Not Caught Up

I know, I have tons of catching up to do...what with all of the HOlidays (and I still haven't even updated what we did in October with our friends from Australia....post to come soon)...but, I thought I would give you an answer to what I've been doing when I'm not blogging:


Now I'm famous in the local newspaper!

Stockings are hung NEAR the chimney with care

Since it's that holly-jolly time of the year, I thought I would reminisce on one of the best Christmas presents I was ever given from Brandon. The first Christmas we were dating, we were still in the 'awkward' should-we-get-each-other-presents-for-Christmas, stage. Brandon didn't own a cell phone back then (I know, can we even remember people who don't own cell phones? Weird.), so I decided to buy a mini cell phone from Dollar Tree. That was my "meaningful" Christmas gift. It obviously outdid Brandon's gift, because, well....he didn't get me anything. You can imagine what that'll do to a girl's analyzation skills: "Does that mean he doesn't like me?" "It obviously means he didn't think enough about me to get me a gift." But, no, I never thought that way. ::sheepish grin::

Well.... by the second year of Christmas (still dating, but a little more serious to know I could at least EXPECT a Christmas gift this time), I came into my house on Christmas Eve to find this:

Santa? Is that you?

No, it is his little Elf helper, Brandon! Brandon and his mom slaved away at making a life-size stocking for me. It was filled with gifts and candy....that Elf sure knew what was on my Christmas list.

Here he is in *Santa's workshop,

So cute
The sneaky Elf made it into our house while we were celebrating at my Dad's house!

And now I have my very-own Christmas decoration to "hang" by the chimney every year. However, it still ::sadly:: sits in my Mom's storage because the stocking won't fit in our house. Boo hoo.

*The "Santa" reference is for any children that might be reading this. I don't want to spoil the surprise. And, you never know if your kids are reading blogs. Kids these days....

Wrapping

If you were to have been wrapping gifts with us in our kitchen last night, this might have been something you would have overheard:

Erica: Oh shoot, I cut the tulle and now I can't find it. Do you see the tulle anywhere?

Brandon: Uhm, this? (Pointing to a screwdriver)

Erica: What? No...the TULLE. Oh, hahah...funny. You don't know what tulle is (finding the tulle and showing Brandon the tulle).

Brandon: That's a ribbon, not a tool.

Erica: (laughing) You are so cute. hahahahaha.....that is funny.

Brandon: You're going to blog about that, aren't you?


You know it, baby.

Another reason why I can appreciate the difference between a man and a woman.

Missing You

It's not even Finals week around here, and he's already pulling an all-nighter at the University. And, I know I should find other things to do than come home and blog about Brandon...but, to tell you the truth, the only other thing I would do is eat an entire bag of chocolate chips. So, to blogger I go.


This is my Eagle Scout. Cheesy grin and all. And you wonder what he does in his spare time?

Be PREPARED

He loves to work on his tractor(s)...yes, he has more than one. In fact, he has more than three. Don't get me started.

And, because he is so manly he also like to clean up dead mice that I find on our kitchen floor in the mornings. No this isn't a frequent occasion, because my husband is a Boy Scout.

From the mouth of babes

Okay, I know I know...I have blogged now ::THREE:: times in the last week. Miracle? yes. Habit? no. However, I did receive this email (which means you have probably received the email too, but what the HEY, it's Christmas). Wanted to post these letters from kids.
Nan, Joyce and Elliot say it best.

Welcome Weston!

My best friend from the womb (practically...okay, from the 9th grade) just had her first baby!
Weston Reed Nielson was born last night in Bloomington, Indiana to Eric and Chelsey Nielson.

I can't believe that Chelsey's teeny body could birth an 8 lb. 8 oz. little boy, but she did it!

Congrats!!!

More Thanks

I don't want to spoil you and make you think that just because I have now posted 2 times in one day, this is my way of saying "The spark is back!". But, I wanted to share this quote from Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin from our Church. He passed away last night, and he certainly was an incredible leader, speaker and man of God. I thought this quote was very fitting for the season:

"Gratitude is a mark of a noble soul and a refined character. We like to be around those who are grateful. They tend to brighten all around them. They make others feel better about themselves. They tend to be more humble, more joyful, more likable."

Giving Thanks

Remember how in my last post, I had this *sigh* of relief for the fact that I was all caught up blogging, for Thanksgiving? Silly, foolish me. I don't know about you, but I feel like me and the blog have gotten over our Honeymoon phase. The first few blog posts, I was so excited...checking my blog everyday to see if I had a new comment...blogging weekly about some great story. But now, the excitement has worn off. Anybody have any ideas on how to get the "spark" back between the blog and me?

Enough boo-hooing.

Thanksgiving was great this year. My mom's entire family came out for my cousin's wedding, so we had a big brouhaha on Wednesday night. My mom is quite the party planner, and she rented out a reception hall for the party. She went out and bought a Wii and the American Idol game JUST for the party. SEriously...she knows how to throw a party.

Grateful for this Hunk

Rebecca and Keith...the blogger and photographer

My H.O.T. mom and my H.O.T. aunts. Seriously..hoping I look as good as these 50 somethings when I'm their age.

K-Sis and Timbo (F.Y.I. they are expecting a little baby in May!)

The whole clan

Thanks for the pictures again, Becca.


On Thursday we had Thanksgiving with Brandon's family at his GrandDad's...but, since I didn't take my camera I will have to rely on some other family member to post pictures...and then I will steal them off of their blog :-)


So many things to be grateful for: Brandon, my family, in-law family whom I love and have relationships with, my health, our friends, our home, secure jobs, education, family, Brandon and especially our faith.


I absolutely love this time of year. December is my favorite. Especially since it hasn't snowed yet. Thank you Mother nature.