blog? what blog?

So, I've been totally slacking in the blogging department the past month. I know some people keep up with us through my blog, and I think that's the coolest, but every time I started to sit down and write, I had so much to say that I was overwhelmed. But, I'm finally back.

We had an absolutely marvelous Christmas and New Year. In fact, the whole entire Christmas season was awesome. Bob & I went to a cookie exchange at my awesome friend Rachel's house, we had our annual Christmas party, some of my family came into town to have some time together, we went on a limo ride to see Christmas lights (with Rachel's family) and we did TONS of shopping. We seriously did our part to boost the economy. Chris and I were both totally spoiled on Christmas morning and received some fabulous gifts!

My year is starting slowly; I don't have any classes until the end of Jan., so I'm using this down time to finally get our house in order and do some scrapbooking. I'm submitting for a couple of design teams and contests. I hope something good happens! Well, actually, as long as I get some pages done, something good is happening!

Scooby and Mimi are doing well. They both had to go to the vet this morning. Scooby has conjuntivitis. Who knew dogs could get pink eye? Mimi just has tummy trouble and was perscribed Pepto Bismol. Cracks me up.

So, that's just a little bit about us. More soon!

More signs of Christmas

Signs of Christmas are everywhere, and I LOVE it! Last night we went to Oklahoma City for the Glenn Beck Christmas show, and it was AWESOME!!! Definitely worth the hour and a half drive each way. The show was all about Christmas (novel concept in today's world of "holidays"), what Christmas has been like for him and the true meaning of Christmas - which, incidently Glenn says is redemption; it's not just about the birth of Christ, but also about how he was born, how he was raised, how he lived, and how he died. Redemtion, the most perfect gift ever. Never thought if it exactly that way. Very cool.

Just before we left for OKC, it started snowing. Now, lwt's just say this....snow + Oklahoma = bad....VERY bad. Noone knows how to drive on it here and they all act like a bunch of idiots. So, by the time we got home, there was a bunch of snow on the ground. Well, a bunch for Oklahoma - like 4 inches or something, which resulted in totally covered streets (including the not-so-free-freeway) and school closings today. The only time I like snow is when I can stay home and just enjoy it. I hate having to go out in it. But, I love it, and I love taking pictues of it...just enjoying it. You know what I mean? So long as I can just stay home and enjoy it, I love it! Speaking of loving it, the puppies LOVE the snow, especially Mimi. They love to play in it and root around in it and get ice clumps all in their fur and have white faces. They are hysterical! Mimi does NOT want to come in even when she starts shivering!

Sunday night, we went on a limo ride around town to see the Christmas lights. It was awesome! We went with my friend Rachel and her family and Bob came too. There was Martinelli's  (sparkling apple juice, my fave) and we saw a couple of unbelievable set ups. No, I mean really, unbelievable. We also went to Rhema Bible College where they have a huge amount of lights all over the small campus. Truly beautiful. The gal driving didn't know that many awesome places to see, but we definitely saw some good stuff. I LOVE Christmas lights!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

And, I for one am LOVING it! The trees are up (we have 2 this year) and the decor is out (well mostly) and Egg Nog, Gingerbread, and Peppermint lattes are at Starbucks and  Christmas songs are playing on the radio and Christmas ornaments are everywhere (and most are coming home with me - including from Starbucks) and soon we'll have 24 straight hours of A Christmas Story.  But really, none of these things puts me in the Christmas mood quite like that one thing. That one thing every year that signifies that Christmas is upon us and it's a wonderful thing. A Charlie Brown Christmas. There's nothing like it. Claymation has nothing on Charlie Brown. The pathetic tree that miraculously becomes beautiful, the "racket that Christmas has become, run by an eastern syndicate" (could it get any funnier?), Sally just wanting some real estate, Snoopy winning the light contest, Linus reading from the bible, everyone deciding that maybe, just for one day, Charlie Brown isn't such a blockhead afterall, and best of all.......that infectious song that I can't seem to get out of my head, but it doesn't bother me because I LOVE IT!! Play it again Schroeder! Have a listen (scroll down a little to find the clips, it's called Linus & Lucy) and I dare you to try and keep from doing the goofy Peanuts dance.

Fall is seriously here

It's totally fall here today. Started the morning out at 70-something degrees, and now we're at 48, and it's COLD! Winter is on it's way. The only good thing about winter is fires in the fire place, Christmas, and Spring coming on its' heels. I took the puppies out for a fall photo shoot. Mom keeps telling me that the puppies are more trouble than kids. Today, I believe her. They seriously would NOT cooperate. Refused to look at me and even come towards me. I should have taken treats out so I could bribe them, but apparently I'm not that smart. So, Mimi kept running away and Scooby was on the lookout for squirrels and I ended up laying in exactly the spot that Mimi likes to go potty. Fabulous. Looks like I'll be doing some laundry....ASAP!  And, I got about 2 good pictures. At least I got that!

The House, the House, the House is on Fire!

Or at least the kitchen. Chris set it on fire yesterday. He was busily doing some things around the house (cleaning bathrooms, etc.) when he got humgry for lunch and started making Mac & Cheese. Only, he turned on the worng burner, and the one he turned on had a plastic plate with leftover cookies from Chris' b-day party on it. Oops! He went straight from trying to blow it out to fire extinguisher; only he'd never run a fire extinguisher before, so it took him a while. He finally got it out, and even cleaned up the ash (well, most of it anyway).

So, where was I during Chris' escapade? I spent the weekend at an all weekend scrapbooking event at the store where I teach classes. I actually got a ton done. Very out of character for me. But, I was a bit prepared, so that helped a ton! I scrappybooked again today with my friend, Rachel. She's an awesome gal and puts up well with my occassional total memory loss and brain farts (like forgetting to invite her and her hubby to Bob's b-day dinner....duh!). I find I talk a bit too much when we're SBing together, but I still got quite a bit done for the short 4 hours I spent. Yay me! And, I so very much enjoy her company.

Finally!

I've done it. Well, actually, I've done a lot of things, but the main thing I've done in the past 24 hours is I finally went running again. It's been a month or more, and for some reason, I'd decided that I just couldn't do it any more. Who knows why, but I had it in my head I was incapable. Guess I proved myself wrong on that one! I went for 30 minutes. It was tough, but I did it. I've never been as steady a runner as I longed to be. I think I felt like a fraud. Like I'm way to slow to consider myself a runner. Really, I know it doesn't matter, but sometimes within the running community, we slowbies feel like the redheaded step-child - and trust me, I know what that feels like. But, I went today, and that was the first step...actually going. Next time we go to Europe, I want to be able to actually shop for clothes instead of fondling them longingly wishing they'd somehow fit. I know what to do, and I've been talking about it for awhile. "I want to start running again." "I'm going to start running again." But, talking really doesn't do any good, so finally, I got the feet to the pavement.  I think I also felt like a joke because I've gained weight, and who wants to see an overweight gal out there running? But, then again isn't a main point of running to get into and stay in shape? So, off I went. Oh, and to add insult to injury, I got passed by a guy like three times my age. Nice. Oh well. What are ya gonna do?

Other things I've done: after my run, I gave the babie a bath. Oh, how they hate the bathtime. I'm still suffering the backlash, the mommy hatred. Yesterday, I met with the Chair of the Tulsa Republican Party about volunteering and ended up volunteering Chris too. You love me, don't ya baby? I'm getting ready to leave for a weekend-long scrappin' retreat in the store where I teach classes. Should be fun. I don't really want to go, but I am. Maybe I'll actually get some stuff done! I also got to call the vet - again. Lily from next door, and she and Mimi ate the some of the See's candy that came home from Cali. At least the girl has good taste, right? No noticeable side affects, thank goodness. I was afraid Lily was gonna get sick and not be able to come over again!

Here's a pic of my and my Christopher from the Disneyland. Don't you like my "girl" ears? (that's the Penny Arcade behind us)

On a completely different front, today is Veteran's Day and the birthday of the Marines, and I'd like to say thank you to all those who serve our country. You and your families sacrifice so much to make sure the rest of us can go on with our every day lives. I am so proud of the work you do and the humility with which you do it. We can never know just what it is you go through. Thank you.

How Could I Forget?

I forgot to mention.....I forgot my camera at home! Can you believe it? I left my awesome Canon 20D with my outstanding wide angle lens at home on the floor waiting for me to pick it up and carry it off. AAAAARRRRGGGHHH!!! Needless to say, I was a little on the grumpy side when we got out of the car at the aeropuerto and there was no camera to be found. Thank goodness my mom brought her little Casio Exilim with her and she let me use it to my little heart's content. In fact, we quickly filled up the two memory cards she had and had to go buy a card reader so we could download all of the pictures to Chris' laptop before going to Disneyland. We are definitely going to have to get one of those little guys. For as small as they are, they take awesome pictures and sure come in handy!