Holiday Hits: 2009 Edition

I am super excited to post a new playlist for the holidays, one that is filled with both new music and old favorites. Robert wants me to let you know that he contributed to this playlist, and though Harry Connick, Jr. is typically his favorite Christmas musician, he is really digging the Dave Matthews song on the list. I love him so much that I actually included that song on this playlist, even though I cannot stand Dave Matthews (or U2).

What's your favorite Christmas song/artist?

*Santa Claus Got Stuck in My Chimney - Ella Fitzgerald
*No Christmas for Me - Zee Avi
*Believe - Josh Groban
*Somewhere in My Memory ("Home Alone") - John Williams
*I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm - Dean Martin
*All I Want for Christmas - Britney Spears
*Christmas Eve - Celine Dion
*Christmas Pics - Barenaked Ladies
*The Happiest Christmas - Michael W. Smith
*Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays - N'Sync
*Last Christmas (Acappella) - N'Sync
*Christmas Song - Catherine Feeny
*Christmas Medley - Carpenters
*All My Bells Are Ringing - Lenka
*Sleigh Ride - Carpenters
*Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Michael Buble
*Grown-Up Christmas List - Michael Buble
*Green Christmas - Barenaked Ladies
*Someday at Christmas - Jack Johnson
*Where Are You Christmas - Faith Hill
*The Christmas Waltz - Doris Day
*White Christmas - The Drifters
*Christmas Song - Dave Matthews
*I Wanna Take You Out in Your Holiday Sweater - Pascal
*Rudolph - Jack Johnson
*God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Barenaked Ladies
*Christmastime - Michael W. Smith
*Christmas in My Hometown - Charley Pride
*I Met an Angel (On Christmas Day) - Celine Dion
*I Pray on Christmas - Harry Connick, Jr.
*It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas - Harry Connick, Jr.
*What a Night - Harry Connick, Jr.
*Deck the Halls - SheDaisy
*Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella - Jon Schmidt
*Silent Night/I Guess There Ain't No Santa Claus - Barry Manilow

And also, a special thanks to Emilie for introducing me to a few new tunes that I am sure will become famLea holiday classics.

Nine redeeming qualities

There are nine redeeming qualities that make living in Las Vegas OK with me: September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April and May. It can be quite awesome to spend a jacket-less morning at the park... in November.

Sneak Peeks

A few sneak peeks of Zackary's Christmas present... a tabletop felt playhouse. We've got a front door with a mailbox and mail he can drop in the slot and a garden with a tree where he can pick apples and other fruit, a cornstalk where he can pull ears of corn from the leaves, mounds of dirt where he can plant potatoes and carrots, a shovel to dig in the dirt and a garden hose for watering.

There is still a lot of work to be done. The sewing machine will be humming this week.

Subtle hints

We asked Zackary what he would like for Christmas this year. He didn't say much and he hasn't provided us with a list yet, but he did drop a subtle hint at the store the other day. I'm not sure if we are ready for a pet yet. We'll have to see what Santa brings.

-November 9, 2009-
Zackary Jameson Lea at six months

The need for speed

Robert and I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway together yesterday (Wednesday, November 18, 2009). We had no idea what we were in for and neither of us are race fans so we were mostly just looking forward to spending an afternoon together in the middle of a work week.

The experience began with a delicious, catered track-side luncheon. We enjoyed the meal in the same room where the biggest sponsors gather on race days. What a view! After the meal, we were put through driver's training and fitted for our helmets and race suits. When it finally sunk in that we would actually be DRIVING the race cars ALONE for eight laps around the TRACK, I couldn't believe it. I just kept thinking, Nobody would ever let me do something like that! It can't possibly be a good idea for me to do something like that! But they did let us do something like that and it was a great idea.
Robert was one of the first drivers to climb into his car. He pulled in behind his lead car and shifted thru the gears into fourth, crossed the white line and made his first lap. We were told that in order to achieve maximum speed we needed to be three car lengths behind our lead car and stay in his tracks. Three car lengths is so close when you are going 130 mph! Robert did a fabulous job keeping that distance and was one of the best drivers on the course that day. His top speed was 134 mph. He came off the track with a giant smile and a glimmer in his eyes... uh oh! Career change, perhaps?!
I was only one of two women. Earlier in the day I heard one of the previous female drivers say she had topped out at 90 mph and I thought, What a sissy GIRL! I drive 90 mph on the freeway in my Corolla. I have got to beat that! But once I shifted into fourth and crossed the apron, I realized it was much harder than I thought to keep the distance, track the lead and navigate the turns. The G-force was awesome. I could feel the earth pressing on me with every turn. The entire time I was screaming, OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! My heart was pumping. My hands were sweating. My adrenaline was flowing. I was flying. It was incredible. There was hardly a moment to breathe or take in the surroundings. Twice I passed other drivers and left them in my dust. My top speed was 128 mph.
We were also able to drive an autocross course. There were two Mercedes - beautiful cars - set up on a short course for us to navigate. The goal was to complete the course in the fastest time and penalties were given for every cone a driver hit. It went against everything we were taught in drivers' ed... floor the pedal, slam the brakes, screech the tires. It was a thrill and I was especially pleased to score well and complete the course twice without hitting any cones. I am a Mercedes girl now. It was difficult to climb back into our Toyota Corolla to drive home after sitting behind the wheel of a Mercedes Benz.
I don't think Robert and I will find ourselves suddenly transformed into major NASCAR fans after this adventure, but we definitely gained more respect for the men and women who drive the cars for a living. It was much more difficult than I expected and is not a sport for the weak-hearted.

Of all my crazy life adventures to date, including those I enjoyed in Idaho, this ranks in the top three. Insane! Crazy! Scary! Fun!

Never felt this way before

This giant stack of felt has been calling to me from the corner for a week or two now and finally I am cutting into the delicious colors. The sewing machine is humming. I am making something like this for Zackary for Christmas. And I am happy! And I can't wait!

Right now...

...we spend a lot of time just sitting around, watching this little guy grow and basking in the joy that is having Zackary in our home.

-Tuesday, November 3, 2009-
Zackary at six months and four days
Mommy and Daddy at 30 years

Over a bowl of homemade chicken tortilla soup, a Nothing Bundt Cake and a few "horsey" rides, we caught up with another old friend from the SUU Ballroom Dance Team. Rob Breedlove was in town on business and called to catch up. We hadn't seen him since our wedding six years ago. It was nice to share our home and our lives with him, and to reminisce.

Lazy mommy Halloween

Zackary has a lazy mommy who stuck him in orange-striped pajamas and a borrowed pumpkin hat for Halloween. He would have much preferred to be something cooler like a silly monster or a dog or a pirate. Maybe next year.

We enjoyed attending the tri-ward Trunk-or-Treat and passing out candy with the Brewers. We loved greeting all the primary children as they came by for a treat and a short visit with Brother Lea. Brother Lea is a bit of a primary celebrity... that's what happens when you are called to be the primary chorister and you do cool things like Spin the Primary Child, Singing Olympics, Hangman. We so love serving together in the primary right now!

Outtakes