Thanksgiving weekend

Was it just me, or did Thanksgiving weekend totally rock? Oh man, I had just the right amount of "family" time and "getting things done" time. I could have used a smidge more "friend" time, but happily the time I had was quality!!

Forgive the travelogue nature of the rest of this post, and for the somewhat random inadequate photos. I was more concerned with enjoying myself than with documenting the moments. We can't all multitask our fun the way Aaron does!

Tuesday
I baked a pecan pie and a pumpkin pie, and they both turned out very well. This is amazing, because I made them both from scratch and with almost no help from my mom. If, as a missionary leader on my mission once said, the only prerequisite for getting to heaven is the ability to bake a pie, I am IN!

Wednesday
PIE NIGHT! My family's at-least 15th annual celebration of pie and friendship. For some reason, this party stresses me out, so I didn't invite as many friends as I have in years past. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the group that came. I have some of the most terrific friends in the world. I need to spend more time with you all! Maybe next year I'll feel brave enough to include a few more :-)

My nephew took this photo of me with my
pretty pumpkin offering. I don't know why
my hand looks so huge!

A selection of pies. I have a new favorite from this year:
buttermilk coconut
*Drool*

Thursday
Thanksgiving Day was an especially good one, in spite of the fact that I didn't feel very well (mostly an annoying headache). I watched the parade and then headed over to my Mom's house to join the other 25 or so folks for lunch. We had to have 3 tables! I sat at the "we don't have any kids" table. The actual kids' table was adorable, though. It's weird to me that kids that young apparently don't need any supervision.

Just kidding! We supervised them plenty

Tablemates

After dinner I caught up with the cousins and took a nap. Then my family and grandma saw Rise of the Guardians. This is pretty significant because it's only the second movie my nieces have ever gone to see in a theater. Usually, someone (my mom) ends up staying home with them while everyone else goes out. I'm glad that no one was left behind this time. Plus, it was a pretty good movie, even if the title is cooler than the concept. One cousin was interested until he heard the words "Santa Claus" and "the Easter Bunny". Still, it was entertaining and funny and had some really neat ideas. Good times!

Friday
I had this day off from work (yay for paid holidays!), so I decided to treat it like a true holiday and do things I don't often get to do. This included sleeping in, walking to the bank, walking to the movie theater, seeing Lincoln AND Wreck-It Ralph (both excellent in their own ways though I didn't like Wreck-It Ralph as much as I'd expected and liked Lincoln more than I expected because I didn't know quite what to expect), and using a coupon to purchase chicken littles at KFC during my walk home. After that, I watched the last two episodes of Gilmore Girls. I'm sad it's over. You were right, Sharon and Rach: I loved it! I also watched Miracle on 34th Street. The Christmas season has officially begun!

Saturday
Since I had been lazy the day before, I wanted to be productive on Saturday. The goal was to clean the house sufficiently so that I could start putting up Christmas decorations. I have a small house, so this wasn't too daunting a task. However, I decided to pull absolutely everything off the glorious shelving unit in my living room and thoroughly dust the shelves and the stuff. One thing lead to another, and before I knew it I had spent five hours reorganizing and putting the shelves back together. I am so very, very happy with the end result!

"Shelves in the closet? Happy thought indeed!"
(No, these shelves are not in a closet.
Just a Pride and Prejudice quote that I love.)

Before I knew it, it was time to get gussied up for my cousin's wedding reception at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Note to self: Do not schedule a wedding reception at the JSMB on a Saturday night during the holidays. You will have a tough time fighting the holiday shoppers and Temple Square light views for a parking spot. It was a gorgeous reception, though, and so fun seeing the family all dressed up. My cousin and his bride looked so very stylish and happy. Hooray for big changes and big parties to go with them!

Since we were already in the neighborhood, my parents and grandma, Aaron and his friend Becca decided to view the lights, too. It was crazy-crowded, but the lights were beautiful, and again, it was fun to feel fancy and dressed up for once. It made this tradition feel just a bit more special. Luckily, it was a warm night!

Aaron and I

We all loved this tree!

My evening didn't end there! A bunch of our friends were performing in Quick Wits that night, so I joined Larissa and her friends as we cheered and laughed at Melissa, Rob, and Russ and Co.'s antics. I am thoroughly terrified of having to improvise cleverly, and I admire those who can. Holy granola -- my friends are funny!! Made for a long day, but what an ending! I'm glad I went!

Sunday
After so many busy days in a row, I was exhausted, so I slept in until later than I care to admit. After church and some other church-related activities, I went home and decided to finish cleaning and start putting up decorations. I vacuumed, watched the latest episode of Once Upon a Time, then White Christmas, and before I knew it I had put up ALL of my lights and decorations! I mentioned that my house isn't very big, right? I must say, I am absolutely delighted with the Santa station above my television

and thoroughly in love with my tree. Last year I bought some new ornaments on clearance, and those sparkly pink stars make me smile every time I see them.

Next year I may buy a taller tree (probably fake), but this one is perfect right now.

It may seem a little early to put decorations up, but I'm opening a play not long after New Year's and pretty soon I'll be busy with rehearsals. I thought it might be a good idea to enjoy as much Christmas as I can at home before then. There are few things I like more than sitting in my living room, watching a movie, with nothing but the tiny lights twinkling about me. I doubt I'll be in much of a hurry to put them away -- they may stay up until my show starts, at the very least. I'm a big fan of stretching out the holidays as long as possible :-D

Before I knew it, it was time for bed and I had work to look forward to again on Monday. Thankfully, Christmas is coming soon and a nice long break to go with it! Can't wait!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and that you have plenty to look forward to during these next couple of weeks! What traditions (old and new) are you the most excited about?