had this present for 2 months and there have been so many times when I just wanted to tell Meg what the big surprise was, but I kept it a secret and it paid off! On Christmas Eve Meg and I sat by her Christmas tree and she read this poem (WARNING: This poem is cheesy! I've never been much of a poet but I can definitely be cheesy when needed, so that's the direction I took this poem...you do not have to read this obviously, but I wanted to post it for historical purposes :)

Your 2008 Christmas Present

At this time I wish to be
Your very best friend on Christmas Eve
I want to make your every wish come true
So I wrote a little poem for you

This present isn’t something you can hold in your hand
Though once you find out what it is you’ll think it’s grand
You are the best twin I could ever have
So to give you such a gift makes me glad

The tickets are bought, we’ll fly away
As twins and best friends we’ll play

On February Fourteenth you will leave your house
And spend your Birthday with Mickey Mouse!!!!

So there you have it. A Cheesy poem. But it sure did make Meg cry! And I cried too of course. It has been our dream since we were little to spend our Birthday at Disneyland. Just the two of us. And now that will happen. So if you didn't get the gist of it from the poem, I gave her a plane ticket. And Jesse and Quenten got us a hotel room. And since this year is the Birthday Celebration at Disneyland we will get in FREE on our Birthday! I can't wait! It will definitely be the greatest day ever (next to my wedding day of course) and many pictures will be taken and posted here...and I look forward to that post!

And now I will end this LONG post. I hope all of you had a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

My favorite Christmas Book

This is my favorite Christmas Book:




I don't know how many of you have read Toot & Puddle books before but they are my favorite. I know, I know, I am an adult and this is a children's book, but seriously these books are the greatest. Each one teaches such an amazing lesson and the illustrations are amazing. I also like that Toot and Puddle have somewhat of a "twin" relationship. They are not twins, and the author always states they are "best friends" so I don't even think they are related, but their relationship is just the best.

If you have seen the cartoon it does NOT do the books justice. I don't know if this book will be available at the library since it is so close to Christmas and I'm sure a lot of people are checking out Christmas books to read to their kids, but I am telling you if you buy this book you will get more than your moneys worth out of it. I love it. It is so magically Christmas.

This is their 2nd Christmas book and though it is happy and good, it is not as good as the first book "I'll Be Home For Christmas", just so you know.



Anyway, so there are my two cents on my favorite Christmas books which happen to be Toot and Puddle books. I hope you check them out. And let me know what you think when you do.

Merry Christmas! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! What a beautifully snowy day we have been blessed with! WAHOO!!!!!

Things I love about Christmas

I thought I'd list some of my favorite things about Christmas just for the heck of it.

1. Lights. I love the lights that are everywhere at Christmas time. Especially white lights on trees. They seem to glow with so much warmth. I especially love them when there's snow falling outside, though this season that hasn't happened much. Supposedly a storm is coming Saturday so I'm praying and keeping my fingers crossed...we need a white Christmas!!!!

2. Food. I am trying to be good this year and not stuff myself sick whenever good food is around, it is a hard thing to do, but so far I think I've succeeded. I just love the smell and the warmth food brings into our lives, but it is more apparent during this time of year.

3. Family. I love spending time with my family at Christmas. It seems like we are all a little less dramatic and happier to be together at Christmas time.

4. Shopping. I love finding meaningful and fun gifts for the people I love. I think it is so much fun. And though I could do without rude people on the road or in the stores, I do enjoy the hustle and bustle at Christmas time.

This is a picture of the presents under my Mom's tree last Christmas...she spoils us & I love it!!!

5. Music. I love Christmas music!!!! I just love that every song that you hear (besides the Christmas Shoes song and a couple of other songs that make me cry...) is so magical and fun. I just love it. I am also a big fan of choral music so I can listen to it 24/7 at this time of year and no one will think I'm an old lady :) not that there's anything wrong with old ladies, I'm just saying...

6. Snow. It's obvious that I love snow. I truly do. I was giddy this last Monday the entire day as the snow fell. I couldn't sit still. I'm sure my boss appreciated the fact that I spent half of the day running to the window to watch the snow fall, but I think the other half of the day when I was at my desk I worked twice as fast because I was so excited. I hope we get more snow soon. And I hope it is a crazy storm that makes it so we all have to stay home. I love snow days.

I am so glad that it's the Christmas season. Christmas is 2 weeks from today and I can't believe it. I am excited but I don't want it to come too fast because then it will be over. So I will appreciate every single day these next 2 weeks and listen to all of the music I can to fill me up for another year. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

What year do you belong in?

You Belong in 1955

You're fun loving, romantic, and more than a little innocent. See you at the drive in!

What Year Do You Belong In?

A Bean Christmas

Ever since my Mom and Tim started dating we have had a tradition where we go to the Roof the first week of December for dinner and then we go on carriage rides. I look forward to this every year and last night was the best year so far.

My brother-in-law Ryan took these pictures. He was kind enough to share them with me and let me post them on my blog. I took pictures as well, but they are not professional like his and they are at home on the camera that I forgot when I ran out the door this morning, so I will post those later. Anyway, here we go:


The founders of this wonderful tradition: The Beans :)



Eating the wonderful food at the most beautiful restaurant in Utah, The Roof:



Quenten and my step-brother Colby eating and having a good time:



My step-brother Jake humoring us and smiling for the picture (aren't my step-brothers so dang cute?! I love them!)


Meg eating the famous "chocolate pots". She and my Mom call them that...I know they are chocolate and they are in little "pots" but really, couldn't we call them something else? They truly are my favorite dessert in the whole world though. It's a good thing we only go there once a year or I would be a few pounds heavier if you know what I mean...

My sister Marissa and her husband (the photographer) Ryan, aren't they just so cute? Marissa's belly is growing and I love how happy they both are to be expecting a little girl!!! (who I can't wait to spoil, might I add...)

My only brother Jeff and his cute wife Amy (she has the greatest hair in the entire world. No matter what length it is she just does it perfectly, and it's very thick so I am jealous)

And finally, Jesse and me having a great time and happy to be celebrating a Bean Christmas Tradition :)

I will post pictures of the carriage ride later. Merry Christmas everyone! BRING ON THE SNOW!

Is it really Christmas Time?

That is exactly what I've been asking myself for that last week or so. It just seems so unreal. I know we generally get the majority of our snow in January and February, but this year it seems especially "un-snowy" so far. And it doesn't help that we've had 60 degree weather for the majority of October, November, and now December. I know more people who are happy that it's been 60 degrees during these months than I do people who wish it would snow. And I try not to be upset with these people. I do. But let me just say this...you will never find me happier than when it is snowing. Never. I love it with all of my heart. I am so content when I am standing outside in the peaceful silence as snow flakes fall and the sky is lit with the clouds above even though it is the dead of night. I love that.

And so, here it is, December 3 and it doesn't feel a bit like Christmas. So, I will be praying my little heart out for snow. Not even a massive blizzard, though that would make me so dang giddy, I will be content with a dusting. At least a dusting...and then it will be Christmas and an ill word will not leave my mouth.

Please come snow. I miss you so very much.

Here's a picture of an amazing snow we had last December. Jesse and Woody are just hanging out in it...

And just for the heck of it here are a few more pictures of breath-taking snow in Utah...

Boy am I glad it's over...

Last Tuesday morning I woke up and didn't feel right. I figured it would go away so I got up and tried to get ready for work. Well, that didn't last long. It hit me pretty quickly that I had the flu. Little did I know that it would be the worst flu I've ever had. I proceeded to puke my guts up for the next 5 hours. Seriously people, I puked 15 times in 5 hours. Sorry if that's a little too detailed for you, but it's the truth. And Jesse ended up coming home early because he threw up and had a fever as well. We were both so sick and couldn't drive anywhere because we were afraid we'd throw up in the car and/or spread our germs and get other people sick.

So I called my friend Amy Perschon and asked her to bring me a Gatorade. I knew she'd come to my rescue, she always does. She was so sweet as I was ridiculously emotional and crying on the phone and she brought me two gigantic Fruit Punch Gatorade's. That's all I could think of drinking. And so for the next 36 hours all I had were those life-saving Gatorade's. Thanks Am! You are the best, seriously!!!!

Later that night our friends Jake Seethaler and Ryan Galbraith came and gave Jesse and me blessings. The puking stopped after the blessing I received and it was such a relief. I am so grateful for being surrounded by such wonderful men who worthily hold the Priesthood and make time in their busy schedules to serve us. Thanks Jake and Ryan!

The next 3 days (which included Thanksgiving) I had a horrible fever and was nauseous beyond all belief. But as I was sitting there alone on Thanksgiving, watching Gilmore Girls, I was overwhelmed with how blessed I am. I know that sounds crazy, but it's true. I was so grateful for the timing of this flu bug. If I had gotten it this week my life would've been too busy to stop and really rest and get better. And it helped that I only had to use 2 of my sick days for work as we had Thursday and Friday off with pay. So really, I was so very lucky to have gotten the flu when I did.

I am also grateful for my sweet husband. He has taken such good care of me for the last week. He is so good to me and I am so blessed to have him.

I am also grateful for my sweet twin. She stayed away from me for the first 2 days so she wouldn't get sick (she would've come over sooner but I wouldn't let her, I did NOT want her to feel the way I did) but she did come over on Thanksgiving night and stayed with me. I just needed company and I needed my twin, and so she dropped everything and sat with me. Oh, and we watched the second Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movie and it was very good.

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is I am so grateful for my health and I am so grateful for the timing of things. The Lord really does bless us in obscure ways, we just have to step back and recognize His hand in our lives.