Monday, December 29, 2008

Holly Jolly Christmas



Christmas definitely snuck up on us this year! With Thanksgiving being a week closer to Chrimstas this year, plus work travel and just being overall swamped at both of our jobs Ralph and I felt like we didn't even really get to enjoy the season this year. It was about 68 degrees on Christmas Day, and after opening presents, we sat on the back patio in our short-sleeved shirts! I felt like I was home in San Diego for Christmas this year! Anyway, as usual, we spoiled Sadie with gifts (she got nice Candycane rawhide bones!) and we enjoyed our last Christmas morning together as a child-less couple!

This is me opening up my new COACH BAG!!!


Ralph tearing open his present!


Sadie enjoying one of her smaller rawhide candy cane bones!


Ralph helping Sadie open up one of her presents while she waits patiently!


Ralph wearing his new coat that Santa brought him!


The stockings...

Friday, December 19, 2008

Mmmmmm.. Peanut Butter Balls!


For those of you that know me well, you know that I really cannot cook or bake (except Chocolate Chip cookies-my specialty!) even though I try. Since I've been married, I have been trying to cook some recipes for dinner here and there and feel like I am getting better at it with the help of my sister in law and Mom.
So last night, I wanted to try one of my favorite desserts-- one my Mom only makes at Christmas time--Peanut Butter Balls! The problem is, this recipe is not really for beginners, or at least moron beginners like myself! Thanks to my wonderful mama being "on call" throughout the night, I was able to semi- pull it off! On a positive side-note, my wonderful husband was very supportive of the whole thing and told me I had the best looking balls he'd ever seen (HUH???) So BEHOLD!!! My batch of Peanut Butter Balls! I know I'll enjoy polishing them off.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

The Great Christmas Tree Hunt




Ralph and I have made it a new tradition to drive up to the mountains each Christmas to a Christmas Tree farm, and chop down our own tree! It is such a difference experience than going to Target and picking one out (although I loved doing that too with my mom when I lived in San Diego!) Anyway, this year it was super cold on the day we drove up so we were bundled up good! After being Mr. and Mrs. Picky and totally indecisive, we finally settled upon one. Here is the nice man with the chain saw (uhh...weird combination of words) chopping our tree down for us. And then of course the finished result in our living room. We are now officially Christmas-ready. HO HO HO!






Thursday, December 4, 2008

Our Trip to Monticello....Again


Since Ralph and I have lived in Virginia (keep in mind, just a little over a year now) we have been to Monticello four, count em FOUR times! For those of you who don't know what Monticello is, it is actully Thomas Jefferson's home and has been kept pristinely in place since the 1800's. It is beautiful and fairly nearby to Roanoke (it's about an hour and a half away) but at this point Ralph and I should join the Virginia Historical Society and give the tours ourselves! Each time we have out of town visitors to our home, they all want to see the historical landmarks in this part of the country. This is totally is understandable, so we take them to the most famous places--TJ's house being the most famous of them all. So when we first moved here, we went by ourselves. Then we went when my Dad and family came to visit in July. Then again in September when Ralph's friends came out from Chicago. Then again over Thanksgiving with Ralph's family from Chicago. Anyhow, I thought after all these times going, we should probably document our visit. So, here we are, though we look very tiny in comparison to this giant house, which by the way took 40 years to build, and Thomas Jefferson died here on July 4th, exactly 50 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed, 4 hours before John Adams......

Monday, December 1, 2008

19 Week Belly


Okay, I don't want every post to be about my pregnancy, but I thought I'd give a quick belly update. Since we live so far away from everyone and I am hermit-like here in Roanoke, a few people have asked to sneak a peek at the growing belly. And is it ever growing! I felt like I wasn't showing at all a few short weeks ago and then all of the sudden something popped! I had to buy my first pairs of materntiy pants and am loving the elastic waistbands. I think I'll wear these for the rest of my life. They worked wonders on Thanksgiving!

I also felt my baby boy kick last night for the first time! About a week ago I thought I had felt him, but it was so soft I couldn't tell. But last night there was no denying it! Ralph and I watched the Bears on TV and the baby went kick-crazy! It was the coolest feeling in the world. I can't wait to meet him.

Well........

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

I Hate Work Travel

Imagine this...you are at the end of a 3 day meeting stint in the Eastern Hills (make that backwoods) of Tennessee. You are counting down the minutes until that last minute is finished and you can get your tired self to the airport and on the plane to get home. But then, you get to the airport and your flight is delayed. And then delayed again. And then one more time. 3 hours of delays to be exact. By this time, your delayed flight means you will miss your connection to your next flight home. Which means you get bumped to the last flight of the day. Que the next installment of a new 3 hour wait at a new airport.
Did I mention I was exhausted and just wanted to get my pregnant butt home and in bed???
And it smells like curry in this stinkin (literally) airport, which happens to be Atlanta.
At least if I was going on vacation I'd know there was no work in the near future. But alas, that is not the case. Tomorrow is a new day of new meetings, only not from the Hills of Tennessee, but the Hills of Home Sweet Roanoke.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Utah Wins!

You know you are a true fan when you are at a different college's football game, yet you sit and watch your cell phone for score and play by play updates from a game going on across the country!
Last night Ralph and I went to the Virginia Tech/Maryland game which was fun since VT won, but my heart was definitely in Salt Lake City last night.
Utah pulled off the last minute win against TCU, who was favored to win by the way, and it was awesome for this Utah alum. Even if I did only get to read about it on my tiny Razr Phone until the wee hours of the Virginia morning.
So, in honor of their win and my nostalgia and homesickness for Utah Football games, here is a picture of me and my 2 best friends, Kristy and Andrea at the Utah vs. San Diego State game back in 2004 (Utah's other magnificent year!)

The first picture is us tailgating before the game at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego and the 2nd is us during the game.



GO UTES!!!!


Friday, October 31, 2008

Getting into the spirit!




Last night was pumpkin carving night. Ralph had a "mouse house" pumpkin idea in mind that he saw in a magazine, and I, as usual was Mrs. Traditional. Sadie, as it turns out, loves to eat pumpkin guts. But I don't know what that surprises me because this is a dog that will eat lettuce if I give it to her. Anyway, we had a blast and are looking forward to all the Trick-or-Treaters tonight!

Happy Halloween!!


Monday, October 27, 2008

Halloween Party













It has been a few years since I dressed up for Halloween, so when Ralph and I got invited to a Halloween party this year, I only had one costume in mind....a Newsie, because that was what I was back in 2006. I told you before, I'm not very creative! Only I didn't really want to be a Newsie again! I mean, how many times do you get to go to Halloween parties? Okay, maybe YOU do, but we don't! Anyway, Ralph jumped at the chance to get away with an easy, in-house costume, so he was the Newsie. I copied some co-worker's ideas from that Halloween in 2006 and chose to be a Mobster. It was hard getting my pin striped mobster slacks to button up over my ever-growing pregnant belly, and I had to borrow one of Ralph's white shirts to be able to button it up over these giant pregnant boobies! But it all worked out and we had fun getting out and hanging out with the living---or in this case, the dead! (It was Halloween, get it??? Okay I'll stop typing now.)


Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Mom and Me go to D.C.

I was so lucky to be able to have my mom come out and visit Ralph and I here at our home in Roanoke. She came all the way from San Diego! Anyway, we had so much fun together and it was so nice to have someone to talk to every day (no offense, Sadie). We shopped, cooked, joked and just did all kinds of mom and daughter stuff.

Anyway, on one of the days that she was here, we drove out to visit my brother Dan and his wife Merianne at their house in Washington, D.C. Since my brother works in government (top secret job!) he was able to get us "backstage passes" to the Capital building and our own private tour. Since 9/11, the public can take guided tours through but we got our own little tour courtesy of Dan.

Here are some pictures of our day at the Capital:


This next one was taken right in the center of the Capital, and Dan the tour guide pointed out that this spot also marks the very center of Washington D.C.



Dan, Mom and me inside the dome:



What that beautiful dome looks like from the inside:




Thursday, October 16, 2008

I'm in love!


Yes, of course I'm in love with my dear hubby but I was referring to the unborn in this case. We had our 12 week ultrasound a few days ago and got to see the little one moving and sticking out it's tongue. The ultrasound tech said in this picture she thought the baby was sucking its thumb. Anyway, it was so nice to have my mom come with along with Ralph to the ultrasound since she was in town these past few days (more pictures and entries to come on that later!)

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Baby Bump - 11 Weeks


A few people have asked me to post updates on my baby bump every month or so. For those of you that don't know, this baby took almost 2 years to create. We are so excited and happy, but are cautious at the same time. We feel truly blessed with this baby and Ralph and I are eagerly awaiting December when we will find out which of our guest bedrooms (We have one currently painted rose pink, and one painted baby blue-- we did that last year when we moved in) will be transformed into the nursery. Stay tuned....

Friday, October 3, 2008

Our House- In the Middle of the Street


...okay so it's not exactly in the middle of the street. But someone suggested I post a picture of our house since we live so far away from everyone and no one had been here before (are you now starting to get that we don't have much going on in our lives right now??) But actually now that I think about it, my entire family has been out to visit. (except YOU Andrew!) Anyway, the house is a 1890's Victorian with 4 beds and 4 baths. The crazy part is, it cost just about the same as our house in Salt Lake City, that had 2 beds and 1 bath!! Soooo, without further adieu...here is our home on the 4th of July in the great Commonwealth of Virginia.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

SLC Wedding


Ralph and I just got back from a trip to Salt Lake City (weird that we now vacation there, I know). Anyway, one of my best friends, Andrea, got married. She looked beautiful and it was great seeing old friends again. This is my friend Kristy with her baby, Eva, Andrea and me.
Congratulations, Andrea!

My co-worker


So most people know that I work from my home office here in Virginia. But what they don't know is that I have my very own assistant and co-worker. Just like a regular co-worker, Sadie is here offering interruption after interruption and needing attention. She doesn't quite do my filing or faxing for me, but hey, she's a German Shepherd.

Finally

Okay so I'm not the most creative person in the world, but I figured it was time to start a blog for the fam. Don't expect glitter and glamour, because that's not me, but I will try to update as much as possible-even though our lives often include sitting in front of the TV for hours on end!