PHOTO: Yearly photo of Matt and Ali at Angels Sing Concert. The last one...at the end of the school year they graduate and will return to sing with the alumni for their annual yearly number at this concert, but it won't be the same ever again. A lot of "lasts" this year. I'm handling it tolerably well. Sort of. Okay, I admit, there were a few tears about this when they finished posing.
READING: Christmas cards and letters! While many a joke is made over yearly Christmas letters, I have to say, I absolutely love, love, love them. All of them.
LISTENING TO: Christmas Music
SWIMMING NEWS: Matt has an unprecedented three days off from swim practice...he is enjoying sleeping in and staying up late, a rare treat for him. Three WHOLE DAYS...I wonder if he will still know how to swim at the end of it. (Just kidding around about that part.)
COOKING BYTES: We are officially desserted-out. This happens every year actually, where the treats don't look like treats anymore. It will pass, but I am not sure exactly when. In the meantime, I am making dessert for tonight for Christmas Eve dinner here.
FAV NEW FIND: Matt and I went Christmas shopping on Tuesday and I didn't have one single panic attack about the crowds, the parking, the shopping, the whole business of it all. It was nice to shop with Matt as he is very organized about it: make a list, check it all off, don't browse around, get out as quick as possible, enjoy the moments, talk Mom into lunch out.
FAV THING THIS WEEK: Matt's Angels Sing concerts. Here's a few links for those interested, those who aren't, just skip over all this part. Matt is in the back row, center (there are two guys standing there, Matt is the one on the right as you face the screen, there is a short girl to his left). Ali is in the front row, 7th from the left side. These links are not to the televised version of the concert but rather just from one of the other parents' video camera, so quality is not excellent, but it is nice enough since you couldn't be there and all for the real deal, which was very very nice indeed. The Shaws focus on their daughter, of course, but Matt is near enough to her that there is quite a bit of him as well. He looks good in a tux, doesn't he...that huge chest from swimming does wonders for one's ability to sing and hold notes for a long time! Here are the links to four songs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzC50B1oasY&feature=related O Holy Night;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HBqLFCPWPs&feature=related Celebrate Chanukah;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADEcg5FBWRk&feature=related Gloria Fanfare;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1oJn8U89Pc&feature=related Winter Wonderland
GOING TO: Celebrate Christmas...we host Christmas Eve dinner, Mark's folks host Christmas Day dinner, etc., and there is Midnight Mass in between the two. I think the shopping is all complete and wrapped, but going to recheck all the lists this morning just to be sure. It doesn't matter who has been naughty and who has been nice, it's Christmas and everyone gets gifts!!
PRAYING FOR: Safe travel for all those going near and far for the holidays, for First Christmases and Last Christmases, for those serving our country who will not get to see Christmas at home with loved ones, please join me. 
Photo is of Reyn (Matt's girlfriend), Matt, and Ali at Angels Sing Concert last Saturday night. Reyn and Ali had been swimming at a meet for two days straight. Ali was swimming, singing, and taking finals at school. Matt was only singing and taking finals. They are all happy to be on break from school. Singing is on break until after the holidays. And, they will all three be back in the water for swimming on Monday. For all they manage to do, our hats are off to all three of them. It's a pleasure to know them and follow around in their wakes!