It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I love the Christmas season. People tend to be more patient, generous and loving. I especially wait at my door for those yummy baked goodie plates to be dropped off! This year we did our usual Christmas traditions; sugar cookies, gingerbread houses, Mesa Christmas lights, school Christmas concerts and setting up the tree. I love spending time with good friends and seeing the excitement spill over from my boys as they see the tree getting set up with presents laid under neath it and seeing Santa talk to them via email. Thanks Jerry/Jane for the thoughtful gifts, Ashton's for the chilly stroll through the lights, and the Mariner's for all the sugar pumped into Austin and Isaac's body (vs the actual gingerbread house)!

Even though the boys have good intentions of putting up Christmas with me (including our attempt at lights outside...only to have them fall down and Jared had to fix them), I usually end up doing it all alone. I love taking out the decor and remembering the fun ornaments and Santa Claus collection that I now have.

Merry Christmas!

Landscaping Hubby

This is our yard before the landscaping.

I was inside teaching a piano lesson when Jared came in and asked me if I wanted to pull out a big bush that we had in our front yard. Sure I told him. Next thing I know, he is yanking out all of the bushes with a cable and truck pulling them out!

With Thanksgiving the next day, I guess he wanted to have a new and crisp looking yard for all the company coming into town.

He hired some Mexican friends, they started pulling and shoveling and digging trenches... working well into the night. Even Wes and Austin helped out with the dirt.

We now have a beautiful yard with green grass, planters, boulders and flowers. This goes well with the fresh paint all around the house and new red shutters. It looks really pretty and fresh.

Thanks Jared.

Thanksgiving 2011

We hosted Thanksgiving this year and had a great turnout from the Wilson side. Deep fried turkey was on the menu, and boy did Pipa do a ton of work and clean up to serve that dish! We ran out of oil, and could not find any at any store...go figure...so, it took several hours longer than expected to get that bird cooked. Good thing Tia Dawn came extra prepared with an oven roasted turkey.

All the trimmings were on the table and bellies were happy and full. 25 people came and ate.

21 slept over!