Twelve Drummers Drumming/Three Drummers Drumming + Nine

Merry Christmas!! Today was such a sweet day. The whole family fell asleep last night watching a Christmas movie then dispersed one by one to really odd places to sleep. Michael and I, in our delirium, went into his Mom's craft room and slept together on her twin trundle bed that I am pretty sure is now just for looks... but it was comfortable! When we woke up we jumped on the other kids and everyone lined up in the bathroom youngest to oldest, waiting for the parents to usher us into the living room to see what Santa had brought. The gifts were all so lovely and considerate. Part of Michael's gift to me was Day 12 - a picture frame containing 6x8 black and white pictures of the following: My dad at age 28(ish) playing the drums with his band The Fray; Nicholas playing my dad's same old drum set in his basement bedroom in Vegas; Michael playing for a music video with his band Chatham's Dormat; and one of me sitting on Michael's lap behind his drumset when Chatham's Dormat played outside on their front patio last spring. It was the sweetest, most thoughtful gift I could have possibly have asked for. Those three men mean everything to me and I am so grateful that Michael would have done that for me. His 'plus nine promise' was that if we end up having nine boys (WHICH WE WON'T) that he would teach them all to play the drums and include their pictures in the frame. Merry twelve days of Christmas everyone! This is definitely a Christmas I will never forget.

Ten Lords A-Leaping and Eleven Pipers Piping

Ten Lords A-Leaping/Ten Notes A-Leaping

Today was one of my very favorite days. Instead of ten Lords A-leaping, Michael brought me into my parent's game room and had set up 10 love notes that he had folded as little jumping frogs so that they "leaped." It was seriously so sweet to read kind words from my husband that I know he had worked so hard to make meaningful.

Eleven Pipers Piping/Eleven Family Members Singing:

We were in Porterville, CA for Christmas Eve visiting Michael's family. In the evening he started acting a little bit funny and borrowing everyone's cell phones. He took them into his little sister's room, looking very naughty as he went. When he came back out, somehow his whole family (5 of them) was queued up and ready to sing... Along with the 5 other family members that he had on speaker phone on different cell phones. Together my ten family members (plus myself was 11) sang, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" to welcome in Christmas day. It was SO cute!!

Eight Maids A-Milking and Nine Ladies Dancing

So we got a little bit backed up with Christmas travel and festivities but here are days eight and nine!

Eight Maids A-Milking/Eight ounces of Steamed Milk:

After work today we were busy getting things together for our Christmas travels. We are driving to Vegas tonight after work tonight (December 22), spending the 23rd with my family, then heading off to spend Christmas Eve through the 27th with Michael's mom and family in Porterville, CA. After that we'll be in Irvine with his Dad and Step-mom (Rachel) until the 30th when we'll be headed back to Vegas for New Years. Anyway, things were getting a little bit crazy with the preparations when Michael tossed me in the car and drove me to my favorite 7-11 (they always have the most little flavored creamers) for my 8 ounces of steamed milk. It was soothing, tasty, and oh so sweet.

Nine Ladies Dancing...

Well there are gifts for Christmas and gifts that just keep on giving; day nine proved to be the the latter. Instead of nine ladies dancing, Michael gave me a little pink striped bag with a beautiful pink (and very little) outfit that he promised I could dance in at least nine times... He is just so thoughtful, haha.

Day Seven: Seven Swans A-Swimming/Seven Spouses Swimming

Today was another cute day with the hubbie! After we got home from church Michael presented me with a little stocking-shaped postcard coupon with writing all over the back. The coupon explained that it was to be presented to him after a stressful day when a nice little getaway seems to be in order. This was a redeemable-at-any-time one night's stay at a nearby hotel with an indoor swimming pool. If I wanted, we could invite five friends to swim with us or we could just go by ourselves. So fun!

Day Six: Six Geese A-Laying/Six Egg Omelette

I was so happy not to have to find a place to put six geese today! Michael got home shortly after I did this afternoon and whipped me up a 6-egg omelette for lunch. It contained everything I love about breakfast and was SO tasty. I had no idea that Michael was such a little chef!
PS. We ate the omelette together unless anyone was worried about my cholesterol levels... I didn't down 6 eggs alone.

The Twelve Days of Christmas: Days 1 through 5

It's the hubby's turn to be in the lime light. Michael has taken it upon himself this holiday season to turn our first Christmas together into one I will never forget. Since 5 days ago, he has started the 12 days of Christmas for me, with something special every day. Just as a catch up I will tell you what happened the first five days... and we'll go from there until Christmas!

Day One: A Partridge in a Pear Tree/A Pink Rose in a Pine Tree

On day one Michael stopped by my work to say hello and let me know that when I got home I needed to "look for something." As much as I pushed, he would give no additional clues other than, "you'll know what it is when you see it." I got home and searched through our room, bathrooms, office, and kitchen before returning to the front room where we keep our Christmas tree. It was there that I found my "Pink Rose in a Pine Tree".

Second Day: Two Turtle Doves/Two Dove Ice Cream Bars

As we ate dinner on day two, Michael warned that we might need to save room for dessert. When we were done he pulled an open box of dove ice cream bars out of the freezer. I don't eat chocolate so he had bought them because they were Dove brand and had eaten all of the chocolate off of the outside of two of them, hence the open box. Oh the sweet slobbery love!

Day Three: Three French Hens/Three French Toasts

The night before day three Michael had stayed up until 5:15am getting homework and studying done for finals week. I knew that he had come to bed pretty late so I was pretty confused when his alarm went off the next morning at 7am. He kissed me and mumbled something about needing to do more homework as he headed to the kitchen. I continued getting ready and was just about finished when he came into the bathroom and wrapped his tired little arms around me to pull me out to a beautiful plate of 'three french toasts'. They were so good! As I was about halfway through the meal he looked at me with a confused look on his face and asked what was supposed to actually be in french toast. I told him that I normally whisk together milk and eggs, then dip the bread. He just said, "oooooh" as he opened the fridge and reached for the milk. He added some to the dish he was using to make his own french toast and said, "I may not have added a lot of milk to the eggs I used for your french toast". I laughed as I flipped over my last slice of french toast to find an entire fried egg on the bottom of the last piece. Luckily he had cooked that side down first so the toast wasn't soggy at all - just really filling and SO cute.

Day Four: Four Calling Birds/Four Calling Friends

When he first started my days, Michael was sure that day number four would be my favorite. I had no idea what he had up his sleeve and just hoped that I wouldn't be attacked by singing birds at any point during the day. Around 10 I found out that Michelle Lindsey was in town from DC and we got to talk and quickly plan a get together for that night before I had to return to work. During my lunch break I got an unexpected call from my friend Diana Hoer who I haven't talked to in a couple of weeks. We just had the SWEETEST chat and both hung up so happy and excited. About 30 minutes later my phone rang again and I got to talk to another good friend, Danielle Menon, who lives acrross the country in Boston. We hadn't had a good chat in quite a while and I just LOVED the updates she had to share. After work I was on my way home when my phone rang for the fourth time! My sweet friend Amanda Berns had called from NYC just to wish me a final Merry Christmas. My heart was just brightened from these sweet voices and I am so grateful for such great friends. Those little calls really do make a difference!

Day Five: Five Golden Rings/Five Silver Rings

When Michael started this cute little marathon I jokingly told him that I had very high expectations for day five and the golden rings that I know he had coming. He of course knew I was not serious but came pretty close! He took me to the mall last night on a surprise date. He dropped me off at one end and told me that he would come back for me in about thirty minutes. Once the time had passed he came to meet me and we walked across the mall. Eventually we got to Macy's department store. He wove through the different departments until we really did arrive at a jewelry counter... I couldn't believe my eyes to walk up and find a cute little blonde-haired jewelry saleswoman waiting for me with five silver rings laid out in front of her. They explained that Michael had picked five out (he has great taste) and that I got to choose the one I liked best as today's gift. After a lot of debating I picked a thick silver ring that glitters in the light. I just love my husband!

Holiday Happiness

When I was a little girl I lived in Santa Barbara, California where the temperature never drops below 60 and never rises above 85. In second or third grade we did a class activity where we had to draw a picture of our favorite season. I remember sitting in my little school chair and being so torn between winter, because it contained Christmas and my birthday, and summer, because I loved family trips. I don't even remember what I eventually decided, but the truth is that either decision would not have been a true depiction of the season. I had never known what it was like to scrape my windshield on a cold winter's morning or how it felt to sweat through multiple layers of clothes on a hot summer's day. Though the question was one of seasons, my little California-girl mind was answering one of love. I knew that winter brought a spirit of giving and tradition to my family that everyone looked forward to and prepared for. I also knew that summer brought time. Time for attention and excitement to be experienced with those that I loved the very most.

During this holiday season, and this year, I have felt so blessed. On May 16, 2009 I was in Las Vegas on a 115 degree day watching my brand new husband sweat through his crisp tuxedo shirt. The year's first snow fall was accompanied by a genuine act of service from my sweet brother in law who scraped the snow and ice from my windshield. To be able to experience true happiness, some of the contrary must be learned as well. I am so grateful that I know people that are willing to take it upon themselves to smooth the edges of the seasons as well as those of other misfortune to turn negative elements into opportunities to share genuine love. I will never love the snow, but I am grateful for the man that can feed his family because he has a job salting sidewalks. I agree with those that emphasize how important it is to celebrate Christ rather than Santa during this Christmas season, but I do believe the two men are good friends. Though we don't need to overwhelm ourselves with Christmas trinkets, it is the perfect excuse to spend time preparing things that will make the people you love happy.