Is leaving your Christmas tree up until after Easter so 2012?

Since this will be my last post of the year I figured I should post some Christmasy pics because as of January 1st Christmas is so done!  Well I'm already so done with it, but our tree is still up so it doesn't feel too done yet I guess.  I go back to work on Tuesday, it's so hard to believe (I don't want to believe it!).  We'll take our tree done (hopefully) before then.  That's only a couple months sooner than my Mom takes her tree down!  Seriously, she has left it up until my sister Anne's birthday more than a few times and her birthday is late March!!!!  It's a wee bit dry by then and more than a small fire hazard.

My tavern candles, which I miraculously found in their original boxes, all at one estate sale

Here is our Festivus family portrait

I do so love knee huggers (also from estate sales)

This is how we do Christmas - Planking, Owling and Tebowing

We all survived yet another Christmas, and this one was special since it was Hank's first one.  It was also probably the cheapest one that we'll ever have again.  Since Hank's now just about 3 months old we didn't buy him anything.  But next year we won't be able to get off so easily.

We went to my Mom's house on Christmas Eve.  Being the dorks that we are I thought it would be fun to try and pull off all the latest and greatest trends of the past few years - all at once!  So below you'll see a selection of Planking (2009'ish), Owling (2010'ish), Tebowing (2011)....and I'm debuting the newest trend - Hail Marying (2012).

When you start seeing people Hail Marying you will know that my Mom started it all.  You can see her inspiration - she has a crazy big collection of Virgin Mary's (see big bookcase in the background of some pics below, on the left).

My brothers Max (Tebowing) and Christian (Owling)

A group Tebow - Julian, JK, Max and Christian (clockwise)

Christian and JK Owling (see Virgin Mary's on bookcase to left)

A group Tebow, with my Mom and Christian in front debuting the "Hail Mary". 
Watch for it in 2012.

A sampling - Tebowing, Planking and Owling

Hank's first metal jacket

Anyone that knows us knows that Julian is a huge metal-head.  I'm an old (well, not that old!) rocker too and love lots o' metal as well.  So we figured Hank should have a few metal jackets in babyhood.  Who knows what type of music he'll be into once he's older, but for now he's ours to dress up!

We bought this first jacket used.  But we inherited several more (bigger) denim jackets from my wonderful boss (Trang), who gave us her two boys' clothes.  No, the jacket did not come this way, but that would have been cool.  Julian sewed on all of the patches.

I'm sexy and I know it.....wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.

Here's a better view of the front.

A view of the back.

Since I took pics near it: here is our new hawk, sold to us by our friend Chris.

Hank's first beach trip

A couple of weeks ago we spent a few nights at the beach.  Before going on maternity leave I remember thinking how we'd be making all these outings - wine tasting, beach trips, karaoke, going out to eat a lot, etc. 

Well, reality hit and I realized that having a new baby means spending a whole lot of time at home.  Especially a super cranky baby.  It took us a bit, but we finally realized that Hank had what's called "purple crying".  This is an acronym for:
P - peak crying (peaks around 2 months)
U - unpredictable
R - resistent to soothing
P - pained look on face
L - long bouts of crying
E - evening crying 

This was Hank, absolutely.  And it was beyond frustrating and nerve wracking.  Both Julian and I were in tears so many times trying to figure out why he was crying so much and how we could make him stop.  When Hank was awake he was crying.  And just before 2 months he got a whole lot better.  Now when he cries it's usually for a reason we can pretty much figure out. 

So, needless to say, we didn't leave the house much in the first few months.  We're still a little freaked out to take him out to a restaurant, or anywhere there are many people to hear his freak outs (because I believe he's one of the world's loudest babies).  Things are getting better.  But being at home, or a friend's home, saves us money, too. 

Julian's parents were nice enough to let us use some of their timeshare points and we stayed for 2 nights at the Seaside timeshare.  This place was super nice: a 2 bedroom with a full kitchen and balcony with oceanview.  And best of all - it was free! 

J Dog and me (holding Hank)

Anne (holding her daughter, Scarlett), Emily, Hank and me

Thanksgiving happenings

Well, another Thanksgiving has come and gone.  We usually have Thanksgiving at our house, but with a new baby that was not something I was looking forward to this year.  Although we do a potluck dinner there's still a lot of work involved with hosting a big food event at your house.  So my brother and sister-in-law (Max and Wendy) were gracious enough to host dinner at their house this year.  That took a huge load off us. 

We had a great time.  The food was awesome.  I made parmesan fondue for an appetizer, brussels sprouts with dried cranberries and walnuts for a side dish and key lime pie for dessert.  We also had a ham, turkey,  stuffing & gravy, broccoli cheese casserole, cheddar & poppy seed mashed potatoes, sweet potato mountain, rolls, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pies.

After dinner we all got to enjoy watching videos from their computer on their TV (including our current fave: Maroon 5's "Moves Like Jagger", and LMFAO videos).  "Moves Like Jagger" is a new favorite for sure. 

My nephew, Ashton, showing us his breakdancing - he did some great windmills.

Max and Wendy set up two long tables so we could all actually sit together.

Hank with Oma and Opa Bijsmans

My uncle Jim and Matt were in town for Thanksgiving and we got together with them the next day so they could meet Hank.  Here were are at Bread & Ink Cafe for brunch.

Uncle Jim holding Hank (Hank looking pleased, as usual) and Matt