I'm so excited for Christmas even though it doesn't really feel like it's tomorrow! Wild.
Yesterday, Sean and I had an excellent night. He was napping and I woke him up so he would be able to sleep at night and, as he was still waking up, there was a terrified sounding knock on the door. Sean got up and went to the door and no one was there, just an incredible gift basket from Kneaders (a bakery/cafe that's really popular around our area). It had some peppermint bark, a chocolate rice krispie treat, caramels, and bread and syrup to make their special french toast along with the recipe. We went through that and then noticed a $65 to Target! WHAT?! We were elated.
There wasn't any note to say who it was from, but I'm sure they know we appreciate it greatly and it's definitely one of the best Christmas surprises we've ever received.
We went out soon after getting this cool gift to buy our snake a Christmas rat and we decided to grab a fun A-Wing (Star Wars) Lego kit just because. When we got back, we noticed our grill was moved. Sean looked under the lid and what to our wandering eyes should appear but another Lego kit! It was the Beorn at Dol Guldur kit that I'd been looking at for a while. Turns out, our neighbors dropped it off for us. SO nice! So we turned on The Frisco Kid and put together our sweet Legos.
I'm so grateful for such cool neighbors and friends that take such good care of us. I can't wait to give Sean and my family our gifts. Giving get to be more fun than recieving the older you get.
Anyway, I hope everyone has a magical Christmas full of all the best stuff. You know.
Holy crap. Since when was Christmas in one week? I feel sorely unprepared even though I have like 80% of all the gifts I'm needing. And that 20% are things that I'm probably going to pick up tonight while we're out finishing our Christmas card rounds.
Everything just feels so... weird. I'm excited for Christmas and can't wait for it to come, but it doesn't feel like it's only days away, but months. I guess I've just been so busy not being busy that I've missed it. We've been to numerous Christmas parties (2 ward parties, 2 work parties) and still have a few to go. Tis the season, alright. Just weird.
Aside from all that, the Donners are doing well. Like I said, we're attending parties and have only seen The Hobbit: The Desolation OF Smaug twice. It's just been a good time. Anyway... I think I'm just feeling brief this month.
I'm off to pinterest to perouse the pages and pages of pretty pins. Either that, or to do another crossword puzzle because I'm an 80 year old woman... (not really).
So sometimes, I find myself to be artsy. Earlier this week, I bought a couple canvases and some new paints so that I'd have something to do while Sean worked late a lot of this week. I decided I was going to paint one of Sean's pictures (Check out his facebook page here).
It's not far along, but I feel like it's pretty good. It's of a green apple on a green background. I only have the apple and stem done and part of a leaf but now I have a project for the next couple days. I love having projects. It makes me less crazy. I've done a few paintings in the past, but I've never really done any realistic ones. I really hope it turns out. It'd be really cool... plus I think it would go well in our future kitchen.
Speaking of art, my father-in-law is an incredible painter. We have one of his earlier ones in our living room of a fox and it's exceptional. He just put up his official website and you should check it out (here).
We finally have a star and some ornaments on our Christmas tree so there's that... We only had to brave the crazy winter-drivers and Target Christmas-crowd to get them, but at least they're there, right? And Christmas can begin! I already have a gift for Sean on its way.
That's all. I'll keep you updated on the painting and have a picture of it when it's done.
love, Ellen
I know what you're thinking... Where is her Thanksgiving post? She went on and on about how great it would be and then leaves us hanging! I'm sorry... Does this make up for it?
Guys, it went just as I wanted it to. It seriously is the absolute best holiday. The food was delicious, the decorations were top-notch, my family didn't embarrass me (or anyone else)... it was just excellent.
Here are some pictures of my [awesome] decor all put together and Sean's pies that got nothing but praise all day long.
This is the banner I made.
A view of the table.
The set-up.
A place-setting.
Sean's pies
(top: Mixed Berry, underneath: Dutch Apple, left upper: Pickle Pie, right: Pumpkin, lower left: Pecan [aka the best one], center: Chocolate)
A canvas I painted and framed (with twine)
I love my family and I'm so grateful that I could be with so many of them on my favorite holiday. And, now that it's December, Christmas season can begin! (Even though I've been having to listen to Christmas music at work for the past few weeks...) Sean and I bought a real Noble Fir tree yesterday and set it up, complete with fleece blanket tree-skirt (made by just buying some cute fleece and safety pinning it. We set it on a table so the kitty won't have anywhere to pee under it. We don't have our decorations out on it yet because they're still at my parent's house... but at least we have the tree!
OH! And, we bought a new couch and rug! Our whole apartment is new, it feel like. We went from an old crappy couch that was sagging so much on one cushion that you could use the other cushion as an arm-rest, to a brand new leather couch that is longer and nicer! (Thanks to Ikea) and a new rug that is orange and has spots on it. Even Erma Gerd likes it!
Yay!! Okay, was that a good-enough update for you? It should be...
love, Ellen
This is the first Christmas that Sean and I have ever spent and I think it's going to be number 1. I can't wait to see his face when he opens all his fun gifts and for him to see mine when visa versa and whatnot.
I'm so grateful he's here to enjoy this holiday with. So far, he's made me a christmas (eve) ham which was super delicious, and we drank sparkling blueberry grape juice, also delicious, and we've given each other pajamas and 1 gift each. I got him an awesome rifle lighter and he gave me a super cool microfiber hairbrush that dries your hair when you brush it! Awesome.
Anyway, I'm sure you don't want to be reading some blog on Christmas Eve. Go enjoy your family and stuff! okay,
Til I get to spend Christmas with my fantastic husband. Today, there's a lot to say and i think it best to be in a bulleted list, like i like.
Remember last year's Christmas Eve post that had my most favorite christmas songs on it? that was a good one. you should check it out if you haven't.
Yesterday, in church, Sean and I gave our 'new to the ward' talks. We actually had some fun writing them and telling each other the funny bits we were planning on saying. When we actually gave them, people seemed to enjoy them and we got lots of compliments after.
Okay, so last monday (a week ago today) i got my first smartphone. It's an HTC Radar. I cannot begin to tell you how incredibly careful i am with it. I leave it in my bag when i'm sitting down and it's rarely in my pockets in case it falls out. So on sunday, right before i'm about to go into the church for sacrament meeting, guess what. Sean's ipad was covering it when both were sitting in my lap and, as i stepped out of the car, i bet you can only imagine what happens next. yep, the brand new phone slips and tumbles straight onto the pavement and the screen shatters. my luck... but it's all going to be fine. the phone was free, it's only a malformation in the screen. All the apps and buttons (is that what they're called when they don't protrude from the surface?) and whatnot work. so it'll be fine. but what a frustrating thing.
On Saturday morning, Sean and I woke up bright and early to take miss kitty to get fixed. When we picked her up that afternoon, she was so silly! she had a piece of duct tape on her head for the vets to put her in her in the right carrying cage thing and she just looked high as a kite. She also got her vaccines. We have been giving her meds every day at 7 am and 7 pm and, even though they're super gross and she hates them, she takes them well. She's been sleeping a lot more and letting me cuddle with her! Right? she loves having her head scratched and laying down right next to me. cute.
we've seen The Hobbit twice so far. for realz. We saw it in normal and then in Lots-o'-frames 3D which was weird. I don't know if i liked it or not. but anyways, it's really great and I'd recommend it. Also, recently, i've been re-watching the Lord of the Rings Extended trilogy. Awesome.
Only a hair more than a week till CHRISTMAS! I can't wait to give Sean all of the things I got him. And I can't wait to see what he got me! I think married christmas is going to be so much fun and I can't wait for Prime Rib with my family that night! and to give them what we got them! oh, christmas. so fun.
i think that's all.
but i also think i need to share this adorable picture of my sweet husband sleeping:
Happy end of november. It's almost christmas season and i'm feeling... normal. I think it needs to be december, snow some, and then i'll be willing to listen to all the christmas music and buying up the rest of Sean's christmas presents.
I'm just really ready for this semester to be over and be able to relax and enjoy my husband and our cozy apartment and (i guess) our kitten. Only 1 more week of classes, 3 papers, 1 project, and then 3 finals. deep breath. it'll be okay.
Seriously, i recommend it. highly. it's great to have someone to come home to at night or to surprise with little things like special desserts or leftover beverages or whatever. And it's great to have someone here at night keeping me safe and warm.
(seriously, though, it gets freezering in this joint sometimes and the fiery furnaces frighten me sometimes.)
Over the past too long of time (if that makes any sense...) i've been working like 6 more hours a week and Sean's been working overtime as well and it's not so fun for either of us, but we're coping and getting excited for all the extra funds coming in. Let's just say Christmas will be good.
The only not so fun parts are chores. i love cleaning the house, but i'm not a huge fan of taking out the trash or doing the dishes... Luckily Sean takes out the trash mostly, but i still do the dishes, usually.. it's fine, i'm getting better at not gagging at the really gross wet leftover foods (which is a thing that happens.) working at a food place has helped in that aspect but it's still not so fun.
School is whatever. I just can't wait for THANKSGIVING! a nice break from school and work and just getting to spend time eating and cuddling with my husband. i have to be honest here, cuddling is the 100% best thing ever in the world.
Speaking of stuff, i have to go do the dishes and then get a package from the post office and then French class and then more work. Yay! or something.
My (not really my but i wish he was my) friend from Edinburgh, Liam Dryden reposted this from someone else on twitter and i thought it'd make a good title for a blog.
Hoorah! Christmas Eve! The day where me and my fam kinda just chill around and stare at gifts most of the time. and then at night we go to a location (lately it's been a hotel my Aunt works at) and eat food and relax and chat and, if you're me, there's a lot more relaxing and a lot less chatting. But i have so much more to talk about this year than last year! For instance: i moved out, got a job, and go to college. take that, silence. (sorry, i really thought it would be funny if i could make some sort of Doctor Who reference. and it pretty much was funny.)
Here's our adorable Charlie Brown Christmas Tree:
cute, huh? take that, commercially-sized tannenbaums. "How are all the presents that high?" you might ask. well, there happens to be a coffee table under them. but i felt it more artistic to leave that detail out. until after the picture was posted and i'd say it.
With it being Christmas and all, i figured i'd share some of my absolute favorite christmas songs that you don't hear ever day most likely. We'll just call it my Christmas gift to you.
(first off, i'd just like to force everyone to go to youtube (and by force i mean tell you, of course) and click the little snowflake button on the bottom of your favorite video and watch them fall and then try to touch them with your mouse! aww, youtube!! cute)
okay, number one is a favorite from my childhood. we would listen to this christmas morning while opening our "baby born baby born" or "sing-and-dance Angelica" or whatever. It's Riu Chiu done by the Monkees. They're so good!
okay, second is a good one if you wanna just jam out and have some good base going. It's What I Want for Christmas by Macy Gray. if you just want to listen to the song, that's okay. the video's not super fly anyway.
This next one technically is good for all times of the year, but i like it especially around Christmas time because it's about winter and it's just a sweet song. It's Valley Winter Song by Fountains of Wayne.
Okay. this one will get you in fits if you haven't seen or heard it before and this video definitely makes me go "wha??" and then chuckle and it's all the best. It's Dominick the Donkey.
This next one is my favorite take on 12 Days of Christmas. It actually makes sense and who can go wrong with Andy Williams on Christmas? it's A Song and a Christmas Tree. again, the video has a lot less to do with the song. just listen.
This is so good. It's another crappy boy band trying to do their own Christmas jam. but it's my fave. me and Hannah Wing and Erica Farnes used to LOVE these guys we watched all their youtube vids and almost cried when Thomas left. Don't worry, Thomas is still with them for this one. hallelujah.. he was like the glue holding the sanity of that band, i think. hah. Anyway! back to the song. Presenting It's Christmas Again by Varsity Fanclub. (again with the vid, i'm sorry. maybe you can learn it and this'll be like karaoke.)
I love this one! the story is so sweet and it's just a good song. I don't totally know how to describe it... it's just one of those that has been around my whole life. Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses. (listen no vid)
i think i'll wrap it up right now with this one. it's not the nicest most special song ever but i still like it. It's just one of those songs that is good to sing along to and that. it's just good, i guess. Here's Donde Esta Santa Claus by Guster. (just audio, once again. not my fault.)
at least that's how i would imagine trees in B-town and C-ville would say. but seriously. I woke up this morning to a text saying "you should stay home from school. Tolman's trampoline blew into dad's car broke the back window and side window." and i'm like kaawhaaa? so i look out my window and nothing's happening... so i go to the news websites and check the weather and it's all pretty normal.
except for the gale-force winds reported in bountiful. So i say, that i can't miss another french class and it's not that bad down here {cuz it isn't} and then i just get ready and go to school and all is normal except my french teacher brought us a half a cake and some eclairs and cream puffs and my english teacher let us out 20 minutes early.... but then i went to walmart and bought a bunch of preservatives-i-mean-food and other stuff.
And i find pictures like these on facebook:
{that's the aforementioned car with the windows}
{This is my friend John's driveway}
{This is Cory's driveway}
{This is across the street from my parent's house}
and there's so much more. Semi's down and fuel all over and roofs blown off or smashed by trees and cars smashed and powerlines down. and i know this even though i wasn't there. because i watched this. and you should too. my dad was interviewed in the driveway but i don't think he's been on it yet... or it has and i've just not seen it.
and that's all. and i'm probably gonna have "roommate bonding" over christmas. that's nice. and christmas-y.
AND! Emily came a visited me and Erchap yesterday! we went to happy sumo and had sushi and then went to blickenstaffs {aka wonderland} and then Em and i went to the mall real fast. yay! much better than a boring night alone. much much.
and i think that's all.. i'm just praying for those affected in davis county (yeah, i know no one is killed or whatever, it's still a rough situation and not one we're used to.)
