Merriest Christmas!

SANTA!!! I know him!

Gifts=roughly a $1,000, 10 hour drive= insanity, spending 10 days with your family for Christmas=priceless! This was one of the best Christmases in a long time. For instance, my sister and I finally got to spend Christmas together, Pip finally got "into" the Christmas spirit, and I made the Christmas dinner.

What was in Santa's sleigh:

Me: I got really cute polka dotted dishes from Pampered Chef, a new vacuum-YES!, my idol Martha Stewart's cookbook, various beauty products, and moola

Bob: tools, car stuff, CD, Bama hat, school supplies, and moola

Pip: she made out like a bandit with a new stroller, lots and lots of toys- a baby doll, toy phone, blocks, jack in the box, a push and go walker/rider, a puzzle, 4 books, a new sleeper sack, and moola too!

Boo!: lots and lots of doggie treats, squeaker toys, and a HUGE bone

Fun for the WHOLE family: a Wii with various accessories, Guitar Hero, new Harry Potter movie, and Harry Potter Clue

New and Old Traditions:

*Went to see Festival of Lights at Callaway Gardens. This was a tradition for Bobby and I that we got to share with our family.

*Went to see Avatar on Christmas day. Not necessarily a tradition of either family, but my dad really loves going to the movies and my mom doesn't, so when we visit...well- we watch ALOT of movies.

*I got to share a McRae Christmas dinner tradition with my family by making Rouladin. It's a German dish that consists of thinly sliced beef rolled with a slice of bacon, onion, and pickle. Some may not like it, but seriously bacon and meat- you can't go wrong. It turned out spectacular!

*My mom, sister, and I went to Sips and Strokes where we painted and watched a drunk lady get thrown out of the studio. Guess alcohol and painting don't mix well.

*Got to give a very special gift to my sister, Alana who had passed away 2 years ago. My mom, sister, and I were able to go to the Birmingham Temple and perform proxy work for my sister.

*I got to visit with my friends: Irass and her husband and Shenita and her boyfriend.

*Bobby and I got to act like we were dating- we left the baby with grandma and Apples(my dad's grandfatherly name).

*Hit some favorite eateries: Mugshots, Dreamland, and Zaxby's- Hey, we weren't payin!

*And just generally acted very lazy and watched ALOT of cable television- one of the many luxuries given up when I quit my job.

***I'll post pics on a different post since there are quite a few! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and have a happy New Year!

In Lieu of a Card

Typically, we send out a Christmas card of our family. It has been a tradition every year of our marriage, except this one. Business school is kicking both our butts- Bobby busy with finals, case studies, and his Graduate assistantship and Me busy with the partner's club, working for a professor, and preparing to move in a few short weeks. I believe we have both completely missed this holiday tradition.

So here is the pic we had intended to use for our card. We apologize to all who typically receive it and don't worry, we will send out a "Happy New Year" card complete with our brand new address and the ever popular letter. We will send out requests for addresses in due time.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Baby It's Cold Outside!

With Christmas comes my favorite of all favorite traditions: CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!! I love Christmas music. I love that it is so special it comes out only once a year. My favorite Christmas song is Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You". I love it. I want to karoke to it...one day. Another song is "Susie Snowflake" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". But the song I want to write about is a well known song: it appeared in Elf and countless other movies, it's on commercials and in the mall---Baby, It's Cold Outside.

I love this song too, but have you ever listened to the words? It's like the socially acceptable date rape song. She says "no"- he pours her a drink. She asks "what's in this drink?"- he informs her that there is no escape. On and on this merry go round goes, until...she's broken down and decides to stay. Pushy fellow if I say so myself.

Seriously, listen to it. You will never hear it the same way again!

6 Month Check-Up

Piper went for her 6 month check-up with a cardiologist today. They looked at X-rays and an echo cardiogram taken a few weeks ago to make sure that the metal coil is still in place and her PDA and hole are healing correctly. It's hard to believe that 6 short months ago, Piper had heart surgery. Looking at her now, you'd hardly even know what she's been through-which in her tiny life has been quite a bit. I also want to give a shout out to Primary Children's Hospital in Utah and to her current pediatrician here in Bloomington. Primary's for being wonderful and taking amazing care of Piper and her current pediatrician who had the forethought to include Piper in getting an RSV vaccination- apparently it's not offered to all- only to those with heart and lung conditions and preemies.

Pip's prognosis: ASD (heart-lingo for hole in the heart) healed on it's own
PDA (heart-lingo for extra artery) closed and metal stint firmly in place, in a few short years it will slowly become part of her body and no one will ever know she has a tiny piece of metal in her heart.

Cannibalism and Horns

I just recently finished decorating for Christmas. Christmas villages are all aglow, Nativity scenes serenely displayed, a knock down drag out fight with Christmas lights and garland declared victory, and at-attention Nutcrackers proudly displayed. Christmas has visisted my home.

This is the "first" official Christmas with a toddling Piper. Bobby was in charge of watching her for the night. When I returned home, he informed me of all the "naughty" things Pip had done: she tugged on the lights, knocked over the nutcrackers, ate the fake snow and flowers from the wreaths, and the WORSE offense:


He caught Pip eating the Baby Jesus!!!!! The Horror! Blasphamy! My baby- the cannibal.


Also, last night we attended a Christmas party. They were passing around little antler headbands for all the kids to wear so they look like cute little reindeer. One little girl asked for Piper's. I said "that's okay, we have plenty of HORNS for her to wear at home." I meant to say "antlers" but I think this is what you would call a Freudian slip.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!