Christmas Eve 2010

So Christmas Eve was our first solid day in California, our main plan was to get a trial membership from 24 Hour Fitness so we could do some exercise and classes that Jesse's sister-in-law teaches.

So here I was with Stryker in my work-out gear:

 So while the Jesse and his brother were out doing some things (I can't remember what for the life of me...Except that they were supposed to stop by the store and get butter and they got just about everything but that...lol), I helped Jesse's Sister-in-Law (JoeEtta) make cookies with the kids:

 There was a lot of gift-opening for the kids, at several different houses including Jesse's Aunt Donna's and some members of JoeEtta's Family.  We made a trip by Jesse's step brothers house to visit some family and family friends...

Here is a photo of Jesse's Nephew cleaning up all that wrapping paper:

Overall our Christmas Eve was eventful, we did make it by the gym for a short run.

We were exhausted by the end of the night...But it was well worth it!

Hope you all enjoyed the photos & stories of Christmas Eve...Here is my photo for my 365 Project:

This is {again} at the dog park.  Yes, I go there often...Probably too often!  Outside it is still pretty cold, so I thought this piece of holly looked cool -- with a frosty white glaze on it.

I will post more tomorrow!

♥

The 365 Project

I follow Julie the Army Wife on twitter, and she is doing the 365 project -- And thought that I would try the project too!  A photo a day for 365 days.  We will see how long this lasts....So....I'm going to have to play some catchup for you all, and here it goes:

January 1

All day we were pretty much driving back from California...And we stopped for a photo op at the beach.  I look like crap...But being 8 hours in a car my goal wasn't to be pretty!

January 2

YES I realize this is a cheat.  Jesse went to the game and didn't take a photo!

The Seahawks are going to the playoffs...The first time to make it with a losing record.

Thanks for such an AMAZING record {if you sense sarcasm you are correct}, 

but us Seattlites are pretty psyched.

And we know they'll likely be murdered by the Saints at their first playoff game.

Whatev.  It's great while it lasts!

January 3

It has been quite cold here in Washington, and this was the site at the dog park today.  The entire water area was frozen solid...Just a drip of water came out of the faucet.  I felt horrible that the dog couldn't get any water!  It doesn't look like this everywhere, but, where the sun hasn't hit the pavement there is several inches of ice.  Yikes.

So from here on out I will *hopefully* be posting a photo a day that summarizes the day!

Soon....Stories {and photos} from our vacation!!

Have a great week.

♥

2010 in Pictures

While Jesse was deployed, I had a tendency to categorize all my photo albums by months.  Usually I would do them by events, but that shifted and I have been doing it ever since.  So here's a recap!

January

My Birthday

February

Beautiful Winter Day

March

Crissy Came Out to Visit

April

R&R

May

Mother's Day

June

Father's Day

July

My Soldier's Homecoming

August

Infantry Ball

September

The Beach

October

Halloween

November

Wine Tasting

December

Christmas at the Anderson's

Soooooo many things in each month to talk about...But just chose some of the faves.  Next blog post I will talk about some Christmas and New Years...Along with everything before & in between.  We went on a trip in California {driving} and visiting most of Jesse's family.  More to come!

♥

Getting Creative

Hello all!


Can you all believe that it's about a week until Christmas??  Whaaaaaaaat?!?  I can hardly believe it.  Today everyone from the Battalion (and Brigade) signed out for leave.  


We are going to be out of town this year, heading to California.  This is both good and bad, good because we won't have to stress out about some things but bad because it creates a whole set of new things stress about!  This weekend I am focusing on wrapping gifts, cleaning the house, and making my Christmas gifts (more to come on this).  Today I was *supposed* to focus on the cleaning portion...But tend to get distracted by the creative portion.


I am grateful that I'm pretty much done with my shopping...I will say, there are a few more things that need to be done...But other than that I think I'm good.  And of all things, I am happy to say that I am done shopping for my family (we're having our makeshift Christmas on Sunday) and Jesse are taken care of.  So whatever else needs to be done will be done during the work week...Even though I believe so many people are going to have the week off!


So touching on my creative projects, I was searching for things that I could easily make that wouldn't cost a fortune.  If you bake or scrapbook, these things are simple...And you would have a lot of this around the house!


So this all got started on the internet of course....By someone that calls themself Bakerella.  Have you heard?  This is a project she made which is SO CUTE!

If you are interested in making the Cowgirl Cookies and more photos you can see them here.

So of course someone decided that they would make a Christmas edition...I know, not that hard.  But here is their idea:

View the blog and more photos here.

Both blogs do have templates for the labels.  You can print them up on card stock and use double sided tape to adhere them to the jar.  Super cute!  This is just one of the gifts I'm making....I will post photos of my gifts when I'm finished!

If you are interested in more gifts in a jar visit tip junkie who has tons of ideas, not just these cookies.

Best of luck to you all with your shopping & gifts!

Happy Holidays!

♥

Crystal Mountain

Yesterday Jesse and I got up bright & early to go to Crystal Mountain (a local ski/snowboard resort) located near Mount Rainer.  If you're not sure what Mount Rainier is, I can give you a refresher:

No matter what I do, I can never get enough of that Mountain!  It is truly a beautiful backdrop in Washington.  Anyway, I spent time learning to ski (for the 2nd time) with another wife of a soldier in our battalion.  We actually didn't do too shabby!

The boys seemed to have lots of other stories (there were about eight other people there also) that were much more interesting.  I did take some photos, but have to wait to show them off since they aren't digital.  What did we do before digital photos??

Anyway, last night we went to bed early, and it's only 4 pm here and I feel like I need a nap.  Jesse is fishing right now...A fun-filled, action packed, early morning weekend he is having.  I don't think he'd have it any other way.

On a different subject, I am thinking of creating a new blog.  Not one to replace this one, but one to do in addition to this one.  Look out for that one!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

♥

Wordless Wendesday

At least someone loved the snow!

Happy Wednesday

♥

Well Hello There

So I got a little talking to by the hubs, when he *finally* visited the blog (love you Jess ;).  I know I haven't been the best blogger...  And haven't posted anything blogger-like lately...  Well, ok in a while.  Sorry about that.

I had a relaxing afternoon -- this morning I took the dog out for a walk (great since I haven't done that in a week because I've been sick...and we had snow for a while.  Which in Washington turns in to a BIG deal very quickly...  Stupid, I know...), packed up some fall decorations (now that I think of it I need another fall box to package up the rest of my fall pumpkins), and caught up on a few CSI: NY and NCIS episodes (anyone see the last two??  LOVE NCIS!) while enjoying two cups of coffee.

I got some inspiration while drinking coffee to make biscotti.  Anyone have any favorites?  Here are some interesting ones I found:

Best Biscotti Ever by Quite Curious

Brownie Biscotti from All Recipes

Double Chocolate Biscotti by All Recipes

Anyway, I will let you know how my adventure goes...If it's a hit or a flop!  I'm thinking about doing a chocolate, and if it's good...  Maybe Christmas gifts??  We will see I guess.

Have a great week!

♥

Military Spouse Round-Up

Hope everyone had an

AMAZING

Thanksgiving!!

I will go into detail about my Thanksgiving week later, but until I do...

Join the Military Spouse Round up!

♥