Vacation --Stir crazy

Since I work for a university, I have the the week between christmas and new year's off every year.  Having the week vacation is great because it is typically much needed, however since I do not have much planned this vacation I am starting to get a little stir crazy.   If you haven't noticed, I am not a person who sits still well, between me and my husband we are always on the go.  

Monday was nice because my husband, SIL SB, and  I got to run some errands together and exchange/return somes gifts.  Tuesday was also nice because I met Heather and SB for a workout at the gym.  I did 8 miles on the bike and a little under a mile  on  the stair stepper thingy and abs workout (much needed).   Then I did some clean-up around my house and finally met my Dad and SIL for a run in the late afternoon.  Today, I had absolutely no plans and didn't know what I was going to do all day at home however my sister came to the rescue and asked if I wanted to go the Beagle club with her and hike around as her two beagles ran some rabbits.  It was a pretty cold and windy day but it felt nice to be outside in the fresh air.   After the beagles were done running rabbits, Heather and I met up with my Dad and SB for a late afternoon run.  The afternoon run felt really good, it was alittle chilly and wind but more fresh air  

The only plans, I have for tomorrow are to go to the gym at 8 am with SB other than that I am not sure what I will get into yet.  My little sister mentioned that I could always go up and visit her and my cutie pie niece, which does sounds pretty tempting.   My niece said on the phone earlier today, that she wanted to go shoppin'.   She is soo cute!!!    

QOTD:  What do you do to help with being stir crazy? 

Merry Christmas (belated)

Merry Christmas!!  Hard to believe that Christmas has already come and gone.  It is a busy time for Mister and I.  Christmas Eve Eve, we had the "Gang" annual Chrismukkah party so we drove to Bloom for that and stayed the night since we didn't go to bed till 4 in the morning.  Christmas eve with spend the evening with his family to celebrate christmas.  We did appetizers for dinner, exchanged gifts and went to Candlelight service, went to visit Mister's Aunt, and then we drove home. 

Christmas morning we woke up and went to church which was surprisingly empty.  Then we were off to my parents house for the annual Christmas breakfast tradition and my parents were hosting dinner.  My niece was adorable for christmas.  The first gift she opened was a wooden train the my pap made for her.  She LOVED this train, she didn't want to open any other gifts she wanted to play with her train. She kept call it is a Train Truck but she loved it. 

Christmas Cookie Tradition

After we did the train ride and the boys were done hunting, we got together for the annual cookie baking night.  Everyone brings the batter or ingredients for a cookie or a couple types of cookies.  Then we get started with getting them on cookie trays and start making and continue the assembly line of cookie making until we are out of cookie dough. 

Check out our big helper while making cookies:

Yes, I was taste tester and ate some cookie dough to make sure it was safe for everyone

She wanted a scrapper in every color to use

Only two of the 4 or 5 different kinds we had.

We had another successful cooking baking night and have gotten to enjoy them the past week.

Christmas through the eyes of a 2 yr old

Wow, time sure does fly!  Well things have been busy around there for November and so far into December.  Thanksgiving came and went to quickly and I didn't get a chance to reflect and write down how thankful I am for my amazing husband, family and friends.  God has truly blessed me and my family and friends.

Well it has been hunting season since the Monday after Thanksgiving.  It has been a long 12 yers for my husband however he finally shot his first doe and on the last day of the season he actually shot his second doe.  His hunting luck is finally changing.  My SIL, SB also has her luck change for her as well and she shot her first huge doe. Use this link to read more about her hunting story.  So we have been busy processing the deer to make into hamburger, steaks, jerky, bologna, and canned some too. 

To get into the christmas spirit we took my neice on the Polar Express train ride.  She loved it.  She loved looking out the window and she loved seeing Santa however her was a little diappointed when he didn't give her a Jingle when he came throught the train. 

Here are some pictures from our train ride.

Eating some popcorn while we are starting out and sitting on Auntie HeyHey's lap

Enjoying the train ride

Handing her ticket over to be punched

Fun on the train ride with Great Aunt Evie and Auntie HeyHey!

Overall, everyone had a great time on the train ride and will do it again next year.