Halee
We Made it Merry and Bright: Continued December 30, 2008
Once I fell asleep on Wednesday night, and dreamed of sugarplums, I slept until 8:30 the next morning. Um yeah, you know Christmas has changed when you wake up at 5:00 on Christmas morning and pull the covers back over your head. I like to think that I have matured since my younger days of waking up at 3:00 just waiting for the first streaks of morning light, which was normally around 7:00. Dad would then make me wait at least another hour because he enjoyed cruel and unusual punishment on Christmas morning.
This Christmas I didn’t actually open one present until around 9:30. And yes,I was still in my pajamas. It was blissful. After I proceeded to get ready for the day, I was greeted by this sight walking through my door:
She is glamour personified. Actually I am now wondering why they don’t make sunglasses like those for adults. Not that I would actually wear glasses like that, but it’s nice to have options.
Around 2:00 the family started coming! Aunt Kris came bearing bags and boxes of Chex Mix and Muddie Buddies, as well as shrimp. Since I hadn’t eaten lunch, I proceeded to eat my fill of Chex Mix, until I looked at my aunt and said “get it away! The addiction is starting to take hold!” Her Chex Mix is something to behold, just the perfect amount of seasoning and pecans. Delicious!
We spent the rest of the afternoon eating, talking, eating, taking pictures, eating, laughing, and eating (notice a theme?) I did manage to take a break from all the eating to snap a few photos like these:
After eating our big, Christmas dinner, we commenced upon playing our annual “White Elephant Gift Exchange” since I drew number one, I was the first to open a present. This is what I received:
If I ever tried an online dating service (which I won’t), I think this would be my profile picture. Only a man’s man would attempt to contact a girl wearing an “Incredible Hulk” face mask. It would be my way of weeding out the wimps, and getting to the manly men.
After my gift was mercilessly taken from me, I then opened an even better gift:
The wonderful thing about this gift is that it will last all year long! That means it will take until next Christmas for me to finish it. It’s like a year long advent candy cane!
After all the gifts were unwrapped, we played game after game of Scattergories. Normally, I do pretty well, but I got beat by a certain team who shall remain nameless. I still think some of their words were a bit too creative.
And then on a whim of fun and spontaneity, we all headed to the movie theater to see “Marley and Me”, it was a cute movie, with a really cute dog. It actually made me have tender feelings toward chase, my diaper wearing, deaf and blind, dog.
Every Christmas is special, but this one, for some reason, was extra special. Truly better than I deserve.
Hope you had a great one too!
We Made it Merry and Bright… December 30, 2008
Hello, hello, hello!
I’m feeling rather jolly tonight, I call it “leftover Christmas spirit”. Let me just say that our Christmas this year was fantastic! I’m not really sure why except that this year was filled with more family, more conversation, and more laughter.
The only downfall is that it went by waaayyy to fast. But I had one of the best day after Christmas’ ever, too! I spent the day with my cousins shopping, eating, and of course, laughing!
We kicked our Christmas celebration off by having a superb Christmas Eve dinner and service in our own home, while the little girls serenaded us.
It was an inspiring rendition of “Away in a Manger”, that was too cute for words!
After the girls blessed us with their song, the “gift extravaganza” began! Each girl took turns while letting the others open their gifts. I was impressed by their patience, and willingness to wait. They did an excellent job!
I received some lovely gifts from Debbie, Daphne and Dustin, and Drew and Fran. I am enjoying them immensely. Thanks, guys!
After all the family had left, Mom, dad, and I opened our stockings and I watched my newly aquired “Wuthering Heights”. I know, I know, nothing says Christmas like a movie dealing with an insane man in love. Trust me, you could feel the Christmas spirit!
After I was throughly weirded out (in a good way!) by the love story of Heathcliff and Cathy I headed to bed. And visions of sugarplums danced in my head. (What are sugarplums?) I then woke up to a wonderfully, brown, warm day. Yes, you read that right, I did not have a white Christmas, rather a warm, brown one. But that will have to be finished tomorrow…
MERRY CHRISTMAS!! December 25, 2008
I would like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas! May the Lord bless you on this day!
Love,
Molly
A Happy, Healthy, Holiday to You! December 19, 2008
Ahem, once again, I’ve promised something , and have not fulfilled my promise. I told you I would take pictures of the concert with Travis last night, but I didn’t take my camera. Why? Well, please imagine a girl sitting on the second row, in a cute red and black polka dotted top, pulling out her Canon XSI Rebel. To snap a few pictures for her blog. If that doesn’t scream “Merry Christmas” I don’t know what does. I love you, blog friends, but not that much.
So, although there were no pictures, I can say that last night was AWESOME! Travis sounded great, as usual, and the orchestra was phenomenal!
I wish all of you could have been there…
Now, onto business. I have been busy in the kitchen this morning, baking up a batch of healthy snack food for a Christmas party I’m attending tonight. And since it’s the holiday’s, I thought I would give the gift of my recipe (in pictures!) to you! I know, I’m so generous.
First things first though, one must eat a healthy lunch to keep up her strength:
There is enough calcium in this cheese ball to build up some very strong and healthy bones. And the crackers are whole grain, it’s like eating oatmeal in a cracker!
Now that you are sufficiently strengthened for the task at hand, it is time to assemble the ingredients. First a healthy stick of butter, and a healthy two cups of sugar
The butter is made from real cream, so it’s totally unaltered, making it very healthy to consume. And the sugar is made from real cane, making it somewhat unaltered. We all know that they just refine it to make it pretty, and white. It’s sort of like make-up, just giving a more aesthetic quality.
Next, it’s time to add the vanilla (from real vanilla beans!), cocoa powder (from real cocoa beans!), and peanut butter (made from real peanuts!), and the oatmeal (real oats!)
The peanut butter had added calcium to it, so that makes it extra healthy!! Boy, I should have arms like Popeye by now with all the calcium flowing through my veins.
Finally, after all the hard work, you scoop the mixture onto wax paper (made from real wax! Sorry, couldn’t help myself)
And there you have it! A healthy, holiday snack the whole family will enjoy! Merry Christmas, arteries!!!
Needless to say, I’m excited… December 18, 2008
I cannot believe that I have not mentioned this to all of you! How could I forget to share the exciting news?? Some of you have already heard, but some of you have not.
Tomorrow night, yours truly (and 75 other people) are going to be singing with this guy!! I can hardly contain my excitement!
We have been practicing and practicing all the month of November and December. Thankfully we did this one last year so the music is somewhat familiar. It should be a great concert, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it, and share some pictures. Because yes, picture-girl here will be taking photos.
I’m still trying to figure out how to take those photos from the choir loft, though. Any suggestions? I mean I don’t want to look obvious or anything. Not that I’m above it.
I’m singing back up with a group of people for Travis and the choir. Um, hello, I’m singing back up on a song that Travis arranged, while Travis is singing it. Someone pinch me! The hard part about it is that I really don’t know the notes, I just sort of “feel it” with my voice. So, if I go flat, I apologize in advance. “Sorry, Travis…”
If you live in my community, and would like to come, here is the info you need to know:
WHAT: “All Bow Down” with Travis Cottrell and Mt. Vernon’s Adult Choir
WHERE: Mt. Vernon Baptist Church
WHEN: Thursday, December 18th, 2008
TIME: 7:00 pm *It is advised that you get there early (like 6:00) since it is expected to be full.
COST: NOTHING!!!
Hope you might be able to come!
Singing Joyfully,
Molly
You guessed it! December 12, 2008
Everyone except for Drew is right! I just found this cool application that allows me to have falling snow on my blog! Good job guessing!
