Birthday Girl

Poor Sarah has the very worst birthday in the whole wide world. December 26th. The year she was born, she was the best Christmas present ever. Now she just gets neglected on her b-day. She was almost born on the side of the freeway thanks to a lazy nurse who just really didn't want to work on Christmas. (can't say that I blame her...but c'mon!) This friendly nurse told us no less then 4 times to "just stay home, you're not in labor" after we called with concerns about my contractions. So, being young and dumb, we did. Luckily, common sense and extreme pain took over and we rushed to the hospital. Eleven minutes later, Sarah was born. What a beautiful baby she was. Sad to think she is already 12 years old. She has become such a beautiful young lady. She is bright, talented, friendly, and such a blessing in our lives. Happy Birthday sweetie!

Merry Christmas

After much pleading and begging, my mom convinced us to sleep over on Christmas Eve. We have sworn this ritual off due to lack of sleep on previous experiences. However, we were promised a bed this time around and so we conceded. After a delightful dinner with cousins and Santa at my Grandma's house, we went to my mom's house for the evening. It is amazing what a bed will do for a person, as we slept great this time around. Christmas morning was fun and chaotic as usual. Wrapping paper and ribbon flying everywhere, and my dad following the kids around with a garbage bag to clean up. (we have alway made fun of him, but now the garbage bag ritual has become my habit...eek) Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve with Santa

Christmas morning...feel the excitement...the anticipation.

Gingerbread House

Several years ago I started having a Gingerbread House party for all the cousins. I assemble the houses (with a glue-gun...ingenious) and the Aunts and Grandma bring lots of candy. Then the kids arrive and go to town! Afterward the cousins exchange dollar store gifts. I am always amazed at the variety of treasures that can be found at the dollar store. It is a blast and the kids look forward to it all year.

Night in Bethlehem

Don't we look authentic?

Grapes, Crackers and Cheese

Figs, Olives, Cheese, Ham, and Bread (close enough)

As we thought of our Christmas traditions, it dawned on me that all of our traditions are tied to extended family. I love all the things we do together, but I thought it would be fun to start some traditions with just our little family. I have also been feeling the importance of focusing on Christ, instead of Santa. So, this year we started our first ever Night in Bethlehem. We dressed in "period" clothing, ate food similar to that time, and read the Christmas Story in Luke 2. In addition, we started a new tradition of opening a Nativity scene. This is a spin off from a tradition my family has done for years of opening a Nutcracker. My dad has been on the hospital board for 20 years, and so every year as their gift they receive a new Nutcracker. As I've grown up, it is always so exciting to see what the Nutcracker would look like this year. Now the Grandkids all get a chance to open it, and it is fun to look forward to. So, instead of a Nutcracker, we will do a Nativity scene.

Nativity Scene 2008

I've been tagged

High School Tag

1. DID YOU DATE SOMEONE FROM YOUR SCHOOL? Yes

2.WHAT KIND OF CAR DID YOU DRIVE? A cream colored Toyota truck. It was a stick shift, brown plastic seats. I loved it but it was hot in the summer. I'd have to peel myself off of it in the summer.

3. DID YOU PASS YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE TEST YOUR FIRST TRY? Yes, I drove my Dad's Buick...I still remember getting ready at Sondy's house and crimping my hair and then lying about my weight on my license by about 20 lbs.

4. WERE YOU A PARTY ANIMAL? Not really...just really loud.

5. WERE YOU CONSIDERED A FLIRT? Nah, the boys never liked me.

6. WERE YOU IN BAND, ORCHESTRA, OR CHOIR? Choir, Acapella and Madrigals

7. WERE YOU A NERD? At heart I've always been a nerd.

8. WERE YOU ON ANY VARSITY TEAMS? Nope...played a little bball, but gave it up

9. DID YOU EVER GET SUSPENDED/EXPELLED? Almost one night after breaking into the school to make election posters...I guess a police officer technically can't expel you though??

10. CAN YOU STILL SING THE FIGHT SONG? Um..did we have a fight song?

11. WHO WERE YOUR FAVORITE TEACHERS? Loved Mrs. Davis, and of course Mr. Keck, except when he kicked me out of Acapella for talking back. (and I wonder where my daughter gets it)

12. WHERE DID YOU SIT FOR LUNCH? At the counter at Stone Drug. Or at the Macey's pastry counter. I can't even imagine eating a big donut for lunch now but I sure loved their apple fritters.

13. WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL'S FULL NAME? I forget.

14. WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL'S MASCOT AND COLORS? Dons...yes the Hispanic hero from Zorro...AKA Antonio Banderas...Red , White and grey.

15. DID YOU GO TO HOMECOMING AND WITH WHO? Yes, I went all 3 years with a different person.

16. IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND DO IT AGAIN WOULD YOU? Not for a million dollars. Okay, maybe for a million.

17. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT GRADUATION? All the drama...we thought we knew everything because we were 18.

18. WHERE DID YOU GO SENIOR SKIP DAY? I think a few of us went to the big city and spent the night. I seem to remember locking keys in the "Schnaze."

19. WERE YOU IN ANY CLUBS? yes, but only so I could have my picture in the yearbook

20. HAVE YOU GAINED SOME WEIGHT SINCE THEN? actually I think I weigh exactly the same, but some things don't look the same as they did then.

21. WHO WAS YOUR PROM DATE? Dennis Flynn. We had fun, but it is my biggest regret from High School. I really wanted to go with him, but I had been asked by someone else first. So, I told the first guy no, and went with Dennis. I still can't believe I did that. (sorry dave)

22. ARE YOU PLANNING ON GOING TO YOUR 10 YEAR REUNION? I already did.

23. DID YOU HAVE A JOB IN HIGH SCHOOL? Heck yes! BOB's! I hated that drive up window. Get out of the car people!!!! And the worst was the lady who came every day with her filthy 32 oz refill mug and wanted it filled with DR. Pepper, and then asked me to put some in her babies bottle. (I can't make this stuff up people)

Shopping Trip

It was our annual girls shopping trip last weekend. This is something we have been doing since I was a little girl. Now I have little girls. We started with dinner, then went to see High School Musical 3. (could someone pass the CHEESE puffs please?) The little girls enjoyed it, the rest of us endured it. Then it was off to the hotel for lots of giggles. The funniest part of the evening came as we were lying down for bed in the luxurious DOUBLE beds they provide. As we layed there noting how no matter how we positioned ourselves we always seemed to be touching, I exclaimed "geez, I don't remember these beds being so small last time we came here with our friends!" To which Heidi replied "yeah, I know, I think I was sharing with Sher." Well, Sher just happens to be about the same size as a 13 year old girl so OF COURSE she didn't take up nearly as much room as ME! We laughed and I replied "well, tonight you get to sleep by Jaba the Hut so DEAL with it!!" We all (Heidi, Krust, Mom, and I) laughed until Ali stormed in from the other room to tell us that we were "being disrespectful and they were trying to sleep!" Imagine that!