Happy New Year!

Home for the Holidays

We are home from Wilmington...

we had a wonderful Christmas with my family.

Karaoke

Family Picture

Mom, Karen and Wes, Martha and Alex, Me and Madison (front)
Dad, Clay, Luke, Edward, Harry (back)

Merry Christmas

Gnome Away From Home

We are ready to visit our family for Christmas; the gnome is coming with us.

Cookies for Santa

It wouldn't be Christmas without pressed cookies. It's a Huffman Family Tradition.

Pressed Cookies
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup Crisco
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
2 tsp almond extract
1 egg
2 1/2 cups flour

Cream margarine, Crisco, and sugar. Add baking powder, salt, almond extract, and egg and cream. Mix in flour. Mold using a cookie press.

Viola! Cookies for Santa!

Weston's Baptism

Today, our nephew, Weston Marshall Huffman, was baptized.

On the way to church.

At church waiting for the service to begin.

A little unhappy about being wet (but still really cute).

Weston with mom and dad (Karen and Clay)

Karen, Weston, Clay, me, and Harry

Really?!?!

Yep, that's a picture of 4 laptops... Harry is working on 2 and I'm working on 2.
In our defense, Harry is using his work laptop and his personal laptop to do work; and I'm transferring information from my old laptop to my new laptop. Still, it's a pretty pathetic sight. We like technology, yes we do; we like technology, how about you?

(Also, this could be a GMC commercial, take a look at that grill!)

More Snow Pictures

The snow/sleet finally stopped last night around midnight and we awoke to a winter wonderland. Too bad it will all melt before noon. We will have to enjoy the snow while it lasts.

Snow!

One week before Christmas and Charlotte is getting snow; this is the first time it has snowed before Christmas in the 6 years I have been living here. It is wonderful!

White Elephant Yankee Swap Christmas Party

On Sunday our group of friends met for a Christmas party and a fun gift exchange. Each person purchased a gag gift and brought it to the party. We then drew numbers to see who got to pick a gift first. Those who picked after the first person could either select a new gift to open or could steal a gift. I selected the first gift only to have Harry steal it from me. He was thrilled.

Harry and the catfish body pillow and Budweiser thermometer.

Me and my rooster welcome statue.

All of our glorious gifts!
(A snuggie, golden meditating frog statue, kitty cat blanket, squirrel underpants, catfish body pillow, rooster welcome statue, Budweiser thermometer, cowgirl gun set, stripper alarm clock, lottery tickets, a giant Toblerone, Penis Pokey book)

The stripper alarm clock was rather fun...

Joey and Phoebe are enjoying both of our gifts.

Merry Christmas from our whole crew!

Best Email of the Day

How can any other email compete with what was in my inbox this afternoon?

"Hi Aunt Meredith!"
Thanks Weston for the wonderful email!

13.1 in 2:17

Today Joanne and I ran the Thunder Road Half Marathon in downtown Charlotte. Harry planned on running the full marathon today, but due to an injury he wasn't able to.

me and Joanne before the race
(it was about 25 degrees)

"Gentlemen, start your engines!"
No, I'm not kidding... that's how the race was started.

Only in Charlotte would a marathon/half marathon have a pace car.

me and Joanne at the finish
(It is a quick read... here's the start and here's the finish; believe me, a lot of pain and effort is between the last two pictures.)

Yay! We finished!

Christmas in Davidson

Tonight Harry and I went to Christmas in Davidson with our friends (minus Shannon who was at home recovering from having her wisdom teeth out).

The live Nativity behind DUMC.

Harry and Joanne

Joanne, me, and Jessica

Harry and me in front of the Davidson Christmas tree.

The baby owl (star of the Carousel Thanksgiving Parade) from the Carolina Raptor Center.

The whole group waiting for dinner at the Brickhouse.

Happy Thanksgiving

Mom and Dad waiting for the feast to start!

Our delicious bird browned to perfection.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with a lot to be thankful for.

A National Board Certified Teacher

I found out today that I passed!

And so did they!
Congratulations Jessica and Joanne! We did it!