(almost) Munchkin Free Monday

Happy Memorial day!

Who has really big plans today? Anyone do anything fun over the weekend? Well I like to spend the time at the beach, or poolside, at a barbeque, or some other fun social event surrounded by friends, sun, laughter, and lots of great memories to be made!


Today, I am going to see Roo for a few hours so that R&S can have a lunch date to celebrate S's birthday. But before that I am going to go sit at the beach, and read. And afterward, I will be going to a friends house to enjoy some grilled goodies by the pool. It should be a good day :)

Enjoy your holiday!

Merry Christmas

This Christmas is a little different for me than Christmases past. I opted not to go home this year as the cost of a ticket was slightly more than one months rent... I just couldn't spring for it. So I'm trying to make the most of the holidays alone. I am going to web cam christmas morning with my family, and then later on I will be joining a family from my knitting group for Christmas dinner and activites.

I will probably be fine, I know a lot of people are worrying about me spending Christmas alone, but I have so many people here that love me, and have already made this a special holiday season for me. Thank you to everyone who has been thinking of me, and I am looking forward to this Christmas, and super excited for the next time I get to go home (whenever that will be).

Anyhow I hope that everyone has a very merry Christmas, no matter where they are spending it!

P.S. I'll post some pictures soon!

Happy Thanksgiving

So we do the "what are we thankful for" thing more than once a year..but today is a special day that everyone around the country gathers with their friends and family to be thankful together.

This year I am not spending Thanksgiving with my family, but I am spending it with some friends..and it was very difficult deciding where to go because I had offers all up and down the east coast! I am certainly thankful for having friends and family that care so much about me :-)

You may have noticed I've been posting only about food this week..well that is because growing up, my mom constantly had us in the kitchen watching her cook and helping where we could.. this was to make sure that not only would we be able to help her out while living there but also that we'd be able to cook for ourselves when we didn't live there. When it came to Thanksgiving she would have us do anything we were capable of helping with..."someday you'll have to do a Thanksgiving all by yourself."

Well today is not quite there yet...but I am bringing a mashed potato cauliflower topped with broiled cheesy goodness, and butternut squash soup. In fact I should get started now..

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Happy Independence Day!

I had a wonderful and action packed weekend, but for now I just want to show you some fireworks. We went to two different displays this year: The first on was the town's display, and the second one was a friend of a friends neighborhood blow up competition.


They were both right by the water, and were great.. the town had a beautiful display that lasted about a half an hour, and then they actually controlled traffic pretty well, so that everyone could get out without much hassle.
The neighborhood display, was also right on the water, and they basically had 5 blocks of beach blocked off, and 3 different blast sites putting on shows from the beach and we were all watching from the street. It was so crazy, it lasted for two and a half hours!! These people must have spend a fortune on fireworks! But it was beautiful, in both instances the fireworks would reflect in the water, and they had such a variety that it was just a great show.
The above pictures are from the town show, and here are some from the neighborhood show..





I did these last ones, one with the flash on, one with it off, so you could see the fireworks, and the people. I'm sure there is some fancy computer techy way to overlay the pictures so that they become one picture of the people with the fireworks, but I'm not tech smart.

Hope you all had a Happy Forth!

Dogs love presents too!

For Christmas I made sure to include Kati and Zahra in the festivities, and give them each a gift too.
They had a little bit of trouble unwrapping them at first, but once they had the gifts out, they were as happy as could be, and playing away!







Happy DOT Everyone!

A brief Winter recap

To go with my sister's long account for our time together with the holidays, if you didn't make it through her novel, here is a brief recount with pictures. Just the highlights, I promise ;)

She arrived just after a blizzard which covered everything with beautiful Snow :D


The first fun thing that we did together, was enjoy facials and pedicures at the spa! Such a great bonding activity, and very relaxing :)


Skip forward to Christmas Eve> we woke up at a pre sunny hour of 4AM!! To take the train down to the city and visit the Today show.


Unfortunately for us, the sun never showed up that day, so after the today show we wandered around NYC for a few hours, had lunch in Times square and hopped the train back to CT, and proceeded to get ready for a fancy Christmas Eve dinner at a fancy little restaurant. Here we each are, all dolled up at dinner. A delicious a fancy evening... so fun!

Christmas morning finally arrived! Jess and I get just as excited as we used to when we were young! We had decorated my little plant in my room, and stacked up a few gifts from each other and the rents to open Christmas morning. But first we had to open our stockings and gifts from G, S, and the Littles..it was so nice of them to include us in the Christmas morning festivities!

The Saturday following Christmas, We went to a Holiday Cocktail party at my friend Jodie's house. There was a nice sized group of us there, all dolled up and enjoying the fun. There were plenty of little appetizers, and good music to keep things lively and fun. To the left is Jodie and I at the begging of the night, and below is a group shot of everyone just before everyone started to go home.


The following day we decided to make our way up to Yale. We wondered there beautiful campus, and bought sweatshirts at their bookstore. We sat with the lion that I named Gryffindor :) And we touched the toe of some guy which is supposed to bring you luck--though I can't seem to remember his name! Someone later even commented that they like my Yale sweatshirt, they asked where I bought it, when I said Yale, they asked if I went there... I said no, but next time I'm saying yes!! lol


The next big thing we did was go to Boston on New Years day. We stayed at the double tree across the river from downtown Boston. It was absolutely freezing the night we were there! After dinner we tried to make it to Boston Common for a walk and some site seeing, but it was too cold, we only lasted for 15 minutes! Later we met up with G&S's nephews Ian and John to do a little pub crawl through a few bars downtown. The next day was just for driving back, and returning the rental car. Below (l to r) me, Ian, John, and Jessica at one of the Irish pubs we wandered into.


After Boston, the next big thing was Jessica flying back to Seattle. Though we did venture back into NY to visit a 4 story mall for a day.. who wouldn't love that?!

Anyhow, that is officially the holiday update! I guess I was lying when I said it would be brief...but at least it had fun pics to keep ya reading! :) I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!

So long Jessica, and thanks for visiting me! :D

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone out there had a fabulous Day today and has been enjoying the holiday spirit of things!

My sister is still in town, and will be here until January 4th. We have had some good holiday fun so far, and plan on having more fun over the new year...I will upload my pictures soon!

Merry Christmas! :D

Flurry Of White

We had our first real snow of the season! It was simply beautiful, and when I took these photographs the only thing that had disrupted the peace of it, was a herd of dear. I saw their hoof prints everywhere.



The temps are dropping, though its not as cold here as it is a little further North where Jess of VeeDog Knits is! It has been in between 18-24 for the last few days, definately the season to get all bundled up and take a nice brisk stroll... walkin in a winter wonderland :)

I find the snow so peaceful and beautiful, maybe I will take the Littles for a nice wintertime stroll today...hmmm... if its not too cold!

Update!

So I decided to do some updates on my blog for the holiday season! Check them out! I added a picture of sweet little white holiday lights on the header, then I updated my avitar to be me waiting in line to see Santa, in an adorable Christmas dress! I love Santa, and actually went to see him the week that I was home for Thanksgiving...it was fabulous! I love love love Santa!
Other than the holiday changes I made some other small edits....including puting my tags up so its easier to find things on my page, taking some of my side pictures down, and updated the list of blogs I read.

In other news... I got more packages!!! Yay!
One was just my new contacts from my sister's optical shoppe in Seattle. I had ordered them while I was home but they had to order them and ship them, I am surprised they arived so fast.. and I love them they are way comfy :)
One more package I received, or more of a medium sized manilla envelope really, was from my mama. She sent me our 2 favorite Christmas CD's! I love Christmas! Its soo cheery! And if you need help getting into the holiday spirit, then go out and get yourself Garth Brooks' Christmas CD and Gloria Estevan's too... they are both magical for the season!
I feel so loved :)

Alright... back to finishing my final essay for classes, and then I just have one two more final exams and Fall Quarter will be complete--I can't wait!

Happy Holidays

Happy Valentines!

So typically I don't do anything for v-day...usually my valentine is my sister and/or my friend luara. (This year...both) Anyhow, I heard S come home yesterday while little Dan was asleep and he had brought with him, two bouquets of flowers! One for Little Ann and one for Me!! I was so happy! THe flowers are a varriety of colorful roses, mixed with babies breath and greenery...very lovely!

In the evening I was at the neighbors house babysitting their three little ones, and little Ann and little Dan. S had a meeting to attend, and G was working late...the neighbors were going out to have dinner without children.. a difficult concept when you have 3 kids! Anyhow, G got back around 8:30 and then came over, and her and I had dinner and some nice wine to celebrate the holiday, and to get slightly distracted from the kids. All in all it was one of the best v-days I have had!

:)

Christmas In WA

Home again, home again, jiggity jig.

So I came home this past Thursday. This December, has been probably the busiest I have had yet...with more to come I'm sure. With trying to get things together for Christmas time, getting things done with the Littles, Making sure Sheila was OK for the time I am away, and being ready to take off again, I had my hands full...once again. (I seem to have a way of doing this...I think I learned it from my mom.)

Anyhow, I got things taken care of. I was able to finish Sami, and Gwen's scarves. I forgot to take pictures before they were gifted, but now I can get pictures of them using them and then put them up. I have finished one fingerless glove for Laura, and she isn't expecting them until we get to Florida on Jan. 9th. And all of the other hand-made gifts were cancelled...less stress to get me through the season.

Christmas, and this time being here in WA, has been priceless. I think that the biggest thing that has happened to me since I moved across the country to CT is that, I have learned, you have to appreciate your family and your good friends. There are only a handful of people who would do anything for you. Most of these people for me live here. And I cherish every moment that I get to spend with them. It may not be a ton of time, but it is the best time! And I know that I have them all the time in my hearts and in theirs. You have to love your family! Even your bratty siblings, and your parents who may tease you...it is supposedly out of love, and I know that the love is strong! The best present that I received this year, was one that I gave myself, time with my loved ones. I am truly blessed!

So although I have been very busy balancing time with friends and family, and I know that when I get home, I will want to nap for an entire day, it will all be worth it! So thanks to everyone of you that makes someone elses life special. They might not be able to say thank you every day, but the love is there, and it is strong and good. Enjoy every moment of it!


Wishing everyone the Merriest Christmas!