Home for the holidays

Scott and I had a whirlwind four days home in Chicago. While it was busy, it was a lot of fun catching up with everyone.

We flew in on Wednesday, in the middle of a blizzard. Before the Christmas Eve festivities began, Tim, Dana, Ellie, Scott and I all played in the snow.

As you can tell from these pics, we all had fun!

Then Dana and I put up the garland on the front porch. To say we had the giggles, is an understatement. It took a little extra time decorating from all the laughing!

My mom made Dana and me matching aprons this year. This caused another round of giggles. They're so much fun...Christmas on one side and daisies on the other. Thanks again Mom!!

There were a few cooks in the kitchen that night. Here's a few of us in our festive aprons.

Santa was extra good to Scott and me this year. Here's us Christmas morning trying on our new workout clothes.

And here's our last day home...visiting Dana and Ellie again. We hit Cooper's Hawk after this and were able to have a great meal and catch up with Tim. Scott and I both had food coma after all of it!


This was Scott's first Christmas in Chicago with my family. I'm not sure if he's quite come down from all of it, but we had a great time together! It was so much fun sharing my traditions with him. And I know everyone loved having him there. This is just the first of many.

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!!

Run Run Rudolph!

I'm a little late in posting this, but last weekend Scott and I along with a couple friends ran the "Jingle Bell Run" 5k here in Somerville. We ran through the neighborhood, which was fun because it was a side of it that we've never really ventured off to.

Since it was a holiday run, we had to get into the spirit...








Before running, Scott had to try on his new baselayers (a fancy word for long underwear). Let's just say he liked them...






Don't be surprised if the antlers make it home with us!!

I did it...

I finally caved in and joined Facebook. I may be one of the last one of my friends to join, but I did it. It seems to be the usual thing to say, but I can't believe I waited so long. There's so much cool stuff to do on it.

My life may never be the same.

Hooray for Scott!

Scott got a new job yesterday.

He'd been interviewing with a few different companies over the past couple of months and on Tuesday he got an offer. We were thrilled. To say he was unhappy at his current (I guess former now) job, is an understatement. It turned out to be something completely different from the job that was explained him over a year ago. That combined with the fact that the market's in the toilet right now made things a little tense.

But not anymore...

Yesterday he joined the ranks of Keurig. To check them out, click here. It's a coffee company which is right up his alley (anyone remember his coffee maker with the weather??).

He starts in 2 weeks and has the time off in between now and then. So if you need him to do something, he has some time on his hands. Just remember, my list comes first!

This might not be exactly what we planned when we came out here. We did move here for his job after all...but this is a great opportunity and will only lead to better jobs in the future.

So everyone join me in congratulating Scott!!

The Christmas Dance

Some of you may not know this, but I looooove to dance. Okay, it may not be dancing in the true sense of the word it's more of what I call "stupid dancing". Sometimes it's at home with music on. Sometimes there's no music. I do the "It's Friday dance", the "Going out to dinner dance". Sometimes Scott joins in, sometimes I'm on my own. Well, this is the "I'm excited it's Christmas dance". And while you may not be able to hear it, there's actually Christmas music playing in the background...I swear.

Hope you get as big of a laugh out of this as Scott and I did!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Yesterday was our day to put up the Christmas decorations. We started out by heading down the street to a local church that was giving away Christmas trees. Scott and I knew we wanted the typical Charlie Brown tree so that seemed like a perfect spot to get one.

I think Charlie Brown would approve of this little guy.

Once we got home, I started decorating the apartment. We saved the tree for last. After dinner (and a little champagne) the fun began.

Both Scott and I have had the tradition in our families of getting a new ornament every year. The ornament usually has to do with something that happened since the last Christmas. So while in Thailand, we picked this one up. We couldn't wait to find a good spot.

Since our tree wasn't too big, we couldn't fit all our ornaments on it. So we decided to put up all of the "old school" ornaments. You know, the macaroni Christmas tree, our mobiles turned into ornaments, maybe even the gingerbread man with raisin eyes.

We were so happy to see how it looked all lit up. Then it really felt like Christmas.

Today it's even snowing for the first time. Guess that means that winter's really here. But winter means Christmas so I'm okay with that...at least for now. In February I might have a different opinion!

By the end of the day, Scott was in the holiday spirit too!!


Wishing everyone a happy holiday season!

Thanksgiving in Ohio

Scott and I headed to Oxford, Ohio Thanksgiving morning to spend the holiday with his family. It was so good to catch up with everyone and I think we're both still full from all the goodies we ate.


The welcome wagon came and got us at the airport with the welcome sign in hand. Bob was there outside of security ready with the hugs. Mary was at home cooking up a feast, but she made sure there was a drawing of her on the sign so we knew she was thinking about us.


Since we didn't get in until mid-afternoon, there wasn't much time before dinner. But Thanksgiving isn't the same without baking a pie. So I quickly headed over to Nana's to whip up a pecan pie. Mary also made a pumpkin pie later in the week that we enjoyed with leftovers. And there was plenty of those!



Scott enjoyed some time to himself while Nana and I hung out in the kitchen. He needed it too. He's been a busy bee at work!


We also got to catch up with friends while we were there which was great. I went to my first "Townie Night", we played cards in the annual pitch tournament. Scott even won the grand prize! All in all it was a great holiday weekend!

Now we're on to Christmas!! Can't believe it's only 3 weeks away! Where did 2008 go? We're looking forward to seeing the other side of the fam in just a few short weeks!

Happy Holidays!!