More Recent Photos

Christmas Ship in Edmonds, WA with Angie & Brandon


Percy and Ares on the Slanket

Christmas Ship in Leschi
Kara

My special friend Christy

Matty

Christmas in Wenatchee
Ella & Aunt Courtney

Grandpa & RoboKitties

Sadie & RoboKitty

Holiday Cheer

Snowy Sadie

Sledding Ella



Ares

Percival

Recent Photos

Sadie on the Christmas Ship (Uncle Chris spoiled both her and Ella with funny hats and blinky pins)

My Parent's Christmas card photo

Chris's Christmas present from his Mom

Our fireplace (no bird this time)

Holiday Getaway

For the past week I've been taking some much needed time off. Time off from work and time off from the internet. The internet part wasn't exactly by choice but I feel refreshed and ready for action. Here is a recap of where I've been and what I've been doing.

Friday December 21st - Day of last blog entry
This was Chris's b'day so after work we met up with Matty and Kara for a birthday happy hour. Then Chris and I went to the Dahlia Lounge for a romantic birthday dinner. Chris had the famous crab cakes and I had the short ribs. We went home stuffed and happy.

December 22nd - Spinners and Whackers
Kara picked me up on Saturday morning and we headed out for Wenatchee. We got a late start and by the time we hit Snoqualmie Pass the snow was really coming down and we had to put chains on her car. They had instituted a chain requirement and checkpoint so we sat in traffic for about 2.5 hours before we were allowed to head over the pass. By the time we passed the checkpoint I was about ready to jump out of the moving car and pee in the woods. Luckily we made it to the rest area at the top of the pass in short order. Then we got back on the road heading down the pass towards Cle Elum. We almost made it to the bottom of the pass when all of a sudden we hit a major patch of ice and even with chains on we began to slide across the road. We spun 180 degrees and proceeded to smash backwards into the guard rail. We were both a little freaked out but we were facing the wrong way on I-90 so Kara got us out of there right quick. Luckily when we stopped to survey the damage at the bottom of the hill we found that the only damage was a missing reflector light and a small scratch on the bumper. We jumped UP AND DOWN screaming "It's a Christmas Miracle". Needless to say we crept our way to Wenatchee and finally made it there about 8 hours after leaving Seattle. By far the longest trip I've ever had over the passes. When I arrived at my parents house we hopped right in the car and headed to Chuck and Janice's house for a delicious holiday meal.

December 23rd
Sunday mom and I shopped and shopped and shopped to finish up her Christmas shopping. We had a fun time and it snowed most of the day. She also introduced me to Quiznos. I'd never eaten there before but I think I might go back again.

December 24th
Chris made his way over the passes on the 24th to join us in Wenatchee. His trip was uneventful and he made it in about 3 hours. Once he arrived we went visiting and delivering gifts to friends around Wenatchee. We went to the Woodwards, the Johnsons and the Dore's. At each house there were holiday libations and snacks. By the time we got home we were stuffed and ready for bed. We stayed up a bit longer and Chris introduced my dad to Wii Golf. He was hooked right away.

December 25th
I was up at 6am to see what Santa brought me but had to wait until Chris finally got up around 8am to open my gifts. We had a nice morning hanging out with the parents, opening gifts and eating a wonderful holiday breakfast. Then we decided to go see Charlie Wilson's War. Pretty good movie and when we came out of the theater it was dumping snow. A perfect White Christmas.

December 26th
Part of the reason that I have been internet free while in Wenatchee was that my parents computer was bogged down with spyware and viruses. I tried and tried to fix it but in the end we decided that since the computer was 10 years old anyway we'd just replace. So, on Wednesday we braved the day after Christmas crowds and got them a new computer, monitor and printer at Costco. We also purchased the Norton security package to hopefully block these issues from happening again. Chris and I spent the afternoon setting up the new computer and getting everything installed. Around 4pm Jeff, Sara and the girls showed up and we had Christmas again. The girls were showered with gifts and had a great time. Then we went to McGlinns for dinner and so that my mother could show off her granddaughters to everyone in town.

December 27th
Thursday we played lots of Wii, went sledding, and had an amazing dinner at my Aunt Cindy and Uncle Gary's house. We had a great holiday family time and again the girls were showered with gifts. All smiles.

December 28th
Chris and I decided to brave the passes on Friday and made our way back to Seattle. Blewett was a bit snowy and icy but the Subaru made it right over. Snoqualmie was dumping rain but no snow and ice. We made it safely home and the kitties were so happy to see us. Our friend Christy did a great job watching them (Thank you!!). Lisa came over to visit on Friday night - I was glad to get a chance to see her while she was in town.

December 29th
Yesterday Chris and I got up early and headed to Olympia to celebrate Christmas with his family. We all met up at the Grandparent's house and enjoyed an afternoon of pizza and presents. The Grandparents were so happy to have us all in their house at once. Afterwards Angie, Brandon, Chris and I decided to check out the new Cabela's store in Lacey. It was insane. It is a hunting and fishing store on steroids. It was way too crowded and busy for me to enjoy. Chris was loving it. Then we headed home and played our new Christmas Wii games until it was bedtime.

Well, there is the recap. A fun holiday week of friends and family. I'm so glad I took the time to enjoy it.

Happy Holidays!

Happy Birthday Chris House

Today is Chris House's Birthday. Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Today is also my last day at work before Christmas vacation and to celebrate that and Chris's birthday I went shopping and bought stuff for myself. Christy went with me and she bought stuff for herself. I like to shop for me......

Percy circa 1998

Ode to Today

Christmas time depressing rain
Please oh please turn to snow
Howling bone chilling wind
Rude umbrella wielders
Bus stop patrons cutting in line
Shoppers snatching up bargains
HO HO HO....

Ireland, is that you?

I have a blog tracker on this site as I've mentioned before. It shows me the IP addresses of visitors and what they searched for to get to my site. In the past week or so I've been getting a ton of hits from Ireland (??). They keep searching for "Courtney Jones" or "Chris House" or other variations of that. I'm pretty sure I don't know anyone in Ireland but would love to know who is out there searching for us....

Care to comment Ireland?

Icanhazcheezburger?

Ok this was too hilarious not to repost. I'm having a chill day at home, doing some web surfing, and this gem was delivered to me via bloglines. Oh Internet how I love thee.

6 Dozen Cookies: Part II

We had our cookie exchange today. I still have 6 dozen cookies but they are a variety now instead of all one type. I have a feeling that Chris's coworkers are going to be pretty excited tomorrow when he shows up with a huge plate of cookies. There is fudge, cranberry cookies, nut/coconut clusters, snicker doodles, sesame cookies and even these crazy 7 layer cookies. Fun times!

6 Dozen Cookies

Last night I made 6 Dozen Cookies. We're having a Cookie Exchange at work this week and I decided to participate. I made Chocolate Chip Shortbread Logs with the ends dipped in Chocolate and crushed Candy Canes. They turned out really well but I made a disaster area out of our kitchen. I'm pretty sure I'll be finding bits of candy cane and droplets of chocolate for some time. And then there was that moment of panic when I turned the mixer on too high and the flour just exploded. I think there might be bits of cookie on the ceiling.

House Bird

So I was sitting here minding my own business, blogging, checking investment accounts, shopping online when I heard some rustling in the fireplace across from me. Percy and I both went to check it out but couldn't really see anything so I went back to my spot on the couch. I then called my father to get the update on when they'd be leaving. As I was talking to him a giant Flicker (woodpecker) came down the chimney and landed on the fireplace screen. Needless to say I began to scream. I threw down the phone (poor dad) and yelled for Chris who was still in bed. The bird had by then gone behind the TV and was stuck in mess of cords back there. I put the kitties in the bedroom and shut the door, Chris got the pot holders on and I grabbed a broom and opened both the front and the back doors. After about 5 minutes the bird flew out from behind the TV and out the open back door. My heart is still pounding like crazy. Apparently the birds would like Chris to put more seed out in the feeders so they sent in a representative to get us moving. We've now shut our flue.

Invasion of the Jones Family

Time to start getting the house ready for the invasion of the Jones Family. Jeff just called and they are going to be on the road from Portland soon (luckily I-5 is back open). Mom and dad will also be leaving shortly from Wenatchee. Soon they will all converge on our tiny little house for the weekend. We'll be going on the early sailing of the Christmas ship today at 4pm! We planned this last year also but sadly we had no power the weekend we planned it for and had to cancel. I was a basket case when I found out I-5 might still be closed today but luckily it is back open and they should be able to make it in time! I'm really looking forward to having the whole family in one place again. It has been since last spring that we've all been together. Uncle Chris can't wait to show the girls the Christmas ship. I'm fairly certain we will be spoiling them rotten on board with blinky lights and funny hats.

Viva la Christmas Ship!

December Photos

Not much to blog about but here are some photos from the past week:

Saturday 12/1/07 it snowed in West Seattle. It started out slow then began to dump large white flakes. This is what it looked like towards the end:


My attempt at Christmas decorations on the front porch:


The House Family Christmas Tree 2007:

The official Christmas Ship the Spirit of Seattle - docked in Kirkland for opening night:

Cam & Cheri on the Christmas Ship:

Matty & I:

Percy helping Mr. House water the Christmas Tree:


Ares helping Percy:

My beef with the Family Channel

Sunday night I was laying on the couch after a long hard day of laying on the couch and surfed over to the Family Channel to watch "What a Girl Wants". Yeah, laugh all you want, I like that movie. I was happily watching Amanda Bynes frolic in England when a commercial came on. Two scantily clad adults, one male and one female, were lying in a large bed near a roaring fire. They were congratulating each other on how good they'd both been that night. How much fun they'd had. How great they'd been. Etc. Then the woman said "And you were so fast!". Flash to them earlier in the night playing Pictionary with a group of friends. Funny right? Well yes, if you're an adult. But really should that be shown on the Family Channel to a group of impressionable teenage girls who are watching the timeless classic "What a Girl Wants"? I don't know, call me an old fuddy duddy, but I just don't find that appropriate. So from now on I'm boycotting the Family Channel.

*steps off soap box*

Storm Update

The garage had quite a bit of water in it but very little had gotten into the basement. Chris had put old towels by the garage door and they soaked up what water did try to enter our house. Today is supposed to be stormy as well but nothing like yesterday.

I must say I was glued to the news last night and it was freaking me out. My little water problem was nothing compared to what others were dealing with. Cars filled with water, roofs blown off houses, one man killed by a falling tree.

Global Warming? Never heard of it.....

Storm Season 2007

It is official, storm season 2007 is here. It is DUMPING rain here in Seattle and the winds are howling. I can't wait to get home today to find that our basement has water again (keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't). Saturday we had snow. Sunday we had rain rain rain and super high winds. Mom and dad flew into Seattle last night from Cabo but their plane to Wenatchee was grounded. Right now they are on a bus that is probably slowly making it's way over the mountains. Super fun happy times.

Day of Birth

Interesting site. http://www.dayofbirth.co.uk/

Here are my stats:

	You were born on a Friday.
	Your star sign is Leo.
	The season was Summer.
	You are 32 years, 3 months, 10 days old.*
	It is 264 days until your next Birthday.*
	You are 11,790 days old.*
	You are approximately 282,982 hours old.*
	You are approximately 1,018,736,638 seconds old.*