Friday Coloring Book Page

This one and next week's were both colored during the slumber party. Posting got difficult since the only computer that could read my camera card was my brother's and he graciously let me use it but it was complicated. So I'm posting all these when they actually occurred. I'm a big fan of chronological order. Well actually that's a lie. This was the second picture I colored that day.

Christmas

I wanted to go caroling in our small neighborhood, but we never had the time. Instead Dad suggested caroling at my grandmother's since she isn't getting out the house much these days.

This is my sister, Kippy Mills- housewife and philanthropist extraordinaire. Perhaps you've heard of her.

Note to self: make a "this side up" arrow on wrong side of finger mustaches.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

I was hellbent on getting a good family photo since they always turn out like this:

The first one we took turned out really well, I think. Considering that the other 15 look like the previous one.

Theo's present this year was a "dinner plate" from Target which consisted of a squirrel, "green beans", a baked potato, corn on the cob and a dinner roll all served on a frisbee.

Thug life.

Merry Christmas

This year we tried to go for a less awkward family photo. We also tried to be silly, but Theo said he doesn't do silly.

We wish you a Christmas filled with love and laughter and a new year filled with peace and blessings.

Also I'd like to thank my readers for following us on our journey. It's nice to have you around.

Friday Coloring Book Page

My niece and I had a slumber party which included coloring, paper snowflake making, cookie decorating, and a game of Christmas trivia. Today's coloring book page was colored by her.

Moose on a Ledge

I'm not sure when this game started. It would have to have been at Christmas time because you play the game with the three Russ reindeer (moose). You try to get the moose stuck on the window ledge which is about 12 feet high and then you have to use another moose to knock it down. I'm thinking we didn't have cable at this point. Or it's just because we're silly.

Girls Day in New Orleans

Yesterday the boys played golf so the girls headed to New Orleans for lunch at Mr. B's where we received jingle bells on ribbons. Like every time I have been to Mr. B's it was a fantastic experience. I'm sure I've already talked about it.

White Chocolate Brownie (the ones I make from their recipe are better)

Yes, my mom is lovely, but here I want you to notice the red velvet pants. He also had a black and white houndstooth jacket.

We walked down Royal Street and window shopped the antique stores. We saw some awesome chandeliers and some rather large diamonds.

We tried on hats in Fleur de Paris and I found The Quarter Stitch (on Chartres Street) where I bought some delicious yarn that needs to be made into a popcorn stitch hat. Look how cute they packaged my yarn with ribbons and little pink tissue paper hearts.

The green on the left is from The Yarn Haven in Knoxville

Bayou Santa

Every year Santa drives up the bayou sirens blaring and goes through all the neighborhoods waving and throwing candy to the good girls and boys.

It's pretty much awesome.

Friday Coloring Book Page

I realize what this was like for you. Tuning in to your favorite TV show only to find that it is a re run. I assure you I did color this on Friday. I dropped off Theo at Pets R People 2 in Knoxville for a day of cageless doggie day care while I did a little exploration of Knoxville (read: yarn shopping!). Since I had to drop off Michael and Theo early I had to kill some time before The Yarn Haven opened. I sat in Starbucks and addressed Christmas cards then colored the following page.

Bon Iver's album "For Emma, Forever Ago" is indeed magical. You can listen to the album here.

On the Road Again

I'm going to cheat and date these posts in the past. We begin with Thursday. We drove through this:

The snow snakes across the lanes and makes it look like some kind of video game. It turned into freezing rain and then into rain all the way into Knoxville where we stopped for Michael's interview on Friday. Once in the hotel a boy saw me holding Theo and said, "This thing allows cats. We should have brought (cat's name I can't remember)."

We are not the Champions

Last Wednesday I went bowling for the annual Alakazam vs Cha Cha's holiday bowling tournament. Last year we took home the trophy and unfortunately this year we had to hand it over to the Cha Cha's team.

One of my co workers made personalized gingerbread men. There I am with some nutty pants, a blueberry shirt and an icing version of the vest I knit (and am wearing in the last picture).

I was totally not in the zone and you can notice how I completely choked in the 10th frame. I still say we should have used bumpers.

Our bosses treated us to pizza at the Brick Oven. There are pizza paddles (I don't know the technical name) on the walls with signatures from sports teams and Howie Long. We decided that we should have one since last year we also dined at the Brick Oven. One of the Cha Cha's employees persuaded our waiter to give us one. So Cha Cha's signed their names for 2010 and we signed ours on the other side for 2009. Next year I hope Alakazam is able to turn that paddle around. You might also notice that I have bangs again and that this is not the most flattering angle. But hey look there's that vest I was telling you about.

Friday Coloring Book Page

Lighting of the Lawn

We went to the Lighting of the Lawn at UVa for the first time. There are groups singing and I guess playing music on the steps of the Rotunda. There are also parties going on in the rooms along the lawn where students live and in the pavillions which house professors or the school of medicine (for example).

There were a lot of people so it was kind of hard to hear what was being said or sung. It was also pretty cold but we bundled up. So a marching band came out and read a "Night Before Christmas" poem but of course it related to UVa. We couldn't hear it but I'm sure it was cute.

Finally 40 minutes after we thought they would turn on the lights they began the countdown.

The secret society "7"'s number lit up first.

When everything was lit they sang what I guess is the Alma Mater. All in all it seems to be a really neat tradition. We were glad we went.

Elf Yourself, Part Deux

I'm sorry. I just can't help myself. It's so funny.

Friday Coloring Book Page

Elf Yourself

Self Control

I have none.