Totally Tay: 2008

Dec 15, 2008

December Book Review

Tethered: An excellent book! If you like Law and Order SVU and books about women who have closed themselves off from the world and are jolted into being by love, this is the book for you. I really enjoyed it. B+

Testimony: This was good but not my favorite Anita Shreve. C

Saturday: I thought this book was awful. I loved Atonement and was disappointed in Ian's glorification of middle class apathy and detachment. My grandma liked it though and there was some interesting medical information that I wikipedia'd as a result of the reading, so I guess it wasn't a total loss. D+ for apathy and indifference.

A Wedding in December: This was better than Testimony, not as good as the Weight of Water. I especially enjoyed the story within the story! B

And this month I'll be reading...........

I cannot WAIT to finish the newest Wally Lamb but am a little sad that I'm already more than half-way through. His books are few and far between. His latest has so many layers. I am loving every one of them.

I bought this before a business trip and haven't gotten around to reading it.

This looks HILARIOUS.

FYI, Only 4.5 months until Pretty is the New Plaid! I can't wait for that one to come out and will probably mention it in every book review. To hold you over until Jen Lancaster's next visit her blog! www.jennsylvania.com

Dec 8, 2008

Holiday Fun from the Whole Family

I hope you enjoy the fun Christmas photos!

**Disclaimer: If I sound really conceited about how cute my brother, cousins and I are it's because I AM. We were the cutest kids EVER. I feel bad for our future children because they might feel inferior to our childhood cuteness level. Our parents did a really good job on the self esteem thing.

First, we have Bee and Grandpa Dan showing off their lovely Christmas sleepwear. Circa 1965.

Aunt Cindy, Mom and Grandpa Dan checking out their Christmas loot.

Aunt Cindy, Bee and Mom. Love this one!

Bee, Grandpa Dan, Uncle Danny, Aunt Patsy, Cindy and Sandy after present opening. Circa 1963.

Nana, Aunt Cindy, Bow, Sandy

Christmas 1982! I'm loving the mom/daughter matching Lanz nightgowns.

......and more matching nightgowns......

I look a little irritated that my story time is being interrupted for a photo.

I'm not even sure if this is a Christmas picture, but wanted to post it because I'm so irresistibly cute. I can hardly stand it. I don't know how my parents made it to work. I would have just quit my job to play with baby Taylor all day.

Having a Christmas Chat with Ga-Ga. Thanks for the bangs, mom.

Kelsey, Taylor, Spencer and Cait

Uncle Jack, Cait, Aunt Cindy, Kelsey, Dad, Taylor, Mom, Spencer in Forest Home.

Sara, Taylor, Cait, Bee, Kelsey, Spencer

Spencer and Taylor

Taylor and Spencer at our house on Ximeno Ave. Cutest kids in Long Beach.

With the cousins at Bee's house!

Christmas morning at Bee's. This is the torturous 'take a picture in front of the unopened presents photo.' I think I'm wearing my Felicity (American Girl Doll) nightgown. I also think we might be the palest kids ever?

I think this was our 'open one present on Christmas Eve' gift.' Notice the matching (dad in background, Spencer and Taylor) Reyn Spooner outfits!

Dec 1, 2008

Old Lady

This video is from the day after Thanksgiving. Jacqueline went exploring in a dresser in the guest room and found some glasses, an AWFUL bib that my grandma's friend made her for a cruise (lobster night I guess?) and a cane. She came out pretending to be an old lady and this is what happened............

p.s. Spencer was not actually pushing her over, just pretending. He told her she needs to work on her physical comedy and said her falls weren't very realistic! I diagree and thought it looked like Spencer was Elder Abusing her.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

I went to my grandparents' house in Oakhurst for our annual Thanksgiving Feast/WineFest. It was so much fun, as usual, and was one of the biggest groups we've had.

Kathryn, Mom, Beanie (actual name Caitie) and Friend o' Beanie (actual name Sam but that got confusing because my cousins call my mom Aunt Sam) making the gravy. Every year Beanie pretends to make the gravy but just sits there and dips turkey pieces and rolls into it and eats it all. I'm on to you.

Shredding the giblets for yum gravy.........

The good turkey

The bad turkey. We made two this year because we had a lot of people. This one went across the street to the neighbors' oven and we sort of forgot about it??? We named him Bernie. Get it? Because he is burnt? We are hilarious, I know.

My lovely place setting. Our family has A LOT of holiday traditions, including holiday crackers. I highly recommend them for any holiday gathering! Very fun.

The crew wearing their cracker crowns.

Boyfriend O' Wally (real name Ryan) got a clown nose in his cracker.

We all agreed that it was the best cracker prize this year.

Wally (real name Sara) stole the nose.

Then she turned into an elephant?

This is the peppermint pig, another family tradition. You are supposed to do the peppermint pig at Christmas or NYE but because we won't be together for those holidays, we whacked at Thanksgiving.

Our third family tradition is a Jack Horner Pie for Thanksgiving. I didn't take any photos of the pie this year, but it is fun to do at a non-gift giving holiday like Thanksgiving.

Nov 25, 2008

The Fam

I was at my grandmother's house in Oakhurst, CA for her birthday in August and she let me borrow a TON of old family photos! I wanted to return them when I went back for Thanksgiving so I have been scanning all week. Here are a few.......

My great-great grandparents, Oscar and Olena Hansen

My great-grandmother, Dagny Olinda Hansen (Nana to me), with her brother Harold on the family farm in Madelia, MN with some lamb or goat or something?? The photo was taken in 1910!