Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Dessert Theater @ Grace

Tonight in lieu of our Wednesday night Bible study, our group volunteered to serve dessert at Grace's Dessert Theater production of A Miracle on 34th St. We had a great time! I just love hanging out with my besties!

Shelli, Sarah & Aaron on water duty!


Margie working her magic!




And I didn't drop a single one!


Sarah & Dan on seating duty!





Ouch! Those are a bit hot!


How cute are we!?! :-)
Dan & Margie, Jeff & Sarah, Aaron & Shelli, and Sam & Em


Shelli & Aaron


What a sweet picture of Margie & Dan!


And there's the Dan & Margie we love!


Jeff Gibbs & Sarah


Sam & Em

Oh, PETA [insert ridiculously long sigh and eye roll here]

"Critics Blast PETA Ad Showing Nude Joanna Krupa Holding Crucifix" http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2009/12/01/critics-blast-peta-advertisement-nude-model-crucifix/?test=faces



I have two questions I'd like to ask PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals): 1) what does sex/naked bodies have to do with saving animals? 2) A crucifix? Really???

Most of us are probably aware of PETA's history of using "shock" ads with provacative naked bodies (women's of course) to promote animal rights. And in a way, I guess I kind of get it...I mean sex sells, right? And their whole campaign of "I'd rather go naked than wear fur" at least kind of makes sense in a twisted sort of way. That being said though, I still think it's ridiculous to think that sex sells EVERYTHING. I'm mean clothes, I guess, and cars, maybe...but animal rights? Really? What on earth does sex have to do with animals? Ewww!

But that brings me to my second question: why would they use a crucifix? Understandably, a lot of Christians and religious organizations are upset and offended by the ad. Deal Hudson, publisher of an online Catholic magazine brings up a good point when he said, "It's another instance of disrespect for Christianity and another example of the kind of abuse that would never occur with any other major religion, because the outcry would be so immediate and so loud that the people behind it would immediately retreat." And I have to say that I agree with Hudson. Can you imagine the outcry if she was posing nude behind the Jewish Star of David or the Muslim symbol of Allah? I don't see any possible, reasonable explanation for the inclusion of Christian icons. I too find it extremely distasteful and offensive. Miss Krupa's response to the criticism: "As a practicing Catholic, I am shocked that the Catholic League is speaking out against my PETA ads. I am doing what the Catholic church should be doing, working to stop the senseless suffering of animals, the most defenseless of God's creation." Oh my...poor little ignorant Playboy model. Of course this is also the woman who recently said that posing nude is empowering for women...but that's another post entirely.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The Girl Effect



If any of you had a chance to watch Oprah on Tuesday (if not, I strongly encourage everyone to check it out on hulu or some other place) it was a phenomenal show! Her guest was Nicholas Kristof, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and op-ed columnist for the New York Times. He has traveled around the world, writing specifically about the plight of women, especially in war ravaged, developing countries. His stories are heart breaking and eye opening! We are so sheltered here in suburbia, I just can't imagine that if these women were being killed, raped and beaten right on our doorstep that we would still sit by and do nothing. Check out Kristof's new book "Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide."

http://www.amazon.com/Half-Sky-Oppression-Opportunity-Worldwide/dp/0307267148/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259791353&sr=8-1

You can also go to Oprah's website for information on a bunch of different ways to get involved.

http://www.oprah.com/dated/oprahshow/oprahshow-20090901-nicholas-kristof

Monday, November 30, 2009

O' Christmas Tree!!!

Our beautiful tree, with the lower branches a little sparse this year so as not to tempt little fingers! :-)





Sunday, November 29, 2009

Jackson Family Thanksgiving!

On Saturday the family gathered at Kevin and Alicia's house for the Jackson family Thanksgiving! As always...lots of great food (thanks Alicia!), great games, and a lot of laughs!
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Russ, Stacy, Sandy & Andy playing a board game called "Pandemic" - a game where you try to save the world from a deadly infectious pandemic disease. Sounds like a real pick-me-up! :-)

Sam and sis, Michele
Sam & Cohen


Russ & Andy got dish duty this year...and they are not happy about it! :-)

Some play time!
Our future Beethoven! :-)
Tickling the ivories with cousin Rowan!
Rowan and her Sammy!
He's got the whole world in his hand!

The Lighting of the Christmas Tree!

We took Cohen downtown to see his first lighting of the Christmas tree on Monument Circle (along with Russ & Michele)! It's hard to believe that 15 years ago on that same night, Sam and I had our first date when we went down to see the Christmas tree lighting! WOW! 15 years!!! And now we could bring our son along with us! Very cool!
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All bundled up and ready for the lights to turn on!

3...2...1....LIGHTS!!!

Michele & Russ





Patterson Family Thanksgiving!

Before heading over to my parents' house for Thanksgiving we made a quick stop by the Elliotts (to crash their family Thanksgiving! :-) because Cohen had woken up with what I thought was some sort of blistery chicken pox-like rash on his arm, and I wanted Shelli's opinion on it. Turns out the poor little guy got mauled by a spider that some how got into his pj's!
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The Sweater Vest Babies...Sitota & Cohen!
Aunt Karol, Uncle Bruce & Cohen!
Karol & Cohen
Grandma Jina & Cohen
Mom and Dad pretty much let Cohen do whatever he wants! And apparently he likes to be swung around on the floor inside a laundry basket!
Mimi, Grandpa & Cohen