let's look at some circles.

a very few pictures of a full and really fun weekend

We started Christmas at my Uncle Scott's house.  We have no pictures of that.  The next day we wrapped some presents at my parents' house.  Here are a few either wrapped or about to be, and a lovely centerpiece as well (go Mom & Dad!). 

Look!  It's my mom enjoying a little sunshine through the window!  Hi Mom!

Now look!  It's my dad, and he enjoys the sunshine too!  Hi Dad!

And look again!  It's our dog, adorable Roxanne!  She's on vacation this week, probably sitting on the lap of a parent sitting in one of those green recliners by the window.  Have fun, Roxanne!

Oh, look at Kyle!  He's eating a cookie.  We ate heaps and mounds of delicious and beautiferous cookies at my parents' house and then at Kyle's parents' house and then at home in Chicago.  We are still eating them and will likely continue.  They're wonderful.  I was introduced to Lemon Bonbons, and Kyle was introduced to Aunt Ellie's Butter Cookies.

This, as you can plainly see, is a glass of water.  It might be out of water, I'm not sure.  Unfortunately, after taking this photo I realized that our good ol' camera batteries were definitely out of juice.  And so I don't have photos of the fun we had at the Schlies' house in Kokomo, nor of the fun people (and dogs!) with whom we had said fun.  But you don't have to take my word for it (look at me!  I'm Levar Burton!)-- you can take a look at the fun pictures on Barb's blog.

The top of our Christmas tree.

A pink stick with pink ribbon wrapped around.  This is at a boat launching spot on the river.

We've been pickling vegetables.

This shopping cart has appeared in our front yard four times in the last week.

 It's windy sometimes.

Thanksgiving leftovers

Guess who turned five today?

Thanksgiving pictures

Rusty nearly attacked me.  Luckily I had some leftover turkey in my pocket and threw it at his face which gave me a couple seconds to hide in the bushes and remind him that I was family and that you don't eat family.  After my escape Shannon peeked out the front door to ask if she needed to call an ambulance.

It rained a lot.  And if it wasn't raining it was sprinkling.  When the neighborhood sewage pond gets full the warning system, so people know to stop using their toilets for a few hours, comes on- that's the red flash you can see in this picture.  Every house has these powerful red flashers.  It's noisy too.  Kind of like clanging silverware.  Luckily (for the people who live there) this only happens once every few years.  Lucky for us (the couple-times-a-year visitors) we witnessed the whole phenomenon.

On the left: My cousins heading to their car. On the right: My mom explaining her preferred method for ricing a cauliflower.

The UFO landed over seven years ago.  It made those 3 large spots which are now dead grass.  People like my brother just nonchalantly walk through the yard as if it hadn't been graced by aliens but I found it mildly interesting.

It snowed!  Also, this is not one of our bikes.  We don't park in the snow.

Roxanne is a huge fan of snow.  She just loves it.   Can't get enough.

Either I suffer from terrible insomnia or my mascara is not melting-snow-proof.

What can I say? I enjoy taking sneaky pictures of Kyle.

Think-a-while Kyle

X-file Kyle

Gonna-wash-with-Dial Kyle

Paparazzi-style Kyle (and his Pop)

Hungry-enough-to-eat-a-crocodile Kyle

Walk-a-mile Kyle

Talk-on-the-phone-and-smile Kyle

I'm gonna post a picture of...

Roxanne!  Don't let her relaxed facade fool you-- she's been busy.  Stealing toys from other dogs, not sharing, chasing squirrels, growling, eating stray bits of cheese, getting grounded, riding around in cars, antagonizing poor old Johnny, looking at a windfarm, wagging her tail, whining, getting scratched behind her ears, scratching herself, getting scolded for scratching herself, sniffing, looking cute, and so much more.

Kyle's got something new!  And it's not a pair of scissors...

Now you see, don't you?

Yeah, baby!  An armful of tattoos!  Unfortunately, getting that many skull tattoos in one sitting often results in "hot loose arm" syndrome, which is why he is wearing short sleeves on the tattoo (left) side, and also why his skin looks a little wrinkly under the tattoos.  It's supposed to wear off in a couple of weeks.

some wedding day photos

more photos in the coming weeks...