A Little Christmas Cheer....

Hi. I am so happy. I love the Christmas season. I love being at home with my family and cooking and baking and talking and laughing and shopping and eating and being lazy. But, I must admit, I have a very difficult time just being on "vacation." It is hard for me not to be keeping a schedule.. I'm just a loser like that. One of my "projects" since I have been home is writing the family Christmas card. We don't EVER do this, so when we decided to do one, we decided to do it a little "differently." I thought I would paste it here because I am just so proud...

Dear Friends and Family,
You are probably surprised to be getting a Christmas card from the Elmers this year, even more surprised that is coming close to Christmas, and you may have gone into shock when you see this little card that has been added. And, please, hold onto your shorts when we tell you that the writers of this "update" are numbers 3 and 5 of the clan. Here's a little update on our fam from our perspective:
Joe (we don't really bring up the age thing with this guy)is still our dad. We love him. And he loves Al Gore. We just can't get him to stop talking about the guy. Activities for this stud (not Al Gore) include cycling, keeping a few teenagers in line, and reading books by David McCullough (we would write watching Glenn Beck, but he has sworn it off because his blood pressure is getting too high).
Stephanie (has been asked if she is Annie's sister a number of times this year) is what we like to call the non-stop party machine. Her favorite hangout this year is a 3-way tie between the post office, the gym, and her car. So if you're looking for a good time, head on over to one of those places and find our mom-- don't forget your boom box, she loves disco. Seriously, though, this superstar is well on her way to creating world peace one home at a time, ending poverty, and becoming a 20-something-year old piano prodigy.
Annie (23) has made a big move to Boston this year to start graduate school, still spending most of her day blowing through a golden tube (flute). Boston has welcomed her with open arms: she has made some scary new friends on Public Transportation, had her car broken into, and even called 9-1-1. Don't worry, she brings her brass knuckles with her everywhere. She may start training to be a cage fighter.
Judy (21) is probably reading a book while you are reading this letter. Exciting news from the Judester is that she will be studying abroad in Paris this spring-- woohoo! When I asked Sam what we should say about Judy, he said to say that she is a convicted felon, but she's not, so thanks anyway, Sam. Let's just say Jude is having so much fun up at BYU we don't know what she's doing! GOOOO JUDY!
Sam (2- having a hard time aging) has exemplary hygiene (heh), something to say about pretty much anything, and washboard abs, although mom is definitely giving him a run for his money there. Sam is also the family overachiever this year, tearing his ACL AND meniscus. We hate show-offs. Sam also loves to play the piano more than anything else-- if you stop by, be sure to ask him to play for you, maybe even a duet with Luke.
Luke (13) is turning into a regular winner at hide-n-go-seek. He got lost in pretty much every major city in Europe this summer, which he would like to debate, but you don't just go do your own thing in the Tower of London, Prague, or the Piazza Navona in Rome. Luke loves anything to do with music, we are weaning him off of Pokémon (it's hard when you gotta catch 'em all), and he's just a pretty nice guy.
Meg (12) is still doing a great job being the "precious" member of our family, which Sam would like to debate, but since he has basically stopped helping me write this letter at this point, his opinion doesn't count. Meg loves to dance, hang out with her friends, and be a helper and pleasant person to be around. She is doing a great job surviving day-to-day life with a couple of weirdos for big brothers.
We hope this Christmas finds each of you with the ones you love. We are grateful to be together as a family and for the hope and peace that our faith in Jesus Christ brings to this wonderful season.

Love,
The Elmers

AND... I have some pictures from November that I've been meaning to add for like forever. This is from when my orchestra played at the Kennedy Center and my parents came to visit. How's this for pictures, huh?

We ate dinner at a restaurant at the top of the Kennedy Center before the concert. Incredible.

Post-concert

Seafood in Boston

My cousins Zach and Steffanie came to the concert- so fun to see them! I have the best family.

We spent some time in D.C. after the concert before going up to Boston and since I've been there a billion times with BYU groups I requested that we go to the International Spy Museum. It was a winner. Especially because I love 24 and anything secret agent-ish. Yes.

Princess Peach Never Wins.

Okay, so seriously. Seeing Princess Peach on the front page of my blog is going to make me barf soon. And I HATE barfing more than anything else in this world, so I am going to write a new post just to survive for the next week or so. Sorry, I'm not promising anything entertaining or premeditated, just 100% stream-of-consciousness Annie.

I just went to the dentist. I hate going to the dentist, love my dentist/hygienist. They are fantastic. My hygienist asked me if I do much listening to KLTY (Christian Radio), to which I tried to reply no. Aside: I'm not sure if I feel more awkward dating or trying to carry on a conversation with my hygienist while she has all sorts of sharp things in my mouth. I think it made her sad when I told her I don't think Boston even has a Christian Radio Station. Sinners. She told me about how she cried and cried this morning listening to all of the sweet Christmas stories they were telling on Christian radio and I just thought, "How tender." Of course I couldn't reply, so I just raised my eyebrows as fast as I could over and over. She just has the cutest Texas accent. And then she was telling me that I have such beautiful teeth and she was just telling the dentist the other day that they should have a party for all of their single patients because so many of them have such great teeth. I couldn't agree more and even volunteered to help plan it because I just LOVE those kinds of parties and I kill for men with incredible dental hygiene. Speaking of dating, consider me awkward and dumb. Done.

In other news, apparently I look like a 6th grader still. Awesome. They are all my height or taller and I guess I apparently look the same as them in my UGGS, bright colors, peace signs, and LipSmackers. Mwah!

Also, I feel it is important to notify everyone that for the next month while I am in Texas I am really going to miss the commercial on the radio in Boston where the guy says Certa puhfect sleepa. Yeah, that seriously just makes my day every time it comes on. I even mouth the words along with him... I might just go buy a Certa Puhfect Sleepa just because I respect that guy. Say it out loud- it will make you feel good.

And one last thing that I am going to label "touching." My teacher emailed me after my jury on Monday to tell me she thought I did a great job. Isn't that nice? And she wants to figure out what I'm going to do over the break and so on and so forth, so we're emailing. Seriously, people. Seriously. I love my teacher.

And I think this post is long enough to get Princess Peach off of the front page of my blog. Because I so do not support that.

Peace.

Ahem.

Weird/Random/Useless/Non-life changing info:

1. I was waiting for the bus yesterday (yes, I still sometimes use PT) and there was an odd looking woman standing next to me (I'm sure she was charming), and she hocked a big loogy onto the sidewalk and promptly covered it with her foot, because by doing this everyone around her would magically forget she had just hocked a loogy, and rubbed it into the ground real good. I meet so many classy people here.

2. I forgot to mention that about a month ago there was an armed robbery at the bank right across the street from my building. And he got away! Isn't that exciting! A real live, armed gunman within walking distance!

3. My neighbors just got busted for running a meth lab. Good thing the police didn't catch me, too.

4. I walked into work the other day and my coworkers informed me that they had just been talking and all agree that I bear a strong resemblance to Princess Peach. What. A. Compliment.

Resemblance?

5. Upon returning from Thanksgiving Break, my roommates and I noticed that a pair of sunglasses had found a home on the door handle of our back door. My roommate said that she thinks it's homeless people code for "It's okay to come sleep in these people's basement at night." Glad we're finally getting visitors.

6. I was telling my roommate the other day that I officially don't feel "new" anymore, but I don't have any real reasons. I just feel that way because I do. My roommate made the astute observation that I have a stalker, therefore I don't feel new, because I have a freak following me around everywhere I go. Dear Stalker: If you are reading this.... if you are reading this....uh, don't. Thanks.

7. I'm going with some friends to try Afghan food tonight! I'm excited!

8. Oh and quotable from my trip home for Thanksgiving... my grandma (cutest grandma ever): "I can't die anytime soon! I haven't even worn all of my clothes yet!" Love her.

9. I went to a friend's flute recital at NEC yesterday and he started the concert off stage and the piano played the opening material and he came on stage on his first note, playing from memory, and gradually strolled up to his stand. By about a page down he made it to the stand. He studies with Paula Robison. :)




The End.