Christmas Pictures

For all the faithful viewers here are the long awaited new pictures of Will, Emma, and Charlie more commonly known as The Triplets. I just got back to Colorado from spending a few days with the family and upon arriving at home I promptly slept for 5 hours. I love kids and my family but they sure are exhausting! In order we've got all three resting in the cemetery...a good place for walks in Freeport, conductor Charlie watching the train circle for about the 968,000th time, Dr. Emma posing with her new sticker book showing off her pearly whites, Charlie enjoying McDonald's Playland...the only place to play in Freeport when it's cold, Will skeptically eyeing his book as Charlie gets a train costume, Mommy inspects Emma's hair with Wee-Wee looking on, and Will sitting down long enough for Mommy to plant a kiss but then he's off and running again.

I used to love John and Tara. I remember that...day.

This post is strictly a dedication to the newlyest wed couple I know. They are sometimes underappreciated.

What can I say about John and Tara Hubbard? What can't I say? I cannot say they are unhappy and quasi-monogomous. The truth is...they are very happy.

I haven't known John and Tara for 10 years because that would be too long. John strikes me as one who considers fettucini alfredo the adult macaroni and Tara seems to be the type that is against picketing but doesn't know how to show it.

Famous quotes from John:
"I don't have a wife, but I do know a girl that gets mad when I say that."

"My belt holds my pants up, but the belt loops hold my belt up. I don't really know what's happening down there. Who is the real hero?"

Famous quotes from Tara:
"Dogs are forever in the push-up position"

"All books are children's books if the kid can read."

I would have posted about my other friends...but I think they know how much I care about them. John and Tara, I hope you will never doubt the regard in which I hold you two. I really hope I get a lot of comments on this one.

Christmas Blizzard

Being a teacher comes with many great perks...always appreciative students, huge salaries, and SNOW DAYS! Just as I was gearing up for a much needed 2-week break we get a blizzard in Denver and now have today and tomorrow off, which only leaves one more day of school till the break!

Lazy Sundays

I love that Jon and I have no kids and just about no responsibilities on the weekends. Sure we have to clean a little, go grocery shopping, do some Christmas shopping....but really it is so awesome to be able to lay around in our PJ's all day and run our errands whenever we please. I know in a few years we will trade that all in to live bound to the chaos and schedules of kids....but for now waking up to the sounds of kids running around chasing each other and laughing, "CHOO, CHOO, ALL ABOARD" and crying will be reserved for weekends spent with family.

Charlie Brown Christmas

Since my roommate and I have no children and travel home for the holidays we have never gotten a Christmas tree. However, this year we (I mean Liz) caved and brought home this gorgeous tree you see above. It fits in a flower pot, has no lights, has 13 ornaments (thanks mom), and only smells like pine if you stick your nose right into the branches. I love our little tree and I feel as if I have finally entered into adulthood, now having the responsibility of decorating a tree, rearranging the rocks in the pot to be sure the tree is straight, watering her regularly (which I haven't done ever...oops), and vacuuming up all the fallen needles. This tree would probably put Charlie Brown's to shame.

Information

The title may lead you to believe that pertinent facts about something will be posted in this blog...however, that is not the case.

This post actually talks of what happens this time of year as the weather grows colder.....you may be thinking of course...excessive eating, present buying, time with family, obnoxious(or lovely depending on your opinion) christmas tunes at every turn...but no.

As the weather grows colder and the snow moves in the birds (yes the birds) start heading south for the winter. And if you look upward towards the sky you will see that yes, they are flying in formation.

Millions

My church is doing a new series this fall called 'God at the Movies' Which has been great, we basically get to go to church and watch a movie while the pastor interjects how God may view this movie, how He may be using the video to spread His message, etc. We finally finish off with how the message of the movie could be tied in with scripture. It is quite amazing how well they pull it off and how they are using media to spread Christ's message.

Yesterday we watched snippets of "Millions" a movie set in Ireland (I think) about a young Catholic boy who loves the saints and happens upon a huge chunk of money. The story continues as he makes plans to use the money to help the poor and the needy while running into various saints that my Catholic upbringing didn't expose me to, while the dad and brother are set on using it to better themselves...(aka...buying more stuff). I highly recommend the movie, it made me seriously think about where I spend my money, especially as we head into the holiday season where spending is rampant.

The main focus of this sermon was to have us all examine how much of our time and resources we devote to those around us who are suffering and in need. I left feeling very convicted that I live this life of privilege and struggle to find the time or money to give to those in need. God says that a noble woman is one that "opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy" (Proverbs 31:20) Which clearly puts me in the category of ignoble (is that the opposite of noble?).

Not that I want everyone to go watch this movie and feel horrible about themselves....not at all....I just enjoyed the movie and appreciated that within the masses of crappy movies there are some that have the ability to make us reflect on our spirtual lives. So go rent "Millions" I know here in CO we can rent it at the RedBox or King Scoops for $1.00!

Veritable Unfamiliar Persons

There have been a few things that I have noticed lately. So here are my thoughts...a little poetic:

Sometimes the world looks perfect,
Nothin' to rearrange.
Sometimes you just
Get a feelin' like you need some kind of change.

No matter what the odds are this time,
Nothing's gonna stand in my way.
This flame in my heart,
and a long lost friend,
Gives every dark street a light at the end!

Standin' tall
On the wings of my dream!

Rise and fall
On the wings of my dream!

Rain and thunder, wind and haze
I'm bound for better days!
It's my life,
It's my dream,
Nothin's gonna stop me now.

[cue Harmonica ending]

What do you think? These are actually lyrics of a theme song from a TV show I used to watch. This TV show reminds me of a time when responsibility was a word that was one "o" away from including a "spoon"...think about it...

...respoonability? That is funny! Is that like watching a movie with your sig. other, getting up to get the popcorn, and coming back to a certain cuddling poz-ish?

"At any rate," we can now agree that this blog is quickly becoming the synopsis of an episode of Seinfeld...a blog about nothing.

Why did we secretly want Elaine and Jerry to get back together? Maybe 'cuz they both would end a relationship for the silliest of reasons. I remember a date I had in college that I ended much earlier in the evening because I didn't like they way her brow furrowed when she was trying to focus on listening to me babble about senseless stuff. Kind of like you, the reader, are doing.

Who can name the TV show that belongs to the lyrics? No Googling!

I included some pictures of Jon and I because that's what you do with a blog.
(someone will find this last sentence funny)

Bleeding Paws

Not sure Anne and I are going to be funny because we don't have kids...or a marriage certificate. However, we do have Guinness and a new story to tell about her. This past weekend, Anne took Guinness hiking and wisely let her off the leash. A couple "Yelp!s" later, Guinness had a severe limp and bleeding paws. Apparently she just scuffed off a couple of spots on the pads of her two front paws.

Now that I have you feeling sorry for the mutt, I'll have you know that Guinness was treated better than Anne treats me. Anne made her a little bed of towels - right next to her food/water bowl, carried her up and down the stairs so she could relieve herself, gave her a full body massage, and made her wear these little pink doggie booties with white bows.

In pain and embarrassed, Guinness proceeds to walk around, high-stepping, like she's walking in 2 feet of snow. This is the same dog who used to wear a Harley-Davidson collar and drink a bowl full of her name's sake in my college days.

Enjoy the post, leave comments!

Annikan Skywalker and Juan-Solo