The Nutcracker Ballet

Bum-ba-da-bum-bum

Bum-bum-bahh...

One of the festive activities over the holiday was going to the Keller Auditorium to see the Nutcracker Ballet with my mom and sister. My family used to go every year when I was young, and my siblings and I would put on shows from the various wintry scenes afterwards in our living room. OBT must have started doing a different version because I distinctly remember dancing around with wooden spoons from the kitchen....yet no chef to be found this year!

This show was especially fun to watch because Madeline, a sweet little gal I babysat after college, was dancing in the production. She fought off mice as a sentry in the first half and returned later from underneath the enormous skirt of Mother Ginger (the replacement for the enormous chef from my childhood I think!). She's in seventh grade now and practically as tall as Alyssa and me. My, my how time flies.

Home for Christmas

We traveled home to Portland, OR for nearly two weeks over Christmas and did a lot of Portlandy things -- ate at the Alder food carts, browsed books in Powell's, shopped local at the Saturday Market, and filled up on some Oregon brews at Bridgeport and Deschutes. We knew we were back in the Northwest when we arrived at PDX and saw a sign for the bike assembly area. Despite of all the gray and rain, Portland will always be home to us!

Christmas in the Northwest

I'm typing this from the cozy armchair in front of the fireplace at my dad's house near Portland, OR -- it's so wonderful to be back with family and friends for two weeks this holiday. Unfortunately I've come down with an awful cold that's kept me in bed all day today, but I hope to drink enough tea to be back on my feet tomorrow to prep for all of our Christmas activities. Cat is holding down the fort in Richmond with my friend Holly, probably being bad by drinking the tree water but still acting cute enough to get away with it. Oh, Cat.

Merry Christmas all! Enjoy your time with family and friends.

Home for Christmas

See you in ONE month, Portland! 

My Favorite Things

As previously mentioned in this blog, I have been a longtime fan of The Sound of Music. "My Favorite Things," for me at least, has always been associated with thunderstorms, pillow fights, and sibling harmony orchestrated by a kindly governess. This is why it perplexes (read: annoys) me that it's become a shoe-in for a handful Christmas albums. The version below by Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass Band is probably my favorite (and the only one I can tolerate)---it makes me want to do a Christmas polka or something.

Also, I've wrapped my Christmas gifts this year as 'brown paper packages tied up with string' to switch things up a bit. With the red and white baker's twine I found at Crate & Barrel and the DIY idea from Design*Sponge, they look like they've just arrived from the North Pole. Or Fräulein Maria's musical imagination.

One Week!

Exactly one week until we fly out to begin our Best Coast Christmas! In California we're looking forward to spending time with old friends, a trip to Disneyland, and the huge Christmas Eve party with 30+ relatives. A few days after that we'll be in the beautiful city of Portland eating my dad's famous Christmas morning 'cinnamon buns from heaven,' partaking in the annual girls' downtown shopping trip (my mom, sister and me) and seeing as many of our beloved Portlanders all the way through the new year. I. Can. Not. Even. Wait.

[Image via Squidoo]

Good Morning, Old Man Winter

I woke up this morning, quite sniffly and sick

But I looked out the window--"It really did stick!"

And what with my wondering eyes did I see?

At least an inch of snowfall, and each tiny flurry.

I love festive weather, especially this time of season.

Looks like Trudy does not (I think I know the reason).

A happier morning I could not have had

(except for my cold...it's making me mad).

Hoping tomorrow brings the same kind of weather

And that watching movies at home makes me magically better.

Open the Floodgates...

IT'S OFFICIALLY THE CHRISTMAS SEASON!

Christmas songs, twinkle lights, and festive movies OH MY! To get you in the spirit, here's a clip from one of my favorites. Ah, good ol' Bing.