Best Christmas Song Ever

I spent most of the last week laughing with Jon and David to the Oak Ridge Boys' "Jesus was born today." Having not grown up in the Rietz house, I hadn't heard this song until last year.

I find it to be hilarious and creepy all at the same time. Jon found this video on YouTube...if you haven't seen or heard it, please enjoy.

White Christmas

Christmas this year in our house was delightfully low key. And, while we did have snow on the ground when we arrived in Asheville, the irony is that my family in Dallas actually had snow on Christmas day. Go figure.

Anyhoo, we had a lovely Christmas Eve with an open house, delicious dinner at the Castillo's, and our little gift exchange. My gift came a-la Peyton Manning but ended up being Wicked tickets taped to the ball and a DVD of Glee (love.). I gave Dave some bar ware which made him quite happy - he spent all night asking if he could pour me a drink.

David and I were in town until Christmas morning when we grabbed brother Jon from the airport at 6 AM and headed to Ashevegas to be with the Rietz extended family. Time in Asheville consisted of gazing at the snow, eating Christmas cookies, shopping, swapping quotes from Elf, rocking out to The Oakridge Boys, and good time with family. Special kudos to Jon for his fantastic Italian feast on the 28th. It. was. delicious.

I leave this holiday feeling thankful for low drama, good rest, and sweet memories. Enjoy the photos in the post below.

Christmas Pictures

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Avatar

I wanted to post these pictures so I'll say a word about Avatar. We saw the big show the week before Christmas with our dear friends Kavita and Mahesh. I admit, it's worth the trip to see the affects - definitely do the 3D!

We also enjoyed trying to pick out the various story lines from other famous movies that form this show. Think Braveheart meets Dances with Wolves meets The Lion King for starters.

Thanks to Kavita for the yummy noodles pre-show and for the whole gang to dragging sleepy me to Amelie's afterwards...

de David

(for those of you who forgot from high school Spanish, "de" means "of")

I must admit, I have been Grinchy McGrincherson this season thus far. Yesterday morning, however, I was delighted for a full hour by David cooking breakfast for us. Dave had a hankering for waffles and I was too sleepy to cook, so I pulled out the recipe and he went to work.

As he was making it, he narrated his progress ("I'm now adding two tablespoons of baking powder...") and when I tried to refuse the bananas, he said, "Emily, this is how the dish is plated." Haha.



I share this little moment here because I am often humbled by the way David chooses to enjoy his life. He makes the menial like cooking breakfast fun and he is a model about taking life a day at a time and not worrying over things he can't control. I am also not one for acknowledging God's active hand in my life these days, but I am thankful he gave me David to be my partner in life. He keeps me laughing, accepts my grumpiness without judgment, and makes me feel treasured.

Merry Christmas, babe - and thanks for my waffles de David.

Snuggie Spokeswoman

ellen enjoys her birthday gift from us with the ladies...

Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving here in Charlotte this year ... my family flew in to be with us. Not traveling was such a treat. I have to be honest - it wasn't a glamorous time. We played a lot of Family Feud on Wii as well as Bananagrams (one of my new favorite games). But, the food and company were lovely and that's what matters, right? Thanks to Kim for joining us for the meal and for sitting Robertito on Friday. What a gift you are.

Enjoy the pictures...

My Headlines

Yesterday I helped a dear friend fill out an on-line dating profile. One of the mandatory fields was a "Headline" to introduce your profile. We laughed and laughed at the notion - one sentence to communicate who you are to potential dates.

This morning, however, I am thinking it's an interesting proposition. Below are some I'm thinking about for me...warning, I am feeling a little "dark and prickly" in terms of humor this morning. :)

Counseling is for Lovers

Fish or cut bait?

Looking for love in all the right places.

Gleeks, Raptors, and Love, Oh My!


Care to add any of your own?!


For the record - major props to my friend for tossing out her line and sinker. I can't wait to see what she catches!

Lookie, lookie

It's a Holiday Miracle

Today in our faculty meeting I won the parking spot of the month drawing!