Holiday Crazies

I don't think I've ever fully realized how crazy it gets during the holidays!!! This year has cured me of any naive assumptions that the holidays are all relaxation and fun. Now that thanksgiving is over, i don't think it has any intention of slowing down until after new years is over. ugh. working in retail has definitely opened my eyes to the holiday rush. Working Black Friday was QUITE the experience. why is it that everyone is so focused on themselves during the holidays, instead of wanting to spread the holiday cheer???? i just find it completely wacko.

I was lucky enough to get Thanksgiving day off, and so Caleb and i made ourselves a delicious feast, including a turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, and pumpkin pie! i would say it was definitely a success. i felt bad because Caleb did most of the cooking.... but it tasted sooooo yummy! he is definitely a better cook then i am. Caleb's mom sent us pictures of the girls and her, and i got to call my mom and talk to her and my sisters. Deanna and the girls went to Cascade and stayed in a hotel and went out for thanksgiving dinner, and my family did their own yummy meal this year since Melinda and Mitchell and Jess were all there. Then they went out to Middleton for dessert and family time with Dad's side of the family. i hope it was fun for them! it made me very homesick, and made me miss my cousins! I had decided that i wanted to go at midnight to Walmart for their Black Friday sales, and all i can say is that it was definitely an adventure; the first and probably last time for a long while. people were CRAZY!!!! we didn't get very much stuff, but we stayed within our budget and got some nice presents that we needed. i am making us wrap them up and put them under our tree! oh and i forgot to mention that we put it up! i begged Caleb to let us put it up after we ate our feast, and because he loves me so much, we did. :) i was very happy about it, and sent my family a picture when it was done! they put theirs up yesterday, and sent us a picture and it made me very homesick. that's the first year i have ever missed out on it! :( but, i am definitely counting down the days until we get to go on our trip to Idaho!!!! only one more month! and Beth is coming too from Utah so i will get to spend time with her and we will all be together at Pinetop! I'm very excited about it. it should be alot of fun.

We went to our third doctor's appointment this week, and now have a date for when we will find out the gender of the baby! December 15th is the date! we will be 18 1/2 weeks then, and we are SO excited about it! everything is coming along just as it should, and i even got my weight up a bit (so proud of myself!). i don't get nauseous anymore, unless something really gross happens, or i get way too hungry or extremely tired. we got to hear the babies heart beat too! it was 140 something.... i didn't hear exactly, but Caleb said it was 140something lol. he is still determined that it is a girl. i am worried he will be disappointed :(. the doctor said it was a good strong heartbeat and everything on the ultrasound was looking good. it had its cute little hand covering its face like it was saying "please no pictures!" hehe i thought to myself "awww just like its mommy! a little camera-shy cutie pie!" at out next appointment they will spend about 45 min checking every little detail on the baby and making sure there is no problems or deformities. I'm so excited to see it upclose!!!! i love my baby already. Caleb is one proud papa! he is sooooo good to us, and is always making sure we are comfortable and have everything we need.

Caleb had his first drill this last weekend! he came home sore and tired, but happy. i am glad he is still enjoying his decision. the second day they got to go paint balling and learn some battle techniques, and he was very proud of himself for only dying once out of the four times they played. silly boy. i missed him, but i am proud of him.

We are trying to enjoy all the time that we get to spend together this holiday season, and just make good memories. i am determined to weed out all the drama in my life, cuz i really have more important things to focus on right now, and so far I've already made big improvements. its nice to feel more peaceful and happy inside when I'm not constantly stressed and worrying about unnecessary dramas! there is enough craziness going on in this season without me adding all the pointless stuff too it! the holidays may be crazy, but its definitely worth it in the end :).