Taking reservations

Thank goodness for my awesome camera that I bought around this time last year as a graduation present, because I took ONE picture so far this Christmas. One. I'm gonna tell myself that the reason I took one measly picture is because I was just having so much fun watching and experiencing the moment with the kids and Alan and family, that I didn't want to stop and mess with the camera. And although that might be pretty accurate, I wish I had more pictures to remember this Christmas.

Wednesday, Alan and Addison and I went to see "I Am Legend." (Stop reading now if you plan to see it.) Will Smith's an awesome actor, and the concept of the movie was cool and all, but just more sad than anything else. A number one rule in movies - NEVER kill the family dog. Ugh.

The past three days Alan and his dad have been working on the guest house - laying insulation underneath, adding baseboard trim to the interior, and next they'll hang a much needed door for the bathroom. Soon it'll be time for my part - painting. It's cool to see it all coming together. Time for visitors!

Peace and stuff

Isn't there a saying that whatever you're doing at the end of the year is indicative of the year to come? I know it's not technically New Year's Eve, but if next year I'm spending more time doing what I've been doing the past couple of days, it'll be a good year. 2007 won't go down in my book as a stellar year, but I have a good vibe about next year.

And now I'm ready to get into my pajamas and watch Survivorman, which I just realized is on. The past 24 hours I've gotten to watch everything I consider a must at Christmas - Rudolph, Elf, and Christmas Story. So Survivorman is a good transition away from Christmas!

We have an out-of-the-blue chance of snow tonight. Weird.

Happy Christmas Eve Eve

I like Christmas Eve way better than Christmas Day. Christmas Day has the potential to be oddly depressing. But Christmas Eve, when we usually open presents, is always better. Although the girls don't hold and shake their presents trying to figure out what's inside anymore, or even beg to open one of the presents a day early, watching them open their presents is still the best part of Christmas Eve. I'm guessing it always will be. And Alan and I living in the same town is not bad either.

But Christmas Day....ewww. New Year's Day can be like that, too, now that I think about it. I can't really explain it. And since I've never, not once, heard anyone describe a disturbing feeling that comes over them during what's supposed to be a happy-go-lucky setting, a feeling that makes them want to be anywhere but in that exact time and place, and a feeling that smacks them upside the head out of nowhere....well, the more I talk about it, the weirder I seem.

So here's to Christmas Eve! We're having brisket, fried potatoes, and baked beans. Nothing weird about that!

Perhaps you can relate

The piles of crap are getting to me. I can't see the surface of the dining table, because it's covered with unwrapped presents, wrapping paper, tape, receipts, cards that I have yet to address, and whatever else we happen to drop off as we walk by. Maybe you have a similar pile? I'm really glad I resisted the urge to buy or make some sort of centerpiece for the table this year. I would have never been able to enjoy it.

So to ease my cluttered mind today, I have to tackle other piles. Like laundry. And trash. And the mounds of leaves in the driveway that won't stop blowing into the garage every time the door is raised. If I can conquer those piles, maybe I'll have the peace of mind to tackle that dining table.

Tried, can't do it

I just can't blog about Christmas shopping. And that's all it feels like I've been doing lately. I'll spare you the details.

By the way, I have no idea why Blogger decided to cut my banner in half.

Ready for the New Year

Yesterday I spent the day shadowing the teacher I'm taking over for after Christmas break. She's really a great teacher, and I picked up some classroom management skills from her in just one day. I already know the students since I've been subbing for her all semester, and they're a super group of kids. There are always, ALWAYS kids that are quirky, strange, and downright annoying in any classroom. This one's no exception, but it just makes it more interesting. And because this is a magnet school with an emphasis on technology, you would not believe the high-tech gadgets I'll get to teach with. Awesome!

The best news, however, is that Alan is not going to Houston. I won't say much since the ink hasn't dried on the paperwork, but he'll be changing companies and staying in Midland. And you know, I can't thank his current-but-soon-to-be-former employer enough for forcing his hand. Kinda wish they would have done this sooner. (Insert smiley face here and visual of me doing the butter churn dance.) Oh yeah.

Bring it, Mother Nature

We all have this internal clock that requires it to be light and dark out at appropriate times in order for us to sleep and wake up at normal times of the day. (I know this because I watch Bear Grylls take his clothes off, I mean, attempt to sleep in the Arctic with only two hours of darkness a day.) I think I must also have an internal thermometer which controls what I can and cannot accept as appropriate celebrations in the seasons. 40 degrees out on July 4th? Probably not going to feel like having hot dogs and watching fireworks. 79 degrees and sunny in December? Really not feeling the whole Christmas spirit right now. I don't know how people in Arizona or Florida do it during the holidays.

It warmed up enough today that here it is midnight, and the inside temperature in the house is 73. That's one degree away from when our A/C was kicking on a couple months ago. So while I'm supposed to be Christmas shopping and getting gifts in the mail, instead my body thinks I should be mowing the yard and working on my tan. I don't like being cold and I don't like winter, but I'm realizing I need a little of both to be "feelin' it."

We be jammin'

I already sent this link to some of you, but check out our family as dancing elves. Thanks to Vagus for the idea.

Dress-up time

The Lee volleyball banquet was held a couple nights ago, so here's a pic of Bailey and a few teammates. When you mostly see these girls in jerseys and ponytails, it's so cute to see them all girly-girl in their dresses and heels. The season was so much fun, and although I was sad to see it end, we found out this week that Bailey made the 15-yr old team in club volleyball which starts next month. I can't wait!

Marathon update

It appears Alan's past three months of training for another marathon will be to no avail. Looks like he has developed bronchitis once again, so our trip to Dallas is probably canceled. He's going to give it a couple more days before deciding though. It's a shame, too, because his times have been really awesome lately. But it's only Wednesday, so we'll see!

Running and Hashing

Friday we leave for Dallas for Alan's second (and maybe last) marathon. It didn't help matters though, that he woke up this morning feeling sick and getting worse as the day goes on. The weather is expected to be PERFECT, so keep your fingers crossed that Alan has recovered!

Speaking of running, we had a fun time at the Hash we hosted Saturday afternoon and evening. The trail Alan and Keith designed made for a fun run, and the beer stop half-way through was a BONUS. The trail ended in the alley at our back gate, and we spent the rest of the evening eating from the grill, drinking, and telling dirty jokes around the fire pit. Very classy. Next month's run is scheduled, so that'll make three hashes for me and Alan. Two more after that and we get our nicknames. Classy, and so grown-up. We have definitely found our group.

The fun has begun

From the moment the Christmas tree box comes down from the attic, Junior rightfully claims the tree as his own. Assembling the tree, putting on the lights, touching the tree in ANY way -- these acts are all violations in Junior's world. He will live under, and sometimes in, that tree for the next month. By the way, did you click on the photo and see those fangs up close? I live with those fangs every day. I currently have a 4" square area on my calf that looks like someone came after me with a pitch fork. Alan will attest.

In other fun news, more than half of the Christmas tree lights have burned out. Yes! But it reminds me of that song that's the spoof on the "12 Days of Christmas" where they keep talking about the lights burning out? Love that song! Just thinking of those lyrics makes the fact that I have to go to Wal-Mart this morning to get more lights more funny than anything.

But my favorite tree, the little 2 ft one with all the ornaments that the girls made when they were little - was up, lit, and decorated in about 15 minutes. I was very tempted to call this our official tree and forget that big monster.