Christmas 2008

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Christmas Eve 2008

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Clement Clarke Moore
or Henry Livingston

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

Lets Say Thanks!

just checked this on www.snopes.com and it is true! I sent my postcard and encourage all of you to do the same...especially at this time of year!

If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com, you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!!

It is FREE and it only takes a second.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our soldiers over there need to know we are behind them. This takes just 10 seconds and it's a wonderful way to say thank you. Please take the time and please take the time to pass it on for others to do. We can never say enough thank you's. Thanks for taking to time to support our military!

"Australia" at "Twilight" Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving weekend was so jam packed with stuff to do. Which wasn't really a bad thing, just kind of crazy to keep up with. We drove up to my parent's house on Wednesday night, didn't get in until about 10:30 or 11 and so went straight to bed. Thursday we got up and helped get things ready for Dinner later, then we dashed of to Kyle's family gathering for a few hours before dinner started at either house, Kyle has lots of family (his dad has 8 siblings and they almost all are married with at least 2 kids... you do the math) but it is a lot of fun, you are never really alone when you are with the Haughey's.... ^_^ Then we dashed back over to my parents and waited for my cousins to show up and had dinner, a very very tasty dinner! My dad grills the Turkey on the bar-b-que whole and it gets this delicious smoky flavor, and makes the gravy taste great too!!! Then around 9 PM when my family dinner was done and everyone went home we went back to Kyle's family celebration until about midnight. I succeeded in getting a family tree made up for them with birthdays and anniversary's so now I might actually keep them all straight... maybe... Kyle's aunt Kathy tried to convince me to get up and go black Friday shopping with them (at 4 AM!!!!) I slept in...

We did have to go to the mall though on Friday, we had a wedding on Saturday, so we went to Macy's. The mall itself wasn't too bad, it was trying to navigate the parking lot to find a spot that was horrid! Oh! and we stopped at Tiffany's to get my ring cleaned, it sparkled so pretty!! From there we dashed to Kyle's parent's house where I met his mom, sisters, and two aunts and one of my SIL's friends and went to see Twilight for the second time, Kyle stayed at home... But in his defense, he did take me the first time... (what a good hubby!!)

I definitely like the movie the second time around. The first time I saw it I had JUST finished the book and so I was comparing it way too much and bummed at parts they left out or tweaked. The second time I could just enjoy it for what it was, a really fun chick flick!! and I think it was easier to gush when Kyle wasn't sitting right next to me, but I was surrounded by my SIL's and could squeal with them. I do have to finish reading the books by Christmas though, because they want to know if I am Team Edward or Team Jacob, and I can't give a definite answer without knowing all the facts, although when I am going to fit that in with all the making of Christmas Presents I don't know....

THEN, Kyle and I went to meet up with a friend for Dinner, pretty much the only time that weekend that it would fit. At dinner we were talking about movies we wanted to see, and Australia came up, well, it just so happened to have a 9:30 showing at the movie theater we were near, so we went. We didn't realize it was a 3 hour movie though... but that was okay.

Oh My Goodness! I loved this movie! It was sooo good, Poor Kyle's hand just about got crushed at a couple spots, but he was a good sport about it. I really didn't have any clue about what the movie was really about, they were kind of vague in the previews I think. The movie is almost two movies in one, the first bit ends and you think it is over, and that it ended pretty good, but then it keeps going!! It is essentially a love story at heart, and a Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge) production, which means great cinematography and amazing scores! Nicole Kidman didn't sing in the movie, although I think she did sing one of the credit songs, along with Hugh Jackman... I highly highly recommend this movie, it is a great date night movie, with enough love story for the ladies, and plenty of action for the guys to "protect" the ladies. It is also a great girls night out movie.

Then on Saturday we drove to Hollister for the wedding, the third Catholic wedding I have been to this year, I think that is the most I have been in Catholic churches in my life. The service was beautiful, the reception was so much fun, and it was great to see a friend so happy in love with her new husband.

Sunday was church, and then spending time with family before driving home that night and collapsing in bed. Kiko was so glad we were home... ^_^



Tonight we go to the Christmas parade, anyone else going? Maybe we will see you there!
::Edit:: The parade starts at 7 PM downtown SLO, in case you didn't know...

Tomorrow we get our Christmas tree!!!!!!

Sunday, the Christmas parties start! I don't think I have ever really been invited to "real" Christmas parties before, I am a little excited!

Advent Conspiracy

While I am not necessarily endorsing this particular group, the message is one that should be heard and pondered... I know we (I) am trying to make more gifts this year, more because we are short on cash, but also because it is something that is just more heartfelt... If we had extra money to give to charity too, I would do that as well. Think what you can do, if you just stop and push aside all the commercialism of Christmas and look at the CHRIST in it instead...

15

Here's how you play:

Once you've been tagged you have to write a blog with 15 weird/random facts about you. At the end you choose 15 people to tag. List their names and the reason why you're tagging them. Don't forget to tag them! Let me know when you are done, so I can come read yours.

1. I have had plastic surgery

2. I have only ever had one boyfriend

3. I married the first man I seriously dated

4. I am missing a piece of my skull

5. I love the smell right before it rains

6. I go rain dancing with my sister until we are soaked

7. I don't really like bananas but I love banana bread

8. I love dogs but own a cat

9. I am a Mac and married to a PC

10. I am a bit of a pyro

11. I hate bugs

12. I have had 9 surgeries all for my mouth

13. I have only been to the east coast once

14. I am a control freak

15. I am secretly a geek


I am supposed to tag, but can't decide. If you read this, consider yourself tagged!

I Just

bought gas for under $2/gal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm going on a...

Treasure Hunt!!

More details and pictures to follow later!!

I woke up this morning and found this on my computer....
In case you can't read what it says...

"I want to Kiss you all over...
There are 10 more of me hidden around the house.
Can you find us all?"



And so I began to search...



Found the first one in the dining room on top of the sliding glass door blinds.





Second was behind Kyle's alarm clock.






Third was in my favorite star lantern.





Forth was in the DVD rack.




Fifth was in my sewing desk.




Sixth was in the shower.




Seventh was in the china cabinet




Eighth was on top of the fridge.




Ninth was in our closet.




Tenth was in the medicine cabinet.



Here is my final bounty!

Plus I got a couple real kisses when Kyle came home for lunch!


I love little romantic surprises like this!

Election 2008

I voted today.

Did you?

North Carolina

We went to NC a couple weeks ago for a vacation with family. Sorry it has taken so long to get pictures up and blog about it, but the battery on the camera was dead and wouldn't upload pictures... It was a great time to be with family and just relax, and a lot of fun too, because I had never been to the East Coast before and the last time Kyle was he was 4 and so he doesn't really remember anything, except that he got sick and couldn't go to the Kennedy Space Center (which is all that really matters anyway, right?) We were in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, you know the movie "Nights in Rodanthe"? yeah, that's where we were. We could walk to the house they used in the movie, and the pier thats in the movie as well, from the house where we were renting. SUCH a beautiful area! I could definitely go back there again, plus there are so many other touristy areas to go to that we missed. Virgina/NC is such a gorgeous area, I kept telling Kyle "I wouldn't mind living here", although it would be really far from family and that would not be nice.

Here we are at the Elizabethan gardens in Roanoke

Kyle being a fierce soldier at the Lost Colony settlement

My now bigger than me little brother Ben and me

A recreation of the first powered plane at the Wright brothers memorial in Kitty Hawk

The views we had pretty much all week... aren't you jealous?

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Where the Gulf Stream Meets the Atlantic (the Labrador current), the waves crash sideways!

Pretty Shells in the water

And the main reason we were there... My cousin Elizabeth got married to Ralph!!!!

Yay!!!!

Flash Mob

According to Wikipedia:

A flash mob is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a Public place, perform an unusual action for a brief time, then quickly disperse.

I think Flash Mobs are great! I have been browsing them all evening on YouTube.

There is one group in particular that is very prevalent. Improv Everywhere is a fairly well organized group that sets up Flash Mobs in the New York area, if I were there I would so join up!! One of their best Flash Mobs in my opinion is the MP3 Experiement. All these people knew to meet at a certain area, on a certain day, at a certain time (like any other Flash Mob), the only difference is that they had all downloaded an MP3 and put it on a player and hit play at the same time (synchronized watches, some were a bit sooner or later... but I digress) and follow the directions. So fun! They are a bit long, but so fun to watch. If you don't want to watch it all go to the 3rd video and watch the time lapse one.

PART ONE

PART TWO

TIME LAPSE

I just found out that they will be doing an MP3 Experiment in SF this weekend!!! Unfortunately Kyle and I already have plans for this weekend and so I can't go... :0( But if I weren't busy I would try so hard to go!


Another of my favorite Flash Mobs that they did was the

FROZEN GRAND CENTRAL STATION

I looked around the web and couldn't really find a dedicated SLO group... Maybe some day...

Musing on life lately

::This is not a post looking for sympathy, even though I sound sort of whiny, just doing what the title says::

I have been really tired the last couple of weeks. Not sure why. I have been taking my vitamins, so it's not that... It's getting to a point though where I have headaches from it (at least I think that's why I have headaches). The bummer of it all is that even though I am so tired I can't fall asleep at night, so I stay up late and then still have to get up at the same time which adds on to the problem. My back has been tight too lately, maybe from the lack of sleep? But I think that adds on to the headache bit, the muscles are just too tight leading up my neck and shoulders.

School... I LOVE ASL!! That class is a blast. When the teacher comes in we are not allowed to talk at all. We can only communicate in sign. So far I am doing really well in that class. Some of the other people seem to be struggling a bit to keep up, I think I am doing okay because I already knew some ASL before. I have been contemplating having a little group study session to help everyone practice and learn the signs better, maybe have dessert or even dinner for them... hmmm, I may have to limit who I invite as our house isn't very big.... Kyle has been trying to push me to open up more and let God use me, and I am not really all that comfortable playing the hostess. I mean, I love having people over, but getting prepared for them and remaining engaged while they are here is a struggle, I like to fold up into my own world more. This could be a good trial... If I can convince myself to do it.
Photography is fun, I love taking pictures and developing them myself, but it is becoming more and more difficult to stay caught up. I feel like I am fighting to get my pictures taken and turned in on time. It is past the deadline to withdraw from a class without it showing on your transcript, not that I need a good looking transcript since I already have a degree... Also, we will be going on vacation for an entire week during the semester and since I won't be able to develop or print anything I will fall way behind and have to really push to catch up.
I don't know how people do it, working full time and going to school full time, and making good grades! I am only working part-time, and taking two classes, but feel overwhelmed. I think it has to do some with being married and having to keep house too. But some people have done that too, on top of work and school, and I REALLY don't know how they do that!!!

And then there is God time which is practically non-existent sometimes lately. My heart feels it, a deep longing for something that is missing from my life, but I feel like there is just so much else that I have to do in this world and in this day, so God gets pushed aside. I know that if I put him first, everything else will fall into place, but that means letting go of my hold on things and letting Him direct life, and I desire that control too much, just ask Kyle.

There is a great demonstration of how this all works that I remember from Kids Club growing up. You have a Jar (your life) and put in Sand (free time, extra activities, family, friends), then some Gravel (Church, school, work), and then you have a Big Rock (God). The big rock doesn't fit in the jar! So you take everything out and then start with the Rock (God), then add the Gravel (Church, school, work), and then the Sand (free time, extra activities, family, friends), and there is plenty of room left over in the jar, so the teacher pulls out a pitcher of Water (extra blessings), and pours that on top of everything until it is overflowing.

I want to put God in the jar first (drivers seat, ships helm, at the wheel, in control, etc.) but I know that it means that I have to step back and merely observe, and that terrifies me. I like to be in control and I don't want to give that up, and yet I know that it will benefit me so much! Jenny posted a hymn that moved me and made me really think. It is one of my favorite old hymns

...Just from Jesus simply taking
life and rest, and joy and peace...
...Jesus, Jesus how I trust Him
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus
O for Grace to trust Him more

Dear Jesus, Give me Grace to trust you more. Turn the desires of my heart into your desires, and help me to love as you love.

Change...

...is good.







Before.




















After.



I like it!

There was a little girl, who had a little curl....

I like having curly hair.

My hair is naturally wavy, and used to be pretty curly when I was little, read: it went away by the time I was 8.

If I heat curl my hair, I can pretty much expect it to go flat in about an hour, even if I spray the heck out of it, the one exception, my wedding hair that was done with a ceramic flat iron (it was amazing to see hair get curled with a flat iron!) and sprayed and pinned, that stayed in!

So, if I ever really want my hair to be curly and stay that way mostly I have to put in foam curlers while it is wet and wait for it to dry, usually overnight, which means sleeping on it. and then I look like this

Which isn't comfortable to sleep on at all.

Also, I have a TON of hair, it gets commented on EVERY time I go to the salon to get it cut, even if the lady has cut my hair a bajillion times before I get "wow! you have so much hair!" so that means that it takes longer to curl and more curlers, because I try to take much smaller sections so that it drys faster. Plus all the time that goes into it, and I have to be sure that I won't be going out the rest of the evening so the public isn't terrified by the sight of me in curlers....

All that to say.... I have been thinking of getting a perm. Not one of those little teeny curls perms, but with bigger curls, like you would get with 1-1 1/2 inch foam curlers ( I am told that you can do this) and if I don't like it I can always wash it out within the first 24 hours to get rid of it...

I had a perm once before, my mom did it for me my freshman year of High School, it was tiny curls, but SO CUTE! until it started growing out... then it got annoying... and I didn't want to re-perm it so I had to wait for it to grow out so that I could cut it out... But I think with bigger curls it wouldn't be so bad if I let it grow out.

I had my hair curled on Sunday, and told Kyle I was thinking about getting it permed and asked his opinion. Poor guy, looked like a deer caught in the headlights!!! I asked if he liked my hair better straight or curly, and then had to reassure him that I like it both ways, and was trying to make sure that he wouldn't be absolutely opposed to me getting my hair permed. Mollified he then proceeded to let me know that he likes my hair a little bit better curly. So I am now considering it, but am terrified!!!

What if I don't like it after a week?! I don't want to have to straighten it every day!

What if it looks horrible, or isn't how I pictured it at all?!

So my dear bloggy friends, what do YOU think? Vote on my poll and let me know....

A Bloggy Meme

• WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My Father's Grandmothers
  


• WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? um, a day of two ago, frustration grabs me too well, stupid female hormones...
  


• DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Depends on the day, some days it looks really really good, other days not, but I have people tell me that they like my writing... I have people that I want to emulate though...
  


• WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? turkey
  


• DO YOU HAVE KIDS? um, I have a Cat, does she count? I call her my baby...
  


• IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I think so.
  


• DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? too much sometimes
  


• WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Yes, but I would be terrified before I went
  


• WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? mmmm, cereal!!! Fruit loops, honey nut cherrios, kix, corn chex
  


• DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? not usually.
  


• DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? no... but I can still wrestle my brother to the ground!!

• WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? cookies and cream or chocolate chip cookie dough
  

• WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? looks usually. How shallow of me.
  


• RED OR PINK? Pink
  


• WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? my nose, and my internal heart attitude
  


• WHOM DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Abi-goo
  


• WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Honey nut cherrios
  


• WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The band Downhere
  


• IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? dark purple
  


• FAVORITE SMELLS? fresh flowers, the smell of asphalt right before a rain!
  


• WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Mrs Keil
  


• FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? swimming, baseball, gymnastics, the OLYMPICS!
  


• FAVORITE FOODS? Potatoes, peanut butter, cold tortalinni
  


• SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings
  


• LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Rattatoullie
  


• SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer


• HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs


• FAVORITE DESSERT? mmmm, desert!! any!!
  


• WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? the Staples logo
  

• FAVORITE SOUND? Baby giggles!!!!!!!!!!
  


• ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? The Beatles!
  


• WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? um, not sure, probably Mexico
  


• WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Minneapolis, MN
  

MN trip and a Wedding

I got to go out to Minnesota last weekend to visit family and go to my cousin Rob's wedding! This was the first time that I had seen my cousins in about 6 years! It was wonderful to see them and catch up, I miss them dearly, but on the bright side I get to see them in October in North Carolina for my cousin Elizabeth's wedding! Seeing them again in less than 3 months is unheard of in our family!! I don't think we have ever managed that, but it is so exciting and wonderful, I can't wait! That trip will be great too, because Kyle will get to meet all of them for the first time!


Anyway, on to the pictures....

The first night in MN we went to the Guthrie Theatre to see a play "The Inspector General" it was very funny!

The Sibs at the Guthrie Ben, Me, Abby



Mommy and Daddy



The Bridal Party

The Groom's Party

Rob and Mo

First Kiss!

They were very nice when it came to the cake

Cousins!

That's Laura in the Middle, the youngest in their family

Elizabeth's on the right, she's the oldest and that's Rob Hugging Aunt Jill on the Left

Aunt Jill and Uncle Jeff

Their House.

Hume Lake

I had a great time up at Hume Lake with the Student Ministries group a couple weeks ago. The speaker PJ Lewis was phenomenal! very convicting and straight forward. He spoke on just the basic christian truths that we so often forget in our lives, who God is, What/Who Sin is and how it controls us, ect.

I had a cabin full of Sophmore girls, that was interesting! and so fun!

Yay Spirit Day! and silly boys who don't wait for you to finish posing before they take your picture...

I got a lovely stripe down my forehead from the makeup after I got burnt...

I love this lake!!!!