Sparkling Icing!

We had our first snow accumulation over the weekend and it was beautiful. It was like we woke up to a winter wonderland. All of the trees looked like they had been dipped in icing! They were just beautiful!!! The boys couldn't wait to get outside to eat the snow... Ollie never even got off the porch!!! They crack me up. Anyway, the house looked gorgeous with the snow and our Christmas lights underneath... just gorgeous. Jared and I worked really hard this weekend...raking up all the leftover leaves, cleaning up the backyard (making it free of dog doo and the random toys they sneak outside) and putting up all of our lights and it has paid off. Our curb appeal is a lot higher now and we just love what the Christmas lights add to our home! We also spent some time getting the last bit of Christmas shopping done so now I'm done with the exception of one gift that I need to purchase in Indianapolis -- go figure!

Here comes the fun part -- loading our car for the Thanksgiving weekend. I'm leaving this afternoon with a car load of dogs, presents, supplies, clothes...etc. Jared is leaving with his brother, Josh, on Wednesday afternoon with an additional dog, the turtle, other gifts and supplies that wouldn't fit in my car. Luckily, since we're taking two cars this time we're bringing all that we can -- Christmas presents that need to end up in Indiana, dog items that we can leave until after Christmas, stuff for the Brown Family Gathering next weekend ...etc -- and I am loading each car to the brim! I've basically taken over the guest bedroom and filled with all of the things we need to bring. Last night, we packed up our clothes and I got all of the random items put into bags so I would know what would go to what event or outing. My car is going to be so weighed down today!!!

Anyway, I'm leaving work at lunchtime, driving home, doing the last minute loading, grabbing a quick bite of lunch and heading out! Right now its sunny and beautiful, I hope it stays that way for the drive. I want to be through Chicago before sunset... that's my goal. I've driven in Chicago lots of times... but with my pups in the back, a carload and traffic, I'd rather get through before the sun goes down. I'll be one happy camper if I'm in Crown Point, Indiana, when the sun sets. Jared's hoping to make similar time tomorrow on his way.

Hope everything has a blessed Thanksgiving full of all the things you're thankful for! I'll try to post some funny Thanksgiving stories and Black Friday mobbings. I'm starting at 4:00 a.m. on Friday -- and I don't even have anything left to buy!!! :)

My Changing Mentality

It's kind-of interesting when you look back and realize what changes you can already detect. It's like I'm cognizant of the way my mentality is changing, just from Indiana to Wisconsin... here are a few for instances...

1. My walking commute distance is over 3 x's as long as my longest at Butler was. I complained all the time at BU if I had to park there and I haven't complained once about my walk here.

2. In Indiana, it would be common to drive 30 minutes to get to the Super Target, Petco, Hobby Lobby...etc. and we'd willingly do it even on work nights. Here, once we're in for the night, we like to be in. My work commute is half of what it was in Indiana and I'm already thinking that it is SO long! :)

3. My cold weather gear that I used to have, I'd whipped out in October. Needless to say, I've invested in a new hat, scarf and another set of my favorite mittens!!

4. I'm looking forward to the holidays so much more than I have since I was like 10! I already have butterflies in my stomach before bed each night because I know that in only 5 days I'll be heading to Indiana and seeing EVERYONE!! I'm just so excited about little things and I think I cherish the time I get with my family so much more than before!

Wrapping Central

So, I get in the holiday spirit early and last night ABC Family started their Countdown to the 25 Days of Christmas with 2 Christmas movies I'd never seen. So, Jared and I watched 4 hours of Christmas movies and wrapped almost all of the Christmas gifts we've acquired so far. It was an ugly mess for awhile but now all of the presents are beautifully wrapped with ribbons and bows and stacked with the respective family (all wrapped in a particular color wrapping paper for easy identification). I am too anal, I know, but with all of the traveling this year, we needed an easily identifiable solution. It feels so great to have so many gifts bought, wrapped and under the tree. Once I get through this weekend, I should be a whole lot closer to being finished as well!

Fa la la la la - la la la la!

A Big Deal!

It's funny now; what things seem like a big deal and what things don't. Well, one thing felt like a big deal for me the other day.... changing my radio stations in my car. I'll tell you - it felt like I was cutting all of my ties to Indiana once I set the last one. Funny, you know, what will feel difficult and what won't. How about them lemons!!!??

We also got the boys nails trimmed and ears cleaned last night. Then we did a quick clean-up around the house since we're going to be out of town this weekend (going to the in-laws). I hate coming home to a dirty house so now we have clean sheets, trashes emptied, floored cleaned and vacuumed, house dusted, laundry caught up and shiny sinks throughout the house! I also got the pups all packed up and I laid out all of Jared and I's stuff but he's going to pack it when he gets home today.

This weekend we'll be in Sterling. I want to go to the Tuff Dog Bakery and Jamie's Candle Loft as well as the Farmer's Market to get pork burgers and I have put in a request to eat at the Candlelight Inn for Saturday's lunch. We'll see. It seems that Jared and I going to Sterling has turned into a family affair as now Nick and Josh are also coming. I guess we're popular.

Hope you have a fabulous weekend, too!

Oh, what a night!

Last night was quite a night. Phinnie woke us with all night long with whimpers and I continually took him out where he had continual diarrhea. It was awful. I felt so bad for the little guy. One time he couldn't make it all the way outside and he had an accident on one of our tree skirts... we just threw it away and I'll get another sometime soon. Then he came in another time but he forgot to potty and he dribbled on the bed so I took the boys out (this is like 2 a.m. mind you) and Jared and I changed the sheets. Needless to say, we didn't sleep much and I'm still worried about him! I just hope he feels better today but he still had diarrhea this morning so I don't really know. One thing I do know is that I'm exhausted and I can't wait to take a nap!!!! I'm actually ready for snow... I'm getting sick of the rain and the muddy paws the rain causes.

It's Cold...

I know it may be funny to say, but it just that, COLD! It snowed on and off all weekend and it atcually struck me as hilarious. I think it kind-of hit me that it was going to be cold and snowy from now until late March and that this was home and that I just needed to get used to it.

I woke up Saturday morning when we had our first bit of snow accumulation and it was still flurrying and I told Jared, "It's Christmas!" Which, in turn, put me in the mood to decorate for Christmas so that's what we did all weekend. We watched Christmas movies, listened to Christmas music, decorated the house and drank hot cocoa! We had a blast. Just the two of us and the pups Christmas-ing the house! Now I wake up in the Christmas mood and we have more time to enjoy it.
I'm almost done with Christmas shopping and I'm excited to start wrapping. Each family has their own color/type of wrapping paper and ribbon so that I can keep it better organized now that we're traveling so much this year.

My goal this week is to get a library card, finish the book I'm reading, put up outside Christmas lights, find a great dessert recipe for Thanksgiving and start wrapping presents!!!! Whew. This town is beginning to feel like home. I think the Christmas trees help!

Benton's Boo-boo!

My middle baby boy, Benton, got a boo-boo this morning. I let them out while I finished getting ready this morning fpr about 10-15 minutes and when Benton came in he had a little gash out above his eye. I put them in their beds so the others wouldn't lick it, but I was still worried so I called Jared to come home from work to help me put ointment on it because I couldn't alone. Anyway, we've deduced that it had to have been some sort incident outside... it doesn't look like anything one of the other boys could have done because of its shape and location, but I also didn't play or see them being rough outside either (I peek at them from my screened in porch off of my bedroom). Anyway, Jared thinks he got stuck by a sticker bush or caught on something when he was climbing around. Either way, I've just been a little worried about my boy. We gave him medicine and Jared's going to give him more at lunch. I just hope it heals up soon and it doesn't give him too much pain.

On another note, the three of us in attendance loved our election results party. We spent a lot of time in front of CNN with our pizza, popcorn and sodas. We had fun...even if no one else wanted to come! Also, I think it is quite amusing that I leave Indiana and it turns blue...when did that happen? Anyway, here's to hope.

Ba-Rockin' the Vote!

Well, I voted today! I was fully expecting a few hours of waiting this morning because not only did I have to vote, I also had to register (In WI you can register to vote at the polls). However, when I walked in I sat right down with someone who registered me to vote and then I went straight over to get my voter ticket and ballot. It took me 16 minutes from the time I left my driveway to the time I turned out of the polling place. I thought it was extremely fast! The funny thing is that across the street was another polling place and they were lined up three deep outside and wrapped half-way around the church. It looked like a madhouse with people assisting with parking and photographers taking pictures. I was very grateful to be voting at my polling place! Whew!

Anyway, hold onto your hats. Tonight should be an exciting night. We're having an election reults party starting tonight at 7:00 p.m. with pizza, snacks, sodas and candy! I have these super cute decorations, blank maps of the US that we can color in when states are called for a candidate, and each TV will have a different station on it... CNN, ABC, CBS...etc. I'm excited for CNN, popcorn and soda tonight. I hope our party is fun...I hope people come!

Oh, another fun fact. On the night of the last election ('04) I was slated to be the next Panhel President. I just can't believe it was FOUR years ago. It feels like yesterday...

I voted, did you?

Recognized

It's so funny to move from a place where you usually run into people you know... it's like you expect it and now you're in a place where you think that no one will recognize you. But it happened just outside Target yesterday. Someone screaming, "Hey, you guys...." and then, again, (because no one could be yelling at us) "Hey, guys!" Then Jared decided to peek and low-and-behold, it was ourt vet assistant. She recognized us! It was so funny. We both laughed at ourselves because we kind of thought that we'd never get recongized here.

Anyway, I'm happy to report that Daylight Savings has been great for our family. We did SO much in that extra hour yesterday and now my mom is an hour behind us and my sister/nephew are an hour ahead of us. It's much better. The dogs gets up still at 6:03 a.m. (which used to be 7:03 a.m.) so we're getting up earlier, getting more accomplished and it's great! Anyway, in that extra hour yesterday, Jared gave all the boys a bath, I cleaned all of the fish tanks and the turtle tank. We also decided where Phil would be staying ... we found his forever home. Downstairs (with a TON of natural sunlight) on our pub table. We think he likes it, plus he's out of reach from the dogs... or, well, Phinneas because Phin is the only one to notices him. :)

Be sure to vote tomorrow... you'll feel big and strong!