my mansions

outer looks like this...



inner feels like this...



Merry Christmas to my loves!
Hope it is free of the whoops and bugs!

Holiday Tips...

DO taste test all candies before assembling graham houses.


DO NOT expect even the most fun auntie surrounded by a table of sweets to steal attention away from Christmas movies.


DO build a graham village and santa's sleigh. DO NOT use a chocolate chip for the tail of the reindeer. It looks like reindeer poop.


DO go sledding. DO NOT tell your auntie she is too big and that is why the sled is not moving even though the hill is clearly not steep enough. Clearly..


DO rescue your little-white-fleece-vest-wearing-dog from the snow banks.


DO shovel the snow off the porch to make a huge snow pile. DO NOT keep telling your auntie when her breaks are over even though she is making trips hither and fro to get all the snow off the rocks.


DO make snow angels.


DO climb a many-branched tree and say things like "I don't think mama would like to see this".

The Rollercoaster....

The ups and downs of nursing are crazy. There is much more that I thought I would write about it but for now, I think thats about all I should/can/will divulge.

Oh, by the way, is this a Christmas decorating contest? Is there a way I can capture the essenence of the wimpy wimpy wimpy tree with WHITE lights that are ALWAYS ON and COLORED lights that go from s l o w f a d e to seizure causing within seconds?

Probably not, let your imagination take you there. For now feast your eyes. The making of a Christmas card.

Christmas Lights and a Fa La La

Last night, as I unplugged my Christmas lights before bed, I felt bad.
I felt bad that the people driving by would not get to see how cute my lights are.
Do you think they are cute?
I think they are cute.
A lit wreath! Come on!
What I really want to do is copy everything the lady across the street does because she is so clever! If only she were on a different street!! 'Cept she uses colored lights and I've got my white ones.


Last night there was caroling at the Old Round Church. It was so small-towny.
Having been inspired by Tese, I'm sure, Eric tried to harmonize with some of the songs.
Really loudly.
I of course sounded like a song-bird and will be cutting my first Christmas album shortly.
I thought about snapping a pic of the ORC for my Christmas Card, but the only thing I got was chilly fingers.

At least my lights are cute!

Christmas glimpses...

I couldn't resist!
(My crazy flying lady!)



I was bursting at the seams!
(Big CTS balls! Knew I needed those!)



I am in the spirit!
(My homemade stockings! Made one inside out by accident! It's ok though. I am dealing.)

The way things look (in 5 parts)

A photo essay...

1) Tights.

Questionable. I had second thoughts on these this morning but it was too late. I was in the parking lot at school. I wondered to myself "are these fishnets??" Throughout the day I got lots o' "compliments". Mostly "those are great tights". As I walked out to my car at 3:00 I thought, you know, there is a difference between "those are great tights" and "those tights look great". Also, they make me look squat. Out with the tights!

2) Pumpkins.

Tired. Only pumpkins left on the block and I realized it is high past the season to be decorating with pumpkins. They can't wait to be recycled next week! You'll see.

3) Loot.

Festive. With only hours to spare (dozens of them) I cashed in on my CTShops coupons. Who knew I needed 2 large green and red balls with gold sparkle paint? Me! I also shared a coupon with a priest who was (I can only assume) buying all (3 of the) religious Christmas items to decorate his Church. Cruise control to Heaven!

4. Neighbor's Christmas Tree.

Ripe. Can you say JEALOUS? Is it extra green or is that the envy oozing from my eyeballs?

5. Neighbor's Golden Retriever.

Drooly. Oh wait, that's me. Is this dog green too? It's so hard to tell. Thank goodness both the neighbors are at class so I can sneak onto their back porch and take snapshots of their things. Surprise!