Five days left until Christmas! Are you ready?
This year it seems the holidays crept up on us faster than past years. Thanksgiving happend and then I blinked an eye and it was the week of Christmas! Last night, I finished addressing all of our Christmas cards for family and friends. I dropped them off in the mail this morning just in the nick of time! I still have two gifts to buy (eek!), work cards to sign, all of our wrapping to complete and trinkets to make. This year, I am making salt dough ornaments for family, friends and my co-workers. I got the idea from Make it give it. She makes it look so easy! Here's hoping tonight's efforts look just as nice as hers!
I am really looking forward to this weekend. I cannot wait to spend time with family and soak in the goodness. Next week it's on to packing and excitment for the big move.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
The Rundown
I love this time of year. It doesn't get any better than semester breaks, family, friends and anticipation. This year, we not only have anticipation for the joy that is Christmas, but our home as well.
This week started out on a slightly rocky note. Not big huge rocks, but pebbles. I woke up at 3 am on Monday morning sick.as.a.dog. I was totally miserable with a stomach virus turned upper respiratory infection. I stayed home from work snuggled in our bed with my pup. To top it off, when I decided to log into my work email to just give it a peek, my laptop started acting funny. By the end of the evening when Husby got home form school, it was clear my hard drive was crashing. Luckily, I am married to Mr. IT and he was able to save years worth of pictures, music and grad school for me. Major shout out to my Husby! I've been wanting to do a Thanksgiving post for a few weeks now and when I finally got the pictures off my camera, the computer spazed out. Hopefully Husby will be able to fix the hard drive this week and I'll be back up and running with a holiday post including pictures.
I felt well enough to head to work on Tuesday, still sick enough to head right to bed when I got home, but well enough to make my way into the office. I have to admit, I really am enjoying the "it looks like Christmas threw up in our office" feel of our work holiday decorations this year. Husby was a busy little bee this week, studying his butt off and acing finals. Luckily, I finished last week. I should thank my lucky stars that my little bug held off until school was complete.
By week's end we were well on our way to awesomeness. Thursday night I had an after work holiday dinner that was really nice. I really like my partner in HR crime and it was so nice to spend the evening eating yummy food and talking about things that are not HR related. :) Friday night was girls night out in D.C.. Gina, Ariel, Brittany and I have been friends since college and try to get together as much as possible. We are slightly spread out from Virgina to New York but we make it work! We toyed with the thought of inviting the husbands, but it was so nice to hit up the town girlfriend style. As of September, we are all married and this was the first GNO since! It was awesome, lots of laughs and LOTS of shaking our tail feathers.
My husby was slightly slacking in the Christmas shopping department and used the evening to head to the mall to buy some gifts. He then came home and relaxed with the dog, man style. He was finally able to enjoy the "no more studying for a month" feeling.
I came home early Saturday morning and we drove up to my hometown to hang out with our good friends Chip and Kristin. We went to Winterthur, an old DuPont mansion, for their Yuletide tour. It was really nice! Such a great way to up the holiday spirit. The mansion was decorated so beautifully for the holidays and you get a nice dose of history as well. Husby was really interested in all the "period" pieces and history involved in the tour- which is giving me a few future gift ideas! We always love seeing Chip and Kristin and it is always a good time.
After the tour, we headed to my parents house for the evening. My little brother was heading home from college and we were in the area so we made a visit out of it! Mom, Dad, hubs and I went out to grab a bite at a local brick oven pizza joint then headed home to watch old home movies. For the past five years we've been telling hubs about these movies so we broke em out. Every year, even to this day, my Dad has video tapped Christmas morning. It was nice to show hubs what I was like "growing up". We had plenty of laughs and plenty of wine. It was a really great evening spent reminising and laughing at our "familyisms".
Today we had Christmas with hub's family. We went to my Mother in laws for a nice supper and family time. It is always nice spending time with family and friends. This was a really great week to get us raring for the upcoming week of Christmas!
In other news- we received word that our home is done! We are still keeping our January 11th settlement date but it's so exciting to know that it is all done. The project manager gave me a call Friday to let me know that the sod and shrubbery were completed that day and the house is ready to go and looking great! We have so many plans for our adorable little house and we cannot wait to get in there! We already have a few get-togethers and events planned that we cannot wait to do!
Until next time!
Cheers!
Caitlin
This week started out on a slightly rocky note. Not big huge rocks, but pebbles. I woke up at 3 am on Monday morning sick.as.a.dog. I was totally miserable with a stomach virus turned upper respiratory infection. I stayed home from work snuggled in our bed with my pup. To top it off, when I decided to log into my work email to just give it a peek, my laptop started acting funny. By the end of the evening when Husby got home form school, it was clear my hard drive was crashing. Luckily, I am married to Mr. IT and he was able to save years worth of pictures, music and grad school for me. Major shout out to my Husby! I've been wanting to do a Thanksgiving post for a few weeks now and when I finally got the pictures off my camera, the computer spazed out. Hopefully Husby will be able to fix the hard drive this week and I'll be back up and running with a holiday post including pictures.
I felt well enough to head to work on Tuesday, still sick enough to head right to bed when I got home, but well enough to make my way into the office. I have to admit, I really am enjoying the "it looks like Christmas threw up in our office" feel of our work holiday decorations this year. Husby was a busy little bee this week, studying his butt off and acing finals. Luckily, I finished last week. I should thank my lucky stars that my little bug held off until school was complete.
By week's end we were well on our way to awesomeness. Thursday night I had an after work holiday dinner that was really nice. I really like my partner in HR crime and it was so nice to spend the evening eating yummy food and talking about things that are not HR related. :) Friday night was girls night out in D.C.. Gina, Ariel, Brittany and I have been friends since college and try to get together as much as possible. We are slightly spread out from Virgina to New York but we make it work! We toyed with the thought of inviting the husbands, but it was so nice to hit up the town girlfriend style. As of September, we are all married and this was the first GNO since! It was awesome, lots of laughs and LOTS of shaking our tail feathers.
My husby was slightly slacking in the Christmas shopping department and used the evening to head to the mall to buy some gifts. He then came home and relaxed with the dog, man style. He was finally able to enjoy the "no more studying for a month" feeling.
I came home early Saturday morning and we drove up to my hometown to hang out with our good friends Chip and Kristin. We went to Winterthur, an old DuPont mansion, for their Yuletide tour. It was really nice! Such a great way to up the holiday spirit. The mansion was decorated so beautifully for the holidays and you get a nice dose of history as well. Husby was really interested in all the "period" pieces and history involved in the tour- which is giving me a few future gift ideas! We always love seeing Chip and Kristin and it is always a good time.
After the tour, we headed to my parents house for the evening. My little brother was heading home from college and we were in the area so we made a visit out of it! Mom, Dad, hubs and I went out to grab a bite at a local brick oven pizza joint then headed home to watch old home movies. For the past five years we've been telling hubs about these movies so we broke em out. Every year, even to this day, my Dad has video tapped Christmas morning. It was nice to show hubs what I was like "growing up". We had plenty of laughs and plenty of wine. It was a really great evening spent reminising and laughing at our "familyisms".
Today we had Christmas with hub's family. We went to my Mother in laws for a nice supper and family time. It is always nice spending time with family and friends. This was a really great week to get us raring for the upcoming week of Christmas!
In other news- we received word that our home is done! We are still keeping our January 11th settlement date but it's so exciting to know that it is all done. The project manager gave me a call Friday to let me know that the sod and shrubbery were completed that day and the house is ready to go and looking great! We have so many plans for our adorable little house and we cannot wait to get in there! We already have a few get-togethers and events planned that we cannot wait to do!
Until next time!
Cheers!
Caitlin
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Getting to know you... holiday style
I've seen holiday questionnaires on a couple blogs recently and thought it would be fun to participate. Please feel free to join in!1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
I LOVE hot chocolate. I like the taste of egg nog, not the thought of drinking raw eggs. :-/
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
I love white lights. I have seen a few trees covered in white lights with a few bulbs changed to color for “flare” and I love that too.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
I haven’t participated in the mistletoe tradition, but next year in our new home, I’ll hang one. Who doesn’t like a few extra kisses!?
5. When do you put your decorations up?
I like to start thanksgiving weekend. That's when the holiday season kicks off!2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
He’s always wrapped them in my house!
I LOVE hot chocolate. I like the taste of egg nog, not the thought of drinking raw eggs. :-/
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
I love white lights. I have seen a few trees covered in white lights with a few bulbs changed to color for “flare” and I love that too.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
I haven’t participated in the mistletoe tradition, but next year in our new home, I’ll hang one. Who doesn’t like a few extra kisses!?
5. When do you put your decorations up?
I like to start thanksgiving weekend. That's when the holiday season kicks off!2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
He’s always wrapped them in my house!
6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
Parmesan potato casserole made by my mama. YUM!
7. Favorite Christmas memory as a child?
I have a few! I was about seven and it was my baby brothers second Christmas (about a year and a half old). He was just learning to talk/walk/be exciting and I was SO into Santa. I remember helping him open up all of his toys because he was just so excited to play with the one he opened. I kept trying to get him to say “Santa” and all he wanted to say was “key-ka” (kitty cat) and “raorrrrr” (like a dinosaur). I also got a few personalized gifts that my parents told me the elves personally sewed and I thought that was AMAZING. This memory just reminds me how truly spectacular my family is.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I still hear the bells and believe.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
We open our family Pollyanna gifts with my Mom’s side on Christmas Eve and exchange with my “Mom-mom white hair” (yes, I call her that).
Parmesan potato casserole made by my mama. YUM!
7. Favorite Christmas memory as a child?
I have a few! I was about seven and it was my baby brothers second Christmas (about a year and a half old). He was just learning to talk/walk/be exciting and I was SO into Santa. I remember helping him open up all of his toys because he was just so excited to play with the one he opened. I kept trying to get him to say “Santa” and all he wanted to say was “key-ka” (kitty cat) and “raorrrrr” (like a dinosaur). I also got a few personalized gifts that my parents told me the elves personally sewed and I thought that was AMAZING. This memory just reminds me how truly spectacular my family is.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I still hear the bells and believe.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
We open our family Pollyanna gifts with my Mom’s side on Christmas Eve and exchange with my “Mom-mom white hair” (yes, I call her that).
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
We start with the lights, and then add all of the “Frosty Friends”, which my parents have been collecting since 1978. Then we “fill in the holes” with the rest of our ornaments and finish with the red string of beads. It’s full of family memories and personal ornaments and I LOVE it. My mom passed on a bunch of family ornaments to Husby and I last year so we hope to carry on this tradition.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Love it when it first falls. It’s so peaceful and pretty. I do mind if I have to drive in it or if it ruins any plans to get together with family and friends.
12. Can you ice skate?
HA! I wish!I am SO clumsy. Short answer, yes, I can stand on the ice and move at a very slow pace and occasionally fall.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
I’ve had a few. I would say the best “Christmas Gift” was when my hubs asked me to be his wife the week before Christmas in 2009 (9/17/2009). While it was not truly a Christmas gift, he proposed right before the holidays so we could celebrate with our family and friends.
We start with the lights, and then add all of the “Frosty Friends”, which my parents have been collecting since 1978. Then we “fill in the holes” with the rest of our ornaments and finish with the red string of beads. It’s full of family memories and personal ornaments and I LOVE it. My mom passed on a bunch of family ornaments to Husby and I last year so we hope to carry on this tradition.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Love it when it first falls. It’s so peaceful and pretty. I do mind if I have to drive in it or if it ruins any plans to get together with family and friends.
12. Can you ice skate?
HA! I wish!I am SO clumsy. Short answer, yes, I can stand on the ice and move at a very slow pace and occasionally fall.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
I’ve had a few. I would say the best “Christmas Gift” was when my hubs asked me to be his wife the week before Christmas in 2009 (9/17/2009). While it was not truly a Christmas gift, he proposed right before the holidays so we could celebrate with our family and friends.
As far as childhood gifts, I’ve had a few. I used to look forward to the china dolls my “Mom-mom red hair” (yes, I called her that too) would get me every year. I also LOVED my “kitchen” and tea set that Santa brought me and the fluffy white toy dog that walked on a leash and barked.
The best and most sentimental, true Christmas gift that I’ve received were two charm bracelets that my parents had made for me in 2010. My “Mom-mom red hair” collected sterling silver charms for many occasions and from many places that she traveled. When she passed away, she left them to me. They were just sitting in a box at my parent’s house. Every once in a while I would take them out and look at them and awe at how pretty they were. It was nice to be reminded of how special she was to me. When my parents had them put on charm bracelets, it was so thoughtful and so special. Now whenever I wear them, I think of my Mom-mom and my parents.
14. What’s the most important thing about Christmas for you?
The most important aspect of Christmas for me is spending time with my family and friends.
The most important aspect of Christmas for me is spending time with my family and friends.
15. What is your favorite Christmas Dessert?
There is no question about this one…fudge! I love the stuff. I also love a true Christmas sugar cookie, beautifully decorated.
There is no question about this one…fudge! I love the stuff. I also love a true Christmas sugar cookie, beautifully decorated.
16. What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
Watching “White Christmas” with my family. We know almost every word and sing along to all the songs. It’s a great way to “kick-off” our holiday.
17. What tops your tree?
An angel
Watching “White Christmas” with my family. We know almost every word and sing along to all the songs. It’s a great way to “kick-off” our holiday.
17. What tops your tree?
An angel
18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving?
Giving. I love the feeling of picking out a great gift that someone will love, even if it’s something simple.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
Silent Night. This song brings back so many wonderful memories of the candle light Christmas eve service at my “Mom-mom red hair’s” church.
Giving. I love the feeling of picking out a great gift that someone will love, even if it’s something simple.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
Silent Night. This song brings back so many wonderful memories of the candle light Christmas eve service at my “Mom-mom red hair’s” church.
I also get a big kick out of Dominick the Donkey.
20. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum?
Eh… I could take ‘em or leave ‘em.
20. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum?
Eh… I could take ‘em or leave ‘em.
21. Favorite Christmas Show?
Charlie Brown Christmas.
Charlie Brown Christmas.
22. Saddest Christmas Song?
I don't like sad songs. The soldier Christmas song is very sad. It makes me wish that all our troops could come home for the holidays.
23. What’s your Wish for Christmas?
I know it sound cheesy, but I really do hope that all of our friends and family have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I don't like sad songs. The soldier Christmas song is very sad. It makes me wish that all our troops could come home for the holidays.
23. What’s your Wish for Christmas?
I know it sound cheesy, but I really do hope that all of our friends and family have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Friday, December 9, 2011
A life and list update
First things first, our house is almost ready!!!!! We are expected to go to settlement on the 11th of January. We are SO excited. We got to go to our “pre dry wall” meeting a few weeks back and it seems like it’s progressing at lightning speed ever since. Below are a few pictures.
This is hubs in our "master bedroom" during the pre-drywall meeting.
This is me standing in our kitchen, where the sink will be. 
Since our house is SO close to my job, I like to "pop in" on my lunch breaks to see how it's coming along. I'm already so in love with our little nest. Last week when I drove by, all of the siding was on! I was also able to walk through to see the drywall in place. I took a few pictures on the blackberry.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving visiting with family and friends. I will do a separate post on that this weekend.
Yesterday was a great day. I had my year end performance review at work and it went very well. I really enjoy what I do and love the people I work with. It was very nice to hear that my bosses feel I am doing a great job and they love having me as a part of the team. I am excited to see what 2012 has in store for me career wise. Additionally, last night was my last graduate school class of the semester. It felt GREAT to turn in my final paper. It will be nice to have over a month to think about things other than school! Hubs has to study this weekend, he finishes up with finals next week. Since he has to study, I have an excuse to go shopping! (You know, to give him peace and quiet ;) )
In other news, I’ve made some progress on my 101 list. Below are my “updates”.
Settled
6. Buy a home with my husband- on 1/11/12 at 11 am, we will be home owners!
Daring and Adventurous
17. Try five new foods (2/5)- oysters- tried them grilled at Husby’s Aunt and Uncles house, not a fan and calamari- tried while out to eat and LOVE!
17. Try five new foods (2/5)- oysters- tried them grilled at Husby’s Aunt and Uncles house, not a fan and calamari- tried while out to eat and LOVE!
Joyful
28. Have five Mommy-daughter days with my mom doing something new (1/5)- had a wonderful Christmas cookie baking day with my mom, BFF and her Mom last Saturday. SUCH a blast.
28. Have five Mommy-daughter days with my mom doing something new (1/5)- had a wonderful Christmas cookie baking day with my mom, BFF and her Mom last Saturday. SUCH a blast.
Financializing
34. Save $100 every month (3/36)
Growing:: literally and figuratively
45. Go one entire day without complaining, once a month (2/30)
Playing
67. Have at least one friend get together every other month (2/14)- we got together Thanksgiving weekend with our dear friends Chip and Kristin. They made us an awesome dinner and we caught up on everyone’s happenings. The same weekend we also got together with our friends Ariel and Ben for dinner and drinks at an awesome Italian place in my hometown. Such good food and good company! We will count these get-togethers as one since they were on the same weekend. This weekend we are having dinner at our friend’s Gina and John’s place for dinner, drinks and fun. J I love getting together with everyone.
Beautifying
73. Grow out hair to mid back length and enjoy it- I would say it’s there! I just got bangs this past week to “spice things up” and I LOVE them.
Baking/Cooking
98. Make Christmas cookies every year (1/3)- see above!
Cleaning
101. Organize/re-file all of the “important papers” in our office/guest room and keep them organized for six months (0/1 then 0/6)- tackling this project this weekend!!!!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Cheers!
Caitlin
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Our Wedding Ceremony
As Scottish tradition calls for, we had a bagpiper at our wedding. The piper marches the father and the bride down the isle to meet the groom then at the end of the ceremony, he marches from the back of the church to meet the bride and groom and marches them out. Below is a shot of the piper with Dad and I as soon as the church doors opened followed by a shot from the back of the church of the piper marching down the isle to meet my husby and I. I love these photos.
Following our vowels, we had a scripture reading, a lighting of our unity candle, a wedding prayer and a congregational vowel.
Holy cow, we are married!
When I first arrived at church, my girls all got out of the limo and our driver told me to wait until all our guests were inside before I got out of the car. I sat in the limo and had a very large overwhelming feeling of love wash over me. I started crying (a good cry!) feeling so very loved by my husband, my family and my friends. I felt truly blessed. I rolled the window down just a tad- enough to call my Dad over, who was standing right by the church doors. When he came over I was so overwhelmed I couldn't get out the words I wanted to say, I love you so much. I only looked at him and tilted my head sideways. He reached in and said "time to go get married". The picture above is of me, Dad and my super amazing limo driver. The limo driver walked me all the way into the church library, holding my train the entire time. Such a sweet guy.
Our wedding ceremony took place at the church in which I grew up. It couldn't have been any more perfect.
We are so very blessed to have such wonderful family and friends, who all contributed to making our wedding so perfect. However, I do have to say that our ceremony was made by my pastor. He added in such wonderful surprise touches that John and I loved, such as reminding us to stop for one minute and look at each other. He said "this really is your wedding day". Amazing. All in all, this post is best told in pictures, with a few memories inserted. In case you missed it, you can read more about the start to our wedding day here.
As my wedding party gathered in the hallway before heading down the isle. I had a moment to reflect on what was about to happen in private. I kept thingking "this is really happening... my Daddy and I are going to walk down the isle in a few moments and I will become a Mrs. to the best man in the world". ::tears were flowing in a good way::
Dad and I waiting in the hallway. He was so comforting and so calm. This was exactly how I pictured my wedding day would be.
Meanwhile... Hubs and my pastor, Brad, were getting into position for the ceremony and our mom's were lighting our unity candles. Hubs looks pretty calm!
We decided to have Dad and I stop at the top of the isle to lift my vail, this way John and I could see each others faces while I walked down the isle. I also wanted Mom to be able see my face too. Below is a picture of that moment.
We met my mom at the end of the isle and my parents gave me away together. I wanted to ensure both my parents gave me away as they are equally my parents and I equally wanted them to share in the significance of giving me away to my husband. Trust me, I still need them just as much as before June 11th. :)
Our ceremony started with words of welcome, statement of the gift of marriage and a prayer. Our pastor did a wonderful job of explaining what the day truly means. Next we declaired our intent to marry!!! Following our intent, we had a reading by my dear friend, Chip, followed by a prayer and another reading by my cousin, Billy. Below is a picture of Chip reading to John and I.
The reading we chose for Chip was "Union" by Robert Fulghum. It reads:
I LOVE that reading so much. I might have it framed.
The reading we chose for Billy was “Love” by Roy Croft . It reads:
I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.
I love you, not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me.
I love you for the part of me that you bring out.
I love you for putting your hand into my heaped-up heart and passing over all the foolish, weak things that you can’t help dimly seeing there, and for drawing out into the light all the beautiful belongings that no one else had looked quite far enough to find.
I love you because you are helping me to make of the lumber of my life not a tavern but a temple; out of the works of my every day not a reproach but a song.
Next, Husby and I said our vowels...
You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks - all those sentences that began with “When we’re married” and continued with “I will and you will and we will”- those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe”- and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding. The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “ You know all those things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed- well, I meant it all, every word.” Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another- acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few years. Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this- is my husband, this- is my wife.
The reading we chose for Billy was “Love” by Roy Croft . It reads:
I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.
I love you, not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me.
I love you for the part of me that you bring out.
I love you for putting your hand into my heaped-up heart and passing over all the foolish, weak things that you can’t help dimly seeing there, and for drawing out into the light all the beautiful belongings that no one else had looked quite far enough to find.
I love you because you are helping me to make of the lumber of my life not a tavern but a temple; out of the works of my every day not a reproach but a song.
I love you because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me good and more than any fate could have done to make me happy. You have done it without a touch, without a word, without a sign. You have done it by being yourself
Next, Husby and I said our vowels...
Our vowels were traditional and beautiful, they read:
I, "Husby", take you, Caitlin, to be my wife; and I promise, before God and these witnesses, to be your loving and faithful husband; in plenty and in want; in joy and in sorrow; in sickness and in health; as long as we both shall live.
I, Caitlin, take you, "Husby", to be my husband, and I promise, before God and these witnesses, to be your loving and faithful wife; in plenty and in want; in joy and in sorrow; in sickness and in health; as long as we both shall live.
Following our vowels, we had a scripture reading, a lighting of our unity candle, a wedding prayer and a congregational vowel.
And now....
YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE!!!
Holy cow, we are married!
Cheers!!
Caitlin
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