Geico does it again

Who doesn't know that Geico sells insurance? Who doesn't know the Geico gekko? Who can't list, without a moment's hesitation, at least three of the company's recent campaigns? I think that's what you call successful advertising.

And I love the newest campaign. The rhetorical question ads, especially the Charlie Daniels one. Charlie Daniels has one of only two country songs I have on my iPod. "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." Great song. So it was pretty cool to see ole Charlie pop up when the Geico guy asks, "Does Charlie Daniels play a mean fiddle." Tapping his foot, shredding the bow, fiddlin' away.

That's how it's done, son.

Kids keep you young!

It's true what they say! Consider: on a typical night at the Boiler Household when the older kids are away, not a creature is stirring later than 11:30, including that mouse. On weekends, maybe a little later, but not much.

But this Saturday night found us playing board games until 2:00 in the a.m. Okay, so it might not have been like hitting the clubs into the wee hours of the morning, dancing the night away, but one should never be the old person in the club anyway. And when we play board games, we all play like we've bet the house, all in.

Just when we should have been taking our old Boiler-butts to bed, BoilerBaby 1 and I decided, "let's make crepes for tomorrow morning!" And we did. We could have waited, but I like to make the batter the night before.

On Sunday morning, we meant to have a lazy Sunday, when, just like young people, we decided on the spur of the moment to spend the day in the Hill Country. We'd planned to go later in the week and spend a couple of days, but BoilerHusband's work schedule unexpectedly took a change for the worse, so that Sunday was the only day we could all go. So, we packed up the kids, gathered a few snacks, and off we went. That was, after enjoying our very delicious crepes.

Three and one-half hours later, we were standing at the top of Enchanted Rock. A couple of hours later, we were walking the streets of Fredericksburg. A little rock climbing and a little browsing can make one hungry. Auslander was calling. Battered + fried = delicious. And that describes the mushrooms, and the jagerschnitzel. Good stuff.

Back home, we were tired, but feeling oh so young, at least for a little while.

This Christmas

This Christmas, we . . .

-- Stayed home, and a good thing we did, given the travel nightmares as a result of the slow moving storm.

--Had a "white Christmas" sort of, Waco-style, as a result of a slow moving storm. It snowed on Christmas Eve! So what that it didn't stick. It was pretty, and the snow lasted longer than expected.

--Enjoyed Christmas Eve services at church. One of the best services ever, with many beautiful solos.

--Enjoyed dinner at IHOP after church. It's nice to have everyone home again.

--Had a non-traditional meal. Christmas lasagna. A new tradition in the making?

--Laughed and teased as we opened gifts. The gifts were thoughtful. Even BB3 outdid himself. Not the usual run by the gift card display at HEB.

--Had a wonderful Christmas.

We are blessed.