I’ve decided that I am starting a Miscellaneous Monday series today!

This weekend was absolutely jam packed. Saturday we started with a 50th birthday party for Joanna (Lisa’s boss at the Animal Shelter). From there, we left for a “Sweater Swoiree” party at Indiana’s house. Indiana has helped me with a lot of weddings since April, and it was great to hang out with her and her husband Chris!

Yesterday, we started with the Christmas Hay Ride through the neighborhood. This is a fun tradition where we check out everyone’s Christmas lights and view the winners for the year. After that, we left for a party hosted by one of my favorite couples this year, Shellie and John. I saw several familiar faces, and they were very gracious hosts! We may even plan a Vegas trip for next year, or at the very least some poker nights in town. You can check out a slideshow from their wedding here. You can also see her creative writing blog!

We’re heading to OK today to visit family, and when we get back I’ll take some cool light/decoration shots to post.

Here are some shots from the weekend:

I bet you can’t top this tree-topper! Elmo is held up by an elaborate system known as the cable tie.

These next few are from the Christmas Hay Ride:

Word came out recently that Journeyman wasn’t picked up for the back 9 episodes of the season. What a complete bummer. Lisa and I love this show. Hopefully, it was only due to some strike-related issues. At least we have a few more episodes to catch before it possibly disappears!

Oh the intentions were good. This wasn’t going to be like last year. Friday, November 23rd would come and we would be full decorated by the end of the day. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Not even close. However, we are starting to make progress on the inside decorations (e.g. we have the tree set up). Outside is a different story. I forgot that I needed to order those little lawn stakes this year so that I could run lights along the grass. But you can’t find those stupid stakes anywhere – HD, Lowes, Target – checked them all. So I was reduced to ordering them online with expedited shipping.

Little green stakes. 2nd Day Air.

Oh well, it will be worth it in the end. It’s 7:30am as I type this, and Trevor is watching me intently from his vibrating rocker chair. I think he’s taking notes on what not to do in 20 years for Christmas.

My mom’s 60th birthday was in October, so my sister and I took the opportunity this past weekend to throw her a surprise party! The whole thing went off without a hitch, and it was amazing that the secret kept until the day of the party. We had 50 guests, and some were people I had not seen since high school!Here’s mom right when she walks in:

Here she is with Grandma:

Me, sis and mom.

Trevor hanging with his cousin Nicole:

I took this shot of Brandon with the iPhone at the airport on the way back!