It's Just Not Wright

Our dear friends, the Wright family, are packing up their home today and tomorrow and leave for their new lives in Germany in only three days. Their plan is to live overseas for the next decade or so. That means that we'll see them seldom and miss them often. Connor is seriously distressed and is telling everyone he meets that his friend Arianna is moving to Germany. I am seriously distressed and am just not discussing it. We wish them good luck, good health, and happiness.

Not Your Average Sundaes

Had lunch at Not Your Average Joe's yesterday with mom, sis, and the "baby cousins". YUM.

Random Fact #5

I can sing "Silent Night"....in German.

How's that for random?

Achtung!

Merry Merry Christmas!

I hope you are all having a great day. It's almost 2pm and I'm only mouse about in TaterTown. Connor is passed out on the couch among a scattered mess of Connect 4 checkers, a military helicopter, and two Transformers that neither his father nor his mother can figure out how to "transform". Bob has been in bed since around 11:30 this morning--the lovely cheese fondue we had for Christmas Eve dinner last night got the better of his gastrointestinal system and he was up until around 3am with an upset stomach. He's feeling fine, but really tired.

We all got some great gifts. My personal favorites are the lovely earrings from my boys and the nice deep teal sweater from my mom. Bob also gave me a digital photo frame which I am looking forward to loading up with pics for my desk at work.

Connor is loving his tabletop pool table and his StormTrooper helment.

He'd be liking his electric guitar. Except that I didn't know it needed a nine-volt battery and we have NONE of those. We have about 15 lbs of all other batteries. But, NONE of those.

And finally, the results of that lowly squash and its incineration:

Christmas Excursion #176

So, we headed downtown after dinner tonight to see the National Christmas Tree. As we drove through Falls Church, we noticed this in the back seat:


Out. Out like a light. A christmas light, if you wish. And just like the Baby Jesus, when he awoke, no crying he made. That's because he knew he was about to see this:


It's pretty this year. First year with all LED lights and they've gotten rid of those massive and horrific red light bows. There are big trains running all along the base of the tree and Connor brought plenty of change to try to throw on the trains flatbeds. We'll both have backaches tomorrow from picking him up 25 times!

Nearby we spent some time viewing the unadorned and unannounced-in-any-way Yule Log. Which, really, is a big brick pit with burning tree trunks in it. It is crazy to see and I love it. And boy, does it give off some heat!!

On an unrelated roasting note, at Connor's request I will be attempting a home-made pumpkin pie for Christmas dessert. He saw a pumpkin the other day at Whole Foods (in with the acorn and butternuts) and asked me what it was for when Halloween was over. I answered simply--soup or pie. " WOW! Let's make a pie. No, you momma. You make a pie! I will help." Alrighty then. Here's the victim. I'll keep you updated on the pie developments.

We're Such Gaylords

Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Had a great 24 hours of holiday fun. I'm tired and a bit hungover so I'll be brief. I need a nap.

Walked around the harbor area. Lots of things have opened up since the summer, including the Westin, a Stonewall's Kitchen, CakeLove, Godiva, Swarovski, McCormick and Schmicks, and Rosa Mexicana. If you haven't been there--you need to go. Really cool and welcoming urban spaces. This is the harbor tree that they light every night.

You might know that they moved the sculpture "The Awakening" here from its old home in Hains Point. Its on a beachy area and the kids climb all over it. For once, the Tate family is well-in-hand.

This is the Gaylord tree hanging suspended from the 18 story atrium roof. Its glass and when it is lit up it is spectacular.

Connor and I went to their "Sweet Treat" event which they normally charge for or you get with a special package. We did neither---Bob just flirted with the girl at check in and she upgraded us for free. I swear, I married my father. At the event they play holiday movies and they give you all sorts of stuff to decorate these big gingerbread cookies while a pastry chef walks around and checks your work. Very fun.

Connor's idea: Heaven and Hell Cookies. Yes, that snowman has horns.

Lobby lights suspended 18 stories.

Watching the fountain show.

Some soaking wet fountain friends. I think that middle kid is repeating the devil theme? Notice Connor's sweater is on. He was smart enough to hand it to me before the show and said "Mom--here, this is nice one and I'm gonna get soaked.

In bed in our new Christmas jammies.

The indoor snowfall at 9:30pm was beautiful. I didn't get any pics of that, but it everyone was smiling and happy. We also had a great dinner at the Old Hickory Steakhouse. They have a cheese cave there with $10,000 worth of cheese. We did a 3 cheese sampler with a dry aged Gouda, a Pecorino, and a french goat cheese. Lovely. Bob had serious thoughts of knocking over the cheese sommelier and making off with the cart.

Tomorrow, its off to the new Smithsonian American History museum. I'd better rest up.

Housekeeping Items

1. I am working on my other Random Facts. Its just that inspiration is so...I don't know...random?

2. I forgot two celebrity sightings. Salma Hayek at LAX about three years ago wearing a fur, holding an unlit cigarette and looking at it longingly. Dr. Wayne Dyer this April in Maui. We were on a queue for a big luau on the beach and he went jogging through in a Speedo. He lives there. Mr. Change Your Thoughts is FIT!!

3. I was supposed to be off work every Friday in December. It hasn't happened. Things are so crazy at work--but I'm not complaining really. My job is fun, so I don't feel particularly resentful. I'm going in today, too. But I'm going to try to leave early because the Bairds are coming over for Christmas movie night and I've got to clean a little bit. Bob stayed home from work yesterday morning and did the vacuuming. We really really really need to get a housekeeper.

4. I'm dreaming and planning for our Christmas Eve Fondue. I always think I'll try something new, but then I always go back to traditional Swiss with Emmenthal and Gruyere. Heaven in a hot little pot.

5. Connor has been dreaming that he's on "Dancing With The Stars" repeatedly. I don't know if he's a dancer or a star, but he's getting scores of 100.

6. If you like mochas, you have to try the Starbucks holiday Espresso Truffle. Sick. Sick. This thing is so powerful and delicious it makes my chest flush. Really.

7. I went to WalMart in Fair Lakes yesterday at lunchtime to look for a specific Ben10 toy that Connor wants. I haven't been to WalMart in years--I'm strict Target girl. I really hate WalMart. I didn't think the prices were that much better than Target and Target is SO much nicer. I will say that the store I went to was very clean and well stocked. My last few WalMart experiences at Dulles were hideous. The place was messy and disorganized.

8. This is what I see every morning. My computer, my desk, my greek yogurt with honey, and Hobie waiting on my lap to lick the yogurt cup clean when I am done.

9. Blogger really pisses me off with those spacing issues. There is not a thing I can do in the world to fix that spacing between #7 and #8 and this crap happens all the time. Ahhhh.

10. I love those college photos of Barack Obama. Too cute, was he. Looks like a young Huggy Bear.

11. This is our big holiday Gaylord weekend. We're all excited. Heading to Old Town late morning to do a little holiday shopping then over to the National Harbor we go. They have a Christmas Market with all handcrafted things which we'll visit for a bit and then go to our early dinner reservations at McCormick and Schmick at 5pm. After that, the Christmas tree lighting/show at the harbor then to the hotel for the nightly snowfall and concert. Some beverages to follow and then we'll all tuck into our beds in our room wearing our new Christmas jammies and watch a holiday movie.