That was fast...

The Holidays are over :(
Christmas was wonderful and we made it to all four houses successfully. It was fun making all the rounds and seeing everyone, we were definitely exhausted Christmas night! I was really wishing we had one more day off to recuperate, but no such luck. At least I have Monday off so I get a four day weekend, that makes up for it.
Brian and I both got so many nice things from our families, they were suppose to go easy this year but I'm not sure they did! We got outdoor lighting for our backyard that we are really excited about, it included 5 spotlights for our Japanese maples. It's really going to lighten up our backyard, we'll have to have a dinner party in the summer out there :-) We got gift cards, a nice pitcher and glass set (can you believe I didn't have a pitcher?! Neither could my mom!), a large cooker, gorgeous glass rose bowl, and tons of fun stuff like candles, boxers, cookbooks, lotions, etc. I think one of my favorite parts was watching the kids open their presents, they get so excited I just love it!

We are going to the Bauer's beach house on Monday for New Year's Eve, I am looking forward to it. There is a fun group going and our plan is to just hang out at the house (a bonfire on the beach would be ideal but I think it'll be too cold and rainy!) and maybe go hot tubbing.

We've been watching Malise, Chris and Brandi's dog, while they went home to West Virginia for the Holidays. She is such a sweet dog, doesn't chew anything or have an accidents in the house. I like that her and MJ can keep each other company during the day too. It's fun to come home to two dogs who are so excited to see you, it's just a good feeling. It kind of makes me want another dog, but I don't know if I could go through the potty training again! Since Malise is a big dog with long black hair, vacuuming the hard wood everyday is a must. We use our little Shark which works really well, it makes me miss carpet though. With the hard wood (okay, it's pergo) dust bunnies are flying EVERYWHERE. At least with carpet I could vacuum every other day since it hides it a little better.
We are planning to get a nice big rug for our living room area, but man they are expensive. Especially because we need a large one, like a 10 X 13 which is a custom size. I think Home Depot might be our best bet, if anybody else knows of a good deal on rugs let me know!

This week at work has been rough, it's been quiet which is fine, but more than that it's my mentality. I'm just done, I have mentally checked out of work and have fast forwarded to the day we can finally start a family. I'm hoping next week I will be able to muster up some motivation and focus otherwise I'm not going to make it. I think Brian is done hearing about how I don't like my job so I decided I need to vent on my blog :-) He is very supportive but I think he can only handle so much complaining before he snaps. Since he loves his job it's hard for him to put himself in my shoes, although he tries. I've learned that sometimes your mom and sisters are the only ones who can comfort you. You too Dad ;-) I don't want to sound ungrateful though, I am very blessed to have a good job and a husband who is working hard so I can stay home and raise a family one day. Just wishing that day would come sooner!

Today is Anna's birthday so I want to wish her a Happy Birthday! I'm overjoyed you are in our lives Anna, thank you for making my Dad so happy. Abby and Cassidy are so very blessed to have a such a sweet mom and I will remind them that when they go through their teenage years ;-) Hope you have a wonderful and special day.

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas!

I am at work with about 2 other people, which means I will be able to accomplish a lot today. I have the Christmas music playing softly to ensure I stay in the Holiday spirit :-)

I am looking forward to starting our Holiday traditions tonight. First we will go to my mom's to eat dinner, open presents, and fill out our Christmas questions. The Christmas questions are my favorite part. Each year we fill out a sheet with the 4 same questions (since I don't have it in front of me these might not be word-for-word accurate, but they are close):

1. What were the highlights of the year?
2. What were the lowlights of the year?
3. What do you hope to accomplish in the new year?
4. What is important in your life right now?

It is really fun because we look back at our last year's answers and see if we met our goals and what has changed. I just love reflecting on the year and finding out what my family members answers are, I love this tradition. I am also looking forward to the kids opening presents, I just love seeing their faces and watching them get so excited. Brian and I found a great deal on a Barbie house (not a really big one, but it's still cute) that we are giving to Jaidyn and Kailey, Jaime said they are going to be so excited which made me thrilled! We got Porter a Cars book and a firetruck that makes lots of noise ;-) Looking forward to all the festivities!
After my mom's we are headed to Brian's mom's house to spend time together and then head to church. We all enjoy singing Christmas carols and being together, it's a perfect way to end Christmas Eve.
Tomorrow morning we will get up and head to my dad's to watch the kiddos open presents and then we'll sit down to a big breakfast. I love watching the girls open their presents. We got them each a pair of cherry earrings, cherry bracelets, and a heart necklace. They are very in to jewelry right now so I am overjoyed to add to their collection. Anna always makes a delicious breakfast and I make sure to eat too much of it :-)
Then we'll head up to Salem (half hour drive) to Brian's dad's house for present opening and another scrumptious meal. Last year we brought the Christmas questions tradition up there so I'm looking forward to doing that again :-) It's such a good way to keep up on family and know what is going on in their lives right now.
After all this is done we'll head home to crash! I am looking forward to all of so much that I know it will go by in the blink of an eye. But at least we'll have the memories and pictures to remind us how much fun we had.

Merry Christmas everyone!

I love weekends

We had a great weekend, but it was of course too short. I had dinner Friday night with my old boss, Shirlene, and old co-worker, Renee. It was nice to get caught up on how they are doing and it kind of felt like a mini girls night out :-)

Saturday Brian had to work so I took the opportunity to clean the house, do laundry, and then venture to the mall for some Christmas shopping with Brandi. Funny how I clean house when Brian's gone, yet I know he would take the opportunity to plop on the couch and take a nice long nap if I was gone ;-) Actually, he's good about doing the dishes so I'm sure he would do that before his nap. I also got our presents wrapped and under the tree which felt great.

We were having friends over Saturday night at 6 pm to make cookies and play games so I was glad Brian got home in plenty of time to help get things ready. Well that didn't last long, at 5 pm he was on the phone with work and the next thing I know he's putting his browns on and rushing out the door. Alrighty then. He ended up coming home a little after 6 pm but no one had arrived yet so no harm done. Brittany and Chris came up from Eugene and Brandi and Chris came over from around the block. We had a great time making and decorating cookies and then playing games. It was so much fun. We even had a little contest with the cookie decorating, check out these talented people's work:

Brian took the UPS man to work, it was too cute! Brandi did the UPS man, Brittany did the OSU cheerleader, I did the football, and Chris Krieger did the Santa Claus.

Sunday we went up to Salem to check out Nate and Amy's new house they just bought! It is absolutely beautiful. The carpets were a little rough and the paint condition so they are putting some TLC into it. Amy and I painted and ripped out carpet while Nate and Brian prepared the living room for hard wood floors.
Poor Brian has a cold and I feel horrible for him, this is the last week before Christmas which means long days and no calling in sick! He's taking medicine, vitamin C, and eating chicken noodle soup as often as he can. Let's see, what other random things can I write about? Nothing, but I can post more pictures!

This is Chris and Brittany making cookies:

Chris and Brandi decorating their cookies: Posing for the camera:
I asked the guys to be candid and this is what I get:
Gotta love 'em!

Here are a few pictures from Brian's UPS Christmas party 2 weekends ago:

From left: Brian, his boss Ron, and his co-worker, Dave.
Here is our Christmas tree!
I realized I never posted pictures of our fun night at Dave and Cinn's. I of course had to take pictures of little Scarlette. I caught a funny one of Chris helping Brian put the burp rag on his shoulder, too funny:
So precious:
From top left: Brian, Dave and Chris. Then bottom left: me, Cinnamon and Scarlette, and Brittany:

Okey dokey, that's all I've got. Hope everyone is enjoying the Holiday season. :)

Beavers and Hurricanes

BEAVERS WIN!!!!!!!
Not only is this exciting because the Ducks are supposedly better, but Civil War was at Autzen Stadium (the Ducks home turf). The Beavers haven't won AT Autzen since 1993. It was a double overtime game that kept you at the edge of your seat. We had a great time at Brandi and Chris' and I know the boys enjoyed playing poker and watching football, nothing better than that!
We got our Christmas tree Sunday morning and let me just say we picked one of the worst days. They were suppose to be issuing a hurricane warning due to extremely high winds, the coast got up to 120 mph winds. Luckily, it wasn't quite that windy when we got the tree, but it was raining and umbrellas weren't helping! The coast got hit pretty bad, certain areas still have no power, some lost wireless for a few days. Its pretty bad. The weather has calmed down and now the aftermath is left to clean up.

I am looking forward to tonight, we are going to Dave and Cinnamon's to have dinner with them and Chris and Brittany who we cheered with at OSU. They were also stunt partners like Brian and I. I can't wait to hold Dave and Cinnamon's little girl, Scarlette, I'll take my camera for sure!

I've also been meaning to take pictures of our tree and Christmas decorations. I love that we have a fireplace to hang out stockings. Jenny and Kyle got us stockings last year for Christmas and I just love them.

And now, to get in the Christmas spirit, a popular questionnaire I thought I would post:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper is more exciting and you can be more creative. My step mom uses those pretty Christmas boxes that I also like!
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real all the way, you can't beat the smell of a Douglas Fir, it just radiates Christmas.

3. When do you put up the tree? The weekend or 2 after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? The day after Christmas, otherwise it reminds me Christmas is over :(

5. Do you like eggnog? Technically no, but I do like an eggnog latte with non-fat milk, that way it thins it a little.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Dolls and Barbies, I LOVED get those!
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, Brian and I purchased ours last year and it's sitting on our mantle.
8. Hardest person to buy for? My Dad, it doesn't help that he never gives us ideas, he says the only thing he ever wants is to spend time with his kids. We can do that, but we want to give him more!

9. Easiest person to buy for? Jaime, because she tells me exactly what she wants!
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, it takes more time but it's much more personable and everyone loves getting mail!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't think of one.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Grinch (Jim Carey version) and Christmas Vacation.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually the first or second weekend in December.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not a gift, but things we get from Christmas gift exchanges we'll use at another one. Not all the time, but we've done it before. Gulp.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Muddy Buddies, the recipe on the back of Chex boxes, they are soooo good.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear, white lights.
17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night by Josh Groban and Where are you Christmas by Faith Hill
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? With Brian working at UPS we will never be able to travel at Christmas. :(
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? I think so.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Growing up we would open one present Christmas Eve and the rest in the morning, which is how I want to do it with my kids.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? How mean people are when I go shopping, they are so pushy!
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? My grandparents gave each of us grandchildren a new Hallmark ornament each year until we were 18, those are my favorite 18 ornaments in the world. Aside from that, I decorate in red and gold.

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? Someone to pay off all my debt ;-) A big rug for our living room.

Merry Christmas!