Merry Christmas to All!

It's been a flurry of Christmas activities around here (see what I did there?) and it's been lovely. Endless days of family and friends and random adventures downtown and not random trips to NYC.



The best part?



Three more days!



Unfortunately, I haven't taken too many pictures of all the fun, but I'll be back to share the delicious treats I've been making and the ponderous thoughts I've been thinking as I get back to a normal schedule.


Until then, stay warm, and happiest of holidays to you!

Winter Break: A Play

This is what happens, every year.



Self to Body: C'mon, you're almost there! One more week 'til break! You can sleep then, and have lots of time to do fun things! Only five more days of setting your alarm!



Body to Self: We...can...do...this...



Self to Body: Two more mornings. We can do this.



Body to Self: Two more, you say? Hmm...



Self to Body: Woohoo, we made it! It's the last day before break!



Body to Germs: Go and do your worst!



Germs: Attack!!



Self to Body: Yikes, I'm sneezing a lot today.



Body to Self: Too late, suckah!!!



And thus I spend EVERY.SINGLE.BREAK sick. Every single hard earned break, I come down with something just nasty enough to knock me down for a couple days, those precious days which I have planned to rest or enjoy or do something fun (you know, like host a bunch of friends for a Christmas shindig...)



It really feels like my body conspires to keep me going through all the drudgery, all the work, all the times when I could just take a sick day. Then as soon as I have actual free time, I relax.



And that's my mistake. The relaxing.



My body reads it like a cue to allow the germs a takeover. And I inevitably recover just in time to go back to work.



End scene.

Baking Wish-List

One of my awesome lead teachers gave me an adorable apron as a Christmas gift, and I cannot wait to wear it an get my holiday bake on. 

We throw a Christmas party every year, and this year it's going to be a small gathering of just a few close friends, so this is the perfect opportunity to break out my sweet tooth. My baking list includes: 

• Giant M&M cookies from How Sweet It Is
• Peppermint and Chocolate cookies from Bakerella
• Thumbprint cookies (this was a last minute decision, but Dan and I both realized we love them) from Love and Olive Oil, and 
• Peanut Butter blossoms from How Sweet It Is

I am seriously psyched to do some serious baking. It's so relaxing...plus you get cookies! 

Are you doing any baking this holiday? Any awesome recipes? 

Venite, Domini Mi

I love the idea of Advent, of celebrating not only the birth of Christ but also the process of awaiting his arrival. Recognizing the cry of John the Baptist, preparing the way for the One who is going to change everything.



Some things need so badly to be changed.



Perhaps that's why this beautiful post resonated so deeply with me; our joy is proceeded by bitter suffering, by hard questions, and by resounding sadness. When we embrace those things, our joy is so much fuller and more lasting.



It is an incredible joy to celebrate the arrival of Christ incarnate, God on earth, sharing in our hardships. The season of Advent, of active waiting, only serves to enrich that fulfillment.



Do you celebrate Advent?

Catching Up

I'm afraid to start typing and hear the echoes of an empty web space...



Echo...



Echo....



Man, do I even remember how to import photos?



Geez.



Well, here goes nothing.



Sister and I spent Thanksgiving with our mom and brother in South Bend, Indiana. We had a really nice time and enjoyed making delicious food with the family. Brother was even a little happy to see us.

Mama's puppy boy Finnegan.

We visited Notre Dame (first time for me, it was a beautiful campus).

And did some Christmas shopping/art museum strolling. It was good.



Upon our return, we had to get our Christmas trees! Can you believe it's almost Christmas? The holidays are so scrunched together this year (Thanksgivnukkah, anyone?) I didn't feel nearly as bad starting my Christmas shopping early.

'Cause, dude. I love me some Christmas.

Also, drumroll please...

For the very first *real* snowfall of the year!!

It was juuuust enough for a 2-hour delay at school, which was lovely. (Not so lovely was the hour-long drive from church to the in-law's for Sunday dinner, which usually takes 25 minutes, alas.)



I'm trying to wrap my head around other Christmasy activities, such as baking, other household decorating, and wrapping presents. What my brain has fully embraced is the 12 day winter break, almost two full luxurious weeks of no school, generously provided by Christmas-on-a-Wednesday.



Oh yes. It will be amazing.



For anyone who may still be out there (hellooo, hellooo, hellooo) what will/have your holidays looked like?