Christmas 2009

Getting caught up on my blogging a little bit now.

In early December, I hosted our annual Bark Party with my bestest girlfriends. I don't remember how many years in a row we've been doing it - but I'd say it's 5 or 6. I am so fortunate to have kept in touch with my friends even though we don't work together anymore. I wish I saw them all more often. It was a good night and even Blarney was well behaved (well...sorta). Unfortunately we found out that my downstairs stove has bit it. It's probably older than I am so it was past due. I wish I hadn't found out at the bark party though, because the reason I have it is because it goes twice as fast and we can make twice as much goodies with two stoves.

With Grandpa being in the hospital, and a bunch of other stuff going on, I didn't really decorate the house full-on like I usually do. Of course, this is the year that I had the most number of guests over too. I also had plans to shop around the after Christmas sales, but didn't really make it out. I do hope to go to Amish country this year and to the Tis The Season store. Their entire store is 50% off through the end of next month.

Here's a few Christmas pics.

My parent's beautiful tree. Pictures just don't do it justice - it has so many lights its hard to look right at - I LOVE it and want a new tree with more lights. We had so many presents too!!


After watching Peyton show Dylan how to open presents at his birthday party, Dylan really got into the present opening for Christmas. He loved each toy!


It was a jewelry lovers Christmas. Jeff always gets Laura a beautiful piece of jewelry for Christmas and anniversaries. I told Mark this year I wanted one carat diamond studs in each ear. He told me no because we are re-doing our kitchen this year. I didn't bat an eye because I knew we'd never spend that much money on one item anyway. So, he was working late one night and went to the jewelry store and bought me my studs and had them custom bezel set to match my engagement ring! They aren't one carat each, but they are plenty large. I love my hubby. My mom got one of those Dr. Quinn medicine woman open heart necklaces from Kay. Not the little one either, my dad went all out this year too, mom's blingin! Laura, of course, got her jewelry too - a lovely diamond necklace.

The 'rents

Blarney got his Bone Jovi dog collar and leash and a ton of presents too!

Me and D



I kinda look like I have a stick up my butt.

Dylan's cheesy grin!



Oh yeah, and my dad's present to himself...

Kitchen floor

I went and picked up our new kitchen flooring today after work. Red oak, it's pretty! Hopefully we'll order the cabinets within the next two weeks - then..........DEMO!!!!!! Oh boy, it's going to be a rough next few months.

Dylan's turns two!!

Dylan's birthday is on December 20th, but for the past two years, we've been having his party the first weekend of December. Mark and I hosted the party again and it was just wonderful. Here's a few pictures.

It was a Backyardigans theme. Everyone had blue teeth when they were done eating my cakes. The feet in the picture is a 3 foot Pablo balloon. It's still floating in my living room and D still likes to run around with it on Fridays when I'm babysitting. He calls him "Pabo"

Dylan attempting to wear the PJ's Marie got him. D also got his first rock tee shirt - a KISS shirt from Marie.


Aunt Lori, Uncle Tom, and cute little Maia


Peyton helped open presents because Dylan really wasn't that into it. Dylan got tons of great stuff, including a huge train table from my parents. I'd say his favorite present is a WowWee alive Seal pup he got from Grandma & Grandpa Nikiel. When you pet him, he makes sounds. His name is snowball and Dylan calls him Ball. Ball has to go on ALL car rides with him.


Mommy & Daddy
Dylan was happy to dive into the cake. I had to get the shark sweeper out there was so much cake on the floor though.


Hard to believe it was a month ago - even harder to believe the little guy is TWO!!

Love you Gramps!

Little Laura

Yep, that's me

I remember that birthday so well (1990 I think) - I asked mom
if we could put one candle on the cake for each year of Grandpa's
birth. She said yes. By the time we got them all lit, the frosting
was covered in a thick coating of wax.

Death notice

Catch up

I always start like this, but this time I'm REALLY behind. Let's see what I can remember. My new goal is to start back up again with the weekly updates.

I'm finally done with my Christmas shopping. I always start really early (sometimes 12.26) but always forget one or two people, or need to bulk up some people's gifts. I'm not too happy with Mark's gift this year, but I'll make it up to him throughout the year. This year, he bought a really expensive table saw too.

We're planning on re-doing our kitchen this year. We went to Home Depot with our kitchen layout and are getting quotes from them and a custom cabinet maker. I don't know if we can afford custom, but Home Depot doesn't have a lot of the stuff we really like. I've picked out a few odds and ends, but haven't bought anything yet. I'm kinda waiting to have everything picked out so I know it all matches and goes together before I buy it all.

I've started paying my bills online - which is great. I can't believe I've waited this long to start. I did get off to a rough start though, I forgot to write the items down in my paper checkbook register and didn't subtract any of the bills from my balance. I didn't bounce anything, but was a little too close for comfort. I won't make that mistake twice.

Dylan turned two on 12-20 and we had his party at my house the first week in December. I'm having trouble with my laptop card reader, so I can't post any pics. I will soon though. It was a great time!

Unfortunately Grandpa couldn't make it as he's been in the hospital since before Thanksgiving. Please pray for him, thanks.

I got the Christmas tree up, but I only decorated it with about 2/3rd of the ornaments and none of the extras (i.e. bows, ribbons, candy canes). Just no time and not in the mood.

Blarney has developed this skin irritations and we had to take him to the vet. Pretty much, they are infected follicles, but she thinks one may be a cyst (he's got 3 total). It's several hundred dollars and they'd have to put him under. My baby!

I guess that's all the big stuff. I can't believe another year has gone by......and so fast.............

Always loved / Still love MAKEUP!!

I loved my Holly Hobby vanity almost as much as I loved my Avon Lady mother's makeup collection!!!

What I'm thankful for this week (so far)

Mark made it safely to his 5 mile hike backpacking site and had one bar on his cell phone to call me and tell me he made it and they got their fire going. Can't wait til he gets home tonight.

Had popcorn for dinner last night since I was by myself

Our 3rd wedding anniversary








All the leaves changing color on the end of my street

Spent all morning coloring, playing play doh, and blowing bubbles with Dylan.

Sonic for lunch - Dylan loved it!

Dylan is now napping - and so is Blarney - he came along for the ride to Sonic

The craft / holiday bazaar season is upon us

I haven't showered yet today...and I don't care (neither does Dylan)

Found Blarney's Halloween bandanna which I thought I lost

Getting ready to carve my pumpkin. I loved last year's ghost I did



Can hear Normandy High School's band practicing from the yard

Almost done with Season 9 of the old 90210 - I love you SoapNet

Having a Grey's marathon Thursday with Marie - we watched this whole season so far in one night..thank you DVR

Just the thought of putting up my Christmas tree and Precious Moments nativity set!! :)

Crystal telling me about Blarney coming to a local mall last Saturday. Dylan was pretty scared and climbed up on me.

Our trip to MI

Mark and I took a summer vacation to Michigan several weeks ago.

We went to Greenfield Village which was sooo awesome! Here's us on a Model T. I had gone there in the 8th grade, but honestly must not have paid too much attention to it. I wish we would have had more time to spend touring it - there was just so much to see. We spent so long there that we couldn't even get to the Henry Ford museum. We had bought a combo ticket, so we have to go back soon. The weather was great. We toured the house that Henry Ford built, and despite our tourguide being a db, that was pretty cool.



We also went to the MI Ren Fair. Remember this summer I posted how the GLMF jousters sucked - well they moved to the MI fair. It was okay, just not as good as we've seen in the past.



We also went to the huge outlet mall, Birch Run and Frankenmuth. I spent several hours in Bronners, buying tons of Christmas ornaments. I need to get a second tree, I have too many already. Oh, the problems I have. :)