Christmas Eve Quotes of the Day

#3: "Ooooooh, you got some coconut boobs!"

#2: "She's a hillbilly, but she's a smart hillbilly."

#1: (grown daughter to dad)"Why do you always make me do things I don't want to do?"
(step-mom to daughter) "I'm always saying that to him!"

Hope Santa brings you something that makes you smile:)

Quotes of the day

Part posterity and part mutual amusement, here are the best lines overheard today from our family to yours:

#3:  "It's Christmas, don't start any shit."

#2:  "My kids got three different daddy's, but at least they're spread out. I got friends with kids 1, 2, and 3 or 4, with all different dads."

#1:  "I don't know you very well, but Merry Christmas anyway."

Cheers!

Saturday, What a Day!

Today I am thankful for all of the elements of the beautiful holiday season that make the beginning of winter so festive. Preparing to kick off Advent tomorrow made me wonder at the impact a few pine boughs and some glittery ornaments have. (For the record, I'm not talking about the tinsel-strewn plastic decorations that festoon retail stores this time of year.)

After Thanksgiving, I give myself full liberty to deck the halls and break out the box of holiday music. The moments that make me the happiest are on quiet evenings when the lights on the tree are sparkling, and the flames from lit candles are reflected in all of the glass surfaces in the room. Theoretically in these moments, James Taylor is crooning carols in the background and snow is drifting outside, but that level of perfection is rare.

Regardless, I am grateful for this season that celebrates anticipation, and I look forward to cherishing many moments with friends and family as we ring out 2011 and prepare for 2012.

Friday, Happy Day

We bought a car today. It's not the most practical model we could have chosen, but it's bigger than the Corolla and definitely more comfortable. I am bubbling over with excitement, but more on the new addition to come later...

For now I want to pay homage to my little car. She has been dependable and low-maintenance, and has gotten me through several cross-country transitions. I am very grateful for the years I have been able to rely on her and her 5-speed standard transition, and hope that with a little on-going care she will stick around for another 150K mi.

Thursday

Happy Thanksgiving! Today I am going to espouse my gratitude for my family, who has been a constant source of support this year. If you appear on this wall of our living room, know that you hold a special place in my life, and are thought of daily.

First of all, I am grateful to have married into a family that is loving and fun. We don't get to visit as much as I would like, but I love my in-laws, and for that I know I am fortunate.

I am who I am today because of the values and manners that my parents instilled in me over the course of the past few decades. They taught me the importance of honesty, and modeled the work ethic that got me through college and grad school. Since Bosco was diagnosed, they have saved us thousands in vet bills by graciously letting him interrupt their lives when Brian and I are both out of town. Dad has pitched in to help solve issues I create in pretty much every home maintenance project I take on, and is an awesome resource when it comes to taking care of my little Corolla. I am very fortunate to have a friend in my mom, to vent to when I have a frustrating day or to to share any joys that come my way, and ask for advice when I am struggling with anything.

The biggest blessing in my life this year has been my husband. I am so lucky to be able to share every day with somebody who knows how to make me laugh, and likes food(especially breakfast) almost as much as I do. For the most part we have the same taste in music, television, and movies, and he has started to open up to the idea of international adventures. Today we hosted Thanksgiving dinner, and it was totally a team effort. I love that we have grown to complement each other's abilities and support each other's strengths, even for tasks like roasting a turkey! I'm so lucky to have found the partner I have, and look forward to many more Thanksgivings to share.

Wednesday, Happy Days

Today I give thanks for my passport. Without it I would not have experienced the amazing places I have seen, or met some of the most wonderful people I know. It represents my freedom to travel, and the privilege of returning home. I am also grateful that I have been granted the curiosity to take advantage of these benefits, for some will never truly understand the wonder inherent in reaching across borders with a friendly heart and an open mind.

Tuesday

Today I am grateful for my house. It's not huge and we don't have a yard, but it's ours. Everybody should be so lucky to have a roof over their head and a bed to sleep in.