time to lock it up ...

Just wanted to share some holiday photos from Christmas 2009 before we leap into 2010 in just a matter of hours.

On Christmas Eve we hosted about 25 people - just for snacks and drinks - here are a few shots... (I don't want to add pictures of the guests just in case they aren't in love with that idea). I made peanut butter cookies, Nutter Butter snowmen, sugar cookies, chocolate-covered pound-cake bites, cupcakes and zucchini bread. Lotsa goodies ...

 

 

On Christmas Day we split time between my parents home and Gregg's sister's home. I look forward to that Christmas meal every year. It is normally LASAGNA but this year my mom opted for stuffed shells instead. Just as yummy. And we always have meatballs, Eggplant Parmesan (my favorite) and antipasto. Mmm mmm mmm. The leftovers are just as good. At my sister-in-law's house they have turkey, ham, potatoes, rice, noodles, veggies etc. TONS of options. There are always too many desserts to choose from as well. YUM.

Gregg and I had a wonderful Christmas. One of our favorite parts is Christmas morning when we sit in the living room and open our gifts from each other. Since it only happens once a year it really makes those rare moments that much more special. We appreciate every second of it and love to see the looks on each others faces when we open our "little surprises". Gregg is very thoughtful and always manages to find something that I adore. We don't spend a lot of money anymore since we have our important priorities - but we don't notice the difference. I just enjoy that time that we spend together.

Hope you all had a lovely holiday and since it is New Year's Eve - Happy New Year, everyone! I wish you all health, wealth and happiness in 2010! Cheers!! 

ho ho ho-ly mackerel...

Twas three days before Christmas
And much to my cheer
I am ready to welcome it
I've waited all year

The house is quite festive
Red and green off the hook
And Santas and snowmen
Adorn every nook

For each ornament, a place
On the big Christmas tree
Which has now been de-skirted
For my sanity

As cute as it was
In the trash it will sit
When it's covered in bug pods
I don't give a shit


The presents are wrapped
Some disguised as a test
PS3 games and movies
Are too easily guessed

The cards hang on ribbons
On the back of the door
And I've baked up some cookies
Just a few dozen more

Outside on the bushes
Gregg strung up the lights
While I watched from the window
On the coldest of nights

The snow has been shoveled
Right down to the brick
So our Christmas Eve guests
Won't break bones if it's slick

I bought some supplies
at Ye Olde Liquor Store
I had some White Russians
Now I have to buy more

We are ready to host
About twenty-five guests
With seating for twelve
Should be awkward, at best

I hope that you all 
Are enjoying your season
For all of the rushing
Is for quite a good reason

So hold onto your family
and keep your friends dear
Merry Christmas to all
and a Happy New Year


















  

blizz o'nine ...

This past weekend the forecast called for a blizzard and to our surprise - the forecast was right. I have always enjoyed the snow- when I don't have to drive in it, that is. Shoveling isn't my favorite thing to do but, to me, the good outweighs the bad in any snowstorm... especially when it falls on a weekend and people can stay off the roads and at home to enjoy it.

It started around 8:45 on Saturday night. Gregg and I were watching A Christmas Story with our tree lit and our heat crankin'... all cozied up.

Within an hour the winds had started picking up and the "white-out conditions" began...

During the night it obviously continued pretty heavily and Brody could not WAIT to get outside to enjoy it. He actually woke us up at 6:30 so he could start running around - just like a little kid. He barely managed to sit still while we put his collar on and opened the slider to the deck ...

Shoveling was no easy feat. We had to lift the snow in three sections due to its height. I believe we got 15" in our area. I had a lot of trouble trying to brush the snow off of Gregg's Jeep just because it was piled so high. We each had our own section of the circular driveway to take care of ... and the city plows did nothing to lighten the load. Don't ya just love that giant packed pile at the ends of your driveway?? That took a while to chip away at.

When the shoveling was finally finished, we got into our super warm clothes, lit a fire and had hot chocolate. That is one cliché that I don't mind at all.