Crafting at Christmas

While I was home for Christmas as always we decided to do a project. Since I had recently learned how to arm knit I taught the rest of the family how. I got everyone started pretty quickly. My oldest sister, Kristen, picked it up right away and was the first one finished. After one false start my other sister, Beth, got going good and was done in no time. My Aunt Betty arrived late, but was a natural at casting on (from her regular knitting experience). She wasn't as much a natural at the rest of the process and restarted a few times. My mom had a few hiccups as well, but after taking a break for dinner they finished up and we all had beautiful scarves.

Mom in the middle of a big tangle

Aunt Betty arm knitting

My finished product

My mom also had an idea for the place setting, which I implemented

Family at Christmas

My family doesn't really like to get their picture taken. Nor do they really like to take photos. I like both so I don't know what happened with me. I tried to get some photos this Christmas because I realized both my apartment and cubicle at work was bare of anything but Gretchen photos and Kristen and I looking sweaty. 

I messed up from the start by forgetting my nice camera in DC. I was left with my iPhone. I decided to play with one of my apps with a photo timer. Gretchen, Travis, and I tested it out with balloons. From this exercise I realized that my brother is fairly photogenic and people think a yellow balloon looks like a crown.

toss it Gretchen!

On Christmas Eve on a whim I convinced Gretchen to sit in this tub for a photo. The light is terrible, but she was really on board with the idea.

I also caught this one with my Dad, his arms block his face, which is perfect because he usually closes his eyes in photos.

On Christmas morning the cows are just as much a part of the family as the rest of us as they get  Christmas first. Growing up we always had to wait for our Dad to feed the cows before he would come back home and we could open gifts. Back then it felt like an eternity (and it felt like he was going slow on purpose). These days my brother helps and I can easily still be in bed when they get back to the house at 9 am.

We went over to my aunt's house for Christmas Brunch. While my sisters were cuddling in the big chair I snuck in for a sisters shot.

Further brother photogenic evidence

We played the game Heads Up for awhile, which allowed me to capture my uncle blocking his face.

After we got back home and opened the rest of our presents I tried to get a group shot of all of us. My niece posed the first shot, saying that we all needed to hold hands (yes we do most of what she tells us to). She really has great ideas, if only my Dad had more than just his hand in this picture… Christmas card quality I think.

Coffeehouse part 2 & SPAIN

My final stop when I was home was back at Old Drum for some SPAINBIRTHDAYPALOOZA planning (I hope that name is ok with Kendra, my travel mate). I'm having what I'm calling a "momentous" birthday this spring so I decided to spend it in Spain.

We spent several hours (and several baked goods) planning our trek and figuring out where we would stay, we are still working on what we will be doing, but the bones of the trip are in place. We will be going to Madrid, Barcelona, Granada, and Seville. If you have any great tips about any of those places please let me know!

the wrekage

I also spent time trying out my new camera... notice how the cini-mini is blurry and the latte is in focus? That is on purpose! Ok and lets also take a second to appreciate the latte art, I think its a baseball bat.

Gretchen came in to say goodbye while I was at the shop.

cupcake girl

Also of note:

This is my 600th blogpost! The blog is now in its sixth year. Meaning I spend about 2 days a year blogging! EEEK So I hope you enjoy some of my ramblings and thank you for reading!

Christmas camera

I know what you guys have been thinking... What did Courtney do for Christmas? Why won't she update us. Well the main reason is I got a new camera for Christmas! Then I proceeded to take the rest of Christmas day photos on my new DSLR, but I didn't know how to take them off the camera...

Most of it was just nerves that my computer wasn't going to have enough memory, but when I started loading the software it turns out my operating system is too new, but then five hours later, tada! Photos on computer. Another hour and I figured out some simple editing and another hour and I have them here for your enjoyment.

Since its now been a few weeks and I don't remember what happened, I will let the pictures tell the story. These were all taken with the automatic settings, but I've been dabbling in manual and cool things are to come...

auditioning for TLC's new show "Toddlers and Tractors"

Aunts, niece, and nephew ready to eat

yummm... asparagus casserole 

the table set with Christmas plates

practicing my food photography

close ups with the family "grapes"

stocking stuffer classy cup

Christmas number 1

The Sunday before Christmas we headed up the road/highway/Sonic drive thru to my Aunt Betty's for our first Christmas celebration. After a delicious meal of soups and sides we stayed around the table for a few rounds of Minute to Win It Holiday Family edition.

Round 1: Hang as many ornaments on a balanced ruler as fast as you can. My sister Kristen and I were up last and the score to beat was 17 in a minute. We had all 18 on with 20 seconds to spare!

Kristen with our winning apparatus 

Round two was staking nuts on top of each other with a candy cane. This time I went first and did a horrible job, I blame it on a faulty candy cane. My cousins Whitney and Travis however had pretty good hands (they should they stick people with needles all day).

5 seconds later it all came tumbling down

Round 3: Move an oreo from your forehead to your mouth, by only moving face muscles. I think I could have gotten this in another minute or two. My brother, Travis (below), had success!

After games we opened our exchange gifts and had a lovely afternoon.

The other excitement of the day was meeting my new first cousins once removed, Maverick and Tyson. They were born two months ago, but this was the first time I was home. Gretchen enjoyed "holding" Tyson (I did too!).

Home for the Holiday

Hello all! I'm a little behind after spending a week at home in Missouri for Christmas. But don't worry, I'll catch you all up over a few posts.

Last Thursday there was a bit of a snow storm in Missouri, luckily my flight didn't get in till late so most of the roads had been cleared up and the trip home was mostly smooth. 

The next morning I got up early to do some work and was greeted by a lovely sunrise.

My sister and niece came down on Friday and we decorated the Christmas Tree. My parents still get a cedar tree from our property, so its not unusual for us to only put the tree up a few days before Christmas.

My niece enjoyed putting ornaments on the tree, mostly all on one branch.

Logan Circle Holiday Homes Tour

The Logan Circle Community Association hosts a Holiday Homes Tour each year. I heard about it last year but was busy for most of the day. This year I purchased my tickets early and convinced my friend Matt, who was visiting from Texas, to join me on the walk around the neighborhood.

There was a mix of old and new homes on the tour. The "Holiday" portion of the tour was a lot less than I was expected. The only tours I'd been on in the past were in Missouri and they were always Christmas overloaded. There were a few touches here and there including some carolers at one house and a man playing Christmas tunes on a grand piano.

The first apartment didn't look like much from the outside, but ended up being really, cool and my favorite. It had some subtle decorations like rudolph below.

On house was very proud of itself. They had notes all over and the guides were trained to tell us how they were so environmentally friendly. I'm all for the environment, but these people were a little over the top.

does neon save energy?

reclaimed wood countertops

Two of the apartments were in a newer building that I pass by all the time. Little did I know they had a great people watching spot in their living room. Both places were very modern and the penthouse apartment had an amazing outdoor space.

After the tour we stopped back at the Studio Theater to collect our wassail and snacks. They were playing holiday music and the wassail was delicious.

The tour was $25 a piece and took us about two hours (we skipped a church that was on the list).

Jingle all the way 8K

This morning was the Jingle All the Way 8K in downtown DC. Last night I set my alarm for 7:30 am so I'd have an hour to get ready, eat and have a little coffee before heading down to the start, which is about a mile from my apartment. This morning I rolled over, glanced at the clock and thought I saw an 8, but maybe it was a 6... I looked again and it was 8:15! Apparently I either didn't turn the alarm on or I turned it off in my sleep (not unheard of). Luckily I had picked out my festive run attire the night before, but unluckily I heard some rain hitting the windows.

I had a few bites of oatmeal and coffee and headed out the door. 

i went for the candy cane look

I ended up running the entire way down (adding an extra mile) and arriving with enough time to check my rain jacket. I worked my way up to the 8 min/mile pace group and arrived just in time for them to announce that the race would be starting 10 minutes late.

The course was the same as the St. Patrick's 8K I ran last spring. It is fairly flat, but with four U turns and several other turns it has its challenges. I dressed in my red, white, and green, but was way undercostumed compared to the other runners. 

I don't know if it was the waking up late, extra mile warm up, puddles/ slick grates, but I was looking for the first mile marker from the beginning. But then after the first mile marker, runners started heading back and for the next two miles I had plenty of costumes to check out. There was even one guy running with a tuba (and playing songs). Once we hit mile four and were back on Pennsylvania Ave I got a second wind, but knew not to get too excited as they sneak in a little out and back right before the finish. The out and back was NBD and I managed to speed it up into the finish. My splits according to GPS:

Mile 1:  7:49

Mile 2:  8:08

Mile 3:  8:03

Mile 4:  8:04

Mile 5:  7:54

So again I started out too fast.

gingerbread man

some more costume fun

Results- a 4 second PR! My goal was under 40, how does 4 seconds seem like such a long time while running? Next time, next time.

25 Photos of Christmas {December 25}

Merry Christmas from Missouri!



We always cut down a cedar tree from our farm, nice pick dad!





25 Photos of Christmas {December 24}

Happy Christmas Eve! Last night the ladies of the family gathered at one of my sister's houses to enjoy mini Christmas treats (tiny ham and cheese quiche, sweet potato cups, stuffing balls, cranberry sauce on crackers, shortbread with dolce de leche, and santa hat brownies), Christmas punch, Christmas Craft, and Christmas conversation.

Tonight we have another round of fun and food!

My Mom and Niece at my sister's Christmas Cocktail party



25 Photos of Christmas {December 23}

This year's tree is from California, it is something like 118 years old! That made me sad at first, but there are probably lots of trees its age, where it came from. The tree was decorated by Californians, which included Lakers jerseys and a rubber chicken (not sure how that is related). The tree was gorgeous and tall and worth the mile walk to and fro.

The Capitol Christmas Tree 

The tree loved getting its picture taken

25 Photos of Christmas {December 22}

Hey Canada, I like your tree

25 Photos of Christmas {December 21}

The National Botanical Gardens are decorated inside and out, but you have to arrive before 5 to see the inside. I peaked in a window and saw part of the train display.

National Botanical Gardens

25 Photos of Christmas {December 20}

A much shorter version of the Empire state building lights, but here we have it twice!

One Franklin Square in Red & Green

25 Photos of Christmas {December 19}

JW Marriott Hotel

25 Photos of Christmas {December 18}

The Spy museum gets festive

25 Photos of Christmas {December 17}

Hotel Monaco Washington

One lesson I've learned:  Street lights make night photography challenging.