(Does this video work??)

WE – if not, can you fix it

Sorry my love… I got nothing

how about this: The White House Goes Green Again

After a week of surprises and snow days, I just want to say here’s to My Valentine!

I love you way past the moon, WE!

The  best part of Christmas day is giving gifts and watching the recipient’s face light up when they open the gift. This year, I confess,  I had some hits and misses.

I especially enjoyed watching my nephew open a small blue box containing a homemade memory card game and then seeing his huge grin when he found the pictures of himself and his momma.

I also enjoyed seeing the confusion on my brother’s face when he opened a hand-carved secret hollow book – hardcover The Divinci Code. It was definitely the unexpected I was going for.

I didn’t do so hot on a not-so-practical electronic for my hubby (figures since he’s already scoped out and knows all the electronics he could ever want and not want) - but I did win big with the 7-year CD I bought (which I somehow managed to secretly hide in our oh-so-transparent online finances) as funding for a trip for two to the olympic summer games in Rio.

WE and I failed miserably in our attempt to light up my FIL’s face with an overnighted box of Braum’s Black Walnut ice cream…but we did manage to pull off a much more useful gift he might not have expected.

I didn’t actually watch my visiting teachees open their 2-in-1 brooch/pendant, but I do hope it was a little bit of feminine bling to light up their wardrobes.

Lastly, WE and I hosted dinner for twelve on Monday with all the trimmings, fixings, and full treatment. It was also a very fun way to say “I love you” to my family who traveled all the way to Wylie to visit us.

So that’s my Christmas recap – what was the best gift you gave this year for Christmas???

Working with the youth has been one of my favorite things at church this year! It’s really incredible just to watch them – how they interact, how they carry themselves, and how they grow. And they have such enthusiasm for life!  I’m excited for what next year will bring.

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!

I decided to send an e-letter for Christmas this year. I love the holidays because it means giving, spending time with family, and good food. This is our first Christmas together and we’ll be spending it at home – loving every minute of it! You all already know what we did this year so I’m not going to give an annual state of the union or anything. But I did want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and greetings from Texas!

If I had sent cards in the mail, they would have had this picture on the front (thanks to the talented Miss Weadon!)

And on the inside there would have been a cheesy but cute pic of my hubby and me:

And then I’d say bring on the new year!

and

God bless,

A2 and WE

The photos (*Disclaimer: I’m NOT turning into my mother – although it very much appears that way by these photos of house decor)

I’m only doing this for A4 and A3 anyway. Hopefully most of you will get to see everything in person the week after Christmas

Also, thanks to my MIL for the beautiful nativity set. We love it!

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.

Me and my ‘Maids’ made these for Halloween. Pretty cute, huh?

The spider is Trix cereal and the web is frosting cut with a toothpick. Easy and very yummy!