Christmas 2008

Greetings one and all! I hope I find you all filled with enough joy, chocolate, and turkey to last you the rest of the year. Considering I haven't gone to "THE" bathroom (to be explained in a moment) in five days, you can say I'll survive until the New Year. I can just hear my mother saying with a gasp, "Katy! It always goes back to that doesn't it?" Mom, it's been a big part of my thought process the past 24 hours, so yes, yes it does.

Christmas in Texas was fantastic. The weather made me question why I ever left. I think I wore a coat twice. But that's not important - though it will be tomorrow when it's in the teens here in Chicago. What's important is that my family succumbed to the stomach flu. We were taken down one at a time, or in some cases, three at a time.

Archer was sick the weekend before Christmas, then Chris was down for the count on Tuesday. Erin escaped to the parent's house hoping to save her children. All was fine and dandy until after our annual trip to The Tuttle home for Christmas Eve dinner. We all ate like champs, caught up on each other's lives, and exchanged gifts. Before I hopped in the car for the 1/4 mile drive home, I began to feel a little...off. Yep, two hours later it was me and my toilet hugging it out. I'll spare you the details.

Weak and fragile I descended the stairs Christmas morning to the news that both my Mom and brother, Andrew, were also sick. We were quarantined and Patrick, Alicia, and Liam were told to stay away, very far far away. I don't think I saw my Mom until the afternoon. We pretended it wasn't Christmas and held off until the next day. I took about four naps in between watching a documentary of the Dallas Cowboys' Super Bowl seasons. (made me cry it was so good) Was it worth it to lose a couple of pounds of "holiday weight"? I can't believe I'm saying this, but no. Absolutely not worth it at all. I've been stock-piling ever since (hence my aforementioned problem).

Friday morning we woke up like every Christmas we've celebrated and gathered as a family to open presents. It felt just like Christmas should feel. Plus we had enough energy to open gifts.

I feel incredibly blessed to have been with my family and to share in the Christmas spirit...and other things.

I want to say thank you to my dad and Erin who were champion caretakers of us miserable three. Gingerale and Motrin - you were my best friends.

I wish you all a Happy New Year!

Another Gift Idea

For all you Chicago fans, or friends of Chicago fans, check out this poster as a potential gift. I saw the idea on dooce.com.

Save Pushing Daisies for My Sister

Please do this for my sister. A note from her:

Katy, would you mind putting this on your blog? I know you have a bunch of viewers. It can be a stocking stuffer to me :)Pushing Daises is my absolute favorite show in the entire world. It is quirky, funny, and none of the smut that is on tv today. If you actually had time to watch tv I promise that you would LOVE this show. They have canceled it, and its breaking my heart!

I do watch T.V., but I only watch the smut.

Chicago Commute

Last night was a wintery wonderland. I heard from a few friends who had four and a half hour commutes home from work last night. Mine only took me an hour and fifteen minutes. That's about 25 minutes per mile. The commute may have been ugly but the view was spectacular.

Sunday night I hardly slept. The wind was howling and woke me up nearly every hour. I was ready to get up by the time my alarm went off and I had to head to my workout. It was seven degrees and I can't even begin to explain the wind chill factor when I turned the corner to walk to my car. I was at full tilt and barely moving against the wind. My door was frozen shut and after pulling with all my might I finally creaked it open. It almost slammed shut on me as I hopped in the car. I turned the car on to heat it up, grabbed my ice scrapper and prepared for the impossible. A sheet of ice had glued itself to my windshield. After five seconds of scraping, I realized it was useless. My face was burning from the wind and I quickly grabbed my things out of my car. The wind blew from behind and scooted me out to the sidewalk from the long alley. For the first time in my five years here I caught a cab to the gym. It really was scary windy outside. It was like those windy days when you wait by the bus stop and fear that the bus stop sign is going to be blown off the pole and decapitate you. Luckily I'm still alive.

Romance Addicts Beware

Duh!

Twilight Before Christmas

For those Twilight fans who loved the books, but not so much the movie. HI-LARIOUS!

Christmas Wish List

The economy has gone crazy and you're not sure what to ask for for Christmas. Should we just abandon the tradition of giving gifts this Christmas all together? Nay! It does a soul good to give and receive gifts - no matter how big or small. Here are a few ideas if you're busy racking your brain:

1. Snow-dwellers will love a pair of these Hunter Originals! Keep your toes dry this winter.















2. I'm looking at getting one of these to back up my precious photos and music. Any thoughts on the Apple Time Capsule?

3. Board Games. Some love them, some hate them. But don't come between an Orender and their scrabble board! I was crushed when Facebook no longer had Scrabulous. CRUSHED!

4. Rings are the rage! Cocktail and statement rings are everywhere. Here are a few from Anthropologie.

5. Speaking of Anthropologie, pretty much sign me up for any of these outfits. Dad, are you listening?

6. Pucker up! I LOVE my new evening lip color. It makes a statement and isn't for the bashful. But with the right attitude, anyone can pull it off. I use Laura Mercier's Lip Stain in Scarlet.

7. For the fashionista, click here for more ideas.

8. I need a new tea kettle. The old one was left behind by an old roommate.

9. Give your feet a gift - Tory Burch flats.

10. I hear all men love this fragrance. Is that true?

11. My friend, Christy, makes these personalized necklaces. I gave my mom one last year and she loves it.

12. Give the unexpected. Threadless t-shirts can be very personal and fun.

What are you giving people for Christmas?

Reminiscing

Last night I cozied up on the couch by the lighted Christmas tree with my cup of hot cocoa and watched The Holiday. I can't help it that I find this sappy movie so completely adorable. I caught myself smiling throughout the whole thing. The horror! To smile throughout a movie and actually enjoy it? I don't understand.

Anyway, it brought back memories of two years ago and my post about Jude Law's chest hair. Click here for your reading pleasure.

I also realized that I blogged much more last year. I'm so sorry for having abandoned you so often these past few months! Hold tight little ones. Mommy has been working hard to provide for the family and hates being away as much as you do.

The LB's

Why does news of Oprah's weight gain make me feel better? Whenever she gets really in shape the voice in my head yells a loud "UGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Progression of Thought

Liam is laughing one minute.

And the next he's worried that he hit his brain.

Liam is probably one of the most entertaining kids I've ever known. He can laugh on cue and he's a master in the art of immitation. Last night Patrick put Liam on the phone and said, "Say 'Praise the Lord' Liam." Next thing I know, Liam is joyfully shouting "PRAISE THE LORD!" in my ear. Patrick played the guitar and Liam took the guitar stand and pretended like he was singing into the microphone. He loves to lift up his shirt to show you his belly button while making a fart noise with his mouth. I tell you what, he'll keep you laughing for days.

You Hear What You Want to Hear

My brother-in-law Chris is a fabulous baker. He'd be the first to tell you. He bragged that he won the baking award in his high school class...TWICE! (Who wants to do shop class when all the girls are in home-ec? We had a couple of family friends over for Thanksgiving. As I'm shoving a nice helping of brownies in my mouth, one of them asks me, "Who made the brownies?" With my mouth full I said, "The Master Baker." After a couple moments of silence, they all asked at the same time, "What did you say?" "I said, "The Master Ba...oh, hey, wait. No, that's not what I said. I said The Master BaKer."

Chris liked that one.