Enjoying Myself

Yes, yes, it's true. I haven't been on the computer much (a few of you have noted this!). But don't fear, I am alive and well and enjoying myself, my family, and my vacation. So far I've read an entire book in 4 days and am almost finished with another I started yesterday. The first was "Julie and Julia", a memoir about a woman named Julie approaching her 30th birhtday who decides to cook every recipe in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking Vol. 1 in one year. I highly recommend it, a great read. I constantly wanted to share tidbits with my family, and occassionally did. She talks about politics, living in NYC, chopping up a live lobster, eating entire sticks of butter in one recipe, just great stuff. Now I'm reading "Big Boned" by Meg Cabot which is the third in a cute chick-lit mystery series I am enjoying. Both gifts from Ang! Also, I am beginning Stephen Colbert's "I am America and So Can You" - again, great reading.

In addition to all that literary stuff, we've seen a few movies notably yesterday's "Juno" which features an excellent screenplay and equally excellent actors. Allison Janney, Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, J.K. Simmons, Jennifer Garner, and in the title role Ellen Page who can I just say is too beautiful. One of those girls who is ridiculously beautiful like Mrs. Affleck. The story was so good, so well written, one of those that makes me want to do that for a living, for my life. Makes me just want to be a part of GOOD movies, good stories, good stuff. Go see it!

We also saw Shrek 3 last night and can I just say, I hope they're putting the other Shrek's on a hold for a while until they find some new, good story to tell with these characters? It's sad that the best parts of this movie were the gingerbread man's life flashing before his eyes and a few lines by the minor characters like Puss in Boots? So went downhill from the last ones. Glad I only Netflixed it. We're in the middle of Harry Potter 4 right now, we're going to finish it tomorrow when everyone's wide awake and we're hoping to see National Treasure 2 uptown tomorrow too, big plans people!

So yeah, I'm enjoying myself. Another week left on vacation, family to enjoy, another Christmas to celebrate, good times to be had. And yes, I'm loving wearing my cuddle duds under my new hood WMU alumni sweatshirt! I like being cold (well not Kalamazoo cold but this cold is okay!).

Christmas Day, Christmas Day, Time is Drawing Near

That's a line from a song Angela and I picked up somewhere during our childhood that we sing on occasion, all year long because really - it's always coming no matter if it's the day before Christmas or the day after - technically!

But it is drawing near today and we're about ready. Looks like it will be another brown Christmas. We had that glorious snow last weekend and flurries last night but it's all melted and we're back to cold and wind. Alas, it's Christmas anyway! Ang said it's official because I got up and started playing carols on the piano this year. It was great - my dad came in and sang along for quite some time, the perfect way to start Christmas Eve!

I hope that all of you have a wonderful holiday. Our vacation has been good so far, Chicago was a whirlwind but good. Wicked was wonderfully funny, so well done! I think I need to go back and watch the Wizard of Oz now to appreciate more of the story. But check it out if you get the chance, well worth it!!!

I am full of anticipation, this is my favorite feeling of all. We have one Christmas dinner in a few short hours, then church tonight. Singing Silent Night in the candlelight is one of my favorite traditions by far. Then it'll be Christmas morning. And I'm still a big kid because I love opening gifts and even more so, watching those I love open their gifts. We get to go extra slow this year because dinner isn't until 2:30pm tomorrow so that'll be nice! Maybe Santa'll bring a few surprises!!!

Merry Christmas all - may your celebration of that little baby's birth be the great beginning of another new year! I love you all.

It's beginning to feel A LOT like Christmas...

Angela and I have arrived in Michigan, our plane was only about thirty minutes late last night and it was a slow drive to Howell from Detroit - 30 to 45 miles an hour but we made it by 9:15 and my mom had meatloaf on the table which was wonderful!

This morning we awoke to over 5" of the cold stuff and it was officially declared a snow day. Which meant no church and no going anywhere, even to the Knapp Family Christmas (which has been rescheduled for Jan. 1st for all of you who were worried!). It's still snowing and blowing with a wind chill in the single digits and even though it's a pain, I LOVE IT! It finally feels like Christmas. We're going to wrap presents and sit by the tree and just enjoy the season! I wish the same for all of you today!