a sea shanty christmas

Drew is still napping after two hours and I am doing a little Hallelujah dance. I'm celebrating with a mug of hot chocolate with a candy cane melting in it and I'm sitting here in my painting clothes. I just finished putting the finishing touches (I hope!) on a table I refinished for Morgan Roy (of the incredibly talented Morgan Roy Photography who takes the photos of our family.) I think I just jinxed myself. I hear Drew banging around in his crib. While he wakes up let me introduce you to my bestie and her crazy, and really fun, husband.

Danielle and I have been friends since sixth grade when we met at West Hill Dam. I think we were part of a sandcastle building contest. I don't even want to think of how awkward we looked in our bathing suits and glasses... so I won't. She married the first guy I really met at Gordon, Warren Wegrzyn. He was in my Orientation group and laughed louder than anyone I'd ever met. But after four-ish years of college they met at a program Danielle was at in Dorchester. And the rest is history. It's not very often that you find a couple more in love and perfect for each other than they are.

They hosted a Sea Shanty Christmas at their house on Sunday night and I became crazy photographer and ignored the other guests to get photos of Danielle's new ornaments. Here is Warren in all of his Christmas-y spirit ready for a night of leading us in rousing Christmas carols. They were so rousing Drew lost it and we went home.

Here are her new ornaments... and a close up.

Anyone from Whitinsville Christian reading this? Isn't this adorable that she still has this? She has one from her kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Colby, too! Kim, maybe you should do something like this... :)

Their nativity set is from Guatemala where Warren's sister lived for years and then Warren decided to build a modern creche to go above it with scrap wood they had. The star on the end is from a high school Christmas dance we had in 1999... I remember the tedious task of painting and glittering them. (Danielle and I were on student council together.)

Danielle has her stack of Christmas stories ready to go... and here they are being put to good use while our friend Lauren read to Delia (a little girl from church).

This is above their front door... I love this statement.

Notice that little cutie front and center on their window turned Christmas card display. :)

I think this might be my favorite thing so far... I love the idea of using the window and putting some red fabric behind it.

We can't leave this Sea Shanty Christmas without a few pictures of the little guy... he wasn't the happiest camper before we left... I think it was something to do with me wanting him to wear my hat because he looked so adorable in it and forcing pictures.

This was taken while we were singing carols outside on Danielle and Warren's deck.

Thank you, D, for letting us see how you did up your house for Christmas... and letting us at your fabulous hot chocolate bar... :)