What I am thankful for...

thanks to Bekah for taking and posting these fabulous picture so that I could steal them and use them on my blog. They perfectly captured our night. You were the perfect hostess and it was such a wonderful night. Oh what food... it was so, so good. you are an amazing friend. (p.s. you have to click on them to see the full image...)

thanks to my great hubby who is just fantastic. Who else would willingly help me peel potatoes, chop, bake, all while simultaneously helping me sculpt a trophy out of tinfoil? only you babe.

thanks to Tara for providing me with a newspaper so I could scope out the Black Friday deals. i am sorry you dropped your dessert on the floor. I really would have still eaten it- it looked that good.

thanks to Michael for schooling us in the wii and the game last word. you are such a gracious winner.

thanks to our pals the Lofgrans. We will never have Thankdgiving without thinking of you and the years we went to your house and how much we miss you!

thanks to our parents. we both talked about our families on the drive home and how strange it is to be away from home even though you can enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends. Gone are the days when you show up and thing are ready and we are so thankful for all the wonderful thanksgivings you provided. we are very blessed. and oh so thankful.

I am so getting into the Spirit... Christmas Tag

1.Wrapping paper or gift bags? Boxes or wrapping paper
2. Real tree or Artificial? Cut down a real one! Can't beat the experience or the smell...
3. When do you put up the tree? As soon as we can get out and cut it down.
4. When do you take the tree down? As soon as it's over... it is a tight squeeze in out little apt.
5. Do you like eggnog? I don't drink things with “nog” in the title. Gross.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? One Christmas we all got matching sleeping bags and inner tubes. It was magical and think we all remember that year. Mine was hot pink with the awesome eighties flecks of different colors.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Derek. The man wants for nothing.
8. Easiest person to buy for? My sister Melanie- we have really similar taste and she is a busy single mom.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes- I collect them. I have two new ones to put out this year- wahoo!
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail- definitely
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I have never gotten a horrible one (that I am willing to admit). But the year after they got married my sister-in-law got a gun from Derek's brother and I believe my word of caution to Derek was“If you ever give me a gun for Christmas I will shoot you with it.”
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Grinch that stole Christmas
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Black Friday Baby
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not unless it was paper, glass or plastic
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My moms cheesecake
16. Lights on the tree? lots
17. Favorite Christmas song? Breath of Heaven
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Right now... travel.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yepper. DDPVCCDBR...I don't want to type them out.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One on Christmas eve- the rest Christmas day
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? There is nothing annoying about it. I love Christmas. Perhaps the cold? But even then you have cute coats, scarves and sledding.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have orange in my Christmas décor and I love that it is non-traditional2
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Mom's home cookin'
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Presents.

I tag all the ladies in my ward...

Back from whence it came...

I bet you thought I was talking about the owl didn't you???

Some of you might have even been hoping, but no-- sorry. I still love the little guy despite mixed reviews. It just goes to show that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. Truthfully, I think I love it even more now that he is a controversial conversation piece.

Actually, I wanted to say that I cleaned out mine and Derek's closet and I can't believe how good it feels. I tend to hold on to clothes hoping to reinvent them with new styles... and even some the I hope to reinvent my body into looking good in again. *sigh* Well, I never realized how bogged down I was. I took a huge load to Goodwill and gave some away to friends and I feel fantastic. Every time I open it and see everything all organized and color coordinated it just makes me feel so happy. I know it's dorky. But hey I'm the girl with a bronzed owl on her bookshelf, remember?

Now I have room for lots more... anyone want to go shopping?

sometimes owls speak to me.

it usually happens at goodwill.

they say: "Buy me."

and I do... sometimes.

Dereks wants a blog poll.

How many of you would bring this little guy home?

I am not into chotchskies or nick knacks... but this little one has lived happily on my bookshelf for a couple weeks (unnoticed by Mr. Ames until today) and now Derek think I am turning into a Grandma. (no offense to old people with lots of knick knacks...)

so please help me convince him this owl is fabulous before he buys me a curio cabinet.

{woo} would buy this?

All the good candy is gone.

it's true.

We had a safe and happy Halloween.. thank's to officer Ames.

Can I just say that I will never again go to a trunk-r-treat? one word: lame.

other than that, our Halloween was just grand. soup, friends, family time, and candy. life doesn't get much better than that.

p.s. don't you love the aviators?? ha! ha!