Books read 2013

My reading just isn't what it used to be. I blame a couple of things. First, I've got the typical middle-aged-eyes thing going on, and reading books is a lot less physically comfortable than it used to be. So instead, I read on the iPad, which is great but it also makes it way too easy to get distracted by stuff on the Internet. When you read a book, there's no flipping over to check your email, post on Facebook, check the weather, play a little Bejeweled Blitz, etc. Still, here's what I did manage to get through in 2013 (click to make it bigger, and you will be able to read the titles):

Cats by the Christmas tree lights

Gotta know when to hold 'em . . .

Tonight we had little gambling fun. The game is called Left-Center-Right, and it's simple as can be but lots of fun. Everybody comes to the table with 3 dollars, which fly--as the name implies--to the left, to the right, to the center, until some lucky soul walks away with the pot:



Tonight that lucky soul was Mike:

Sassy loves her mom

Merry Christmas!

I didn't get many pictures today, but here are a few worth sharing.

Sarah made this amazing FSU/UR sign for the man cave:



And this beautiful Dr. Who bulletin board for Annabelle:



Those goofy, back-lit kids:



Fred with a lap of puppies:



Mike and Ginger share a Christmas nap:

Christmas Eve scenes

Look who I found at Whole Foods today:



Two dogs in a one-dog bed:



Taking a picture of taking a picture:



Our looming tree:



Ginger guards the stockings:



And to all a good night!

How to grow a stocking

My Grandma Grace made Christmas stockings for all of her great-grandchildren, so one of the first things I thought when I heard my cousin Terri was expecting was: "Oh, no! What about the stocking?" Fortunately, my mom found the pattern in the bench to Grandma's sewing table. Unfortunately, I procrastinated on getting started until the eleventh hour. When Annabelle was home for Thanksgiving, she and I went to Michaels and found the same yarn Grandma had used for the others, and I got to work. I was determined to get this stocking done by Christmas!

December 5:



December 6 (If you look at the bottom, you can see Annabelle's stocking, which I referred to quite often.):



December 7:



December 10:



December 14:



December 17:



December 19:



I handed the stocking over to UPS on Friday, and today Terri sent me a picture to show me that it had made it:



I think Grandma would be pleased!

Annabelle, meet Sassy!

Sassy, meet Annabelle!

It's another puppy party!

Mike, Sarah, and Sassy are here for Christmas. Let the puppy escapades begin!

Hey, squirrel, that's not for you!

Seen in Old Town Alexandria

"Here's lookin' at you!"

Snow day!

Not a good day to go out:



But a good day for getting the tree finished:

I scream, you scream

The Christmas tree at Union Station is decorated by Norway with ornaments featuring the tortured soul from the painting "The Scream":



My kind of ornament!