Let me introduce you to...

I completely believe that you have the family your born into and the family that you make...

I feel so lucky that the Mr. and I have such a wonderful family. I'm the youngest of 3, I have an older sister who is the best big sister that anyone could ask for. She's married to her junior high sweetheart who has always been a big brother to me. I also have a big brother (whom I've mentioned in my blog once or twice) who is always there when I need him. Mr. Loves-football-more-than-life is the oldest of 2, he has a younger sister who he's close too. We have amazing parents who have always supported us in everything that we do. We love our family but distance is our issue, my parents live the closet...an hour and a half away...

I grew up in the suburbs and had the same friends my entire life. I graduated high school with some of the same people I graduated pre-school with. Leaving for college was absolutely devastating. I knew that I would always have my "home" friends but I had no idea what it was like to have to make new friends. Now I can't imagine my life without these friends.

So I'd like to introduce you to my other "family"...

These are the people who are in our lives everyday...the people we call when we need a favor, the people we have spent countless hours with, the people that I blog about...

First, I want to introduce my bestest, my beloved, "Mama Cookie"...

I've known Mama Cookie since the 7th grade. We met in Student Council and quickly became friends. We both went away from home for college, about 30 minutes from each other. We always car-pooled home together all 4 years...Like I said we were always friends, but we didn't become "best-friends" until our sophomore year of college. We were both going through similar situations with dead-beat boyfriends and heart-wrenching break-ups. She was my rock when I thought my world was crumbling...She's the kind of person who hold your hair back after a rough night, who eats cookie dough with your for days strait, who will go on any road trip anywhere for no reason at all, she will be patient with you while you sit in front of a computer for hours on end waiting for a deployment email...she'll be there for you for your surprise proposal even though she had plans to go out of town, and she'll stand next to you on the biggest day of your life. I had no question that she would be my maid of honor, and I cannot wait until I can return the favor..

She's always been Cookie to me, a childhood nickname, but mama came about because she's the god-mother to my 4 legged children. She's found her other half, Mr. T, and I couldn't be happier for them. He's an amazing boyfriend and friend and he's hilarious. Not a day goes by that he doesn't make me almost pee my pants...

Next I'd like to tell you about the *P* Family...

I met Mrs. P at work...they pretty much call us "twins". Obviously we look nothing alike, but we're similar heights, builds, and we're always together. She is exactly to the day 1 month older than I am, she married her soul mate almost 1 year before I married mine and we live down the street from each other. We were in their wedding and they were in ours. They are truly an amazing couple that I learn from everyday...especially now. They had their first child, Baby B last September and its been amazing to see them transform into parents. I'm not sure where life is going to take us but I know that this family will always be a part of it.

This is Baby B...he's the sweetest cutest baby I've ever met. I'm sure I'm biased but I don't care. In the short 4 months I've had the privilege of knowing him, I'd gladly walk through fire for him. He fills my heart and makes it just a little easier to wait to have one...and harder too I guess. I'm so excited to watch this sweet boy grow up...

Then there's Little S...
We call her Little S because look at her, she's tiny! I also know her from work, she started a year before I did and pretty much taught me everything I know. She's an amazing person, she has a heart of gold. Shes the type of person that will bring you chicken noodle soup when you don't feel good, she'll spend hours on wedding projects just to give you a break, she'll make you a beautiful blue charm to wear on your wedding day...just so you have something blue. She's the type of person I strive to be...She's also the girl who has stolen my brothers heart. They met at our wedding, they walked together actually and have since been inseparable. I'm excited about their relationship and I'm excited to see where it will go...

And finally, Reverend X and Mr. G

I've known the Reverend since 7th grade also, we went to junior high and high school together also. She and I took a trip to Idaho when we were 16 to visit another one of our friends and had the most amazing summer ever. After high school she moved away but we still stayed close. Last summer while planning our wedding our officiant backed out at the last minute. I wasn't sure what I was going to do...then I remembered that the Reverend was an internet ordained minister. I called her immediately and the rest is history. I wasn't sure how our ceremony was going to go since we are so close, but in the end it was better than I could ever imagine. She and her mister, Mr. G are so funny together...hence their Christmas picture. We're hoping that they will move closer to us because we love spending time with them!

I felt like I needed to formally introduce all of my blogging friends to my "family"...Since this blog is about my life, and my life revolves around my family and friends it just makes sense. We are so fortunate to have this close group of friends to fill in as our substitute family. I'm thankful everyday for them and I couldn't imagine my life without them.

Not Me Monday

So between the working, Christmas and being sick, this is my first post in awhile...and I have lots to confess NOT confess. Here we go again!

I did NOT go out with my friends Monday night instead of cleaning/wrapping/packing/shopping which did NOT led to a frantic 11pm Kohls/Old Navy trip between bars...thank goodness for holiday shopping hours!

I did NOT buy Mr. Football a Christmas present after we had agreed on "no gifts" this year...I would NEVER buy him this awesome jacket for our upcoming ski trip.

And since we're so awesome at following our own rules, Mr. Football did NOT get me Lost Season 3 and 4...I can't wait until January 21st!

I did NOT get a WII Fit and a Pink Yoga mat from my siblings! They are NOT completely wonderful and I do NOT love them to pieces...I'm the baby so I do NOT get the best gifts..

I did NOT fall asleep Christmas day after opening presents and completely miss my family playing Guitar Hero World Tour...that would just make me so sad that I missed the hilariousness...(I worked all night Christmas Eve, a girls gotta sleep at some point)

I did NOT convince my 9 year old cousin to see Marley and Me with me because all of the boys wanted to see something else. I did NOT cry throughout the entire movie, and she did NOT look at me like I was crazy the entire time...

The Mr. and I did NOT drive from our house to my parents (100 miles) on Christmas morning, then leave the day after Christmas to return home (Friday) then drive to my sisters house Saturday morning (200 miles) and come back Sunday afternoon. So if we do the math or NOT do the math, that would equal 600 miles+ in one long weekend...and to make it even better, my brother, Mr. Blackhawk, took our car while at my sisters and drove another 110 miles (220 roundtrip) to finally purchase the Christmas present he wanted for himself, so we're NOT at 820 miles + total...

And we were definitely NOT at my sisters because Mr. Blackhawk wanted to go to a Gun Show (I did NOT make muscles when he first suggested this, who would do that?) in the area...And after driving all that way he didn't even find what he was looking for and had to go to another store hours away...

During all of this family fun, I was NOT cuddled up on my sisters couch too "sick" to go to the Gun Show, but NOT too sick to read Eclipse...or maybe I NOT not was too sick...I'm confusing myself now...

I do NOT feel like my head is still underwater and that my ears might explode at any minute...and I'm definitely not wishing that they would explode so that the pressure in my head might get some relief...

I did NOT try to finish my Secret Santa gift and realize when it was half done that I had run out of ink in my printer, I would always make sure I had everything I needed when working on a project...I did NOT push it aside and consider it a lost cause...

I also did NOT figure out who everyones Secret Santa is...I hate that. I always want to be surprised, but everyone ruins it for me. Its impossible to keep things secret when your shopping with your friends and they're picking out their own presents for their Santas to buy them. SERIOUSLY?!!!!

And finally, our Christmas pictures did NOT turn out fabulously! I loved the sweaters, everyone else pretty much cooperated...and the doggies even got their own Christmas outfits! My parents have 2 dogs also, so my Mom likes to buy them ALL matching outfits. Gotta love doggy grandmas!

My brother in law, my sister, Mr. Blackhawk, myself, Mr. Loves-football-more-than-life

my mom, Lilo, my dad
??Why is Lilo the only dog in the picture??

my mom and dad, Lilo, Lucky (his jacket is blue, but he's too fluffy to see it)

Jax and Lulu

So I guess that will do for this week, although I'm sure I could keep going...I'm off to take some more cold/flu medicine and hope that my head stops pounding/nose stops running/quit coughing/ears stop popping...maybe theres a magic medicine that will do that...Please send your prayers MckMama's way, her sweet baby Stellan is battling a pretty severe case of RSV and is in the hospital right now...

Merry Christmas!

One word...ICE

Not snow, not rain....

ICE.

I hate it I hate it I hate it.

Now that I've got that out of my system I can continue. Things here are going pretty well. I'm working tonight then its off to see the family for Christmas! Yay! No matter how old I get I still want to spend Christmas at my parents. Now I'm sure that once we have our own kids we'll start our own traditions, but for now I'm sticking to my mom and dad's.

Our shopping is finally done (well my shopping, Mr. Football isn't the "shopping" type, he's more "ok we got the 1 thing we came for...lets go!" type.) We pretty much got what everyone asked for, so there really aren't any surprises this year...except the matching sweater thing. I even managed to pick up a few festive shirts for the dogs (I know...too much, but they were 50% off at Old Navy) I can't pass up a deal. My brother will meet us over here in the morning, then we'll pack up the gifts, 2 crates, 2 dogs and ourselves for the hour and a half trip. It's really not a bad drive to my parents, I did it pretty much every weekend for 4 years but now we've got 2 dogs who are not polite passengers. We'll spend the weekend at my parents then head back to face the real world on Monday. I'm hoping to catch up with some of my high school friends while I'm home. Its always nice to see what everyone is up too. Even after living away from my parents for 7 years, I still call their house "home". I'm not sure why that is though. I dont feel at "home" there, I feel at home at my own house, but its still what I say when I go there. Old habits die hard I guess.

So I hope that everyone has a safe and Merry Christmas!

Not Me Monday

I came across this poem that Sarah posted on her blog and decided to post it on mine also. This year I feel so thankful that I get to be with my ENTIRE family for the holidays...I realize so many others (many whom I met blogging) are spending this year away from spouses and loved ones because of deployment. I realize being a part of a military family now that's always a possiblity for me, so I'm going to live it up and enjoy every minute. I am also going to take time to think about all of our soldiers and their families out there keeping us safe...and I hope you will too.

Merry Christmas, My Friend
By James M. Schmidt, a Marine Lance Corporalstationed in Washington, D.C., in 1986

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone, In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.

I had come down the chimney, with presents to give and to see just who in this home did live
As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand. On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.
With medals and badges, awards of all kind, a sobering thought soon came to my mind.

For this house was different, unlike any I'd seen.This was the home of a U.S. Marine.
I'd heard stories about them, I had to see more, so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.

And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.
He seemed so gentle, his face so serene, Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.

Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read? Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?
His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan. I soon understood, this was more than a man. For I realized the families that I saw that night, owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.

Soon around the Nation, the children would play, And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,because of Marines like this one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home. Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye. I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.

He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice, "Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice

I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more. My life is my God, my country, my Corps."
With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.

I watched him for hours, so silent and still. I noticed he shivered from the cold night's chill. So I took off my jacket, the one made of red, and covered this Marine from his toes to his head.

Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold, with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold. And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.

I didn't want to leave him so quiet in the night, this guardian of honor so willing to fight. But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure, said

"Carry on, Santa, it's Christmas Day, all secure."

And now...

Well another week has passed and I feel the need to confess the things I certainly did NOT do...

Here goes!

I am NOT getting sick right now. It's the middle of the holiday season and I have far too many things to do still. I absolutely eat 3 square meals a day and get 8 hours of rest a night...I'm the picture of health, so it is NOT phlegm that is sitting in my chest right now...

I did NOT decide to keep my sister's christmas present for myself. That would be selfish and unnecessary. I was NOT planning on re-gifting a wedding present to her but then decide that the crockpot is way too cool and I want it for myself (hey I registered for it afterall)...

I am NOT planning on going out after work today to buy her the exact same crockpot...

I would NEVER continually harass my brother to find out if he's gotten me the 3rd and 4th books in the Twilight series for Christmas. I'm very patient and appreciate any gift I receive (just like the crockpot)...

I did NOT have 2 college-aged guys show up on my doorstep this week to ask to shovel my driveway on 2 separate days. I also did NOT have a detective show up a little while later to ask about these guys...and inform me that a house was broken into down the street. I then did NOT call everybody I knew to talk to because I didn't want to be alone in the house...scary!

I did NOT guilt Little S (my friend) and Mr. Blackhawk(my brother) to bring me dinner at work after he arrived into town yesterday. That would just be very selfish...and I did NOT justify my selfishness by having them bring Mrs. P Olive Garden too...yum!

I did NOT go to lunch this week with work friends and snuggle with all of their babies! I would never monopolize all the time with the babies...

Finally, I did NOT go Christmas shopping one day this week until after 11 pm, then come home to find out that Mr. Football had not eaten dinner and was still awake. I did NOT feel guilty about all of this and make him pizza rolls at midnight. I always have a home cooked meal on the table when he comes home...remember??

Well I feel better about all the silly things I did NOT do this week...Check out MckMama's page for more confessions!

Finally Friday

Well for most people the work week is ending, mine is just about to begin. Ugh... but I finally started and pretty much finished my Christmas shopping, Yay! I met my friends for lunch today at Bravo (yum!) and got to play with their sweet babies...Baby B is 3 1/2 months, Baby A is 2 months and Baby E is 1 month. We had an epidemic at work last year and pretty much everyone had babies sometime this fall, I think there were 14 girls pregnant total. I decided it was safest to only drink bottled water...

So then we had a day full of shopping. Mr. Football wasn't exactly pleased that I shopped until 11pm tonight, but I felt like I HAD to keep going. I knew that once I stopped, I wouldn't start again. I have something to pick up at Target and Walmart on Monday, then I think I'm officially done. I'm very excited about these cute sweaters I found at Old Navy. Every year we take a family picture Christmas day, it's the only day everyone is actually together. So this year I decided I want everyone to match (corny I know) and found an assortment of grey/black/white sweaters for a very reasonable price. I can't wait to see how it turns out...

My brother "Mr. Blackhawk" is coming into town this weekend, so I planned on cleaning the house, getting the spare bedroom ready, and finally putting away the last of our wedding gifts...instead I finished Twilight and had to run out to Walmart at 9pm to buy New Moon. Pathetic. So tomorrow, before I go into work, I'll be speed cleaning (aka throwing things into totes/baskets/anywhere else unseen). No wait, I NEVER do that...

It finally feels like Christmas! Bring it on...

Oh! and I almost forgot...

2 months (and 1 day, I said I almost forgot, so I'm a day late) ago...

We got married! It's been a wonderful (and busy) 2 months...here to many many more!