Holy Cow, Christmas Is Here!

I don't know why, but Christmas seems to come faster and faster every year. As always, I'm not even near ready. How about the rest of you? I did get my tree up on Thanksgiving weekend though. That is like the first time ever! When I worked at the flower shop, I was usually so burned out on decorating at work that I never got up the gumption to put up my own tree until the week before Christmas. Since I didn't have to do that this year, and I had the weekend off, I thought "Why not? There really is no reason not to."

The Old Tree and the New Tree

I also splurged on a new Christmas tree. It was definitely about time. We have been using a hand me down tree from Griff's grandma for the last ten years. It was a pretty tree, although not very tall, and is probably over 30 years old. Last year it dropped more needles than stayed on and we decided that it was time to retire it. I had Beth order me a 7 and 1/2 foot Jackson Pine. It is really pretty. The boys were really excited to decorate it too!

I have to explain that decorating the Christmas tree has developed a funny tradition at the Thayn house. We have a basement, but it is just storage. Thus, we only go down there twice a year (for the most part). As a result, it is full of spiders. A few years ago, I was dragging all of the decorations up by myself and I was a little freaked out to go down there. I'm not scared of spiders, but we have seen black widows down there and I didn't want one slipping down the back of my shirt or crawling up my pant leg while I was concentrating on other things. I came up with this clever get up to solve the problem. I put on a hoodie to protect my neck, tucked in my hoodie to protect my midsection, and tucked my pants into my socks to protect my legs. Mostly, we just dress this way to laugh at each other--Tiger thinks it is hilarious. Here is a picture of him in his "Spider protection gear." (Griff thinks we are stupid!)

Anyway, I bought a few new ornaments and we had a nice evening decorating the tree. I thought it turned out really pretty, but it needs a few more things. I'll have to add some next year. I think I'll hit the after Christmas sales to see what I can pick up for really cheap.


I was really glad that I got my tree up when I did because we spent the next weekend in the hospital with Derek. He got a cold, and with my kids that usually means an asthma attack. We just couldn't get this one under control and his oxygen dropped too low. We spent about 4 hours in the ER Sunday morning but his levels just wouldn't come up. The doctor decided to admit him, so we got a $4000 slumber party complete with IV and oxygen tubes. He was better by Monday evening though, thanks to good care and a priesthood blessing.

He was really funny when they were putting in the IV. Through his sobbing, snot, and tears; he kept repeating "It kina hoots mom, it kina hoots. Mommy, it kina hoots, I need a band-aid." (This kid loves band-aids). The nurses were really good to him. After they bandaged his entire forearm, they gave him some stickers of Lightning McQueen and Mater to put on his wrappings. He was thrilled because that was the biggest and best band-aid ever!

After recovering from that, we settled right into getting things together for Christmas. Griff and I went shopping last Saturday in Provo and I took the kids to see Santa at the Library on Wednesday. Tiger was more excited to go see Santa this year than he ever has been. Derek just wanted to run around and throw books on the floor (he hadn't had a nap). Tiger stood in line while I tended Derek. Heidi came with the girls so he didn't have to stand there very long by himself. Before we went in, I asked Tiger what he was going to ask Santa for and he told me, "I think I'm just going to ask that our family has the best Christmas ever this year." (AW!! Melted his mother's heart =D). Before anyone starts thinking that he is the most compassionate and caring child you've ever heard of, let me tell you that he was being a smart alec and quoting from his new favorite Christmas Movie on Nickelodeon: Merry Christmas Drake and Josh! He actually asked for a Skateboard, Guitar Hero World Tour, and a college size football. Now that sounds like my Tige! Fortunately for Santa, he forgot most of his list because he got nervous.

Now we are just waiting for the big day to come! Yep, December 19th--ONLY FIVE MORE DAYS! For those of you that are confused, that is the day we get out for Christmas Break. I am looking forward to 14 whole days of Christmas Vacation Bliss. No lesson plans, no barfing kids, no bathroom breaks, no "What time is recess???," and most of all--no waking up at 5:00 am. I just hope I can survive this week.

Last but not least, it snowed for the first time on Saturday which really adds to the excitement of the season. Good old Carbon County snow--it melted as soon as the sun came up! That will probably be all we get all year!

Well in the spirit of the season, and in case I don't make it back until after Christmas:
Merry Christmas to all,
And to all a good night.

See you next year!

All Good Things Must Come to an End

This college football season was an exciting one for my family. Griff and Tiger were able to go to four of the BYU games and I got to tag along for one. It is always so much fun to go. Cougar fans are some of the most passionate around!

These are pictures from the last home game of the season.


With the coming and going of the season, Tiger has developed quite a fascination with the game of football. He has started watching both pro and college games with Griff whenever they come on. If you know Tiger very well, he is not one to "sit" and watch TV. He watches, but he "plays" whatever happens to be on. So, as they "watch" the games, Tiger runs around mimicking the plays. Soon enough, he has Derek wound up and the two of them are making Superbowl-worthy passes and receptions as they run around my circular house. (It usually ends with me screaming at them to "stop before they break something" and Griff hollering at them to be quiet. That is usually followed by stomping off and the muttering of "you guys never let me do ANYthing, uhh!!!)

Not only do I get to watch this play-action unfold in my living room, I also get a play by play explanation of the actual game by listening to the conversations that take place between "the guys." Tiger is trying to learn the ins and outs of the game, so he is constantly asking questions about what is going on. When his patience holds out, Griff enjoys sharing his wealth of knowlegde with his son.

But, eventually all good things must come to an end. The college season is wrapping up and the NFL is about halfway over. After the superbowl, I guess we'll move on to baseball. GO YANKEES! I guess I'm going to have to hide all the bats!