Wow..... Can you believe the Holidays are already here? I can't! We did have a very productive weekend and got our tree up and Christmas lights up outside. It looks good, although my wrapped tree doesn't look as good as it did last year. I don't know if I will win my made up neighborhood award again this year. (No one knows about the contest but me, but still I can't win if other homes look better) Last night we watched Christmas Vacation! We were laughing so hard, that is always a great way to get into the holiday spirit. You know what's crazy- that movie came out 20 years ago! Now if that doesn't make you feel old then I don't know what will! I was shocked!
I love this time of year, I love to think of all I have to be thankful for and all the love I have surrounding my life. I also love all the old traditions with my family and getting used to new traditions with Lucas's family! Holidays are crazy for us! We went to 6 X-mas's last year. That's alot, but we love it all! It is so good to see everyone- which reminds me I probably need to squeeze in a highlight before Christmas Eve! I am also trying to squeeze off 10 lbs before then too! I wonder which of the two will be accomplished?

I want to share with everyone some of my favorite memories of Christmas with my wonderful family, I can't wait to add more memories this year!

1. I love to remember waking up X-mas morning running downstairs to a Barbie wonderland! My poor Brother! I am not even sure if he got gifts! But me and Linz would have every Barbie they made, that we didn't already have, I think it actually got to a point to where we got the same ones, bc Mattel didn't manufacture enough!

2. I remember when I was little Aunt Sheryl stayed over on Christmas Eve ( I believe the story was she kind of had to stay if you know what I mean- she was in her 20's! ) But she slept on the couch at our house on Green Tree I believe. She told us the next morning that she saw Santa's butt climbing up the chimney! I still can remember thinking how cool that was and I think a part of me someday wants to be that toasted that I see Santa's butt climbing up the chimney...... I bet she actually did!

3. I remember one year at our house on Nob Hill, being so nervous that I wasn't going to get my Barbie Dream house. I could not sleep, which was not an unusual thing for me! I have always been on the anxious side! (I blame the Lady) Ok so I was so worried I wouldn't get that house, not even because I hadn't been good, I was never worried about that- that shit didn't take on me, I was worried Santa didn't listen hard enough to my list. I mean this house was amazing...... Huge three stories, glittery sparkly pink paint on the outside, purple roof- why could Aunt Sheryl not find us a house like that? It even had a real live doorbell! Ok so I was so nervous, I was plotting ways to get into our living room to make sure it was there, so I came up with a great plan- Go check and make sure I left enough cookies for the big guy himself. SO I get up, sneak by Linz room bc I knew she wouldn't approve of what I was doing, walk through the kitchen and BAM! All I remember seeing was Paps on the ground in the middle of the living room putting that Dream house together! I didn't care that he was doing it not Santa- I was just glad I got it. My parents came up with a story that Santa didn't have time- WHATEVER- wasn't traumatic for me- I got the house right? Whew, I could go back to sleep until about 2:00 AM when I started waking the family up to open gifts!

3. I remember many years of playing board games with Lindsey at like 1:00 AM until time to wake everyone up. I also love that Linz always said she needed to go look and see if Santa had come not me, and she would check to make sure he brought Felicity, the new American Girl doll that I asked for, along with her bed, armoire, ect. Kind of how she always got to be Miss Sarah- our dance teacher when we played, and she got to be Miss Jenny too. I just let it roll, I mean I was bossy enough, had to let her boss me around a few times! That same year that I got Felicity, we got a trampoline- so fun! And Linz got a boom box with Public Enemy and Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch CD. And she got the coolest hat- looked like something Blossom would wear- she put it on and did the running man to Marky Mark- what a great look! Again, not sure if Cory even participated in Christmas- his rifles and hunting junk did not interest me at all!

4. I loved our tradition we had going for many years- when we were leaving to go to Gran and Paps's house for X-mas day- we always had to get to the gate leaving the house, and Mom would ask " OK did we forget anything?" As we all sat there and thought about it the gate would close on the Tahoe- cuss words would fly from Dad, but it happened like 3 years in a row! Gosh I love the holidays!

5. I love going to Pantiego Bible Church on Christmas Eve. I just love the feeling of it there, The candlelight service and everything. I just wish sooo bad we could still go this year. But marriage brings needing to be in two places at once- just not sure how we will squeeze it in!

6. I love the memories of craziness on the holidays- all I will say- I think we all get it!

7. Hadilini getting her slide a few years ago! She went up and down so many times! I love thinking of her pretty smiling face!

8. A funny memory is how Mom and Dad would let us open up one gift Christmas Eve and it was always our PJ's. She would get us all cute Pj's so we would look cute in the video. What is even funnier is that when we woke her up to open presents, we would have to get our hair fixed first. She wanted us to look cute in the video- the funny thing is I know I will be the same exact way!

9. I also think it's funny that my Mom can never remember to put the right labels on gifts. Every year Cory opens a purse or I open men's cologne! She does it every year! Or she will forget where she puts presents.

10. I love thinking of when Lucas came over to my apartment for the first time with our friend Brett. Brett fell asleep on the couch. Lucas took one look at my X-mas tree that I had decorated all by myself, and started laughing! He basically told me it was horrible- I hadn't pulled any of the branches apart- apparently you are supposed to do that! We sat there and re-did my tree, laughing and talking.I told him that I had the biggest crush on him in highschool- he had no idea..... whatever- he said he had one on me too-WHATEVER! From that moment I knew it was going to be more than just a tree decorating friendship with that one! It was love!

I hope that ya'll enjoyed my X-mas memories! I hope to add some new ones this year! I love being with my family, just being together is the biggest gift! Crazy how gifts aren't as important when you become an adult! (That's really not true....... I could use a new Louis Vuitton.)

Love Y'all-
Jo