Monday, December 8, 2008

Yay for Crismis!

So I normally do not get into the Christmas decorating spirit. Christmas lights? Yeah, can I have a higher electricity bill and another thing to remember to turn off before I go to bed? No thanks. Christmas tree? Yes, please, because I would love to clean up even more puke puddles from Lily Mae, even if they smell like pine. But something came across me this weekend... Maybe it was the ornament Sue bought for Jeff and me for our first Christmas together (married), maybe it was me missing Jeff and wanting to make the house all homey and warm for him to return to. Either way.... I got crafty.

This is my take on an artsy christmas tree. It hangs our ornaments, was free (I snapped branches off a tree from our front yard), and I challenge Lily Mae to try eating it.



If you look closer, you can see ornaments that I made from leftover wedding fabric scraps, a squirrel ornament my mommy made me, the ornament that Sue got us, and my cholo Bob's big boy ornament.



Because the sticks don't really smell (good), and I'm like my dad, it doesn't feel Christmasy until I'm hit with a strong smell of pine. Pine-sol won't cut it for me so I bought a wreath. Trader Joe's, deal and a half. I went to Armstrong's nursery and they had the exact same ones on sale for $24.99, twice as much as TJ's. Psssh... Lily Mae was watching me from the stairwell the whole time I decorated. If only I could put those opposable thumbs of hers to work...



Happy Holidays!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

And a happy sanksgeeving it was...

Hi everyone! We had such a lovely time up in the Bay Area for the turkey day break... my brother Jan drove Jeff and I and Mandy and Seth up on Wednesday night, braving the REALLY crappy traffic, so that was one thing to be thankful for (my brother driving, not the crappy traffic). A second thing- having the back seat of the Odyssey to myself so I could sleep for half the trip. Score! We had a lovely family dinner on Wednesday and went to Sue's house for pumpkin pie to round out the holiday. Friday we went up to San Francisco for my friend Jen's party at her awesome flat in Bernal Heights, so we got to see a few friends and eat too many smokehouse almonds. All in all a wonderful little vacation filled with good times with family and friends. Now for pictures!
We can't afford regular sized instruments...



Thanksgiving dinner at the Trondsens:

This is our 18 year old kitty, Lucie. She gets a spot at the table, and a glass of wine.

Jen's party in the city, so festive!

Jenny's new boyfriend Noah! And Jenny looking classy...

Jeff giving the camera "hungry eyes" and Max trying to figure out if he's actually enjoying Jeff on his lap. I think he did.

Jen's babushka dog Chloe, she won Survivor Dog of the Month at the vet after she leaped out of the third story window!

Family pics!


Jeff, Jan and I with Molly and Riley...


Hope everyone else had a very happy Thanksgiving!