The desert oasis?!?

Okay, Okay! So I've been thoroughly reprimanded for my terrible attitude about the snow. But, to understand my discontentment, you must know that the neighbors all say this is the most snow they have moved in a decade!! My biggest problem is that snow was not part of the package presented to me when I agreed to give central Washington a try. This town is nicknamed "the desert oasis!!"

Luckily, not everyone is as annoyed with the snow as I am. The boys had a great time romping in the powder yesterday afternoon. It wasn't sticky enough for a snowman, but it was sticky enough for them to bring a bunch indoors with them when they came, so I got to move snow off of my driveway and my tile floor yesterday. Lucky me!!!

(I'm glad that Kade wasn't tempted to give Jordan a little nudge! I'm not sure that the pond is completely solid!!)

Livin' the Dream

If I were to turn back time a little today, I think that I'd help a couple of our familiar Christmas song-writers join forces to create a Christmas song with lyrics more in tune with what a lot of us are actually thinking (or muttering under our breath) :

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, . . .But, only in my dreams!!! "

The idea of a white Christmas is beautiful, magical, cozy bliss. The reality is freezing, back-breaking, cooped-up misery. Because my husband had a small surgical procedure done on the bottom of his left foot Thursday, our tremendous snowfall of Saturday and Sunday meant a lot of work for me. It also taught me two things -- first, I am so grateful for a healthy, hard-working husband. I'm not sure what I would do without him . . . it hasn't been pretty with him laid up. Second, I'm not sure that I've found the place I want to live forever. I don't love this town so much that I'm willing to deal with the inconveniences that come with it. What are housing prices like in Arizona? You don't have to shovel heat off of your driveway.

The view from my front porch -- after 3 1/2 weekend hours of painstaking snow removal.

Spicy Burritos

Apparently the cuisine I prepared for last night's dinner was not particularly kid-friendly. When I told the boys we were eating the leftovers tonight, Kade told me that my burritos were too spicy this time and Jordan said, "he has a point." (Brett and I thought they were great!) They have decided they would rather have Macaroni or cereal or something. Kade told me, "I know what's inside a burrito that makes it taste spicy . . . the spicy stuff!!"

My Dapper Darlings

We are going to have a great holiday season.

I'm so grateful for my boys . . . all 3 of them!

Living Right

Anyone who knows me very well knows that I have severe feelings of fear, dread, rage, hatred, annoyance, disbelief, horror, and nausea regarding the post office in my small town. I'm quite certain that emergency rooms are the only places on Earth that could foster more waiting and frustration than this place. I avoid it like the plague and when I have to go, it ruins my whole day. I know that all post offices are busy, but, out of the 6 or 7 that I have frequented, this one wins a ghastly rating. (I told my sister just last week that part of what helps me gauge the quality of my experience there is how many of the other customers have teeth!) I am convinced today that I must be doing something right in life!! Two days in a row now, I've had to make a trip to the post office to get all of my Christmas cards and packages sent off and away. Both days, I walked in and had to wait less than one minute to be helped!! Both days there was a line of 20 + people behind me when I walked out. My timing is impecable! I am soooooooo glad to be done with that place for the season without any bad days, tears, scars, or shock syndrome to speak of. Happy, Happy Holidays!

Deck the Halls

Although we do love turkey dinner, our favorite part about Thanksgiving weekend is that it finally feels prudent to decorate for Christmas!

A few of our Christmas decor must-haves:
1. Stocking hangers that can support the stockings when they are full. We finally found some with that claim this year and I tested them out myself . . . if they can hold my purse without tumbling down, they are definitely tough enough for the job.
2. Rope tinsel on the tree. Brett and I didn't see eye to eye on this at the beginning of our life together -- I was certain that Martha Stewart or Mrs. Pottery Barn could surely be quoted on deeming it unacceptable for any Christmas tree. But, it is quite nostalgic for the both of us and has grown on me considerably.
3. A hodge-podge collection of ornaments about us, where we've been, and what makes us happy. We will never have what my husband calls a "Relief Society Tree." -- Definition: A "boring" Christmas tree with Ribbons, flowers, and completely coordinating ornaments. Instead, you can find American flags, Disneyland souvenirs, the Batmobile, Captain Jack Sparrow, Rainbow Brite, Spiderman, LDS Temples, Star Wars characters, and more on our tree. We have a tradition yearly of each choosing a new Christmas ornament from the Hallmark store on Thanksgiving weekend. This year our picks were: Brett -- Indiana Jones; Julie -- a little drumming soldier; Jordan -- Batman, the Dark Knight; Kade -- Rocket from Little Einsteins; and in Zoe's memory -- A clam shell with a pearl that reads, "Every life leaves something beautiful behind." We also added ornaments from Mount Rushmore and the Denver Broncos. Nearly every ornament on our tree has a memory that it conjures up.

We are geared up for another great holiday season - - if Kade doesn't drive us crazy asking us numerous times each day if it is Christmas now. We keep telling him that it is the Christmas season, but Christmas day isn't here quite yet. He is slightly tortured by the wait. But, with little ones so excited and full of Christmas spirit, I'm certain this is going to be good.