Bathing Suits, really?

A few days ago I was meandoring around Target and realized they've brought their bathing suits out. Are you kidding? IT'S JANUARY! I understand it gets warmer earlier in the year here than other places, but come on.

I look at myself in the mirror and can't even imagine wearing a bathing suit any time soon. Not only are my thighs and arms not lookng the way I want them, but, hello pasty skin. I honestly think I am whiter than I was in Ohio.

New Year's Festivities...

I noticed that I mentioned my New Year's Eve plans but never actually posted pictures.

Tess was scared of the fireworks.

TWINKIES!!

Lindsey and Tess

Group photo

Another (see that fire in the background...I built that! And yes I was a girlscout!)

Our Trip to Kiawah...

I realized in the midst of my belly aching and all around feelings of sorry for myself; I forgot to post our pictures from Kiawah. B and I decided a short but sweet get-away was well deserved for both of us. So we packed our bags and made a reservation at the Sanctuary. Let me tell you off season holidays are the way to go! We booked an ocean front room for December 22nd. I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful it was to prop our door open and listen to the waves crashing as we ate breakfast or relaxed in bed. Oh that was the life!

These are the views of/from our room:




View from the Atlantic Room (where we had dinner)


One of two grand staircases in The Sanctuary and pictures of their Christmas decor:

view from the lobby

Freshfields:


The Angel Oak: said to be more than 400 years old

...but isn't that the kissing disease?

Like one of my friends said it's like adding insult to injury. Not only is B deployed but now I find out I have MONO? Seriously?!

It all started on the 30th when I was feeling a little more tired than normal and I attributed it to the holiday/deployment let down and the fact that I had just completed a 10 hour work day (which my body wasn't used to anyway). Add to the fact that I couldn't get warm...that should have been my first tip-off. Then on the 31st, that's right New Year's eve my throat started to hurt at work and again I could get warm, went to Lindsey L.'s house for a New Year's celebration with Michelle M., Jen B., and Katherine S. I literally sat in front of the fireplace the whole night with a blanket. My body was screaming at me and I wasn't paying attention. When I finally got home I collapsed on my bed and passed out. The 1st was all awful and painful.

What finally got me to the doc today was the fact that my throat was on fire with little pins sticking in it (along with other nastiness, which I won't describe here). As soon as I got up I hauled myself to MedCare Express--God love them by the way! Extremely nice people and the office is very welcoming. The only annoying part about this morning was that because of my insurance, I need a referral to see any other doc (that will change soon). So I called the on-call doc on base (because apparently it's a federal holiday yesterday and today--who knew) and got a referral to see another doc. Well my throat was swabbed for strep, which came back negative. The nurse said that when strep tests come back negative they automatically test for mono so they took a blood test. A few minutes later the doctor came back into the room and said, "well your mono test came back positive...blah...blah...blah." I couldn't tell you the rest because I was shocked and awed by the fact I got MONO. I'm racking brain and even now I still can't figure out where I could have gotten it. Luckily, I spoke with B and he's not feeling the slightest bit sick or feverish, which is great because it could affect his job.

It never fails when B leaves something inevitably happens (usually it's with the house). Regardless, I'm going to take a nap.

Welcome to the Light, Sophia...

*To read about Sophia, please see our blog!

Turkey Day Troting and Eating...

Brandon and I began our Thanksgiving at 7:45 in the morning! Ugh, it was early! Eventually we made our way to downtown Charleston to participate in the 31st Annual 5K Turkey Day Run, lovingly called the Turkey Trot. (I have been training for the past several weeks to get in shape but also to run in the event.)

At 9 o'clock the gun was fired and Brandon, myself and our two friends Michelle and "Howdy" began the Turkey Trot! Brandon was a trouper and held back to my pace (13 minute miles) which we were able to keep for the majority of the race. We finished the 3.1 miles in 40 minutes, a best for me!! I improved my time by 6 minutes! And I decided not to feel guilty about eating a little extra stuffing and cobbler later that day!

Once home and cleaned up, we feasted on sticky buns while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Later on, I completed the Thanksgiving feast, which turned out rather well and really yummy, too. After dinner we trekked to some friend's home where we enjoyed the cobbler, some cake and pie, and the company (the Crawford's, Kerr's and Ben) while playing games.

Thanksgiving '08 was a fun time and Brandon and I decided to make a tradition of the Turkey Trot and of course the eating afterward!

Ringing in the Christmas Season...

After Brandon's 2 week trip I am so happy to have him back home; especially in time for Thanksgiving. Though it's not a favorite holiday it is a great "rite of passage" to one of my favorites! Christmas! And the fact that the weather is nice and cold really helps me get into the holiday spirit.

In our household we typically ring in the Christmas season following the Thanksgiving meal and football with a classic Christmas movie. No not, Holiday Inn, or White Christmas, not even Miracle on 34th Street, or It's a Wonderful Life. Nope at our house we watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation! Enjoy some of my favorite lines from the movie!

"That there, Clark is an RV."

"Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Kiss my ass. Kiss his ass. Kiss your ass. Happy Chanukah."

"Where do you plan on putting a tree that big, Griswold?"
"Bend over and I'll show you."
"You've got a lot of nerve talking to me like that!"
"I wasn't talking to you."

"We're gonna burn some dust! Eat my rubber!"

"Can't see the lines can you Russ?"

and of course, "I'd like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight. I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there on Melody Lane, with all the other rich people, and I want him brought right here with a big ribbon on his head. And, I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no good, rotten, floor-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed, sack of monkey sh** he is! Hallelujah! Holly sh**! Where's the Tylenol?"

Ah, gotta love it!