week in photos

The rest of the holidays in PA and our return to Texas...

Christmas nails/ sink obsessed/ gift wrap/ nap by the tree

my best wrapped gift, for my brother/ advent/ stuffing/ jolly

Austrian drink/ midnight on Christmas/ Christmas eve meal/ playing with kitties

Toms/ Lego architecture/ fruit cake/ Christmas snow

watch!/ appropriate footwear/ drive to Pittsburgh/ in-laws tree

Christmas day travels/ Kyle, his brothers and cousins/ Pittsburgh tree/ morning at Ome's

snow storm- Pittsburgh/  Snuggie action/ Snow storm- State College

morning shoveling/ John's birthday/ Canadian's pup/ coffee with Abigail

snowy Starbucks/ comfy Toms/ hux in a bag/ Dar watching a toy helicopter

lots of Indian food/ Sheridyn and Bear/ fun hat/ flakie

wine/ Herwigs/ holiday Georgetown Cupcakes/ yum 

 movie night/ rest stop in VA/ hotel breakfast/ traveling darwin

Mississippi river/ Hux traveling/ late lunch/ home!

Finnish mits/ swatch/ Mr. Nutcracker/ movies!

- From the desk of Mrs. M

The Week in Photos

cats explore mom's house/ Nativity

cats in chairs/ Waffle Shop and their tree/ Indian Pavilion yum

Hux on a bookshelf/ gift tags/ leftovers/ sink kitty

nice/ stockings hung by the chimney/ local dairy egg nog and ice cream

PA morning/ wreath/ holiday flowers/ Canada hat

me in 1995/ ingredients/ train station picking up little brother/ snow!

tree at night/ holly lights/ I made dinner/ night walks

attire/ cookie/ inappropriate footwear/ nails

busy Wegmans/ PA scene/ tea and reading/ shuffleboard with friends

morning light/ Hobbit x2/ me, Isaac, Erica/ recipe

jello/ booties/ cake pops/ Steelers game

baking Joelle's cookies/ brothers/ tasty cookies/ always read comics at home

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Holly Jolly State College

Some holiday scenes from around here...

We've been enjoying some State College eateries, doing some gift shopping, and hanging out with family. We got a bit of sleet and snow yesterday! with more on the way; maybe it will be a white Christmas.  My youngest brother arrives from school today, Kyle and I are hanging out with friends tomorrow evening, and once Christmas eve hits, things will get busier- more people gradually arriving (sister on the 25th, Canadians on 27th), we'll take a 24h trip to Pittsburgh to visit Kyle's family, and it's my mom's Christmas birthday, and brother's 21st on the 27th!

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Sonnet 73

a State College park, last fall

That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
In me thou seest the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west,
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.
In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the death-bed whereon it must expire
Consumed with that which it was nourish'd by.
   This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong,
   To love that well which thou must leave ere long.

                                                               - William Shakespeare

Monday

 our old kitty at home :)

 at my parents house

 coconut chip at the Creamery

sister and going over notes downtown before the flower meeting

 sisters dress and flower meeting

 the farm!

Monday was probably the least chaotic day of this upcoming week. We: dropped off my dress to be steamed, picked up my sister from the airport (then got Penn State Creamery ice cream), met with the florist and wedding planner, and headed out to the farm to talk through things. Not too too much going on but it was still a long, stressful day. There is more going on today and a lot of people arriving! Wednesday we set up the farm, which I am really looking forward to.

State High

My high school, State College Area High, made this pretty cool and definitely impressive lip dub video! The only not cool part is that Kyle and I, class of 2006, didn't recognize any of the students, a sign that we are truly old. I did spot my father in law (5:13), though (and my freshman/sophomore year locker)! He teaches chemistry; my sister was in his class, years before Kyle and I ever started dating. It was also fun seeing several former hang out spots and familiar places. Band hallway, choir room, auditorium...I spent a lot of time at that school. Oh, nostalgia. I really loved high school. Well done, State High.

Up the Mountain

One of the things Kyle wanted to do while back in PA was to hike Mount Nittany. Even though it was cold and a little rainy out, Kyle managed to convince me to go for a hike this afternoon. We selected two walking sticks from my dad's collection, I borrowed my mom's boots, and we headed out. We didn't have time for a very long hike, but went up the mountain and to a couple overlooks. We didn't run into any other humans or creatures during our hike, but we saw a few tracks.  It was really quite nice. The way back down was a little annoying as it was sometimes slippery, but we managed to not fall, yay! 

 Happy Valley

 Boalsburg overlook

 deer tracks

 our walking sticks and hats

- Mrs. M