Meet the Meadows!: December Happenings

Happy December!

This is my (Whitney's) most favorite month. Of course I base that on the fact the my "love language" is gifts and December contains the two biggest gift days of the year for me, birthday and Christmas! But who can't love Christmas time?

Duncan and I put up our Christmas tree a little early. We were trying to wait until the day after Thanksgiving, but we were so excited, we just couldn't wait! Not only is it our first Christmas, it's Moki's first Christmas (who is currently pawing her little claws under the door as I type). We were very excited to see how Moki would react to the Christmas tree. To be honest, not too much interest. She has destroyed one Christmas ornament, but for the most part she is easy to train and has already learned how to stay away from the tree. She got her Christmas present early, a little tag with her name on it (which of course makes me think of Lady and the Tramp). We thought in case she gets out, it is better to go ahead and give her the tag (which also has our phone number on it). She now proudly wears it. But don't worry, she has a stocking and a box of toys to open on Christmas day with the rest of us, though we figure her greatest joy will be the mounds of wrapping paper and tissue, her most favorite destructive past-time.

We spent quite a bit of time preparing Christmas cards last night, including a family portrait in front of our first Christmas tree and a Christmas letter to let everyone know how fabulous married life is! We have 40 to send out, and definitely have more people we need to send them too, but were limited by funds and printing capabilities... so if you don't get one, it doesn't mean we didn't mean to send one to you; we just have more friends than we thought! So, let this suffice: MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY NEW YEAR from the Meadows!

I am currently battling something I have affectionately deemed the death cough. I have been hacking for more than a week now, and I'm not sure when this unfortunate illness will meet its demise, but I am hoping it is soon. It only added to the gloriousness of my already out-of-whack day. You know how there is always a ton of extra work to reward you for time off at the office? I was prepared to tackle it all today-- I mean, I walked with a killer to-do list and the will to get everything crossed off before 5 p.m. today. However, due to some unforeseen computer issues at work, when I got settled in my cozy new cubicle for the day, it had suddenly become 11:30 and I had gotten nothing crossed off my list. Yikes! For the rest of the day, I just couldn't catch a break... work, work, work, and the things that were prioritized at the top of my list just didn't even get done (though other important things did). Lucky me, I have a FABULOUS husband who was willing to brave the cold on the scooter and come help me get a very important task done: get promotional materials out to the remaining key players for the ASO concert this Wednesday. I had to get it done before these places closed, and I wanted to leave work before midnight (not to mention stupid death cough makes me want to avoid the cold outdoors like it's the plague!). I actually was able to leave work on time and leave the stress of unresolved printing issues there at the office.

If you called, texted, or communicated with me in any other way over Thanksgiving break, I'm sorry for my lack of response. I'm even yet to get back to my bff, so take this as my public apology and know that I blame death cough.

Thanksgiving was a really great time to see family (30 at the Meadows' household!) shop 'til we dropped, and just spend time together. Hope your Thanksgiving had good reports as well.

Now, I will leave you with some pictures :) (duh, most of them are of the cat, our child!)