Lisa n Tom (n James n Joseph)

Lisa writes: One more picture from Colonial Williamsburg. This is Chownings Tavern, which is a good place to go if you like sing-alongs with stein-thumping choruses, like this one: I've been a wild rover for many a year And I spent all me money on whiskey and beer, And now I'm returning with gold in great store And I never will play the wild rover no more. Chorus: And it's no, nay, never, [Thump thump thump thump] No, nay, never, no more, Will I play the wild rover No, nay, never no more.

Lisa writes: Much thanks to Tom's coworker friends who gave us the gift certificate to "Two Quail Restaurant" in D.C. We finally used it on Saturday night and it was a fun and funny evening. The restaurant is located in a string of 100+ year old rowhouses just East of Capitol. It's a tiny, winding maze of little rooms and hallways, stuffed with Victorian knick-knacks. I looked up a few reviews of the place, and it seems like the interior decorating serves as sort of a Shibboleth of the romantic state of mind of the visitor. Lovebirds thought it was "The Most Romantic Restaurant in D.C." The more prosaic thought it looked like "Jessica McClintock meets Miss Havisham and Morticia Addams." Happily, Tom and I always fall on the more smoochy side of the scale. The most entertaining part of the decorations, though, is provided by the lovestruck patrons who tuck away little love notes into these heart-shaped boxes located all over the place. They are on ...

Tom writes: We headed down to Colonial Williamsburg the first weekend in December to participate in the beginning of the Christmas season there. Thousands come out on Sunday evening for the fireworks and festivities of Grand Illumination. It was a bit damp, but not too cold, and the place was packed. You can see a few minutes of all the commotion. We had a tour of Williamsburg on Saturday morning with my high school buddy Adam Rubenstein, his wife Robin, and their daughter, Hallie. And then Hallie, Adam, Lisa, and I went out for the Grand Illumination itself on Sunday evenng. Thanks to the Rubensteins for letting us stay with them for the weekend!

Lisa writes: Mom and the Grandkids. This went out on the Christmas card this year. From left to right: Madison, Ava, Cameron, Taylor, Mom, Christian, and Breanna.

Tom writes: We had been planning on seeing the National Christmas Tree just like we did many years ago when we were dating. However, it was not so easy to find a night that worked. (In addition to fighting gridlock, we also struggle with "clocklock.") So pretty much on a whim one night, we went on downtown. Problem: no camera. Solution: ask someone there to take our picture with their camera and e-mail it to us. Many thanks (and Merry Christmas!) to Jack and Marla Spath, who were not shy about talking with strangers.

Lisa writes: Click here to see Tom in all his animated, dancing, tights-wearing glory. Click here to elf yourself. Tom writes: Or if you wanted to see Lisa as a cute little elf, you can do that, too!

Lisa writes: Here is Ava being an angel for Christmas 2004. It was a pre-school Nativity play that appears to have been very heavily weighted in favor of angel-roles.

Lisa writes: Christian's Santa outfit, courtesy of his three older sisters.

Elmo knows me Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: Hello Elmo!

Lisa writes: On the plane on the way to Vancouver, you'll be asked to fill out a little travel statement. One of the questions it asks is "Is this trip for business or pleasure?" Whatever you do, don't say "business." If you say "pleasure," you will be routed through the short line at Customs without a second thought. However, if you say "business" -- as I did -- you will get to stand in the long line where you will be asked to present proof of employment, proof of a business request, an explanation of the purpose of your trip, and lots of ID and phone numbers. From this experience, I learned that it is very, very important to always lie when you go to Canada. (P.S. You also need a passport to fly in and out, but nothing more than your own sweet smile to drive. Even post-9/11.)

Lisa writes: Lori and Dave just got back from their baby-visiting trip to Guatemala. It's been about a year wait to get to this point. They got to hang out with him for three days. They'll be able to bring him home after all the official paperwork has cleared, a 5-7 month process.

Free puppy Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: Scary.

Nylons Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: Real men wear tights all right, but only when they've got real big blisters. (Tom gearing up for Day Two at Vail.)

Lisa writes: Vail village. Doesn't it just make you want to yodel? Tom writes: Even if you don't feel up to yodeling, you can check out our trip to Beaver Creek our our outing to Vail with Lisa's sister Debbie and Debbie's boyfriend, Kellen.

Ava the Guinea Pig Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa's sister Lori writes: While Cameron and David were putting something together in the garage, Little Miss Ava decided she had had it with this being a human stuff and went off to join the King of the Guinea Pigs. (Can you believe she can fit through that little door?!?)

Tom writes: I am proud to say that I edited this clip to demonstrate the peak of my snowboarding prowess. ;-)

Debbie and Kellen snowboarding Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: Here, Kellen and my sister Debbie demonstrate their snowboarding skillz at the top of the mountain.

Street Legal Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: Three tries is a charm. I am finally a legal Virginia resident, despite the best efforts of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

Picture 006 Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: Two weeks ago, we drove up to the Blue Ridge Mountains so that I could deliberately encourage the proliferation of noxious weed species. Tom writes: You can see the video , too!

Friday night with the Andersons Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: It's 10:13 p.m. This is the party.

Christian the Ski Bum Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: It's beginning to look a lot like SKIING. Not in Virginia, of course. But back in Colorado, Vail is reporting 10 new inches of snow in the past 24 hours on top of a 20 inch base. I'm not good at math, but I'd say that's enough to ski on. And they open on Saturday. We're there!

Lisa writes: Tom and I have been pulled into the ward Activities Committee just in time for the ward Christmas party. Traditionally, this involves a roast ham, green bean casserole, and kids in bathrobes singing Christmas carols. THIS year, the theme is "A Night in Bethlehem" and is going to involve 250 people in period costume with bags of pennies going from wooden booth to wooden booth to "buy" their meals of pilaf and fruit and then sitting on blankets on the floor to eat. Ah, 2005. It was all so simple then. Here is the Colorado Springs' ward Nativity, featuring my niece, Madison, as Second Sheep from the Left. (End of December follow-up: The activity was just as labor-intensive as I imagined, but it went GREAT. I don't think I can ethically recommend to anybody that they put on an activity like this, but if you know of another ward that it doing it, it would be worth your while to get yourself invited. The two best parts were * When my brilliant and ext...

Elias and Quilt Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: That's the sound of me blowing my own horn. I made this quilt. My friend Kristin made the baby to go with it. Cute, huh?

Trailer Kids Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: Here we are on Easter 1975 standing in front of our 10' x 50' trailer home in Orem, Utah. Yes, folks. I spent my formative early years in a trailer home. And I can't say I'm any worse for it. (And doesn't my mom look fabulous?)

Wedding Pic 4 Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: While the photographer was getting a shot of us with the nieces and nephews, somebody else with a camera caught Donny and Brooke in a lovey mood.

Christian and the Big Horse Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: I am not exactly scared of horses. It's more that I've never felt any horse had my best interests at heart. My niece and nephew, on the other hand, are fearless. Here's Christian last year in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

Lisa writes: The kids out in California. The girls are the Three Weird Sisters and the boy is a pirate. Here in Virginia, we went over to Tom's mom's house for Halloween, so I don't know if we got any trick-or-treaters. I left a bowl of erasers on the doorstep with a sign that said, "Please take a few." The erasers were shaped like skulls and eyeballs. They were all gone when we got home, but I don't know if that means we had lots of trick-or-treaters or just one big greedy one.

Lisa writes: The squeezy CHIP dolls were the inspiration. The costumes were my creation. We won 'Best Team Theme.' Go team!

Madison andBig Blue Bear Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: This is Madison and the new sculpture outside the Denver Convention Center. It's called "I See You." Can you see Madison?

Very official Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: So, there it is. One hulking, monolithic government agency down; one to go. Next week: "Lisa's New Driver's License," or, "How Lisa Finished 'War and Peace' in a Single Sitting."

Captain Underpants Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: Christian fell in, got out, stripped down, and showed off.

Wedding Pic 3 Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: He's just so cute.

Lisa writes: My nephew Christian bonded with Hawaiian buddy Keoni last summer. My favorite thing about this friendship was that it never seemed to bother either of them that they couldn't pronounce each other's names. Christian didn't even try. Keoni was "Hey, boy!" Keoni gave a little more effort, following Christian around calling, "Question! Quesssss-tion!"

Cheeky monkey Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Tom writes: Lisa and I carved pumpkins tonight. Mine is in front, hers is in back. What is hers looking at?

Lisa writes: We are ridiculous in many ways, including this one. As part of Tom's desire to get back into shape, and my desire to smell the back of his neck at every possible occasion*, we play piggyback. A lot. Usually public. People either laugh or avoid eye contact with us. I don't blame them. It's a lot of concentrated smoochiness all in one place. * The back of his neck smells soooooo good.

Lisa writes: Overheard at work today. She said, "I saw Jason in the parking garage. Did he sell his convertible and buy a station wagon?" He said, "Shhh! He thinks it's an SUV."

Presbyterian Pumpkin Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: Last night, I bought five pumpkins from a patch on the front lawn of the Presbyterian church. The volunteers (a very enthusiastic 10 year old and her mother) told me that this was a charity fundraising pumpkin sale and all of the proceeds would benefit a local women's shelter AND that these pumpkins were grown by Navajo Indians in New Mexico as a native business venture. These are by far the holiest pumpkins I have ever bought in my life.

Dang it Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: We came across this while walking down the street in Germany in August. Love can be so fickle.

Flag folding Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: On October 2, they interred the ashes of Tom's father, Charles, at Arlington National Cemetery. The interment was 17 years after Charles' death. He would have been 98 years old this year. The ceremony was brief, formal, and beautiful. After the 21-gun salute, a single, far-off bugler played "Taps" and one nearby bird started singing its little head off. I liked the symbolism of the music, which symbolizes the end of the day, being outsung by the little bird, like the way birds start singing just before the sun comes up.

EliasShirt Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: We have, literally, over a thousand wedding pictures and Flickr isn't going to let me upload them all, so I'm picking and chosing a favorite to upload every now and then. This is baby Elias Porfirio Valle modeling the custom silk-screened shirt his artist dad made for the occasion. It says "Congratulations Tom & Lisa." And that is not a wig.

GeorgeandMayCake Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: Saturday, we went to the wedding of our friends Chrissy and Ed in Newport Beach, VA. Meanwhile, back in D.C., Tom's long-lost clone brother, George, was married to May in a mostly-traditional ceremony that involved a bright green cake.

Lisa writes: The headline is a little pun on the couple's last name, but everybody knows you're not supposed to identify people online by their first and last names. Instead here they shall be known as Mr. and Mrs. Went to Social Work School with Tom and Stuck It Out Long After He Bailed and Became a Project Manager. The wedding was very, very nice. And, believe me, we have a whole new appreciation for reception halls and buffets after our own gig back in September. Thank you for inviting us! P.S. Thanks for giving me a chance to feel so tall. Hanging around with Tom all the time, that's a rare treat for me!

tom and giraffe Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: This was taken at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs last fall. It turns out giraffes are entirely humorless. *Line stolen from George. Thanks, George.

weddingpic Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . One of sooooooo many.

Wildlife photography Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: I sent this out with the tag "Taken while on our elk-infested honeymoon in Rocky Mountain National Park." Evie wrote back, "There doesn't seem to be anyone else around -- was this taken by a passing elk?"

Lisa writes: This is a big fat THANK YOU to everybody who knows and loves us, who came to the wedding or reception or who thought of us on those days, who sent a card or a gift or an e-mail, or who helped out in the kitchen or with cleaning, decorations, transportation, and for everybody who has contributed to making our lives so wonderful. At the wedding and then again at the open house on Saturday, we looked around at the group assembled there to wish us well and were nearly overwhelmed by the feelings of love and appreciation we have for you all. To begin with, we can't believe we know so many people! And then to realize that we love so many people and are loved in return ... it's one of those moments that makes us realize we should really never, ever complain about anything else again in our lives because we have been blessed beyond measure and certainly beyond anything we deserve.

Lisa writes: The secret to a good open house is to have really nice family friends with a really gorgeous home who let you invite 72 perfect strangers and a duo of caterers to take it over and eat, drink, and spill red wine on your carpet for four hours. (And the second secret to a good open house is NOT to let the Mormon girl go pick up the "white wine" because she does not know the difference between a cabernet and a chardonney and she'll come back with the wrong kind just because -- and I'm not kidding here -- the bottle said "Yellow Tail" so she assumed that meant the white was yellow.) j

the way I see him Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom . Lisa writes: Tom is 6 foot 3 inches and I measure in at a measly 5 feet 5 and a quarter inches. So when we're both standing, this is how I see him.

smooch Originally uploaded by lisa.n.tom .

Lisa writes: The strangest thing about marriage so far is how normal it's been. Flossing together in the morning. Standing in front of the fridge awaiting inspiration after work. Bumping into Tom's legs when I roll over at night. People calling me "Mrs. Anderson." All normal. And I didn't think it would be. I thought it would be weird . Once we got past the part where Tom kept trying to kiss me goodbye and kick me out of his apartment every night, everything has been very, very normal.

Tom writes: I am posting this in April 2008, but the test was actually July 29, 2007. In 1996 I came back from about a year and half of volunteer work in Latin America thinking that I might want to return for even longer. One challenge that I saw facing me was how to get adequate exercise. I had hurt my knees in high school and couldn't jog, bicycling required a place where it was safe enough to ride (not always available), and swimming required access to a pool (not something to count on). My brother had had taken a course in tai chi in college and spoken highly of it, and the idea had stuck with me. I looked around for a school and ended up at the US Wushu Academy. A decade later, I still find that there is always something new to learn. Bare hands form, Yang style tai chi   Earning a black belt is kind of like earning a college degree. It means that you have mastered the basics, at least to a relatively high level. However, in no way does it imply that you a...