It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Normally, I'm not one to put up Christmas before Thanksgiving has occurred. However, since Brad's mom was in town and ready to help me I gave in. I had only one ornament that I could put on a tree so essentially we needed to go find everything including the actually tree. I think we did pretty well. We drove all over town though, including three trips to Target (one in the morning, one for more lights, and one more to exchange light with white cords for lights with green cords.) I think I probably wore Janet out with all of our shopping. We did manage to get a real tree home by strapping it to Brad's Dodge Stratus. Somehow putting a Christmas tree on the dome of my little VW bug didn't seem safe. Once we got it home and set into the stand we were all so exhausted and hungry. After a trip to Macaroni Grill and more shopping we were ready to attempt decorating. Put on some Christmas music and Janet and I were all geared up to decorate. So, we got to work with our red and silver glass balls, silver snowflakes, and glass icicles. We even got Brad to put on a few ornaments. I must say that it looks really good. All I have left to find is a silver star for the top.

I haven't had a real tree in probably over seven years or longer and I must say that I am really enjoying it. I love the smell of the needles and the way I can smell it when I wake up in the morning or walk into our place. We'll just have to see if I can keep it alive for the entire Christmas season.




Thanksgiving was awesome. We were in charge of pies, stuffing, and drinks. We made two pumpkin pies and a pecan pie. Umm! Alissa did such a fabulous job with everything else. Delicious turkey, roasted butternut squash, mashed potatoes, and amazing rolls. Everything was so good! It was fun to spend the day with Brad's family and to coo over baby Ella. She's getting so big and is just adorable.

This break has been perfect for Brad and me. We have hung out with family, gone shopping for Christmas, played games, decorated, and ate really well. We even have got some homework done. It's been nice to not be stressed by school and just relax. I must say that I am jealous of my family being in Hawaii right now and leaving us home. I did make them promise to bring us something back home since they left us here. Even though we missed the beaches and luaus, it has been really nice just to be home and to relax. Plus, it's made me really excited for Christmas.

Another Men's Chorus Concert

This weekend my family got to come to hear Brad sing for the first time. It was a lot of fun to go out together. We went to Goodwood BBQ for dinner. Brad ordered a hamburger and requested it medium rare. A few minutes later the manager stopped by our table to tell Brad that, "Sir, I just want to make you aware that there are certain risks associated with eating undercooked meat." Brad waited until the guy was sufficiently far enough away to laugh.

The Men's Chorus is always highly entertaining and they didn't fail to deliver. They did a lot of my favorites and added some new ones that I'm absolutely wild about. They performed the same piece they did for Homecoming with clanging bottles and banging sticks which is so much fun. I wish the archival CD for the first half of the year came out at Christmas instead of waiting till the end of the year. I guess I'll just have to be patient or have Brad sing them to me.

Side note to our weekend: I think it is so funny to look at how my family of blondies now represents almost every color in the hair color continuum. Adrianne just dyed her hair brown, my mom highlights hers to be blonde, and Malinda likes to turn her hair red. Now if I just dye my hair black we'll have all the colors covered.

Pack Rats

We've been overrun! This weekend we have had a crazy infestation of Pack Rats! Actually, we had over a bunch of the Packer cousins for French pancakes, not to be mistaken with crepes. They are deliciously thin pancakes, served with sausage and maple syrup. YUM! This is only my second time having French pancakes (which is actually unusual that I've had them so much because they are a specialty generally reserved for Christmas) but I'm in love with them. We five timesed the recipe which makes a lot of batter but we had a lot of Packers over to help us take them down though. We had cousins Matt and Vanessa Johnston, Vanessa's sister Allie, cousins Katie and Melissa Packer, Melissa's friend David, Aaron, Aaron's girlfriend Kendra and the two of us. We ate to our heart's content and watched the CES broadcast. It was nice to meet some more of the Packer cousins and put names to faces. It was also nice to see Matt and Vanessa again since the last time we got together with them was at the last CES fireside two months ago. All together a very fun and delectable evening.

Exciting News

So, yesterday I got to go see my friend Holly open up her mission call. She's been called to serve in the Dominican Republic, Santiago mission. I'm so excited for her and for the people of the DR. Holly is going to be an amazing missionary. She's already such an amazing friend and I'm going to miss having her around. Holly's excited too but she'll have to brush up on her Spanish. I guess that all the years of Spanish in high school and the summer in Ecuador will be put to good use. I'm glad I was able to be there when Holly opened up her call. It's weird to think that all of my friends are growing up, but all the changes are for good. Again, congratulations Holly!

TAG From Shanda

I am. . . taking a break from studying.

I think. . . I want to decorate.

I know. . . miracles happen.

I want. . . to go skiing.

I have. . . a very good life and I love it!

I miss. . . gymnastics. Correction, I miss doing uneven bars, but I could do without the beam.

I fear. . . needles.

I hear. . . music playing in my head all the time.

I smell . . . fresh baked bread. It's in the bread maker right now and I love that thing!

I crave . . . sleeping in.

I cry . . . about the stupidest things. I've got Palmer genes in me.

I search. . . for things I've packed away when moving and haven't found yet.

I wonder. . . when it will snow.

I regret. . . nothing. I don't believe in living with regrets.

I wish. . . I could fly.

I love. . . Brad.

I care. . . about my sisters.

I always. . . burn myself. Cooking, curling my hair, doing dishes, whatever, I somehow end up burning myself.

I worry. . . too much.

I am not. . . warm enough. I'm layered in clothes and blankets and still I am cold.

I remember. . . being a little girl and being so excited to go to Disneyland.

I believe. . . in God.

I argue. . . with Holly. We don't really argue, we just like to tease each other.

I write. . . in my journal. I LOVE writing in my journal. It's one of the best things mentally for me.

I win. . . almost every game I play with Brad. It's kind of funny because I don't mean to and Brad's so competitive that he has to keep going.

I lose. . . my keys. Don't worry, I always find them in my purse right where I've looked 12 times already.

I listen. . . to my favorite songs over and over.

I don't understand. . . why I can't find anything to wear when my closet is completely full.

I can usually be found. . . in the library. Sad, but true.

I need. . . to find time to play the piano.

I forget. . . to pick up things up at the grocery store. I always write a list but I somehow forget something.

I am happy. . . with friends and family around me.

Homecoming

Wow. What a weekend this last one has been. First of all, Brad's mom was in town and I haven't seen Janet since before school started. So, we got together and went to Goodwood Barbeque. Mighty tasty. Then it was off to Homecoming Spectacular. I was so excited because I've never been to Homecoming Spectacular, Homecoming parade, True Blue Football, or anything Homecoming related. I think I got to go to the Homecoming Game two years ago but that's it. I don't know why, I just haven't. Plus, this was the year to go because Brad was singing with the Men's Chorus as the finale to the show. And what a show it was. There was a jazz band, folk dancers, pioneers (of course, it's BYU), and even Jenny Oaks Baker (which was AMAZING!) However, I believe the best part of the show was the Men's Chorus. One of the songs they sang they had sang at their first performance of the year and I absolutely fell in love with it. It might have something to do with the bagpipes. They just give me goosebumps. There was also the hiliarious compliation of Welsh folk songs. There was choreography, whistling, banging sticks, and clanging of bottles added to these traditional folk songs. Quite the sight. Sister Hall also enlisted the folk dancers to help them out. She got down off the podium and had them throw her into the air. And I'm not talking of some small distance. I mean high up in the air. I'll have to post a clip once it comes out on BYU TV.


So, Saturday rolls around. Janet and I went crazy decorating our place. I really enjoyed going shopping with her for stuff to decorate with. We got a few things actually up on the walls which is a big step forward. Once I get everything done I'll get some pics up. Unfortuanetly, some fun must come to an end. Brad and I had homework. But we broke it up by. . .


. . . setting up our tent in our living room! We've been wanting to put it together since we got it and it seemed like the perfect thing to do as a break. Thanks Ryan and Shanda for the tent!

Sunday was also a good day. Sunday was Brad's Dad's birthday. Instead of a birthday cake, we had banana cream pie (yum!) We also got to see our niece Ella Packer for her baby blessing. She couldn't have been a more perfect and adorable baby. There's not too many better ways to spend a Sunday than with the Packers.

Bubba

Byron, in my opinion, is the craziest little brother you could get. This last month I've been able to do a lot of things with Byron. First, Byron turned 11. I can't believe he's that old. I can still remember the day he was born. For Byron's birthday we all went out to Chili's to celebrate.


The weekend after Byron's birthday I took him out for dinner and a movie as his birthday present. We went to Pizza Factory and had the amazing breadsticks. If you haven't ever had one they make the breadsticks by wrapping the dough around a long stick and then bake them like that. Pair it with some alfredo sauce and it's good stuff. We then headed to the movies and saw Indiana Jones. I'm a pansy at scary movies. So, when I covered my eyes I'd cover Byron's eyes as well. He'd just move my hand and shake his head at me. Silly boy.

This last picture is from when we had my family down for some games and cookies. I think Byron and Brad may have had one too many cookies. Basically it ended up with Byron about to get a swirly.


Byron sure is one goofy kid but I love him a lot. He's my only brother and he's so much fun to have around.