Lessons Learned in '09 Chapter 6

Welcome to my new series titled Lessons Learned in 2009. This series is a serious look back at my life in 2009. I try not to get too personal on this blog but for this series I dug deep and I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 6 - Family

Four words; You can’t pick ‘em.

Up Next, Chapter 7 - God

Click here to read Chapter 1 - Don't get too comfortable
Click here to read Chapter 2 - Perspective
Click here to read Chapter 3 - Weight loss
Click here to read Chapter 4 - Babies
Click here to read Chapter 5 - Death

Weekend in Review + Awards!

Do you have your Christmas shopping done yet? How about started? I am about half way through and now I'm looking at the calender and realizing I only have less than three weeks and only one paycheck to finish...can you hear me screaming?!

This weekend my dog decided that he just wasn't going to behave this weekend - at all. He pooped on my carpet, chewed up a pair of undies, ran away from us outside and has just been acting like a nut. I don't know what his problem was but he was driving me crazy.

I got to spend some one-on-one time with my MIL yesterday which was pretty cool. We went out shopping for some new window treatments for her house. I was able to convince her to do something a little different and it ended up looking great and she loved them - *huge sigh!* We also stopped in Target and picked up this pretty piece by Simply Shabby Chic for her bathroom. The detail in it is beautiful and matches the mirror that my husband framed for her.

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Awards! Freddae over at Coffee, God and Me gave me The Circle of Friends Award!

5 Things I like to do (in no particular order)

1. Entertain friends and family. I love to host dinners and game nights its always so much fun!
2. Cooking and baking, especially for the holidays!
3. Scrapbooking...when I can find the time
4. Home Improvement. I love to spend time with my husband working on our home. And that includes decorating, we love to go shopping and finding the perfect pieces for our home!
5. Blogging...lately its been when I find the time but I am trying to be better at it and MAKE time.

Okay now I am going to pass the award onto 5 awesome bloggers. All you have to do is publish it on your blog, referring to the friend who passed it on. Then, share five things that you like to do. Lastly, pass it along to 5 friends!

1. Hayley at Everything in Between
2. Darby at The Ramblings of Me
3. Bridget at Yellaphant
4. Brian at Running for my Life (Brian just started his blog and I hope he keeps it going! - go over and say hi!)
5. Amy at Apples & Cheese, Please (I just started following Amy's blog - its about food and its awesome!)

Okay bloggers congrats on your awards, make sure you pick it up and pass it on!

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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....

Craziness

All I have to say is that when me and my family get together we start to get a little crazy...

...and this is me sober.

Coming Up

I love summer, so many exciting things going on :)

• Painting my first floor this week! Our first floor is one open area; the back wall will be our accent wall, painted Clary Sage and the two side walls will be painted some sort of cream color. You can check out my scene from Sherwin Williams here.


• Camping. Never been and really excited to go for the first time!!! This includes hiking, campfires and some shopping at St. Pete's Village.


• Dog & kid sitting. Well, not really....I get to have my little brother over for two weeks this summer! The first week is coming up towards the end of July. We are excited to be taking him to see an awesome concert and to just hang out. I'm sure a game of Texas Hold 'Em will take place at some point ;)


• Purses!!! I'm co-hosting a purse party with my girlfriend. Can we say wine, junk food and Coach? yes...yes we can!

Vacation pictures coming soon!

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.

Happy Birthday Mom

Mom,

Happy Happy Birthday!!!

You are simply the best, I hope your day is delightful and filled with smiles even though you are working a long day...

I love you.

Heather

My Birthday

Wednesday was my Birthday and I would like to share with you how awesome my family is - I mean really they make me laugh, I couldnt ask for anything better!

Dad -
I get an email - "Happy Birthday, you make me feel old when I tell the people I work with I have a daughter the same age as them...enjoy your day"

Mom -
I get a phone call - she sings Happy Birthday to me every year :)

18 yr old Brother -
I get a voice mail - "Heather, Happy Birthday and tell your husband he's gay"

14 yr old Brother -
The phone rings -
"Hello"
"Hey" ... "Happy Birthday"
"Thanks! That was really sweet of you to call"
"Mom made me"

They are the best :)

He's not a baby anymore

Today, February 8th 2009, my baby brother M turns ... 18

I feel so old!

How can he be that grown up already?

I can remember the day Mom and Dad brought him home from the hospital, I was six years old. I remember holding him and gently touching his little head. He was so cute!

Now he is 18 and graduating high school in a few short months. {insert crying here}

It seems like yesterday that I was playing pranks on him, beating him up and banning him from my room. We had that typical love/hate - brother/sister relationship :)

Now he is over six feet tall and can take me down twice as hard. {But I have my Dad who can still take him down for me!}

I can't help but get sentimental and think of all our memories growing up. Like the summer that I taught him how to Rollerblade or all the winters playing outside throwing snowballs and building snow dens.

I can't help but brag about him to all my friends and co-workers. M is such a good kid. He loves God with all his heart, he is a good student practicing to be an Electrician and the best drummer I know. He has a great work ethic and a good head on his shoulders.

I am so proud of him it makes me cry.

So Happy Birthday M.

I wish you the best year yet. Make it a good one before you grow old like me ; ) Spend time with your friends, don't overwork yourself and do what makes you happy. I love you so much!

Family

Well, we made it through the first Monday of 2009. Hooray! I have a lot to look forward to this coming month. Starting with hubs is getting his tattoo finished tomorrow (yay!). And lets not forget the Metallica and Machine Head concert in 11 days!!!


So this Saturday I am throwing hubs a birthday party for his 28th. I am so excited for this. I have been planning this for a while. Unfortunately I cannot give out any details yet. That might lead to the downfall of the whole surprise. So I just have to keep it bottled up for 4 more days!


While planning for this party and making the guest list I started to think of family. When I think of the word family, the first thing that comes to my mind is blessed. I am so blessed to have them, I love them so much. My husband included in that. He just fits right in, like he was meant to be. I love that. I love seeing my Dad and husband talk about tools and cars, ya know...all the manly things. And I love seeing him and my brothers goof around. It is a wonderful thing.

Sometimes its hard to understand other peoples family and their family dynamic. Including the family you married into. It's very confusing ... and sometimes strage, but it makes me all the more grateful for my semi-normal loving family...