Christmas Eve and the Feast of the Seven Fishes

I haven't really talked about our Christmas plans on my blog because we don't have a ton of plans. We decided to stay here this year and spend Christmas just our little family. We are going to wake up in our own beds tomorrow morning and relax, eat, open presents and just chill. I can't wait. I will share my Christmas day menu with you all soon (after Christmas, obviously). With that being said, we're having some people over for dinner on tonight.

I wasn't too sure about making some big crazy prime rib or something (because I like cooking, but don't want to eff myself over and be the fool who ends up having to order out on Christmas Eve because something went terribly wrong).

I decided that something much easier, like the traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner of The Feast of the Seven Fishes. In my apparently warped mind, this was more sane than the alternative. Ha! Now I'm making six seafood dishes (amongst various frozen appetizers) to serve our guests this evening. One of the guests is bringing a seafood dish, so I only have to make six recipes instead of seven (should lighten the load a little bit, at least).

Here's what I'm making.

Shrimp Cocktail (because I'm being lazy on this one)

Baked Scallops

Lemon Garlic Flounder I'm using Flounder instead of Tilapia

Chez Lorraine's Baked Salmon

Fried Calamari

Crab Cakes (I bought these pre-made from our local grocery store, so no recipe, sorry!)

As you can see, most of these recipes are very simple, but the ones I've made before are delicious and the new ones sound fantastic, so I'm excited to get to work in the kitchen!

I'll post an update after Christmas to let you all know that I survived what will undoubtedly be known as "Seafood Extravaganza 2011" or "The Christmas Beth Went Crazy" for generations years to come! Wish me luck!

The Meadow Lights

Remember a few days ago when I posted about AJ getting sick so we weren't able to go see the Christmas lights at the Botanical Gardens? Well, I think it was divine intervention or something because right after that happened I got an email from the FRSA letting us know about a different holiday light display that was better (and free-er) than the gardens. The only downside is that its about 30 miles from our house (but actually it takes an hour to get there because there is no direct route). It was definitely worth it, though!

We decided to go yesterday after AJ woke up from her nap. We knew that it was going to take about an hour to get there, and since it gets dark around 5, we left at 3:45. They didn't officially open until 5, so we hung around in the parking lot for 15 minutes until they opened. The first thing we did was walk around and look at the lights (it wasn't quite dark yet, so it didn't look too impressive) and then we went into the old country store and bought peanut brittle.

The lights at dusk.

I brought some food for AJ for dinner so she ate a little bit and then we bought our $2 tickets (each, so $6 total) for the train ride.

Let me say this: AJ is OBSESSED with trains. Every time she sees one, she drops everything to make the "choo choo!" sound and arm movement over and over again. Its very cute and hilarious. She was pumped once she realized that we were getting on the train.

AJ and Daddy hanging out before the train ride.

The train ride itself is about 5-10 minutes long, but it takes you through all the lights and its very cool because there are tons of things! They had Santa, elves playing tennis, a candy cane factory, Jack Frost blowing frosty air around, nutcrackers, farm animals, and more! I tried to take pictures of the lights, but they all suck, sorry!

My crappy phone pics of the lights from the train.

They also had a carousel and Santa was available for photos, but we already tortured AJ got AJ's picture taken with Santa this year, so we skipped that line. In case you're going to try and go see the lights, just know that both of these things cost money, so come prepared. I think the carousel was like $2 (which, whatever) but the Santa pictures were $6! It seemed like a lot to me, but I know there are places that charge a LOT more than that (ahem, the mall).

Having the time of her life with Daddy on the train.

AJ had a fantastic time and we were glad that we made the drive out to spend the afternoon looking at lights and enjoying some fun, holiday, family fun together.

The Best Laid Plans...

We had great plans for our first Saturday of Christmas Exodus. We were going to head to town as soon as Miss AJ got up from her nap, do some errands and go out to eat at Panera (fancy-schmancy, huh?), then we were going to head to the local botanical gardens to see their holiday light display with some friends.

Sounds fun, right?

Friday I noticed that AJ had developed a little bit of a cough, so I was kind of keeping an eye on it, but not too worried. Well, by the time we had dinner Friday night she was yawning all over the place, so we put her to bed early and figured that she was just fighting a cold of some sort. The extra sleep should help, right?

Well, midnight rolled around and I wake up to the sound of D going into her bedroom, she's screaming and obviously not feeling well. She ended up in our bed with us the rest of the night (if you consider 1-5 to be a full night sleep). At 0500 I took her downstairs to watch tv because she was crying non-stop. We laid on the couch and watched early morning cartoons until I finally decided to giver her a sippy-cup of milk. Almost as soon as she drank it, another coughing fit came on and then it happened.

Puke. All over the couch. All over AJ. All over her beloved blankie. Everywhere.

Oh yeah. I was kind of half asleep when it happened, but as soon as I heard it, I was up so fast, you would have laughed!

I stripped her down, took her jammies and blankie and started a load of laundry. Got the couch cleaned up, baby in new jammies and we settled back in for an uneventful day of bland foods, honey water, extra naps, and lots of snuggling.

Needless to say, we didn't go see the lights, even though AJ was feeling quite a bit better after her second nap of the day. I did convince hubby that I needed Panera after thinking we were going there, so I ran out and picked it up. ;)

I think we're going to try and go see the lights later this week once AJ feels better, since D is off work until 2012 (oh yeah, I'm so happy to finally have him around and available after this entire year of him having homework and being exhausted from work).

Christmas Pictures and Our Card

A few weeks ago we took AJ to have some professional Christmas pictures taken in hopes that we'd find one good enough to use as a Christmas card this year. We came away with some fantastic pictures and I'm really happy with the way they turned out. Here are a few of our favorites, followed by our Christmas card for this year.

My All-Time Favorite Christmas Movies

Anyone who knows me knows that I have an unhealthy obsession with Christmas movies. When I was in high school my best friend and I would have a Christmas movie watching party the weekend of Thanksgiving each year. It was really more like two bums sitting on a couch in the basement watching movies than a party, but I digress.

I like Christmas movies so much that two of them actually rank amongst my top movies of all time list.

I'll be completely honest and let you all in on a little secret though. I don't really like movies. They're just not my thing. It drives my hubby crazy because I never want to watch movies, but my dad is the same way, so I think its genetic.

With that being said, here is my list.

10. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
There isn't really a more iconic Christmas movie than this, is there? I mean, I grew up watching this on tv and I remember writing the date and time on the family calendar so we could make sure we were watching it!

9. Charlie Brown Christmas
I think its actually the music to this movie that gets me. We recorded it on our DVR last night so it was on while I was making Christmas cookies and I was just feeling so very Christmas-y.

8. The Santa Clause
I can't really explain why I love this movie so much, but I really like Christmas movies in which Santa is proven to be real. Just makes me think of the magic of Christmas. I also thought it was pretty cool how his beard could grow back in a few seconds.

7. A Christmas Story
There is just something about the scene where the kid is bundled up within an inch of his life that gets me every time. That and triple-dog daring. Classic.

6. Home Alone
Although this is technically a Christmas movie, I have vivid memories of a beach vacation to Lake Erie with my cousins where we watched this movie no less than 100 times during the week we were there. I think I also felt a connection to this particular movie because I grew up in Chicago, so I think of the scene where they run through O'Hare every time I'm at the airport.

5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
I've had this playing in the car for AJ lately and I love listening to the dialog and knowing that its another classic that I can pass on to my kid. I don't think I ever saw this movie as a child though. I'm certain, though, that if I did see it, I saw the old version because I'm too old to have seen the Jim Carrey version as a kid. : /

4. Elf
I'm not a Will Farrel fan. At all. In fact, this is the only movie of his (other than Talladega Nights) that I like. Hubby however, lurves him some Will Farrel. He says this is the only WF movie (other than Talladega Nights) that he doesn't like. I think we're on to something, here. Anyways, I just love this movie. It makes me happy.

3. Miracle on 34th Street (old version)
This is another classic that I've been playing for AJ in the car. She really likes the music and kind of dances in her carseat. Its cute. There is some subtle humor and the script is so well written. I like "kids" movies that appeal to adults as well.

2. Christmas Vacation
Obviously not a movie I'm going to pass down to my kids until later on, but this movie is one of my favorite movies of all time. I literally watch it Thanksgiving weekend every year. I love the humor, I love everything about this movie. It is not Christmas to me until I've seen this movie. This is the movie my BFF from high school and I used to watch together every year. To this day, when my cousins and I get together, we practically recite every line from the movie, even in July. I have connections with so many simply from this movie. "Merry Christmas! Shitter's full!"

1. White Christmas
My hands-down favorite movie of all time. Hubby and I danced our first dance at our wedding to one of the songs from this movie. My family used to watch this movie all together during the Christmas season and I just have so many wonderful memories from this movie. The dialog is gold. The choreography is gold. The casting is gold. All around, A+.

What about you, what are your favorite holiday movies?

The Terror!

On Monday our playgroup hosted a Holiday party so I got AJ dressed in her Christmas outfit and we headed out. I knew Santa was going to be there and I didn't want to miss the opportunity to get a classic terrified-baby-with-Santa picture to display until AJ turns 30.

Really unhappy about the situation.

Still traumatized from the incident.

There is our family's first screaming baby with Santa photo! I will treasure it for years!

Double Chocolate Chunk Mocha Cookies

This next cookie is a more "grown-up" cookie. As a kid, I wasn't really a big fan, but as an adult, they're one of my favorites. Its a little bit of work, but I really appreciate the effort my Mom puts into making these bad boys every year.

If you like chocolate (and who doesn't?) these are a must make.

***

Double Chocolate Chunk Mocha Cookies
8 Squares semisweet chocolate, divided
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 T instant coffee
1 egg
1 t vanilla
1/2 t baking powder
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 t salt

Melt one square of chocolate.

Cut 3 squares of chocolate into 1/2 inch chunks and set aside. (I sometimes just use chocolate chips for this part because it is very hard to cut up the chocolate squares).

Beat butter until light and fluffy, gradually beat in sugars and coffee. Mix in egg and vanilla; stir in melted chocolate. Add flour, baking powder and salt and mix well. Stir in chocolate chunks. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Drop by Tablespoonful about 2" apart on parchment paper covered cookie sheets. Bake 8 minutes. Cool for 2 minutes before removing from cookie sheets and then cool on a wire rack.

Melt remaining chocolate. Dip 1/2 of the top of each cookie in chocolate and let chocolate set.

***

These are so delicious, but they're not too sweet because you use the semi-sweet chocolate blocks.

This completes my all-time favorite Christmas cookie line up. In case you missed any of them, here they are:

Iced Shortbreads
Buckeyes
Holly Wreaths

Our Tree!

Since I didn't post the picture of our tree when we first put it up, I'll share it with you now!


As soon as I actually send out our Christmas cards, I'll post them here so you can all enjoy the cuteness that is Miss AJ!

Happy Holidays!

Holly Wreaths

In keeping with my Christmas cookie recipe updates, today I'm going to share a fun, festive cookie.

My mom makes these every year and everyone loves them, but I will admit, you can usually find red hots hidden around the house because I'm convinced that no one actually likes them, so we always pick them off. ;) I've suggested to my mom that she should just leave the red hots off, but she claims that they're an integral part of the aesthetic of the Holly Wreaths. Whatever.

***

Holly Wreaths
1/4 cup butter
1 (10 oz) bag marshmallows
5 cups corn flakes
green food coloring
red hots

Melt butter in a large pan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until melted, then add green food coloring to make the marshmallow mixture very green. Remove from heat and add cornflakes. Stir until well coated. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper or well greased cookie sheet. Add a few red hots immediately to each spoonful so they will stick-they should look like holly berries.



***

These guys are yummy, but like I said, the red hots are really just for show, so don't be surprised if you find them on your kitchen counter or hidden in the couch cushions (not that I ever did that as a kid).

World Famous, Ultimate Christmas Cookie

I know I said yesterday that if you want lots of extra presents and love from your family and friends you should bring them Iced Shortbreads, but I'm serious when I say that today's cookie will literally win you arguments. They're that good.

I'm sure that some of my readers are familiar with this cookie, as its a regional thing, and you'll most likely be able to guess where my family originates from based on this recipe, but I'm okay with that. Even if you're not from Middle America, you should make these.

They're also a no-bake cookie, so if you're one of those people who are afraid of your oven, this is a cookie for you!

Without further adieu, I present to you, Buckeyes.

***

Buckeyes
1 1/2 c peanut butter
1 c butter, softened
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
6 c powdered sugar
4 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar. The dough will look dry. Roll into 1-inch balls and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.

Press a toothpick into the top of each ball (to be used later as the handle for dipping) and chill in the freezer until firm, about30 minutes.

Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or in a bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir frequently until smooth.

Dip frozen peanut butter balls in chocolate holding onto the toothpick. Leave a small portion of peanut butter showing at the top to make them look like Buckeyes. Put back on the cookie sheet and refrigerate (or freeze) until serving.



***

You're welcome.

Christmas Cookie Time!

I'm a traditionalist when it comes to the foods served for holiday meals, and this includes the types of Christmas cookies that my mom makes. I like the same things, year in and year out, and its a rare occasion that I'll allow a new recipe into the rotation. With that being said, my family has incorporated Pioneer Woman's Soul Sweet 'Taters into our Thanksgiving feast the past few years. It is good enough to make the (very selective) cut and become a traditional dish on our table.

I could tell you about the year that my mom thought she'd spruce up the holiday table and make cranberry sauce from actual cranberries (vs. opening the can and slicing it up). I could relish you all with the story about the year my mom added fresh green beans to the green bean casserole. Don't get me wrong, I like homemade cranberry sauce a lot now that I'm an adult, but its just the idea that while we're all growing up and our lives are changing, there are some things that will always stay the same.

With that being said, the Christmas cookies my mom makes are the same ones she has been making since the dawn of time. I thought that over the next few days I'd share some of them with all of you (to make up for my repeated and unexcused absences over the last month).

I'm heading to a cookie exchange this afternoon, so I spent my Friday night making cookies to share with my friends and since y'all are my friends too, I have to share the recipe here!

***

Iced Shortbreads
1 c butter, softened
1/2 c sugar
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 1/2 c flour

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add almond extract. Stir in flour in 3 parts, beating well after each addition, dough will be stiff. Knead in bowl for 5 minutes until smooth.

Wrap dough in waxed paper and chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes. Roll teaspoon sized pieces of dough into balls and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten calls to 1/4 inch thickness. Bake for 22 minutes or until slightly colored.

Icing
1/2 c butter
1 1/2 c powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp milk

Melt butter and add powdered sugar until you achieve spreading consistency. Add vanilla and milk. Ice cooled cookies.

***

These are absolutely delicious and are obviously terrible for you. I advise you to make them right away, then pack up most of them and give them to friends and family. A few days later, you'll receive lots of unexpected gifts and lots of love from them, I promise! ;)

Come on back tomorrow for an all-time semi-famous favorite!

Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like....

Well, Christmas.

Now I know that over the past few years it seems as if the stores have sort of started to skip over Thanksgiving completely and are going straight from 4th of July Halloween to Christmas, but I think there's a reason for this.

People are shopping for gifts earlier. The economy has created a situation where very many people simply cannot afford to do all their shopping during the four-week period between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Add to that the expense of holiday travel and it makes even more sense that we want to start shopping earlier and spreading out the hurt a little bit.

With that being said, I personally think its incredibly hard to get in the mood to Christmas shop without Christmas decor splashed all over the stores. I mean, nothing says "Happy Holidays!" like eating a pound of leftover Halloween candy and then hitting the big box stores, now does it?

But seriously, I am finding myself shopping for Christmas gifts online more than I ever have. Partly because we live far away from family and will be flying to see them, and partly because there is really nothing worse than trying to execute an all-day shopping marathon with a whiny toddler repeatedly asking if she can "walk" through the aisles of Tarjay. {No, you may not walk AJ, because then I'll spend the next 17 hours cleaning up all the things you pull off the shelves.}

Not to mention the fact that when shopping online one can still take advantage of not just Black Friday sales, but Cyber Monday sales as well! Talk about convenient. I can sit on my couch, in my jammies and use "one-click ordering" (Thank you, Amazon!) and its done. I never even need to think about throwing 'bows to get to the hot item of the season!

With that being said, AJ's first Christmas gift was delivered to our house yesterday, thanks to my little brother!

Can you guess what it is?

I'm so excited to put it together and have it waiting for her under the tree on Christmas morning!

P.S. I really like Christmas, so the longer the season, the better, I say! D used to get mad because when asked what my favorite holiday was I'd always answer "Thanksgiving. Because it starts the Christmas season." :P

P.S. Again- I may or may not have attempted to start decorating our house for Christmas this week, only to discover that my hubby is one-step ahead of me and hid all our decorations in the attic. He ruins everything. ;)

Getting Back Into Our Routine....

Since we've been in Hometown, USA essentially homeless for the past week or so things have been really out of whack.

We're from a part of the country that has cold winters, so we had to bring our warm cloths. Next week though, we'll be in Florida, and while its not "hot" down there this time of year, it definitely necessitates a different kind of clothing than we wear up here in the winter! So we have our warmer weather clothes with us also. Add to that all the baby gear that a 9-month old requires and well, we could really use a Uhaul!

You can imagine how hard it is to move from one place to another each day. We have to lug all AJ's stuff around each time we go from my parent's to D's parent's house (about 20 minutes). After doing that for Thanksgiving, we decided that since we're spending the week in Florida with my family after Christmas, we would just spend the whole week here in Hometown, USA with D's family.

We did a few days at my parent's when we first got into town, but since Monday we've been at D's Dad's house. Its been really nice to relax for a while, but now that we've been here a few days it finally feels like we are settling back into our routine.

For example, I made a few goodies for all the festivities that we have planned for tomorrow. We're switching it up this year and doing fondue for dinner, so I made some treats to dip into the chocolate fondue. I made brownies (from a box) and peanut butter rice crispy treats. We're also doing marshmallows, bananas, apples and pineapple in the chocolate. I think we're planning to do assorted veggies and bread in the cheese.

It felt good to be back in the kitchen, making food for people again. Since we've been home, everyone else has been cooking tons of food for us and I miss being in the kitchen!

Now I've got the brownies in the oven, D is wandering around the house with AJ enjoying the time with family and I am sitting down to blog. My FIL is wrapping gifts in the most beautiful way that only he can, I'm drinking an ice-cold Dr. Pepper and life is good. :)

Enjoy your holidays, folks! I know I am!

So I've Been MIA...

I know I said that I was going to try and post more now that the move is on hold (underway?). We really have just been hanging around, lounging, playing, eating and enjoying spending lots of time with all of the extended family. We're getting all geared up to celebrate Christmas with D's family on Christmas Eve and we'll then pack up the car and drive to FL where we'll spend the next two weeks enjoying the warm weather and celebrating with my family for a while.

My brother, his girlfriend and sister and her boyfriend, along with my parents will all be in Florida with us for the first week, then we're on our own for a week until we drive to our new duty station and close on the house! Yay!

To say that we're excited to get to our new place and finally get to settle in somewhere that is 100% ours would be an understatement. We're so excited, but its also daunting because we've already spent so much money and we don't even live there yet! lol

In other news, AJ was baptized last weekend. We waited a really long time to do it (she is 9.5 months old), but we wanted to do it at home with the priest we know (he married us!). I'm really glad that we did wait! We were able to have all our families there to help celebrate with us! Pictures from the big day will come later (after I find my camera cable in the mountain of things that is our stuff).

I haven't really taken very many pictures so far this trip, but I'm going to try to get better! We're going shopping this afternoon with D's dad and then we'll be back to just hanging out again!

Anyway, I just wanted to check in with everyone and let y'all know that we're still around, just not too much is actually happening lately! I probably won't be online much until after New Years, so if I go MIA again, don't be surprised!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Holidays, everyone!

Did You Hear?

I'm sure a lot of you have already heard about this, but Shutterfly.com is giving bloggers 50 free holiday photos cards this holiday season! I don't know if you've ever looked at their stock, but they have some of the cutest, as well as some of the classiest photo cards I've seen.

We have ordered photo cards the past few years and I just have to say, if you've never designed (and I use the term design very loosely) your own cards, then you're missing out. Shutterfly makes it so easy to get your very own personalized cards! All you have to do is upload the photo (or photos) you want to use and then drag and drop the picture in the correct location on the card. The best part is that the cards all have a little saying, but then you're able to add in any text you want in the greeting section of the card.

D's first choice.

Another one we like.

We have a bunch of awesome pictures that we took this year, so choosing one (or a few favorites, depending on the card you choose) was hard for me. Luckily, you can try out a bunch of different cards and photos to see which combination is your favorite before you decide on one.

Have I mentioned how easy this is and how nice they always turn out? I am so excited, especially since I'll be able to show off a super cute picture of AJ for all our friends and family this holiday season! Don't forget, they also have calendars and photo mugs that you can create as well. I know that we're planning to make an "AJ Calendar."

To browse all their Christmas photo cards, just head on over there.

Calling All Photographers!!

My Father-In-Law is getting us a camera for Christmas and I need help! I have no idea what the best Digital SLR cameras are or even what features I should look for.

I'm hoping that some of you may be able to help me figure out what types of things you have found necessary and what features we should not worry about. We also aren't set on any particular brand or model, so if you've had good or bad experiences with any of them, or maybe are loyal to a certain brand for some reason, I'd love if you would share!

Keep in mind that I'm totally a photography novice and this will be basically the camera that I "learn" with, so I don't really want anything super crazy nice, expensive, or hard to use.

I also am not sure if most DSLR's come with a lens or not. Can someone shed some light on this for me or perhaps explain? From what I've seen several of the lower-priced cameras include a lens, but some don't so I'm not sure. Oh, also, have I mentioned that I don't know what I'm doing?

I looked online at consumer reviews last night and it looks like there are 3 or 4 models that are consistently recommended, but I thought I'd ask all my lovely readers what their opinions are, since I know some of you are crazy good photographers!

Anyways, thanks in advance for your help! Oh, and if you know any super-awesome photographers who don't read my blog that would be able to help, send them my direction! I can use all the advice I can get.

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In...

Here we go again!

Link up at Wife of a Sailor.

1. Are you a night owl or an early bird?
I'm totally a night owl, I have trouble falling asleep most nights, so I stay up! The funny thing is though, as soon as I get up in the morning, I'm up. As soon as I am actually "awake" I start talking and it annoys D so much!

2. What makes you jealous?
Hmmm, the only time I've really been jealous during our relationship was when D was deployed and his ex-girlfriend emailed him a few times. I found out because he had me check his AKO periodically and I saw some back and forth between them. I was jealous because we were in a situation where he barely had time to talk to me and he was using part of his time to talk to her. As soon as I told him how I felt he stopped talking to her.

3. Have you started Christmas/holiday shopping yet? When will you finish? (There's only 63 days left!)
Usually I would have already started, but since we have no stores here the movers are packing and shipping our stuff at the beginning of December I'm planning to wait until we get back to Hometown, USA before I start. I'm typically on top of this sort of thing, though.

4. What would you have a personal chef make you tonight?
Crab cakes, lobster bisque, Filet Minon, horseradish mashed potatoes, asparagus, shrimp arrabiata, chocolate cake and a white chocolate macadamia nut pizookie (warm) with vanilla ice cream on top.

5. Where was your first kiss?
It was in Virginia Hansen's backyard in Hometown, USA when I was 14.

A Few Randoms....

I don't have anything to write a whole post about, so you're going to get a little random list of things that are on my mind. Enjoy!

• Each time I think that AJ has settled into a sleep routine she mixes things up and wakes up a whole bunch during the night. I don't get it! I haven't done anything differently in her bedtime routine, so what gives baby?
• I have a few trips planned in the next month and I feel like they've been on the books forever, but they're finally in sight! The first is to my college town to reunite with my six (6!) roommates from college and the second is to San Antonio for the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon. I'm super excited about both!
• I'm super scatterbrained and just realized that we never got our security deposit back from our townhouse in Washington. I emailed our landlord yesterday and they didn't have our forwarding address, so the check got mailed out yesterday! (Um, hello Beth, that's quite a bit of money that you forgot about....Mommy brain, anyone?)
• The dog is currently laying on the ottoman and just started sliding off...Hilarious.
• Christmas is just around the corner, which means that Thanksgiving is even closer. Both of these facts mean that we're super close to rejoining civilization, moving, and spending time in Florida! Can't wait!
• We're officially cloth diapering full time and its going pretty well. We've had a few leaky diapers (mostly in the morning when she sleeps the whole night) and I'm still getting used to using the diaper sprayer without drenching my whole bathroom, but we're getting there. I'm happy with the way things have been going so far. Its almost at the point when it doesn't feel any different from using disposables now.
  
• Running has been going well this week. One of my IRL friends (oh how well she knows me) suggested on here that I just let it go, not feel guilty about it and start fresh this week. Well, I've run 9+ miles already this week, today is my rest day and I have cross training tomorrow and a long run Saturday. Excited to bust my butt the next month and be ready for the race!

Anyways, that is where I'm at right now. Hopefully you enjoyed this little random glimpse into what my life is looking like right now. AJ just woke up from her nap, so I'm off to get her!

Feeling Motivated, Christmas Does That To Me

Have I ever mentioned my total and absolute obsession with all things Christmas? Well, I am completely and totally obsessed with Christmas and I'm one of those people who likes to surround themselves in a Winter Wonderland during the holidays.

The past few years I've listed Christmas Decorations as the first thing on my Christmas list. We've accrued some pretty nice stuff, but its all (for the most part) store bought. I have recently decided that I would like to start making a decoration (or several decorations) for our home each year. I think it will have more sentimental value than store bought decor and will possibly end up being cheaper than buying the decorations.

A few things that I'm thinking about are making a table runner, a tree skirt, cross-stitching winter or Christmas themed images, cross-stitching stockings and possibly some sort of quilting project.

Obviously I won't be doing all of these things at once, nor will all of these projects be attempted this year.

We are currently stationed in a location that is mainly for training and we will be PCSing shortly before Christmas this year, so we won't be decorating our house. That means that I'll have a year to finish any of the projects that I start this fall/winter.

So my questions for you are, do you have any favorite sites for finding patterns or crafting ideas? How about projects that you've completed that you're happy with the results? I'm really open to any ideas!

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to drop in and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday! We are enjoying our time back with our families in Chicago and had a wonderfull Christmas Eve, as well as a fun Christmas day so far!

We all got many awesome gifts and are enjoying playing with all of our new stuff this afternoon! We are gearing up for a big Christmas dinner and possibly a movie in the theatre later on tonight. I feel like we have been eating non-stop since we got into town, but I can't complain, the food has all been delicious.