christmas o8, round one. *ding ding ding!*

holy smokes. my christmas blend and I have just gotten caught up with my friends' blogs, and am so glad to see everyone having such a wonderful holiday! we got in last night from a whirlwind christmas bonanza, if you will. I left last tuesday night to go work in Dallas, M joined me later in the week, and we drove to my parent's house from there. as soon as I was outta the studio, I popped the Vince Guaraldi Trio in the cd player and we scooted through Ft. Worth traffic listening to A Charlie Brown Christmas. which I love... then the new Mates of State album, then This American Life. perhaps as you peruse the rest of the post, you would like to partake of some soothing sounds:




we celebrated YaYa's Christmas saturday night. this was the first year we hosted it at our house, and everything went really well... dinner was baked potatoes with the fixin's and chili, plus my aunt's awesome homemade buns, ham, dessert, and cranberry relish thing that we were flipping over and my grandma's homemade fudge and candy. my grandparents on my father's side are living in a health care facility now, which is a pretty major change for them. this holiday gathering has always been at their house, and these huge life events all transpired pretty suddenly the past few months. I know my grandparents - especially my YaYa - really struggle with loss of freedom and identity, but the facility is nice, the people there are very good to them, and it really is a burden lifted regarding daily living and health care for my PaPa. here are some pics snapped that night:


ME WITH MORGAN AND MY COUSIN M's PRECIOUS TWINS, RHETT AND TRITON:



MY COUSIN J'S AWESOME GIRLS... LAUREN & TAYLOR AND THEIR BIG SISTER, ALYSSA:



J & 'LYSSA:



MARMEE & MOMO:



DADDY & I:



MO TOOK THIS SUPAHFLY PIC OF HER MAMA AND AUNT LULU:



SANTA HATS AND DIGITAL CAMERAS ABOUND:



YAYA & L WITH THE REINDEER BABIES:




soooo good to see all of these people (and the ones not pictured here), and we missed those who couldn't be with us. we hope next year to get started earlier in the day, because the truth is we want more time with everyone. life is so nutty that it's easy to go a year and not really talk, and when you've got quality people like this in your life, you start wanting for more of their company.

it got COLD that night, and with the fire ROARING (sis-in-law!) in the fireplace, we started to wind down:




sunday after church we headed to Stephenville to do a little more shopping, and had a good round of Nertz that night in front of the fire. before I go further, here's a pic of my brother, his wife, and my niece that I just love, totally stolen from their camera (we got all the grandparents digital photo frames this year, and my mac was the lucky recipient of all the pics to upload):



christmas morning 1.0 dawned with hot coffee, L's monkey bread, and cheese and sausage quesadillas... plus fun things under the tree for Mo:



she got all sorts of fun things from Santa... a Little Mermaid tricyle-thing that blows bubbles and makes all sorts of sounds, an Elmo backpack, a cabbage patch baby wrapped in an afghan G'ma made for her (G'ma also crocheted her a larger one to match), a Sesame Street dinnerware set, an Elmo dvd, and a bath puppet. this pic cracks me up... check out PAWPAW IN THE BACKGROUND HOLDING HER BABY:



SHE GOT COWGIRL GEAR:



AND SOME CLASSIC CONVERSE FROM HER AUNT L & UNCLE M (you can also see her first necklace w/ a kitty and her name engraved on it, given to her by Marmee, in this pic):



this girl got all sorts of cool stuff, and she loved all of her toys. in fact, she liked them so much that to have to abandon one to open another was kind of a bummer. eventually, SHE LEFT THE ROOM FOR A MID-MORNING NAP, SO THE ADULTS TOOK TEN, TOO:



MY HUSBIN COULDN'T WAIT TO PERUSE THE GRAPHIC NOVEL I GOT HIM:



HE ACTUALLY GOT TONS OF COOL READING AND WAS VERY VERY HAPPY... THIS GORY-LOOKING JOKER NOVEL WAS A PRETTY BIG HIT. THE LOOK ON DADDY'S FACE WHEN HE ACCIDENTALLY OPENED IT WAS HILARIOUS:



FINALLY, DADDY WENT TO WAKE UP MO FROM HER NAP... HERE THEY ARE WRAPPED IN THE AFGHAN G'MA MADE HER:



AND THE PARTY PICKED UP AGAIN...



THE BELLS HAD A LOVELY FIRST MARRIED CHRISTMAS IN HICO:



AND WE LOVE THESE PEOPLE SO MUCH.




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CS posted the fourth photo in the fourth file on her computer, so I went to see which one mine would be... this was from some gathering I went to near Brenham years ago:



and I got tagged by JT (loved your holiday post, girl!), so here's my 8 THINGS:

8 things I did today:

1. woke up in my own bed!
2. drank coffee
3. caught up w/ friends' blogs
4. blogged about the holidays
IT'S EARLY IN THE DAY, SO STILL TO COME IS:
5. narrating for a few hours
6. going to see M's folks and pick up the pets
7. putting away Christmas gifts
8. relaxing w/ the hubby

8 Favorite restaurants
1. Mambo
2. Pho Tan Loc on Bellaire
3. Niko-Niko's
4. Kam's
5. Michaelangelo's
6. Cafe Express
7. The Dot Shop
8. Backstreet Cafe

8 Shows I watch
1. The Office (word, JT)
2. Biggest Loser (double word!)
3. Top Chef
4. Morning Express w/ Robin Meade
5. Intervention
6. the BBC channel
7. various shows on TLC
8. Food Network

8 things I wish for
1. health and safety for us and people we care about.
2. to be debt-free (we're on our way)
3. to have a bigger kitchen
4. in the house we own.
5. to have a baby Bell.
6. a shift in my work life.
7. spiritual strengthening.
8. a bullet train to Dallas.

8 things I look forward to
1. being debt-free and the freedoms that will afford us to live and give.
2. being a mom
3. fewer commutes to Dallas
4. Christmas w/ the Bells
5. dinners w/ my husbin
6. being w/ family
7. this next year
8. change

8 new people I tag: B2, Tricia, Chels, Boy's Mom, Whit, Ellery's Mom, and whomever else would like to play. ;)


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time to go read - must go throw on some going-out-into-the-world clothes and a hat to cover my uncombed hair. that's the lovely thing about studio work... you'd never know that authoritative, warm, educated voice is wearing sweat pants and a toboggan. I'll be back in a few days with christmas o8 round two!

'tis the season

Before reading further, kindly hit 'play' on the song below, which I dedicate to B2 (it being one of her favorite Christmas songs and all):




it's been a flurry of shopping, cooking, and gatherings around here. and speaking of flurries, I found these pictures M took of the snow Wednesday night! snow is a VERY BIG DEAL in Houston.... especially when it was 74 degrees on Tuesday. ??????







I had some friends over Thursday night for a gift wrapping/holiday decompression night, and it was so much fun for me. I really love to have people over - I like to cook and create a nice, comfy space where everyone feels free to kick back and relax. I've felt so busy with what seems like a never-ending list of tasks and commitments... I was aching for a little girl time. BB, MB & MB, and WF, I just really like all of you a lot and that's the truth.

Saturday, we had the youth group Christmas party at the T's house. talk about entertaining and hospitality - that family is amazing. the food was awesome and the games were fun, but I ended up leaving and heading to my meeting. due to traveling and other plans, I haven't been able to go in awhile. and it's noticeable, at least to me. funny how you don't realize how important things are until you experience the lack of them. my meeting is a source of grounding and strength for me - it restores perspective and reminds me of 'what I have attained so far'. especially around holidays - when there's additional stress and other factors, I know how important it is to do what I need to do to keep myself in a good emotional place. last night's topic was 'joy', and a lot of lovely and thoughtful things were expressed that I tucked away to take with me. today at lunch, I brought up one of my favorite things that I continue to learn from meetings... the freedom to turn off The Judge In My Mind. this is an entity that wants to assign a value judgement to others' choice of words and actions, and compulsively compare myself to them. I truly do think that this is a great gift, because I believe The Judge is pretty snarky - that it keeps us from connecting to people and is very effective at spoiling a good time. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak with and serve an alcoholic in the middle of a pretty major slip he may never come out of... muzzling The Judge means I could listen to him without wanting to change him, without thinking of him as weak, without looking down on him. I could focus on what is true - that he and I are very similar. none of us are unique, and none of us can do it on our own. that life can be hard - for some, terribly hard. that kindness and truth and respect and boundaries feels right, whether he chooses to get sober or not.

before I forget, I also tried my hand at baking cookies Saturday afternoon. it was a hot, frustrating, humbling experience, and I promptly emailed my extraordinary sister-in-law to tell her of my foibles and offer my respect because she's very good at such things. someday I will have a larger kitchen. with counterspace. someday the lace cookies will look like cookies and not like fake vomit from Spencer's. someday I won't burn the black and tan cookies and my fingers.

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today, we served at The Beacon with our church group, and had our Christmas party tonight. I had SUCH a good time! my face hurt from laughing, and I've decided that I love that feeling. here are some snapshots from the evening:























*note* I'm fairly certain that in the photo of D.B. above, fifth one down, we were discussing the Hello Kitty Maternity Hospital.


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I have to drive to Dallas Tuesday night to start working early Wednesday, and between now and then a lot needs to/could possibly/might not happen. you know how it is - you have a list, but something will probably have to give. M will join me up there at the end of the week and we'll head to my family for the holiday. thankfully, most of the shopping is done. which really is good, because I've got a script about a high school kendo match to turn out, yo, and I'm anticipating some client juggling this week. breathe. it's all gonna be okay.

anatomy of a tree

HOMEMADE ORNAMENTS, YO.







WE HUNG A WREATH AND SOME LIGHTS IN THE BACK...





AND I GOT OUT THE NATIVITY SCENE GRANDMA GAVE ME:




M has taken to arranging one single light from that lamp over the nativity... eastern star and all. :) as a piece of trivia, when I was in second grade I was moved to get out my little new testament bible and memorize Matthew chapter 2, the whole chapter. just because I wanted to, and I liked the story of Jesus' birth.

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why is this holiday season so flipping FAST?! we got a really good jump on our christmas shopping Sunday, which takes a bit of the edge off. here are some scenes from Garage Sale - Round One from this past Saturday:




GOOD MORNING, STARSHINE!







I MADE A GOOD SOUP (IT WAS 'SUPPOSED' TO BE A CHILI - BUT I ADDED TOO MUCH STOCK SO WHATEVER). HERE'S J.B. ENJOYING IT!



MEANWHILE, THE DOG WAS INSIDE SLEEPING IT OFF...




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that night we headed to Sagemont for their Christmas Carnival... here's M with L.B., who sang her heart out in perfect pitch in the choir:



and us and the B's:




they really put on a show, with Christmas songs and aerial performers and a real camel! what hit my heart like a ton of bricks, however, was the image of Jesus (I loved that he was backlit), walking out and talking to the children. the message of Him. the trite-sounding sentiment about God loving me. it stopped my momentum and made me cry and I realized how desperate my need is, how much I miss my meetings lately, how drifting and busyness and lack of sleep and exercise and prayer can shorten my fuse and set me so on edge. our class Sunday morning confirmed in me that I need discipline in these areas to be the kind of person and wife and friend and worker I'm meant to be, and want to be.


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I'm currently enjoying a holiday tradition from my childhood - hot chocolate w/ marshmallows, made from a mix my mother used to whip up every year and keep in a tupperware container. I mixed powdered milk, powdered creamer, and Nesquick, and added some salt substitute for a twist. I also considered adding a dash of cayenne pepper, for a kick, but the cupboard was bereft of cayenne. as is, 5-6 heaping tablespoons in a Christmas mug with some hot water and a small handful of little marshmallows, and it tastes like I'm 12 again.

-m.y.

thanksgiving 08

family. food. more family. more food. mo-mo!

I *just* got back in town - after the holiday, I stayed up in the metroplex to work while M flew home to pick up the furries from g'ma L's house (THANK YOU, G'MA L!). we had a lovely holiday. this may sound silly, but I feel more in a celebratory, holiday mood as a married lady. not that I was sad or down on holidays or anything when I was single - on the contrary, I still enjoyed myself immensely. I just wasn't as into it 'personally', was focused on work and finding presents to take to people and less interested in putting up a christmas tree and playing Bing Crosby Christmas Classics (though White Christmas MUST be watched. it's a non-negotiable.). this year, however, it's a different world. tonight we're going to find our tree. and I'm already humming christmas tunes.

there is more to muse about, but I've got a full plate and have to step it up. enjoy some pictures of our weekend, which are unapologetically niece-centric. :) aunt L and uncle M got her a new tutu, and we love that she loved it.

TUG-O-WAR!






CRAYON KING-PIN


SHE CAN OPEN THAT DOOR NOW...


MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE TEXAS SKY CONTINUES

fattening him up...

Chino has been doing pretty well, as far as we can tell. he still doesn't seem to have any cancer-related issues. however, we decided a couple of months ago to give him doggie disneyland while we have him, so he gets a teensy drizzle of bacon grease over his senior's dog food, or a package of wet food mixed in. we give him bones at every opportunity, which he LOVES. he never was one for regular dog treats. and though our lack of scheduling a haircut certainly helps him look fluffier, he seems to be getting a little, um, 'husky'. not fat - the kid's never been fat in his life'. he just seems... more solid. full. but he still has bouts of puppy-like playfullness, and I love that. I think M is his favorite playmate, but he'll take me in a pinch. these were from yesterday:


STALKING THE KNUCKLE





FACE-OFF!





"I'M DONE. SCRATCH MY BELLY."




he's curled up sleeping on the floor five feet away from me right now. we think his hearing is going, and he doesn't see as well as he used to, but we're enjoying him so much. I'm glad we found out about the cancer, so we could really appreciate this time. I don't remember where I heard or read it, but to the question of 'do animals have souls?' someone once said that living things glorify God by being a wonderful representation of what they were intended to be. I'll say it... I think Chi glorifies God by being a really good dog.

m.y.