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...