Breather...

What a crazy holiday. Wonderful but crazy. We had 5 extra people on our home since the 20th. My Grandma, Katie, Logan, and my parents. We went all over town and had a great Christmas. The things it emphasised to me was 1) we need a bigger kitchen table, 2) a car that can fit more than 5 at a time, 3) never ending supply of TP, 4) don't get annoyed with grandma...she is old and lives alone, 5) there comes a time when traditions must change.

Mya LOVED having the kids here and everyone Loved being around her as usual. The day my family left (27th) just after we managed to get all the bedding washed, the floors swept and mopped it was round two of family fun, with only about 4 hours to ourselves in the mean time. Greg's Parents, Christie, and Tiny drove down from MI and will be with us till the 2nd. This morning I am having Holly's quiet time as I am sitting in on basketball practice until noon welcoming the breather in silence.

Family is great and I am so thankful we can host everyone on the holidays, sometimes it can be stressful having everyone in one house, but all in all I am glad we did it. It was nice having Christmas in our home, with our tree, not having to travel anywhere or pack anything. Christmas in the sunshine was a little odd, it didn't feel much like Christmas but isn't Christmas all about the food, fun, and family anyways? Greg did good this year on the loot, so pictures will be coming I didn't bring it to work with me though so you just get my words.

He's viral, I'm busy!

Greg got hit by something this Saturday. Given his symptoms (body aches, headache, fever, chills, etc...) and all the encounters I have had with my athletes and the flu this year I told him he most likely had the flu and he should stay in bed and away from me (although I have gotten both vaccines). Well, finally by Monday morning he had looked up H1N1 on his iPhone and told me "hey I think I have the flu" After giving him the DUH really?!?!? look I was a good wife and hooked him up with our team General Medical Doctor and made sure he had everything he needed while I went to work. At the Doctors his fever was 101, and he reported that he felt better I can only imagine what it was on Sunday, he was never diagnosed with H1N1, they told him it was a virus and sent him on his way. So again today he is feeling much better but no one wants him back at work, who wants to get sick over Christmas?

Since we have a number of guests checking in at the Hill B&B on Monday I have been spraying Lysol like it is my job. And today I brought all of our bedding to work to use the big washer and dryer in attempts to get all the stray dog hairs off as well as make them fresh and clean for our many guests....Oh, man I have a ton to do before people come over....Busy busy.

Pure JOY

Greg and I surprised our family this weekend in MI, one by one family members were told to go to a location and when they arrived they were surprised and shocked by our familiar faced. Karen, Christie, and Grandma H hugged and clapped. Karen's reaction was in her words "pure joy." Grandma P couldn't drop her purse fast enough to give us both a big hug. My dad looked straight at me 2 times without realizing who I was then his jaw quite literally dropped and I think he was in shock for a good 20 minutes after that. It was a success with the surprises and at least they were happy to see us. I got to go out to Bennigans, Biggby's, and Meijer 3 things I definitely miss. But, by the last day I was in town I think I was starting to get Seasonal Affective Disorder due to the lack of the big gold ball in the sky, so I was ready to head out on Tuesday.

Now, I am home and back to work, and the sun is shinning. It is a uncharacteristically HOT week here and I am preparing and making plans for our Christmas and New Years Guests, while trying to find time to shop and wrap, and make all the gifts I have on my plate. But 'tis the season to be stressed right? I LOVE CHRISTMAS TIME!

I REALLY HOPE GREG IS GETTING ME A CAMERA FOR CHRISTMAS SO I CAN ACTUALLY ENJOY TAKING PICTURES AND PUTTING THEM ON THIS BLOG. I HAVE A FEW PICTURES TO POST BUT I CANT TILL AFTER CHRISTMAS OR THAT WILL SPOIL THE SURPRISE :)

Turkey Day rapidly approaching

Who knows how to roast a turkey? I hope I do, with a little help from the food network, my new roasting pan, and my 12lb turkey in the fridge I hope to do a pretty good job on my first whole turkey. Giada DeLaurentiis (the one Greg says has a big "head") has a recipe on her page that looks delish, and I saw her make it on her show, so I am feeling pretty confident. As T-day draws nearer I am getting nervous because we have us, Jen, Matt, Amanda, Katie, and a student who attends PBA who's parent works at HOPE coming over for dinner, and I really hope I don't mess up the turkey. The star of the show is the turkey! My guess is that we are going to have SO MUCH other food it wouldn't matter if we didn't have a turkey anyways, but I hope it wont have to come to that.

Here's the menu so far...

Appetizer:

Spinach pin wheels

Main dish:

Citrus Turkey

Sides:

corn casserole,

green bean casserole,

sage sausage stuffing,

rolls,

mashed potatoes and gravy,

sweet potato dish.

Dessert:

Pumpkin pie

white chocolate cranberry cookies.

Isabella's Blankie

Here is my latest creation fresh from the dryer. I love all the puckers the washing of the fabric makes. Hopefully they'll love it. I used Amy Butler fabrics, some scraps I had left from other projects and some newly purchased. I made up the simple sawtooth star pattern and went from there, pretty simple, and very girly.

Anyone want a dog?

Mya got a taste for leather last night. Not just any leather. My favorite black flat dress shoes with the cute buckle. I wore them to the basketball game last night so I am sure they had the fresh taste of foot to them too which she just can not get enough of. It has been a while since she has destroyed anything (remember the highlighter incidence) but why does it always have to be my stuff, I wondered where she was for a good hour when I was calling her and she would not come, I just assumed she was in her crate or chewing on one of her MANY MANY bones we got her so she would not destroy random stuff. What can I say she is a chewer. UGgg...so when I noticed the wreckage I called her a "stupid dog" told her to go to her crate and left 20 minutes early for work without realizing it. So I am not sure who got the worse end of the punishment.

Sorry hunny, but I need some new shoes now....

Giving thanks...and sailing.

What are you thankful for? What has God blessed your life with? Since this is the season of "I want" let's not forget what we do have and take for granted.

I had a long conversation with one of my baseball players yesterday and he was asking me a lot about my marriage, then he just blurted out are you happily married...truly happy (these kids get really personal sometimes). It made me glad that I could answer that question honestly and say I am VERY happily married to a man I have been with for over 8 years, a man who strives to live his life as a man of God, and a man who I trust and I know always does his best to be the best husband for me, and someone who I know would eventually make a wonderful father (if it is any reflection on how he treats the dog). But as our 4 year anniversary is coming ever closer I am glad that we have held true to our vows and I really do love him more every day.

Our recent sailing adventure with Eric & Betsy and Matt & Amanda here are just a few of the pictures I had promised a while ago.

I am thankful for them...
and My fellow Michigander friends too!

That is just my short list....But what are you thankful for? How has God blessed your life?