Winter Full of Experiences

Earlier in the season Andrew and I put together a list of all the things we wanted to do at Christmastime. I'm happy to report we've completed nearly all of them! For any of you looking for a few fun Christmas activities, may I recommend the following:
1. Newport/Balboa Boat Parade
2. Eggnog lattes
3. Roger's Gardens
4. Holiday baking
5. Do a puzzle
6. Find a themed Christmas ornament for the year
7. Throw a tacky sweater party
8. Walk around Naples (in Long Beach, not Italy)
9. Decorate the house and the Christmas tree
10. Go Christmas shopping
11. Make peppermint bark
12. Watch A Christmas Story
13. Watch It's a Wonderful Life
14. Sip cider by the lights of the tree
15. Keep warm by the fire (one we have yet to do...without a fireplace, this one's tough)

Andrew's 28th Birthday

This year for Andrew's birthday we went to Mastro's in Newport Beach - it was incredible! First, this nice couple next to us gave us a half-bottle of wine that was $28/glass (which I had a couple sips of...okay, a "couple" meaning 4 or 5...but it was a special occasion!). The food was amazing. We ordered their signature Lobster Mashed Potatoes and were shocked when the bill came back and they were $35!! But we figured the wine and the free birthday carrot cake made up for it so we'll count it as another successful dining adventure!

I got Andrew an iPod for his gift and with as often as he uses it I think it might live a short life. Our last birthday celebration childless!

4th Annual Tacky Christmas Sweater Party

Last Saturday was our 4th Annual Tacky Christmas Sweater Party! What could be more tacky than Andrew's facial hair?
Every year our guests get tackier and tackier. This year in an amazing feat the Kershes took the award for Ruth Hartman Achievement in the Field of Tackyness, putting an end to the Jones' Christmas tacky dynasty. Andrew was so proud of his Tacky Table, complete with Mac n' Weenies, Pizza Pockets, Funyuns, a Cheeseball and Wine in a Box.
The Gourmet Table

Andrew executed his tacky program flawlessly. We played Write a Tacky Christmas Limerick and exchanged the tackiest ornaments we could find (though the idea was for everyone to take theirs home and somehow we ended up with about 15 hidden throughout our tree...darn them).

Heather, Julie and me

Beautiful Washington

The Hartman Family at Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving with the Hartmans in Washington this year and it was incredible! Here we are on an afternoon walk (burning off the Holiday calories). Behind us is the Puget Sound - can you believe Larry and Ruth get this view right from their living room?!