Christmas 2008

can we open gifts yet??

Kelsey, Carissa, Chris and Cairo

I love daddy's new hat!

Christmas shelves

It was a good Christmas!
(Not pictured - my new HUGE CD case and my new Ingrid Michaelson CD.)

Monkey Feet

Being Foodal..... ;)

Cookies

the fam

I love my new bone!

"My my, how can I resist you?"

We had a snowstorm last night. Once I was home I refused to go out again. I swear people just don't know how to drive in snow and ice. I don't get it!!!

So, snuggled up on the couch with my blankie I watched Mama Mia with my daughter. What fun! When you watch this movie you can't help but smile. No, it's not the best movie. But it's fun! The music is contagious - you find yourself singing (dancing?) along even if you aren't usually so inclined! Of course, my daughter laughed at me. So?

At the same time the movie was kind of poignant and made me sad - just the premise of a daughter growing up, becoming her own person, getting married and having her own life; one that you are no longer part of. It happens. And I'm sure a lot of great stuff comes along with that too. It's just difficult to nurture a child for so long and then they don't need you anymore....

And it also made me sad for the friendships that no longer exist; those girlfriends that are no longer part of your life for whatever reason. I can relate to the mom and her friends acting like crazy schoolgirls - they still see themselves as young and vibrant and silly. Only to others are they old and grownup and dull. I miss the girls I could be forever young with. The ones I could totally act 15 with and we'd all be laughing and understanding each other. Taking turns out stupid-ing each other.

So, it was a weird mix of emotions, but on the whole lighthearted and feel good. It had me laughing and tearing up, and singing at the top of my lungs.

I think I scared the dog.

Masquerade

Andrew and Carissa

Christina and Carissa

Christina and Carissa

Dellynne Carissa and Heather

Melissa, Carissa Stevie

Dellynne, Andrew and Carissa

Melissa, Carissa Stevie

Theater Girls

Carissa and Andrew

Carissa went with the girls went to the Masquerade Ball (Gordon's winter formal) at Danver's Yacht Club. Andrew showed up and surprised her. Looks like they all had a great time!

To the American People: Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. If we think on these things, there will be born in us a Savior and over us will shine a star sending its gleam of hope to the world."
~ Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933), American president. Presidential message (December 25, 1927).

Things I've Done....

Julie posted this on her blog today. Looks fun so I think I'll play. It's a boring day at work, and this will give me something to do!! The things in bold are the things I have done. If you want to play, copy the list to your blog and bold the things you have done. Leave a comment if you do it so I can read it. :)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (flute)
4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower (the best I could here in IL)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (and DisneyWorld)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (including at a wedding.....)

11. Bungee jumped (are you crazy!!)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (it's the only reasonable way to eat tomatoes...)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run (I have NO sports abilities....)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa (I’ve always wanted to…)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (from Disneyworld!)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (a pretend one in Small Business Management class.....)
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (they never want my anemic blood.....)
65. Gone sky diving (see bunge jumping above....)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter (No, but Kelsey did - does that count??)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury (almost - my number was too high so I didn't have to report....)

91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (when I was 12 or so and the lake was awesome...)
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a mobile phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

shaking the snow globe

It's dark in my house as I curl up in a chair by the window. Outside I can see the neighbor's Christmas lights winking merrily. Joyfully. It's Christmas!

It's the best time of year! People tend to be more giving, more accepting. Friendlier. Forgiving. Excitement, joy and good cheer abound.

Good will toward men.
Most of the time.

Blink, Blink. The angel's wings glitter, the train's wheels appear to turn. The twinkling star on the neighbor's roof shines across the snowy yard.

Fear not, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy. Which shall be to all people. ALL People. Not just those who look like me, sound like me or think like me. ALL people.

Blue lights chase one another across the edge of the neighbor's roof. Peace on earth. Silent night. All is calm.

The house is cold. No candles glow. No cookies are made. The tree is bare.
I'm tired.

Christmas music from the other room floats at the edge of my consciousness. Harmonic, joyful, pleasant, inane.

The clock ticks. The sky is clear. The stars twinkle.

God's in his heaven, all's right with the world.

It came upon the midnight clear.....

The furnace hums, the dog stretches. The snow family next door are all wearing sparkling red scarves.

All I want for Christmas.....

Peace, forgiveness, love, restoration.

The clock chimes. The wind whispers.

Sleep in heavenly peace.

But I have promises to keep,
and miles to go before I sleep.

And miles to go before I sleep.

SOAKY SOAP TOYS

I remember one night my senior year in college when I was kept awake by a burning question. Just what was the name of those plastic toys that once held bubble bath? My mom had a collection of them on the shelf in our family room.....
After many hours of unsuccessfully digging through virtually every corner of my brain I dozed off. Only to sit upright in bed yelling the word "Soaky!" I think my roomie wanted to kill me right about then.

Today I was looking at something on the internet when lo and behold this Top Cat Soaky jumped out at me!

I remember Top Cat, Felix, Woody Woodpecker, Rocky and Bullwinkle - we had them all.
Apparently they are now quite collectible. Who knew? I wonder what ever happened to them? Probably mom finally threw them out - they were just silly plastic toys collecting dust.

Silly plastic toys that haunted me that night in college, and again today brought back fun memories.....






Here are a couple vintage TV adds featuring soakies, including the soaky song. Enjoy!

(Does anybody else out there even remember these????)