100 (and 1) Things

"100 (and 1) Things" RULES: bold the ones you have done. Copy it and play for yourself!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Looked up an old boyfriend on Facebook
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning  - I wouldn't wish that on anyone
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty - no, but my Uncle Charlie has flown us around the "Big Lady" :)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept in an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset - two words: Orcas Island
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community - I'd live there if I could.  So peaceful...
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung Karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling - I tried Mom, I really tried
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud - who hasn't?
54. Gotten out of a speeding ticket - no but I've gotten into one. :)
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason - I love you too, Pete
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Adopted a stray dog or cat - and a bird and a snake and... I could keep going cuz my family has taken in just about every type of animal!
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check - I'm bolding this in shame
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone - again: who hasn't?
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day
101.  Gone skydiving - I just had to add this one in!

Fun, fun - thanks, Jen!

Jack vs. The Shredder

For your viewing pleasure...
(Don't forget to pause the music at the bottom of the page to hear the video.)

Crossley Family Christmas 2008

Christmas was a bit different this year. Our poor little Jack fell sick a few days before, so all my planning went out the window. Not to worry, it turned out to be just a bad virus that he won over like a real champ. He woke up Christmas morning feeling (and looking) much better. It turned out to be a great day... even with the setbacks we had.

Here's the picture book version:

Our tree all decked out, our stockings and all our presents! We received a lot of good loot this year: THANK YOU to Mom and Dad Crossley, Sara, The Odells, The Schencks, Mom and Dad Guinn, The Taylors, Grandmom and Pop Pop Shaak, The Crossleys in Penn., and The Crossleys in Florida!!!

This is the view from our porch. We had a White Christmas here in Seattle! Everyone was basically stuck at home for a few days cuz apparently they don't exactly believe in snow removal... but we could get around locally with 4 wheel drive. That said, we didn't venture far, which meant missing out on my brothers' celebrations on Christmas Eve. We'll have to get together some other time, bros.

Don't you just love the pink blossoms showing through the snow? Beautiful! These trees are right out in front of our house.

Jack loved his toys but wasn't too keen on the unwrapping part. He was still feeling a little under the weather and didn't want to put out too much energy yet. But look at that smile!

I love this shirt! It reads: "Kiss Me (Five dollars for the first kiss, two dollars for each additional kiss. Taxes may apply.)" Ha ha! Love it!

This is where it got sticky. This picture is of Pete examining the aftermath of our a kitchen flood. That's right: flood. Our disposal got clogged and when we turned on the dishwasher, our sink filled up with water. Pete tried to drain it into a bucket via the pipe underneath the sink, but there was too much water and it ended up all over the floor. A very Merry Christmas to us, huh?! I was also just finishing up some cooking I was doing, but I obviously had to put that on hold. From there our schedule got all out of wack and we ended up being late for everything.

We did finally get to our destination: Mom and Dad Crossley's house. Everyone else had been there for a while and had opened presents, celebrated... you know - had a normal Christmas. :) Anyway, Jack perked right up when he saw everyone.

This is the only picture that is even close to resembling a family Christmas portrait. We were just too busy having fun with all our goodies!

After dinner, it was off for dessert at the Schenck's house (this is Connie with Jack). Only one word can describe it all: YUM!! Plus we had all sorts of family and friends to mingle with. And Jack was able to meet Artie for the first time! The Schencks are close family friends whom we see all the time, but Artie lives back in Penn.

They had a blast together! Too bad you live so far away, Artie... Jack's gonna miss ya. :)

This is a rare picture of Bob - I just had to add it in!

There were more presents to be opened and everyone joined in the fun - I think the adults had more fun than the kids did!

Case in point: Pete with Jack's lawn mower. He was studying that thing for more than a few minutes...

It was pretty late when we finally left the Shencks, so we decided to celebrate Christmas with Pete's parents the next day. It was so nice and relaxing - quite different from the day before. :) Pete is reading Jack a book that had a Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer puppet. It was a big hit!

Jack showing off his mad walking skills!

Great Grandmom Shaak sent Jack the cutest snowman hat, but this is as close to his head as it got that day. Apparently, it was just too tasty.

Jack also played lots of fun games: Giddy up with "Sir Pop Pop"...

And I Spy with "Queen Grandmom" (a little inside joke)! These glasses make the Christmas tree turn into a kaleidoscope.

So, there you have it. Honestly, I'm glad that this is just a "run through" holiday for Jack. Next year will be better everyone - promise.