Christmas fun

So I've gotten to take A LOT of outings for some fun this Christmas season.

While Katie was back East, mom and I decided to have a couple of mother-daughter dates, and saw two really adorable movies: Hugo and Arthur Christmas.  Both movies were completely adorable.  Those of you with kids, perfect family movies.  Hugo is based on the book the Invention of Hugo Cabret, which is one of my favorite children's books (told through words and pictures).  Of course, last night when we were trying to pick a Christmas movie, Katie informed us that she was furious that we went without her.  Not that she ever told us she wanted to see either of them.  On the other hand, I'm completely furious that she got to see our family and some of my favorite people in the world while I had to work, so fair's fair.  :)

Perhaps my favorite song of the night!

Hopefully, I made up for it though with her first Christmas present.  I took Katie to see the musical Young Frankenstein last weekend while it was in town.  We went to dinner at The Hills (seen featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives) first, and then enjoyed a couple house of laughter.  The play was hilarious, and I enjoyed it as much as the movie.  The lead definitely had moments of channeling Gene Wilder during the evening. While maybe not the full Broadway production, it was still a great time.  Thanks for clearing your schedule to go with me Katie; hope you liked it!

This week, I've been off school and enjoying my free time.  I decided that I wouldn't do any of my grading this week (which means I'll have two sets of papers to grade after Christmas).  Worth it though.  I've been hanging out with family and friends who have been arriving in town for the holidays.  My favorite outing, though, has to have been my lunch and movie date with the lovely Church ladies.  Lisa and daughter Lindsey and Lauren met me downtown on Tuesday for lunch at the Red Robin and then The Muppet movie.  I surprised the girls with a bag of candy for the movies and treats (play dough, silly putty, etc.)  We had a great time, and it was so fun getting to catch up with Lisa.  We barely ever get to really talk at church.  I got to sit between my two little gals during the movie, and had a little snuggle time.  Thanks for the date girls.  I can't wait to do it again!

So with Christmas quickly approaching, I'm looking forward to some family time and seeing more visiting friends.  And if anyone has ideas for our Christmas movie, we're taking suggestions as our first choice The Artist is not playing in Spokane right now.  Merry Christmas everyone!

CHRISTMAS BREAK!

Nope, I'm not excited, at all! Had my last day of classes for two weeks on Friday, and I could not be happier.  So far, I've finished a book, and a knitting project ( a cute scarf for my friend Michelle), and gotten half-way through my mystery knit advent hat.  I even had some time to make macaroni from scratch yesterday and fit in visits with my friends Michelle, Nic, Colin and Lindy in the last two days.  It's going to be a great vacation!

Tonight, I'm taking Katie out for the first part of her Christmas present (sorry it's a wee bit early).  I'll post more on that tomorrow on the off-chance Katie reads my blog today, but I'm fairly certain she'll enjoy what I have planned.  :)

Now to get motivated to do a work out...I guess that may wait for tomorrow :)

Not what we're doing tonight.  Sorry Katie!

Nutcracker

Last weekend, I went with my friend Michelle Klippert to watch the Nutcracker.  I think the last time I saw it, I was a freshman at Whitman, and it was not a good rendition.  So needless to say, it's been a while since I went.  My friend Mary's little girl Kelsey was performing as one of the little bonbons, so I happily bought a ticket to see my sweet friend in her first ballet.

It was a fun performance, although a quick note, the Spokane Symphony's performance will NOT let you into the theater until intermission if you miss the curtain...so don't be late or you will be forced to watch through a window as we found out.

Kelsey and the bonbons stole the show if you ask me.  And she was very excited to see her fans after the show.  Thanks for a fun time girls!

Kelsey is the bonbon with the glasses to the right of Mother Goose (holding her hand).  Look for the glasses!

Christmas is in the air

Mom and I decided to get our house decorated today.  I came home from church to a beautifully cleaned living room and dining room, and Lavs ready to get some decorating done! So we did (sorry Katie).  We got our tree set up; we have a lot of tree decorations with three adults in this house.  We got our stockings hung...the new ones, not our kid stockings, which mom tried to throw out AGAIN! We've got decorations on our mantel and in our dining room, and our Christmas plates out and ready to be washed for usage.  Christmas music was playing, and we are in a festive mood.  I even found my fake Fruitcake, which will be my gift at our staff White Elephant exchange (we go for funny over serious there).  Now to get through one more week of school, and then Christmas Break!  Woo hoo!  Here's a few pics of our house.

Love Maxine!

Seriously?! Love!

Christmas shopping

I don't know why, but Christmas shopping is always so stressful for me.  I think it might be because the East Coast half of my family lives so far away that I don't usually know what they have, and they have no patience, so any time I try to get them a book or a new movie, they've bought it by the time Christmas actually roles around (even if they are on a media buying embargo).  But this year, I was determined to have my shopping complete before Katie left for DC so that I didn't have to ship stuff and hope it got there in time!

I am thrilled to report that I actually made my deadline (perhaps the first time ever I've been done thsi early).  Cara-check. Tony-check. Patty and Dad-check.  Katie-check.  Mom-picking it up tomorrow.  I can't believe I'm actually done.  Knowing me though, I'll find a couple more little things between now and the last day to mail out packages that are too perfect to pass up.  But for now, I'm all caught up.  Other then finding a gift for Kirdy -I'll take suggestiong at pia_irene@hotmail.com  :)

Larratt Visit

So, as per usual, I've been a bad blogger.  I have actually been doing some fun things, but I've been so tired at night, I forget to blog.  My bad! I figured if Megs can start catching up on her backlog, I can too! So here goes.  Catch up number one: visiting the Larratts.

I got to go see my favorite Spokane-trasplanted family for Veteran's Day weekend (three whole days off? Heaven!)  I headed down to Vancouver, WA for a restful weekend with Greg and Melissa and two of my favorite little ones JJ and Sammy.  The mini-vacation was exactly what I needed.  JJ and I played and watched Cars 2.

I got to snuggle TONS with Sammy Jo (she's the sweetest giant 6-month old you've ever seen).

Melissa and I visited, and visited, and visited some more.   Good lord I have missed my friend.  Hurry up and sell that house lady and get back here! 


I got two hats knitted up (matching hats for Melissa and Sammy, so cute). 
I did absolutely NO grading (shocking, I know). 

We visited one of the two Portland venues that are on my bucketlist, Powell's.  Oh my gosh, talk about a personal Mecca.  A book store that needs a map to navigate through? I died for sure!

Needless to say, a great time was had by all. Hopefully though, this will be my last Vancouver visit.  Greg has been given a promotion at GE this fall; he will now manage all of the Eastern Washington, and Alaska accounts for them, which means they get to move back to Spokane...just as soon as they sell their house.  So throw a lot of prayers their way, and if you know anyone in Vancouver looking to buy a great house, send them the Larratt's way!