Phew!

We survived!

It's 11:59 on New Year's Eve Eve. The wind has been blowing so hard for the last 45 minutes that I thought my house might actually blow over. Since moving to this frozen tundra (which is just a slightly higher elevation than the rest of the world around us), I have realized that our weather is a bit more extreme.

When everyone else has had dead ugly grass, we have still had snow on our grass. It only melted just within the last 2 days since the record 50 degree December heat wave we've had. During the last few cold weeks, we've had frost that is so frozen to our driveway in the mornings that when we get home from work, our tracks are still there.

The wind was so bad I was watching our light pole out Molly's window and it was waving back and forth. Our neighbors Christmas blow up lawn decorations must be staked in with cement because they were whipping around like those freaky blowy things you see at gas stations, shaved ice stands, and used car sales.

James and Molly are both sound asleep and I just finished watching "Midnight in Paris" by myself. James and I attempted to watch it a week ago and both fell asleep in the middle of it. It was interesting. I liked seeing the sights of Paris. It was definitely a weird artsy Woody Allen movie and I'm not sure what the point was, but at least it didn't put me to sleep this time.

. . . and at least the wind stopped blowing and now I know my house won't blow over in case of a hurricane.

Update: It's now 12:10 a.m. and I just went and checked out Molly's window again. It's sad to say, but the blow up lawn decorations at the neighbors are nowhere to be seen. It's possible that the neighbors came outside and rescued them in the last 15 minutes, but I think they may have perished. May they rest in peace. They fought a good fight.

Let's just go ahead and make this the last post of the year, shall we?

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Most Wonderful Time of the Year #5

Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat . . . . Christmas is over and we didn't eat a goose, but we do an excellent job of eating everything else and therefore are probably more fat than we were a month ago.

Anyway . . . Here are the final Christmas season highlights.

• On Monday, December 12th, we had are Petersen-Howden-Binggeli Christmas Party. We went to the new Brick Oven restaurant in North Provo (aka South Jordan) and then traveled to midtown Provo (Thanksgiving Point) to see the drive-thru lights display. The little kiddies all piled in my mom's truckster and the 4 big boring married ones piled in Annie's car. We later returned to North Provo (Annie's house) for hot chocolate and cookies. It was a fun night! (picture stolen from Annie)
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• On December 17th, two family parties overlapped on the same evening. Our annual
  Petersen family was at my aunt Karen's this year and our annual Huber Progressive Party was also the same night at my Aunt Jackie's and my Uncle Dee's. The Petersen Party was great! Karen fixed us french dip sandwiches, we made wooden block ornament crafts, and everyone generously handed out gifts to be opened on Christmas (since we aren't all able to make to to Christmas breakfast anymore). When that party ended, Molly was hanging in there ok (and wanted to ride in my mom's truckster) so we headed to my Uncle Dee's for the tail end of the Huber party. We tasted the remains of Chloe's authentic lasagna recipe from Italy, bruschetta, and other yummy things. It was a good night.
• On Christmas Eve we had our traditional turkey feast, nativity program, and sing along at my Grandpa Huber's house (photo stolen from Natalie). Annie and Ross added beef to this year's menu and it was delicious. It was a little sad to not have my grandma there. Ok, it was a lot sad (not the party, it was fun, but just the whole season). I've had several melt-downs during the last month (perhaps enhanced by my condition mentioned in the post prior to this). I miss her. I think I have defined Christmas by her presence (and presents, since I've helped with that end for many a years). Usually during the month of December I spend hours and hours at my Grandma's helping with Christmas preparations. My time has been shortened a bit since being married and then adding Molly, but this year I really felt left out without that extra responsibility. Christmas consumed my Grandma from August to December and as much as my Grandpa tried to keep it all the same . . . I just miss her . . . . but I'll move on because the screen is blurry and my nose is running.

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• On Christmas Day we woke Molly up to play with all the cool things Santa Claus brought her, then we headed to 9:00 a.m. church with my mom, dad, and Willie. Molly wore a pretty Christmas dress with black shiny shoes. Next, we went to my parent's house for gifts and breakfast/brunch. Annie and her family came. James spent much of the time we were there Skyping with all of his family. Technology is pretty cool! He can talk to Germany, Kuwait, North Carolina, Idaho, Garland, and West Valley all at the same time (and with video). We at way too much! It was a great morning.

We then made a quick pit stop home to get out some rolls to thaw for our dinner later and to let Molly have a little bit longer nap in the car.

Next, we headed back to Grandpa Huber's for a brief visit. He had cards for everyone, socks, Sam's Club items, and gifts for the smallest kids (Molly included). Molly and I ate a few chips and dip while James loaded our car and then we went back home.

The Binggeli's were waiting for us when we got there. We visited, opened gifts, and then I fixed dinner. We topped it off with hot chocolate and a fruit cake type thing that Jason had sent from Germany to be eaten on Christmas. We had a great evening and Molly was an angel. Grandma and Grandpa Binggeli gave her a baby doll with a baby stroller and she pushed it all over the house all night long.

All in all we had a very nice Christmas. I think we were able to visit with just about everyone this holiday season. We love having our families around. It's a fun time of year. I'm always a little bummed when Christmas is over, but it really is my favorite time of year.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Cat's Out of the Bag

I don't particularly care for cats. Actually, I don't like cats at all. They make me sneeze. They are sneaky and always look guilty.

Anyway (to continue with the metaphor) I wasn't intentionally keeping the cat in the bag. I was just avoiding conversation about the cat and the bag all together. Why? Because I'm Haley and there are just certain topics I would rather not talk about . . . cats in bags being one of them.

We only needed to let a few people know about the cat in the bag and then they were free to tell whomever else they'd like. The news just pretty much took care of itself. I think most of my family knows now and James' as well, but after receiving a text from my friend Emily tonight (after she read a particular line in my mom's blog) I decided to make an official post on this here blog (for the 2.78 of you who read this and aren't related to me and don't already know).

So to finally release the dreaded feline and let it out of it's paper or plastic compartment . . . .

James and I are having a baby in June. The due date is June 8th. We won't have an ultrasound for a couple of weeks still and so we don't know details about heart, lungs, gender, etc. As far as the preliminary doctor visits go, everything looks fine and dandy. My bets are on another girl if either of my Grandma's have anything to do with it, but James' family, I'm sure, would like to add another boy to the grandchild lineup. Molly has been told about the arrival of a sibling, but I don't think she has any idea what she's in for. Our office is still a mess and seems to be the catch-all room in our new house for everything that hasn't found a better home. I like the idea of having an "office" though, and don't have any intentions of turning it into a bedroom. I think Molly can share. James and I both shared rooms with siblings for parts of our lives and I think we survived ok. There isn't much else to say at this point.

That's the news from here and I don't think I will post again about cats anytime soon.