and then there was one...day left...

my christmas eve started at 5 AM with loads of laundry, a Chritmas episode of Saved by the Bell and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air--you know, the one with Boys II Men. I got to work and immediately downloaded their version of Let it Snow. Phil is going to fix my headlights today. They BOTH went out and I've been driving with my brights the last week. My apologies to everyone who "flashed" me to make sure I knew I was driving with my high beams. Your message is noted. And a lehi family christmas has officially begun. Em came in on Sunday and Phil and Marilyn got here yesterday. It's a Christmas Miracle they're even here in the first place--I can't believe all the snow!! I love that it's a white lehi family christmas but man, it's annoying. I hope you're all well and with the ones you love this holiday season. Wise Men Still Seek Him. Merry Christmas!

And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good-Night!"

stop with the sweets already

spotted: N at her desk in a sugar coma. Toffee and caramel popcorn to blame. What is the deal with holiday treats? There aren't even enough individuals at our firm to warrant the amount of boxes and baskets and tins that are arriving in bulk daily. Anyway, I've pretty much made myself sick and I'm quitting sugar. At least until tomorrow.... :)

Here's a few random photos:

M at Thanksgiving. We jimmy-rigged a few blankets so he could feed himself

me & B-final performance of Messiah

Grandpa & M. They loved watching football together

M & H staredown. H doesn't like being in 2nd place now.

oh no you didn't

In my attempt to catch my blog life up to my real life, I missed a few little events: Festival of Trees Part 1, Craft Hour, Festival of Trees Part 2 and The First Presidency Christmas Devotional.

1. Festival of Trees Part 1:

The girls and I decided to go to the annual Festival of Trees. It is a charity event where people donate elaborately decorated trees and they are auctioned off for a Children's Hospital. This event is huge and quite popular here in Utah. One tree even went for $26,000. what? Anyway, as you can imagine, the parking lot at the expo center was a circus. People were circling like sharks and using every parking lot trick imaginable. We've all done it. The slowly inching behind pedestrians, sitting in an aisle off to the side, waving along everyone behind us, throwing on the blinker, quickly b-lining it toward a pedestrian in another aisle...you get the picture. Well we had paid our dues and gone up and down several aisles and had been one car too late for about 10 or so minutes when finally we saw a couple move toward their vehicle. Jackpot. We were the closest and next car. turn the blinker on. and bam--totally blindsided by a parking spot thief. What? Seriously? I know it's only a parking spot but there is some etiquette to parking and we were clearly there first. We pulled behind them and did the "what the" with our arms up in the air and were about to move along when the lady totally gloated about it. She comes up to our rolled down window and snottily boasts about what an awesome spot she just got. She was somehow proud of her husband's ability to be a snake. We found a spot a few minutes later and I was almost over it until I saw her and her smug little husband standing in line. My blood was boiling. I had fire in my eyes as I practially ran toward them and told them what I thought of them. I'm a little embarrased at my behavior because at that moment I was no better than they were but I couldn't help myself. There are few things that get me irritated and sadly enough, this stupid parking spot was one of them. Bah Hum Bug. In the spirit of Christmas, I wished upon them a non-injury accident. Had it not been Christmas, I might have wished upon them an injury accident :) Tis' the Season.

2. Arts & Crafts:

Kim and I decided to do craft hour the weekend before our little black and white soiree. Well, actually I decided for us and roped Kim into helping :) We were pretty proud of ourselves with what we created with foam cones, glitter paper, a glue gun and silver ornaments. We cranked the tunes and got crazy with our mad craft skills and we even got excited to use the dustbuster to clean up. They may as well put us in the nursing home now. :) It was after 11 and I started to pack up and get ready to head home when I got a phone call from an unrecognized number. I made the fatal error of answering. "Hi this is Debbie with Festival of Trees and you're not here" What? Who? I don't understand. "You signed up to help take down the festival of trees and you're not here." Oh...it was true. Weeks earlier I had signed up in church to volunteer at the Festival of Trees takedown. But where was the reminder phone call? Apparently this WAS the reminder phone call.

3. Festival of Trees Part II:

So against my better judgement I hauled down to Sandy. It was well after midnight when I arrived. I was told that my team was to load up all the stanchions on crates and forklift them back to a certain area. Can someone explain to me why they picked the single girls to be in charge of the 150 lb. stanchions? Real smart, people. I decided to be in charge of the shrink wrap but was told I was doing it wrong. I could lift about every tenth stanchion so I ended up just wandering around and occasionally pushing the fork lift. I did get some great photos though.

4. The First Presidency Christmas Devotional was very nice as always. Kim, being the only one on time, managed to charm her way into the conference center (I had the tickets) and save us seats. Thank you for being a rock star, Kim :) We took the obligatory photo on the deck with the temple in the background and then called it a night.

10 days until Christmas

wow. I'm not quite sure what has happened the last few weeks but I'm now just able to catch my breath. It's just been nonstop ever since I got back from Texas. Thanksgiving was great-the whole gang was there. The Johnsons are all about food and football so Thanksgiving is definitely our gig. I can't believe there are only 10 days left until Christmas. I've got a lot of shopping to do. The only thing I've purchased is Hello Kitty slippers for my two nieces....and me. I've got really small feet and there was a pair that fit me :) My work party, which was a Griswold Family Christmas, went really well and I was very pleased with how it turned out. The photo booth, moose mugs and ugly sweaters were a big hit. I'm doing the Messiah gospel choir again and have had a number of rehearsals and performances which I L-O-V-E. Our director, B Murphy, is one of the coolest people and just a bright light to those around him. It's not a way of praise I'm used to but inspiring just the same. My eyes have been opened to another way of worhip and it has been such a good time for me. I also had a little black and white soiree with some friends over the weekend and had a great time. It had snowed all day so outside was really pretty and the home we were in was gorgeous. We ate and played games, ate some more, etc.....and a big thanks to Marilyn for making the miniature stockings. Who knew mini black velvet stockings are nowhere to be found :) Now I've just got one more performance of the Messiah tonight and the Christmas Carol play with Molly tomorrow and that will be about it until the fam gets here for a Lehi Family Christmas :)

B Murphy and the Messiah Community Gospel Choir

the entire gang at the black & white soiree

Spencer scored an itunes card at the white elephant

Mormon champagne-a little martinelli's to conclude the evening

Kim's loot at the white elephant. a number of cat and dog books.

SH, NJ, KL, BP

M and B

and the stockings were hung by the chimney with care

this clearly says santa claus is coming to town

BP-"Clark, the lights aren't twinkling"

Kim saving the decorations

J and M

J got Budweiser boxers, Stetson, and wife beaters. Merry Christmas West Valley

Joe Jonas pinup-complete with purity ring

i heart Taylor Swift

the fellas

the ladies

M and his new Santa PJs

I don't think M is so sure about this Santa Claus thing...

The Giving of Thanks

Well-I'm flying south for the winter. ok, not the entire winter-but for Thanksgiving...I'm headed to Texas!! I haven't been there since last December and I couldn't be more excited. Watch out Waco, here I come :) Happy Thanksgiving to everyone wherever you may be celebrating. I'm stealing this from my friend Jenny but I thought it was an excellent quote for the holiday. "The Capacity to be Grateful is a Blessing." -James E Talmage

The Holy War

Do you bleed RED or do you bleed BLUE?
November 22, 2008

VS.

they just aren't interesting

hey kids--not too much going on here. the last few weeks have been somewhat uneventful but busy nonetheless. Kim and I hit up another concert: Matt Nathanson. He is really good and puts on a great show--way funny too. I've been working a lot on my work Christmas Party--decided to do a "Griswold Family Christmas". There will be an ugly sweater contest, everything is decorated in green, red and gold, a LOT of colored lights, plastic reindeer, moose mugs, etc... I'm looking forward to it quite a bit--It's different from what we usually do but I think it will be a lot of fun, especially if everyone gets into it. I found this little gem on ebay and it's pretty sweet--I'm excited to wear it. Been spending a lot of time with Les and Matt and Murphy--he's getting so big and he's being responsive and really smiley so it's fun to spend time with him. It should be no surprise that I'm headed to a midnight showing of Twilight tonight--oh, i hope it's good. Team Edward! I found this great little place a few weeks ago down the street from my house called Divas Cupcakes and Coffee-it's this quaint little coffee shop with desserts and drinks and I just love it. My favorite is a steamed milk with a shot of coconut and a red velvet cupcake. I'm headed home in a week and am very much looking foward to being in Waco for Thanksgiving and spending time with the fam. Emily and Amy and her family will also be there so that will be great to see the other kiddos. My friend Jeanette was in town and it was an absolute pleasure to see her and hang out with her for a bit. She was one of my freshman and sophomore roommates at the Y. I can't believe we've been friends for 11+ years...where has the time gone? And in her own words, "We're all a little crazy and those who are not just aren't interesting." I couldn't agree more :)

when are you due?

"I'm due in April and I have no idea who the father is. and no, I'm not married" was the witty retort that came to mind two seconds too late when last night I was asked the question, "When are you due?" awesome.

iT's aLL AboUt tHe woRdPLay

Jason Mraz at the E-Center was phenomenal. his live show is absolutely incredible--L-O-V-E-D it!

that's JM on stage in the background

here's a link to a video of one of my faves right now http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrlhawRComo

i doubt it

really random drive-thru experience:

order speaker/employee #1: okay--your total will be $28.70
(we drive to window #1)
window #1/employee #1: (who happens to be wearing a jetson head set complete with red flashing lights and multiple buttons) ok, let me read back your order to make sure i got it right...
(reads order)
me: yes--but the one sandwich should have ranch on it
employee #1: ok, let me fix it.
(3 minutes and an employee huddle later)
employee #1: ok--your total is $23.82
me/mel: are you sure? you told us earlier it was $28.70
employee #1: yeah--since I messed up the order, i'm not charging you for the sandwich but you'll still get it
me/mel: are you sure?
employee #1: yeah
(we drive to window #2)
window #2/employee #2 (happens to be a 15-yr old pimply-faced boy): so we're not doing the roast beef ranch, right? you took it off the order...
me/mel: actually no, we need the sandwich. the girl at the first window said we didn't have to pay for it.
employee #2: well, she's a liar
me/mel: ok, well are we going to get the sandwich or not?
employee #2: I doubt it
(3 minutes and an employee huddle later)
manager (utah county mom with a permagrin): oh my gosh, we just forgot to have you pay for that sandwich so we're making it right now, but we need you to pay for it
me/mel: whatever--here's the card
(manager comes back to the window with the receipt and as if taken by surprise...)
manager: wow, you girls are beautiful. just really beautiful...
me/mel: um thanks?
(3 minutes and an employee huddle later we FINALLY get our sandwiches)

p.s. they put my pickle next to my cookie. i can't eat a pickle cookie.

grade: F for Kneaders in Highland.

The week in review

Here is the variety of happenings the last week or so...

last Saturday Kim and I went to a concert--Thriving Ivory--and had a great time. I highly recommend checking them out. We met Molly afterwards for some dessert and then Molly drove me home and Kim drove to her new place in Bountiful. This is a crazy long story but Kim got home, thought someone was in her house, her salt and pepper shakers kept mysteriously moving, Molly and I drove to Bountiful, picked up Kim, drove back home, drove back up to Bountiful, called the police, went up to the apartment, figured out what had happened, had a good laugh, chit-chatted for a while, got home at 4 AM. trust me, it's a really long story... Tuesday I went to Thriller (dance show) with Les and some of her girlfriends and had a great time. This venue is particularly difficult to park at but by some miracle, we managed to get princess parking after some guy with a cello strapped to his back decided to go home for the night. He could tell we were cheering and hollering when we figured out we could have his spot so he gave us the thumbs up :) Friday night, we went to Witches Night Out. We just sported witches hats but the crazy ladies were out in full force. It was pretty entertaining and some of the costumes were pretty impressive. We grabbed dinner afterward and had one of the WORST servers ever. I'm not sure what it was that we did to her but she had an A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E from the moment we sat down. I like to think I'm a pretty good tipper--if you do a decent job, I'll give you a nice tip. There were six of us-it was an $80 dollar bill. She got $6 which was still being generous. Saturday, was the Cougar game. I got some work tix which is a pretty good gig--lunch and snacks and coolers under our seats...parking pass...We did pull a W but it was close. Who knew UNLV could move the ball like that? Thanks Pferd for coming with....as an avid Ute fan, I know it was hard to come to CougarTown. I had an exciting evening with the fam at Ikea but I did some craft projects to spruce up my little office space. Last night the girls went to the Cornbelly's corn maze in Lehi for some fall fun. We had a great time and there was quite a bit to do--I don't think any of us realized how big this place was and all the things they have set up. Kim and I inadvertently wore the same outfit and we had a minor scare when we realized Molly had dropped her keys somewhere in the corn maze but due to a friendly pumpkin head who lent us his flashlight keychain and a compassionate Jason, equipped with a chainsaw, we were able to find them. crisis averted.