Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Happy Holidays....


I know...I grew up not listening to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving- it was wrong- well not really, but we were pretty serious about it. But I don't care- I'm listening to a Christmas cd tonight and getting out all my Christmas stuff to look at it...because this year with Thanksgiving we will be celebrating Christmas with the Varners since we will all be together. Since the holiday is at our house I have been doing planning with the menu and finding some deals on a table cloth and napkins and trying to decide on my centerpiece. Since we are celebrating Christmas too I have been on the hunt for a 3 foot tall Christmas tree for a few weeks. All the ones I found were about $30- $40.00! I knew I didn't want to spend that much on one and I had been to Garden Ridge and Michaels ane even with a coupon I didn't want to pay that much! I randomly checked Target and found a perfect one- only catch, it had no tags, so I kept checking thinking they had to put the tags on it soon. Well, today was my third time to check and all their trees were decorated- except one- you guessed it- the one I wanted. It was sitting by it's cold and lonesome self. So, I decided, "Forget this..." and began rummaging through the boxes and found my three-foot Fir tree for ....$9.99. I was soooooo happy. I picked that thing up and almost tripped up to the register with excitement (that and the fact I was wearing heels and Target really waxes their floors- yeesh!)
So, now I'm going to go rummage through all the clearance Christmas stuff we picked up last year on the day after Christmas sales and see what we have to decorate with for Thanksgiving.
I really feel so blessed to be the one to be able to host our family for Thanksgiving. I grew up in a home where half the fun was preparing the food and setting a table with beautiful flatware and glassware and freshly pressed napkins and a crisp tablecloth underneath it all. My sisters and I shared so many great memories with my mom during setting the table and preparing the food from menus we had all planned weeks in advance (while we cleaned out the relish tray and the special breads that Steph made- no wonder Dad was the only one to really eat when we all sat down!) All that to say to be able to carry on those same traditions in my own home means so much to me! So thanks to my sisters in law for letting me be so compulsive about the whole thing and nail you down to a menu item four weeks before the date. We are so excited to have you all come and celebrate with us- and we have so much to celebrate this year too!! Two Marriages, a new life, a highschool graduate turned College student and a loving family together once again! I'll miss my little Gordon Thanksgiving, but I have a feeling the love and spirit of gratefulness will still be present with my -sometimes still new- family.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow, Bethany, you have me so excited about Thanksgiving! We thank you so much for having us for the Thanksgiving/Christmas celebration. I know it's kind of weird to celebrate Christmas at Thanksgiving, but it will be extra special with all of us together. I'm glad you finally found an affordable tree that you liked -- God is good to give us the desires of our hearts -- even in the small things! I'm so glad you came last Saturday to visit with Karis, Kayla Krista and myself. I'm so thrilled that this Thanksgiving Tim, Laura and Krista are in the "fam"! I'm sure it will be a noisy but special and wonderful time together. Just like Karis said in her blog -- family truly is wonderful.
Love, Mom Varner (keep those blogs coming!)

Karis said...

I love it! I can see you grabbing the tree and heading for the register, oh yeah and in your heels too. :-) So glad you found just what you were looking for.

I am so excited about Thanksgiving too! It sounds so perfect already with all the wonderful details you've taken time for. We get to celebrate Christmas for a long time this year since we're starting at Thanksgiving.

We bought Kayla a Christmas DVD because we're hoping it will help her learn a couple of Christmas songs so we've had Christmas songs going on in our house too before Thanksgiving. Dan and I were the same way about waiting until Thanksgiving to listen to Christmas music, but I cheated a couple of times.

Can you believe it's all so soon!?! The next couple of weeks will fly by. See you soon! And like Mom said, it was great having you with us for a few hours on Saturday. Sorry about the girls sleeping so much, but we enjoyed the time with you!

Tim, Kristen , Megan, Emily, and Anna said...

I am so glad you found your tree. I agree with Karis in that I can see you going up to that register in your heels. I am very excited about celebrating Thanksgiving at you house. It will be so much fun to have the fwhole family there. You are such a wonderful planner and have great ideas!!

cranny + b said...

you are such a fantastic writer, Miss Bethany! Hoorah for your deals--and can't wait to hear about your Thanksgiving celebration;)

Debra said...

I'm leaving a comment so you don't call me a "Lurker"!
Good talking to you last night. I miss the relish tray too! LOL!

T.J. and Shannon said...

I'm so glad you found a great deal. I can't wait to decorate for Christmas! It's my favorite holiday. The decorating for me begins the day after Thanksgiving. I'm trying to keep my anticipation at bay so as not to miss out on enjoying the Thanksgiving season.

Tim, Kristen , Megan, Emily, and Anna said...

All I want for Christmas is the surveillance tape of you "tripping your way to the register." I just keep playing it through in my head and it just gets funnier every time!!!!
Tim
P.S. We got the pie covered...pies I was just informed....Blueberry too!!! Got to love commenting with your wife looking over your shoulder...and laughing!

Karen said...

I am excited about our combinations of holidays! Way to find a good deal on the Christmas tree! Pretty sure whenever I have a wedding or a house you can just tell me what to do, because you are amazing at decorating! I can't wait to see you!
Love Karen