The Grinch Who Stole Thanksgiving

It is funny how naturally people associate Thanksgiving with getting ready for Christmas. All of the sudden the radio stations are playing Mariah Carey’s, “All I Want for Christmas is You”, store front windows are decked to the nine’s for preparation for Saint Nick. Well the major argument in the Jones household has turned into, “What happened to Thanksgiving?”

Blake and I got to my parent’s house in Colorado the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. We decided to leave Utah a day early to beat the snowstorm that was supposed to prohibit holiday travel. We surprised my mom and she was shocked! I love to surprise people! It is my favorite. She was so excited, she told us to go downstairs and get Luke out of bed, because she had just told him we weren’t going to be home until Wednesday, We went down to the dragons’ lyre and found a huge tree, decked with lights and adorned with a silver “Angel Moroni.” Uhhhh? My mom followed us down and was laughing so hard when she saw us looking at the tree. An explanation was in order.

Luke had been helping all our family set up Christmas. He spent the day with Stacey, went and saw Mike’s house all set up, and helped Aunt Allison the weekend before. He obviously was in the Christmas spirit. So, traditionally, he went a picked out a fat fir and brought it home for Mom to set up. Although Luke had been given a dose of Christmas cheer, my mother was still in the mode of giving thanks, since Thanksgiving wasn’t even here yet. She stopped Luke right at the doorstep and said, “Absolutely not.” The next half-hour was spent debating whether or not the tree would come in or not. Much to Luke’s dismay, Mom won the debate, but if anyone knows my brother, they know he doesn’t give up without a fight. He dragged the massive pine down the side hill of the house, stuffed it through the basement door, and began set up. The tree was too tall for the basement, so instead of giving up, the top was hacked off to be perfectly wedged between floor and ceiling of his room. (I am concerned that the house may burn down since it is right next to the American flag and Luke’s TV.) He strung the lights and placed Angel Moroni at the top. (Moroni you ask? It’s a Luke thing I guess). My mom came down and told him he was rushing her and didn’t understand the time and energy it took to set up Christmas. He told her she had no Christmas spirit.

We all began to laugh and Luke said, “Well, she is being the Grinch who stole Christmas.” Then my husband, who also doesn’t like skipping holidays either frankly told Luke, “It sounds like you are the Grinch who Stole Thanksgiving.” Luke got these big eyes and his mouth dropped, “Blake!”