Snoozzie

It’s the first Monday/work day of 2010. Guess how I started my day off?

5:30 am BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

SLAP!

5:39 am BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

SLAP!

5:48 am BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

SLAP!

That went on for about 50 minutes longer than it should have.

Well I’m at work now so it’s all good.

One thing that’s kinda annoying is the people at work who are complaining to me that their vacation was too short blah blah blah...

You know what? I was here doing YOUR work while you were home with your family so suck it.

That’s all for today – Happy first Monday of 2010!

***I'm really not cranky today - just feeling a little sarcastic that's all :)

Tonight...

Tonight its all about the Jersey Shore earrings...

Can I get a fist pump?

Have a Happy New Year

Be safe

Much Love,

Heather

Merry Christmas

Kodi in his Christmas Sweater

Happy Birthday Jesus and Merry Christmas to all!

Thanksgiving Vacation Days 3, 4 and 5

Okay, so I missed blogging about Thanksgiving Vacation Days 3, 4 and 5….but I was busy!

If you missed Day 1 and Day 2, here is a quick recap;

I caught a show in the city on Wednesday night;

(Automatic Fire @ the TLA on South Street, Phila)

Thursday (Turkey Day) was at my Moms house and it was wonderful. It was so relaxing with just my parents, brothers, my husband and I. There was no family drama or huge mess to clean up.

We decorated Mom's Christmas tree...one of them anyway

...ate a wonderful meal and spent time together as a family just relaxing. We went to bed rather early so that we could get up with the crazies (who am I kidding...we ARE the crazies!) to do some Black Friday shopping!

Friday started at 2:30 AM (better than last year…we started at midnight then) with a large cup of Wawa coffee and lots money to burn…well not so much the lots of money part. Anyway, we made our way through a few stores stopping for breakfast along the way. We made out pretty well and got done most of our Christmas shopping. Then around 10:00 AM we dropped the bags off at home, took a nap, woke up and had lunch (turkey day round # 2) and then went back out for MORE SHOPPING Y’ALL!!!! My best buy was an awesome set of bed sheets that were $89.99. I scored them for $14.99 + 15% off of that…you figure it out. I can’t tell you what I else I got cuz it’s for Christmas DUH!

Saturday I can’t even remember but I’m sure it was good.

Sunday was great because we did this…

(Thats our house all done up for Christmas!)

My Dad brought over a bucket truck to get the lights up top. That man is like a kid with a toy when it comes to using the bucket truck...any excuse he gets I tell ya!

That brings us to today…its back to work, with a sore back/neck and a cold thats turned into a sinus infection…I guess the fun had to end sometime.

How was your Thanksgiving vacation? Is your tree up yet?

Thanksgiving Vacation Day 2...Stuffed

Stuffed, that about sums it all up! The turkey is kickin in right about now and I'm about to hit the sheets (got to get some rest for Black Friday shopping starting at 4AM!) but before I go to bed I wanted to say what I am most thankful for on this day of thanksgiving;

I am thankful for my family who supports one another and picks each other up when one is down. My family is the best thing in my life and not a day goes by that I don't think about how lucky I am to have them. I am blessed.

What are you most thankful for today?

You can read about Thanksgiving Vacation Day 1 here

Thanksgiving Vacation Day 1...Pies & Police Reports

Today is day one of my FIVE day Thanksgiving vacation AKA Pie Day. Every year my Mom and I spend the day together in the kitchen baking pies and prepping for the big meal. This year we MAY have (and by MAY I mean most definitely) went a little overboard. Our list includes but is not limited to (the day isn't over yet!);

• 4 Pumpkin Pies
• 1 Cherry Pie with crumb topping
• 1 Peach Pie with crumb topping
• 1 Apple Cobbler (homemade biscuit topping)
• 2 Loaves Cranberry Bread
• 1 Loaf Pumpkin Bread
• Stuffing
• Green Bean Casserole

Did I mention all this is for only six people? And we haven't even gotten to the good part...

As Mom and I were baking this morning the phone rang and it was the police department from a local city asking about my brothers car. The police officer stated that it was found running on the side of the road at 4:30AM. It gave us a little scare but we were able to contact my brother who is away on business to find out that he was alright. Turns out that his car was stolen from his place of business last night and stripped to the frame. And by frame I mean this;







I guess old CRX's are in high demand.

Well that's all for now. I am leaving in a few to take my brothers into the city to experience South Street and see a rock show at the TLA.

See you all on Thanksgiving Vacation Day 2....

Life is Good!

The 4th of July weekend was fabulous! I spent Friday morning with my awesome friend Mindy and her baby girl at the outlets shopping. We snagged some good sales...got these foaming hand soaps in Coconut Lime Verbena and Honeysuckle...

Also picked up two dresses for the baby, a seafood set and bras!...And of course some starbucks*.

Later that night hubs and I went bowling with my Mom & brother. Mama dukes won...of course! And hubs was pissed :) hehe....

We spent all day Saturday at my Mom’s house by the pool getting nice and pink. I don't care what the doctors say - some sunshine is good for you! For dinner we cooked up some crabs (that we caught) in gravy…it was delicious. Hubs did a few fireworks at night and we sat around the fire and played cards. It was really nice…that is what life is all about!

Sunday we watched the movie 7 Pounds….have you seen it?

If not, I really recommend it. I think I went through 7 pounds of tissues! But it was worth the watch.

*I recently tried the Strawberry Banana Vivanno....yuck! I didn't realize they were made with Protein & Fiber powder....until later that night....eww.

Enjoy the long weekend

The sun is shining, the birds are singing and everyday is a holiday...don't believe me? Just try missing one...

Singing Chaffinch

Some highlights from our mini-vaca;

click on photos to enlarge



At the risk of getting eaten alive, we caught about 30 nice sized crabs. I like to use the 'line' technique; I tie a piece of disgustingly smelly rank chicken to a weight {actually hubs does that part} which is tied to a long string and lowered into the water. By keeping the line taught I can feel when a crab is on the line, then I slowly pull the line up inch by inch and use a net to scoop them up. If they are over 4 inches they are turned into dinner.

This time I had a pesky fish or eel that kept going after my line and tugging it so hard I thought I was going to go in the bay! I tried so hard to lure that son of a beotch up to the surface but I couldn't get it. At one point I set the line down and placed my coffee cup on the line - I turned around and saw my coffee cup inching its way down the dock! I wanted to get that little *#$% so bad!!!!

During a game of Rummikub I was boasting and said how "clever & witty" I am. Hubs said "more like annoying & shitty" yeah, he's sweet like that... oh and hearing hub's nan say 'fo sheezy was a real highlight

Despite the rain, wind and cold temperatures the ocean water was warm. Some of the kids and I went on the hunt for seashells. While we didn't find any starfish or conch shells, we did find a hermit crab that had just lost an epic battle to a seagull. Although he was still alive he was missing several limbs - poor fella

More highlights & pictures to come....

Welcome 2009

Hello everyone,

I wanted to share this little letter that I wrote for my family's advent service that we have every Christmas Eve. It is about my tradition in my family. I hope you enjoy...even though its a little past Christmas.

Also, if you have been away from the blogeshpere for the holidays, I would recommend checking out some of my posts that you may have missed. There are some photos, videos and funny things.

I am off to my mothers house for our traditional pork, sauerkraut and mashed potato dinner. I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful New Years Eve.

With warm regards,
Heather

Tradition in my family is going to candlelit Church service on Christmas Eve and celebrating the miracle of Jesus’ birth

It is going to Grammy and pop-pop’s house for presents

Tradition in my family is getting cozy in our pajamas and gathering around Pop-Pop to hear him read “Twas the Night before Christmas”.

It is the smell of spiced apples and cinnamon on the stove and it is stuffing our bellies full of delicious Christmas cookies.

It is fighting Uncle Tom for the last few shrimp cocktail and trying to avoid Grammy’s carrot soup.

Tradition in my family is our advent service and lighting a candle on the Wreath.
It is going through 12 ½ boxes of tissues….each

Tradition in our family is reluctantly getting Aunt Pat to play the piano so we all can sing Christmas Carols in not-so-perfect harmony.

It is hearing the children’s sweet little voices sing and watching their faces light up while opening gifts

Tradition is my family is my Dads yearly kiss for Grammy and dancing with Pop-Pop to Bing and Frank.

Tradition in my family is praying for the less fortunate and counting our family’s blessings.

It is enjoying our time together and reminiscing on times past

Tradition in my family is our beliefs passed down.

It is what sets us apart and makes us special and it is what we look forward to year after year.

But the best thing about tradition is being able to start new ones.

Last Post

Well, its that time. The last blog post of 2008. I'm not feeling to sappy just yet so I will keep it short and sweet...

I want to thank each and everyone of you who takes the time to stop by my blog and read. I really never thought that this would turn into anything. Or that I would be part of a "blog community". I appreciate everyone who has come to this blog and helped to make it what it is. *snicker* I wish each and everyone of you a safe and wonderful New Years Eve. And more importantly, a healthy, happy 2009. Here is to another year in the bloggesphere...

PROST!

Jacob & I wish everyone a Happy New Year!

A little Christmas fun

Merry Christmas!!! Here is a little peak into our Christmas day...

Christmas Quiz

I got this Christmas quiz via email and I thought it would be fun to share with you. If you'd like, just copy this and post it on your blog with your answers. I hope you do it!

1.) Wrapping paper or gift bag? Gift Bags are much easier

2.) Real tree or artificial? Real

3.) When do you put up the tree? Black Friday

4.) When do you take the tree down? Not sure, this is our first real tree

5.) Do you like eggnog? no way!

6.) Favorite gift received as a child? A Doll House that my mother and grandparents spent all night putting together for me

7.) Hardest person to buy for? My Mother

8.) Easiest person to buy for? Hubs

9.) Do you have a Nativity scene ? Yes I do but its not up this year, still figuring out where I want to put everything

10.) Mail or e-mail Christmas cards ? Mail is nice

11.) Worst Christmas gift you ever received? When I was a teenager I got a Winnie the Pooh shirt that I hated

12.) Favorite Christmas movie? A White Christmas

13.) When do you start shopping for Christmas? October

14.) Have you ever recycled a Christmas gift? Nope

15.) Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cookies

16.) Lights on the tree? All gold

17.) Favorite Christmas song ? I Wanna Hippo by Gayla Peevy

18.) Travel at Christmas or stay home? We stay local

19.) Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Of course!

20). Angel on the tree top or a star? A gold bow until I can find a pretty Angel

21.) Open presents Christmas morning? Yes, at my Moms house

22.) Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Not having any money to buy nice gifts for family

23.) Favorite ornament, theme or color? I guess gold because that what we bought

24.) Favorite for Christmas dinner ? Ham on Christmas, Christmas Eve we have the traditional the 7 fishes

25.) What do you want for this Christmas? My family to be happy and healthy

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE !!!!!

Lovely December

Its December 1st and the countdown to Christmas is on! It is surprisingly warm here in PA. No sight of snow around :( But we have made it look like Christmas in our home anyway. Take a look at our first ever Christmas tree!

Its hard to get a good picture with all the lights.

We picked it up at Home Depot and they have the trees organized by height. This one was grouped in with the 8-10 footers. Once we got it home we realized this was a 10 footer and our ceilings are 9 feet. Oops! Ha-ha, but it only took a second to chop off the top. I have about 800 lights on it, gold beads, gold snowflakes, gold swirly things and 4 different type of gold balls. It is a golden masterpiece!

Even hubby was joining in the Christmas spirit! He hung these wonderful lights outside.

And on Sunday morning he was still in the spirit! I came downstairs and the tree was lit up, the house was warm, Christmas music was playing and he had this wonderful breakfast waiting for me.

He even put a little red pepper and green chives in my omelet for added Christmas color. Ha-ha...I just had to take a picture because this will never happen again. Hubby is more of a scrooge than anything else. But I am not complaining :) It was very nice.

Thanksgiving Day 2008

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I will let my pictures do the talking.