Belated Blogging

Two of my favorite young friends and their schoolmates decorating the evergreens in our nearby park with cute handmade (and bird friendly) ornaments.

Here's G and J, partners-in-all-crimes-against-boys, plotting their next dastardly deed.

Meanwhile, G's brother, the talented Master W, blissfully unaware of aforementioned plot against his species, was busy seeing how many cookies can fit into one mouth.

Here's Herr Winter helping Hillary, Holly, and Hugh hang lights for the Homeless at Hillhurst.

Next stop: The 13th Annual, "What Happens at the 51% Christmas Party Stays at the 51% Christmas Party" Party. Oops, that is unless 'someone' has a blog. There are just no words to describe what happens when these ya-yas convene but I'll try.

It's the ol' Pick one or Steal One deal.

And in the Spirit of the Season, we kicked, screamed, scratched and clawed over, and

otherwise politiely exchanged ornaments.

Maria shows off her successful snag of a skeleton.

..and no self-respecting home should be without a Day of the Dead nutracker, right?

This one came with its own firecrackers packed inside! (Do they know that these women are AA poster children?)

And YOU could have had your very own wired-up Barbie Christmas tree topper? Good job, Margaret!
..
Honestly... fought over!

The moon was in Capricorn, so the usually unladylike Lisa was subdued.

Perhaps Pia spiked her drink with valium too?) so.. she is not on double-secret probation unlike a certain Someone Else..no names mentioned, Susan, posing here with the Hurricane Ike creation.. and then...



Don't Ask..Don't Tell!

Next day, Barbara brunched us with more hair of the dog ...er cat... that bit ya and provided her very own cat for entertainment. Note to self: Do not bother kitty on hunt for shiny objects unless you'd like to draw back a bloody stump.

Isabella plied the cat with mimosas or we plied Isabella with mimosas and vicey versey. versa visa, vissa vulvas, somehow the rabid feline was tamed.

We continued the conversatin', carolin', carousin', and a little bit o' crying. Ok, no caroling.

But it can't all be goofy girls-only can it? No. we must have some testosterone in here. Luckily, I only had to behave myself a little when we visited our neighbors. Look at Liberace Mike's candelabra! He plays beautifully. Let's take up a collection to buy him a tux for his Carnegie Hall debut.

Then we had to be among the first to test out the new IceHouse they built in our neighborhood. How nice of them! Time to get the Houston Holidays started. (In Canada, one must say one is "on Holiday" - not vacation. More sofees-tee-kated dontcha know? ) Ice House, where one can sit outside drinking the beverage of your choice year-round. Score one for Houston.

We detoxed the next night at a peaceful retreat with our friend Sue... wonderful evening with just a smidge of adult beverages and her gourmet cooking... let the pound packing-on begin!

Here's Granddad working off a few of those calories by pinning his fearsome opponents.

And now, boys and girls.. time for our belated Christmas poem...

'Twas the Night before Christmas when all through the Hook 'em Horns House..not a creature was stirring, except Kelsey's mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.. in hopes that St. Tommaso soon would be there.

The children weren't nestled all snug in their beds - while visions of bacon treats danced in dogs' heads.

Christine in minus 20, both of us with a cap

her son, Evan ,

settled down for his long winter's nap.

When out in his room, Colman caused such a clatter..

the dogs arose from their beds to see what was the matter.

The sun on the breast of the Canadian snow

gave the lustre of twilight to objects below.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear

but two tiny grandsons with smiles so dear.

Mr. Winter at the Wii, his driver lively and quick.

We knew in a moment it must be Faldo, Nick.

More rapid than birdies,

Riley's eagles they came.

And he whistled and shouted and called them by name.

On Tiger, On Vijay, On Norman and Nicklaus - On Palmer, On Immelman, On Johnson and Mickles (poetic license)

As dry snow that before the wild blizzard does fly

when they meet with your windshield do cause you to cry. Party on at the new house of Stacey and Trey

eat, drink and be merry

for tomorrow's Christmas Day!

Kels' eyes, how they twinkled, Jordy's dimples -- how merry.

Jakey's lips were all rosy from eating candied cherries.

Leslie spoke not a word but went straight to his work.

teaching T to be safe - don't be a jerk.

The stockings were filled with fun thing like books -

'bout sea creatures and mermaids and pirates with hooks.

Kels sprang to his 'sleigh' to his team gave a whistle

and away they all flew down the driveway like missiles.

But I heard him exclaim 'ere he drove out of sight.

Merry Christmas to all! Tyler, Cody, Good night!

Peace on Earth is Possible

Peace on Earth - Can we find time for the sacred in the Christmas mayhem?

Each Christmas season I think I'll start early and be way ahead of the last-minute rush. My mom used to be so good at weaving in sacred traditions with lots of Christmas magic and even though she had a pile of rambunctious kids, grandkids, and out-of-town and in-town relatives all about, things never seemed hectic. Yet, it seems that each year, no matter how much I tell myself that I will simplify things, I find myself with a giant to-do list and just running around like a maniac.


So this year, prompted by an article I read in the World Vision newsletter, I asked myself , "Is what I'm doing drawing me closer or away from God?" If it doesn't draw me closer.. it's gonna be OFF my list. So, here's my list of ONs and OFFs to help bring about a little Peace On Earth. (We saw this mural while dashing about in New York City.)
OFF is trying to buy everyone just the perfect gift. That's a tough one for me 'cause I like people to know that I've been thinking of them and their interests and have really put some effort into getting them just the right thing. But this season isn't about things, is it? So, be forewarned that you're likely to receive a donation in-kind this year. But please don't burst my bubble about all those years when I did get you the "perfect" thing.


Christmas baking is OFF although i did just make killer gingerbread cookies. Catherine loaned me the moose cookie cutter. Subliminal message: You don't remember that I have that Catherine. ..but that's it! Well, I might make the sweet and spicy pecans by special request.
ON is anything that furthers social justice " ... act justly ... love mercy, and walk humbly with God" This may mean putting in an extra hour or two at Ten Thousand Villages. Knowing that the artisans rely on us for their livelihood inspires my soul. It doesn't hurt that I have retail in my blood and the bribe from the ass't manager sealed the deal.
OFF is too much time on the computer (I broke my '08 New Years Resoution about 5 days after I started it) and a certain networking program HAS been a great way to connect with family and friends. But stay strong, girl! Can you see the time on the microwave??

still ON is sending Christmas cards cause I love to receive them, especially the ones with the what-we've-been-up-to newsletters. I do!
really ON is visits with cherished family and friends cause Love is what it's all about.

ON is Inn from the Cold and reserving quality time with the hubby. ON is going to Y cause I always feel rejuvenated there. ... I think that's the feeling in my hamstring. Rejuvenation. Yeah. That's it. ON is Jazzercise because dancing is definitely spiritual!

Hm...haven't cut out much have I?? Oh well. It wouldn't be Christmas without a little mania, right? Here's hoping that your mania is joyful, sacred and very magical, and "may God jump-start our souls with renewed hope and gratitude." Peace on Earth is indeed possible.





If you're a link junkie you can visit http://www.worldvision.org/ or http://www.worldvision.ca/
Ten Thousand Villages at http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/ Inn From the Cold at http://www.innfromthecold.org/ and follow our Be a Light campaign at http://www.hillhurstunited.com/ . Keep coming back to the blog!

Thanksgiving is a day to intentionally reflect on our many, many blessings. So here's a little poem, I use the term loosely about a few of the many people who bless our lives everyday.

We thank God for these three guys, out playing hard,

and these two wild nephews out in the yard.

But wait, who is this guy? Could it be my middle brother?
and this beautiful man is my significant other.

Well, looky here it's Kelsey with his aunt, my niece, Kris,

and sweet G and Shelagh who is just like a Sis.

But wait, these two friends are Hungarian and Czech

and these newlyweds drink red wine on our deck.

Can't forget loco Susan, mi otra hermana

or another brother, Marko, who plays the piana (poetic license)

And then five boys who are playing by the water,

and two beautiful women who are lovable daughters.

Oh look what I found - a cold hiking sister ...

and C's brother and wife with their running shoe blisters ...

Course then there's these buds who are just saying "Cheese!" ...

and a Mum and Dad who are resting with ease ... And God bless you all for being in our lives. This list is by no means exhaustive of the wonderful people who truly put grace in our lives and put up with our shenanigans. Hope you had a safe, and happy Thanksgiving (or Thursday is you're Canadian.) We wish you peace, joy, laughter and love.

The End.

P.S. Tonight, we are all resting easier because we've just learned that Canadian Mum and Dad's traveling daughter and 'adoptee", Hillary, who was scarily stranded when the Bangkok airport was taken over, will be getting safely out of Thailand and winging her way back home shortly. God bless you and Claudia on your journey, HRH HPH! The mac -n cheese awaits!