Birthday Liz

Birthday Liz is pretty similar to regular Liz, except Birthday Liz is usually in a better mood because she takes the day off work. It's tough getting older, so for as long as I can get away with it, I will take my birthday off from work. (Hear that, future kids?! Mommy won't be doing anything January 14th.) My brother Jim called me to wish me a happy day and asked if I was turning 28. "Sure". Bless his poor memory, 28 sounded nice.

Birthday Liz and a (belated) Christmas cat. Kathryn hates the caplet, but I'm a big fan, so I've decided I'll put it on her whenever I feel festive.

After I made an embarrassing attempt at blowing out my candles.

Nate had the morning off so he made me french toast for breakfast. After, he asked me what I wanted to do. "Open presents", the adult said. The adult didn't take the "you don't have any presents" news very well. To clear his record, Nate is always a star with any holiday, including Sweetest Day, which is kind of a made up, Midwestern holiday. In his words, he didn't "have anything big to get [me]". Ridiculous; I have enough big items to last me a while. I wasn't so upset that I didn't have gifts, I just didn't want to only be involved in the "getting older" activity that day, I wanted a distraction. A trip to the mall fixed that problem. Thanks to Nate for indulging Birthday Liz.

She gave up after a while.

What better way to celebrate my birthday than with a Halloween swirl cake? It appears to be permanently stuck in the castle mold, so it ended up looking extra creepy. On the upside, it has helped me use less frosting whenever I have a piece. Nate asked me if I was okay being filmed as I blew my candles out. I really can't remember a birthday old or young that I've successfully finished off all my candles without the pity-filled help of those around me. I remember for around my 10th birthday, I blew out maybe one. It was quiet for a bit, possibly for those trying to figure out why a young buck couldn't manage a few candles. Well, for those still trying to figure it out-it's just not going to happen. I at least don't have age to blame on the problem. I don't really have asthma to blame either, so....

I'm happy to have survived another year; thanks to all for the birthday wishes and notes, it was fun to hear from you...almost as fun as eating an unfrosted cake out of a pan; and/or being better at eating candles than blowing them out. Until next year!

Christmas activities

Before we left for Christmas vacation, Nate and Kathryn had to finish up a few details...like finals. It's a stressful time for them, so we are always glad when it's finished. It also means it's time to go home!

Brothers at the brand new bowling alley in Afton. After Grandma's festivities, we went out on the town. "Out on the town" also included: buying socks at King's (I had forgotten any socks but nylons), buying teriyaki nuggets at the grocery store, and getting a nice home cooked meal from the local Burger King. And yes, Tom now knows a six pack is too many.

Vince helping momma Ruth with the dishes. Hotel Ruth was one of my many stops-always a favorite.

My cat stand ins, Amos 'n Andy. They come free of charge with a stay at Chateau Grey. Tom and Stacey let me stay an extra night or two whilst Nate was out of town. Highlights: watching Grey be so darn happy, eating Stacey's homemade desserts, and making fun of some of the worst real estate listings in the valley.

At the Harrison Christmas party-during the nativity production.

All of the kids did a really good job...the video is too large to post, so I'll need to figure out something else...their "lines" were the best part, followed by their creative costumes.

My night with the (almost all) blond kids. Lizzie and I played "guess the Sesame Street character", the twins actually let me hold them, and Ethan, Alisha, Jim and I laughed at how crazy/sexist the claymation "Rudolph" story really is.

The wee Ivie. Jessica's first and the only Higley grandchild in Utah, she's a popular item. It doesn't hurt that she's really cute and smiley.

Christmas morning=Christmas eyes

Liz's version of Christmas face.

Christmas day at mom and dad Harrison's house

Because Nate was gone earlier, he needed to catch up with the kitties as well.

Grey. :)

Liz up at the U near the special steps. Special steps=where Nate and I saw each other for the "first" time and started talking. Well, I started out pretending I didn't recognize him and he started out talking.

Our visits home are always fun and too quick. Thanks to both of our families!

Happy new restaurant

We are ringing in the new year in Ann Arbor today. Olive Garden kicked it off right by giving Nate a round of food poisoning he labeled "mostly worse than Peru". That's something an American restaurant should be proud of!

More substantive posts to come, but for now we will enjoy resting in a quiet, clean hotel room void of any sheet rock, cement, counter tops, garbage, people, and small bits of glass (for my kitties to possibly step in). Heavenly.