Yesterday.

Yesterday *DEC 23rd* marked 1 year since Phil popped the big Q and I said YES. December 23rd, 2008 will always be a shimmering treasure in my trove of memories. I remember the excited jitters, the Christmas magic feeling, the glittering lights(most of my favorite memories are valued by their glitter-content) and the feeling of peace I had.  Phil was probably a little more nervous, but you'll have to ask him about that.

It was the start of our crazy and endless journey.  Life hasn't stopped being life. Marriage is no magic pill... Sometimes it feels a lot like "Mr. Toads Wild Ride."  We have hard times, easy times, responsibilities, joys, tears, a lot of laughter, and buckets of love... I'm just glad it's all with PG. (I hope you readied your barf bags) 

Looking back on this year the word "growth" comes to mind. I hope we never stop growing and learning.

Tomorrow is Christmas and I turn 24. ack! I get to spend my time with my wonderful and now gigantic family, reflect on my savior and all that he did, then hope that I can do a little good myself somehow. I get to hear my niece sing "baby Jesus is coming to town," walk around the temple lights with my sisters, hear my own birth story from my momma, and hand out my ill-wrapped but nonetheless fab-tastic presents. 

I'm looking forward with open arms to another year-in-the-life complete with it's own new experiences, bright adventures, graduations, travels, family, little discoveries, and cheer. All with my sweetheart. Onward we go!

Turkey lurkey.

the mini family at the tree farm

I would like to make a boisterous Martinelli's apple cider toast to yet another fantastic Thanksgiving holiday!

Things that made Thanksgiving something to give thanks about:

Hot crusty stuffing steaming dreamy smells around TWO houses, where we ate until we couldn't see our belt buckles. That's right... two Thanksgivings I said. Two turkeys, two million rolls, too many too good things to eat.

Sleeping in a house full of babies and family and laughing and tiny feet running everywhere. 

Sleeping like a baby under the radiating heat of an electric blanket made in heaven.

Marshy green hills, beautiful homes, and streets, and trees... Danville is pleasantville this time of year.

Tour de Jim took us around J-amily history sights in the beautiful SFcity in ONE. BIG. BUS. (which we filled by the by) Phil was a hit jumping off sand dunes at the beach. The day ended with zizzling chinese food (that's what the menu said!) yummmmmm.

A starry night rendezvous to the temple to gaze at Christmas lights and then fill up on Fentons ice creamy delights with friends. Did I mention we ate through this trip?!

An OC clan traditional Christmas tree cutting. The hunt for the best piece of green and then the chopping (thanks in large part to Philip and Dad OC) while others sit munching on popcorn and giggling and debating the tree's quality, size, height, superiority to other less fabulous firs.

Shopping for Christmas and hanging with mah sistahs and momma OC... Is it just me or does Thanksgiving have a lot to with it's big sister holiday?

Watching niece Claire (and a bunch of other kids) in Alice and Wonderland. It was WONDERful. The director (mother in law PAM!) was fantastic of course.

We came. We ate. We conquered. And we'll be back for TWO WEEKS of great memories for Christmas because I am lucky and my boss is nice.