Tuesday Emo-Trauma and Drama

We all wanted to go rock wall climbing on Sunday, it was one of our "family gifts" from the holidays. So we climbed in the car(s) and headed toward the Portland Rock Wall Gym. Unfortunately, as soon as we arrived in the parking lot the person who was planning to belay for us suddenly got ill. He said he could still hold us, but I'm a Mom and didn't want to take any chances having someone "hold our lives in their hands" when those hands might be weakened by the flu-like symptoms we were witnessing. I wasn't so reassured.

So it was a quick EZ decision: alternate event.

We headed off to the movies:

Narnia and the Little Fockers.

I laughed so hard at the Little Fockers my son even commented on the tears rolling down my cheeks. I told him, "Maybe you have to have in-laws to find it so funny". Not that I've ever been asked to take a lie-detector test...that I remember ;) of course I'm data dumping from my hard drive (or cerebrum and little neurons) all the time as I get older and older.

Still, I had a great time. Then we went home to catch up on a little more movie-madness. We watched The Walking Dead on Demand. Nothing like a little zombiefied footage to help finish off your holiday festivities and the weekend.

I enjoyed it-not so much my husband. He's not a zombie-kind-of-guy, unless it's Saturday morning and I haven't had my coffee yet--then he's totally hanging with the zombiettes.

So, this weekend we'll be celebrating by ringing in the the New Year while we're making up our previously scheduled Rock Climbing.

How 'bout you? Any special plans for the holiday?

Kindle for Christmas

I got a Kindle for Christmas! I've been wanting one of these for a couple of years but, with two kids in college, I just couldn't justify the expense. Now I have one! Yipee!

I've been playing with it. I've only gotten about 70% through the tutorial but, already it's much cooler than I thought. I had no idea it could cruise the net like it can.

I'm enjoying the gift and I haven't even read any books on it -- yet.

Merry Christmas to All

and to all a goodnight :)

Pretty as a Present

Presentation is everything. And it's amazing how the "devil is in the details". Just look out how a simple bow can do the trick when it comes to making a square box look beautiful. Take a peek at this present...ation. Isn't the package pretty?

And, believe me, the picture doesn't do justice to the pretty, pretty perfect present. The silver paper acted like a mirror and reflected the light back when I tried to take the picture. But, I think you'll get the idea.

Remember sometimes it's the small things that matter the most: a smile, a gentle touch, or even a kind word. So take a moment to add that final touch. You'll be glad you did.

It's the Busiest Time of the Year

There will be much mistletoe-ing. And hearts will be glowing. When loved ones are near. It's the most wonderful time of the year.

And what makes it wonderful is sharing time with family and friends.

The holidays always make me think of family and this is one of the only pictures I have with my brothers and sisters all together, at least the seven of us all together. We had it taken for Mom and she was so happy. After all, she'd had nine kids and there aren't any pictures that exist with all of us. Maybe because Mom and Dad never owned a camera. Photos were few and far between. Any photos we had were always taken by friends or other family. So, this is a special picture.

And, today is a special day. It's Tammy and Steve's birthday!!! They aren't twins but that's a strange phenomena in our family: people share birthdays. My husband and I share a birthday and two of my kids share a birthday, plus my brother and sister share a birthday. Strange...

Anyway, I'm planning a party but it's hard to squeeze parties in at the holidays because it's a crowded calendar this time of year.

It might be the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, but it's also the biz-biziest-time of the year ;)

There will be last minute buying and parents a-sighing
as they rush to the store looking for "just one present" more. . .

Wednesday, after work, we went Christmas Shopping at Pioneer Place, then Nike Town, then Michael's and after that we went down Peacock Lane and off to Palio's for hot cocoa and that's just the tip of the iceberg. The holidays are rolling in. . .more like a tornado than a soft breeze but

I hope you're having a fun-filled season.

Christmas with the Kasch Family

We like to make our own ornaments and always have. The first year we were married we painted ceramic ornaments and cross-stitched little patterns that we hung on our tree. It was meager as far as ornaments go but we used those ornaments for years. And, we still like to make our own decorations.

This year we wanted to have a simple tree.

It's a beautiful noble we got from my husband's brother's Christmas tree lot. So, it hardly needs any ornamentation.

My husband took a simple snowflake and made it into our Christmas Tree Star by wrapping a little copper wire around it. I think it's beautiful.


How 'bout you? Do you make any of your own ornaments?

The 12 Days of Christmas

Why all the birds?

After all this song has: a partridge, turtle doves, french hens, calling birds, geese, and even swans a-swimming. What does fowl have to do with Christmas...well, except for the turkey we're planning on inviting to dinner ;)

I've always wondered what the heck that song meant.

I'd heard that each gift was supposed to represent something from the Christian faith so I thought I'd look into it.

The song outlines gifts given for each of the 12 days of Christmas and some people say these gifts are only symbols:

1 partridge in a pear tree = Christ
2 turtle doves = The Old and New testaments
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity
4 Calling Birds=the Four Gospels
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, “Pentateuch”
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming= the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the sacraments
8 Maids A-Milking=the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing=the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping=the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming=the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s creed

But snopes says nope.

Still, I think it's a fun song. What do you think?