Ahem...and now announcing...

A new look for the Christmas Season! Don't worry blogger pals, it's only for the holidays...

What can I tell you? I love Christmas - and I know that we haven't even had Turkey for Thanksgiving yet - but our plans to leave town got squashed and so, I'm celebrating the season early by giving my little blog a makeover. Just for a while...

I'll post more about the latest and greatest tomorrow, but meanwhile, let the baking commence!

Review, Life, and blah, blah, blah

Well, I figured that after almost a week of Charlie Brown music, lovely though it may be, you might want a little something more to feed on. So here's the latest, in no particular order...

1. We're now officially in Review. Well, we aren't, but our dossier is. But really, we are. We're now under the miscroscope that is Chinese Review. I feel like it will be fine - my head says it will be fine - but the paranoid freak in me says "wait for it...wait for it...here comes the call that says 'I'm sorry CB and AB - but it turns out you're total weirdos and have issues beyond normal and so that's a big fat thumbs down for you two'. Kill me now. We have to sit in review for two months. That's a long time to be biting my nails and pacing the floor, waiting for said call. Boooo! That's what I say...boooo!


2. I'm bored. I'm bored with everything right now. I mean, I'm super busy and the weeks just fly by. But on the other hand, I'm with Shelli...it's just blah lately. Just blah...nothing to say and nothing new to tell.




3. AB had his production of "The Phantom Tollbooth" last weekend and it was great, just like all the others. I brought a little friend with me (thank you Robyn for coming to the play with me and for the great picture you took, that I lovingly swiped) The kids did such a great job, and I can tell how hard they all worked to nail that show, and nail it they did. As a little surprise, the kids got me flowers to say thank you for having to "part" with my beloved for the two months of production and practice that took place every day of the week. It was very sweet and thoughtful, and they were just gorgeous. AB - I love you and it was FANTASTIC! Another great sucess, as if it could have been anything less.


4. Another Robyn moment: Thank you girl! Robyn and her hubby came and picked me up at the airport (an hour and a half drive one-way for them!!!) because I was rideless. You're the best! Of course, being the COMEDIAN that she is, she had a big hot pink sign with my last name on it and was walking around the terminal with it in her hands. Or course, she had to get a picture, and of course, I had to steal it.

5. We have a lot of stuff coming up: in addition to work of course, we have a trip planned to New Mexico for Thanksgiving week, with two other couples. We're all boycotting family affairs. You know, we all want the Norman Rockwell Holidays, but it never turns out that way. It's always the same: too much to eat, tired cranky people who are too full to enjoy each others company, the crazy bickering relatives, the complaining hypochondriac of the family, and the relative who talks your ear off about NOTHING well into the evening. Well, we decided if we were boycotting, this was the year to do it. So we're off to celebrate our own way, with some good friends and some good food, and a beautiful vacation home (free of charge, I might add). I'm hoping we have a great time. I'm also hoping that it's the last one without you know who...(sigh...I think I just jinxed myself) Outside of that trip, we have multiple commitments at church over the next two months - me with singing, and AB with drama and service production. We also are the leaders of our church's adoption ministry and have a big dinner this weekend for that. I've also got several "dates" with my Mommies Who Lunch crew - including this Sat. night when we will be stuffing ourselves with chocolate and playing games, etc. into the wee hours.

6. I feel sick. I think I'm coming down with something and this is not a good time for me to be down and out. I have a very busy weekend ahead. Not good. This kind of irritates me...because it feels like the kind where you're sick to your stomach, headache, all that crap. See! Blah! Ok - sorry this is a lame post. But it's the latest and greatest anyhow...

Oh, and another thing...Kelley had a link on her website to the most wonderful blog...and so I have to share also, because it is now one of my favorites too...check it out -

Last but not least...I've been shopping. Have you been to Babystyle.com? If you've never checked this place out - it's fun. I admit, it's a little pricey on some stuff - however, I have never bought anything from them that was full price because if you click their Outlet link, then you can look at all the stuff on clearance in one place and so much of it is so cute! I got the most darling outfit for $14.99. It was even cuter once I had it in my hands, than when I first saw it online. And I'm sorry, but how cute is this outfit?

Ok - enough from me for now...
The blah girl is signing off...
bye...
signing off now...
blah, blah, blah...

Christmas Time is Here

Well, it's true, like it or not. AB and I went shopping yesterday to kill some time, and ended up at the mall. Every little store we went in had Christmas decor and people seemed to already be in the spirit of things. Red, Green, and Gold was everywhere and I was feeling myself get excited as I started mentally going down my Christmas Shopping List. But later as we snacked on some food court goodies, AB brought it all back home with these simple words:

"I thought she would be home this Christmas...", he said quietly.

Me too...

We sat there for a minute in silence listening to the bustling crowd and the Carousel chiming in the background, and the Christmas music overhead.

And there it was...the pang of her absence that we skillfully keep at bay most of the time. The little whip of stinging that we feel when we stop moving for a moment and remember that we were supposed to be parents by now.

Then we remember that we are parents. Her parents...even if she's not here right now, she's still out there and we're still her parents. Missing her is just a part of living, for right now. I pleaded with AB to tell me that this would be the last Christmas without her, and of course, he only half smiled and gave me a light squeeze.

Christmas time is here. And once again, she is not.

We are missing our girl...

Disneyland Pictures

As promised...

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