So that is it, the famous tumbleweed Christmas tree.  This is it’s 55th year lighting Chandler’s downtown, but our first as a family to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season by being there in person when it was lit.  Being long time residents of Chandler, I thought it was about time that we participated in the festivities.  Marc had been as a child but we have neglected our own with this great City of Chandler Christmas tradition.  Boy, did we choose the year to attend.  It was extremely cold and VERY rainy.  We were pretty drenched by the end of the evening, but somehow, we didn’t let that spoil the fun (even though the children tried their best).  Amongst the complaints of being cold and wet, Marc and I kept reminding them that soon enough they would be home in their dry, warm beds and all would be well.  Needless to say as soon as the tree lit up, Marc snapped the above photo and we were outta there!

The evening began with a trip to Santa’s house and our annual picture with Santa.  Audrey was a good sport and held Sophia to keep her comforted (I couldn’t let the fact that she is almost 12 spoil the tradition of ALL our children being in the photo).  It was especially sad since we are beyond the years of crying babies in Santa’s lap.  I really don’t know why I would make the trip all the way to the mall every year since this is right downtown and FREE!  They gave us a copy of the picture and even let us take our own shots.  YAY for the Chandler Lion’s Club who sponsor this event.

After our trip to see Santa we meandered through the crowds, local entertainment, and vendors.  We tried to keep warm with hot chocolate and waited for the parade to begin.  The kids’ elementary schools’ Dad’s club always has a float.  It was fun waiting to see it and cheering for our Sanborn Suns!  During the parade is when the rain began, Marc and I even thought we saw a few small snow flurries.  I’m serious- it was COLD!  The rain eased up a little before the big downpour toward the end of the parade.  The crown thinned out quickly and we were amongst the few crazy people to wait in the cold, cold, rain for the lighting of the Christmas tree. 

It was a fun family night though we were happy to return to our home where it was warm-ish and dry.

This was our first year ever to host Thanksgiving dinner and what a great event it was!  I really enjoyed having our family in our home and enjoying our new yard.  One of the highlights for me was watching the kids run and play on the swingset installed the day before by Marc and our good friend Stefan.  They had worked for a couple weeks sanding it and prepping it, then assembling the set so the children had something new and fun to enjoy on Thanksgiving.  It was definitely worth the wait.  Our friends Stefan and Pamela gave us their swing set over a year ago when we were looking for our new home.  It has been sitting and waiting a long time to be enjoyed and it surely was that day (and every day since).  I also enjoyed not having to transport hot food to a different location.  Those in attendance were my Mom, brothers (one of them brought a date :)), sister and her family, my Auntie Coco, and Marc’s mom and sister.  There were 21 in all. 

The food was delicious and some of us ended the evening at the movies.  We saw the new Muppett Movie and laughed A-LOT!  We also got to go through my dad’s old baseball caps and boy did he have a ton.  Us kids and the grandkids each chose some for a keepsake of “Papa”.  It was a really lovely day.  I couldn’t have felt more peace, love, and gratitude for the many wonderful blessings the Lord has poured upon me this year, despite the heartache and loss I have also experienced throughout the course of the last year.  We are a truly blessed family.

Several weekends ago on an overnight with their Grandma, the kids went to a garage sale of one of Grandma’s friends and found many wonderful treasures.  One of which was a puppy shaped cake pan.  The girls baked and decorated this lovely cake with little help.  Good job girls!

My baby brother Daniel turned 30 on November 17th.  He was very excited for his birthday (as he is every year) and began planning his “surprise” party a couple months in advance (as he does every year).  Without fail, Daniel plans the location, time, menu, food assignments, and gifts and gives every family member a 3X5 card with their assignments several weeks in advance (every year). 

This year we thought we would actually try to suprise him by throwing a real suprise party the Sunday before his birthday as we already had family plans for the adults to go to dinner on the 17th.  Daniel had previously mentioned a get together at my cousin Tanya’s home with as many relatives as he could muster.  We have seen many distant relatives lately due to, well, sad circumstances, so inviting them for a happy celebration made sense.  And anyway, who doesn’t love Daniel?

With a couple of emails and assignments drawn up by my sister and I (undetected by Daniel) the party was set.  Sunday evening at Tanya’s house, gifts of 30 things, cake, ice cream, punch, appetizers, fun.  While at church on Sunday my mom gave Daniel a note that said they were going to go for a drive around 6:00 that evening.  Daniel’s shy smiled appeared as he asked where they were going.  To my mother’s reply of “it’s a surprise” Daniel’s wheels started turning.

While everyone arrived, mom and a blindfolded Daniel sat outside in the car.  When it was time for the guest of honor to enter, he asked mom when he could take of the blindfold so he could walk up to 2 or 3 steps to Tanya’s door.  Who did we think we were fooling?  He knew it all along, but that did not damper the excitement of the evening.  He was thrilled!

We counted about 65 people in attendance which in turn lead to lots of presents!  Some examples of presents are:  30 soda cans, 30 fun size m&m’s, 30 gold $1 coins, 30 $2 bills, 30 ties, 30 bags of snack size chips, 30 christmas songs on CD, and many more.  All in all the party was a success.  Here is a little viewing pleasure of the moment he arrived…

I could go on and on and on about how great Marc’s mom is, how much she does for us, or how much the grandchildren love her, but this post is to thank her for one specific thing.  Take a look!

She made these great curtains and darling “Thomas” valences for Carson’s bedroom.  Although she completed them quite some time ago, we finally had time to put them up (Thanks Daddio).  Marc was waiting for Carson to clean his room before he put them up and yesterday was THE DAY.  I love the way these curtains dress up his room and bring more color in.  They are perfect.  His room feels cozy now and not so stark.  They also compliment the wonderful Thomas mural by Lucinda that we just can’t get enough of, so here’s a picture of that too.

I don’t know how much longer Carson will enjoy the innocence of his “Thomas” room, but for now I’ll take it!  Thank you Erma!  You’re the best!