Merry Christmas and Technical Stuff

Blogger has changed. You may have noticed a couple of changes in Grandma's House, especially when you sign in. You also might notice that your name no longer appears in the contributers list. They are no longer a beta site. When they updated the blog it reset the list of contributors. When you sign in to blogger the next time follow the link that brings you to "New Blogger Account" and set up one of their new accounts. You sign up using your regular email address and it is pretty easy.
Merry Christmas!

Cutting Edge Media

Check out this link to some up and coming reporters. These reporters aren't afraid to tackle the tough issues that ordinary reporters are too scared of.
http://www.bdalecards.org/TeacherWebs/swier/swier2/6th%20Grade%20Newspapers/Encore%202.pdf

Rocky Mountain Christmas

I have been on a (minor) quest lately to find a good, quality Christmas album. I must say, it's a little difficult. I somehow struck out with Diana Ross & Placido Domingo live in Vienna, for example (something about opera mixed with cheesy American pop carols is just not right).

My personal (and really only) favorite is John Denver's Rocky Mountain Christmas, pictured at left. It's the perfect blend of classic (O Holy Night, What Child is This) and idiosyncratic (Please Daddy don't Get Drunk this Christmas, Christmas for Cowboys), all in a charming, consistent style.

So I'm wondering...does anyone else have favorites or recommendations?

Virtual Christmas Card For You

Merry Christmas friends. This quote is from the testimony of a woman in our church who finished treatment for breast cancer this year. She said this is what she heard the Lord telling her recently. She spoke on joy at our advent gathering. This picture captures that for me. It looks like a baby's birthday party :) I'm enjoying imagining Jesus as a baby the same age as mine; learning the same things. The incarnation is a wonder. God as an infant.

Tenth Annual

This year's Cookie Party was a smash hit! We had a great time eating enormous amounts of dough, building 3D cookie sculptures, and lobbying Bob for votes. There were 32 participants filling the LaBarge household with Christmas cheer. Can you believe it, TEN years?

Here is some of what's been happening with the Tennants

We so wish we could be in town for the cookie party and other various events. But, alas, we are here - where it is warm. Although we have had to bust out the coats a few days. I am up for some hunting in a couple of weeks and Simone is off to a retreat for a few days, so we are looking forward to my break. Much love to everyone.

Two Sweet Austin Boys

C'mon. Cadence looks exactly like Texas freshman quarterback Colt McCoy. Don't you think? Just the fact that his parents named him Colt makes me like Texas more. How are things in Austin? Go Longhorns.

Fitz and Jessica

This Saturday Howard Harold Fitzgerald III married Jessica Dore. It was a wonderful wedding. They are very much in love and it really showed. They got married in Park Church on a snowy, December Saturday. Their wedding was like a blast from the past. Even Winston was there.
I was the secondary photographer for the wedding. Here are some shots from the wedding and a few from the reception.

I love EBAY

I recently decided to sell off my Lucy & Me Bear collection from when I was little. Lucy & Me Bears are little ceramic bears dressed up in different "outfits" like a hamburger, a turkey, baby Jesus, Benjamin Franklin... You know, all the normal stuff that bears should be dressed like. Rachel kindly took pictures of my bears (see the action shot on the left). I had hoped to make a couple of bucks on the venture-- but the little guys are selling okay. I've been getting bids from people who's handles read "Iluvbears" and "bearhome" and "psychobear". It has been so much fun!!