Life is like a box of chocolates...

So I finally ventured out of my house today and checked the mail for the first time since Thursday. (EDITED to clarify I have ventured out of my house since Thursday. But I haven't checked the mail). And found a key in my mailbox. Which means.............. I have a package. A cute little package. Shipped priority. From Maryland. And when I opened it, look what I saw: (Sorry if it is huge. I have resized like 4 times in photobucket but it still comes up humungo in blogger)

It was filled with Flake Bars a yummy candy bar I fell in love with when I was in London. They are really hard to find in the USA. Remember summer dating guy? ("I'm not ready for a relationship with anyone, oh wait, now I'm dating an undergrad" -- that guy). A specialty grocery store by his house has a spot for them in the international aisle but more often than not they are out of stock. He would look for me when he would go grocery shopping and if they happened to be in stock he has picked them up for me before.

Well anyways, he sent me a whole pile of them for Christmas. Not from the specialty grocery store. But from a website.

I was so thrilled.

That's a whole lot of Flake bars. A whole lot of crumbly, flaky chocolatey goodness.

And I was pretty surprised.

I mean, I didn't even send him a Christmas card.

Yummmm....

Christmas, Christmas Time is Here

Isaac woke us up at 7:30. We managed to get Joe out of bed and we started in on our stockings and then the presents. Isaac's big present was a bright red Wii from Joe. He recieved a lot of complimentary gifts relating to that (extra controller and nunchucks, several games) and we had fun trying some out. Jenny and Drew had me in the sibling gift exchange and they sent me Dance Dance Revolution and an extra controller. I'm extremely excited about this. Mom and Dad gave me a much needed food processor. I've been making lots of soups lately and I've been relying on a small food processor that only holds one cup. I can't wait to try it out. The kids all got my mom an accuquilt die cutter and she was really excited about it which was great. I wasn't entirely sure if she would like it or not.

Playing with the new Wii Tom showed up later in the morning.

Everyone got a kick out of reading Joe's new book "Here's the Situation: A Guide to Creeping on Chicks, Avoiding Grenades and Getting in Your GTL at the Jersey Shore".

Reading some new books from Jenny and Drew.

Isaac gave my dad a football for Christmas and he was so excited to get all the guys out and play. You can see Joe's new puppy Bailey who joined us this year running along too.

After much debate, they settled on playing touch instead of tackle football.

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas." ~ Peg Bracken. Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given--when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes." ~ Joan Winmill Brown, American author and editor.

Good food was eaten. Naps were taken. My german chocolate cheesecake turned out amazingly. We talked to Drew and Jenny, Aunt Kathy and other loved ones who are far away on the phone. And I decided to crash at my parent's one more night. =)

In the words of my mom "Merry Christmas one and all!"

cool

Stumbled across this artwork by Janine Rewell. It's a real tan!

HA

it's my blog and I can rant if I want to

(Warning: church rant ahead, heavy with LDS terminology. Those of you of non-LDS background probably will wanna skip this one): I've been feeling very grumpy about church stuff lately. I'm getting tired of being the YSA rep mostly because accepting that calling obligates me to attend all of the YSA stuff, which is sort of a lot. Plus, I'm supposed to invite others and really encourage them to go and it's like, could I be any more of a hypocrite? It is pretty off-putting to be nearly 30 and still be obligated to go to chaperoned "activities" like I did when I was 13. Not to mention, the only other person who regularly comes to any of the activities is a guy is on the autism spectrum and is moderately impaired. I'm just going to come out and say it: I don't want to give up a Monday night to go play boardgames with someone who is, essentially, very annoying. I know this is cold and I'm probably going straight to hell, but.... sometimes I have it in me to be patient and inclusive and advocating for acceptance of people with differing abilities, and sometimes, I just don't. On the other hand, the YSA thing is about the only niche I have in my current ward. At least the people assigned to oversee the program and teach the YSA SS class actually know who I am and have taken a marginal interest in me and provide some kind of connection on sundays. Relief Society is a sea of power wheelchairs and walkers and the activities are all luncheons that are held on a weekday afternoons. With no nursery of course. And I know what you all are thinking! On the one hand I'm complaining that the ward doesn't acknowledge any other types of women beyond "ladies who lunch", but on the other hand, I'm asked to help build up a program for people who don't fit into a mold of a "typical LDS twenty-somthings" and I'm complaining about that too. I told you, I'm grumpy about church lately. Plus, I don't want to turn into someone who is a total flake about callings. And I was a total flake about the last one I had: Relief Society chorister which was a total nightmare. What I know about leading music can be written on the head of a pin. I gave it a few attempts but I would break out in a cold sweat when I had to stand up there in front of them. I just felt so clumsy and stupid. So I just started not coming to RS until after the opening hymn was done. After about a month of that I just finally told them it wasn't working out and I was happy to keep selecting the hymns, but I didn't want to conduct them. Since conducting hymns is pretty much the main part of being the chorister, they agreed to release me. I was also asked to speak in sacrament meeting after nearly two years of flying unnoticed under the radar. I was also feeling fairly grumpy about that, but the talk I am assigned to speak on is actually pretty decent, so I am warming up to the idea more. Anyways, church rant over.

e-harmony typo of the week

"I am passionate about life! I appreciate everything i have been given! Sometimes you take for granite the things you have!" That one made me laugh out loud.

before there was Airborne...

Haven't felt my best the past week or so. Coughing, scratchy tickling throat, just general sick feeling. I used to take Wellness Formula religiously during cold and flu season. It's got tons of good stuff like echinacea, goldenseal, zinc, garlic. I found some in my medicine cabinet and have been loading up on it. Hopefully it will help me get back in balance soon. Here's a link to a podcast that discusses it. I highly recommend it! http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2009/11/wellness-formula/