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Monday, December 29, 2008

Christmas Is.

This is going to be insanely long so you might want to prepare a snack.
First and most importantly, we pulled off hosting Christmas for the first time! We got a bit of a rough start as Mom called and let us know she wouldn't be able to make it because she has the shingles... OUCH!! She was definitely missed and hopefully heals quickly. We spent Christmas Eve at Gigi's and got to hang out with this charming guy for a few hours:
Christmas Day was spent with Mana, Pat, Laci and Gigi. The ladies stayed inside and cooked *cough cough* and might have snuck in a few games on the Wii *cough cough* while the men handled the frying of the turkey outside.

Ross Claus showed up and really got the party started:
The dessert buffett included cherry fudge cheesecake, sugar cookies, white chocolate biggies, cherry peanut butter crisps, apple pie and peach and blueberry cobbler (not pictured):


On the menu for Christmas dinner was fried turkey, ham, blue cheese and bacon dip, cheesy scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole and rolls. Laci even pitched in to help, it was a Christmas miracle! I kid.


Turkey nudity straight ahead, cover the children's eyes!

'Twas indeed everything I'd hoped it be. Family and food.
Our very first married Christmas.

Anyone have any good turkey casserole recipes? ;)

Loads of love, Mack & Jason

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Christmas Baking Isn't Just For Old People.

Yesterday's Bake-athon. Brought to you by our sponsors: Kitchenaid, Hershey's Cocoa and Markham Sauvignon Blanc.
White Chocolate Biggies.


Jason and Kati battle it out.
Who is that old lady in the apron?
Early Crimmus pressie. :)

Monday, December 22, 2008

Jackpot.

This weekend was the Bell Christmas party and I think I was the winner as I got to take THIS home from the Chinese Christmas exchange:

Don't be jealous.

I am off from work this week and putting together the menu for Christmas dinner. We got the meal mapped out and I am now scouring this for ideas:

I know I have a rough life. As this will probably be my last entry before the holidays, I wish all of you and your beautiful familes a wonderful Christmas. If you are traveling, be safe. If you are cooking dinner at home, don't burn the turkey! May there be peace in your heart if only for that day.

From ours to yours. :)

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Let Me Know When You Figure Out What THAT Is.

While online finishing up some last minute Christmas shopping I ran across this:


Intrigued by all things Christmas that are new and I haven’t seen before, I checked out the blurb on what the movie is about:

“A reindeer boy named Niko dreams about flying like his father, whom he has never met. Despite suffering from severe vertigo, he sneaks out of his home valley to take flying lessons from Julius, a rare member of a Finnish family of flying squirrels. “

There are so many things wrong with that paragraph, I am not even sure where to start. First of all, what is a "reindeer boy" (is that like a Centaur, but half man, half reindeer?) and why has this poor reindeer boy never met his father? I mean, really. Seems a little depressing, don't you think? They do know kids are watching this, right? Secondly, do kids even know what vertigo is?

And don’t get me started on the “Finnish family of flying squirrels.” You know, because there aren’t enough movies with Finnish flying squirrels in them. *sigh*

I think I’ll stick to A Christmas Carol. I mean, at least Tiny Tim knew who his father was.

Monday, December 15, 2008

When Santa Comes Early.

We really enjoy working on our house and most weekends are full of all kinds of home improvement projects. This past weekend's project was long overdue... the master bedroom. We have been sleeping on a set of matresses and using a buffet table (with the skinny drawers!) for a dresser.... so needless to say we were pretty excited about the prospect of an actual bed and a real dresser with adult sized drawers! hehe.

Saturday we went shopping and fell in love with a bedroom set which to our suprise was being delievered Sunday afternoon at 2pm and the room wasn't even painted yet! We high-tailed it to Lowe's and raced the clock painting Saturday night and moving all the furniture out and then waking up Sunday morning to finish. The doorbell rang with the delivery truck sitting outside as we were finishing up the final coat. Perfect timing.


It's amazing what a little paint.....

...and some new furniture...


....can do!!

Before:


After:

Needless to say, we passed out for a nap soon after delivery.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Raise The Roof.


Believe It.

Some days are just ordinary days.

But some days you are outside with your husband, your face up to the sky feeling snowflakes hit your skin, drinking hot apple cider that doesn't stay hot for long. It was one of those nights where you are freezing to the bone but can't stop laughing. Running around the yard throwing snowballs like kids who can't be dragged back inside.

Stuff like this just doesn't happen in Houston so we took full advantage of the Christmas snow last night!





Loads of love, Jason & Mack

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Payback.

Jason gets me back for all the times I've snapped a picture when he wasn't expecting it.

*smacks forehead*

Monday, December 8, 2008

Up On The Housetop.

Yesterday was our first attempt at putting up outside Christmas lights. After a few hours, a few trips to Walmart and a few prayers that Jason wouldn't fall off the roof, I'll have to say we did a pretty good job. Hopefully tonight I can get an actual picture of them on and you know, in the dark and everything.




As per usual, Ross was less than impressed.


Friday, December 5, 2008

Fall Makes Me Happy.

One of my favorite photos from the weekend.