Have a cup of Christmas Cheer

Our first Christmas back in Utah was a success! I loved being able to spend Christmas in our newly finished basement, wake up Christmas morning in my own bed and being able to spend a little more time with all of our family rather than having to hurry back to the warmth of Arizona.

Mc made out like a bandit! I was especially excited this year to give her the kitchen that my Grandpa had made for me when I was two. He so lovingly and skillfully refinished it and I was set with the task of fake food, dishes and the like. I wish we would have given her this present last because she didn't want to open all the other gifts- just play with the fake food and the kitchen. I really wish I had taken some before pictures. It was a dark brown wood with a yellowing counter top...all redone. I also took a picture of the back. You can see my grandpa's beautiful penmanship- the first "Merry Christmas Tisha 1984 Grandpa Jim" and then Mckinley's, "Merry Christmas Mckinley 2010 Great Grandpa Jim". Such a cool memento- we were both two years old. Just so grateful for my Grandpa and his willingness to do that for me. Overall, she was loaded up with dinosaurs, books, clothes, candy and pretend lipstick (which also made the favorite present cut). The only downside to Christmas for Mc, not having an advent calendar the day after- every day since, the first thing she asks for is as chocolate. She also took a liking to "How the Grinch stole Christmas", called "Inch" at our house and I don't think we will be finding it on TV so regularly.

You can just see the excitement....

Mark and I also had an amazing Christmas. Mark got pretty much everything related to Cafe Racers (the new rage in motorcycles) as well as our little escapade to a Bed and Breakfast, commencing this evening. Mark gave me a Shark vacuum- (for real, how did I live without a lightweight vacuum with hardwood floors??), a GPS and my coveted Hello Kitty watch. We got a wireless printer (hallelujah), Les Mis tickets (excited!!!) and I was given a Brother "Project Runway" sewing machine. Still terrified to give it a whirl but it comes with an instructional DVD...so maybe soon. Our parents are amazingly gracious and we are so blessed.

Mark and I also went all out to win @ the Ellison Christmas Eve party- I was a genius and forgot my camera so...those pics to come later. Christmas 2010 was a success. Next year, we will have two kids and Mc will have a better understanding of what Christmas is all about. Here is to hoping your New Years is awesome and 2011 is even better!

Medium American Cheddar- 2010

This is what happens when you leave the block of cheese too close to the edge of the counter where toddler hands can reach. Apparently, Mckinley prefers her cheese fresh from the block.

In other news, my best friend Nausea has reared it's ugly head again. I was feeling pretty good for a few days, told the world I was doing better, and then WHAM...back to feeling like death warmed over. I have discovered the mints seem to help and the brushing my teeth (although gagging mid brush) seem to help.

We are ready for Christmas at our house and I can't believe it is 4 days away. Where has this month gone? It makes me realize that this pregnancy is going to fly by, I am going to have a 3 year old and two children before I know it and come February, we will have lived in Utah for a year. I will say, I still can't get over how beautiful fresh powdery snow is, that my house actually looks "Christmas-ey" (icicles, snow covering the lights on the roof) and the fact that I get to wake up in my own bed on Christmas morning. Here is to hoping Santa finds you all!

The Wee One

Here is our little bean @ 12 weeks. I have to admit, I was a little nervous today. Last appointment the doctor said it might be too early to hear the heartbeat- and it was. This time, the Doppler was on my stomach for what felt like an hour and there was still nothing....I almost started to cry because I had expressed to Mark how scared I was that might happen- we have all heard the horror stories. I think the Doc sensed my anxiety and got me in for a quick ultrasound. Not even one second after the wand hit my stomach- there it was...beating heart, swimming around, legs, hands...all of it. What a sigh of relief! Still too early to decide if it was a girl or girl (yes, there was no boy choice) but we should be able to find out @ the next appointment. Just glad to have a healthy baby so far. And, here is to no barfing this whole week! Truly, a Christmas miracle.

Dinosaurs still seek Him

At our house, it is only normal that the Dinosaur is also making it's way to see the babe in the manger.

I do have to give Mc some major credit this year. The Christmas tree has remained unscathed (unlike last year where most of the ornaments made it to the top 4 inches of the tree). She even has a little tree in her room that she has not touched once. She discovered the joy of the advent calendar this year and has shared her desire for a "dragon" with Santa.

December in Utah has been bitter cold but the prospect of not having to fight the airports this year or take a week vacation to spend Christmas with family, is quite enticing. For a little family outing on Saturday, we hit the Winder Dairy. It was nothing like the grandeur I remembered back in the day- their little street had THE best Christmas lights. I assume most of them have died (since they were ancient when I lived there) so only a few houses held strong. The Dairy was like I remembered it...minus the scones. THEY RAN OUT! We patiently waited for our fresh scones dripping with honey butter but alas, have to return with our "free scones" voucher. I did run into an old friend, Cami Thomas and we were able to chat- She hasn't changed a bit but let's remember the previous post (6th grade) and hope I have.

Hippity Hop Down the Memory Trail

It's that time again! To take a look at some hideous picture from my past and reminisce. This picture is from my 6th grade year. I remember that this was the year I had to have retakes THREE times. I still remember that jacket. It was like a colorful garbage bag. This was also the year that I started rocking the "top of the head" half pony tail and the jelly roll bang. Braces, zits and all- does it get any uglier?
Some highlights from 6th grade-
*notice our teacher, Mrs. Hayes, is not in the picture. She was a rather portly woman and I still remember on the first day of school, that she told us she had a chemical imbalance that made her fat- not the smartest idea with a bunch of insensitive 6th graders.
* The summer before 6th grade I went to the school almost everyday to see if they had posted the teachers for the upcoming year. When I found out I had Mrs. Hayes, I cried and pleaded with my mom to move me to Mr. Banker's class (the cute, young teacher who played Garth Brooks songs on the guitar). To no avail, I suffered through that year with Mrs. Hayes.
* Take note of the skinny kid, front row, blue striped shirt. That my friends, is Ben Brawer. I got a white slip (disciplinary action) for hitting him with a snowball. About a decade ago, I saw him at a gas station. He ran up and gave me a hug out of the blue. Random, and he remembered my name. A snowball in the face will do that to you.

It was an interesting year. I learned to really like Mrs. Hayes, was the Math Olympiad of my elementary (that is before I discovered Algebra. It ruined me) and ultimately, kissed my adolescence good bye. I would like to tell you the "top of the head" pony tail would not be making an appearance in 7th grade, but that would be a lie.

How Zombies Inspire Gratitude

Mark and I have discovered AMC's new series, "The Walking Dead". It isn't your typical brain eating Zombie sitcom...it is SO much more...well, not really but we like it. While we were watching last week, Mark and I got on the topic of what we would like to have at our disposal in a post apocalyptic situation- so on this Thanksgiving, I will be grateful for the things that would be taken with me should I have to flee the Zombie strewn city of West Jordan or things I would miss in life should I have to live in a tent avoiding the "Walkers" that were out to eat my brains.

1) Photo albums. Oddly enough, in the series, the main character knew his wife was still alive because when he woke up(think coma in a hospital, fever comes, everyone is infected, he lives because the Zombies thought he was dead) and found that his wife had taken all the photos and albums from their home. Remember, zombies don't care much for mementos. I too would miss my albums, Mc's baby book and all the journals I have kept since high school. I would be so grateful for those memories.
2) A shower/hot water. Living outside means no running water. No electricity means no pilot lights. I am so glad that every day (well, on the days I find time) I get a warm shower and truly only have to take a cold one by choice.
3) A compass. Mark's suggestion. Too often we use our little "rear view" digital direction to tell us which way we are going. Bless the mountains in Utah for I now have a little better sense of East/West but if you were living in the woods, a compass would be handy in finding your way to the "safe zones".
4) A crossbow and impeccable aim. Zombies are apparently drawn to the sound of gun shots- you could kill a deer for dinner or shoot a Zombie directly in the head with an arrow and no one would be the wiser. I am grateful that Mark owns a bow and that I took archery classes in 7th grade.
5) A gas siphon. All the abandoned cars and no way to get the gas out. How glad I am for the Chevron and being able to just go and fill up my car.
6) A toothbrush. Although a Zombie wouldn't care if I had 14 days worth of plaque on my teeth, I however appreciate a minty refreshing brush at least 3 times a day.
7) Tampons. Need I say more.
8) Water purification system. Man, do I take clean water for granted. This week in Park City, lots of people couldn't drink their tap water. Assuming you had no water storage, no bottled water....think about what you would do. So glad that I can drink water straight from the tap or buy fresh water readily at the store.
9) Washing machine/dryer. This week, all the ladies in the camp were talking about how they missed their Maytags as they hand washed clothes. Don't get me wrong, I am sure the clothes smelled and looked "better" (let's face it Zombie blood just doesn't come out) but really, there is nothing like taking a shirt fresh from the dryer and knowing that your stain stick did the job.
10) Scissors- Had never thought much about giving or getting a haircut in the wilderness but consider the massive amount of mullet-sporting men roaming around after weeks of not a trim. Not only could they be used for cutting hair, fabric, fingernails but a great close range stabbing tool. But really, what would you do without scissors? No more "coupon clipping" more like coupon tearing, how would you open go-gurts? Crafting would lose it's lustre and going to a hairdresser- the flowbee (vacuum haircutting system) failed. Miserably.

All Zombies aside, there are so many small things to be thankful for. I don't think I take enough time to think about what I would really bring or miss if I had to leave my home in a hurry. I thought about it briefly as my family's homes were in peril with the fire in Herriman, but I am grateful for our new found sitcom to remind me on a weekly basis, there are things that I take for granted EVERY. DAY.

Quartet

legs on a dog, cat, or iguana

Nations in the United Kingdom

The Beatles

sides of a square

Years to a US Presidential term

seasons in a year

noble truths in the Buddhist religion

quattro

williamson family members

that's right...our family is expanding to F O U R. this pregnancy hasn't been as smooth as mc's. morning sickness is a beast and i am hoping 2nd trimester brings some relief. we are excited, scared, nervous, anxious and surprised that unlike with mckinley, this process happened rather quickly. the focus is now being shifted to potty training, diaper hoarding and preparing for all the joys of a newborn. (*totally stole this idea from my friend Amy)