I'll Be Home for Christmas

.....and home for Christmas I was! We beat the snow and traffic on our way "Up North" and were snowed in for the rest of the days we spent there. Seriously, I didn't leave the neighborhood. We made our own fun by playing Rock Band, sledding, and having a little family Christmas program (my mom insisted!). Here are some picture highlights:

Dad, Gerrit, Greg, and Owen playing Rock Band. Owen was an essential part of the band.

Mom and Dad with the grandkids. Everyone was looking slightly dishevelled on Christmas Eve.

Mom teaching Aubrey to knit.

Jozie, Sophie and Aubrey

Christmas morning! It's finally here!My sister Courtney and her family: husband Paul, Jozie and Aubrey.My sister Carey and her family: husband Greg, Sophie and Owen. Me and Gerrit. The funny thing is....we're not really sledding........but we do have fun. We hope you had a very Merry Christmas! We love you all!

Kid Quote of the Day

Pre-Information: I'm a Para in Mr. Carlson's EBD classroom. We took the kids to the gym and on the way out....

8 year-old girl: Are you like Mr. Carlson's girlfriend and is he your boyfriend? (side note: this little girl has asked other male and female co-workers the same question.)

Me: No. Mr. Carlson is married to a woman who isn't me and I am married to a man (that I love) that isn't him.

8 year-old girl: That's really gross.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Immediately following Thanksgiving, Gerrit and I got to work on Christmas decorations and shopping. After fiddling with lights and decorations for way too long, we learned that we shouldn't decorate the same item together. Making a home beautiful can bring out the "uglies" in people. :) We were laughing at our "holiday spirit" by the end.

Here's our little tree. That actually is all of it (propped up on box). This year, Gerrit had some childhood ornaments to share. I used to decorate this tree when I was little. Hopefully, someday our kids will do the same.

This is the Nativity set my parents gave us as a wedding gift a couple years ago. They brought it back from a trip to Israel. It's from Bethlehem! This is the first year we've had a place to put it.

Last night as I was wrapping presents, I wanted to watch a holiday movie. I searched our OnDemand movies and found....MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS! I was so happy. It's not totally a holiday movie, but it is where Judy Garland sang the original "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and I love it. I used to watch it over and over when I was really little. I would just yell, "Meet Louie! Meet Louie!" and my mom would know I wanted to watch it.I hope the start of your holiday season has been lovely and that the "uglies" stay away from the festivities!

Gobble, Gobble

Happy Late Thanksgiving to all! Gerrit and I had a great Thanksgiving with his family. It all seemed to go so fast, but we managed to squeeze the fun into the days we had. There were about 25 family members and friends over for lunch on Thanksgiving day.

This is the "kids table." There was actually only one kid under the age of 20, but we were the youngsters at this gathering.

Gerrit and I had to leave on Thanksgiving evening so that Gerrit could work on Black Friday. Ick.

Here are the hosts! Gerrit's parents: Gwen and Ed. They always make sure everyone is comfortable and well-fed. :) Thank you! We love you!

Weekend Fun

We had lots of Adam and Maria time this weekend! Gerrit has known them since Jr. High/High School and we try to get together often.

I've decided that we're bad people. Here's why: I had complimentary tickets to see the high school musical in the district I work in. We left (quietly) at intermission. Ouch. But we just couldn't bring ourselves to stay! So, we've decided to make the most of this. We're going to go on a state-wide tour of high school musicals. I will blog/review them. That blog will in turn become a best-selling book, which will in turn become a motion picture. We'll all be famous. I can feel myself changing already.

We had better luck the next day at the ZOO! It was a bit chilly, but we got to see everything we wanted to--

from God's little creatures (the sea horses)....

...to His bigger creatures (the Russian Grizzly)...

...from God's beautifully strange (whatever this bird is)...

...to His strangely beautiful (our friends).

After this, we went to a lovely restaurant. We played board games with Adam and Maria. They left and I got sick. Bummer. Thankfully, I had all of Sunday to recover.

How was your weekend?

Dumb Things Happen to Me

It's true. I'm a magnet for ridiculous situations. Here's one that happened Sunday morning:

(pre-story: I had just seen a scary zombie movie the night before. If you know ANYTHING about me, you will know this was foolish as I can not handle scary movies.)

I wake up at 4:15am as Gerrit hugs me goodbye to go into work. Since I had just watched a scary movie, I knew I would not be able to fall back to sleep without the thought of zombies. What cures zombie thoughts? "You've Got Mail." I pop the movie in and expect to be having sweet dreams in about 10 minutes.

However, 5 minutes later, I hear vvvvmmmmm as the power in the building goes out. So right about now, I start to pray. I text Gerrit to tell him what's happening. More praying as the zombie thoughts creep in. I'm just beginning to fall asleep about 45 minutes later when Gerrit texts me back. "Power still out?" YES! and now I'm wide awake.

More praying....falling asleep.....building FIRE ALARM COMES ON. This had happened before and the alarm stayed on for an HOUR. I thought, "I gotta get outta here. This is ridiculous." So, I stumble to the bathroom, feel around for my contacts, and by the light of my cell phone attempt to put my contacts in. TEN minutes later, I have them in and I'm out the door as the fire truck pulls up. "Ma'am," the fireman asks me, "is the alarm going off?" I know this kind man was just doing his job...but at 5:30 in the morning, I was thinking, "Duh!" Out loud, I answered politely.

At this hour, I figure I can find a Caribou that's open. Think again, Cassie. Okay, how about a Cub Foods? 24 hour savings, they're always open! I thought, "I'll get a donut for Gerrit and bring it to him at work." There are no donuts! What kind of day is this???? I settled on cinnamon rolls, got the Caribou since it opened by then, and brought Gerrit breakfast. I was very tired for the rest of Sunday.


And Today (for those of you who are still with me):

I'm driving to work and I have to go through some construction. I can see that my side of the street is closing ahead. Then I see the construction worker guide a car into what are usually the two lefts lanes of traffic going the opposite direction. I had to stop at the red light. Just to make sure I'm understanding the man correctly, I point where he's pointing and make a "Are you sure that's where you want me to go?" face. He nods confidently and points there again. Green light. I hesitantly make my way down the usually one-way street when I see ON-COMING TRAFFIC in my lane!!!!!!!! Both lanes are full and the car can't get over right away. I had a "JESUS, TAKE THE WHEEL" moment before I start yelling, "UM! UM!" and honking rapidly. That car finally got over and I was able to sneak through a break in the median. The rest of the drive I was saying, "What just happened there????"

Dumb things happen to me.

TRICK...or Treat!

Once again, Gerrit and I got to be a part of Carey and Greg's annual Halloween party. Every year they have a "Connect 4" tournament and a costume contest. Well, I'm no good at "Connect 4," so I have to try to win the costume contest. I think I've come in second place a couple times (as Hermione Granger and Angelina Jolie). But this year, I was in it to win it! Gerrit found some big red glasses in a store at the mall....and I knew what I had to do. I went as.....my sister, Carey....in JUNIOR HIGH!!!!!! *high-pitched-horror-movie-scream* You can see the original school picture on her blog.
Gerrit was cleverly disguised as Waldo of "Where's Waldo." But after this picture was taken, I couldn't find him all night. ;)I was a little worried about how Carey might react to my costume, but she screamed and laughed when she saw me. She was a good sport (and was also pretty weirded out by how much I looked like her). And I finally won the contest! I beat Chuck Norris! Who else can say that?

And here are the host and hostess. Greg was a rapper (this is pretty much everyday wear for him though:P) and Carey was dirt! That's her hair dyed green to be grass. I thought that was pretty clever. Thanks for another fun Halloween party!