Tulips

Tulips are my favorite flower.  Poppies come second, but tulips are definitely at the top.  When they're in season, Blake's been known to surprise me with a pot of them now and again.  I prefer live potted tulips to cut tulips because they last so much longer and don't droop as much.

Though we'd already bought each other our anniversary gift (a circular saw...how romantic!), Blake surprised me with these pink beauties when we were out grabbing our obligatory post-anniversary-dinner doughnuts.

As an aside: we may or may not have eaten dinner and dessert at a French restaurant, but still got a box of chocolate doughnuts on the way home.  This is something, however, that I will neither confirm nor deny.

Christmas around the house.

I tried something new in my Christmas decorating around the house this year.  Each room had a color theme (more or less): the living room was red, the family room was green, and the dining room was silver and gold.

I had red plaid pillows on the couch in the living room, red candles and a red tree skirt.  In the family room I had green plaid pillows, green topiaries, and a green garland around the windows.  In the dining room I had my silver and gold candlestick collection down the center of the table (with all white tapers) and a new gold Christmas tree in the corner with silver snowflake ornaments.

It was probably too subtle a scheme for anyone but me to notice, but I had fun doing it anyway.  Nothing makes the house feel more cosy than a Christmas tree and twinkle lights.  We added more garland and twinkle lights to the mix this year because we just can't get enough.

You'll notice we didn't put lights or ornaments on the bottom portion of the tree - that's thanks to little Bear.  He's obsessed with the tree and the lights and we were worried lest he bite the lights and electrocute his fully self.

At least now when we catch him laying under the tree biting off the lower limbs (his new favorite past-time) we're not worried about sudden death.

A few pictures from December

Blake got me a new camera for Christmas (that seemed to be the theme...I got him one, too - different kinds though).  So, I'm dumping the photos from our old camera before I start using the new one.  Be prepared for better pictures in the future.  I declare 2011 to be the year of decent photos.

 This year's Christmas tree was a beauty.  As I mentioned before, it was like a scene out of Christmas Vacation: we turned the corner at the lot and it was like a beacon of light was shining upon it.  Too perfect to pass up.

Here we are at our annual ugly sweater party (I couldn't find an ugly sweater...whoops) playing a revival of girls v. boys Pictionary.  The girls won.  As usual.  

Special props go to Lindsey and her delightful thrifted Christmas cape.

Here I am prior to the party preparing some goodies.  

And here is part of the spread.  We forgot to take a picture of the complete set-up, but it was lovely (pats-self-on-back).

And here is a group shot (minus Lindsey) of me and the fatties at Cafe Rio in Provo over the break.  We got together for a quick lunch while everyone was in town (minus Gretchen, Erin and Jenny).  It was really fun to see everyone and catch up and ooh/ah over new babies, new jobs, new puppies etc.  

Note to self: don't try to hide gum at the side of your mouth for a picture.  It isn't actually hiding and it isn't actually doing you any favors.  Square smile?