Dr.? Dr. Who?

So I had to take this chance to be all braggy about my family. Well, not my WHOLE family but one in particular that has made a bit of a name for himself. My eldest brother Justin (pictured in the top center) has just gotten the green light to officially add the title of "Doctor" to his name. I swell with pride even though he won't hear me utter that title to him unless it is in some sort of sarcastic manner. Now, with this title he is not able to help the sick. That task will still be designated to myself or my sister with our nursing degrees. HOWEVER, if you need a bridge built or a structure tested to make sure the foundation will hold strong when a 5.8 earthquake hits...he's your man. My brother, the civil engineer with his shiney new Phd will now be moving his family to Auburn University to teach others with his doctery skills. Good job, bro. Much love.

Oh Christmas Tree

Every year my above average Joe tries to convince me that we should buy a fake tree. Every year he gets rebuffed. I remember as a kid always going to pick out and cut down our tree as a family and I plan on keeping that tradition alive for my kids. Yes, I know it's more work for my poor pack mule to haul the tree home, up the stairs and into the perfect standing position to please me but the smell that fills the house is SO worth it. As a youngster I remember watching my parents debate over the merits of certain trees. My mom always like the tall lean trees and my dad believed the fatter the better. I have joined both my parents likes and really enjoy tall fat trees. The pickins were a bit more slim this year than in years past so this year we have a bit shorter but fatter tree. My dad will be so proud.
This is was we started with. I put on the lights all by myself because it's easier that way. I have both white and color lights for the tree. Then the decoration crew came in to help out.
Now I know that as a mother I will not be able to decorate my tree to my perfect taste until I send them all off to college so I am just happy that they will have these memories of making their Christmas tree all pretty.

I have the simple ornaments that are very child friendly and I have some cute memorable ones as well. I also have the glass/plastic ornaments as well and had deep, resonating fear that Garrin would break all of them as soon as he could get his hands on them. Garrin has broken one of those ornaments but it was purely by accident so I'm not as worried anymore.

Garrin was really good about actually putting the ornaments on the tree. Of course, he couldn't quite master hanging them so they more just "set" on the limbs. And he prefers the "bundled" look of the ornaments so there are about 10 just sitting in this one little spot of my tree, but I think it adds some character. Everyday I take a few out and hang them again and every day he gets them off and lays them back where they belong. There are always a few stray ornaments on the table or on the floor but I'm not nearly as worked up about it as I thought I might be. In the end the boys did a great job and now they are just so excited to see some presents under there! Merry Christmas, everyone.

OBX 2008

Since a picture is worth a thousand words I will simply leave these many pictures to show you how much fun we all had on our vacation. I loved seeing my family and spending time with new friends doing things that we rarely get to do. I hope everyone had a lovely holiday as well.

ps. each poster may only use one crack about me in a wet suit!

These pictures are of us in Blacksburg VA where we spent a few days with my bro and his clan before returning home to UT.