Christmas Story

Yesterday, I went to see "A Christmas Story: the musical" at the 5th Ave Theater with my mom, brother and grandma. The movie has been a favorite and holiday tradition in my family since I can remember.

The lead "Ralphie" was played by an 11 year old local boy, Clarke Hallum. He did a great job and has a great voice. We don't know if there is any relation, but we might track it to see. :)

View of the stage and back drop from our seats

Holiday Volunteering

Friday morning (Christmas Eve) my mom, brother and I volunteered delivering gifts to families with Forgotten Children's Fund. We got a little bit of a late start, but made up the time later in the day. We had 11 families in the South Seattle (Des Moines, Kent, Renton) area. We even drove past me friend Kaycee's townhouse...I didn't have enough time to contact her, but I recognized it as we went past.

Your Santa (Tom) had knee surgery three months prior and a sore ankle, we were hoping for bottom level apartments and not many stairs. However, he couldn't catch a break...8 out of the 11 families lived in middle or top floor apartments and the homes also had stairs. He was tired by the end of the day, but did a great job!





family pic

No you aren't dizzy...this is a pic of us in our connector bus (Thanks MS)

Holiday Extravaganza Weekend

Friday: Ugly Sweater Holiday Party

Leslie and I hosted an Ugly Sweater Holiday Party between our two condos. My condo had the food and some drinks, while Leslie's had the games

Spread

Jello Shots (very festive

Look at those great sweaters

What amazing outfits!!!

Saturday: Santarchy in Fremont

In 1994, a group of people in San Fransisco purchased cheap Santa suits and hit the town for some Santa fun. It has become a global phenomenon and is celebrated around the globe.

Eric's Place: Santa pre-funk with lots of drinks and pizza

Santa 80's sing-along and dance party outside the Red Door...gotta love the over head boom box!


Tom, Betsy and I

Look it's Alice's twin...Monica

Hip Hop Santa

Sunday:Volunteer gift wrapping for Forgotten Children's Fund

These are the gifts for the second family that we wrapped for, the first had eight kids...lots of gifts to wrap!

Sunday: Cookie Holiday Party

After the gift wrapping, I went to a cookie holiday party. I kept hearing about the amazing Christmas lights display next door, so I had to check it out before I left.

Amazing...they made the Seahawks display out of a metal frame!

Facebook

I often get slack about not being on the biggest social networking site, but a recent survey shows that I am not the only one! :)

This survey was completed in Spring 2010, before the movie "Social Network" and before the co-founder of facebook, Mark Zuckerberg was named Time Magazine's "Person of the Year" (December 15, 2010). So the results may be slightly different today, then what the survey suggests from seven months ago.

I know that it can be very shocking for some people to find out that I don't have a facebook account, but I personally find it more shocking that 18% of the U.S. isn't using email or the Internet. I guess after you factor in infants, they aren't using the Internet or email and older generations, like my grandma. She doesn't even own a computer! My grandpa was the tech savvy one, so she feels she has no need for one.

Elf Yourself

Created this video and it is available until 12/15/10...enjoy!

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/Gjc8mT6XjU8YlIWiJ8Qf

Wonderland Carousel

Saturday there was a "Hot Project" at the Wonderland Carousel for Seattle Works. Some of the proceeds went to "Treehouse", an organization that helps foster children. A few of us from Team: Younger and Wiser joined.



After our shift, we enjoyed a free ride on the carousel...I can't remember the last time I was on a carousel.

Holiday Decor is up

The lights are up, the tree is decorated and my condo smells of cinnamon. The holidays are here and it's time to celebrate with family and friends.

Gobble Gobble

Wednesday night it was time to pull out the annual shirt and get ready to go out. (mine was a little wrinkled, since I hadn't wore it since last year!)



The snow and ice couldn't keep a small group of us from getting together for the annual "Gobble-Gobble Drink-A-Long." We did change the location, but the fun times and good memories, were still had!

Oh and yes, that is a shake weight in a bar!

Snow Day!

It started snowing on Sunday and continued all day yesterday (Monday). Today (Tuesday), it is beautiful and sunny, but very cold...only 20 something degrees. The roads are snow and ice covered, so it has been determined, it's a snow day!





My poor potted plants...I think they are dead :(

Trent got his black belt!

Saturday was Black Belt Testing and Trent got his black belt! It was a long, tough road, but he stuck with it and should feel very proud of himself. Go Trent!!



He looked so proud to show it off!

Pies and Pints

On Friday evening a few of us went to check out Pies and Pints on 65th in Seattle. http://www.piesandpints.com



I tried the steak and potato pie



This is a shot of the table, we also ordered sweet potato fries...yummy!

Four Loko Night!

Saturday night I had some peeps over to experience some Four Loko



Spread



Missing one...15!



Catch Phrase



Jon out on the Floor



Lance sitting on Jon

Chillin' watchin' SNL

Leslie out on the couch