January Randomness

It is cold. Very cold. And dreary. These are the days that make it seem as if winter will never end. Soup, coffee and hot tea have been my friend.

It's more fun to come home from vacation when you have kids. I missed them more than I would have thought. We had an excellent free day at home on Monday. We tye-dyed shirts, played Play-Doh and just hung out together.

I read three books on vacation. Now, my motivation to read is completely gone. Tom wants me to read "Great By Choice" and I'm having a hard time getting started. I also have a book club book in the line up that I need to get started. I've been spoiled by my fun vacation reading and anything more serious just seems... More serious. :)

Tom has major knee surgery - ACL reconstruction - on Friday. Neither of us are exactly sure what to expect. The whole process is reminding me of the last week of my pregnancies when I freak out that I can't plan for it. I'm afraid he's going to be in a lot of pain and I've never seen him like that. And, since its his right leg, there will be no driving for him for at least two weeks. That will be an interesting twist to our already busy schedule. Silver lining in the whole thing is that we will be forced to slow down a little. I see movies in his future and more cuddles on the couch with the kiddos.

In my free time since coming home, I've been very busy working on three Rotary projects. The first is coming up on Saturday. We are co-hosting an Italian dinner at our house for eight people that was purchased at the Gift of Life auction last year. This will be the day after Tom's surgery so I am so happy to have two wonderful, helpful cohorts and fellow club members taking on most of the hard work. It's coming together and I know it be a super fun evening.

The next big Rotary event is our Gift of Life auction is in February. I've been working on collecting auction items. It's our club's biggest fundraiser and a fun night to boot. It's the one time of year I get to dress up in a fancy dress and I look forward to it. Last year, I bought two dresses and said I would take one back. Guess what? I never did so I have a new dress for this year!!!

Finally, Wine to Water is just around the corner after that. This is a super fun event that raises money for fresh water wells in Sierra Leone. We bring in wineries and breweries for tastings plus have a band, tons of food and a silent auction. This year, we've got two vendors already signed up. One is new for us and one we've been hoping for since we started - Sunking Brewery. It's a personal favorite and I'm stoked they are coming! This is our fourth year for the event and we will likely break the $25,000 mark for money raised for fresh water.

So that's what happening at home during this frigid January!

Mexico - Truths

#1 - Eating and drinking things you can't get in the USA just makes them taste that much better. Case in point? Japanese Peanuts, which I'm sure are not actually Japanese, but taste ah-mazing. Think crunchy, fried, limey coating to a peanut. And, fresh, real pico de gallo and guacamole. And, Havana Club rum isn't too bad either. :)

#2 - I feel highly inadequate and out of place in my full coverage bathing suit bottom and tankini top. I've never seen so much skin on a beach! Most are pulling it off though.

#3 - Sitting on the beach does not get old. I thought it would but it doesn't. Even with a slight sunburn, I can't seem to pull myself away knowing that these will be my last few moments of sun before returning to winter in a few days.

#4 - Doing nothing for seven days is just as much fun as I thought it would be. I'm on my third book and I've been having a blast being on my own schedule.

#5 - I miss the kids. More than I thought. Absence makes the heart grow fonder in every sense I guess. I'll be glad to see those little faces on Saturday.

I'm sure there is more but the sun is setting and I need to soak in the last few drops.

Get Happy

This is a good list. Courtesy of of a friend's blog (Chamber Cheri - I would link but I'm posting on my phone - sorry Cheri!) which is courtesy of one of her friend's blog. Don't you love cyberspace? :) I have a few of these down pat (#4 & 7) and need help with a few (#8 & 9). Thanks for sharing Cheri!

http://naplesgirlblog.com/2013/01/13/are-you-really/

Vacation Book List

So, here's my vacation book list. Thanks to my Facebook friends and mother-in-law and husband, I have a great selection. Here you go...

On the Kindle from the library...
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer
Sacré Bleu - Christopher Moore
Great By Choice - Jim Collins
Redeeming Love - Francine Rivers

Hard Copy from my Christmas Gift of Paperbacks from Barb...
The Second Time Around - Mary Higgins Clark
The Brethren - John Grisham
The Rocky Road to Romance - Janet Evanovich

That's seven books for seven days. I'm sure I won't make it through all of them but maybe a handful. Or, maybe not. I'd be OK with either. :) 

Adios!

It's Official! And, it's a BIG Listing!

So, I'm just a little excited to announce that I officially picked up a pretty big listing. :) The Meadow at Springhurst is a custom home community just down the street from Timber Run in Greenfield with 56 available home sites. The neighborhood covenants are just restrictive enough to ensure the quality of homes but make a $225,000 custom home very doable.

I can remember when we moved to Greenfield and it was just getting started. Every time we drove by, I thought to myself, "You know? That would really make a nice place to live." It is really close to the local library - walking distance close - and just as close to the high school. Just around the corner is CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Kroger and all of the other wonderfulness that Greenfield has to offer.

I have been posting a few home sites on the BLC (MLS) here and there over the holidays and plan to get a web site up and running as well. New flyers are in the box and a new sign will soon be on it's way. With 56 available sites, there are sites that are priced right, sites with more privacy, sites with water views and sites on a cul-de-sac. Something for everyone!

I am super excited to get this thing launched and see some activity happening in the community. So, builders, bring me your clients. Friends, bring me your friends. Let's get this thing going!

Colorado 2013 - Photo Overload!!!!

I have so (SO) much to blog about and I'll never catch up. But, that's OK. It's the New Year and my house is clean, the bags are unpacked, laundry is done and Christmas is put away in the basement. All of that is very, very good.

We returned from our trip to Colorado Saturday morning around 1AM. It was a great trip and the kids did a great job traveling. Maybe one day, I'll do a post about traveling with kids. For now, the photos. :) I apologize in advance for the randomness of the photos. Some are from our "good" camera and sized out too small on the upload. Others are from my phone and others are from Instagram. One of these days, I'll get some editing software to make them all appear the same.

We left at the crack of dawn on New Year's Day. Josie and Tessa actually came down, on their own, fully dressed at 3:30AM. Everyone did great and the flight was easy and on time.

On the shuttle at 4:30AM.

On the plane...

M&M's were very necessary to keep Mr. Jack in his seat.

After landing at 8:30AM, we hung out at Katie and Jason's for a little while and the kids immediately hit the basement and started to play. A tea party commenced...

We then took the girls over to see the triplets. Whoa. Were they cute!?!? :) And, I swear, I didn't hear a peep out of any of them the whole time we were there. Joey and Amy are just naturals at being parents and the kids really seem to get that. Most nights, they sleep from 7PM until 4AM and they're only 2.5 months old - NOT preemie adjusted! Can you say awesome?

Tessa and Evelyn - you'll notice Tessa is quite fond of all of the babies. Josie was too, but Tessa probably got the most baby holding time of the two.

Evelyn with a little smile

Tom and Josie holding Levi

Joey talking to Evelyn

Amy with Jesslyn - aren't they both beautiful?!

Big Boy Levi - he weighs a whopping 12 pounds now!

Sweet little Jesslyn

Josie has Jesslyn and Tessa has Evelyn

Josie and Jesslyn

Jesslyn again

Tessa now has Levi

Amy is holding Evelyn - yes, Amy's nails are done. :) I'm impressed!

Evelyn

Joey and Levi - Levi's face cracks me up in this photo!

Joey and Levi again - this is probably my favorite photo of the trip.

Jesslyn again - I feel like we have this exact same photo of Josie

This is how Tom and I would look with twins - except I would not be wearing lipstick, have my hair done or be wearing anything but sweatpants. Ever. :)

Sleepy Levi - I held him this way for some time. My favorite way to hold a baby!

The big cousins playing Play Doh!

Josie, Alexis and Jenna watching Dora. Josie and Tessa were great big cousins to the girls. They played and played and played and played...

We went to the National Center for Atmospheric Research. The center was cool for the kids with some weather exhibits and the short, little hike out the back was the perfect distance for this crew of three two year olds, a four, five and six year old. Plus, it really made the girls feel like they were in the mountains.

Jack's always ready for a party.

Katie, Jason, Alexis, Jenna and Clark heading in the exhibits.

I loved being able to look down the mountain.

The big kids! Jack demanded to get in this photo even though he did most of the hiking in his backpack carrier.

Tom and Josie

View from the top

There was more baby holding to be had...

We were lucky to be able to celebrate Alexis and Jenna's Two Year Birthday with them too!

And, we even had time to give Chewie, Katie & Jason's dog, a haircut. Like a lion.

He was a good sport.

I think he makes a great lion.

We snapped a few photos of the nine kiddos. There are four more fantastic cousins that are missing from this photo. :(

Finally, it was time to head home. Jack wanted his safety information card by his side the whole flight.

I think it was a great vacation for all involved. Our kids were great sports and seem very comfortable flying and traveling through the airport. I think more trips will be in our future as a family. For now, Tom and I need to keep our bags handy because we leave for Mexico in six days!!!!!