Luke 2:11

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. It's already here. Came too fast for me. Christmas tree sales are over and I'm starting to feel a weight being lifted. It's time for less stress. True family time, and an excellent next few days!

I hope everyone has an amazing holiday and truly soaks up what Sat is all about: a little baby.

(Luke 2:11)

...like apple pie & 90210...

It's your day!! My best friend, it's your birthday. You're the single greatest thing that's ever happened to me. Ever. I wonder sometimes, how did I land you? I mean, I'm pretty freakin' great I think, but you...you're amazing. I think about how when we fight, we fight. But when we love, we love. It's never in-between for you and I. We always speak our minds. Say 100% percent whatever we're thinking. Wrong or right. Hurtful or not. The thing is...it's molded us into one awkwardly perfect couple. We go together. Fit together. Like a glove. Like apple pie and 90210. The C and the Blurd. And we work together. Every waking moment of our lives. And it's perfect. I wish everyone could know such love.

I think back to what made you so amazing in the first place. And when did I fall in love? Perhaps it was when

*you started sweating the first time we held hands at the roller-rink

*we snuck away at a halloween party to share hot-wings in the bathroom as kids

*you picked me up for our first date, with the biggest bouquet of flowers i'd ever seen

*you braided my hair in the back of a bus in the 7th grade

*or when you left me notes on my car in highschool

*you bought me my very first digital camera in the 12th grade...and told me I was an amazing photographer

*you parked once on top of a mountain...just so we could talk

*you wore my thumb ring on your ring finger because i was yours

*you wrote me a letter each day i was gone visiting colleges.

*you sat at all my games in high school...watching me sit the bench because of a loser coach

*or when you broke into my basement bedroom to decorate it while I was in class

*you ran out of gas on the highway and had to physically run a mile to the gas-station

*you ran out of gas for the 4th time since we'd met

*you told me my hair looked awful in platinum

*or when you paid for my haircut shortly after because I was broke

*you employed both of my brothers, creating a bond a girl only dreams her "boys" would share

*you listened for hours on the phone about how I was lonely in Cali with no friends

*you surprised me with a visit the day after i'd surprised you!

*you surprised me with a car for graduation and a smirk that said, babe, nothing is out of the question.

*or when you delivered a note from the "dogs" on my 24th birthday...and i cried

*it could be because you watch 90210 with me religiously

*or when I found out you were a snuggler

*you started setting the alarm for church

*you dressed up for halloween whenever i wanted

*you gave my 83 year old grandfather your undivided attention while he reminisced about life

*or the time you called me on the phone just to tell me you'd almost hit a bird while driving and were entirely upset about it

*you supported my every dream...then made them a reality

*you refused to buy me Kay pendants

*you listened to Lady Gaga on repeat before she was famous

*we ate rocket for dinner in Fiji

*you let me play with a kangaroo for hours in OZ

*or when you prayed with me the night I swore the cruise ship was going down in the Tasman sea

*you put up with three mattress exchanges when we switched beds...no one does that

*or when you comfort me when i'm sad for no reason...on my birthday(s)

*you came to watch me walk my first fashion-show

*you road a gondola with me on our 7th anniversary in Venice

*or when we had the worst anniversary dinner ever

*we rode a bus for 5 hours a day in Europe...just so we could stop in a place for five minutes and take pictures

*you made me laugh so hard i cried myself into coughing fits

*you walked into the room...

It's hard because there are so many things we've done, shared, seen, dreamed, and accomplished together...and I hate that I can't remember them all. All I know--that I'm more sure of than anything in this world--is that I love you. More than I can say. More than I can express, and more than you'll ever understand.

Hang on boy! Our lives are only going to get better.

I wish you the happiest birthday ever my love!

xo, Shanny

Pottery Barn and Chai...with a tree

Today it actually feels like December in our little household. No snow outside yet, but we slept in late today...and we finally have our Christmas tree! And the coolest part? The greatest dad in the world, yea that's my dad, built me the BEST little crate. I got inspired after rummaging through Pottery Barn catalogs all year and wanted our Christmas tree on a crate...wrapped in burlap from our nursery. Yea. Like that. And when you ask my dad to build something...he goes all out. It looks entirely old and vintage! My brother Michael helped me pick a tree from the hundreds we have outside...then cut it for me twice...because I can't make my own decisions. =) My amazing husband and I then spent the evening listening to music, sipping Chai, and decorating. With black ornaments. Because that's how we roll, lol. The dogs made a mess, er, even helped, too. =) It was awesome. And I love it. Might even get ambitious and add a little "Charlie" one next to it...just because I can.

Oh, and thanks Kimmer for the Eiffel Tower ornament you bought me years ago! It now means more to me than ever. xo