Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas!

Christmas has come and gone and all we're left with are the memories... well and these photos. ;)

Then something that I cannot explain happened. It must have been the Christmas spirit overtaking the house. I warn you, the images you are about to see are disturbing. Viewer caution is advised.

I'm sorry you all had to see that. My dad hopes and prays that no one reads this blog when he's a star on it. So if you see this and see him, tell him he looks awesome! We decided that sweater is 1- very slimming and 2- is clearly a one family fits all kind of sweater.

Merry Christmas

Although we didn't get a white Christmas like I'm sure many were hoping for, I'm pretty much ok with it. I hope everyone enjoys the Holiday with family and get's everything they wanted from Santa.

My annual tradition has officially begun. PJ's on, snuggled in a blanket, and chilling on the sofa reay for my 24 hour marathon of A Christmas Story. I don't make it the whole 24 hours but I do my best usually falling asleep several times and sometimes waking up right where I left off.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Another Step

Another small step for twenty-twelve goals today. I'm officially signed up for the gyms biggest loser competition. Just another reason to help me keep with my 2012 goals! I'll keep you posted on how I'm doing, weigh-ins start January 2nd!

In some good news, I got out of the house this weekend. A lot out of the house actually. Friday was the Bass Pro/Festival of lights adventure. Saturday night I went out with my Germany trip friends to the Christmas at the Mansions! I really wished I lived in a mansion in the Victorian ages, it seems so glamorous and simple. They had all their Christmas trees up and greenery draped every, it was very very pretty!

And then... we headed out for some dinner and drinks to celebrate someone I know turning the big 3-0! Happy Birthday MB I hope you had a great one! :)
We had a great time!

I don't know if you guys noticed or not but Christmas is coming... like Sunday it's here. Holy Moly! Kind of just sneaks up on ya there don't it. Doesn't look like we'll be having a white Christmas this year, but I'm really kinda ok with it... ok a lot ok with it. I'm a procrastinator (shocking I know) and I still haven't got new tires put on Simon just yet. I'm still gearing up for a really good New Year's resolution list. I had optimistic hopes for 2011 and lots of great things happened this year, I feel a little different about 2012. I feel like I'm finally getting my self motivation back slowly but surely and I have a good feeling about twenty-twelve. I didn't hear the news I was terribly hoping for today that would have started my 2012 out with a big new change. But I'm happy none the less. Everything happens for a reason and I think I'm where I'm supposed to be at the moment.

My little artful creation that I painted at the pottery painting shop is finished and would like to say Merry Christmas, isn't he cute?! 

Official

Warrior Dash 2012 Official. Let the warrior training begin.

Helping me get my butt into shape, one of my 2012 goals!

and it's never too early to be thinking about Resolutions Page Turner!

Bass Pro & Lights

A fun joyous splendid... well a night with the family. We all shoved into A.Drama's Equinox and headed to the river. With only a few navigational errors and 3 wrong turns we found our happy selves at the Bass Pro Shop. A seemingly uneventful/uninteresting feat for you fancy city-fied folk, but for us simple small town peeps, we probably were a little too excited about it... ok well I was probably a little bit too excited about it. I can't help it, it's not everyday you get to go to a store the size of five counties complete with a boat showroom AND and underwater themed bowling alley AND every piece of camo clothing you could ever imagine. It did not disappoint. That place is HUGE! and literally everything imaginable for all your outdoor needs are available under one roof.

While the Bass Pro shop was not our ultimate trip destination but a happy detour, the main reason for our visit to the city by the river was to experience the Festival of Lights. While we didn't see the lights with the wide-eyed wonder of a child like we once did, we all Ooo'd and Ahhh'd. Here's a few of our favorite displays..

Twenty-Twelve is coming

and I am bound and determined to make it a great year. I mean come on it's an even number year AND a leap year, good things are bound to happen in a leap year right?! RIGHT?!?!

The last few months have been a little rough and I'm in need of a change of pace. I know it's cliche' and I've said it before, but something just feels different this time. Hopefully in the next couple weeks I'll know for sure if how 2012 is going to start but none the less I have big things in mind.

I already know several things on the list but I want to have a good number started before I begin to share. It's going to be a list updated frequently as the year progresses. I really hope it's a good year.

So be sure to stay tuned in the coming weeks as I put it all on the line and share my goals. Is anyone else getting a jump start on resolutions?



                                                                                  ... coming soon!

A Stream of Random Thoughts from Inside my Head

I don't have anything terribly exciting to share but I do have a few things running through my mind this evening.

* Pinterest. Yep still addicting
* Why did I not have an Elf on a Shelf making sure I was being nice and creating mischief wherever he went. This is too cute and I can't wait until I can do that
* The Kardashians are like a trainwreck I know I need to stop so their rein can end but if I flip past E! they are always on and I can't help myself.
* Winter TV doesn't hold my interest very well
* I was disappointed with the way SOA ended, I was expecting more.
* I'm already thinking about some New Year's resolutions- must be bored.
* As the days go by 9pm seems more and more acceptable as a bed time.
* Crazy marathon of OT begins this weekend.
* OL thinks I don't work enough OT, I think she just misses me when I'm not there
* I hope it doesn't snow like they say I have to get new tires
* Why haven't I got new tires?
* Oh yeah I'm a procrastinator
* Book Club book for November was Unbroken. I was on a blogcation and didn't write about it but today being Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day I thought I'd bring it up. I gave it a 5 it was good.
* Today I finally gave in and accepted my mother's friend request on Facebook. I hope I don't regret it. Merry Christmas Mom.
* I may have OCD or something wrong with me. I spent my entire lunch hour picking out a new 2012 daily planner. Seriously 45 minutes. What's with that?
* I saw a commercial for an animated Napoleon Dynamite really?
* Are you still reading this?
* I bought Luke Bryan's new CD. I like it. Wish it wasn't so mushy mushy lovey dovey. barf.
* There aren't enough single girl anthems/CDs to rock out to. I might have to break out some old Kelly Clarkson.
* While I enjoy Christmas and all it's cute decorations I don't really like this time of year at this juncture. December-February 14th is what I like to call couple season, not so joyous when you aren't in a couple.
* Is Pinterest > Facebook?
* I saw a commercial for Now that's what I call Music 40. Wow I remember when it was in the single digits.
* I am in desperate need of some kind of change.
* I wish family members could gift vacation time, my dad has a crazy amount and I could really use some.
* I went to Germany.  OL ;)
* OL gets annoyed when I mention Germany. I try to mention Germany every day.
* Germany is located in Europe. You need a passport to go there :D
* Still thinking about what I want to accomplish in 2012
* I saw the Page Turner at the bookstore today
* I bought a magzine while there- Real Simple the Holiday issue.
* I'm going to go look through that.
* Hope you enjoyed this episode of Thoughts Inside my Head :)

Month Long Blogcation

Well after about a month off from blogging and about a month of pinning on Pinterest and one batch of amazing cake batter pudding cookies, I'm back. It hasn't been a very blog worthy or exciting month. Haven't really done much other that work watch a lot of tv and rot my brain on the internet. But this weekend I was able to get out of the house a wee bit and get a few things done.

I was happy that December granted us a decently warm day with a high around 55 I was able to finally get the bike ready for the winter. I was looking for it to be a quick little production with a brief ride around town and a stop for gas and I'd be on my way home... if only things were that simple. When I shut it off while I got gas and went to start back up and click click, dead battery. Apparently it had been a bit longer since I had the bike out than originally thought. So my awesome brother and dad came and I had the first experience of push starting a bike.


After we got that all settled and done we headed off the air museum to hear a real Navy Topgun instructor talk about his time as an instructor and a few behind the scenes stories of the making of the movie Top Gun, Dave 'Bio' Baranek along with some of his fellow instructors did the flying scenes in the movie. He was also there promoting his book with stories from his Navy days. It was actually really cool to hear him talk about the movie and some of his stories and his F14 fly days even telling us about one time when he had to eject as his plane was going over the edge of the carrier. His book Topgun Days and his website www.topgunbio.com has great pictures and stories as well, worth taking a look if you're interested in any of that stuff.

I thought it might rain but luckily it held off all but a few sprinkles so we were able to watch the annual lighted Holiday parade in GC. I love this time of year because all the trees downtown have pretty white lights on them and it just helps you get in the Christmas mood.

The last couple of month's haven't been the easiest and I"m happy that this year is finally winding down. I'm ready for 2012 hopefully a leap year will bring me some luck.

I'll try not to stay away so long again. Hope you've waited it out and are excited to read some new bloggin! ;)