Christmas Wrap-Up

Last year we spent Christmas at my sister Sarah's house. Besides it being awesome and very accommodating for when people get sick (there's a bathroom on every floor and at every end of the house. At let me tell you, I needed every one!) but besides that, they have a great tradition about who the gifts come from.

At her house, they and the kids get not only presents from Santa, but also from Barack Obama, Nacho Libre, Spiderman and lots of other assorted celebrities/fake people. And I liked that. I mean, I don't think my kid would ever really think that Nacho Libre gave him a gift, so it might not be such a heart break when he learns that Santa isn't real either.

So, with a totally free conscious I've decided to steal Sarah's idea. And so Evi received many gifts this year from various people.

From Frank Lloyd Wright she received these blocks:




















From Pablo Picasso this:

And from Jack Kerouac she received the following books:



You get the idea. I don't believe in threatening my kids with Santa. Because if they were really bad, I would never not bring them anything. So why threaten to do something I would never be willing to follow through? Doesn't that make me a liar? A stinking threatening liar?

Anyway, I think my kids will be so filled with Santa crap at school and I don't plan on bursting their little bubbles at age 3. But if they think Santa is bringing them presents, then they can also believe that the deceased Frank Lloyd Wright can also bring them building blocks.

Who's with me on this?

And thanks to Sarah and Chad for the idea. You are the greatest. Who did your kids get presents from this year?

Holiday Panic

I am in full panic mode. I haven't bought ANYTHING for anybody, and there are only like negative three days left before Christmas. (I'm kidding of course, there are actually 10 shopping days left.)

But there could be 110 days for all it means to me. I'm without transport for the next week or so. Marcelo has finals, and will be at school all day studying (Doesn't that sound awfully TAMN of me?) So I really don't know what I'm going to do.

Usually I get my inspiration while I shop. I see what is out there, and then that makes me think of other things to get other people, and it continues. I can get my shopping done quite quickly, but it involves me actually leaving the house.

I don't like shopping online, unless I'm specifically looking for something. I don't go online just to browse. It's overwhelming, distracting and too time consuming. Meaning I will waste all day looking at crap I don't really need. And instead of buying the presents I really wanted originally, I end up buying a DVD of Moulin Rouge. So I've learned to KISS. I log on, shop, and get off. Keep it simple, stupid.

But that's beyond the point now. I'm in full panic mode. Marcelo is so difficult to buy for! He's picky, and even if I get him something that he needs (like pants) I end up getting the wrong dye shade. It's really very horrible. But gift cards are like saying "I really don't know you. I'm very non-creative and I value our relationship at $15". Which is acceptable for the mail man. But not for spouses.

So, this is it. What do you think I should buy for the following people?
My Husband
My daughter
Myself
An un-named female family member that might read this blog and who I have for Secret Santa.
My mom.

Thank you for your help.

Home again, Home again. Jiggity Jig

Mar and I just got back last night from Texas. That's right, we had a REAL Texas Christmas. It was so great to be with my family and to just all get together. And of course to see Julie get married. I don't want to do a full time-line or day by day play back for you. It would just take too long. So here are some of the highlights:

* Santa found the house!! He came and brought presents to both Jeff & Tina's kids AND Sarah's kids. Christmas morning was so much fun and we had several beloved presents that classified as "room leavers" i.e. they made the kid so excited to open it he had to leave the room to show someone else in another room and/or put the beloved present in it's new home

*Even with all the pregnancy scares everyone was able to make it. We weren't sure Clarin would be there, her doctor might've grounded her. But she made it and it was a full belly bonanza. Seriously, so many pregnant woman. We were a sight walking down the streets of Six Flags. And so many ready to pop!! It made me realize how close these girls all are!!

* The gift exchange between siblings was so much fun. I don't think we'll ever do it again. Maybe we will. We'll have to see if we are all still into it. I got new luggage!! It was JUST what I needed and it was perfect. Marcelo got a video game. Great.

* Julie's wedding was beautiful and perfect and there was minimal mom/dad drama. The sealer said a great quote by President Hinckley that I cannot find. But he said that if we couldn't remember the quote (smart sealer, knowing we would forget almost all of the ceremony) we should remember these 1o short little words: If it is to be, it is up to me. Marcelo and I decided we want that phrase up somewhere in our house.

* Christmas day while we were eating and playing with our toys and did I mention eating? Well, while we were eating and playing and waiting for the rest of my family to arrive, my brother Jeff, My brother in law Chad and various random cousins decided to prepare and shoot off some rockets. They make them themselves and they usually have parachutes on them. They are just basically really cool. They took them over to the field next to their kids' elementary school. They set off the first rocket and they were looking at pictures on Jeff's camera and then Chad said, "do you smell burning?" Yup, they set a field on fire. They stamped it out and were THISCLOSE to calling the fire department. But they had enough people to stamp it out so they kept it under control. But many new shoes had to be bought.

* The day after Christmas (the day BEFORE the wedding) we all went to Six Flags together. The temperature was really good and we got really REALLY discounted tickets. It was NOT fun going with a baby. Don't try ever going with someone under 36 inches. There are absolutely NO "family" rides. But my sister (who is 6 weeks away from her due date) watched my baby so I could go on 2 rides with Marcelo. It wasn't SO devastating because more then half the rides were closed for the Christmas season. So of the few rides that were open, we went on the only 2 rides we wanted to go on anyway.

We did get to go on the Titan. This coaster climbs and climbs and climbs and then drops STRAIGHT down. As it just kept climbing and climbing, I thought to myself "I totally regret this decision". But it was really fun. Just so you know, Marcelo refused to go on it. He's such a scaredy cat.

* The wedding day went quite smoothly. We were there early, pictures were quick, and the torrential downpour that was taking place as we walked into the temple had cleared up by the time we left the temple. Almost like someone in the temple prayed for that to happen!!

* The night before the wedding my mom got sick. Up vomiting 6-8 times. Sarah was so apologetic because her kids had had it the week before. But my mom pushed through. The day of the wedding she was running on no sleep and no food. But she was such a trooper.

* It hit me the night of the wedding. I was 24 hours behind my mom but I had it all. The vomiting over and over again. Your body just wants EVERYTHING out. And it doesn't care if there is nothing in there, it will convulse until you get SOMETHING up, dang it! Well, remember how I sometimes pass out when I puke? At my 2:30 puke session, the last thing I remember is running to the toilet as fast as I could because the retching had already started. I think I collapsed when I was almost there, because I woke up with my back against the tub (which is next to the toilet) my head on the wall and vomit in my mouth. It was scary because my head was hanging back and the puke was still coming up even as I was passed out. I very quickly realized that I could've choked on it and died. There was puke all around me, on my clothes, on the wall, on the floor but not a drop in the toilet. No sir, that toilet was nice and clean.

And I think when I fell down was when I woke up my niece who was sleeping on just the other side of the door (it was a "Jack and Jill" style bathroom). Poor girl, I think I scared her. I know I scared myself!! I recuperated for the next 3 days and I was still puking the night before we flew home. It was a full 3 days of pukedom. Or as Kim refers to it "Puke Fest '08"

* Marcelo and I went to a nice Texas Steakhouse the night before we left. Sarah watched the Pesi and we had a good time. Well, he had a good time, but I was realizing that I most likely would be puking in a few hours time. My joy was a lot more muted. But the food was amazing. I'm definitely going back there the next time I'm in Texas. And this time I'm going to keep it down.

* And finally, did you know the tap water in Texas by my sister's house smells and tastes like dirt? I don't know how else to describe it. You smell it and it's very "earthy" and it smells just like damp earth. ("It has an oaky afterbirth." Ha!!) Kidding. But not all Texas water is this way. The farther south closer to Dallas you get the better it is. But her water is VERY strong. My mom was the biggest whiner about it. Most of us just drank the filtered Brita water, but mom went and bought big jugs of bottled water. I actually really appreciated it when I was sick. For some reason, while sick I had a really strong aversion to the water, even though I had been drinking it for the whole first part of the week with no problem. Strange.

I had a great time with my family and I wish that we could do this every year. I wish I had pictures to post here, but Marcelo left a bag at Sarah's house and it has our camera in it. I'll try to post some later, so please come back for pictures.

I've never been so happy to be back in Utah. I love being with my family, and I love traveling. But there is just something about being in your own space that makes you sane once again. Whenever I leave, I'm so thankful to be at home, wherever that home may be.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I've never been really into Christmas. My family doesn't have any traditions surrounding Christmas except one: we eat Chinese food on Christmas Eve. And if you really think about it, that's not too much. There's no Nativity re-enactment, no caroling into the wee hours, no reading of the Christmas Story in Luke, or even in the Book of Mormon.

We just don't do anything. I don't know if it's because of my father. See he was never into Christmas and almost always he would work on Christmas Day (he would get paid triple overtime to work on that day. So it was a win-win for him. He got to be away from his kids, spend the day bashing heads AND make money. So really it was a win-win-win)

Anyway, because we never really did anything cool on Christmas, I don't really feel any special attachment to the day. I mean, in the past Christmas was up there with the 4th of July or even like Halloween. I mean, free candy? Dressing up? Oh yeah, growing up Halloween was MUCH better than Christmas.

And then I started working for the she-beast. The succubus of fun. The black hole of holidays. When Lynn wanted a DAY yo go home to visit her VERY sick father (who might not see another Christmas), Jean didn't want to give it to her. (Surprise surprise, right?) And so holidays were never high on my list, other than for the reason that I got to get away from that horrible job. But I've always known that I had to go back.

But this year? This year, my friends, I get to ENJOY the Holidays. We will be starting with a little Halloween time. We have a baby to take around and everyone can ohhh and ahh at her and say she's adorable even though she's not going to be wearing a cute outfit. (I won't waste money on an outfit this year. She can't even walk!!) And we will spend some time with the ward and with friends. Maybe some spiced cider, friends?

And then we have some Thanksgiving time. The party is going to be coming here. Well, everyone but Sarah and Jeff. So 4 of the 6 kids and their families will be there. And guess where we will be having the dinner. Just guess. Not in my little rat-hole apartment. No-sir-ee. We are going to MaxKyle's huge house. All his roommates will be gone and we have the whole place to ourselves. We can get buck WILD with the turkey (and side dishes) and watch their large screen TV all day. I'm very excited.

Plus we don't have to worry about the "two dinners" like we tried to do last year. If you remember, last Thanksgiving was the first time there was a "division" of activities between my parents. We tried to do something with both of them on that day, but it didn't really work out. So this year we aren't even pretending. There will just be one activity, one meal, and my dad can just sit alone and think about the fact that he has pushed all his kids away from him.

And then, my friends, Christmas. But wait!! First we have some Birthday celebrations! First there is Allen and then there is Reagan. And I'm very excited to sing all the songs to both of them. And of course there will be cake. And probably some presents. And some more cake.

And then to Texas for a REAL Christmas. There will be nativity re-enactments. And Chinese food. And fondue (Chad's tradition) and maybe some Christmas Day Hot Tubbin'. I don't even care about presents. They really don't matter.

The best present will be that I will have a Summit-Free Christmas. I don't have to worry about getting a present for everyone in the office. See everyone in the office always leaves it to the assistants to figure out what they will get Jean. And we are in charge of buying it, and paying for it and wrapping it and then *hopefully* we get paid back from everyone. And then there could be a bad situation like last year where Jean decided not to buy presents for the agents and then they call me and are like "uh, are we getting presents this year?" and it's SUPER uncomfortable for me. BUT I DON'T HAVE TO DO IT THIS YEAR!!! I should call the new assistant and let them know what they have to look forward to. I really think they should be warned.

But It's not me!! It's not my responsibility. I get to sit back and live it up at the houses of others and just enjoy being with my family. You know, what the holidays are all about! It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

Christmas Day Surprises

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

I hope you all are having a very merry day. We got a white Christmas! I've never actually seen a white Christmas. Now I can die, because I know what one looks like.

Last night we went over to my brother's house. His wife found a place that makes awesome tamales They bought like 30 of them and we ate until I wanted to pop. My brother's wife has her whole family in town, and they make the best food.

Anyway, I brought a delicious apple crisp and then we just sat around and ate and talked. But my dad was oddly absent. He was being "Mr. Poopy Pants" (as we call his alter ego that doesn't talk to anyone and sits on the couch pouting for some unknown reason) But we didn't pay him any attention. Everyone else went downstairs to play pool while I passed out on the couch while watching "A Christmas Story"

Anyway, Christmas rocked. Marcelo got me just what I wanted. Here are just a few of my rocking gifts this year:

* New Sheets
* A Bathrobe
* Windshield wipers
* Towels
* Eye Shadow (Thanks Reagan! Are you trying to tell me that I need to wear more makeup?)
* A Squirmy Flying Mythical Creature
* PJ pants
* A Toothbrush

I know some may say that my presents are not very cool, but I promise you that I got JUST what I wanted. Windshield wipers are what ALL the kids are asking for this year. You are crazy if you don't know what a good set of windshield wipers will do for your self confidence.

And now, as an extra Christmas Bonus, I'm gong to tell you some of my pleasant and not so pleasant discoveries about pregnancy. These are things that people told me would happen to me, and I didn't believe them. Here they are in no particular order:

Sensitive Boobs I am one of those rare (and very lucky) creatures that doesn't suffer any cramps or other side effects during my period. When I started taking the pill many years ago, it was the first time that I had ever felt a cramp. How messed up is that? Therefore, I don't get ouchy boobs during my PMS week.

So about 1 week before my birthday, I took off my bra at the end of the night and my poor little girls gave an audible whine in protest as the fell to near my belly button. I was shocked and I actually thought for a while that I had been punched in both my boobs unbeknownst to me. (Maybe my next blog is to discover why I think it's possible to be punched in BOTH boobs without my knowing). It was actually the hurting boobs that gave me the very big hope that I might be pregnant. And they were right!!

But they have not relented. They hurt so much!! I didn't believe that this would happen to me because my friends would say, "oh, your boobs will hurt like when you are PMS-ing". And since I had never felt it before, I thought I might pass this one by (like the vomiting. I KNEW I wouldn't be a vomiter). But as I reach across my desk to grab something, my ladies recoil as I ever so gently brush by them with my arm. It's like they've been saving up for 27 years to hurt all at once RIGHT NOW.

Memory Loss Judd told me about this one. She said that I would be walking somewhere to get something and I would have to stop because I will have forgotten where I was going or what I needed. Now, Judd knows I have a FREAKISHLY good memory. I think she's a little upset with herself for telling me certain items of information because she knows I'll never forget them. She really shouldn't worry, because her stories are all AWESOME.

Anyway, I did NOT believe her when she said this. BUT IT'S TRUE!!! The person who most often receives the brunt of this is Lynn. I will be in the middle of a story or some instructions for her or asking her an important question about a file and I will just STOP because I have no idea what I need and what I was just saying. And it's not like I'm doing something else like reading an email or answering the phone and I can't remember what I need to say. No, it's like full on, looking her in the eye, focused on HER and I just have to stop. Luckily Lynn rockes and she just laughs at me and gives me a minute to gather my thoughts again. I feel the worst about it when I do it TWICE in the middle of the same thought. Now THAT'S bad.

But like I said, I didn't think that this would happen to me, but it did. Just goes to show what I know about being pregnant.

Wanna know something funny? There was a third thing about pregnancy that surprised me, but I forgot it!! (See above item) I didn't write it down, and that's what I get. If I remember, I promise to tell you.

Hope you all are enjoying the holidays as much as I am!!

P.S. Marcelo and I were watching the show "True Life" on MTV and the topic was "I'm Pregnant" and this girl had the baby right on camera. While they did a GREAT job of not showing her whoo-hoo, you did see EVERYTHING else. The baby's head was out, and then the rest of the body came out in a gush of liquid. I turned to marcelo and he was doing one of those "I just vomited in my mouth" quivers. I hit the repeat button on Tivo and made him watch it again to see all the liquid that shoots out at the same time. He was not happy. I just think he should be prepared.

I think it'll be ok, though. I plan on having Judd and Reagan in the delivery room with me, so when he has to go lie down and vomit they can take over helping me breathe and focus.