Most decidedly out of town.....

After an impromptu decision, I traveled up north to visit my parents and Dusty's parents. I have been "unplugged" for a couple of days and it is wonderful + alarming. I have plenty to upload about the rest of December Daily and our Christmas adventures. Dusty and I also celebrated our 7th anniversary a few days ago. It's been a whirlwind of experiences. Till I am home (since I am literally "snowed-in" and can't travel) and things settle down, I wish you a Happy New Year! Hope the holidays have found you happy and healthy!

December Twenty-third

While this technically happened last night, I thought I would put it down for today. We had a couples' party: Ugly Sweater theme. I unearthed my wretched sweater from last year and, if anything, it had more sparkle to it this year. I suppose it's going to age well. :) Most of the pictures are pretty random and candid. The best kind! Pardon the flash on the one of me and Dusty.

December Twenty-second part 2

When we visited my aunt Joy a few days ago, by sheer happenstance, Dusty pulled out her scrapbook/journal of our Paris trip of 1999-2000. We started looking through it and I asked her if I could borrow it as I could see she had some things that I wanted to scan... oh how I would have kept more things if I had gone there today. ( and probably bought a lot more today too if we're being honest).

That night in bed I flipped to the journal section and started reading through it. I realized that it was exactly ten years ago tomorrow that we made our big excursion. My sister, myself, and my aunt. We left for Paris on Dec. 23, 1999 and arrived home on January 10, 2000. 18 days of living in and breathing the Parisian air. Looking back I realize several things: First, my parents were extremely brave sending their two teenage girls to a foreign country with their responsible but more than slightly spontaneous auntie. Secondly, we traveled right during Y2K, which if any of you remember, had lots of people pretty freaked out. Thirdly, we were so lucky to have the freedom of wandering and planning however we wanted; not being with a tour group. Also on that note, not being with a tour group, we were pretty vulnerable and lots could have happened to us.

In my aunt's journal she talks about lots of times, as she calls them, little "guardian angels" who helped us out and watched over us. These angels were random people in airports, or on the streets, who seemed to take us under their wing. In my seventeen year old naiveté, I wasn't super concerned, just along for the ride. I never remember feeling frightened. Mostly exhilarated. The only time that was sketchy was during New Year's Eve/Day when we ( and four million other Parisians out celebrating) couldn't return to the hotel because all the metros had closed down due to random tear gas episodes. So, we laughed and wandered and admired the Tour d'Eiffel glittering in the night sky.

Pardon my rambling, but having read the journals has me reminiscing, and dreaming. Over the years, sometimes the smell in the air will remind me of walking the streets, or the way the sunlight streams in through the window near twilight time wheels me back to soaking in our enormous bathroom tub during that time of day (thank you time differences and the weird things you do to traveling).

Mostly I remember trying to be brave speaking French, or how chic the ladies were, or wishing I was rich enough to go buy something in that Chanel store....... So many good times.

For your enjoyment, mostly because of our hideous apparel, I scanned some of the scrapbook pages I created when I got home. (is it possible to love and hate something you created?) I promise that I returned home with a dramatic change in clothing taste and never wore that coat again.....

On a side note: when I returned home, my parents gave me the most fabulous black wool coat for Christmas. Just a thought, but why didn't they give it to me early? I shall never know.... nudge nudge parents..... I'm only teasing.

(click on the pages to see them bigger)




We had such fun dining experiences.... how hard is it to understand that you don't want any alcohol in your drink? Mostly we stuck to the same meals. Croissants, chocolat chaud, croque monsieurs, a surprising amount of Sprite, assortments of pastries. Thank heavens we walked everywhere.

These pictures are still hanging in my parents house.

I was taking a photography class at the time and had loads of the old-school black and white film. When I scanned it, it turned more sepia toned, but the pictures are fun.

December Twenty-second Part 1

A beautiful snow storm is drifting our way. I desperately hope that it stays around for Christmas but doesn't make the traveling hard on Christmas Eve. So far, that seems to be the prediction. I'll keep my fingers crossed.



After we got home from the grocery store this morning, Tyson wanted some hot chocolate. Buddy, you and I are sure on the same wavelength.



Here are items I bought this morning! I simply couldn't resist! They reminded me of Paris..... more on that later.

December Twenty-first

Around the house.



The scent of oranges always puts me in the holiday mood. ( perhaps because they were always added to our stockings), but we keep lots of them in the house this time of year.



Our Santa plate is just waiting for cookies on Christmas Eve.

The bears are at my aunts house and Tyson always likes to push their buttons to make them sing at the same time. (very annoying after awhile as I'm sure you can imagine)



We also went bowling tonight with friends. The kids had more fun playing with the toy trains than anything else, and the dads got pretty competitive. It was great.

December Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth

On Friday the 18th, Tyson and I did lots of house cleaning, reading, and playing. Later that night, we drove to visit our Auntie Joie. We ate dinner, I did a little shopping, and Tyson watched A Charlie Brown Christmas.




Tyson and I were snuggling in front of the computer and suddenly he said "Daddy! Come and take our picture!" How can you resist that?



On Saturday, we did more cleaning ( does it ever end? :) ) and lots of baking. Dusty thought we should share this recipe he got from his mother.



It makes a really yummy goody. Just make sure to give most of it away, or the four cubes of butter would go straight to your hips. Make sure you sprinkle nuts and more choc. pieces over the hot candy as well. I forgot to add that.



Today was the special Christmas program in Sacrament meeting. The Primary sang my favorite little carol, Stars Were Gleaming. There was a wonderful piano and organ duet.

Later, after naps, and a movie, we went for a little walk to clear the lungs and burn off some of the calories from the treats people have been dropping by! Thanks everyone!
Tyson fell asleep on the walk and missed quite a few wonderful light shows on houses. Dusty and I enjoy our little walks so much. We get so much talking done.

December Seventeenth

Two words: Sugar Cookies. I love to let Tyson help me make these cookies. I also invited my sister over to spread some Christmas cheer. Meaning, she shares it with me. :)







When I showed Tyson this last picture of himself, he cracked up. One of those loud belly laughs that are contagious. I guess he must know what that look on his face means.....


Earlier this morning, I caught Tyson playing with his trains. So very him.

December Fifteenth and Sixteenth

Ever since I spent a Christmas in Paris, I have had a soft spot for those special memories. This pillow reminded me so much of the experience. Midnight Christmas Mass at the Notre Dame Cathedral, which was in Latin, yikes. The Ferris Wheel at Place de la Concord, the lights strung between buildings, hot chestnuts from the street vendors. So much fun. It was a good time to be over there.




Tyson spent some of this morning watching cartoons in bed with me while I read magazines and sipped orange juice. It was a refreshing lie-in. We got dressed and left to visit the thrift store. So glad we did! I found so many children's books that were on the list. There were quite a few Christmas goodies as well. I love it when people decide they don't want their nice stuff!

I can't believe that Christmas is only nine days away! I am thinking about our Christmas Eve dinner/celebration, which I inherited from my parents, and which I honestly love more than Christmas morning.
Can't wait!

December Fourteenth

Today I had some good experiences reading. I've been giving some thought about what I wanted to read this Christmas time, and remembered the books that my Dad gave Dusty last year. Gethsemane, Golgotha, and The Garden Tomb. I started Gethsemane a few days ago. While not exactly "Christmasy", I felt that these books would help me better appreciate the little baby Jesus we celebrate this time of year. The baby, so humbly born, who grew into a man and saved us all.


For my December Daily album, I may add a little letter to Tyson about the importance of reading the Christmas story, reading material that makes you feel good and that enlightens you.

December Twelfth and Thirteenth

Saturday the twelfth was one of those Saturdays where we didn't have anywhere to be in the morning and we could all take it easy. Dusty read his newspapers as usual, I caught up on some reading and Christmas stuff, and Tyson played with his little cars. We made hot cocoa, looked at things on eBay, took photos. Such a pleasant, warm morning.

The afternoon brought a baptism of a little girl in the ward for me, and long naps for Tyson and Dusty. :)

Lauren and Megan arrived to watch Tyson while we went to a dinner party with some friends. It was a murder-mystery party and I got to dress up as an eccentric heiress, and Dusty a shipping Tycoon. Needless to say, we went with lots of jewelry and makeup (on my part).



I took this picture solely on the fact that Tyson loves these snow-boots. He wears them everywhere. He can put them on and stomp around the house. He can put them on to go outside and to run errands. He can put them on the right feet ( the zippers help him distinguish).



Sunday the thirteenth was another snowy day. We left for church in hail/rain/snow, if that makes any sense. Tyson and I came home and read Christmas books. I love to collect these books. Most of them I have found at thrift stores! Go me!

Later that night we went to a Creche (Nativity) festival. People from all over the city had brought their unique nativities and put them on display. Choirs were singing beautiful music, and children were acting out the nativity on a stage. It was so neat!
Afterwards, we visited with friends, had ice cream, and let the kids play.

December Eleventh

More wrapping, more Christmas movies, more baking, and tonight a work party. Another peaceful day, and the bonus is my house is surprisingly tidy! That always makes for a more happy me!

I received some Christmas cards this morning which reminded me that I had better start addressing mine. Hopefully we have enough this year, as Dusty always thinks of more people at the last minute.

And updated for last night: We got to catch up with an old friend and see her new home! It's homey and beautiful! Tyson took awhile to warm up to her, as he does to everyone, but she knew that movies were the key to his heart. (mine as well)

I also made it late to craft night, and got to chat with everyone for a little while. Friends make the holidays extra special.

December Tenth

This morning I put some of the presents under the tree. Clairvoyantly, Tyson seemed to know which presents were his.



He thinks that pulling his sad face is somehow going to get him the okay to open presents before Christmas. This is another advantage the of the advent calender; the visual of how many days left. I know, Buddy, it's hard to wait, but that's part of the fun. I promise.



This is the first year that Tyson "gets" it. He gets the whole Santa thing. He gets that Christmastime has something special about it. I am hoping to spend enough time on the Savior's birth side of it too. He loves to look at the little nativities and talk about them. Most of the songs I sing to him before bed/nap time are of the reverent Christmas nature. So far, he loves them.

December Ninth

Yesterday found us enjoying a simple, quiet, normal day. Heavenly. Got some grocery shopping done, and quite a bit of gift wrapping as well. Tyson is getting more excited about the advent calender as it is filling up gradually.

In the evening, we went to our Ward's Christmas party. The cultural hall was filled to the brim and full of chatter and yummy smells. I got to accompany someone singing O Holy Night, which is one of my favorite Christmas songs. The words are so poignant and passionate.