...sillouettes of Christmas...

December 12, 2014

Last year, I attended St. John's Lutheran production of Sillouettes of Christmas. It is an hour long dramatization of the story of Christmas, with spoken word, song and dance. I had never seen anything like it, and was so moved by it, that I wanted to see it again this year and take some friends. So my sister-in-law, Heather, and her friend, Courtney, spent this evening with me enjoying a fresh take on an old classic.

The musicians and singers were wonderful, and I was surprised to hear some new songs. Do they redo the program every year? Seems like a lot of work. But what sets this apart for me is the dance. The dancers are behind a giant screen which is lit from behind. That means, all you see through out the story, are the sillouettes of the dancers. It is beautiful, and leaves quite an impression.

Here are some photos:

Angels dancing

Mary and Joseph heading to Bethlehem

Have you ever seen anything like this? What draws you into the spirit of Christmas?

...the last date of the year...

December 11, 2014

For Christmas last year, I followed this Pinterest post and made Andy a special gift of twelve dates for each month of the year. We loved being reminded each month to spend some quality time together, and tonight marked the last one for the year: Go see Christmas lights.

St. Louis has so many places with wonderful light displays, but this time around we chose Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park. It was so impressive! Here are some pictures.

So many lights!

Carolers!

The toy company

Wishing it would...(but only for Christmas)

Look!! The Christmas Hippo!

Yes, please...

XOXO!

Afterward, we drove to our favorite house off Ladue Road which sets it's lights to music. We haven't been in several years, and we were delighted to see that it has grown to include the surrounding houses. I love when people work together toward great things.

Have you seen any amazing light displays this season?

...advent...

December 10, 2014

Several years ago I bought this advent wreath in the hopes of using it as a way to draw closer to God during the holiday season. This was the first year I took it out of the box. I've got good intentions, but my follow through needs work.

I found some daily scriptures on Pinterest, and so Andy and I have been spending a bit of time together remembering why we celebrate Christmas. Some days we end up doing a few at a time, since we tend to forget as it's not a habit, but I'm glad we've started this new tradition, nonetheless.

Truthfully, my faith over the past few years has not been the fire that it once was. Struggling with all this personal turmoil, it has been difficult to know how to approach God. Most people run to God in their time of need, I tend to hide, wanting to work out all the issues and then present them to him neatly packaged. I know that's not how it works...

As I'm faced with this new chapter of being a mom, I'm terrified, and I've been driven to my knees more than once over the past few months. Prayers that this one will survive. Prayers that I can be a patient, loving, and selfless parent. Prayers that my baby will love God. Prayers that my child won't die.

I wonder if Mary had any of these thoughts as she carried her own child.

With each passing day, I feel less in control, and it's been causing me to turn to the only one I know who can provide a peace that passes understanding.

Which was probably his plan all along...

Where are you in your relationship with God today?

...o, Christmas tree...

December 9, 2014

After halting all progress due to a frustrating lights experience, our tree is finally finished!

I come from a clan that appreciates a brightly lit tree. That "rule" stating you should have 100 lights per foot of tree, is completely dismissed in my family. The more blazing, the better!

I'm still trying to figure out the best way to add the lights, though. It is a nauseating process (literally, it makes me a bit sick) as I twist and turn the strands of lights around each individual branch. This year, I decided to take my uncle's suggestion, and I strung the top of the tree separate from the rest of the tree, so that I can put it away with the lights still on it. Make it will make the rest of the process less harrowing next year.

Putting on the ornaments was easy, since I only have ones from my childhood and others that students have given me through the years. My favorite ornament is still the golden cello, that my family bought for me my senior year of college.

As we spoke on the phone before my Christmas break that year, my parents asked me what I wanted for Christmas. Exasperated at all the work I had to do before I could begin to think of break, I sarcastically commented, "Oh, I don't know: I'd like a job when I get out of college. I'd like to know what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. I'd like a car. I'd like a husband. I'd like a cello."

I guess they figured the only thing they could actually get me was a cello, so my whole family pitched in and got me one that year. The ornament on Christmas morning was to let me know that it would be shipped to the school. I did end up taking lessons many years later, though life has since halted that process. Though it currently sits in storage, it is always a reminder of how much my family loves me.

Do you have any favorite ornaments with special memories?

...deck the halls...

December 8, 2014

I have been slowly setting up our Christmas decorations since the weekend before Thanksgiving. It takes me quite a while to decorate anything, as I have no vision for decorations, I only know when I hate how it looks. So here are a few of the decorations that I settled on.

Above the bookshelf. Andy added the Cardinals plush baseball.

My sister-in-law, Tammy, makes these snowman families. It's me and Andy!
Next year, we'll add a baby and a Buddy!

The mantle. A bit sparse, but I'm still working on it. Notice Buddy's stocking!

My mom made this for me. It's all hand stitched and oh, so beautiful!

A gift from a student. Our Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

As each year goes by, I keep adding and subtracting, changing and rearranging. Not unlike how my life moves.

Are you all decorated for the holidays? Any suggestions for my house?

...afternoon tea...

From last years tea. I failed to take pics this year...

December 7

It's always nice to be a bit girly with your girlfriends. 

Last year, Karen, Laura, Betsy and I celebrated Christmas and our friendship at The London Tea Room in downtown St. Louis. It was an incredibly fun time, and I would recommend it to all, at least once! In fact, it was so great, that we decided to make a tradition of it. But, instead of heading to the tea room, we decided to make our own little afternoon tea delights.

I was in charge of bringing the tea, and vanilla bean scones. It was my first time ever making scones, and they were amazing, if I do say so myself. You can find the exact recipe here, from the Baker Chick. Sadly, I completely forgot to take a picture, but they looked exactly like hers. (Actually, mine might have been a little less proportionate, but that didn't affect the taste!)

Andy and I have several teas already, so I packaged them the night before, and then headed into Teavana to score a few more. Some people love Teavana, and some people hate it. My sister, Rebecca, says she likes her tea to taste like tea, not fruit and flowers. I like my tea to taste like fruit and flowers, and there's no better place to find a new flavor than Teavana! My new favorite find? Pumpkin Spice Brulee! It's so smooth and delicious! 

It was a great afternoon, with some super cute little men joining their mommas for tea. Before I knew it, I was rushing out the door to get back home, as I had lingered longer than intended, a great sign of wonderful company.

Have you ever been to afternoon tea? Should we make a date?

...getting to know you...

The introvert in me would rather stay home than attend a holiday party that would force me to smile and appear interested and mingle with people I barely know. But pushing myself out of my comfort zone was why I started this blog, so I knew that I couldn't miss my tap teacher's open house/baby shower/holiday party.

I walked through the door and handed over several baby onesies that I had purchased just 30 minutes earlier, and handed over the fruit platter that I had brought for an appetizer. The fireplace was piled high with clothes, diapers, toys, etc, all for an organization called Whole Kids Outreach. It was nice to see such generosity.

When I first arrived, I tended to stay by the food, knowing full well that it was there where I would never be without a conversation. But Christine introduced me around and the women welcomed me in. I was surprised to meet a couple of girls that were my own age. I was shocked to learn that some of the women had been dancing together for 15 years!

But mostly I was impressed with the level of comradery that these women felt toward each other, and humbled that they were inviting me into it. One woman commented about how the recitals were like going into battle together, since it was so nerve-racking. They told me war stories about their failures on stage, and we all laughed together.

Have you been stepping out of your comfort zone recently?

Again, my very first dance recital will be Saturday, April 18. I'll be 35 weeks pregnant, but I hope you'll still come and enjoy the show!

Are you interested in joining the adult tap class at Dancing Thru Life? We're only just starting to learn the dances for the recital now, so I bet you could still sneak in!

...week in review...

Thank you all for your kind responses and texts and emails to our big news.

The very next day a nurse came to the house to administer a "physical" of sorts for life insurance. I never really saw the need for life insurance before, but due to the fact that we are expecting (and I watch way to many ER dramas) I'm feeling it necessary to make sure Andy and the baby are taken care of should something happen to me. Soon after, we boarded a plane for the east coast to spend the holiday with my family, something that I haven't done since college.

Playing Scotland Yard with Andy and my mom on Thanksgiving Day.
We found it buried in the attic closet, so we thought we'd give it a try,
since we're sort of obsessed with Sherlock, at the moment.

Thanksgiving was spent with family and friends, eating, playing games, and...shopping. I know this will not sit well with many friends, but yes, after Andy went to bed at 8pm, (8pm!!!) I went out with my brother and sister-in-law and nieces and snagged a few Christmas gifts. I've always said I'd never shop on Thanksgiving, but it was nice to spend time with people whom I love that I rarely get to see.

Black Friday was spent shopping with my family, and we somehow ended up with a stroller and a pack n' play being shipped to us. (They came this week, and as we put them together, we became even more excited for the little one that will rest inside them.)

On Saturday we woke up at 3am to get ready to catch a flight out at 6am. We piled onto the plane and taxied down the runway...only to be towed back to the gate area moments later. We were de-boarded to let the maintenance crew do their thing, and 30 minutes later were herded back onto the plane, and once again sped down the runway...only to be towed back to the gate area moments later. They decided to rebook us, and we ended up on a puddle jumper to Philly and then back to St. Louis (and by puddle jumper, I mean 9 rows...9.) We made it home by 5pm, climbed into bed, and slept away the evening.

Andy had the middle seat of the back of our plane (row 9).
As you can see, lots of leg room!

I raced around on Sunday, hoping to snag the last of the weekend deals for gifts, and Andy watched the Cyber Monday deals. Tuesday, the stroller came, (and a Christmas gift from Burger's Smokehouse from my sister and brother-in-law - we've already eaten several parts of it!) and Wednesday the pack n' play came, so those days were spent trying to figure out how to put them together, and rejoicing when we they were accomplished. My boss sent out an email announcing our pregnancy on Tuesday afternoon, and so we've been celebrating with the families that I teach (some have known me for as long as I've been there!)

Today, Andy let me buy my first maternity piece. I'm beginning to look a bit frumpy and disheveled at work wearing my regular clothes (pants held together by a rubber band with shirts that are riding up my ever-blossoming bump making it look like I'm wearing a midriff.) It's comfortable, and my belly doesn't hurt anymore, so that's nice. Still, I'm hoping to keep the clothes to a minimum, as I'm sure my many maxi skirts should be able to get me through the majority of this pregnancy.

Your excitement has brought us so much joy over the past week! Thank you for that! Without a doubt, this little one will be coming into a lot of love!