Our baby.

Hahaha this sums up Bauer pretty perfectly. :)  He can drive me crazy, but he is probably the sweetest and most loving dog you've ever met!

christmas 2012

Christmas was so much fun this year.  It has been so nice to have time off around the holidays for the first time since I was in college.  Chris had to work Christmas Eve this year (AGAIN) :( so that was kind of a bummer.  But, we had 4 days of Christmas, so he was able to enjoy the other 3.  I also came down with a nasty virus as soon as I got out of school, but that didn't keep my Christmas spirit away!  Sunday was spent with Chris' mom, brother, sister-in-law, and Grandmother.  On Christmas Eve, I traveled up to Manassas with Bauer and we spent the day opening gifts with my family and then Christmas Eve night at my Uncle Danny's house (my favorite Christmas tradition).  Christmas Day was spent at Chris' Grandma's house so we could spend time with his cousin and aunt and uncle.  Then, finally on the 26th my parents came down and we opened more gifts at Em's house while Chris was there!

I will be so sad to take down my Christmas tree on the 1st.  It is definitely going to be tough getting back into the swing of things and going back to seeing Chris 1-2 days/week.  :(  Oh well, only 6 more months and then I get to enjoy all summer off!! YIPPEEEEE!!

Christmas Eve with my family:

 Greg in his Jedi robe.

New stool Grandma made!

 Helping Daddy.

I love this dog so much!

Christmas Eve at Uncle Danny's:


Christmas themed game...

Dinner time...Grandma's spaghetti of course! 

Hanging out...

Present time!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

OMG.

 God, she's cute.

thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving was great this year!  I really enjoyed having more than just Thanksgiving Day off from work and Chris was off this year, too. :)  I didn't take very many pictures because I was just enjoying the moments with my family, but of COURSE I got a couple of Lucy.  She's so great and funny and I am amazed by all the new things she knows every time I see her.  I could just melt into a puddle every time she gasps and says "OH MY!!".  Kills me. every. time.

blessed.

Thanksgiving is a day to reflect on what you are thankful for, so I thought I'd make a quick list of what I am thankful for this year (in no particular order).

• Teaching job - Sure, the traveling is not ideal, but I look forward to going into work each morning even after traveling an hour and a half to get there!
• Good health for everyone
• Chris - The love of my life, my support, my best friend.
• Lucy - She has brought SO much joy to our family!
• My parents - Wouldn't survive this year of traveling without them or life in general, really.
• Our home - My limited time in our house this year makes me love Richmond and our home that much more.
• Bauer - My cuddle buddy and he keeps me company on the days/nights when Chris is working.
• Grandpa Frank - 90 1/2 years old and one of the most precious people to me.
• Emily & Greg (& Mark) - my siblings, my friends, I love them
• Good friends - Oldies but goodies
• Extended family -  the best part of the holidays!

I'm feeling very blessed this year and am looking forward to having some time off around the holidays so I can spend time with family and friends.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

cutie pie.

How cute is this little one?  Kori is soooo tiny and her hair just cracks me up!  I was so glad I got to get some cuddles in with her this weekend!  I'm already looking forward to the next time!

fall festivities.

Last weekend Chris and I joined Em and Lucy at the pumpkin patch and what an adventure that was!  We went to a different patch this year because it was closer.  It seems that everyone and their brother had the same idea because it was sooo crowded.  We spent most of the time standing in line, but Uncle Chris was able to keep Lucy occupied while Em and I stood in line. :)

We didn't even tell her to go stand against this.  She did it on her own.  GENIUSSS!

She's probably pointing at me and saying "Mow" (Mal).  It seriously kills me that she knows my name!!

Uncle Chris helping her navigate the crazy patch!

 

Another fun fall activity checked off the list! :)

family.

Chris told me I needed to update the blog.  I asked him to do a guest post, but to my surprise (not) he said no.  So, here I am! 

Last weekend the whole family met in Norfolk to visit Greg (& Jen) at school.  Mom had booked a boat ride for us and the weather was gorgeous.  It was such a fun day and was so nice to spend some quality time with the whole family since we hadn't done that since the beach.  Unacceptable.  As usual, I will let the pictures do the talking.

 Smelling the leaf.

 The boat we rode on:

 

 Adorbs.

A little light reading to pass the time.

 A little blurry, but too cute to pass up.

 

Definitely had no idea just how ginormous these ships are!

Dad giving a history lesson, I'm sure.

Fun fact:  This particular ship carries 6,000 people when it is in service. Cray.

'Merica

 

Smelling Grandma's candle.

Whatcha got der?

She looves candles.

Trying on Mommy's new necklace.

The tissue paper is obviously the best part of opening gifts!

So, I hope this makes up for the two week hiatus.  I'm trying to stay on top of this thing between running up and down 95 twice a week, but it's proving to be hard...only a month and 10 days til Thanksgiving Break. Wahoo! :)