R3

O Happy day!

Marie got married today. I met Marie in graduate school in Chicago. We hung out quite a bit and slacked off even more. We made it through and got degrees, and got jobs, and then she had to take it one step further and get married. I remember her telling me one reason she wanted to stay in chicago for her internship was becuase she felt like she might meet someone at the hospital. Good call.
We woke up this morning all running around trying to get things organized and ready so that we could make our appointment at the spa. Marie was a little stressed about the rain that was falling and threating to persist and rule out a "beautiful" day. She turned on the TV to find out the weather forecast but every channel was airing the same thing.

Marie: Well, shit. I will always remember my wedding anniversary now. The cold rainy day that Saddam Hussein was hung.

It was a beautiful day. The rain cleared up and the wedding was lovely. Congrats, Marie! Best of luck to ya!!

Entertaining.

With the kids around we try to find fun and different things to do to entertain them. (Refer back to November for a recap of our iceskating adventure at Thanksgiving) Today we were going to go and see the movie "Happy Feet" but the boys played beauty shop with Peyton's new Christmas toys instead.

Merry Christmas!

We used to have traditons on Christmas morning, too. My sisters and I would gather in my sister's room when we all woke up very early in the morning and mom and dad would go downstairs and get things ready. We would all wait together until they called us down. (I'm the only kid that wakes up there on Christmas morning anymore, and I dont wait in my sisters old room = broken tradtition) We would all come downstairs and open our stockings first. (Our stockings were empty this year. At least I think they were, I didnt check to be honest = broken tradition) The only tradition that still stands is how the gifts are wrapped. Mom (Santa when I was younger) wrapped all of Robyn's gifts in green tissue paper, Renee's in red tissue paper, and mine in white tissue paper. That was how we knew which presents were ours. This will never change. (Unless they stop making tissue paper= tradition upheld!)

Today I set a record. Usually excitement serves as an internal alarm clock but I woke up this morning close to noon. I have never slept in so late on Christmas morning. Maybe it was the fact that I flew in to Michigan yesterday and was up for 22 hours straight or maybe it was because of the conversation my mom and I had yesterday.

Me: Mom, I need to finish wrapping all of my presents that I brought. I didn't want to wrap them and then pack them in my suitcase.

Mom: I think you should put them all in gift bags, it will be easier. I have a bag of bags upstairs you can use.

Me: Ok thanks.

Mom: Or you could use tissue paper. I have a lot of white left over.

Hmmm....


Christmas Day was wonderful!! I was very excited and thankful to be home. It's great being with family.

Traditions.

Every Christmas Eve for as long as I can remember we all gather at my Grandma Dossin's house. When we were little we had a lot of tradtions that unfortunately (or fortunatly, depends on how you look at it) have been lost over the years. One of the greatest traditions is all the cousins sitting on grandma's steps for a picture and singing to follow. When we are all younger this was fun, I think, and I'm sure it was very adorable according to the adults that were on the other end taking pictures and encouraging us to smile and sing louder. This year, the tradition returned after approximately a 10 to 12 year hiatus. Traditions make memories and this was one memory I will NEVER forget. It is interesting what 10 years and a few holiday drinks will do to a family. Our "silent bells rendition" brought tears to our eyes, one way or another, and Shlingle Bells will always be a christmas favorite.

Christmas!

Since I am going home for the holiday, Josh and I celebrated our Christmas today. I worked a few hours and came home to Josh cooking a wonderful Christmas dinner. We ate dinner, opened way too many gifts, and then celebrated. Here I am celebrating with a glass of my favorite wine and homemade Christmas cookies. It was a good day.

Well there is no denying it now. I am definitely my mother's daughter. If there was ever any doubt, there is now honest proof. I made this lollipop Christmas tree for the employees at the nursing home. I used carmel apple suckers for the pine tree branches, smaller fruity suckers as ornaments, and chocolate wrapped as presents under the tree as, well, presents. Mighty crafty, just like my mommy. (And I came up with it all on my own, scary.)

Happy Holidays!!

This is what our Christmas cards would have looked like if we would have had the motivation to send them. Today marks the start of my 12 days of Christmas. Since I am going home in a few days, and will be there for a whole week, there will be delays in the blogging process. That is a promise. Sorry for any troubles this may cause you. Have a great Holiday if I don't get a chance to talk to you!!

National Champions, Again.

IT'S GREAT TO BE A MOUNTAINEER!!

Final Score:

Appalachian 28

U Mass 17

Mondays.

There is just something about Monday nights. This picture was taken at 6:30pm. You'd think I drugged them...

Work Party #1

Josh brought me along to his work party as Home Depot held its annual Holiday Party in the Building and Lumber Department of the store. There was a raffle, Josh's ticket was pulled first. He won a red, 8-inch screen, portable DVD player. It was a great prize, so great that he bought me the exact same thing about 2 weeks ago when I flew to Chicago. He also got to take a centerpiece off of the tables. He chose the one pictured above. The tree lights up and changes color. Neat. Happy Holidays!



And Happy Birthday Kelly!

Public Safety.

I had more than enough run-ins with Public Safety employees today.

1. The fire alarms went off at work today. They were obnoxiously loud, and we thought it was just a drill, which happens a lot. Turns out, it was not a drill, but there was no real fire, either. There was real smoke but no real danger. The fire department had to come out anyway. They arrived in their obnoxiously loud truck to make sure we were not burning down, and we weren't.

2. Driving the Honda (not my Saturn) home from work today on my way to the Doctor's office, I kindly moved over to the right lane to let a police officer pass by in order to catch all of the dangerous criminals in Knightdale, NC. Much to my suprise he got in the right lane too, right behind me and turned on his lights and obnoxiuosly loud sirens. He came to my window to report that he was issuing me a citation for expired tags and an expired inspection sticker. Thank you officer, may I get to my Doctor's appointment now?

3. On my way home from the Doctor's office (still driving the Honda) I carefully observed my spedometer. When I noticed I was not speeding, I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw lights and heard obnoxiously loud sirens behind me, again. Clearly I am the most dangerous person in Knightdale, NC. I rolled down the window and handed the officer the citation I had been given an hour earlier about a mile down the road. He told me to have a good night and to drive safe. No need to see my license and expired registration.

Before today, I had never been pulled over. Today it happend, twice. I feel much safer, publicly.

Hangin out.

Today was another birthday party for Matthew, this one was at home with family and family friends, whereas yesterday's party was at the gym with all of his little friends from school. (This picture is of Mitchell playing at the party yesterday) Today we all hung out at the house and I got to catch up with a lot of people that I have not seen in a while, Mitchell included. Last time I saw him, he wasn't saying a whole lot. Today, he talked my ear off, and I was glad to listen. This was one of my favorite moments of the day.

Me: Mitchell, do you remember me?

Mitchell: Yeah, Auntie Chelle.

(BIG HUG, Pats on the back)

I almost cried!

Happy Birthday Matthew!

Today is Matthew's 5th birthday. This event is the reason I am in Chicago. I met Matthew about 4 months before his 3rd birthday and he has had an extremely special place in my heart since then. He is a really cool kid, very smart with an amazing sense of humor. He is one of the absolute sweetest kids in the world. It was a blast celebrating another birthday with him. Thanks for inviting me, Matthew. Can't wait to see you again soon!!

Provisions.

I got up extra early and checked in online this morning at 6:00 to print my boarding pass for my flight to Chicago tonight. I was assigned to the "A" boarding group, which meant I would be one of the first 45 or so passengers to board the plane. Boarding groups are assigned on a first come, first serve basis and getting an "A" is extremely important. This means there will definitely be room for your carryon to fit in the overhead bins, you can definitely get a window seat and you get to watch the majority of the passengers enter the plane and make eye contact only with the ones you somehow decide you would rather have sit down beside you than others. All of these things are extremely important, especially when flights get full. So I printed out my "A" boarding pass, feeling pretty lucky, and then I checked the weather. The midwest was currently getting slammed by a nasty winter storm. Fantastic.
My flight was supposed to leave Raleigh at 8:10pm. When I checked flight status at 4:00pm, it was delayed until 12:45am. Wonderful. I was in for a long night. So Josh went out and bought me a new toy to pass the time. I got to the airport at around 9:00pm, just in time for all of the restuarants and gift shops to close. I was hungry and thirsty and they don't let you bring drinks through security these days. I walked the entire aiport looking for something to drink. I was unsuccessful. I asked the southwest ticket counter lady for help.

Me: Excuse me, do you know of any place that I can get a drink? They took my water at security and now everything is closed.

Southwest Ticket Counter Lady(STCL): Oh dear, well, everything is closed now. They will be serving drinks on your flight, what flight are you on?

Me: 2160 to Chicago.

STCL: Oh my, that plane is extremely delayed. It isn't leaving here until about 1 in the morning. In fact, it hasn't even left Hartford yet. Then it goes to Philly, then here.

Me: They took my water.

STCL: I'm sorry. I can go check the provisionals room and see if they have some water or applejuice or something when I get a break here.

Me: Thank you, I would really appreciate it.

At about midnight the STCL brought be this warm can of water. My new DVD player and a can of water were my keys to survival tonight. My plane finally landed in Chicago at 4:00am (Eastern time) after stopping in Nashville and picking up 9 people. Total passengers on both flights, maybe 30. Good thing I got up early this morning to print out an "A" boarding pass. There was hardly any room for my suitcase and people were sleepfighting for window seats.