This can't be good...

When we were un-decorating for Christmas this weekend, I found this:



We're in trouble.

And Here's What I'm Giving

This is one of the four packages I sent out today. (Why can't any of you live closer? Chicago, this one's for you!) I absolutely adore the red wrapping paper with lime green polka dots and lime ribbon. Merry Christmas family!

All I want for Christmas is...

A new washer/dryer was definitely NOT on my list. That is, up until about 10 days ago when our old one decided to die. I've done my time at the laundromat and I am not going back. So last Saturday we went to Sears, Home Depot, Sears, Lowe's, and Sears in search of the perfect one. I had hoped that the next time I'd be picking out appliances we'd have a house and I'd pick out the posh ones you see advertised in magazines. While the pickings in stackable washer/dryers are quite slim, especially given the dimensions of our utility closet, we found a pretty front-loader. It's bigger than the old one and definitely has more bells and whistles (the old one was probably 15-20 years old). So thus it is: Merry Christmas to ME!

Blech

The picture you see pretty much represents the view from our window FOR THE PAST 10 DAYS. Gross gray clouds with rain/snow/sleet almost every other day. So often that the weather people on TV have gotten lazy and don't even specify what kind of precipation; they just call it a "wintry mix." Our next storm is Saturday night into Sunday but they're afraid to tell us about that one yet. Yuck. Winter isn't even officially here yet, and I'm already sick of it. Hopefully everything will be clear for Monday: Arizona here we come!

A Visit to Santa

Yesterday we went with our friends Maile, Kaia, and Asher to Macy's on 34th Street to see Santa. The line was set up like Disney World--lots of displays to look at while you are waiting. (Luckily, we didn't have to wait very long and probably held up people behind us as we were looking at the displays). Emma definitely liked the displays better than Santa. We don't have a picture of him because Emma wouldn't even let me put her down; she clung to me for dear life. She didn't cry, though, so I suppose it is a minor victory. We also went to a puppet show. I thought the story was a little lame, and Emma wasn't quite sure what to think--she alternately laughed or cried, with a little pointing in between. It was a fun holiday outing.


Emma looking at the displays. (Notice the *ponytail* sticking out from the top right of her head. It's small, but there. She looks like Cindy Lou Who from the Grinch).


More displays.


Hanging out with Asher (in green).


Characters.

Mr. Chuck E. Cheese

Yes, you read that right. Chuck E. Cheese. We went on Monday. Yes, the pizza still tasted semi-cardboard-y and they still have the huge animatronic rat. But, it was a pretty good way to spend a few hours on a cold day. We went with some friends whose kids were mostly older, and Emma had a blast following them around. She loved sliding down the slide in the toddler play area, and she even rode a couple of little rides, but mostly she just like wandering around holding the plastic cup that the tokens came in. Thanks for inviting us, Shelly!

Some pictures, of course:

From a photo booth.


Emma with the token cups. I wonder if next time we could just get the plastic cup without the tokens...

O Christmas Tree

This weekend we put up our Christmas tree. It is not fancy in any way, but we love it. We had a great time reminiscing about the ornaments and adventures from years past (we like to pick up ornaments on our travels). Below our pictures from the tree lot (aka the local Home Depot) and Emma and I in front of the finished product. So far Emma has not tried to touch the tree at all, and we are keeping our fingers crossed for a disaster-free Christmas!