Damon's 11th

Damon's 11th was Sunday. It was choc-full of fun.
We started with lunch at Chili's where the birthday boy (and this gal for tomorrow) got chocolate milkshakes. Mmmmmm, milkshakes.Dude, a trampoline. I totally forgot they had a trampoline! As soon as Reece saw it, he headed straight out the back door. The static has it's way with his hair.Guitars were another theme of the day. I thought I was going to get to play Guitar Hero, but the boys kept wanting me to watch them for just one more song. It's a little weird watching 8 and 11 year old boys playing 'Welcome to the Jungle' as I sang along with a slight head bob. I tried to teach them to put more rock-n-roll in their performance, with a scream here and there and a leg kick. They thought I was funny, but were concentrating too hard. It's clear they don't understand what rock-n-roll is about just yet...that's probably a good thing.And when it was time for cake, we couldn't believe we had to wrestle them down to come. That MUST be a first.Reece catches onto this birthday thing really well. The first thing he says when we tell him it's someone's birthday is 'birthday cake!'. And today, he quickly plucked a freshly blown candle from the cake, turned it around, and licked the icing off.Damon got great gifts, and continuing with the guitar theme,
he got a real acoustic guitar.I got to open some gifts early too.
Do you all see my need for wrinkle cream NOW?
Told my gals that there is a price that comes with being so expressive.
They call it character. I call it wrinkles.This is a new age in family portraits, Wii style. ; )The Wii suits it's name. It's a lot of fun. I loved seeing PapaBen pop up and give everyone a run for their money.Grandmama got some hugs during the games.And the brothers duked it out in baseball.Reece hijacked a bag of Fritos and hid behind the couch. Fritos are ALWAYS part of our family get togethers. I don't know why, but we've just come to expect it. He would eat one and then use another as a car driving up the back of the couch. Goof.Broke out a claritin to help manage the allergies. Worked pretty well.Well the Cowboys game stunk, but we all looked great in our new gear thanks to Grandmama. Reece found 2 or 3 helmets in the boys' room's that he tried on. That boy loves football.Perhaps a little too small?Reece, oh precious, Reece. Oh how you tickled us today with that little guitar you found in Dylan's room. You strummed it and sang and sang and sang. You just made one up after another.Dylan, thank you, thank you for soooo graciously giving Reece your guitar. You didn't hesitate for a minute when your mom asked you if he could have it. (I'm a few days behind blogging, so I can tell you that he's strummed it every day since Sunday. He loves to play and sing, and it brightens my day just a little bit more each time.) Thanks, Dylan.Happy, Happy Birthday Damon.
You are a knarly Hurley, Wii playin', trampoline jumpin', Guitar Hero of mine. Keep practicing on the leg kicks and the rockin' out lip bite.
It'll come. ; )

Lizzy's Lights

Going to see Christmas lights I hoped would be one of our family traditions each year. I didn't think it was going to happen. And, it almost didn't.

A few weeks ago, I tore out a page from the Advocate's issue of 15 things to do this Christmas. With 3 birthdays and Christmas, this month is just nutty for us. Each evening of the last week or so, I thought about going to see the lights that I saw in the magazine, but the tiredness of each day sent my car straight home instead.

Yesterday evening, Mom and I were headed back from an errand cram (we always do that right before she leaves) sans D and the man. It had been a long day and we were both wiped out. As we headed home, I told mom how much I wish we had found the time to go see Christmas lights this year. I knew she was game...she always is. So we drove past my house and headed to 714 Newell, D's Garmin leading the way. It was just 1 house, but at least we'd see some lights this year, I thought.

When we arrived, there simply were no words for the astounding display. It was a phenomenon of lights, of electrical engineering genius, but most of all, of artist expression. Mom and I LOVED it.It was a divine appointment that night for sure. Firstly, we were the only ones there for at least 15 minutes. That's a long time out there in the cold. But even though I'm a warm weather gal, I could have stayed out there for hours.

We didn't just drive by or briefly walk through the display and ask Lizzy the standard questions about how many lights she uses and when starts the process. We were there for the experience, to appreciate the beauty of the lights and the incredibly talented artist behind it.I think Lizzy got that about us right away. After telling her each little detail I loved and why, I introduced myself and she introduced herself as Lizzy.
I think there is something significant in that. Later I googled and saw that she'd been in the newspaper and assorted other things because of her lights display. But, they always called her Liz. That's fine, but to me she's Lizzy. She's an artist. She pours her heart, her soul, her creative mind, and her strength into what she does, and helps us celebrate the best holiday of all in monumental proportions.Lizzy's friend told my mom that tonight was planned to be the last night of the display. That's when I knew for sure we were meant to be there.

Not only does it take a significant amount of planning and effort, dear Lizzy stays outside her house in the cold the entire time she has her lights on. She's a bit of a prisoner in this jail of Christmas wonder. I don't think she minds too much though, as it's clearly a labor of love. But know Lizzy, I am so thankful. I must have thanked her 10 times for her creation and for sharing it with us.I did ask her if she had any favorites, after sharing at least 5 of mine. "The Bumble", as she called it, was amongst the top of her list. I could tell there were fond memories of salvaging a moldy polar bear with some random white fur that for some reason they had lying around. It's a crowd fav too, as many people come and take their picture in front of it.I hope people didn't miss some of the other spectacular details in the display. The sleigh, designed and crafted by Lizzy, was a masterpiece and certainly highlights her talent. With the red squiggles on the door, I could tell her house reflects her well even when not Christmas time.A another favorite was the funky, colorful, stars, simply made from something like card board and taped with colored wrap. LOVED those.And then the bottles. I LOVED the bottles. Texture, color, shape and lights all together. They lined the walk way and hung in the trees. The square shape of the Patron was the best, and the taste of that one is pretty good too.The driveway was a sight all to itself. It was an alley wonderland. I wanted a little cafe table to sit with a glass of wine under there.(Can you find me in this one above?)One of the funnies was a bicycle hanging amidst it all. Why? Why not! I layed down and took a picture of it from underneath. Lizzy said, "well, no one has done that before." Ah, leave it to me! ; )The very next night we started our tradition.On a wing and a prayer, the three of us came to marvel at Lizzy's lights. Thank goodness she was there. I had a scarf over my head (to stay warm) and figured with all the people she meets in a season, she may not remember me. Wrong. She not only recognized me but called me by name.And one last view from the street...Thanks for such a Merry Christmas, Lizzy and a great start to our new year. And thank you for helping us start our Christmas lights tradition. Just 1 house for lights is great with us as long it is yours. It's not just a methodically executed display, it is an outpouring of your artsy fartsy talent and your giving heart.Pictures just don't do it justice, but hopefully some will get a sense of what they missed and put 714 Newell on their plans for next year.
Ah, but wait, I heard your Easter display is pretty awesome, so see you in a few months. ; )