Princess Denise



Denise, is a true princess in our eyes. Normally, the word conjures a diva connotation in my mind, so I don't use it often. But Denise is a princess in the best sense of the word: regal, dignified, and beloved by everyone who knows her. Sharp as a whip, witty, funny, creative, beautiful--and a friend as true as they come. It has been my pleasure to call her friend since we were in Junior High.

Her birthday is on New Years Eve, so we were privileged to celebrate it with her and her darling husband, also much adored in this house: Matthew. It was a super-fun and cozy evening...


...which started with a reading of a new Robert Frost book brought for Audrey


...and some essential appetizers...



which were clearly enjoyed. Then, little punkin' went to bed.


...And the adults started to play Wii: Dance Revolution.


If you've never played this, you absolutely MUST try it some time. It is SUPER fun--and this is coming from someone who looked like an absolute fool trying to keep up.





Then, to help us better keep the rhythm, Dean broke out the Parrot Bay.
Uh, just in case your wondering, rum and coke does not aid agility in video games.

Since none of us thought we would stay awake past 9pm, it was decided that we would delay dinner to help our efforts to make the midnight countdown. It actually worked! Around 9, we started cooking a light meal of chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans, followed by a crazy lemon cake/dessert that may just have skooched passed the very fine line between decadence and excessiveness (lemon cake layers separated by cheesecake, frosted in lemon buttercream and crusted with vanilla crumb topping. I liked it, but not sure that it was a hit with anyone else. Definitely something best served in thin slices that leave you wanting more, rather than hefty wedges that leave you begging for a colon cleanse.)



Aren't these love birds just SO cute?
Happy New Year everyone! And may 2008 be your best year yet, D!

Family


Here we are, winding down the Christmas festivities. This last family gathering happened on December 29th, so I'm not THAT far behind in posting.


Audrey discovers a very old toy that Nanna has kept through the generations


Our happy little family...




Now you might be thinking: 'boy this sure is alot of pictures of these people and their kid'--and you're right. But hey, if you're bored, there are other blogs out there.


Toddler on the go:
She's content to look at Santa for about 1 1/2 seconds...before needing to flee!


This color-coordination thing was not planned. I am so not into color coordinating-not with my spouse, or anyone else for that matter, unless it really, really matters to them.



The Morris clan...


Our sweet niece, Katie-boo...


Val, boy-Chris and girl-Chris


Squinty and Joe


Faith-y and Audre-y


Da boys sippin' DP and havin' a good laugh!


Val and AB


Jez doin' something suspicious around the tree...


Jesse (Tim and Ashley in background)


Uncle Phil, A and Aunt Mindy


Tim and Ashley


Grandma...we love Grandma


Silly chics

Malou Fabiani Marchesi
49cm, 3,040 grams



A little angel named Malou made her entrance into the world , at 12.18 pm on December 27th in Copenhagen, Denmark. Our dear friends, Michela and Roberto, are her proud parents.

Sweet Malou, may your life be blessed and long. We quote an Irish blessing:

"As the sheep to the shepherd
As the branch to the vine
As the flower to the stem
As the bride to her groom

As the fish to the water
As the bird to the air
As the star to the sky
As the sun to the moon

As the plant to its seed
As the grass to the dew
As a babe to its mother
May God be near you."

And since God never changes or moves, is never any nearer or farther away (no matter how we may imagine it to be so), it is our prayer that you will simply know how close He is to you;
His presence in your every breath.

Santa loves you. Jesus too.
Part II:Silent Night





Christmas Eve with Kelly was extremely hyggeligt! (Yes, Matt, even with tacos and beans. Don't you get 'ham'd out' by the end of the season?)


Peaceful, quiet and reflective...



...with a viewing of Charlie Brown's Christmas. (Deep stuff.)


The next morning, Santa had left a few gifts!






...and we had a yummy breakfast...



Later, we went to the Probst house where some other kids we know were having a BALL playing with their new Wii. Some of us had more fun designing everyone's Mii and trying to make it look like the actual person. (Except for Mike's; his Mii icon looks suspiciously like Kim Jung Ill. This started at Matt & Denise's home.) Other kids watched the Laker's game. (Ah, America.)