Xmas in SC v.2

Happy Birthday Dad! Wish we could be there today, but alas tomorrow will have to do. We can't wait to see everyone...and all the snow! We'll be anxiously tracking the flight status today to be sure that the mess up north hasn't created any significant delays for tomorrow's travel. Hopefully our direct flight, will make things that much easier.

We have continued to receive more holiday packages. Here we are opening some from Mom/Dad Redmond that have been under a tree for a few weeks. Thanks for the books and Gone With the Wind ornament...I added it to the tree.

I didn't take any pictures of all of Aaron's presents from his kids...but as usually there were a lot. Several gift cards, baby items, and cookies, snacks, and of course the holiday mugs. It amazes me that people always do so much for their kid's teachers - especially given the current economy.

I also received an anonymous gift - Franklin Covey calendar inserts...I suspect maybe from the Mason/Collins gift exchange. So whoever gave me those, thanks! They will work in a binder that my sister Leigh gave me for graduation. I am quite excited about getting to use them in the new year, especially because I will need to be super organized in the year to come - more on that later...

Speaking of work...this week the Commish announced that all employees would have to take a 5 day furlough to absorb additional budget cuts...ouch! While he was sure to communicate that this shouldn't be the end...at least I have a job (and a spouse with a job) which will make absorbing the cut possible. And, since we have till May to use the 5 days, this should actually help me avoid having to use all of my sick/annual days for the maternity leave.

We also received our first baby shower present last week. The Redmonds/Losinski's have planned a baby shower on Sunday afternoon. However, since we are flying to/from MI this year, my Gma's sister, Mary Jean and family opted to mail the package to us in SC (thanks!). Here are some pictures of what was included...several outfits in different size ranges which is awesome, home-made blankets and booties. The booties were so cute and I can hardly believe that soon Beck will be here to fill those cute little shoes. Thank you...I love it all!

Well today we'll be cleaning, packing, and anxiously waiting for the clock to tick by so that we can fly home to MI tomorrow. To everyone reading, Happy Holidays! We are so blessed and excited just to have the opportunity to be spending the holidays with family and friends. We hope that this finds you equally blessed and happy. Cheers.

Xmas in SC

I know, I know...as my dad pointed out it's been awhile since my last post. So here goes...

Not a whole lot new to report. Saturday morning I baked a lot...church windows, Carmel corn, chili in the crock pot, and sugar cookies dough. On Sunday several gals from work came over to make cookies to exchange for gift giving. This is a tradition we have all been at for about 4 years now. It is fun to hang out with the girls, drink (well, for them), listen to Christmas music, whine about men, decorate/make cookies, snack on meatballs and spinach artichoke dip and just enjoy the day. I didn't take any pictures of us actually decorating or making cookies, but here is a pic of the results.

Then it was back to the grind on Monday - no day off as usually as I have to make up all those holiday hours I will take next week. Lots of unrest here at work lately...as budget cuts, politics, and bad press fill us all with a certain sense of doom. Oh well, it is a pay check and despite the usually slack during the holidays I am busier than normal dealing with hot political issues.

Here are some pics of the house all decorated for Christmas...although it is hard to get in the holiday mood when the weather here has been in the 70's! I guess I shouldn't complain as most folks I know from the North are sick of the snow and ice already.

For several years now, my mom/dad have been giving me Gone With the Wind ornaments. This year we purchased a smaller fake tree to display them on. We still put up the old tinsel tree too with all the other ornaments and color wheel.
We've received a few presents in the mail since we will be flying to/from Michigan this year. Here are some new shoes that Aaron's mom/dad sent for him. Thank you!That's it for now. Can't wait to go home for the holidays to see family and friends...only 6 more days till we fly to MI!