On the last day of 2009

We went for a walk to feed the ducks and ended up at the park. Spencer played in his pajamas.

At nap time Spencer fell asleep in a very interesting position.
And stayed like this for more than an hour. Ouch.
We took some last day of 2009 pictures.

And then went out for BBQ. Spencer had ribs for the 1st time.

Before bed, Spencer got a spiky look.

And Ginger got some close-ups.

Mommy and daddy are actually staying up past midnight (unlike 2007 and 2008) and are enjoying a little New Years Eve treat.

As the chocolate mousse cake from AJ's says: Happy New Year!

8 years

12/29/01

12/29/01

12/29/09 I've decided that I'm NOT old. I just got married freakishly young. Like Chelsea said in her comment: I was 12.
We had a lovely anniversary. We went to dinner at House of Tricks. I agree that it sounds like we dined with prostitutes. House of Tricks is actually a quaint French/Southwestern Fusion restaurant in an old house. It's owned by the Tricks family. Spencer did not join us. We took these before we left.
I forgot to tell you a hilarious story from Christmas Eve. It's definitely a never before.

These are my new shoes. I bought them at Target for $12. I had been wearing them for the first time for about 1/2 an hour when I was making the final dinner preparations at Nick's house. I opened the refrigerator door and, what the hell, an entire shelf from the door fell out and hit the floor. A pickle jar shattered during the fall and one single dill pickle slice fell on top of my left shoe. It was hilarious. We should have taken a picture, but there was the little issue of glass and pickle juice all over and the appetizers still needed to be put out.

So, just for you, I recreated the event using My Fantasy Maker. I'm so glad I shelled out $19.80 for this program. Enjoy. P.S. Since I removed the pickle slice immediately and did not stop to take a real picture, I saved the shoes from smelling like pickles for eternity.

Christmas Day

Christmas day started immediately with some never befores. My parents didn't decorate their house for Christmas since they were gone the whole month. It didn't feel right to open presents in a plain, could be July or April based on how it looks living room, so we all went to Michael's parents house. Well, except for Nathan and Kendra. They spent their morning at their home with Kendra's parents. We usually spend Christmas afternoon/evening at Michael's parents, so this was different. It was never before #9.

We actually got up, showered, got ready, then put pajamas back on. You have to open presents in pajamas, right?

Spencer's stocking was stuffed.
Spencer is pretending to eat his new fake vegetables. (On a side note: I'm sick and tired of 4th and 5th graders not being able to name fruits and vegetables and I have vowed that this will not happen with my own son.)
My mom was delighted with the new measuring cups/spoons we gave her. This gift came with a condition: she had to get rid of the falling apart set she got for her wedding in 1973.
My dad was also pretty pleased with the Geech poster we made.

Spencer is on his way to an NBA career with his new basketball hoop.

Or, maybe he will be the next Van Gogh, minus all that ear cutting off business.

Ginger did what she does best: slept on the couch.

This is Michael's mom's idea of "a simple breakfast. Nothing fancy".
After eating, we got dressed in real clothes.

Never before #10. Michael's dad bought these sweaters (one for himself and one for Michael) about 5 years ago. They have never worn them at the same time (planned or accidentally). Ha!

After presents and our "simple breakfast" we headed to my aunt and uncle's house for brunch/lunch.

Spencer got some quality reading time with Lois.

And with Girl.

He also stuffed his face with raisins.

My mom, Girl and my cousin-in-law Stacey. My cousin Zack and Stacey live in Seattle and we only get to see them at Christmas.

I wanted a nice picture with my brothers. They thought it would be funny to block my face.

Then Spencer joined us.

And his uncles thought it would be funny to tempt him with wine.

After brunch/lunch we went back to my parents where Spencer took a long and too late nap. Then we went to Nathan and Kendra's for dinner. I took 0.00 pictures at their house. It was the 3rd party in 24 hours with all the same people and I was just sort of pictured out. It was fun though.

Tomorrow is my 8th wedding anniversary. I'm trying to determine if I'm really that old or if I just got married really young. What do you think?

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

I'm back! Back at home and back on the blog. Did everyone have a fab Christmas? We did. 2009 will go down in our family history as "the year of never-befores". Never before have so many things never happened before.

As you may or may not know, at the beginning of December my mom and dad took themselves on a fantastic cruise through the Caribbean, down the coast of Mexico, through the Panama Canal and down into South America. They were gone for 2o days. They flew into Tucson on Dec. 23rd at 7:30 pm. They had been awake for 40 hours.

My mom and dad always, always, always host Christmas Eve at their house. Knowing that they were coming home on the 23rd, after a long trip and that they wouldn't be in any shape to host a big party, Nick and I agreed to do Christmas Eve. Nick hosted at his house and I did all the food. Never before #1.

We didn't go to Tucson until Wednesday night and I still had to pick my parents up from the airport. I made 2 of the 4 desserts on Wednesday night but didn't really start cooking until Thursday morning. And then, despite my best efforts, we somehow just ran out of time. And Spencer took a really long nap. And my parents were tired. And Nick's house wasn't ready. And so we didn't go to church. I have never not gone to church on Christmas Eve. Never before #2.

I had been planning the meal for a good month. I told Nathan that I was going to make 2 kinds of lasagna, a meat pesto lasagna and a seafood lasagna. He told me I was going to ruin Christmas with my menu selections. The only way I would not ruin Christmas was to also make Oysters Rockafeller. (And a side note, the seafood lasagna, which we estimate cost a total of about $90 in ingredients, was FABULOUS and did not ruin Christmas in the least).

My brothers shucking oysters on Christmas Eve in a robe and a rain slicker so they didn't get oyster juice on their clothes. Never before #3.

Nathan and Jerry Nick wanted everyone to sit at one big long table. He moved all his furniture around and shoved 2 tables together. We all fit. This would have been a great picture if Spencer hadn't ruined it with his nose picking. Let's try this again. This is how Ginger spent the evening. We gave Nick a copy of "The Going to Bed Book". It's my favorite children's book. It's about a bunch of animals that seemingly live on a boat and get ready to go to bed. I told Nick it was to remind him of his time at sea. He decided it needed to be read to the group while he was sitting in a rocking chair, wearing a Santa hat, holding a pipe. Never before #4. We have never sat in a rocking chair with a Santa hat and a pipe and read something on Christmas Eve. But then it spread, and Kendra read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas on Nathan's iPhone. (Never before #5) And then Girl read something in Polish. (Never before #6)And my mom read The Polar Express (Technically, we have read this on Christmas Eve, but not with the chair, the hat or the pipe. Never before #7) The Auntie Karen read a poem she wrote about Geech 5 years ago after I found it in my saved email on Nick's laptop. (Never before #8) Someone thought that Ginger looked cold, so they covered her in a blanket. The Never Before's continue on Christmas Day, so stay tuned.......