Ornaments through the ages

Here's a small sampling of what's on our tree. The pictures are pretty fuzzy. I still think they look better fuzzy than flashed.

First, a few faves from childhood.

I think I made this Santa in primary? Mom, can you remember? I think he's simple yet surprisingly Santa looking.

This seemingly naked, snowflake carrying fairy with a ponytail was my absolute favorite for many years. She's iridescent.

I have no idea why Santa would be riding in a hot air balloon instead of his sleigh, but I loved this ornament.

It happened.

*sigh*

I miss Taiwan.

Various and Sundry

It's been a while since I last posted and too much has happened to be specific so here are a few highlights of the past month.

First and Foremost...you know that Japanese straightening perm I mentioned before? The one I used to get in Taiwan and am in love with? The one that fancy schmancy American hair stylists charge $500 (!) for? Well, notice my hair in the below pictures. This is my hair after just a touch of blow drying and no straightening with an iron. I repeat . . . no straightening iron was involved! I found the straightening perm on the internet and bought it for $65 and my sister Eileen who has NO BEAUTICIAN EXPERIENCE (gasp) performed the procedure. So, sorry to all you fancy schmancy beauticians out there who insist that the Japanese straightening perm is akin to rocket science and can't possibly be done by the lay person and most certainly cannot be done for less than $500....well....it can. Just admit it, you charge $500 because you can. I'm okay with that. And I forgive all of you because now I can do it myself (okay, my sister can do it herself) and sure, you could probably do a better job, but not $435 dollars better.

Grandpa and Violet at the wedding.

Lily the flower girl and Brianne the beautiful bride.

Me and my hunk (who has lost 45 lbs. since July!)

Violet looking mighty suspicious.

Thanksgiving with the relatives. Grant standing in the kitchen to look helpful, but not actually doing anything.

Felipe and Violet. She looks more like his daughter than mine.

Alma and Helaman pretending it's still Halloween.

Me on the job.

Violet's gorgeous baby blessing outfit sewn by my mom.

The boys showing off.

Grandma and Violet (who is sporting yet another amazing dress sewn Grandma).

And in the middle of all this activity we somehow found the time to make paper hats.

Eliseo and Dad at Elie's baptism.

Whew! It was a fun month of visiting family and I'm sad it's over. At least there is Christmas to cheer me up. Or depress me, depending on which angle I view it from.

The Prizefighter

If she was a prizefighter this is what Lily would look like:

Taiwan, two years old.

Yesterday

But she's too sweet to be a fighter. She was just running on the playground at school and fell down. She just about broke her bottom lip off, it was hanging down grotesquely. Too bad I don't have a pic of that, huh? It's too bad she didn't do this last week and she could have been Frankenstein's daughter for Halloween.

Rune wants to be sure to mention that you could clearly see her meat.

My fellow Americans

Okay, this post is really to post the kids Halloween pics, so the title is totally inappropriate. I just wanted to say it because I feel so happily patriotic today. A way I haven't felt since that stinker Clinton lied under oath! I also admit to having an ulterior motive for feeling happy today. I've been looking forward to the 2008 election for a long time because regardless of who won I was hoping that my husband could finally get over his ridiculously misguided and obsessive angst toward our poor President Bush. I don't know, though, Grant might actually need some therapy!

Anyhoo, here are the pics:

Eliseo had a scary mask, but it turns out masks are not allowed at school or at Trunk or Treat so he came up with this last minute.

My mom made this cute duck costume when Rune was two. I love recycling Halloween costumes!

Rune is a dark side Jedi. I made this costume. I almost didn't, but he wanted it so much I finally did. Luckily it was one of those 2 hr patterns. He does have some sweet Jedi moves.

This costume shows just how pathetic I was this year. A sheet with eyes cut out? How embarrassing! And I totally had Lily convinced it was ultra cool.

No, I didn't dress Violet up. But she does a pretty good monkey impression on her own. Check out the hair on her arms and back!

I'm pleased...

with the new president. I'm not going to go politics here because I know that most of my friends, family and neighbors have different political views than mine and are probably disappointed today and I love you guys more than I love my opinions. But I can't help saying that today is a happy day for me and I look forward to a future of peace, not war, prosperity for the majority, not the few, and healthcare for everyone! Okay, maybe America is not ready for the last just yet......someday.

More jokes from Rune

Here are the latest:

From what magazine can you buy stuff for cats?
A cat-alog.

What does a rat who plays basketball like to eat?
Swish cheese.