two birthdays and a turkey.

yeah. you read that correctly. and there's no rhyme or reason as to why i'm writing about birthdays and turkeys in the same post. it's just been a while since i posted last so this is a bit of catch up. also, it's my blog and i do what i want.

back at the end of august we celebrated gloria's birthday with a bit of dancing and karaoke.

austin and i even got in on some karaoke action by singing one of our favorite band's {motion city soundtrack} songs. of course the guy had to download the song quickly for us and it since it wasn't a karaoke version we didn't have the words on the screen, but we knew most of the words. plus there were only like three people left at the party by that point, so no one was really paying any attention to us anyway. and that's a good thing.

last week we also celebrated schrodinger's fourth birthday! can you believe he's been with us for four years?

i think he was happy i didn't force him to wear a cone shaped birthday hat like we do for juliet's parties but he still got a yummy birthday treat. he was also kind enough to share some with orie and juliet.

and just because i think it's funny i wanted to share our neighborhood turkey with you guys. we first saw him {her?} checking out our garden back in april when lindsy and rj were in town.

but just last week he/she was right outside the kitchen window.

i like to think he was interested in getting some of the bird seed we had just put out in the new bird feeder. mostly because i like to picture a turkey sitting on the little ledge of the feeder right next to a little blue bird or something. because in my head that image is funny.

i haven't written a post in three weeks and this is the stuff i present to you. internet gold, right here.

you're so very welcome.

it's ok to be random.

this is a pointless post. just warning you. i just have a few pictures to share, mostly ones i've pulled off my phone.

so juliet has recently decided it's gotten too darn cold to get out of bed in the mornings. well, except for food. so in the mornings, she wakes up, eats, runs outside, and then runs back to get back into bed.

the life of a puppy is hard.

schrodinger is not much of a lap kitty. every now and then he'll decide he wants to sit on the edge of the couch with you, but not actually touch you. however, orie is the exact opposite. she won't leave me alone.

this picture is of me and austin on new year's day. it's pretty poor quality, but i still like it. so deal.

i just think this is really cute. look at boo. love her.

and in case you're wondering what i've been doing all day {right, i'm sure that's just what you were wondering} i've been eating baklava. a lot of it. austin and i made some last night and even though it was somewhat time consuming, it is soooo worth it.

i think i'm addicted. it's a real problem.

so there. a completely pointless and random post sharing some pictures from my phone. riveting, i know.

p.s.- does making baklava count as one of my new recipes i said i would try this month even though it's not really a meal?

because i definitely didn't eat baklava {and only baklava} for breakfast.

or lunch.

definitely. did. not.

a week's worth of christmas.

when your families are spread out across two or three states, christmas doesn't just last a day. more like a week.

austin and i had our christmas gift exchanging early in the week. here's our {arguably} beautiful little pink tree, packed with presents underneath.

austin got new pajama pants, a shovel, a 2012 calendar, a nerf gun, and a new cordless power tool set {and, of course, juliet helped open all our presents}.

and i got a dvd i wanted, a slap chop {because i shouldn't be allowed to use sharp knives}, a gift certificate to a painting class, and a new coat!

and then there were the critters. juliet got treats and a new favorite toy.

it's a blue spotted lizard. or something. she loves it though, whatever it is.

and after the kitties put on their festive outfits, they got a new cat toy!

{my cats aren't very photogenic...}

on thursday, we headed up to austin's parent's house for another early christmas dinner and gift exchange. here's their tree with a whole lotta presents underneath.

austin got a new robe, a tool chest and accessories, new jeans, socks and we got new bedsheets. and i got a purse and some jewelry, new shoes, a tripod for my camera!

then we packed up the car and drove the six hours to virginia to see all of my side of the family. we started by going over to tim's sister's for christmas eve lunch. we had a biiiig meal and then gathered around to watch my cousin morgan open her presents. this was one of those times i was a loser and didn't get any pictures for whatever stupid reason...

later on christmas eve, we drove to over to see dad's side of the family. and we had some awkward family photo fun.

and then. this happened. seth picked me up. chris picked seth up. i was trying to not crack my skull open on walls.

there's a picture of the events that happened after this. but i promised i wouldn't post. because things got weird. and hilarious. all in the name of safety, though. and fortunately my skull is not shattered in to a zillion pieces. but it could have been.

and then, finally, it was christmas morning! and here's mom and tim's adorable little {puppy proof} tree, with alphie underneath.

family picture.

everyone up at grandma and granddad's for christmas day lunch.

oh, and meet tucker. mom and tim's new boxer boy.

can you imagine how difficult it is to get six people and four dogs to pose for a picture together?

i think we got a pretty good one though. here's me, juliet and austin, obviously. and chris and jenna in the middle with their puppies mylee and laila. and tim and mom and tucker on the right.

and just for cuteness sake, laila and tucker cuddled up in the dog bed together. they quickly became bffs.

so. to sum it up. days and days of presents + waaay to much food {still not enough pecan rolls} + a little awkward family-ness + lots of puppy playing + some nintendo wii action + lots of driving + the best family a girl could ask for = one very awesome christmas. hope you all had a great christmas and hope santa was good to you, too!

kittens inspired by kittens.

when baby kitty {orie} decided to come live with us, i was a little nervous that dinger might not be so happy. no need to worry though, because they're practically best friends. best friends who run wild through the house and knock everything over and make the most noise right when i'm trying to fall asleep.

but they have fun. so it's whatever.

sometimes, dinger corners orie.

and she makes a face like this.

and then orie will hide from dinger inside my dresser. yeah, inside. i had to take the drawers out to find her.

but then orie will get back at him, via aerial attack.

it was funny.

and this last one just makes me laugh.

and geeze louise, dinger is a big cat.

and yes, my life is this exciting. blogging about my cats. don't be jealous. and please don't make fun.