It's begining to look a lot like Christmas!

This weekend we did our annual Christmas Tree hunt. It is the one time of the year that I get TOTAL control. My parents let me have the final say on which tree we cut down. I have a habit of picking the tallest, fattest tree I can find! Every year my dad tells me it's the last year, but I know he enjoys it as much as I do!! This year my dad was hunting and Erin had clinicials, so it was just my mom and I. We walked around and around...and I just wasn't finding "IT" the perfect tree. It was freezing, and we didn't have a lot of time, so I settled on one (I NEVER settle...I should have known better!) The tree was a little thinner then I ususally go for, but it was nice and full and very tall, so I said...THIS ONE! I was excited as the man was sawing my tree down....

I was happy with the tree at this point....BUT....then the guy cut it down...and I mean CUT IT DOWN. He basically butchered the poor thing! I was disappointed!! Tim kept telling me it was a pretty tree and I kept telling him, "you just don't understand!!!" To prove my point, 5 different people have been at my parents house since the tree went up and EVERY one of them has commented on how small it is!! Sad...

I promised Tim I was done whining about my tree...and I GUESS I can admit, it IS a pretty tree!! And we had a fun time decorating it!!

This was Tim's contibution to the tree...it's a Fareway reciept. I had to follow him around and rearrange most of what he did! One time I found 4 ornaments on one branch!! And every hawkeye ornament was either upside down, or underneath the tree!!!

It's tradition...I always put the star on top!


Here's the finished product....it is pretty...especially with the "fire" by it!

I don't know why....but I love this picture!!

Our Stockings waiting to be filled by "Santa"

Erin and I

Timmy and I

Yeah, We're nerds!

That's my dad....you can't see him because of his Camoflauge!

Tim being an Elf

He's a goof, but he's my goof!!

The Jolly decorating crew...my brother is on the phone...it's the only way we could get him in the picture. He was there until we started playing the Christmas music and then he left. He's kind of a scrooge!

My mommy and daddy!

Thanksgiving Weekend

I can't belive it's December already!! This year has flown by!! I had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with my friends and family! Thursday we had lunch at my Aunt Nita and Uncle Dave's house. They have been wanting to add on to their house for 20 years and they FINALLY did it! It was SO nice having such a big space to gather together! We ate TONS of food (Tim saying to me...do you think you've had enough yet??? I had to *polietly* remind him that it was THANKSGIVING and you are SUPPOSED to overeat!). After Lunch, we sat around the living room and had a time of praise and worship, with Brian, Mandy, and Bj playing guitar. I know we made a joyful noise to the Lord, but I'm not sure about to the neighbors! We were getting ready for a second round of food, and to play some games, when I got a call from one of my BFF's, Jenny. She is 20 weeks pregnant, had the flu, and was having strong contractions. her two little guys were sick with the flu, so her husband didn't want to take them to the hospital. SO...Tim and I drove up to Ankeny and took her to the hospital. I was scared!! I didn't know what to do when she was having contractions!! It turns out that she was super dehyrated and just needed lots of fluid. They put an IV in and pumped all kinds of stuff into her. I was able to hear the baby's heartbeat, which was really neat!! By the time I got home Thursday night, it was late, and I was pooped, so I went right to bed!

Friday was my mom's birthday, so our friend Julie and my mom and I went shopping. NOT like those crazy people that go at 4 in the morning...we slept in and went around noon! We had fun doing a little Christmas shopping and then ate at Bravo. It was yummy!

Friday night was date night! Holly and Elijah were in town so Tim and I met up with them and Amber and Robert for a fun night. We went to the Holiday Light Festival, downtown Des Moines. After driving around for half an hour, trying to make a decision...we ended up at The Racoon River Brewery. We ate some dinner and were hoping to play some pool, but the pool tables were all reserved for a private party. =( After our dinner, we went ice skating. What an adventure!! I hadn't ice skated for a LONG time! Tim and I were pretty slow...but we never fell! We were surrounded by teenagers and the music was pretty crappy...a lot of swearing. I was disappointed! I thought they should play Christmas music!! Regardless, we had a great time. I always love seeing "my girls." We ended the night at Village Inn for pie. Let's just say the only thing that tasted good was the water!!!