GLIMPSE OF MY CHRISTMAS DAY – 2008

by Sara on December 31st, 2008

Santa Max on Christmas morning.

Max + Eleanor Mae.

Thanks to Anthropologie for reducing my wrapping this year. I love the button ‘ribbon’ they supply with their gift boxes. Everybody asked me if I made it myself; I wanted to lie and say yes, but I didn’t.

This year’s hit gift was chapstick from Eleanor’s stocking. After opening it, she never let it out of sight again.

I should be embarrassed to admit, but I went sock-less the entire trip. Thanks to Saucony for making the most comfy shoes in the world. Left pair are mine, right are Dick’s.

Building a snowman so big it required a ladder. My dad’s shoes crack me up. No wonder he couldn’t feel his toes after building the snowman.

John was the mastermind behind the snowman. I had to admit, I didn’t think he could pull it off, but I was sorely mistaken.

Sculpting, shaping, packing.

Team efforts.

Freezing Dad! and Dick.

Julie rolled the head.

Poor white, fluffy boys wanted in on the action. They stood in the doorway anxiously watching.

Then it was time to come back to Arizona. This is Max and me ready to brave the drive home in our piece of junk rental car. Lucky for us, it was sunny the entire drive home.

Before the sunny drive home, came lots of snow. While snow is typically a good word in my vocabulary, on Christmas night it ended up doing us bad. We had a crash on the freeway. $4,100 worth of damage, but luckily covered by the other driver’s insurance. Our car is in the shop for a month which means another trip back to Utah soon!

Despite the crash, it was a great Christmas holiday.

Current agenda: ending 2008 graciously, ready for 2009 to begin.

SNOWY DAY AT JULIE & JOHN’S HOUSE

by Sara on December 24th, 2008

Eleanor enjoys a piece of the best See’s candy… California Brittle.

Dick’s (favorite) chore is to peel and seed pomegranates for the rest of us to enjoy. What a cool guy.

Poppity pop pop! Beginning stage of my dad’s annual Christmas treat: popcorn cakes!

My dad, permeating the house with vinegar scent while making said popcorn cakes. Wish I remembered to take pictures of his red slippers.

Keeping up with sweeping duties: Eleanor and Bear (Max’s favorite Bichon cousin; Jake’s an uncle – doesn’t count).

My feet in my sister Julie’s boots.

Snow! Resisting the urge to lick. (Ok, so maybe I didn’t resist.)

Eleanor AKA Snow Bunny.

SIGNS OF CHRISTMAS

by Sara on December 24th, 2008

Puzzle time.

And hours worth of TV watching, particularly Gilmore Girls with Cara and her kids.

JUST A RAINY DAY HERE IN MY USUAL PLACE

by Sara on December 18th, 2008

It’s been rainy! Cloudy, drizzly, perfect.

After work yesterday I took Max on a long walk wearing one of my favorite pair of tennis shoes. These were the first shoes I bought as a married lady… nearly 4 years ago.

Max doesn’t love the rain like I do. He tip-toes like he’s wearing high-heels and occasionally slips from trying to avoid getting wet. It’s adorable. Everything he does is adorable. (Even the obsessive licking of his feet, causing them to turn bright pink, which has us so worried we’re taking him to the vet tomorrow to have it checked out.)

Lo and behold, look who found us as we were turning the corner, heading home — Dicky B!

Just as the sun settled, we came home. Max got a treat, Dick worked on Amazon CD listings, and I settled for reading To Kill a Mockingbird while taking a hot bubble bath.

On evenings like these, my life in Phoenix is the best.

1ST ANNUAL CHRISTMAS KARAOKE PARTY

by Sara on December 15th, 2008

My favorite part of the night (aside from aforementioned doughnuts) was the fact that everybody got up and sang, regardless of ability to hit notes on key. Some a bit more meager, while others preferred to ‘work the room’.

Yeah, I think it’s safe to say we’re pretty much the ideal Star Search kind of family.

Wish Julie & John and Ashley & Niki could have made it! But there’s always next year… And believe me, I am already looking forward to a re-occurance of the Annual Christmas Karaoke Party! Brilliant idea, Jeff and Elyse, thanks again for all the fun!