Okay cool, we're at the end of January and I'm just now getting to the holidays. Not just Christmas...Thanksgiving too. Sorry everyone. And by everyone I mean my 3 followers. Hi Garrett. Hi Stacey. Hi mom.
(This is going to be a long post, so just hang in there.)
Thanksgiving was great. Mom put on a great Thanksgiving at our house. We've recently redecorated the house and been to the storage unit-like a lot-so we were excited to show off our new pad. Like MTV cribs. We opened the door and gave our family a tour while they taped it with my Flip Camera. No that didn't happen. But maybe on a rainy day.
My Aunt has done mostly all the holiday dinners the past couple of years, not only because of her love of entertaining, but mom's been a little gimpy the past couple years. Remember the walker we had to decorate with holly and berries and ribbon? That was a good time. This year mom and I made all the food. Her turkey was off the hook. No really, the best turkey I've ever had ever. Saliva is filling up my mouth. Not to be confused with salvia. Thanks Miley.
The dinner table was adorable of course-Sharon Stewart. Much prettier than Martha, and no man voice. I had this great idea to go all over Poway and Rancho Bernardo and hand pick leaves off the changed trees. It turned out really pretty. I dried them and kept a couple of them in my room for a couple weeks.
We had our next door neighbor over with us since her two kids were up at school, and her other son is in Vanuatu for the Peace Corps. Mom had me print out an article from the NY Times about how people who are grateful live happier, longer lives and read it at the dinner table. Then we wrote down a list of 5 things we're grateful for on these cute cards I made. We put on our sweat pants after, which means it was a great Thanksgiving.
So then we had our Single's Ward Christmas Party at Bishop's house.
It was wonderful because all our friends were home for break. The Meacham house is amazing; it was filled with wonderful friends, delicious food, the most amazing decorations-so yeah it was a good time. Plus the shenanigans that went on during the party were pretty unforgettable. And when the 5 of us girls get together, we're pretty loud. As we were told by one girl under her breath. Happy Holidaysss.
Devin was home for the break, so he was able to enjoy my wonderful story telling, while Lynsi translated for me. Apparently I'm not that good at story telling. I guess people like knowing names rather that "person 1, person 2."
Dancing in the rain on the way to our cars was definitely a highlight, as was turning up my radio and having a dance party in the cul-de-sac. Stacey falling on her butt was great too.
Thanks for the Christmas cheer Meacham family.
After the party, Paisley and I went back to my house. Well we got locked out of my house, and had to bang on the door for like ten minutes in the rain.
We made some macaroni and cheese, watched some tv, listen to a lot music, had hours of girl talk, took pictures with our Christmas tree of course, and enjoyed the little lovely things about being at home with your best friends.
Getting all 50+ plastic bins of holiday decorations out of the garage was a good test for mom and Greg's relationship. It was even better to watch. Good news-they made it AND the house looked wonderful.
Well, not only did they make it through, but they got engaged Christmas Eve! Yep, mom's gonna be a bride-and a gorgeous one at that. I'm so happy for her. I know my Grandpa would love Greg, and I also know my dad would love Greg. Okay not only would him and my grandpa love Greg, but we always talk about how they would be the 3 amigos. My dad and my mom's dad were like besties, and not only good besties but like little naughty teenage boys pulling pranks, telling jokes and being ridiculous together. But it was so great. I know they would have gladly brought Greg into the fold, and have many great moments together. Can't wait till we're all together again so we can see them in action. But you know, we'll be on the other side, so they can't pull the things they did down here. They'll have to get creative. Anyways, the night before Christmas Eve, Greg and I got things ready for the proposal. Greg packed some drinks and snacks for their morning drive to the beach to watch the sunrise. Mom kept asking me, "I wonder why he wants to go watch the sunrise. So weird." I was like, "Well the family is going to be over for the next two days so he probably just wants some alone time with you before all the family craziness happens." Phew. Worked like a charm. Of course Greg and I couldn't sleep at all. It was like the excitement of Santa coming two nights in a row. Santa really likes us. We're on his facebook Top Ten friends. I got the call after the proposal-mom crying. And now thanks to the pumpkin size ring on her finger, all she does it point to stuff, scratch her nose, or complain that her wrist hurts.
After they got home, we had the family over for Christmas Eve appetizers and dinner which was so dang good.
We had mom's Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas with homemade Cafe Rio house dressing. I made the dressing and homemade flour tortillas. I was pretty proud of myself I must admit. Here's to having a husband to cook for one day. Cheers to dreams coming true.
We got all bundled up for our drive around the neighborhood. We stopped by Wally World (the next neighborhood down, who goes all out for Christmas). Last year when we drove by Wally World, we stopped and talked to Santa who came to our window, and the drunk elf hit on mom. Now, these are just people who live on the houses on Wally World street...who dress up as Christmas characters...and the wives stand outside and give out cookies and hot chocolate. The elf was pretty funny, and mom's reaction was even funnier. I kept driving by the elf so he could see mom over and over. She was getting sassy, so I rolled down her window and put on the child lock. Genius. After, we stopped by Christmas Card Lane, a neighborhood where my Aunt and Uncle live. People decorate their houses with lights, and make giant Christmas Cards and display them on their front yard. It's so great. We looked at all the luminarios on the way to taking my Grandma home. It's a tradition every year to look at all these places that have become special to us. Particularly special are the luminarios. My grandpa was one of the people behind making this happen in town, as well as the idea itself, so whenever we see them, we feel the Spirit so strong, and we just know it's Christmas and that our loved ones passed are with us. Sometimes, people leave their legacy and it's very obvious. You know, like Oprah. They are known for things. Their name is a household name. Then other times, people leave their legacy in little ways. A note, a memory, a luminary lighting the street you live on, a conversation you had, whatever it may be. My grandpa left a legacy in our town. Everyone knew him, and loved him. I'm honored that my family is part of such a special tradition.
Wally World
Christmas Card Lane
That night, we got the stockings ready, and finished wrapping gifts. Well, my mom finished. I'm the gift wrapper in the family. Ever since I was little, I've loved wrapping gifts, so my family took advantage of that and worked me like a little elf in the North Pole. But I love it. Ben the bear also helped me with the stockings. My grandma got him for me, and for some reason he's always around when I'm wrapping or stuffing stockings, so we call him Ben the Christmas Bear. Christmas is the season where ridiculousness is acceptable. Just name it the "Christmas ____" and you're good to go.
We have another family tradition of wearing the same pajamas on Christmas Eve. Yes we do, and it's great. Well, usually it's just me and mom, so shopping is easy. But this year, we have Greg. I've never really bought clothes for a boy. Well, kind of. I bought Garrett a sweater once, and I always bought stuff for my dad and grandpa. But I know their taste. Thankfully, Devin helped me pick out some stuff for Greg at Target. Me with my handfuls of boy stuff- "Dev, will he like this? Would you wear this? Are these too big? Do these jammies match our jammies?" Poor Devin. Well, our jammies were grey with white snowflakes on them. So I got Greg some grey flannel jammies...this is his first Christmas with our family...we can't make him wear snowflakes yet. Give the guy a fighting chance right?
We usually don't open gifts until Christmas morning, but we were so excited, we couldn't wait. We opened just a gift here or there. Okay, Greg ended up giving mom all the expensive gifts that come in pretty little boxes. He kept pulling them out from inside the tree where he stuffed them and hid them. We're like where are these coming from? So not only did she get an engagement ring, but she got two beautiful necklaces with diamonds on them...one of them I've been staring at for like a year. She deserves them and so much more. Yay for boys spoiling girls...and spoiling them right back.
The next morning, we jumped out of bed, went and got my grandma, and unwrapped our presents with gusto. Seriously, you would never know I'm an adult. I was so excited. I ended up getting everything I wanted, which was so great because Greg and mom tried to convince me for days I wasn't getting something that I've been wanting for a while. I had opened everything, and we were just sitting around talking, then Greg busted out a surprise box they had "forgotten"...immense joy followed. Yep, I'm one of those people that gets happy from worldly things such as opening up gifts. Then they pull out this huge silver box with silver ribbon...you know what that means...Nordstrom. The mecca. I was shocked. I opened and found my beloved bag I have named "Scotty" that I never would have asked for. I'll stop talking about gifts now because you're all judging me. We took Christmas naps, then went over to my Aunt and Uncle's house for Christmas dinner. It was such a fun night. We all sat around the fire and told stories, laughed, remembered old Christmases, told each other what goals we had for the New Year, and just enjoyed being with each other. It was the first Christmas in four years that has actually felt like Christmas. It was amazing. Sure we remembered old times shared with loved ones, and missed them dearly, but we didn't cry, we didn't mourn, we didn't grieve. We celebrated the birth of Christ, and the miracle that He is, and the things He has done for us so that we may be together again forever. The Spirit was strong this Christmas, and I'm so grateful for that. For healing, for time, for memories.
The holiday had come and gone, and it was really good to be around my friends again. Although it's weird being home while everyone is up at school, or working, it's kind of nice being here. I'm not out every night...instead, I get to bed early. Okay not early. But I get in bed early...watching 30 Rock on Netflix (thanks Garrett). I have been able to grow closer to my best friends over the phone, through letters and packages, and I know them on a deeper level now, and I love that. I can do what I need to do at home, and spend more time with myself and with family.
But, before Paisley left, we made sure to soak up every last minute together. We had a list of things we wanted to do while she was home, and we actually got to do most of them which is good for us, since we usually want to do everything with no time. We had a great time on our Sunday drive. We went to Old Poway Park to take some pictures and enjoy the pretty places close to home. Of course we had the creepy Mexicans following us around, forcing us to walk on the railroad the entire time. Really attractive walking on the rocks in heels, or walking with your feet apart, one on each rail.
It was worth it though. We went by the building where we held my dad's funeral. It was decorated for Christmas with a big tree out front, and a status representing the Pioneers. It was beautiful. It doesn't make me sad to go back there. That day was a really healing day for the whole family, so it holds good memories.
We got pictures we really like, to add to our collection. Yep collection.
The holidays were great. I loved being with my family, and having old friends come home. I can't wait for the day that I'm married and have a family and get to make even more memories.
