Natural Sceptre

Christmas has come and gone. I can’t believe it’s over for a whole year! A few days ago John looked at me and said, “This is your time of year, isn’t it?” I guess it is. I love the decorations, I love the presents, and I LOVE surprises. Even though I’ll tell you that I don’t.

The last few days have been good ones. On Monday we sat around and ate. We played Killer Bunnies and Flux and backgammon. We watched movies and just hung out- which was very nice. It’s fun for me to see John and my family together.

On Christmas Day we decided not to start the festivities until 10am- which was nice, a little bit of sleeping in. We made TONS of food the day before- so we ate ham, prime rib, shrimp, lasagna, potatoes, jellied carrots, pancakes, and pot pie. Correction: my mom made most of it. We also ate lots of candy and chips. Presents were fun. We sent a box to John’s parents on their mission with some pictures and candy, a couple CD’s, and a flash drive. I hear they liked it It was fun putting it together. We got my Dad a USB Missile Launcher and my Mom a couple books. One was on writing children’s books, and one was a picture book I thought she’d like.  We went to see I am Legend with the fam.  It was pretty suspenseful.  Later that night John and I went and saw Juno.  It was good.  It was real life, finding the good in the bad, trying to figure out who you are and “what next” kind of good.  It’s one I’m definitely planning to own.  Then John and I went on a drive like the old days.  It was nice- a perfect day.

I went back to work Wednesday morning.  I start full time on the second, but we had a meeting just to get some things pushed through over the holidays.  Draft revision is in full swing.  I was done by 12, then came home and hung out with John and the padres for a few.  That evening John went to work and the parents and I met Jonathan at Olive Garden for some dinner.  There was a woman with HIDEOUS eyebrows there.  Seriously.  My Dad kept saying things like, “You know what I’m thinking about right now?  The Golden Arches.  Maybe we should’ve gone to McDonald’s,” and “You know what I missed when we were out here this summer?  Caterpillars.  I didn’t even see ONE.”  My Mom was shaking trying to keep the laughter in and I was horrified that the woman would hear.  What I don’t get is that she CHOSE to draw them in like that.  It wasn’t even like she was born that way.

The highlight of the dinner, though, was when my brother asked what we were going to do after dinner and my Mom said, “I’m thinking about getting a tat.”  We all just looked at her until my Dad asked my brother if he had any friends that had been in jail.  They do a pretty good job I hear.  Extensive experience.

Thursday John’s parents drove into town for a wedding.  We got to visit with them a bit at the reception.  It was fun to see them in their missionary badges!  And it was good to have some  peppermint ice cream and just talk for awhile.

Today we went to Burger Supreme which is SO YUMMY and then my Mom and I went to Build a Bear.  It was so fun!  I built a bunny and my Mom built a puppy and we ran around with a bunch of chillin’s and didn’t even notice that we were the only adults in there shopping for ourselves.  For whatever reason- we had a really good time.  Then we came home and hung around with the clan a little more.  Tomorrow we’ll have lunch one more time, then drive them up to Salt Lake and drop them off at their hotel.  They fly out early Sunday morning.  I’ll miss having them around.