Gratitious Starbucks & Dog Post

Izzie: "Oh yum! Daddy's frappucino is DELICIOUS!"

Addison: "I sez it ez good steff."

Izzie: "No Addison - you have had enough. It is now all mine!"

Addison: "But arent u supozed to be on a DIET! I herd the vet sez u r lytle overweight - Daddy sez u jest big boned."

Izzie: "ADDISON! I SAID BACK OFF MY FRAPPUCINO! I WILL GROWL AT YOU WITH THE GROWL OF A THOUSAND SUNS! AND I AM SO NOT FAT! PLUS - LEARN HOW TO SPELL!"

Addison: "I jest kyding sis - puhlease can I haves a lytle lick? Me luv u loung time."

Izzie: "Victory is mine! I get the cup and you only get the lid! HAHAHA"

Addison: "YUM! delishious whyped creem. Daddy luvs mi."

Addison: "My what a loung tonge u hav sis."

Izzie: "DANG right it is! The better to show you who is boss. Now give me that cup back before I kick your butt!"

And Then...

So the whole being a preschool teacher thing is pretty spectacular around the Holidays. The bad spectacular and the good. The bad - crazy, out of whack kids that have their whole world turned upside down with the whole SANTA! PRESENTS! CANDY! GRANDPARENTS TO SPOIL ME! thing going on. The good - the same SANTA! PRESENTS! CANDY! thing - so sweet to see kids when they are realizing the true magic that is Christmas. The excitement when they give you a gift - it is so touching. BONUS - I get presents too! WOO HOO! Plus - the secret Santa thing which I find so fun. Presents! Everyday! YEA!

And then... this weekend. Wonderfully relaxing until I had the BRIGHT idea of using a gift card from one of the parents to go see a movie with Chip. Movie = awesome (Seven Pounds with Will Smith). Traffic and people at the mall = sucktacular. Too much chaos - even I was ready to go home.

And then... Sunday. My car. The heat. Not working. In 30 degree weather with -14 wind chill expected. YUCK!

And then... I have a wonderful husband who handled taking my car in and talking with the dudes to get it fixed and dropped me off at work and picked me up to pick up car that is fixed. Now that is awesome! The whole car being not working thing freaks me out and makes me stressed so having Chip take care of it was so wonderful!

And then... the cost. HOLY COW! I truly am thankful that God has blessed us that we are able to take care of it (over a 6 month interest free period) without being unduly stressed. He knows what He is doing - and for that I am grateful.

And then... feeling a tad homesick... get home and find a box from Texas. Hmmm... what is is? I open it up and inside is a bottle of La Madeleine tomato soup (my fav) and a Tyler Autoglam air freshener in Cowboy (my total fav) with the sweetest note from Peggy in my LifeGroup in Texas. They had their Christmas get together at La Madeleine and I couldn't be there since I live here - so she sent me a care package. Completely 100% unexpected and completely thoughtful. Thank you, Peggy! It means so much to me to have such amazing sweet friends - here and in Texas, Iowa, Illinois, California, Wisconsin... all over really.

And then ... I am reminded of the true meaning of Christmas. Of giving to just give. To help just because you can. To love - unconditionally as Christ loves us.

Home Again

We are back safe and sound from a flurry of activity in Texas. We went for a long weekend and the girls went to Camp Bow Wow for a dog-cation (which they loved). Does it make us obsessive dog owners that we stayed glued to the Camp's web cams watching our girls? Don't answer that.

We left Thursday and immediately loaded up on guacamole and Mexican food. I miss Tex Mex! Then it was off to meet Mary, the girls and baby Cade at dance class followed by a gluttonous evening at Babe's with the Baker family, my Mom, us and Alicia & Aaron. We went to check out Aaron and Alicia's gorgeous new home and I tried to steal their puppies, but they caught me.

Friday guess what we did? That's right - shopping! Breakfast at Rise n Dine, got my hair did, Funky Monkey, Cavender's and the mall. Friday night we spoiled our nephew, Nathan, and filled up on Red Lobster.

Saturday = more shopping. Note to self - mall on Saturday before Christmas = BAD idea. GOOD idea - lunch at Red Robin with Kathy, Phillip and Jessica. I got to rub Kathy's belly and see sonogram pictures of her twins - a boy and a girl! We also went to the girl's dance recital - so precious!! We had the Dawson side Christmas feast at my Aunt Cindy's and got serenaded by Zach on his trumpet.

Sunday was filled with... you guessed it - more shopping. What can I say - we don't have the same stores in Pittsburgh. They do not sell Tyler candles here which are my favorite ever candles. Oh yeah - and the Dees side Christmas. My mom's side of the family is an evil bunch when it comes to our gift exchange - we all steal each other's gifts. I love it! I also got to rub Danielle's belly (she is due in January) and nom on baby Gus' thighs. Major and Judge beat up on Chip. All I am good for according to those two is bringing Chip around. hehe

The only "bad" part of our trip was the plane ride back home. Our flight was SUPPOSED to leave DFW at 7:30 p.m. - actual departure time was 10:00 p.m., which put us getting home after 2:00 a.m. Needless to say, that is why this post does not make the most sense and has no photos (I left my camera in PA - argh!).

It was so wonderful to see friends and family - I just hate that there is never enough time to see everyone and do all that we want to do. I guess that means that everyone needs to come see us for some one-on-one time! Actually, we are planning a girl's trip to NYC in June with my family (including my wonderful MIL and SIL). I am excited about that!

Iowa friends - we will be in Iowa Christmas Eve/Day through the 30th - woo hoo! I can't wait to see everyone!

Thankful

Jake & Kristi on the Duquesne Incline

Jake and Kristi came to visit and asked us to be in their wedding - of course we said yes (and I cried). We ate too much, stayed up too late, indulged in some shopping, rocked at Guitar Hero (kind of), and went site seeing. I can't wait to see them again in a few short weeks! Next year we are thinking meeting somewhere WARMER for Thanksgiving - or going to Wisconsin.

View of the Duquesne Incline with snow on it - we ordered snow for Jake and Kristi to help welcome them to Pittsburgh.


Heinz Field from the Incline

Heinz Field sign as we drove to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum

Goofing around at home with my hot husband

Thanksgiving was absolutely amazing! I am still recovering from too much wine, Wii, shopping and fun. Oh yea - and going back to work after a four day weekend to some kids that are a little off schedule.

And then it hit me this week - my first bout of homesickness. My Grandmother fell and broke her other hip (her first hip being broke two years ago) and then my best friend, Mary, had her precious baby boy, Cade Dawson Baker, on Thursday, December 4th and I wasn't there. It was the first time that I have missed a birth of one of her children. It really hit me as I heard my Mom tell me how sweet he was and she got to hold him. Pictures just aren't the same as holding a precious baby in your arms and breathing in the sweet smell and nomming on a baby's cheeks. Okay - enough of that.

I am blessed that we will be back in Texas next week and I can hold Cade and the girls. I will get to celebrate Christmas with my family and enjoy time with my friends. It is just an adjustment. I do love being in Pennsylvania and God has brought us here and I adore my new friends, my work, and the closeness it has brought to our marriage - having this adventure together.

I miss my Iowa friends and family too - friends having babies, birthdays, etc. and not being able to be there just well - sucks.

Enough boo hooing - I know this is part of growing up and being an adult, but it is hard sometimes. Luckily, I have an incredible husband, cell phones, internet, and two gorgeous dogs to help me. For that, and so much more, I am incredibly thankful!

All is Calm, All is Bright (and right with the world)

I don't want to forget tonight.

I don't want to forget the feeling of sitting in a NFL stadium bundled up with my husband due to the generosity of our neighbors giving us their season tickets for tonight's game.

I don't want to forget looking at the pitch black sky above with perfect white flakes falling onto the fans decked out in black and gold.

I felt like I was inside a snow globe of Heinz Field and someone had shook the globe to make snow fall gently on the stadium. It was a surreal feeling.

I don't want to forget the thrill of watching a city in love with their team cheer that team to victory with Terrible Towel's waving in the air.

I don't want to forget walking in the snow across the Ohio River on a double decker bridge.

I don't want to forget feeling like we were on a movie set as we walked through a park where the snow was glowing from the streetlights.

I don't want to forget tonight, so that is why I am blogging about it at midnight when I have to get up and go to work tomorrow.

Tonight was a perfect night and I am so grateful for every moment.

Do You See What I See?

The girls getting their first "taste" of PA snow - they loved it!

My first PA snowman - I'm so proud of him (even if he is only 12 inches tall)!

Goodbye beautiful leaves - hello snow covered branches.

Today was our first snow that we had with actual accumulation that lasted over an hour. It really put me in the Christmas spirit - what - Christmas is 6 weeks away! I like to enjoy every moment of it - even if the decor does get put up before Halloween. I (finally) finished the cake balls I started last week and even made a couple delish chicken pot pies. It's a day to cozy up on the couch, drink some hot cocoa and enjoy time with family! Our girls LOVED the snow - Addison is still trying to figure it out, but thinks it tastes good. Izzie is all about it and is made for this weather!

:::

Okay - a little gripe. Isn't Nordstrom supposed to be KNOWN for their customer service? I must say I was VERY disappointed yesterday when I ventured into the brand new Nordie's at Ross Park Mall to return some boots. No one wanted to help me - it made me sad. BUT - I am supposed to be trying to live my life in a loving fashion so I am letting it go. I will still call the store to let them know how my feelings were hurt - but I do forgive.

On a positive note, a L.L. Bean store just opened and I took a quick peek around yesterday. It didn't REALLY open until today, but the nice lady at the door let Lindsay and I in anyway - LOVE IT! Clean, pretty, great customer service - warm clothes. I can't wait to go back with Chip and show him the Wicked Good stuff they have.

:::

Work = going awesome! The kiddos are fantastic, my coworkers are great. I even started working out EVERYDAY on my break since the gym is about 2 seconds away from work. It feels good to be healthy and I can feel a difference in how I sleep (less insomnia) and feel (more energy). Hmm... I guess all of those things they say about working out are actually true. Go figure! hehe

:::

Twilight - cannot wait until that comes out on Friday. Seriously - I can't remember the last time I was THIS excited about a movie! Team Edward all the way!

One Thousand Ninety Six Days and Counting...

One thousand ninety six days is how long Chip and I have been married. One thousand ninety six days ago I was walked down the aisle wearing a beautiful gown, my Grandma's necklace and cowboy boots by my Dad to start the beginning of the rest of my life with my best friend, the love of my life, Chip. On that day, Saturday, October 29, 2005, our closest friends and family surrounded us with their love and support as they witnessed us taking our vows.

I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams with a man who is incredible. He is patient, understanding, kind, I could go on for days. Our families are both amazing! My family absolutely adores Chip and my parents truly feel that he is their son. Chip's family - they have welcomed me with open arms (Texas accent and all). His parents, Judy & Skip, are the nicest people - they are my other parents and I love them as much as I love my own. When I hear other's stories of their in laws, I just have to laugh and thank God for mine. What stories could I share? That they buy pink towels just for me? That they have Dr. Pepper and my favorite S'mores ice cream waiting when we pull in the driveway? You see - I can't compete. Actually, I would win best in laws hands down. Along with best parents who SPOIL the heck out of me. :)

Chip - I love you! I love you more than words can possibly say and now the entire internet knows (or at least those who read our blog). Thank you for being you - my hero, my rock, my strength, my love.