Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Lumberjacking!

Holiday season is in full effect!

I wanted to post earlier but my photos wouldn't upload and a post without pictures is well, just words.

Marlee's first Thanksgiving was great! Family, food, football, and more food. We started at my side of the family and then ended at Nick's side of the family. Marlee was loved on by everyone and I am pretty sure she was not put down once. Spoiled little babe.

I am getting irritated because I am pretty sure that we do not have a single picture of all four of us together but we did get a good one of the two of us.

After much coaxing from my co-workers, I decided to venture out on Black Friday. I was honestly worried about putting Marlee's life in danger venturing out on such a vicious shopping holiday, but I was pleasantly surprised! The best thing about going to the mall at 4:30 in the morning is that there is no one there. No one. I did not have to wait in a single line or fight my way thru any crowds. I practically knocked everyone off my list in the matter of 5 hours. If I would have know this was the case, I might have done this years ago! Five AM does bring out some strange people though. We were lucky enough to see a lady dressed as an elf (shopping, not working), get caught in a spontaneous Christmas music sing-off, and be bombarded by a sweet but overbearing Aero worker who demanded to see what I bought at Express. I cannot make this stuff up people.

Marlee loved it though. She must get her shopping gene from Aunt Toni.

All bundled up!

Baby wearing momma.



All shopped out!

Even after we were all done, she just wanted to talk all about the experience.



(That is my first YouTube video! Hopefully it works!)

I had plans of making cookies and wrapping presents etc etc but ended up taking a nap. Womp womp. Carrying around a 14 lb baby for 5 hours is hard work!

Saturday we decided we should participate in one of my favorite holiday traditions - cutting down the tree! My family always did a real tree growing up and when I first moved in with Nick, he had this awful artificial one. Not that there is anything wrong with a fake tree but it is just that - fake. Might as well get a fake dog. And fake food. And fake presents to put under the fake tree. They might look nice, but do not serve the same purpose. So we made a new tradition to go with Isaac (and now Marlee) and cut down a real tree! Once again, I bundled Marlee all up, and we ventured out to Pine Tree Barn. We are able to pick out, cut down, and drag the tree back to the car. Isaac loves it and I hope Marlee does someday too.

On our way!

Once again, Marlee is snug as a bug.

The snow made everything sparkle!

I think we have a winner!

Marlee slept the entire time.

Let the cutting begin!

Manly high-five right there.

Victory!

Completely unaware of the fun going on around her.

Load her up and off we go!

Then we headed home and made room for the tree in the living room. Everything was decorated and ready to go within hours.

I am pretty sure my days off were as exhausting as the nights I work but we were able to have some great family time and for that I am thankful. Making memories for our little family to build upon is what the season is all about. As much of a Scrooge as I am, I do appreciate weekends like this. And they might make me a little excited for Christmas.

Bye Christmas

This will most likely not be my only Christmas post.

And for you cheerful Christmas people, just stop reading now.

I warned you.

I am not a fan of Christmas. I do not know when my feelings about Christmas changed because I remember Christmas morning as a child full of happiness, family, and presents. I remember presents galore under the tree and Dad dressing up as Santa and everyone coming together at Grandmas house.

Now not so much. I despise Christmas. I have felt this way since high school. It is my least favorite time of year. The cold weather. The shopping. The stress. The traveling here and there.

This thing!

Terrifying.

 

I like cutting down the Christmas tree.

Cutting down a living thing. That is what I like about Christmas.

 

I like cookies too. I do not think that is really a Christmas thing though. I like cookies at all times of the year.

 

Let's focus this anti-Christmas post on presents. We give presents to remind us of the presents given to Jesus right? It was his birthday so the three wise men brought presents to the newborn babe. I do not recall Jesus receiving a new i-phone but I guess Myrrh was probably the equivalent at the time.

 

So Santa brings the 'good' boys and girls presents which instantly reminds them of the true meaning behind Christmas. That is assuming 'Santa' brought the right gifts. What if Sally did not get the new Ugg boots she wanted? Is it because she was bad that year? Or because Santa had a mix up at the factory? Either way, Sally is not happy with this outcome and will mostly likely go on to be a serial killer.

 

Or we can go the other route. Sally received everything she could ever want for Christmas. She is so excited and keeps thanking dear old Santa Claus for being an amazingly rich old man. Meanwhile, Mom and Dad are exhausted from working overtime and deep down would really appreciate a 'thank you' thrown at them too. Why does Santa get all the credit? I do not like this Santa character.

 

So I proposed the idea of not introducing Santa to Marlee. I would like Marlee to appreciate how hard her parents work and to be thankful for everything she has. Nicholas is not all in for this idea.

 

I really only have two worries.

1. She is going to tell her friends, once she is old enough to attend school, that Santa is not real. I can only imagine the phone calls I would be receiving on that day. Children can be sensitive over Santa.

2. Her older brother. I really think Isaac knows Santa does not exist. I mean he is nine! When do kids stop believing?  When can we stop these Santa shenanigans? I do not want to continue with Santa but I certainly do not want to be the one to let the cat out of the bag.

 

So I am kinda stuck in this limbo of what to do.

And of course there is this..

Black Friday shopping.

 

Where the true meaning of Christmas really shines.

 

I have never gone shopping the day after Thanksgiving so really do not see the appeal in getting trampled on and possibly shanked over a Tickle Me Elmo but people are crazy about it! I have never been that excited over a sale in my life. Or anything in my life for that matter. People literally have died on Black Friday. People die!

 

Instead of just ranting over Christmas, I have developed a solution.

Everyone just go buy themselves something nice.

Children can do chores for whatever they want.

Just one thing. Don't be greedy.

And then we all eat cookies.

Problem solved.