Winter Wonderland!

It's beautiful! It's amazing! It's different!

The backyard... hmm maybe it's time to go in the hot tub!

Suddenly my laundry room feels like a warm coat room in a ski lodge.

The weather outside is frightful (yay) and the fire is so soo delightful!

Neighbors are saying "hi" and everyone is a kid sledding down the biggest hill around.

My mom made home made cinnamon rolls.

The nights are silent with falling snow.

B makes a wicked vodka tonic with tons of lime around dinner time and we chill out.

We have a mini piano (pictured behind Muppet here) that plays carols and D presses the button and dances around the tree. She can't stay away from the Christmas tree. She knows she's not supposed to be in the living room by herself (sorry Elaine, your gift is almost unwrapped!) so when I go in to get her, D hops over to her child-sized piano and starts pounding away. We sing to the mini piano and we look at the ornaments and lights on the tree. Last night Dahlia snuck behind the tree and scraped her face on a branch. The battle scars of Christmas.

The snow smells cold!

The Christmas shopping has grinded (ground?) to a halt, but since I'm a planner, I'm set. B is risking a drive into town for gifts to put under the tree. Even if he makes it in his FJ, the stores will probably be closed. Our Starbucks up on the hill never ever closes and it's closed today. Lucky for us, the QFC has a Starbucks inside. Our lives are simple and getting coffee is an important part of B's routine. I just like caffeine. While we were at QFC, we watched as people tried to plow their grocery carts through a foot of snow. I wonder how the Eskimos bring their groceries in.

My beverage du jour is a grande, split shot, light whip, peppermint mocha. It's like drinking chocolate toothpaste, but I like to mix my drink selection up.

I've cleaned the house, prepped the guest rooms for Brody and Em. Brody was supposed to arrive tonight at midnight, but we're not even sure if SeaTac is letting planes land. He said that if he gets in by Wednesday, we'll be good.

Since I've started writing, the snow has started falling in flurries again. I am so mad at myself for not having a sled! D would totally love to go sledding! So much for being prepared. We have tons of groceries, I've been feeding the adorable little birds out in the yard. They hop right onto the feeder while I'm filling it now. Must be the only game in town.

I got an email from my auntie Pam on Vashon Island and she was filling a hummingbird feeder and a hummingbird came right up to her.

Hungry Hummingbird and my Auntie Pam

Emelyn arrives on Tuesday. This girl is from Seattle and moved to Colorado for college. She loves mountains, outdoorsy stuff and said she'd never live anywhere she couldn't see the mountains. Then she got a job in Texas. Houston, we have a problem, there aren't any mountains (that I know of) in Texas. So, when Em heard that we have over a foot, she was jealous. Don't worry Em, it will still be here if you can be home for the holidays. Looks like we're having a whiiiite Christmaaaass.... just like the onnnnes we used to knowwww...

The house is ready for visitors and I don't have anything else left to do. I guess it's time to work on one of the many projects I've been procrastinating, scrap booking.

I am still thinking of getting some chickens in the spring. What a riot that would be! D would dig it. Mups would be on full terrier alert and B would want to kill me.

Chickens, cuddly and delicious!

Visiting Emelyn in Houston

Emelyn has lived in Texas for two years. It was time to pay her a visit and see her place. Especially since she didn't come up to Seattle over the summer.

Sisters 4 Ever

Now that D is a seasoned traveler, a jaunt down south turned out to be an adventure.

Dahlia and my dad came with me. We left B at home.

I've been working too much since I've been back from Houston, so I'm just going to slap some photos up, tell you about them and go to bed.

Boots.

I had to get some boots while I was down there and we had lots of colors to choose from.

Before Hurricane Ike, we had planned to visit Galveston Island, which ended up getting the brunt of the storm. My dad visited Galveston only a year prior and was sure it couldn't be "that bad". Turns out the island was tossed. Houses were sideways on their foundation, yachts were strewn about the highway, threatening signs were left in blood red spray paint for would-be looters. All of the antique stores he visited with his wife were GONE. There were only a few restaurants open and we patronized one of them.

While the pier to this shop over water was gone, there were still posters hanging on the wall in what's left of the building.

Dahlia in front of half a beach-front bar.

We ate fresh seafood at Joe's Crab Shack.

Despite being tired, Em and I dragged ourselves out one night and hit a few bars near Rice University. I met her friend and co-worker Matt. He showed us around Rice Village and we watched scantily clad Texan girls shoot imaginary pistols to the song Paper Airplanes by M.I.A.

They're not dating. Em wants me to let you know.

Look at us! We're out on the town!

Emelyn, ever the party animal, only had to look at a pineapple & rum drink before she was giggly.

We went to the Houston Zoo the show Dahlia the animals. We saw elephants, bears, lions, seals, lots of birds, creepy, crawly things and other zoo-type animals.

The best part was the petting zoo because D could run around. She came across this statue of two bison and something compelled her to give this baby bison a kiss. It was super cute.

Love you!

I fell in love with the pygmy goats in the petting area! They are small and cuddly and they just want love!

This guy will fit in my overhead luggage compartment, right?