Early Nerds

It's Stéphane's birthday next Saturday but we celebrated with our friends this weekend.


We dropped Liliane at her grandparents' in the morning, saw Up in the Air (George Clooney, that's all you need to know. Plus a great script, but did I mention George Clooney?) went out for dinner, then came back to our house for cake and port and coffee and grown-up convo:

Well, sort of.

I think this conversation was all about Star Wars. Or Star Trek. Or Day of the Triffids. I zoned somewhere during the Spock vs. Yoda debate.

*not pictured: Stéphane proudly showing off one of his most treasured Star Wars Christmas ornaments. It lights up! It speaks dialogue! Holy cow, I married a nerd!


Some of my Christmas treats on the amazing REVOLVING three-tiered serving tower that I got for my birthday from these two cuties:

Our friends Jean-Michel and Laurence. Liliane would be sad if she knew she had missed hanging out with them.

Speaking of hanging out, Laurence took these photos in June or July when Liliane spent the afternoon at their house. I have been meaning to post them for months!


Babysitting AND portrait service. Now why didn't I think of that?



Then there's this guy. Pierre has a permanent spot in Liliane's Top 5 Favourite People list.

The birthday boy and I. He thought it would be festive to sport an angry red right eye for the occasion. The jury is out on the diagnosis. Not itchy, not particularly gummy, just red red red.


My chins and I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas!

We laughed, we played music, we drank port, Paola brought champagne, we blew out the candles and got it all done by 11:30. Sigh. I was hoping to celebrate later à la our upstairs neighbours, but that's life when you hit you mid-thirties. Plus the idea of sleeping all night with no kid-related wakeups was too delicious...

On Sunday we had planned to see Santa, but a very picturesque snowfall plus napping household kept us from the mall. Instead we bundled up and took Liliane out for a walk in the winter wonderland. She went in her wee sled for the first time this season and had a grand time.

Sunday night was the Carols by Candlelight service at my church and this year I was back singing in the choir. Stéphane opted to stay home to spare the good people of Temple Baptist from the pestilence in his eye plus we were too chicken to keep Liliane up way past her bedtime. Definitely next year.

I dressed up and dashed out by myself, secretly thrilled to have a few hours of pure Christmas enjoyment ahead of me. The snow had almost stopped falling as I brushed off the car, but there was enough to coat all the trees and lend a magical touch to the end of the afternoon. Like movie snow. Pretty, not problematic. I parked a couple of blocks away from the church and as I walked up the street I admired the combination of Christmas lights and Hanukkah decorations that adorn that part of Outremont. It was an "all is right with the world" moment. Montréal is really an amazing place to live.

The service went well. Good singing, good company, good message. My friend Manon came and brought her daughter Luanna and it was a real treat to spend the evening with those two. The only thing missing is pictures! While I had the wherewithal to grab the camera, I forgot to charge the battery. Doh. Regardless, a lovely, lovely evening.

We're in the Christmas home stretch now people! Next big event is family brunch here next Saturday. And oh yeah, we leave for B.C. three days later! I predict some all-night packing in my future. Fa la la la la la la la la!