Working on a new look...

2007 is a step-it-up year...and I'm very excited about it! Starting with these:


Picture from Crystal Shades

And a few of these

Just in case it gets cold...

Need some of these trousers

These tops...

You'd better not pout...

What a wonderful Christmas this has been. We had our traditional Christmas Eve Nachos and opened gifts. Geoff and Dad were exhausted from working all day. Mom and I were exhausted from working all day. We were in bed by midnight with visions of sugar stuff...and stuff... This morning we went renegade caroling which involves speeding from house to house and singing and practically throwing our gift at the recipients. Super fun!! At our last stop we were invited to stay for a breakfast buffet. Now we are home and enjoying the restfulness...and togetherness. Merry Christmas to ALL!
The family before we open our gifts
Mom getting more gear to support her "boy," Peyton Manning
Perhaps you've seen the Little Giant Ladder System?
Geoff was the stealthy elf getting Mom a new TV for her room
And now he's worn out from all his holiday stealthing!
Mom's beautiful new ring...WOW!!
A "caroling" stop at the Maxwell's. Who is already dressed at 8:30 a.m.?!
A stop at the Boland's house. Hopefully they hear from their Peru missionary this afternoon!
The Grahams were waiting for us...scary, right?!
Speeding through the streets of Beaverton, squeeling tires and everything!
The Boersmas were so great to host an amazing and festive breakfast
Dad and Don Nelson have a handy trick for dealing with their pant legs that are a little long.

He's going to...

It came today! And Geoff will be serving in the Nevada Las Vegas West mission!! Craigs - set a place for our boy!

The thing of this call arriving is that the mail was SUPER late today. Normally our mail arrives around 12:30p.m. Mom came home to watch for the mail...and we all sat in the living room waiting for almost three hours. Of course the mail was late...of COURSE IT WAS!! We all knew it was coming today and I was just sure Mom was going to stroke out waiting for our mail lady. HOORAY FOR LAS VEGAS!!! We are are super excited for our boy. And now its something new to plan...you know I love that!
Waiting and waiting for the mail to arrive...

The mail lady finally gets here and it's a good thing she had the letter - or there might have been some hurtin' for certain!

We have Dad on the phone as the envelope is opened...

Sharing the good news and reading all the details...

He will enter the MTC on February 21, 2007

Calling the Zoo...

Today I called the Oregon Zoo to try and find the battery charger I left behind. The Lost and Found guy was super nice - and will hopefully find my charger (it hadn't been turned in yet, but it was in a WALL). But while I was on hold...animals screamed at me. I was so taken aback to not hear holiday music instead of birds and all kind of other animals yelling on the other end of the phone. The most bizarre is that the hold sounds had no other message. Just the angry animals. It was so weird.

Fully Festive...GO.

We've had the house decorated for Christmas since the Sunday after Thanksgiving. But we don't like to get a tree that early, I guess for fear of it drying out. We already have enough potted plants that need regular care, we don't need a forest exchange student, you know? We usually get our tree around the 10th, as another holiday activity. We've gone to tree lots and we also enjoy the the tree farm experience.

But this year, we've had recoveries and sickies and lazies and getting our tree kept getting put off. So last night, my Dad and I headed out in search of tree lots that would be open on a Sunterday evening. I must say that I was a little nervous, but we figured we go as far away from our house as we could and then work our way back, passing several lots on the way. We would for sure find SOMETHING, right?! The first lot we went to was closed, but we don't think it was open at all yesterday, so I feel okay about that. Our next stop - was a WINNER!! Within ten minutes we had our tree picked out, paid for, and on the roof of our car!! Those Christmas tree guys were fast! The infirmed members of our family made sure that the tree spot was ready for our arrival. Thanks to the full team effort, we now are fully prepared for Christmas. YEAH!

Waiting for the CALL

Last Friday we got word from our Bishop that Geoff's mission call is in the mail. As if I wasn't already a freak about checking the mail. The good news is that now I'm not alone in my mail obsession...Geoff is now stalking our mail lady. At our Holiday Home Evening we had a betting pool created - and whoever chose closest to the actual call gets a lemon meringue pie. Sometime this week we'll know where Geoff is headed for the next two years of his life...

Zoo Lights...

Last night was my mom's company Christmas party, which was held at the Oregon Zoo. It really was a fun time and the light displays sure are great. We had dinner and I took pictures of all the families for one of the party favors and then we rode the train. It really was hilarious to be riding a little train around the zoo with my parents. But we laughed and mocked and there were other very funny people in our car and that made it all worth the craziness earlier in the day.
Dad, Rudolph, and Mom...just too festive!!

Chanel and Mom wait for the train...equal parts cold and fun.

Finally!

I have finally had time to sit down at a PC and really update my blog. The tools on the blogger are not super great with a Mac - but now that I have some of the key items in place, it should be smooth sailing from here.

Last night I sang in a group for Enrichment. We were VERY rehearsed (overly so, if you ask me) and I think it was a nice way to close the program.

We're in for a pretty good storm tonight - the tree out the window is pretty mezmeriziing. Off to the CampFire Christmas party tonight, and then down to the Zoo Lights tomorrow!

We Had A Party!!

Last night was the Third Annual Taylor Holday Home Evening. We had amazing performances (lip syncs) of "Leroy the Redneck Reindeer," and the Bing Crosby version of "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" and all kinds of other festive songs. We sure laughed a lot!!

These jokers sure are special. Do ask Mark about his fall in the kitchen at the church...

Our number was "He's The Man With All The Toys" and we also included sock puppets. Geoff is showing off his friend, Saul.

The Graham Girls and their great choreography!

This is the McDermott's and their rendition of of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." Chris made an hilarious Bing Crosby.

The Garrett Chin Chorus...I haven't laughed that hard in a while.

Yes, he's our Bishop.

Would you be surprised to know that it only took twenty minutes to find a susaphone and an accordian in the ward? I was.

Our super gangsta missionaries. You know they're good guys if they get invited to the most elitest event of the year.

The Stratford House

In Hillsboro, Oregon we have a lovely tearoom called The Stratford House. This place is cozy and has dress up items like hats and boas. Because when you go for a tea party yous gots to dress up big! So our party today included a lovely lunch, an ornament exchange and a hat contest. This was the first year for the hat contest, so the other ladies just grabbed whatever hat was handy...but Mom's hat was great.

Trixie in her award-winning hat (Most Whimsical)

Grace and Lynn...I assure you they were having a great time...

Georgine and Sue waiting for lunch to arrive...


While I didn't wear a hat, I did wear my exact replica of the Miss America crown - and no one can say much of anyone who can sport a crown.

100th Post!

This makes my 100th post. That's a great milestone!

I am going to read through my paper one more time in the morning, make final revisions and print it for the last time. Then I'm turning it in and will repeat the procrastinators prayer: "I will NEVER put a project like that off until the last minute again...and this time I mean it. Amen."

In preparation for the Ladies Luncheon tomorrow, Mom and I went searching for hats. There are people in this world who cannot wear hats...and my mom is one of them. The good news is she isn't trying to be somthing she's not and just putting a dumb looking hat on her head and flying a banner that says "Mission Accomplished." We decided to create a hat piece, which is really nothing more than an embellished headband, so we went with that...adding some maribu clips and some faux flowers. I'll post another picture of the whole look tomorrow - but I think this is so great!! And it works perfectly with her hair!

Last day of writing

I'm very close to closure for the quarter. I cannot believe how long semesters are. I'm a quarter girl, all the way!! I think I only survived my undergrad in the semester system because I didn't know any better.

I love that I can "get things done" while I'm writing...like cleaning the oven and doing laundry. It makes me feel so productive when clearly I'm not doing that much more than sitting and writing.

This time tomorrow I will be on my way to the Hinds Holiday Ladies Luncheon at The Stratford House. I will be wearing some sort of fancy hat, as you have to wear a fancy hat when you go to tea with other ladies. DUH. Hinds is the parent company for my mom's office, Columbia Weather Systems and she's been hosting the Ladies Luncheon and Ornament Exchange for one jillion years. They've been so kind to include me - I've done work for CWS over the years (and under the table). They are really nice ladies and I'm so excited to see all the great hats!

And if you're wondering what gets me through these finals...it's this:

A continuing series...

The research paper is finally shaping up, thank you very much. But I also want a subscription to Domino.

Even though reading all the other very creative and clever blogs make me feel like a poseur...I keep figuring that it’s not what you know, but who you know. I know where to go for cool ideas.

What I want for Christmas...

I know I'm supposed to be working on a research project - but when I'm so easily distracted I just need to embrace the distraction and then I can move on.

I want this bag Mango Tango Red Distressed Faux Leather Laptop Bag for Christmas. My cute pink bag has been pretty beaten up...and come on...this great bag is perfrect for my needs...well, my laptop carrying needs anyway.

I cannot believe that I just tried to justify an item on my wish list. No one should have to justify their wishes...except for my brother who wishes for more baseball caps...seriously...you can only wear so many hats, dude.

The Final Stretch

Today brings me midway through finals week. But when you've made up your classes the smart way, you just have a paper or two to turn in. And if you've really been smart you'd worked all along to get them done with little stress or worry. I have two of my classes complete, and I'm driving down to turn that stuff in and gather more reading material from the library for my final final...at Town Town University.

Today is a big day though...Mom is going back to work today. I am so proud of how well she has healed and has been such a great recuperator. Last Friday we went out shopping and tested the energy waters...she really was wiped out by the end of our trip...but so was I!! I'm very confident that she will be fine today - and if she gets tired, she will just come home. Big steps for the lady who wouldn't dream of missing work after having a stroke last year!

Hooray for Wednesday!!

Today I love...

If you've visited The Jolly Porter this morning, you already know about Aunt Linda on SNL. The best part about Aunt Linda for me is that she is actually in my old ward at church - and her real name is Lynna. No joke - but it sure makes me laugh extra hard.

Now, if you're like me, and I know I am, you're really missing Arrested Developement. But I've found a new show that has a similar style and is new on USA. 10 Items or Less is really funny. And it has many airing times so your TiVo should be able to find it with out too many conflicts. You should watch it.

Also, I love checking things off my "to do" list. Like finishing assignments that could have easily been completed a month ago...you know, stuff like that.