sneak peak

Got some new hair.....

Things I like about Christmas: Santa and presents

I know many of you don't believe in Santa, but he is real and if you believe in him, still at 30, he will bring you what you ask for - or just some really nice things. I was obviously on the good list this year. The picture will speak for itself.



Of course, you've got to have wonderful parents that do 'Santa's' work and still bring their 30 year old daughter presents from Santa. Eric was on the good list this year and got just what he asked for (tools)!

Christmas itself was fantastic. I made two meals - one breakfast (easy), and the second was glazed cornish game hens, braised vegetables, and potatoes a la Jaques Pepin (I might have that name wrong) Anyway - that WAS impressive and very good. I would much rather cook cornish game hen then turkey anyday!! Hint, for next thanksgiving. We played games, we played the Wii that Eric brought. It was a really good two days.

AND I got to see movies: The Dewey Cox Story, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, and Juno. All good and all very different. Can't even say which one I liked the most. I feel like I still have at least 6 more to go see that have come out recently.

Hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas and that it found you on the nice list, rather than the naughty list.

Things I like about Christmas: Friends

This week has been packed with Christmas stuff - going to see Manheim Steamroller, going to the Magic of Christmas (kc symphony), and then yesterday spending the whole day with good friends! We went to the Boulevard Brewery and took the tour. It was really cool! After the tour of course, we got to try all the beers. It was excellent. The beers on tap and fresh are so different from the bottled beers. It was a really yummy experience. Here's some pics from that:





Then we went to eat at the Peanut, a local bar with good food. Then we hung around for a bit, went to see the movie Juno - which was cute. I really liked the movie - but with most things I wish I would have known something about it. I didn't really know whether to cry or clutch my ovaries. Overall, it's really, really cute and has the best message about finding someone that just loves you for you.
After the movie, we braved the bad roads once more (did I mention it sleeted and then snowed pretty much all day yesterday) and went to the Brick to see a really good lot of bands. We saw OK Jones (i might be wrong on that name), It's Over!, and ACB's. A REALLY AWESOME show!!!! All very good music. The bar was having a bad holiday sweater party. So I'm including a pic with me of my very ugly holiday sweater. The sweater itself actually was more like a valentine's sweater, but then Mary got at it and we turned it into a chrismassy sweater - just a little hotglue and some ribbon - wa la!

Enjoy! I certainly did!


Pat was pimping it in his very cool Kangol hat, so I had to play along.


BESTEST in their ugly sweaters!

Things I like about Christmas: Lights

I'm really a sucker for Christmas lights. I don't personally put them up - but I really like to go and look at houses. Right now, my favorite lights in KC are this row of houses called The Candy Cane Lane. I took some pics and wanted to share with you. I don't have any of the Plaza lights, which are most famous. I will share those at a later time.

Things I like about Christmas: Family

My brother gets in town tomorrow and for Christmas I bought my family tickets to see Manheim Steamroller. It used to be a family tradition that we would see them in Omaha every year at their Christmas concert on our way up to South Dakota. We have not done that for a long time. And when I heard they were coming here to KC, I thought it would be a great present. I think my family will enjoy it. Both of my parents were very surprised that Eric was going to be up for it (or that I got him to go), so that's an even more special treat.

My family tradition has always been to have Christmas on Christmas Eve. So these days we usually go to Denny's or somewhere that is quick and open, then come home and open presents, hang out etc. I used to go to 11:00pm services at a church, but I haven't done that for a few years. It'll definitely be something I want my kids to enjoy when they are growing up. I loved holding the candle and then when I got older I loved lighting stuff on fire with it.

While it is now a somewhat uneventful season for my family, I do enjoy the time we get to spend together. And since I didn't force anyone to play games because I took a nap, at Thanksgiving, I plan on forcing everyone to play games at Christmas.

Things I like about Christmas: My house

I decided in my last blog to start blogging ideas/pics/whatever that promoted a merry Christmas. So here's my start of all the things I like about Christmas. I decided to start with my house. I don't have a lot of decorations, but I really like the ones I have. Everything has meaning - and so that is what I am sharing with you today.

This first wreath is my attempt to be Martha Stewart. When I was younger I received these silver bells every year. I have like 13 of them and never a clue what to do with - so I decided I would put them on a wreath. I am going to add some simple garland after Christmas when everything is on sale.




This was a very special gift. My friend, Mary, made it for me. The specialness of it is in the garland - it's all wine corks. She's been doing this for a few years. I started my own collection of wine corks a few years ago and I hope to add to the wreath by making my own!




This is a combined pic - my stocking and Maggie's stocking (Maizey doesn't have one yet) and then my table with the new cover that I bought last night at K-mart.




My advent tree! I don't actually put candies in it, but it is fun to move the santa around and watch the time fly.





And finally, I love my hodge-podge tree. All the ornaments, except for the balls, mean something. I've got stories about students or about Girl Scouts. My tree looks a little charlie brown this year, I think a 7.5 footer would be better.

Santa

Christmas is coming and I'm trying to increase the cheer so that it is truly a Merry Christmas. Here's a photo I wanted to share.

RIP

With life comes death. A 15 year old died this weekend, shot in a driveway. No other details, just that he was dead and there wouldn't be a public funeral. He watched his dad die the same way when he was 8. He said many times that he was going to be just like his dad. There were days where he worked hard not to be, then days where he would spiral down to an existence of nothing. He would often go on these power trips where he was invincible - most middle schoolers do - on one of these days he threatened me in a serial killer kind of way. 'So you don't value your life, Ms. Steen' Just an excerpt of our conversation. I thought about that conversation for 24 hours before talking to anyone or reporting it. I reported it, not to save my life, but his. Little did I know - we failed him. He ran away, came back, went to a crappy school for kids with no where to go, ran away, came back, was awaiting someone to teach him homebound. Then he went to a party Saturday night, and was shot, in the head and found on the driveway.
In KC, especially where he was found, with death comes retribution. It will be had in all the wrong ways. I imagine another 15 year old will be shot.
We need to choose another retribution and start actually helping these kids before death happens. We're not doing enough pro-active actions if they are walking into malls and schools and shooting people for no other reason but to make a name for themselves in the end. To draw attention to the nothingness that they have become.
The world is in serious trouble. People need to wake up.

Tis' the Season

I just sat down to read the two blogs that I read on here - and I've missed so much! I won't let it lapse again!

Thanksgiving came and went. I always have high hopes for a holiday filled with family and fun and while I have that, it's never as big of an experience as I want it to be. I'm sure it's that way for everyone in my family though - not just me feeling that. I'm sure it will be different once Eric (my bro) gets out of school. I was very thankful to have the time off! I really needed it.

I'm pretty excited about winter break as well! It's just nice to not have to get up and go to work. It's not my favorite year. It's not really much fun so.....

I am somewhat excited about Christmas. It's kinda depressing at the same time, but I've got such great people around me, it's hard to be depressed all the time. I always have lots to look forward to. Currently I'm looking forward to the following things: Friday - taking the day off or having a snow day, Saturday - strong ale festival, NWMSU bearcats play on ESPN2, New Years in New Orleans, Spring Break in Mexico!

I'm sure there are other things, but those are the events I am most looking forward to right this moment.