What A Year It's Been

A Little About Me:

Name: Mary

Age: 30

Favorite Food: Pho and Sushi

Favorite Activity: Running

Favorite Color: Red

Favorite Book: Cutting For Stone

Highlights From 2011:

Greatest Lesson Learned: With time, all things pass.

Hardest Thing Of The Year: Change

Favorite Memory: Finishing my very first 5k race under 30 minutes.

What I Loved Most About 2011: Turning 30!

Looking Forward To 2012:

Want To Learn: To take one day at a time (and truly believe and stick to it).

Want To Get Better At: Being a better wife, momma, friend and nurse. Making my health a bigger priority.

Biggest Goal: Finish a 10k under 1 hour (and maybe even train for a 1/2 marathon with my friends...we'll see)!!

December Daily {12.24.11}

CHRISTMAS EVE:

8:30am: Slept in, nice homemade breakfast, last minute packing and waiting for the girls last Christmas present to arrive in the mail so we could start our holiday vacation trip back to Montana.

11:00 Still no sight of arrival of the girls' NECESSARY gift. Last minute laundry and making beds. My friend Kelly arrives with the most awesome homemade jammie pants (one of my favorite gifts, btw).

12:00 Still no present. Send Chris and the girls for lunch and last minute errands as I do secret stuff at home.

2:00 Decide to let the girls open family/friend/godparent gifts (as these are things we cannot possibly take with us on the trip). Still no present. Quarrel with Chris awhile, as this was his job to order the present and why he didn't ever check the order confirmation. In his defense, I guess the order did process through his debit card.

4:30ish Still no gift. Chris calls manufacturer. No present is coming. Meanwhile, our friends Jason and Kelda arrive with more gifts for the girls.

5:00 Mad dash to Best Buy to pick up car DVD players (our gift to the girls). Pick up quick dinner (Wendy's chili).

6:00 Leave Bellingham, the beginning to our Christmas Holiday.

11:30pm Arrive in Spokane.

12:00 Midnight Mass

1:30 Check in to hotel, hoping Santa can find us (as we have been on both sides of the state).

2:00 BED

3:30ish Awaken to hear Red biting on Santa's leg...WHEW, he found us!!

December Daily {12.23.11}

There is something about a freshly painted manicure for Christmas!

December Daily {12.22.11}

Sealants for Piper and fillings for Paige today.

December Daily {Weekend Continued}

Christmas is quickly approaching, and there are just too few days. Last weekend Piper and Paige were in the ballet production of The Nativity Story. Piper a townsperson and Paige a townskid.

December Daily {12.20.11}

Holiday haircuts and Christmas jammies-GIRLS

December Daily {12.19.11}

Holiday haircuts and new bandannas-BOYS

December Daily {12.18.11}

This evening I went to my very first "Christmas Cookie Exchange". It's not so fun making 12 dozen (yes, I said that right) cookies, but it is so worth it when you take home 12 dozen different ones. My holiday baking is done and there is plenty to share with family, friends, and co-workers!

December Daily {12.17.11}

This morning was the annual neighborhood "Santa Stop". It was a beautiful December morning filled with friends, hot cocoa, candy canes and firemen!

December Daily {12.16.11}

The Nativity Story was the theme tonight for Paige's preschool pageant. She was chosen to play Mary and as you can tell, was ecstatic beyond words.

December Daily {12.15.11}

This is what 12 dozen cherry cheesecake cookies look like. I am sure glad I took this picture, because I will never make them again (super yummy, but a LOT of work).

Recipe found here.

December Daily {12.14.11}

Piper's Christmas List

December Daily {12.13.11}

Here are the PNP (portable north pole) videos sent to the girls today by Santa himself:

Paige

Piper

December Daily {12.11.11}

The Christmas Lists:

Daddy: Patagonia Sweater Jacket in Black

Mommy: Finished remodel of our master bathroom

Piper: Justice clothes, Wii and "Just Dance 2" (Wii game), and a water bottle that doesn't leak.

Paige: Wii and "Just Dance 2", Justice clothes, baby crib and accessories.

December Daily {12.10.11}

My very first 5K was the annual Jingle Bell Run. So excited to finish under 30 minutes (29mins and 45secs to be exact)!!

December Daily {12.9.11}

Big run tomorrow, and what better way to make an entrance than a team of beautiful ladies in their red tutu's!!

December Daily {12.8.11}

Today I picked up my number for the race on Saturday. Starting to get really nervous...wish me luck!!

December Daily {12.7.11}

Do you know what is absolutely great? Coming home from work to homemade Christmas cookies.

Do you know what is absolutely not? The average person gains 7#'s during the holidays.

MUST REFRAIN FROM COOKIES!

December Daily {12.6.11}

The Christmas letters were sent.

December Daily {12.5.11}

If only we could live in a house made out of candy!

O' Christmas Tree '11

December Daily {12.4.11}

Piper's own version of the "December Daily".