First day back

Today was the beginning of a new year at work... and after having 2 weeks filled with days off and holidays coming back wasn't easy... certainly would have been nice to continue the napping and snacking that we had been enjoying all weekend... but instead it was reports, end of the year finances and the daily grind...

Goodbye 2010--Hello 2011

Another year draws to a close-- time seems to fly by faster than I can catch it... It hurts to even try and remember last year it all --seems like a blur.. we had numerous weddings, vacations that didn't happen, a new boat, we got overly acquainted with our easy pass on great trips to NJ, unplanned new furniture, tomatos tomatos tomatos, and how could I forget the SNOW?? the lake crossing, family visits, and visits to see family, lots of Nascar....yes it was a year!! Through sickness and health we muddled through it and now its on to another one!

I am not one to usually make new years resolutions--or at least take them seriously but this year I have made a few that I plan on keeping...come hell or high water (or even snow blizzards) I plan on pushing toward keeping them...

• Move more --Eat less--- a tall order but the D word needs to be more than just a passing fling.. it needs to become a reality.. I have a plan in place... 2 weeks of no sugar and low low carbs-- and then its back to weight watchers for me... I can drop 40 pounds. I can ....
• Take more photos... document more life. I think Project 365 is calling my name.
•  Stop worrying about what I can't control.. Taking a page from Bill Cosby : “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.”
• Find a schedule to balance the work and the fun by using my calendar.
• Create more and think less-- I spend alot of time thinking about what I want to do... but not enough time actually doing it.
• Rework my basement to include a bathroom, laundry room and storage.
• take a photography class
• Complete my ever growing list of scrapbooking projects
• Visit Christopher in VA. Beach
• Update my house--with a critical eye we have to move forward to 2011 and remove the 1980's.

Its a list... a big ol list but achievable by organization, hard work and lots of list making...

Here's to a healthy happy and prosperous new year-- to challenges we overcome, and remembering to throw caution the wind to seek out good times!

Christmas 2010

Amanda's house was perfect for Christmas-- a real tree, a crackling fire, her table was gorgeous--everything just perfect--she even had real pine garland going down her staircase!

 All of the puppies got along so well.. they were amazingly calm until the presents starting opening.. They were as excited as a small child at Christmas!! Good thing Santa filled a stocking for each of them!

Before and After!! ohh we can make a mess!

Sadly with a snow storm approaching we made the decison to leave Christmas night instead of the next morning... it made me sad to leave early but knowing how horrible the traffic would be without snow and just holiday travelers it seemed like the thing to do... So Mike drove half way and then Christopher finished the trip up-- just as we hit Manassas it started to snow... little did we know that would be all we would see....Amanda on the otherhand got snowed in with a few feet of the white stuff! So our timing was right-- better safe than sorry right?

NYC! If you need a tour guide ---call Amanda

I can't tell you how excited I was to go to NJ this time around. This would be Amandas first try at hosting Christmas and we had planned a great trip into the City to get into the festive holiday spirit... The day before the weather was unseasonably warm.. probably high 40's-- but of course Thursday the wind kicked up and it was freezing... Amanda drove us in to New York City and Corey came up via the train later before the show.  She did an amazing job of navigating the one way streets and found us a great parking garage that was close to Radio City Music hall so our walking could be limited if we choose... but of course who would choose that??? We were bundled up and ready to go!

For a girl from the 'ville she knew all the streets we wanted to take and exactly the best sites to see... She got us through times square and up to Macy's in no time.. I finally got to see the store windows that you always hear about.. so fun! We even went in Macy's--crazy crowds--I am not sure you could shop if you wanted to-- we were there to look and take a potty break (haha) I wrote a letter to santa too! Just to be sure he knew we weren't at home!

After hitting all the store windows we walked over to Bryant Park and saw the "other" ice skating rink-- the whole area was sparkling with christmas lights! No skating for us though-- we had dinner reservations at Bond 45-- an amazing resturant that served Italian food-- On the walk over we got a glimpse of Radio city Music Hall and the huge ornaments that decorate the streets

Yes we had dessert!!! And then it was on to our show!! Rockettes at Christmas!! at Radio City Music Hall!! Can you get any more Christmas than that??? Lots of fun!! I think even the boys liked it! You can't help but be mesmorized by the intricate timing of it all.

 The night didn't end there though-- although we were all plenty tired... we walked over to the Rockefeller Plaza to see "The Tree" Its a big one-- with a bizzillion lights and even more people all trying to get their picture with it!

DC date

I have been wanting to go to the Botanical Gardens in DC for awhile. I saw last year that they had a holiday display but we never made it with all the snow... and every time we were in DC we had Maizy. So this weekend I mentioned it again and amazingly Mike was up for it. They have the "gardens" broken up area-- desert, Jungle, medicinal, Hawaii etc.. It was amazingly hot and humid in most of the rooms. The outer corridor they had Christmas displays and it was nice an cool-- a harbor to escape to between viewing. All the monuments were recreated in wood with beautiful poinsettas around them.

Of course I wanted to see the outside gardens even though its winter and everything is dead and brown.. But they made it worth it by hiding this Moose out there!

Lets just say that after being in the hot moist jungle wearing a heavy sweater and coat I was uncomfortably sweaty and going outside in the cold wasn't the brightest idea... made it just seem colder... but being steps away from the capitol I wanted to walk over and see the Grant statue and gaze upon the capitol as well...

Thanksgiving

This was the best of Thanksgiving-- take a look at that pie... and yes it tasted as good as it looked... That crust took 3 sticks of butter to make and it was worth every calorie and the Turkey????MMMM amazing!! Mike smoked it-- stuffed it with fruit and herbs and then used the drippings to make his wonderful gravy.

Vacation

Can you hear the music??? I'm backkkkkkkkk. I have taken alittle blogging break-- managed to get a vacation in too.. Alittle trip to Florida-- warm sunshine and blue skys... big difference from our foggy dreary rainy days.... We packed alot into the few short days we were there... Managed to eat way too much EVERY DAY (good practice for all the food we ate for Thanksgiving), got to see both of our parents, Mike got the remote working, the computer up and running and even managed to hang a new bathroom light...And we did alittle shopping too.... Quick vacation lots of fun.

Wedding season

Some might say that June is for Brides.. but this year its all about the fall wedding.. We have 4 weddings to attend in the next month and a half... And this weekend we was the first! Brian And Erin-- They had their wedding at Jordan Springs in Winchester..  We couldn't have asked for better weather.. Hurricane Earl pushed out the heat and humidity and left us with was clear skies and 80 degrees perfect for an afternoon in a garden. Both kids were attending.. so we had a full house-- and puppies too!

Over the next few weekends its more weddings and bridal showers--heres to hoping the weather holds for all of them!

Blogcation?

Its been awhile since I have sat down at the blog.. call it a blogcation!!
This weekend we headed to the lake to take part in the LAKE CROSSING- which is charity event for O’SAIL (Organization to Support the Arts, Infrastructure, and Learning on Lake Gaston). Sounded like fun to take part in a one mile crossing of the lake either swimming or in a non motorized vessel....  It never dawned on me how far a mile actually is.

But with my trusty sidekick Toni we decided that somehow we would make our way across the lake... She quickly explained to me how far a mile swim really was... so we were left with either the paddle boat or the canoe... Toni worried we would tip the canoe... I worried my legs could paddle that boat!! in the end the paddle boat won out... After a morning of realizing this even probably needed more planning than just sending in our registration forms we finally made it to the marina--

There was way to much time for us to realize that we had no idea what we were doing... and still not enough time to learn how to steer properly-- but when they said go! we went as fast as our little legs could paddle.... I gotta say that more than once I was ready for a break but Toni insisted WE could be the first paddle boat across.... and you know she was right... Not only did we make it but we did beat out the other paddle boats... (I probably shouldn't mention this but a swimmer actually beat us!! hahaha) 

And as in any true athletic competion  they even had a fly over before the Crossing began!!! We can now say we did it!! and we even have the T-shirts to prove it!!

Its all about the bow!!

Best Hubby Ever!! check this out!! Nothing like coming home from a long day at work to see this!!

oh yes I got the bow-- and a pretty sweet car under it huh??? and look theres more!!Lots of ballons inside!

DONE

Another weekend of deck building... this time in 100 degree weather... We were so close to being done we could taste it...

The coolest place to be was under the boat house...

These last few boards were going to be the death of us... poor Robin unscrewed the last seven due to "an out of square" issue.... but in the end we can say it is done done done--- I think we are all looking foward to our next trip to the lake when we can just sit back and relax and

maybe get to play on our new baby----

Our project

It started with a grill table --Mike made it to hold his new smoker and his grill--- its a lovely table but I really thought it needed something-- so the project grew--just alittle--- I made the cute skirt for it-- alittle fabric from the store and a shower curtain rod and it really turned into a looker.....

Easy sewing job done!! that is until Mike decided we needed a Grill cover--- enter 8 1/2 yards of marine vinyl-- alittle over my sewing skills-- but together we cut and pinned this puppy together and after some careful measuring.... we now have the biggest bluest grill cover ever!

Projects done??? heck no... Maizy needed her own little outdoor pillow-- a few seams and some foam and our girl is happy happy!