Who Turns 27 Tomorrow?

I do.

Christmas Comes This Time Each Year

My mom had a Christmas Party on the 23rd. Jenny and I wore the same brown jacket. How embarrassing. (Sorry mom, I didn't get any pics of you! Love you!)BINGO seemed to be a theme with the parties we went to this year. Here are my cousin Paul's girls. We put them in charge of calling (or yelling) the numbers. I don't think Emily had a voice the next day. My winning BINGO card (actually, it's a reenactment, I got a little excited.) My nephews Lee and Bridger jamming out to Guitar Hero. Alex, adorable in blue.The next night was Christmas Eve. We went to my mom's again and made our version of gingerbread houses. We LOVE Legos. Christmas morning we visited Collin's parents for breakfast. Yummy!Marley, chewing her Christmas present from Grandma and Grandpa P.Next was a trip to my Grandparents house. Later that day we headed out to the Gateway and saw Marley and Me. What a tear jerker. I sobbed. It didn't help that my dog is named Marley...Then, in true Christmas Story spirit, we stopped at the Chinese Gourmet for Christmas dinner. Seriously, we had visited everyone quick and fast in the morning so we would miss driving in the storm (which ended up not coming until HOURS later). It may sound funny, but going to the Chinese Gourmet for Christmas dinner might end up being one of the best Christmas dinners ever.They even had a tree!My fortune cookie was very vague. Unless it knows something I don't.

(*Good things come in small packages. One is coming to you).

The day after Christmas was dinner with friends.My friend Kate got ENGAGED!!! Not to this guy; this is her future father-in-law, Craig. The guy she is engaged to is the guy in the grey long sleeved shirt. (From left to right, Laura, Chris, Josh, Emilie, Joy's Chris, and Joy)Oh, and we put down a deposit on Lucy. She is a German Shorthair. So we we will have 3 dogs. The answer to the question you're asking is "yes, we are crazy." We get her the first week of February.

The Reason For the Season

What the...? Ew.

While sitting here at work wishing it was Christmas already, we all got this email:

If the woman who flushed a silver ring down the toilet in the downstairs bathroom has any regrets, she can pick it up at the front desk. It has been properly sanitized.

Thanks,

I don't think I would be claiming that if it were mine. Would you?

Happy First Day of Winter!

Well, yesterday. I don't think I have any Jewish friends, but just in case, Happy Hanukkah, too!

Welcome to Town, Kate

This weekend was a blast. One of my best friends, Kate, was in town for the holidays. A few years ago she moved too many miles away for us to see her often so we have to get as much out of her while she is here as we can. Friday night we had a kicka party at Joy's house.
From left to right: Emilie, me, Kate, and Joy. I'll never let you go, man! (Don't you hate it when more that one person is taking a group photo at the same time? You can never get anyone to look at the same camera. Somewhere out there on Kate, Em, or Joy's camera is an identical picture... only it has Kate and Joy looking at the camera. How do wedding photographers do it? Jen?).

Although the party lasted until well past our bedtimes (11:30) a few of us were brave enough to head out the next morning for some snowshoeing. Here is me and Collin. Aren't we adorable when bundled? Well, I am at least, right? While walking back (we were almost to the lodge) Collin took this candid picture. Then he took this one. We were a bit more prepared. From left to right, Kate's sister Laura, Kate, Joy, and Me. When we finally did get back to the lodge, we ate lunch and got some rest. While waiting for Collin to go get our car, Laura, Joy, Kate's boyfriend Chris (who I somehow mangaged NOT to get a picture of. We actually had 9 people in our group. I suck at taking pics), and I went in search of a yurt we saw on the Solitude map. After getting a little lost, Chris took a picture of what we found:Now you, too, know what a yurt is.

Kate is here until after Christmas. Check back for some more Kate-astic fun!

Headache

I feel like I've had the same darn headache for the last 2 weeks. Here is a picture of me trying to illustrate my headache.

So tonight it's just me, my IB profun, and a nap. But I had to blog about it first. Yeah, I'm addicted to blogging.

Ode To My KitchenAid

Oh KitchenAid, we've been through so much this winter. Medium bread pans, mini bread pans. Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Orange Bread, and Banana Nut Bread. You were there for me when my recipes called for creamed ingredients be they sugar and butter or sugar and shortening. Grateful was I for your different speeds. 10 when I needed light and fluffy, 3 when I needed nuts folded into the batter. Thanks, KitchenAid, for all you do.

This is where my KitchenAid spends about 11 months out of the year:And here it is in all it's glory basking in my camera flash while out in the open.

Does anyone have any zucchini? I think I'd like to make Zucchini Bread next.

I've Got the Button

Do you?

Regardless of how easy or how hard it was for all of you to become a mother to your own adorable little children I think all of us can understand the yearning in Jennie's heart to become a mother as well. If you know Jen (or even if you don't because Friend of Rachel = Cool) add her button to your blog. The button is pretty cute, too! Click on her button to find out how.

Family Christmas Party

Last night was our family Christmas party at Collin's parent's house. Can you tell they like to hunt? The night started off with a game of Gestures. I believe I was trying to get everyone to say "button."Everybody's favorite Uncle Collin playing with everybody's favorite Sheldon. The dogs are family too! She looked away right when this picture was taken. Silly dog.The highlight of the night, Christmas BINGO! Collin's dad is always in charge.Me and my lucky card.Oh yeah! See that? BINGO!

Work Sucks...

and that's how I feel about that.

Strange... Even For Marley

I know I blog about my dogs a lot, but what are ya gonna do? For nearly two hours every day it's just me and them until Collin gets home. Anyway, I thought Marley's choice of sitting position was kind of funny. Check it out. Her back legs are curled up below her on the upper step and her front legs are straight on the step in front of her. She just sat like that until she got sick of the camera flash and walked away.

Doesn't it look uncomfortable? I don't know how she did it. I wonder how long she would have stayed that way if I hadn't shoved the camera in her face?

Cold Feet

I know I say I LOVE winter, and I do. Really, I think it's a beautfiul, wonderful season that, due to its holidays, brings people together in a way that other holidays don't. I love the coats and the scarves and the decorations and hot chocolate. But what I wouldn't give to have warm feet again. It seems liked they are ALWAYS cold!

Does Anyone Want A Drowned Rat?

Loves playing in the snow, kisses, and biting my ankles when I'm walking down the stairs. Growls slightly whenever you pick her up, move her when she is sleeping, or make her do anything, really. Awe, maybe we'll keep her. Wet fur and all. (You can't really tell from this pic but she is wet from head to tail).

Family Pics

Jen took these wonderful pics of my family. I think she did a great job.

Husband Tag

1. Where did you meet? My frontdoor. My friend had invited Collin's friend to a party at my house.

2. How long did you date before you got married? 6 months

3. How long have you been married? 6 years in January

4. What does he do to surprise you? I really hate being surprised but every year when he goes hunting he leaves me some little gift like a gift card to Tai Pan or flowers. This year it was a laptop. How will he ever top that?

5. What is your favorite feature of his? I love how deep his voice is. Very sexy.

6. What is your favorite quality? His work ethic is amazing. He does things right or not at all.

7. Does he have a nickname for you? Does "honey" count?

8. What is his favorite food? Mexican

9. What is his favorite sport? Fishing and hunting

10. When and where did you first kiss? July 12, 2002, Sunnyside park under a blanket

11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Travel and camp in our trailer

12. Do you have children? do dogs count? Marely and Oso are LIKE children...

13. Does he have any hidden talents? He can play the harmonica

14. How old is he? 28

15. Who said I love you first? He did

16. What is his favorite music? Classic Rock

17. What do you admire most about him? He's a really thoughtful, smart, talented guy who treats me right.

18. What is his favorite color? Blue

19. Which side of the bed does he sleep on? Laying down, the left

20. Will he read this? Probably not.

** I tag all my "J"s: Joy, Jen, Jenn, Joanne (my mom), Jessica, Jamie, and Jodie Go J!

Gum

Today at around 6:30 I noticed Collin was chewing some gum. I asked him if he had any more and he said that he didn't and that he been chewing that same peice of gum since right after lunch. The longest I can chew gum is about 45 minutes. The SECOND it starts losing flavor, it's under the coffee/picnic/caferteria table. How long can you chew the same stick of gum?

Where I'll Be

My friend, Jen, and I went to this show last time it was at Daybreak. We really enjoyed it and plan on going again this friday afternoon. Maybe we will see you there! Oh Sweet Sadie.

Up On the House Top

Last Friday while I was inside putting up the tree Collin was outside putting up lights. He did such a great job. This picture would have been a whole lot cooler if there was snow in it. It is December, right? We aren't just super early this year, are we?

Why Do These Guys Look So Nervous?

It might have something to do with this:
Thanks, Jenn, for coming over and keeping me company... and entertained!