Winter Break On The Go!

Baby Update: Last Tuesday morn. we had a doctor's appointment. Our daughter's heartbeat was strong and she is still moving around like crazy. :) Dr. Parker said everything is looking great. I still can't believe how quickly time is flying by. We picked out her crib and think we've decided on the bedding. I can't wait to put her room together. Next will come painting, it's crazy that we just painted the house from head to toe last May when we moved in and now we're painting again!

After our doc apt. we packed up the truck and hit the road. Tuck did amazing as always, sleeping the entire 3 1/2 hr. drive. Fortuna was nice and rainy....as to be expected :) We spent Christmas Eve at my Aunt and Uncle's house (there were 17 of us) and Christmas day at my parents. Friday, Josh and Sean took the dogs out to the beach and went 4 wheeling and I had lunch with Ang, Domenic and my parents, followed by some shopping with my mom. After dinner with the fam Friday night in Carlota at Shamus T. Bones in Carlota (very good!) Josh, my sis, Sean and I met up all my best girlfriends from high school (just missing Amber!) and their significant others over at Lindsey's house. We had a great time catching up, watching high school videos and laughing uncontrollably!

Josh and I pretty much had been dreading Saturday all week long (our LONG drive from Fortuna to Carson City). We had no idea how Tuck was going to handle his longest road trip yet. We stopped in Willits and got 2 books on CD, which helped the drive fly by. Once again Tuck was the perfect traveler!!! We couldn't believe how well he did on the 9 1/2 hour drive. He slept 95% of the time!!! We made it to Carson City in time for dinner with my in-laws. The weather was so gorgeous up in Carson City, the sun shone the entire time we were there. The ground was covered with snow when we first arrived, but by the last day most of it had melted. Tuck enjoyed his many walks and loved playing in the snow. His favorite was burrying his face in the snow and eating it! Josh and Paul had an awesome time on the slopes at Squaw & Jan and I enjoyed a relaxing day together. I was bummed I didn't get to ski this year, but next year Grandma Jan can't wait to babysit and I'll be back on the slopes once again.

I recently broke our camera :( and had to rely on pics from others over the break. This was hard for me because I am such a picture taking nut! Needless to say the holiday pics are a little sparse this year. We did however buy a new camera while in Carson that is shock proof and water proof. Perfect for me! It will take pics underwater up to 10 ft. deep and can be dropped from 5 ft. without doing damage. We have friends who have the same camera and really like it, so hopefully it's all it's cracked up to be :)

Christmas Eve at my aunt and uncle's house

Opening gifts

Ashely, Nicole and me

Christmas Day visit with Renee

Sarah, Michele, Renee, Lisa, Lindsey and Me

Added our sisters (Nicole and Marci) in this picVisit with AngAfter lunch with AngDomenic sandwhiched between us

Much needed winter break is finally here!!!

We are so happy to finally be on winter break!!! Last week was insanely busy. My school week was filled with making Gingerbread houses, school wide holiday Sing-A-Long, a visit from Johnathon London (Author of "Froggy" books), Hanukkah Presentation, my students making ornaments for their parents (a tedious week long task!), classroom holiday party....the list goes on! By the end of the week my 2nd graders were just as ready for a break as I was. I was basically on my feet all day and they were killing me each night by the time I got home. Foot massages from Josh were greatly appreciated this week :) The evenings were filled with watching the Survivor finale with the group (yeah Bob won!), a Christmas performance at Josh's school, dinner with Renee and Marc, Tuck graduating from his "House Manners" class :) and ended with a trip to Berkley for Sandra's birthday.

We have a few days here at home before heading up to Fortuna for Christmas. From there we will be traveling to Carson City, NV (an 8+ hour drive !) to visit Josh's family. Tuck travels really well, however my bladder is another story. Once up to Carson Tuck will have his first visit to the snow and Josh will get to get in some snowboarding....this will be my first year off the slopes :( All in all, it is going to be a busy week filled with spending time with family and friends. We are fortunate to have the same schedule and get so much time off together.

Baby update: My stomach continues to grow weekly and I feel her move all the time now :) I can't believe I'm already on my 22nd week. Time is flying by! We borrowed a stethoscope from a good friend who works at a hospital (Josh is determined to hear her heart beat through my stomach). No luck yet, but we have heard it is possible so I'm sure he won't be giving up any time soon. Other than tired feet, I feel great and am really enjoying the 2nd trimester. Still trying to be productive and work on getting everything organized in the house before I get too big and immobile. :) I hope everyone has a relaxing holiday and enjoys time spent with family and friends.

21 week pic
With Renee, showing off our bellies (she's due 1 mon. before me)

Turning 29

I felt very loved by my family and friends this year on my birthday. At work I was spoiled by my grade level team mates, who had all my favorite treats (including maple bars and dill pickles) out on display in the staff room when I arrived to work. That night Josh and I went out to dinner and then decorated the house for Christmas :) That Saturday some of us went out to Dillon Beach and it was an absolutely gorgeous day! It was not your typical winter day and it definitely made me miss summer time :) We spent the entire day out at the beach playing frisbee, football, botchie ball, skin boarding and walking barefoot in the sand (again not your typical Dec. activity!) That night we met up with others and went out to dinner. All in all it was a wonderful birthday week.

frisbeeTuck loved running next to Josh when he skin boarded

Enjoying a mouthful of sand

Lindz and me enjoying the warm sun

football time
watching the sun set
group photo
dinner

Busy Thanksgiving Break

Josh and I managed to fill up virtually every minute of our Thanksgiving break this year! The break began with us finding out that we're having a baby girl :) and of course was followed with a little shopping. It didn't rain (thank goodness) on Thanksgiving day and we had a great time with our families; cooking, talking, guys watching football, girls going for a walk, eatting til we couldn't move and laughing while playing games. This was our 3rd year hosting Thanksgiving with both our families at our house. Unfortunately not everyone could make it this year, but we did have quite the full house with 13. This was our nephew Austin's first Thanksgiving and he had fun walking all over the house and watching Tuck through the window. :) Following Thanksgiving we headed up to Fortuna for Domenic's baptism. It was so great seeing Ang, Matt and Domenic. Domenic has become quite the little dancer and was not shy about showing off his dance moves. :) The weather was gorgeous in Humboldt all weekend. We went up to the mountains on Sunday and had a great time picking out and cutting down our Christmas tree. I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving holiday this year. Christmas is going to be here before we know it!

Making Cheesy/Garlic Mashed Potatos

My handsome nephew Austin 8 1/2 months and beginning to walk

All 13 of us squeezed around the table

With mom and dadGuys doing the dishes :) Lots of laughs while playing "Beyond Balderdash" With my beautiful mother-in-law
Can't wait for our baby girl to arrive :)Domenic's baptism Tuck (right) with his dad Duke...for 5 months old he's catching up to dad in size very quickly!
Ready to cut down our treeJust short enough to fit our 8 ft. ceiling :)
Loaded up and ready to goWith the girls while out at the Palace