The Twelve Days of Baby

Two weeks after Hadley was born, with 14 sleepless nights, and a little slap happy, DG and I made our own version of the 12 Days of Christmas which we performed here, for the first time for my parents.



We wish you and your families a wonderful holiday season.

Merry Xmas Eve

I've become one of THOSE people. You know, the kind that dress their dogs up like people and post excessive pictures of their newborn ad nauseum. I've never been a baby person, but it all changes when you give birth to a sweet precious angel face. I guess when they live inside of you for 9 months, kicking you in the ribs, causing heart burn, general discomfort, and then you push them out after laboring for 14 hours, it changes everything.

So gag, here's another picture I love. Notice the Pabst Blue Ribbon booties that were mine 35 years ago, and yes SAVED by my mother for me. But that's a completely separate post.

Lights, Camera, Christmas Tree

This is the look we got when we told her that we were going to get our Christmas tree yesterday.
Then she asked if she could come help pick it out.


She loves staring into the lights. We think she may already love Christmas too, just like her dad.

Christmas is Over

This weekend, the decorations were put away, the tree taken down and the Christmas music listened to for the last time. Christmas music you say? On January 6th? Isn't that a little gauche? Yes, my sentiments exactly, especially since it has been playing since the day after Thanksgiving. But you don't know my husband. Apparently it is perfectly fine to dance around to Andy Williams like you had never heard him before.

Merry Christmas and Goodbye Mr. Squirrel

We came up to Lafayette on Christmas Eve to spend the night with DGs sister and family and have had such a great holiday. All I can say is that I must have been such a good girl this year. *wink wink*

I'll give my version of the Squirrel situation later this week. Let's just say that Mr. S made it home for the holidays safely. You can read DGs account here.

Wishing you and your family and joyous and loving holiday!

One Hot Dog

Mr. Gibson is super sexxxy in his new black Coach collar and matching leash. Yes, you read correctly. My dog accessorizes in COACH. I think this could be a new bumper sticker.

I was in Chicago this week for meetings with my new company. I couldn't be more pleased to work with such a great bunch of people. One of the perks was a great company dinner on the 9th floor of the university club. After dinner we were all given some really thoughtful gifts. The owners, knowing how much I love my dogs, got the coach collar for me, in fits of giggles. It really is priceless. It almost makes him look as if he doesn't love to run outside and eat his own poop.

Good Ambiance, Good Food

On the day of our holiday party, DG and I each did what was important to us. I cooked all day and DG hung lights and got the back yard ready. Prior to me, his holiday parties consisted of a bag of chips and some ravioli thrown in a bowl for his guests. Every year, I rib him a bit for his party throwing capabilities. What he is REALLY good at though, is setting the mood. He filled the wheel barrow with snow and put in a case of holiday beer, then he hung lights on the back fence, and he got our heater cranked up to run. I was outside in a sleeveless outfit for 20 minutes under that thing and I was fine, though my forehead was the warmest part of my body.

I made a buffet of snacks including, white bean dip, guacamole, 7 layer dip, a vege tray, Rachel Ray's 5 minute fudge wreath with red and green m and m's on the top and Michelle's holiday red velvet chocolate cupcakes with white chocolate mint frosting. The recipe called for 1 full ounce of red food coloring for the cupcakes, which I excitedly found in my cupboard. As I'm making the cupcakes, I pull the coloring out of the box and in my haste, pour the entire thing in the batter. In horror, I stare down to see my cupcakes are green. The green food coloring was put in the red food coloring box. *rassity frassity IDIOT* were a few of the words that flew out of my mouth. We also put out various shades of red and green jelly beans, red and green m n m's, mixed nuts, a cheese tray with french peppered salami, phyllo dough bites, and vege egg rolls with duck sauce.

We had a great time.

Nuts in a Vice

Nooooooo, DG didn't do anything wrong, but he did do something very right. He got us tickets through work to go see the Nutcracker performed by the Denver Ballet. It was spectacular. I have never gone to see the Nutcracker and the staging was beautiful, the costumes brilliant, and the music goose bumpy. It's one of those pieces where you just know every song. I have too many favorites, but needless to say, snow dances! Could it be more perfect for DG? The dance of the snow. So fun.

Even though it was the night before our party, we went out afterwards to a nearby bar where they were having a food happy hour. The pretzel and deep fried pickle basket went great with the house merlot. I highly recommend it.

Feeling the spirit of the holidays

I love my new fancy header. DG really outdid himself this time. I have to go look at my site like every hour just to see the fun colors. It makes my jingle jangle if you know what I mean. Thanks DG!

My first guest post is up at Restroom Critic. Let me know what you think?

Walking in a Wiener Wonderland

Let's just say that I never thought I would be a dress your dog up kind of girl, but as it turns out I am. I really really am. In fact, I love it. I can't get enough of the wieners dressed up. Yes, those are blinking lights on their collars. Let's just say I went a little crazy in the $2 bins at Target. Well, at least the babies have something to wear to our party.

The "buzz" on decorating

Roxanne of Red Chair Designs came over again this year to help us decorate for our party. We had a bit more to work with because at the end of last season, David purchased all of the leftover decorations from his corner Starbucks. Walking into our house makes you want a tall, extra hot, no whip, non fat, wet cappucino, with an extra shot and a 500 calorie Maple Oat Nut Scone. Seriously.

We love the new red felt shwag with beads and mirrors. In addition to being above the mirror, it is also over all of the windows because it is magnetic and stuck like a charm to the walls! Check out last years mantel here.

Reining in the Tree

Saturday, as DG walked onto the tree lot, he immediately picked out our tree. Within moments it was on the roof of the car as we headed home.

DG always wants more lights that is humanly possible for the tree to hold. He started in a circular pattern around the tree. After 20 minutes of attempting to wrap 15 strands of lights in no particular order, I took a step back and saw, what I can only describe as a bad lighting display. When he headed to the bathroom, I turned up the Christmas music, tip toed to the tree, and regimented unfun Christy unwrapped the entire tree and rewrapped it again. This time, it was done the proper Martha Stewart way, creating the effect of a 3 dimensional tree. It was then that DG took his post behind the camera and took all of the standard pictures of us decorating. You can see all the ghosts of Christmas past on his blog here.

Traditionally, when I was growing up, we only used the large colored bulbs on the tree. My mom would buy the tree, my dad and brother would string the lights, and then my mom and I would decorate the tree, remarking on all of the wonderful ornaments, who made them, and where they came from. Here is last year's Ornament Post detailing their histories.

I have followed suit with my own traditions, though this year DG wanted all white lights on the tree. I can feel my mother cringing from here. It's ok mom, part of marriage is compromise. I'm giving him white lights this year, and only red/white/or silver ornaments, but he has to take out the trash for all of 2007. Oh wait, he already does that. He has to mow the lawn and clean the bathroom for the rest of our lives. Crap, he already does that too. I'm not sure what DG is going to compromise yet, but I'll let you know.