Everything is falling into place for Christmas this year – shopping is mostly done, the house is getting cleaned as we speak, WE and I are watching EVERY Christmas Special known to man, and then after Christmas we’ll have a house full of family to entertain! I splurged and bought some table linens to match our wedding china that we haven’t used yet – so we’re excited to give everyone the full treatment too. I’ve been stealing Christmas recipes/ideas off my old roommate’s blog and my friend in the YW presidency that makes a killer gingerbread cookie. (I haven’t told WE this yet but I decided that I’m going to be in charge of all the desserts and he can do all the meals!) We’ve already done all of our special musical numbers and concerts. Everyone is gone at work so I can finally get some quiet time to finish all the little this’ and thats. I posted my e-Christmas card this week. I’ve lost a pound a week for the last three weeks (hey, gotta prepare for those gluttonous holidays you know!) We are going to a Dallas Stars game this after noon (vs Detroit) with some friends.

AND

now all I really want for Christmas is SNOW!

Well, WE and I officially have the Christmas Cheer!

We finished putting up the outside lights last night (Ha, I got up on the roof but got too scared to finish all but one section so we had to go get the Ricks’ extension ladder – weak sauce! I know. But hey, it was cold and windy too). Aside from being out in the freezing cold alot this weekend (two late night co-ed softball games and an Evening Song Christmas concert at the West Village Mall downtown) we also watched our first Christmas Special. This was the cherry on top for WE since he has such fond memories of watching Specials as a kid.

I also stayed up late last night making my Christmas gift for my picked name on my side of the family. (TLS – if you are reading – your gift is in the mail and should arrive this week!) My family decides to keep the name-picking a surprise – so I can’t tell who it is for. But it’s definitely the little things that make Christmas so much fun.

For instance, I decided to put up both of our Christmas trees this year (WE and I both brought one into the marriage). The nicer tree is in the front room with all the super pretty red and gold ornaments. The Charlie-Brown-ish tree we put up in the family room. But the best part was pulling out my Christmas ornament box that Mom had saved all those years and putting them all on that tree. It’s a first and I had a fun time laughing at all the Little Mermaid, Fievel Goes West, Precious Moments, and Primary Popsicle stick ornaments that somehow have lasted. My favorite was a rotating ornament with a little mouse dunking a basketball. =)

I also made WE try some of my favorite herbal tea from Bulgaria last night. Just the smell reminds me of my winter spent there and brings floods of good memories. I don’t think WE appreciated it as much as I did – but when you add a spoon and a half of sugar and a slice of lemon to the tea – the flavor is absolutely perrrrfect! (PS. Celestial Seasonings comes no where close to this stuff and in fact – I don’t think that we even have the fruity herb in the tea here in the U.S. – or at least not that I know of. )

So I say bring on the cheer. There’s plenty of good to go around and it’s always fun to celebrate the most Good of all – that is the life and mission of Jesus Christ.

Here’s a fabulous rendition of “The Shepherd’s Carol” that I just LOVE. “Our love, our hearts, ourselves – we give to your Son.”

WE and I drove through the great state of Kansas on our way to Colorado this weekend. We got a kick out of the propaganda billboards – most of which mentioned Jesus in some way, shape, or form.

But my favorite, however, was the huge billboard declaring

“Happiness is a Crock of Beans!”

On our way back from CO, we streamed the BYU vs Utah game on WE’s iPhone. So that was pretty exciting. I actually turned it off right after the game even though WE insisted we listen to the post-game and revel in the victory. I’m kind of glad that we didn’t listen considering M. Hall’s super poor post-game performance (not to mention the 4th qtr). Not that I condone the crazy fans that do horribly mean things to the opposing fans during this the most unholy of ‘holy wars’, but I certainly don’t think that “making it personal” is a justifiable excuse for using the h*** word I do agree with Bronco – that M. Hall let out his emotions – but “speaking from the heart?!” Come on.

We also practiced notes for our upcoming choral Christmas performances. Check out our 2009 winter Evening Song performance schedule here.

And we started an all-comprehensive study on parenting. (Everyone always says that you’re never ready to be a parent, but I think this is THE #1 most popular excuse for NOT preparing) ***Note: We are currently accepting recommendations on great reads***

Of the books and articles that we have read so far, this one about helicopter parents I found particularly interesting. And for the funniest thing I’ve read so far, here’s a summary of the anti-beatitudes found in a book written by one of my old college professors.

Beatitudes for an Unhappy Family:

1. Blessed are they who tell the truth 99 percent of the time, for they shall be known as “basically” honest people.

2. Blessed are the deceitful, for they shall avoid disappointing others.

3. Blessed are they who use sarcasm, for they shall be known as funny and humorous people.

4. Blessed are the critical, for they shall look good in the eyes of others. Yea, confess thy spouse’s sins.

5. Blessed are the selfish for they shall have the most toys at the end.

6. Blessed are they who shout the loudest, for they shall be heard.

7. Blessed are they who are right, for they shall win arguments.

8. Blessed are they who insist on getting their own way, for they shall obtain their independence.

9. Blessed are they who swear for effect, for they shall influence others.

10. Blessed are they who are the biggest, for they can intimidate others with their size. After all, might makes right.

However humorous, unfortunately for most of us, these come a little too close for comfort and are good reminders of what NOT to be.

Okay, so after yesterday’s post about ants for pets (lame!) I just have to write about the kind of dog that I really want for a pet. I’ve been researching online a little and I think that I’ve come to a conclusion about the breed of dog that would be best for our family. Here’s the basics to look for:

1. Doesn’t need a big yard…since we don’t have one

2. Good temperament and great with kids (no this is not an announcement!)

3. Little to no dander…for WE and since the dog will be inside

4. Toy to medium sized

That said, I’m thinking about a Cockapoo (Cockerspaniel/Poodle Mix). Ideally you get the poodle’s smarts/fur and the cockerspaniel’s temperament! I’ve read that they are easy to train and very good dogs. But I guess that’s what people say about every kind…I’m sure it depends on how they are raised/trained.

I can’t decide if I want chocolate, gold/white, or spotted, or black. Since they won’t shed I’m not too picky. Here’s some pics.

PS. For those of you that know Hugo, doesn’t the chocolate pup look almost exactly like him?!? (Hugo was my bestest stuffed friend in the whole-wide world growing up)

I found a breeder here in Dallas that has litters twice a year. Since I’ve never done this before – I really have no idea how to judge whether a breeder is good or not. WE says we should just go to a rescue and find one. But I don’t know about that. I guess I’d rather know more about the dog (i.e. parents) and error on the safe side. But I’m up for suggestions from any of you dog lovers out there. Here’s a picture of the parents if we decided to go with this breeder.

(Ha, it looks like the Mr. Poodle told a funny)

This breeder’s website doesn’t say a price, but I read that they can go from anywhere between $250 and $750. Again for any of you dog owners out there, I’d be interested to know approx. how much you spend a month (or year) for your dog on food, vet, grooming, dog sitters, etc. I wouldn’t want any surprises for WE

Ha, I’m totally kidding myself.

I’m pretty sure it’s gonna take an act of congress for any of this to actually happen. But hey, there’s no harm in dreaming, right?

WE and I planted this tree in the back yard soon after we got married. And it’s grown about 2 feet and has more than one branch now! Compared to all the trees we saw in Connecticut, this little guy’s still got a lot of photosynthesis and growing up to do. But it’s fun to watch it happen!

Based on what I’m see here: I figure in about 50 years we might be able to compete with A1′s front yard tree for ‘Best Fall Colors!’ =)

This little tree caught my eye.

It’s so rare to see roots developing outside the soil like that and I wonder how many winter blizzards in New England this tree will last.

There’s nothing fair about life, you know.

The only equality is that we are all equally mortal. The real challenge seems to be accepting what you are dealt and making as beautiful of a life as you can out of it.

One cool thing about getting married and being adopted into a new family is getting more Grandparents!! WE has a particular Grandma that I’ve noticed is extra special. Everyone in his family either whispers or tears up when they think or talk about her because she is so incredibly special to them. Honestly, I was rather taken a back by it at first because everyone else in the extended family is fair game for a little teasing here and there or some good ol’ fashioned gossip, but not Grandma R. She’s just too kind and perfect and loving for any of that nonsense. And as I’ve come to learn more about her I understand why. I look forward to meeting her one day and until then she’ll be for me like this tree was:

A reminder to take whatever you get and make something really beautiful out of it!

Thanks to WE, TLS, Big Chief, FavUnc, Rambo… and Jerry – it was such an AWESOME time.

And, of course, thanks to the team for such an exciting and BIG win. Not gonna forget that anytime soon! Go Cougars!!!

I’m an aunt for the 12th time!!! (That is now that I can count WE’s 6 nieces)

A4 had her girl – Hailey Ruth – this Thursday! Isn’t she beautiful!!! Now J-Dawg has a little sister to look after. But I feel sorry for the poor little lady since she has only big, mean boy cousins that will surely torture her at all family gatherings. =)

But hey, I say bring on the bows and barbies!! It’s about time!!!

Waaahhhooooo! WE and I FINALLY finished updating my mom’s website for The Silver Hanger! We were tasked with this effort almost a year ago and now after months and months of well, you know…putting it off…we are unveiling the new look of http://www.thesilverhanger.com

Go check it out! There is still some content that needs to be added but the design is complete.

I gotta hand it to my mom. She’s had this vision of what “her store” would become and surely and steadily she’s turning it into a reality. But the website is nothing compared to the store. Go see inside and try on dresses and you’ll know exactly what I mean!

(ps. I’m not biased or anything either)

There are a million reasons why I love being married to WE. Today I thought I’d share just one…

So I stayed home from work today to study for the CIA exam. I am taking part 1 tomorrow morning and JCP allows you a paid day off per part to study. So after as much as I could handle (believe me, there’s only so much you can take when it comes to Internal Auditing Standards and blah blah blah…) I finally got around to taking a shower around noon. (ew, sick- I know!) But as I went to open the shower door, this loud music suddenly came out of nowhere! My leg just started twitching and my arms shot compulsively up in the air one right after another.

Hold on, I recognize that song…

It’s the kind of song that has a beat you can’t resist and vocalists almost as good as the Chipmunks. For those at WE’s birthday bash, it was strangely similar to that tune that played in one of his birthday cards when you open it up.

Wait a minute, it IS that song!

Weeeeeaaaaahhhhh! Here we go now! Da, da, dAT, da, dat, da, Dat, DAH…