SNOW!

We have taken full advantage of the crazy amount of snow we have gotten

Piper is not a big fan of the snow... if you couldn't tell.

Like I said... not a big fan. She doesn't even reach the bottom. She is only about halfway through the snow.

Warming up in the nice warm house. And more importantly... proof they don't hate each other!!

Christmas Day and More

We had Christmas Dinner at our house. Matt did a fabulous job as usual on the meat. We had the ham pictured below, and an awesome roast beast. Of course they were accompanied by amazing twice baked potatoes, and salads and rolls galore topped of with left over cookies and candy.

Piper says Merry Christmas. This is the best picture of her I could get because she ALWAYS looks away right as I snap the picture.

Ella on Christmas morning. I think it is safe to say she got into EVERYTHING that day. Wrapping paper, tape, presents, shoes, rugs... you name it she got to it. I think she got into something she was allergic too or ate something weird off of the floor because her little eye lids puffed up later that night. A bit of baby benadryl and she was all better!

Christmas Eve

I am dumb and forgot to take my camera to Christmas Eve... but we had a blast. Matt and I, along with M.A. Taylor and Rick and his son Tony all went to my grandmas house. Since we do our big dinner on Christmas Day, we do munchies and desserts and just enjoy each others company. We had little smokies, awesome cheese fondue and of course lots of cheese and crackers and meat and homemade yummy rolls and of course all the homemade yummy cookies and candies we could fit in our bellies. We watched Pirates of the Carribean and National Treasure and then ended the evening with M.A. reading "T'was the Night Before Christmas." I love that we are such good friends with such an amazing actor. It makes story telling time AWESOME

Once we got home I took a few pictures
Above is my new favorite decoration. If you look close its actually the night of Christs birth. The wise men, the star, shepards, the city of Bethlehem and Mary, Joseph and the Christ Child.

Our tree

Snow literally ten minutes after we came home.

Ella tuckered out after playing ALL night with moms dogs.
I love the little white tip of her tail.

The ONLY picture we have of ourselves on Christmas or Christmas Eve.
OOPS

Christmas Baking

Because our lives were postponed a week and a half due to the Nutcracker and Lord of the Dance we inevitably were way behind on everything that had to do with Christmas.
We finally started baking on Monday and Tuesday.

Ella keeping Dad company while he makes cookies...
and she naps in the heat of the oven.

Chocolate covered Pretxels and Cranberry Drop Cookies. MMmm
Just a small portion of what we actually ended up making.

Putting up our feet after slaving all day!
Notice how Ella is laying on top of Piper.

Bowling

We did a little pre-Christmas bowling a few days ago and we had a blast.
None of us had been bowling in a few years.

Doesn't M.A. have awesome form?
(yeah he kicked our butts both games)

Proof that I beat Matt. That NEVER happens.
And that I got over 100.
That also NEVER happens.

He even had much better "form" than I do.
(and a much cuter tush)

This girl has serious GAME.
She has her own ball and everything.
I love my Michelle!

He is a gracious loser and for that
I LOVE HIM

200th Post and Merry Christmas

(click to enlarge it you want to read the fine print)


Merry Christmas


It is my prayer that...

Amidst presents, and snowmen, candy canes and gingerbread men
may we all take a
moment
(or more)
to remember why it is we celebrate
this time of year.

Much love
Matt and Monae Curtis

Memorable Monday

This was our first Christmas together.
We had been engaged for a month and a half.
This year marks our fourth Christmas together.
So much has changed, our house, our families, our relationship.
Its hard to believe there were Christmases without him.

A vent and a smile

So a few people have asked me if I got a hound dog because we have friends and or family with Basset hounds. The answer is a resounding NO. First of all my dog is a completly different dog... a completly different hound... not even in the same ballpark. Second of all, aside from a husky, these dogs were the only other big dogs I have ever wanted, as long as I can remember. Ever since I read "Where the Red Fern Grows." So if you want to blame us getting this particular kind of dog on anything... blame it on that.

I just have a quick question for all of you who have known me for any amount of time. As long as you have known me, aside from the first day of school and the doctors office of course, have I EVER gone by my first name which is Laura? I love my first name, I really do, but I have NEVER, EVER been called by it. Why start now, you know? My reason for asking is some family members have recently started addressing my by Laura even though they have always used Monae. Really?? I am just trying to understand the reasoning behind it without assuming.

Without further ado.... the puppies!

MandM's Annual White Elephant Christmas Party

Every year for the past 5 or 6 years we have hosted a white elephant party. This year broke records. At one point we had almost 40 people in our house... and we don't have a large home by any means. All things considered we had a blast. Our Godson Tony got his puppy... and everyone walked away with a gift of some sort. Nothing better than good food, good friends and the Christmas Spirit!

Tony was shocked...

And then he never let go!!

Lucy and I. I want Dad C. to notice the frog earings. I thought of you as I put them on.

Jennifer... I tried to steal her hot red boots.

Jan, Gail and her cool little lantern.

M.A. and his pirate booty :)

I asked for a new washer and dryer....

Our own personal photo shoot with the man in the big red suit

Santa Claus is Coming to the Morrison Center

The Morrison Center put on The Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever
and after the show we had Santa visit the Lobby.

We had SOOOO much fun dressing him up and
making his hair whiter than usual.

I think we did a pretty good job!

Santa arrived earlier than expected so we hid him in our office until it was time to visit the kids.
Santa likes football. The Baltimore Ravens especially.

Santa with the cast of

The Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever

New Bundle of Joy... :)

This is
Ella
She is new to the Curtis household.
She is quite the little fireball... and we love her a lot!
She is half bluetick, half redbone coonhound and very beautiful!!

This is her and her brother
Chaz
(I think)
He is staying with us until Saturday when he goes home with his new family.

He is on the left... she on the right

They both love to cuddle with Mommy.
Piper likes to ignore them for the most part...
Even when they are entirely intrigued by her every move.
(Notice how she will sit with them...with her back turned)

Cuddle puddle with puppies!

Chaz is sort of the lazy one... he took the short cut across the water bowl to the food.

Silly little puppies

I am sure that you will see much more of our new little critters!

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I know, I know... its been forever since I have posted a real post so here you go.... We spent forever decorating the lobby of the Morrison center so here are a few random pictures from that... the weather, our christmas lights and etc...

The Danny Peterson Theatre Main Entrance
Fabulous tribute to our friend if I do say so myself

The Tree in the Main lobby next to the Danny P Theatre.
And our momma Morrison
She likes to hang out by the tree.

Matt and Rick BBQ-ing in the snow
on the Saturday of Nutcracker

Snoopy in our snow filled front yard

It has been snowing off and on all week.
Heres the proof!

The front of the Morrison Center

Okay, Interesting story here. I know its backwards but ignore that for a sec. The drop said Nutycracker was originally performed in 1893. Evidently its 1892 so instead of fixing it the right way they decided to try and paint the 3 into a 2. It looked AWFUL!