Off to the beach!

We are off to the beach in half and hour or so. A little family holiday with Jimmy. I am hoping to have internet access, but if not, will post when we get back on the weekend.
Happy Boxing Day everyone :-)

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

And all through the house
Not a creature was stirring
Not even a ...
Hey! wait a minute...

Happy Christmas everyone! I am listening to carols on the radio, wrapping up a few final gifts, and will head out in an hour or so to pick up the Christmas dinner trimmings (mind that pie!) from a local deli. The top priority says David, is to find a Chocolate orange. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a Chocolate orange. Or After Eights for that matter...
Looks like we have last minute shopping to do after all.
Enjoy this day :-)

Christmas at Builders Art ...

Red and Green Christmas Pizza - my favourite!


Common' people ... Lets eat!


I should be in a Dr. Seuss Special!

Ho Ho Ho ... One Week to Go!

David and I copped out, and have decided not to put up a tree.
I screwed up, because in my quest for the Christmas Spirit this year, I had decided I would put one up early in December. It just never made it to the top of my priority list though, and so no tree for us.
However! Yesterday I pulled out the Christmas decs, and hung all the shiny red balls on the Dogwood outside. Every time I leave the house, the surprise and whimsy of it fills me with joy. Really. Something so simple turned out to be even better than all the glitter and light I had planned.

My Birthday Boy

December 10th already???

This is a picture from Christmas last year. Jimmy sunning himself, Peter playing on the computer, tree decorated. I am determined to feel Christmasy this year even without having the excitement of Ruth and Peter coming. I haven't pulled any decorations out yet, but we went on the West End Christmas House Tour today and I am feeling inspired. The Charlie Brown Christmas cd is my constant companion, and I have tickets to my favourite holiday concert next weekend.
Lets be truthful though. When you grow up in Canada, a Christmas without the lights sparkling on the snow, without cold toes, frost on the windows, breath you can see and that muffled way sound travels only when the world has turned white and is covered with snow, it just doesn't feel like Christmas.
But, buck up girl! You don't have to shovel the driveway, or slug through knee high drifts to get to work, or brace yourself against the windchill leaving the movie theatre. So wah-wah-wah. Go get yourself a tree, pour yourself a big 'ole cup of eggnog and make some Southern Christmas traditions.

Thanksgiving 2006

Our traditional Self Portrait... before Thanksgiving dinner.


Nadine, Liz, Kent and David. Walking the beach, hoping to burn a few calories...


A beautiful day at the Atlantic Ocean.


Liz and David, ready for dinner.

We had a really nice time this year at Sunset Beach. I always get so nervous before we go... Social anxiety about being a good conversationalist, meeting new people, not putting my foot in my mouth. And every year it is fine, so why do I still stress? This year there was a new couple in the group. Liz and Paul, both from Canada, but now living and working in Hershey (where the Vrana'a are). On the way there, I said to David, "But what if they are Republican Canadians?" It was fun (mostly) to be a spectator to David and Paul's debate with the Republican hosts. As much as I have been working on staying detached and unemotional about politics, there were a couple of times my stomach got in a knot, and I had to remove myself from the conversation to maintain my sanity! David never fails to impress me with his cool calm debating style. And Liz was outgoing and friendly, so all my fears were (as usual) unnecessary.