Monticello

Let me preface this post by saying that I've never gotten really excited about history.  Watching the movie 1776 is my idea of learning about American history, and much of my interest is due to the fact that the same guy who played Mr. Feeny on Boy Meets World also played John Adams in 1776.

However, visiting Thomas Jefferson's Monticello was fascinating!  We went on a candlelight tour that's only offered during the holidays and our guide was amazingly animated and interesting.

We weren't able to take photos inside the house (since the foundation that owns Monticello doesn't own all of the items inside of it), but we were able to take photos inside the dome.  The dome was beautiful, especially at night with a full moon shining in.

Getting to the dome on the third floor of the house was interesting.  There are two stairways on either side of the house, both of them extremely narrow and steep.  Sorry, ladies in hoop skirts - there's no way you're going upstairs.  Luckily, my dad didn't wear a hoop skirt so he was able to go upstairs with the rest of our group.

The mountains surrounding the property were just gorgeous.

One of the most interesting parts of the tour was hearing about the large quantities of meticulous notes that T.J. (we're on an informal name basis now) took.  This has been a tremendous help to historians in recreating his residence, the items inside, and the details of his life.

Next post: James Madison's Montpelier.

Allie and Ginger

We'll be posting soon about our holiday trips to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and James Madison's Montpelier.

Until then, check out what Allie was doing while we were traveling - she was staying and playing with her friend Ginger.

Aren't they cute?!

This Christmas

While I was working on Christmas Eve (one of the cons of being a church employee), Santa's elves were completing the installation of a shower door in our master bathroom.  I returned from work at 12:30 am to find that beautiful, clear, shiny new doors had replaced the shower curtain I despised.

No more leaks, wrestling with the curtain, or continually re-hanging and untangling curtain rings.  It's a Christmas Miracle!

In other Christmas news, Allie is spoiled rotten.  Here she is opening her stocking.  She also had seven presents under the tree to open.  Yes, SEVEN.  So spoiled.

Allie's been having lots of fun with her G'ma and G'Pops.  She loves doing tricks for G'ma.

She's still not quite sure what to make of G'Pops - especially when he's teasing her by putting toilet paper tubes on her legs (to make her "injured dog" - like a cast) or wrapping her snake (or "boa constrictor") around her neck.

But she still gives him lots of kisses.

Merry Christmas

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

Stockings for A, J, G'ma & G'Pops, and Allie

... in hopes that Santa Paws would soon be there.

Merry Christmas to all!

Lemme Upgrade

We have big master bathroom changes coming!

Here's a sneak peek at the supplies...

The paint you see is "Cool Gray."

We also brought home a sample of "Lyndhurst Gallery Beige" (I fell in love at the paint store), but that's a possibility for our next project.

Hiding

9 weeks old:

9 pounds

18 weeks old:

20 pounds

Even though she's 20 pounds, Allie is still small enough to hide...

Where's Allie?!

... or so she thinks.

Santa Paws

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even an elephant.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that Santa Paws would soon be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of gators danced in their heads;

And daddy in his 'kerchief and I in mine,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Oh, it was just the UPS guy.

Elephant

The story of a girl and her elephant.

True love.

Mystery Solved

J has solved the mystery!

It's a ring you can put on the top of a stack of tissues so you don't have to keep them in the cardboard box!

I would have never guessed it.

The Gift

For Christmas, one of my co-workers gave me this:

It came with a note that read:

"Guess what this is.....
1. It's not a bracelet
2. It's not a gag gift
3. Do not ask anyone in the office"

So I did what any good detective would do - I asked my family and friends for ideas!

Here are my favorite suggestions so far:

• A hula hoop for trolls
• A ring for a small circus lion to jump through
• A fancy collar for Allie
• The Jolly Green Giant's wedding band

I still have no idea what it is, so keep sending more ideas!

Away in a Manger

This weekend at our church we had a children's nativity... INSIDE our fellowship hall.

Forget worrying about weather, just bring a bunch of animals into the church, put down some straw, and let the kids go wild petting them.

That's how we roll.

Allow me to introduce you to our cast of animal characters.

Blossom

Cheech

Cream

Norman

sleepy schnauzer
oops - she wasn't there

Stella and Stephanie

Nameless Bunnies

Cheech was my favorite - he was so sweet.

Random factoid: Cheech has performed at the Kennedy Center thanks to his willingness to stand in one place eating hay for hours on end.

Christmas Lights

Our lights don't quite measure up to this neighbor (the lights are choreographed to music you can listen to on your car's radio):

Or to this neighbor (who also attends our church):

But we put up our lights yesterday and we think they're cute:

Our neighbor's granddaughter told us that she likes them, so we've already had a compliment!