"IT'S A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE"

So as I have mentioned in previous posts, I have been more than unmotivated to get into the hustle and bustle of the holiday, decorate my house, shop, offer random acts of service, etc. So I actually have an excuse... I am freakin' 8 months pregnant. My husband on the other hand, whom I love madly, unfortunately does not have this excuse and his 'to-do' list is gathering dust on my magnet board. For the past two weeks I have placed this list very conspicuously so he would not be confused as to what needs to be done before this baby comes in 5 weeks.
To fully appreciate how incredibly funny the joke is that is about to be played on him in a few hours, a little history is needed.
Bry loves Christmas lights. Lots and lots of lights. It is usually top priority this time of year for him to get lights up. Well it has been a bit crazy the past few weeks and so when he mentioned that he needed to get the lights up I suggested to him that the priority right now needs to be the nursery, household projects and suggested that I find someone to pay to put them up. He reluctantly agreed and adamantly said no when he found out they would charge $400.00 to do it, so therefore it hasn't been done and then he took off for New York for 4 days on business. This is where it gets really good. Bry has an incredible tight knit, wonderful group of friends who are just so cool as to invite me to come to dinner with all the couples even when Bry is gone. So at dinner two nights ago I was complaining a little about how much we have to do yadayada, and how he didn't want to pay to have the lights put up and so forth. Well two of his buddies, Brandon and Shawn got this great idea that they were going to come and put up our lights and then leave a fake invoice for an absurd amount of money. They instructed me to play along and tell him some guy was going around the neighborhood offering to put up lights and that Camryn was begging for lights and I just gave in and said yes.
So sure enough they showed up yesterday and hung the lights and as Camryn sat on the grass and watched them Shawn kept telling her it was a "Christmas Miracle" that the lights were being put up and she kept repeating it the rest of the day..."Mommy, daddy's friends came and gave us Christmas miracle!" They also left this fake invoice for a total cost of $613.18.
So Bry gets home from his trip in about two hours and I must admit I am getting a little scared as to his initial reaction... I don't know if I can go along with it for even a second, but for a good laugh down the road I will do my best.
Stay tuned for how it all turns out and I must say, even though these two tough guys say their intention is to play a joke on Bry...it still was the sweetest act of service and I for one truly appreciate it and love them for it!!

THANKSGIVING 2008

As much as I hated to post this picture...(you know an 8th month pregnant woman holding an enormous stuffed turkey can never be flattering) I just couldn't refrain from plain old bragging about the one productive thing I did over the holiday in St. George... my turkey.

Of course I can't take all the credit... the beautiful blonde next to me and my dearest friend Stacy taught me all I know about the preparation of this delicious turkey that I have made the last three years for Thanksgiving. One can only appreciate the feat of this turkey by understanding my lack of culinary skills growing up and even until I got married. Most of my high school friends, mission companions and college roomies can attest to this. However, since I was blessed with Stacy in my life about 5 years ago, she has not only been my own personal Martha Stewart... the girl can seriously do just about anything and make it beautiful, but she has been the greatest example to me of selflessness, patience, unconditional love and kindness. Even during the very difficult times of her life she will her put own pain aside and help anyone in need. I have witnessed her countless acts of kindness, that she just views as 'being a good friend' countless times and many times, I have been the recipient, like this weekend in St. George, when I had not an ounce of energy to do anything, let alone prepare a turkey and pies for my family, she saved me and helped me get it done.

I am grateful for so many things this holiday season, but especially those people in my life who are just so much a part of my life and day to day living and spirtual and emotional survival that I almost take advantage of them being there.

Bring on the Castor oil!!!!

Okay so I am really not going to drink Castor oil to get this baby out early, mainly because Bryan made me try it a week before I was due with Camryn...one of his many
'Farkus' experiments and of course it only caused 3 days of the 'you know whats'... and 3 days of the silent treatment towards him.
I have about five weeks left and I have been trying to figure out why this last stretch seems so much harder than it was the first time. I am blaming it on it being the holidays. Usually I love the hustle and bustle and the planning and get togethers and just the whole craziness of the month of December. But lately I find myself just driving aimlessly throughout the day, or parked in Mcdonalds parking lot (ok, with maybe a happy meal...or two) just to avoid all the 'decorating, shopping, nursery finishing, cleaning, and organizing' I should be doing, but have no energy for. BUT... today is a new day and so after a little inspiration from a post by my sister-in-law Janice on her blog, I am just going to buck up and choose to not spend my last five weeks eating cheeseburgers and instead of resenting that I can't be the superwoman, superwife, and supermom I want to be... I am just going to simplify--relish the moments of the season prepare for our new baby and just be grateful for life!

Finally...it's OVER!!

Bryan put it perfectly...this year I was the Halloween grinch. I tried to blame it on my pregnancy hormones that make me ornery about 12(waking) hours of the day. Nevertheless I couldn't wait for Halloween and the never ending parties, and reasons to dress up that go along with it to end. In fact, the night before Halloween I came home from Target to find Bryan outside hanging Halloween lights on our porch... yes Halloween lights. Oh yes, and around the banister inside our house. He had also bought 4 gigantic pumpkins for us to carve... all the night before. I think he was noticing I hadn't been in the 'spirit' of Halloween fun so he again was the 'good, fun parent' who made Camryn's night!
Of course it was all worth it. Bry and I spent Halloween day planting tulip bulbs while Camryn and her cousin Josh played in the leaves and then the whole fam came over and seeing all the little ones dressed up was just way too cute... definitely worth the last minute Halloween efforts babe!

No Place Like Home...

Nothing could have made me appreciate this time of year more in my quaint, unglamorous, little Draper life than spending three days in LAS VEGAS. Bry had a business meeting there this weekend and spouses were invited as well, so we decided to capitalize on a little weekend getaway, dropped Camryn off in St. George with my family, and fled to sin city. I will admit, I was very excited to go. There is something about visiting Vegas that I love. I know, I know, it is replete with immorality and filth, but even just people watching there makes you feel like you yourself are living on the edge! I was looking forward to the fact that even if it were only for three days, I would get to dress up at night, have someone bring me room service, and be something other than a mom and housewife who has been wearing Bryan's sweats for the last week because they are the only thing that will fit around my growing pregnant belly.

Well... at least I got the room service. It went kinda downhill from there. Saturday night was the big night. Everyone would get decked out (which for me was my new really hot maternity jeans, heels and a new shirt from Target) regardless, I was feeling pretty dang hot. We would meet everyone for dinner and then go see 'Mystere' at Treasure Island. I was running a little late for dinner (which was in the hotel) so I told Bry to go ahead and I would be there shortly.

This only added to the excitement of my evening, kinda like my own little grand entrance, cause remember, I was looking hot. Well, my bubble was slowly deflated on the elevator ride down which I shared with a drunk guy and his scantily clad girlfriend who staring at my bulging belly said, "Wow it must really suck to be pregnant in Vegas!" I just gave a courtesy laugh, but really wanted to smack them both!

Anyway, to make a long story short, by the time we got to 'Mystere' my feet were so swollen that I had to take my heels off and attempted to subtly place my feet on the chair in front of me (which the guy sitting there did not find funny) and by the middle of the show they were two sizes bigger than an hour before and I was miserable. We left about halfway through, Bryan carrying my shoes, and later, carrying me to the cab. So much for my glamorous night and escaping my reality. Bry and I ended up laughing about it on the way home and I couldn't get there fast enough...back to the life I occasionally complain about, but that I wouldn't trade anything for!

Last night after a day of recovery from Vegas...I was reminded of how much I truly love where I live, the beautiful fall atmoshpere, and small town fall festivals! Here are some pics of us at the Scarecrow Festival.

No Place Like Home...

my little patriot...

We spent the weekend in St. George and so of course Camryn had lots of 'grandma' time. Every time she stays with her Mom teaches her some cute little song or saying...well ya gotta watch what she taught her this time! I love you mom! You are the greatest grandma in the world! I know...she is topless, but hey, I have to cease the moment when I know she will perform!

FANCY FANCY!!!

Well it is official... the day I was both dreading and anxiously awaiting came and went! Camryn's 3rd birthday. I say dreading because I honestly hate seeing her grow up and '3' seems so... old. However, I was so excited for her "Fancy Nancy" Birthday party I could hardly stand it. For those not familiar with the "Fancy Nancy" books, Camryn loves them! I saw that my friend April had done it for her little girl and I had to do it! And since she is obsessed with dressing up every single day... it just seemed so appropriate! In fact while I was getting her ready she asked me, "Mom, are you makin' me all stylin'?"
We had 13 little girls come over and we had a little "Posh Boutique" where they all got 'fancied' up and then we had a fashion show. They were adorable, and surprisingly not shy at all about walking down the red banner papered runway to the song "Glamorous" as they each did a twirl or a pose while we all cheered! Priceless!The most classic moment was when Camryn stripped down to her panties and strutted down the 'runway' with just her boa and crown...Vegas here she comes!
My mom and niece came up to help and I couldn't have done it without them...my niece Lyndsi made her a "Fancy Dress" to wear at the party and it was seriously the cutest thing I have ever seen. I am trying to get her to sell them!
I was exhausted by the end of the day, but wouldn't have traded a minute of it for anything and you know, when she is 15 and decides she hates my guts, I am going to pull out these photos to remind her that I am not so bad

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