Twas the night before Christmas...

...and all through the plant, not a supervisor around, not one could be found...so, I have the lucky position of having to work the day before Christmas and the day after Christmas...but not just like any regular day...I get to come in to work at FIVE in the morning...and I will most likely be driving in from Evanston (much like I did today).
So, we had a little scare yesterday with Eric's father, Jim. He had a terrible migraine and was treated for everything BUT the migraine...I guess there are good and bad points to being a successful, well-known attorney. Ironic, the last procedure they did to rule anything out...they stated that the most common side effect was a pretty nasty headache that would last a few days... I think I am pretty mainstream and conservative...but sometimes, my tree-hugging, liberal, holistic, California side comes out and I just disagree with the way some things are handled...trying to rule out even the most obscure and improbable diagnosis all the while aggravating the original symptom...it just seems wrong...but alas, I never went to medical school and I'm sure if they were to have caught something, I would be grateful. None the less, it sure makes any squabbles or expectations of a perfect holiday seem obsolete in light of much more important things: family, friends & loved ones.
Eric and Bryan (Eric's sister's husband...who HAS gone through medical school) gave Jim a blessing last night at the hospital. I have to say that it touched me, so unexpectedly...I have seen many blessing administered...but to see my husband and brother-in-law be worthy, righteous priesthood holders who needn't hesitate for a moment to question their worthiness consecrate oil and give a blessing to my father-in-law with my mother-in-law in the room...however cheesy it may sound, I was overcome with emotions...that's what it's all about, families, ETERNAL families...being a part of a living gospel and seeing the miraculous effects it has on the lives of those who will accept His message.
I thank Heavenly Father for blessing me, however brief a moment it might have been, to really feel & comprehend the meaning of Christmas!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Saturday we drove to Salt Lake and went for a Hayride at the Wheeler Historic Farm through what could only be called a winter wonderland...I think what made it so special, was the excitement and glee from all the nieces and nephews, grandkids, cousins, etc.

Pictured are me and the three "Brutes." Zaney, Brock, Cole and I climbed into a tree house and pretended like we were prisoners in jail.

Eric and I love them SO much! We were lucky to get to spend some time with them on our honeymoon at Lagoon...man, we were sold for life...their happiness is truly infectious!
Later that night, we went to a church house and had bread bowls and soup! Yum Yum!!! And we got to visit with Eric's cousins and their respective spouses. Here is a picture of Eric's cousin Becky and his cousin Jason's wife Meradith and me.
If we only lived in Salt Lake, we would all be BFF's!!!!

After dinner we had a white elephant exchange and here is what Julie got!! It's a good look! :)

Things you put in a box!

So...we went to our friends (Holly and Kasey Nelson) house last night...They decorated it SO CUTE!!!! And by they I mean Holly. Pictures to come...we had the best ham, EVER!!! Then we played a game called, "Things you put in a box." Someone reads one of the cards (for instance one of the cards we chose last night was, "Things you would do if you were to change genders for a day.") and each player is to anonymously write an answer. A chosen person reads each answer out loud. Everyone then tries to match the answer with the person who wrote it…some answers given last night for the example question were, “Pee standing up,” “Ovulate,” and my personal favorite, “Become all emotional and cry for no reason,” (given by my wonderful spouse!!!).

Life has definitely been non-stop, as we are closing on our house on Friday and then driving to Evanston, going to Salt Lake for a family Christmas party on Saturday, driving back Sunday to give talks at Church and then planning the Ward Christmas Party on the following Thursday. As I reflect on the many tasks at hand, I am overcome with a distinct feeling of gratitude. Gratitude for the tremendous outpour of help from kind people like Nona Backman and her mother Sister Jackson, various families in the ward, grateful for the opportunity to serve others and grateful for so much family surrounding me. Perhaps that is one of the most overlooked blessings of marriage: a new family. I am so grateful for the new extended family I have in the Phillips…grateful for phone calls, for a warm inviting home away from home, for new people to love and be loved by and to care about & new people for your family to love and be loved by.

Life is hectic…but life is so wonderful, too!

Marriage Firsts

Well, seeing as how we have not been married for very long...we are constantly experiencing "firsts." For instance, our first Thanksgiving together. Our first vacation together, our first fight (well, we haven't had that yet... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!) Our first house together (which closes December 15th). The first time you told the other you loved them. The first date. The first kiss (which, in case anyone cares, was NOT the same as the first date). The first time I realized that I did not marry a neat man. First time he realized that I don't look the same when I wake up as I do during the day...or that I'm not as nice certain times of the month (I can admit it and yet still so not ok for him to EVER bring it up!...am I right?) The first time I realized that I just might be luckier to be married to him than he is to be married to me. The first time I realized he felt the same sentiment.
So, enough mushiness,...today we are embarking on a new first...our first full weekend in Kemmerer, Wyoming. So, what shall we do? If anyone has suggestions, we are open!! Rules being: cannot require us to leave lovely Kemmerer and cannot be illegal (second one is negotiable).

Four paraplegic (wo)men on the couch!

So, we decided to have some friends over for dinner and play an impromptu game of "four men on a couch." And as you will see from the pictures we will add that the women won the game...much to the chagrin of Kasey Nelson, who in a show of unsportsmanlike conduct shouted, "yes! She has the LEAST grasp of the game!" at the date of one of our co-workers. This poor girl, Tara, who knew none of us, save her date and another friend, came through like a champ and won us the game... regardless of all the taunting from the boys!!
Later, we were telling funny stories and someone told one about his wife...we'll call her "Polly." She noticed her left handed mother-in-law ironing with her right hand. "Oh," Polly exclaimed..."how cool, you're..." her husband then filled in the blank, "ambidextrous." Later, that husband asked his wife what word she was about to say, "...I'm not telling you," she insisted...finally she admitted "...paraplegic." We laughed so hard, some of us actually cried tears. Maybe it's not as funny in print, but it was hilarious at the time and I think "Polly" will want to be friends OFF for a little while because I am selling her down the river and putting it on my blog! Sorry, "Polly!"

Supplies! Supplies! (insert Chinese accent)

So,...we were thinking about how thankful we were for both of our great families that are so loving and kind, in particular, our amazing mothers. We thought we should let them know how much we loved them...my mom's surprise is yet to come...but we got to give Eric's mom a little early Christmas gift. Julie has worked tirelessly painting, re-decorating and making the house a home. It was interesting for me to see what a difference love makes in a house. I stayed at Eric's parent's house for about two weeks prior to them coming home from their mission. It was so large and cold that I opted to sleep on the couch with the TV rather than in the scary basement! What an amazing transformation the house underwent as it became alive with all the chatter, love, and calamities of a family. Love makes a house a home, without a doubt, but home decor is nice, too...and we thought it would be fun to give her a mini extreme bed-room makeover... and what a difference a sheet makes!...and curtains and new lamps...but we took this picture before everything was set up...but you get the gist! If you notice, Julie is holding a phone, as she was in the middle of a conversation with Carli (Eric's youngest sister) and was not the most attentive with that conversation...until it was ended with a frustrated Carli yelling, "you're distracted, I'm getting off the phone!"

Lunch with Munch...and George!

We were lucky to be able to stay an extra day and get to visit with George Phillips, [in]famous brother of James Phillips. We had arranged to meet George and Charlie Munch (their dear friend) at 11:30 for lunch. And in true Eric and Aimei fashion...we got...LOST...and finally had to pull into the Police Department (not the local police department as we were THAT lost). So, equipped with the newly printed mapquest the officer printed for me (it helps to be a girl!)...we still got lost and had to corner a scared postman (literally block his car) and have him show us the way. So, finally around 12:45, we arrived at George and Joan's house. Charlie and George took us to one of Los Alto's finest French Restaurants. Conversation was wonderful and we all were in good spirits. There's nothing better than family and friends to remind you what Thanksgiving ought to be about!

Nothing Beats Mom's cooking!

After a day and a half of "puking" (as Eric's niece Brooke would say) I finally was back in action and ready to have some of my mom's home cooking. We had a traditional Chinese hot pot and fresh crab! And what a delight it was...particularly since the preceding night, I had to listen to my brother and Eric competing to see who could eat more of the food my mom made for me! Curse those boys!

Black Friday was black indeed!

So, the day after Thanksgiving...I did what every kid does when they are excited about something, I kissed Eric goodbye and ran to my parents' room and woke my mom up at five in the morning to go SHOPPING! The day soon derailed as I began collecting all of the warmest looking coats that the Macy's 2007 winter collection had to offer and tried my hardest to stay warm and not to vomit...to no avail...I vomited four times before I finally agreed to go home. That's dedication for you!

A Thanksgiving Miracle!!!

Thanksgiving was great in California. We arrived Thursday morning in California and was greeted by my wonderful family. We then drove to my mom's Jeweler and there I upgraded my ring! Pictures posted! I like it more than the original ring set as it was too tight and due to the intricate pave style band and all it's little diamonds, it would have cost a bundle of money to size it. Happy days for me...but not for long...for Thanksgiving dinner we went to my grandparents' house and ate of their catered food...whoever thought catered is better than home cooked is greatly mistaken...well it was fine going down...it was the coming back up part that wasn't so enjoyable!

None the less, nothing can stop me from experiencing my first BLACK FRIDAY...