Christmas at Home

This weekend was our time to have Christmas at home. It was a long work week and we were both really tired, so the down time was very needed.

Friday night we splurged and went to Arthur's for some good burgers and potato skins. YUM.

Saturday we prepped cookie dough then did our own thing in the afternoon. I went to the West Chester Farmer's Market and bough meat from an Amish family from Greenville, then braved the grocery crowds to stock up on food. That night, Brandon and I watched It's A Wonderful Life--a classic and must for the holiday season. It's so easy to lose sight of what is important in life. Overall, it is a wonderful life -- and it's good to be reminded of such.

Sunday we baked all three batches of cookie dough--spice and sugar cookies--then ran errands. I tried to convince Brandon to buy a new refridgerator, but he didn't cave. Sunday night my volunteers at STAF threw me a surprise birthday party. It was really nice and they totally surprised me.

Now I must go ice the cookies we baked yesterday...

Merry Christmas everyone!

Thank Goodness It's Friday

It’s been a long work week. I’m ready for a relaxing weekend at home just me, Brandon and the pets. We’re going to make Christmas cookies. YUM.

Last weekend, we had a great dinner with Bess and Kevin at the Precinct for our 30th birthdays. The food was excellent and it was great to spend time with the parents. Unfortunately, Anna and Andrew couldn’t make it because Andrew was very ill. We’re looking forward to a New Year’s Eve celebration with them in Columbus.

Oh—and, yes, I did survive 30. Definitely got a few new creaky bones and wrinkles overnight, but I can deal.

Less than 60 days to Hawaii! Whoo hoo!

Dec. 13

Well, this is it—the end of a decade. Tomorrow, I turn 30.

I guess this means I’m officially an adult. I feel like I should have some grand revelation about life or accomplished a certain number of things by this landmark. Not sure what those “things” are, but maybe I’ll figure that out in the next decade.

Otherwise, I’m looking forward to a weekend at home with my soon-to-be 30-year-old husband. We’ve been going 100 miles an hour the past few weeks and I’ve had a lot of time to just relax. I’m also looking forward to a fabulous dinner at the Precinct with Bess, Kevin, Anna and Andrew Saturday night. Shouldbe fun!

It's the Holiday Season!

We've been busy with holiday activities the past few weeks.

We enjoyed a nice weekend down in Kentucky the week prior to Thanksgiving. Brandon spent the Saturday watching football while I spent time shopping and hanging out with mom. We ate one of our favorite country meals (chicken and dumplings--YUM) and then Brandon went backto football and Becca and I went to see Twilight. The movie wasn't the best, though it wasn't awful. It was great to spend time with Becca just us. Sunday we dragged out all the Christmas decorations and put up Mom's Christmas tree with Becca and Justin.

We spent Thanksgiving in Columbus with Brandon's family. We had a great time micro-managing each other, eating, playing games and watching Christmas movies. I made pumpkin spice cake and a chocolate pistachio torte.

Here is a picture of Brandon with Anna...


And one of Brandon and me being silly...



Saturday we headed to Dirr Nurseries in Goshen to cut a Christmas tree. Brandon and his family did this every year growing up, so it seemed like a fun tradition to start in our house.

We got an awesome white pine tree. Brandon did most of the cutting, but I took a few swipes. In addition to cutting a tree, we also bought two nice, handmade wreaths and enjoyed some hot chocolate while feeding the family goats. Here are a few pictures:









We spent the afternoon decorating the tree and the house, which turned out great! Sunday I cooked dinner for Dad, Brandon and I then we set up the old Lionel train Dad gave us a few years ago. The train is absolutely wonderful! I'm so glad Dad refurbished it and gave it to us.

Here are a few pictures of Brandon and Dad working on the train and one of our family (minus the cats) in front of the tree:

Wedded Bliss

Brandon and I celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary this weekend. I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful husband and life partner. He keeps me grounded when I act crazy, makes me laugh when I am sad and loves me no matter what.

I feel fortunate to be in such a solid relationship and look forward to many years to come. No, we're not the Cleavers, but we're probably closer than most.

The Human Condition

Last Friday, I had one those moments that makes everything seem to slow down in your mind. I had three virtually simultaneous thoughts pop into my head:

• Geez, it’s so easy for us to take for granted just how fortunate I am.
• I should have been in the Peace Corps. Perhaps I could be doing something right now to lessen someone else’s suffering.
• How could anyone not want to adopt after seeing these suffering children?

The human condition can be staggering, especially when you are looking at photos like those in this MSBC slide show — http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27435600/displaymode/1107/s/2/ - which I was.

When I see images like these – both abroad and in our own country – I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the injustice of the world. It makes all the stupid little things people (myself included) worry about seem so unimportant and silly. It also makes me incredibly thankful to be born into the country and family I am in. It always amazes me how shortsighted and arrogant some people are about their lives. Don’t they realize fate (or faith) could have dealt them a much more sour life.

Halloween, Neighbors, Animals and Other Updates

I'm late to post about it, but we had a great weekend at home again. Friday night was trick-or-treat. Brandon wasn't so hot on dressing up for Halloween, but I decide to overrule him and stopped on the way home to get impromptu costumes.

I was a pirate and Brandon was a pimp/rockstar type. It turned out GREAT--especially considering we had no official costumes, just accessories. (Pictures to come later.)

On Saturday night we had our first--to be annual, I believe--block party. It was far more fun than I expected and we got to meet lots of people. We ate food and drink spiked spiced cider (mulled by Brandon) while enjoying the excellent fall weather. After we were socialized out, we retreated to the backyard and burned a fire in our firepit.

Sunday we went to East Fork Lake to hike and enjoy the fall leaves. We really wanted to go to the Barack Obama rally at UC, but it was just too much time to give up. People were in line by 1:30 p.m., and I have shelter duty of Sunday nights.

Speaking of shelter animals, I'm so excited to hear that the Obamas are going to get a dog for their little girls. I'm even more excited to hear that hear they plan to get a rescue dog. Whoo hoo! There are a lot of irresponsible breeders out there are far too many furry friends in shelters who would love a good, permenant home.

Volunteering at Save the Animals Foundation is one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. I'm selling raffle tickets for the HOLIDAY BIG BUCKS RAFFLE right now, if anyone is interested. Tickets are $5/each and they give away $8,000 total.

Here are some of my favorite cats:

CLARK--he was abandoned


WILL FERAL--he came to us with a broken hip


BUBBA--he came to us with severe chest trauma after some idiot shot him with a BB gun