Christmas Tag

Betony started and Jessica followed...so here goes mine!

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your family and friends.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper stretches the surprise a little longer!
2. Artificial or real tree? I prefer Real - they smell so yummy
3. When do you put up a tree? I try for after Thansgiving - haven't done it yet though
4. When do you take it down? Whenever I want
5. Do you like eggnog? SUPER YUMMY!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? 10-speed bike & leg warmers (that went to my thighs!)
7. Hardest person to buy for? My Husband... hahahahahahahahaha If only I knew who he was it would make things SO much easier! ;D
8. Easiest person to buy for? Maddy
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Just a tiny one from the dollar store that I bought when I came home from my mission - I love it!
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I like to mail cards but dunno what will happen this year
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hasn't happened...
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on 34th Street, Frosty the Snowman
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? October-December
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I can think of
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas time? Grams' tradition: Fish & Perogies (you can either boil or saute them) on Christmas Eve. I also love Honey Baked Ham and Pecan Pie
16. Lights on the tree? White lights only
17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night & It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Both can be wonderful
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Of course!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I have a Star
21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Presents? Are there presents for me?
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The commercialization and shopping frenzy
23. Favorite Ornament theme or color? I love and collect Snowmen
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? A MAN

I Tag: Everyone!

Thansgiving

Whew, what an event! Thanksgiving this year was supposed to be a small (only me, Janet, Jessica and family) affair. It turned out anything BUT...of course it was wonderful. Mom and Papa were on a short cruise that docked in the morning so they were both able to join us later for dinner.

Kris and Christina decided to join us as well. Aaron was going to be in town after all, and Janet had an out-of-town friend visiting. We had dinner this year at Jessica's and she is so talented that she turned "not enough room at the table" into just enough! Aren't her decorations pretty?! Look for the pretty leaves on the tables.

Janet, Jessica, and I prepared the Thanksgiving meal this year (Christina made a yummy green bean casserole too!). Janet took care of the turkey and stuffing, Jessica got the cranberry sauce, made the rolls, a pumpkin pie and a chocolate-raspberry angel cake that really was super scrumpdiliumptious! I made the sweet potato casserole with yummy sticky-gooey marshmallows on top - they were almost completely gone by the time they made it down to my end of the table! I also made a new recipe this year - stuffed zucchini - aka zucchini boats. They were a big hit and super yummy if I do say so myself. I beleive this recipe will be a keeper.

I spent the day at Jessica's cooking and spending time with the kids. I got some really cute pictures of Maddy and Ruthie. Maddy was excited to be holding Ruthie...for about 3 minutes and then she was done! "Can you take Ruthie please? I'm done now" LOL She is a rip!

Big sister loves baby sister!

Baby Ruthie is such a doll baby...perhaps not at 3 AM when she's screaming to be held or fed or changed... but nonetheless...!

So after scrumptious food and dessert, we had some good times just hanging out together and enjoying the family time. I'm really thankful for the amazing family I have. I wish my whole family could live here so that we could have all us siblings and the kids together.

Later we had a Parcheesi battle - Janet came after me so out went Ms Nice and in came Ms I Shall Crush You. I won of course! taa-haa :-D

I really enjoyed having Joel and his family here for Kris & Christina's wedding. I'm thankful that they stayed at my house and for the chance I had to spend time with my nephews Josh & Blake and sweet baby girl niece Juliana. I cherish the smiles and cuddling seesions I had with Jules and the hugs I got from Blakers. I'm thankful for the conversations I had with Josh - he loves sharks! Who knew? I do now! I also really enjoyed the time spent with Joel and Andrea, especially the girls night out for Twilight!

I'm so thankful that I can realize and appreciate the great blessings in my life.

Ramblings from the OLD one

WARNING!!! Straight talk ahead...

Well I really can't believe how incredibly fast time flies. I'm feeling super old today. Yes, yes, everybody tells me that turning 35 is still young...well I sure don't feel it. Of course with me it never is about the actual age, but what I don't have in my life at this age.

Yes of course I'm happy with the things I've been able to accomplish in life. I've lived in several states, travelled to many places and have a great family. I've been blessed to have been able to serve the Lord as his emissary in the country of Ecuador as a full-time missionary. I was blessed to teach and love the people and learn a second language.

I've been blessed to work for a company that allowed me to continue my education and financially supported my graduate degree program so that I could earn my MBA.

I've been blessed to have been in a position to buy my first home earlier this year. Some may think I should have invested in a home earlier in my life but I have done so now and am truly happy with my purchase. I don't care that it is a 3 bedroom house or that there are those who think it is too big of a house for a single person to have. I'm just going with: "if you build it, they will come"...

I have been blessed with a wonderful family who loves me and I can feel of their love everyday. And while all of these blessings should be enough to make me feel whole or happy, I sadly am not. I hesitate to express my true feelings but writing is a release for me. I never thought that at my age I would still be single and without children. Yes I have 10 wonderful nieces and nephews but it is not the same. They don't call me "mommy". My mother was raising 5 children by the time she was my age. I know we've led very different lives but I can't help to compare my inadequacies. My sister who is 6 years younger than me has 3 children. While I am extremely happy for all of my married siblings and their families, I cannot help but feel terrible loss that I cannot share those same blessings. Kris was just married this weekend and while I am very happy he has been able to find his true love, I cannot believe he got married before me!!!

I was at a friend's baby shower a couples of weeks ago and there were maybe about 20 women there. As I looked around the room at the 15 or so women I did know and who are friends of mine, I had this overwhelming feeling that I did not belong. Every one of them have children (or are currently pregnant) and spend time together at playgroups, b-day parties for their kids, primary activities, etc and it made me so sad to think that I was not a part of the biggest part of their lives. As I was leaving, the host asked me, "Would you like to take some cookies home to your husband?" I know that she did not know that I was single and meant no harm whatsoever but while I'm used to similar comments, it felt like a knife to my heart. I would have loved to take some cookies home to my husband...if I had one.

I always thought I would be raising my children with my friends. My two best girlfriends each have 4 kids and it saddens me that I can't go through the same spouse/children ups and downs that happen in their lives. I'm rarely invited to hang out with my married friends and their spouses because they do the couples thing together and they probably think I would feel like a third wheel...and truthfully, I probably would! It just saddens me that I can't be a part of that world with them. I'm not quite sure where I belong.

I'm tired of hearing "your time will come", "this is your year", "there's someone really special being prepared for you", etc... I'm not having a pity party, truly, it's just that I feel such loss for some of the greatest blessings the lord has to give.

Another year gone by. Another year of being alone. Most times I feel like I'm standing in the middle of a crowded room screaming and no-one hears me.

I can only pray that I can find a fulfilling happiness and peace in the blessings I do have and not the ones I long for.

Happy Birthday to me.

Kris & Christina's Wedding

Saturday November 22, 2008 marked the day that Kris and Christina became ONE... Congratulations to the new Mr & Mrs Conte! We are so happy to have Christina in our family.

The wedding ceremony was held at Christina's church (Our Lady of Grace) in Palm Bay. It was a beautiful ceremony made special with Papa singing a couple of songs. Kris and Christina pledged their love for one another and truly I am happy for them both.

Here they are in their true fabulous personalities...! Taa-Haa!!!

There was the first dance... So Sweet!

The reception was so much fun! There was a lot of dancing going on! I do beleive I caught the bouquet! I beleive that for those who catch the boquet, they DON'T get married - I guess I'm just keeping with tradition...

It was really nice to be able to spend time with family on such a joyous occasion. Joel, Andrea and the kids stayed with me at my house and I really enjoyed having them there and getting to know little Jules since it was the first time I had seen her. She is such a sweetie! Just look at that face!

I know Papa was enjoying having his sister and brother here - just looks at these goofballs! What sibling love!

Well I wish all the love and happiness life has to offer for the newlywed couple. Congrats Kris & Christina! Mucho amor!

Tagged!

I was tagged by my friend Janet - she claims she meant BOTH Jill's, but I dunno!


8 Things I am obsessed about right now:

1. My nieces and Nephews

2. The Twilight Saga

3. Facebook

4. Upcoming B-day

5. Celebrating completion of MBA

6. Ice Cream Sandwiches

7. Getting my house organized (pics on walls)

8. Thoughts of never being a mom



8 Words or Phrases I use:

1. Whatever!

2. For serious!

3. I don't think so

4. Yep

5. Mmmmmm hmmmmm

6. Where you at?

7. I'm done with school!

8. What? or What you say? (thanks to Maddy) lol



8 TV shows you love to watch:

1. The Amazing Race

2. Survivor

3. Top Chef

4. Project Runway

5. CSI (LV & NY)

6. Criminal Minds

7. Heroes

8. 24 & Lost



8 Things I did yesterday:

1. Woke up on time (yay me!)

2. Went to work

3. Ate a peanut butter & honey sammich for lunch

4. Felt sad for my good friends Chris & Drew's loss of their mother

5. Had dinner at Chili's with friend

6. Watched Quantum of Solace at theatre

7. Got home late

8. Prayed



8 Favorite Places to Eat:

1. PF Chang's

2. Red Lobster

3. Del Frisco's

4. Tejas (Texas) de Brazil

5. Firehouse Subs

6. Roadhouse

7. Cafe Rio

8. Pizza Gallery



I tag: Mom

Christina's Bridal Shower 11-8-08

Well I'm a week late in blogging about my soon to be sister-in-law's Bridal Shower! It was a nice day with fun games. Here's the Bride-to-Be!

We played a fun game of dressing up a model as a TP Bride... Here are all three and my group (with Janet as model) won!

Something borrowed... a special gift from her mom to wear for her wedding day...

Nobody can ever take a clear picture when using my camera!!!! Grrr... oh well! New Sisters!

5 days and counting! Saturday we celebrate Kris and Christina as they become Husband and Wife!

Halloween 2008

Sooooo...... last night my sister Janet and I took Maddy and Thatcher trick-or-treating. What an event! Jess was still a little too sore to walk around with the kids after just having Ruthie a few weeks ago, so Janet and I walked the walk!



They looked so cute in their costumes. Miss Madeline was a (good) witch - Grandma Conte made her costume for her. She sure was rocking her boots!



Mr. Thatcher was quite the adorable (argh) pirate! Daddy gave him some facial hair to boot and my, my, my... too cute!



So I'm thinking that I may not do this trick-or-treat thing until I have kids (which at the rate I'm going may be never)! Just kidding! I was literally dragging Thatcher along while he stared in awe at everything and everyone around him! I kept saying, "walk Thatcher, walk"! I was afraid I was going to pull his arm out of the socket! Additionally, he just would not let go of my finger, so of course I had to go to each and every door with them...and then had to drag them both away! It was exhausting! ;P



But seriously, I had a wonderful time with them. They are just so full of life and have a desire to experience everything they come in contact with. There was this really big guy (teen) that had on camouflage, with twigs and branches covering him. He came out of nowhere and startled me so I said, "whoa! stealth mode"! So Maddy thought that was his name and she kept saying, "that Stealth Mode was really scary. Stealth Mode needs to stay away from us so he doesn't scare us"! Super cute!

Maddy was busy trying to keep her hat on because it was so windy. I told her it was a good time to jump on her broom and fly away but she was afraid she might fall off if she got too high in the air! taa-haa! Aren't kids great?!



I don't know how Thatcher was carrying his pumpkin full of candy! That thing was full and super heavy. He kept dragging it on the ground and slapping it against him and I tried to help carry it for him but he kept reaching his hand out and wanted to carry it himself!



I enjoyed raiding their candy after we got back to grandma and grandpa's house! Really, I only took ONE Reese's Cup and that was it (of course I did take three to go... shhh... don't tell anyone)!

Little Miss Ruthie was super adorable as a "leopard kitty" as Maddy called her! Here she is just chillin' with Grandpa Conte... All in all, great fun was had by all!