So that is it, the famous tumbleweed Christmas tree.  This is it’s 55th year lighting Chandler’s downtown, but our first as a family to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season by being there in person when it was lit.  Being long time residents of Chandler, I thought it was about time that we participated in the festivities.  Marc had been as a child but we have neglected our own with this great City of Chandler Christmas tradition.  Boy, did we choose the year to attend.  It was extremely cold and VERY rainy.  We were pretty drenched by the end of the evening, but somehow, we didn’t let that spoil the fun (even though the children tried their best).  Amongst the complaints of being cold and wet, Marc and I kept reminding them that soon enough they would be home in their dry, warm beds and all would be well.  Needless to say as soon as the tree lit up, Marc snapped the above photo and we were outta there!

The evening began with a trip to Santa’s house and our annual picture with Santa.  Audrey was a good sport and held Sophia to keep her comforted (I couldn’t let the fact that she is almost 12 spoil the tradition of ALL our children being in the photo).  It was especially sad since we are beyond the years of crying babies in Santa’s lap.  I really don’t know why I would make the trip all the way to the mall every year since this is right downtown and FREE!  They gave us a copy of the picture and even let us take our own shots.  YAY for the Chandler Lion’s Club who sponsor this event.

After our trip to see Santa we meandered through the crowds, local entertainment, and vendors.  We tried to keep warm with hot chocolate and waited for the parade to begin.  The kids’ elementary schools’ Dad’s club always has a float.  It was fun waiting to see it and cheering for our Sanborn Suns!  During the parade is when the rain began, Marc and I even thought we saw a few small snow flurries.  I’m serious- it was COLD!  The rain eased up a little before the big downpour toward the end of the parade.  The crown thinned out quickly and we were amongst the few crazy people to wait in the cold, cold, rain for the lighting of the Christmas tree. 

It was a fun family night though we were happy to return to our home where it was warm-ish and dry.

The food was delicious and some of us ended the evening at the movies.  We saw the new Muppett Movie and laughed A-LOT!  We also got to go through my dad’s old baseball caps and boy did he have a ton.  Us kids and the grandkids each chose some for a keepsake of “Papa”.  It was a really lovely day.  I couldn’t have felt more peace, love, and gratitude for the many wonderful blessings the Lord has poured upon me this year, despite the heartache and loss I have also experienced throughout the course of the last year.  We are a truly blessed family.

My baby brother Daniel turned 30 on November 17th.  He was very excited for his birthday (as he is every year) and began planning his “surprise” party a couple months in advance (as he does every year).  Without fail, Daniel plans the location, time, menu, food assignments, and gifts and gives every family member a 3X5 card with their assignments several weeks in advance (every year). 

This year we thought we would actually try to suprise him by throwing a real suprise party the Sunday before his birthday as we already had family plans for the adults to go to dinner on the 17th.  Daniel had previously mentioned a get together at my cousin Tanya’s home with as many relatives as he could muster.  We have seen many distant relatives lately due to, well, sad circumstances, so inviting them for a happy celebration made sense.  And anyway, who doesn’t love Daniel?

With a couple of emails and assignments drawn up by my sister and I (undetected by Daniel) the party was set.  Sunday evening at Tanya’s house, gifts of 30 things, cake, ice cream, punch, appetizers, fun.  While at church on Sunday my mom gave Daniel a note that said they were going to go for a drive around 6:00 that evening.  Daniel’s shy smiled appeared as he asked where they were going.  To my mother’s reply of “it’s a surprise” Daniel’s wheels started turning.

While everyone arrived, mom and a blindfolded Daniel sat outside in the car.  When it was time for the guest of honor to enter, he asked mom when he could take of the blindfold so he could walk up to 2 or 3 steps to Tanya’s door.  Who did we think we were fooling?  He knew it all along, but that did not damper the excitement of the evening.  He was thrilled!

We counted about 65 people in attendance which in turn lead to lots of presents!  Some examples of presents are:  30 soda cans, 30 fun size m&m’s, 30 gold $1 coins, 30 $2 bills, 30 ties, 30 bags of snack size chips, 30 christmas songs on CD, and many more.  All in all the party was a success.  Here is a little viewing pleasure of the moment he arrived…

She made these great curtains and darling “Thomas” valences for Carson’s bedroom.  Although she completed them quite some time ago, we finally had time to put them up (Thanks Daddio).  Marc was waiting for Carson to clean his room before he put them up and yesterday was THE DAY.  I love the way these curtains dress up his room and bring more color in.  They are perfect.  His room feels cozy now and not so stark.  They also compliment the wonderful Thomas mural by Lucinda that we just can’t get enough of, so here’s a picture of that too.

I don’t know how much longer Carson will enjoy the innocence of his “Thomas” room, but for now I’ll take it!  Thank you Erma!  You’re the best!

If you can’t tell exactly what it is, it’s a handprint turkey from each member of our family.  For FHE on Monday, we all traced one of our hand’s and colored our turkey.  I have put everyone’s name under their turkey and included the year so we can look back and remember the size of the kids’ hands on Thanksgiving 2011.

So if you’re crafty or not and want a new Thanksgiving decoration please feel free to copy me and “get your craft on”.

1.  My Swimming Pool

Rumor has it that I wasn’t completely sold on a house with a pool when we began looking for our new home.  Well, the rumor is true.  I wasn’t against a pool completely, but the safety issues scared me a bit since we have small children and we have several small children in and out of our home.  The more we looked, the more Marc pushed for a pool, slowly he wore me down (when he finally said he would not even consider or look at another home without a pool, I realized his conviction on this matter).  He made some good points, mainly, we don’t ever plan on moving again and if we have to live in up to 120 degree summers for the rest or our lives, we may as well have a pool of our own to enjoy and keep cool in.  As long as the pool had a fence and other necessary safety features, I agreed.  Alas, we found our home with this beautiful pool and very much enjoyed our first summer in it.  With as much fun as we had with family and friends over the summer in our pool and as much as it helped us keep cool in our never ending Phoenix summer, those are not the reasons why I find so much joy in my swimming pool.

Look at that!  The color!  The peace!  The calmimg effect it has on me when I look out my windows and see that is AMAZING.  It really has done wonders for my mental health (no joke).  I have always loved water- the beach & ocean, but I would have never thought that looking at a swimming pool could be so therapeutic.  So there it is, one of the simple things that bring me joy.  All year long!

2. My Rose Bush

Here it is from two angles.  It is quite ironic that this is one of the things that brings me great joy.  The reason I acquired such a beautiful plant was the most painful event I have experienced in my life.  After my dad died in August, two thoughtful friends bought this for me and had it delivered to my surprise.  I love flowers but do not have much of a green thumb so I was a bit nervous that I would destroy this beautiful gesture.  I contemplated the best place to plant it for a while and finally decided that the flower box overlooking our pool was the most fitting place.  My dad owned a pool service.  He and my brother would come every week and take care of our pool for us.  Since the beautiful plant was meant for his memory, I really couldn’t have put it anywhere else, but overlooking the calm, blue water that Dad had onced cared for.  As you can see, the plant is faring quite well.  I also count this bush as a tender mercy in my life.  After I planted the rose bush, the first new bud appeared on my dad’s birthday, October 13th.  I can’t help but think that he is still with us, enjoying the view.

3. My New Backyard Lawn

The size of the yard was one of the main selling features of the home for Marc and me.  This yard has taken on a whole new role within the last two weeks as Marc and I have labored diligently preparing, seeding, fertilizing, and watering to produce the grand sight above.  The beautiful, seemingly endless, sight of green, green grass brings a smile to my face every time I look outside (which is often).  I look forward to this winter when the kids will run wildly outside and play on our lawn.  We want to share it with everyone, so come on over!

I hope this post has given you the opportunity to contemplate the simple things in your life that bring you great joy.  Sometimes life is difficult, but if we can focus from time to time on the simple things that our Father in heaven has blessed us with, we can find peace through the storms that come our way.

Now, for many (possibly most) suburban families, parking two cars in a two car garage is probably not that big of a deal, but for us it is huge! What is even more spectacular is that this photo was taken the day we finished cleaning out the garage (about 2 months ago) and it still looks the same. Yay for us! Just thought I’d share….

We had a fun Halloween weekend starting with Audrey and Gracie’s annual Halloween piano recital Thursday night.  (I’ll try to have Marc put up video of their performances).  They played fun Halloween-ish songs and did a great job!  Audrey also won the drawing of a music store gift card for turning in her practice sheet.  Gracie also was included in the drawing, but apparently it was Audrey’s lucky night. 

Friday was a more somber day.  It was my Uncle Gene’s funeral.  We kept the kids out of school so we all could attend.  It has been a hard year, losing 3 dear men in our lives, but the funeral service was beautiful and it is always comforting spending time with family.  The day ended more upbeat as we participated in the kids’ school fall festival Friday night.  There was a bounce house, obstacle course, petting zoo, game booths, and a cake walk.  Audrey continued her luck spree with a win at the cake walk!  She chose to bring home my entry.  I baked and decorated a “fall themed” cake which actually turned out pretty good (by my standards- which aren’t very high). 

Saturday it was on to my mom’s ward trunk-or-treat.  The kids had fun with game booths, cake walk, cookie decorating, spook alley, costume parade, dinner, & trunk-or-treating.  I had fun too, seeing many familiar faces from the ward I grew up in.  I also had a flood of fun memories from many ward Halloween parties and especially enjoyed remembering many “spook alley’s” of my youth.  

Sunday was not a Halloween celebration, but it was the ward Primary program.  My children did a fantastic job and the spirit was felt strongly.  I can’t believe it was my Audrey’s last primary program.  She is turning into such a lovely young woman.  Carson did a great job memorizing his part and speaking it loud and clear (not too loud though, I’m very proud).  Audrey and Grace had solo singing parts this year as well as a special musical number with their primary classes.  We’re raising a beautiful choir.  Sunday night was time to carve our jack-o-lanterns.  Audrey was the night’s official photographer and got some great shots of Marc in action. 

Finally Monday arrived which had been long anticipated.  After school was this year’s first running club for Audrey, Gracie, and Carson.  After they ran their little hearts out it was home to prepare for the nights’ festivities.  We attended our friend, Jonae’s, annual Halloween dinner party where Navajo Taco’s are always served.  YUMMY!  Then home to trick-0r-treat in our new neighborhood.  Our friend’s the Downs and Price families joined us.  The Price’s were also Harry potter themed, so we had a nice group of Gryffindor’s running around our neighborhood.  Overall, it was a great Halloween this year. 

Please meet Hermoine Granger, Ginny Weasley, Harry Potter, and Dobby the House Elf……