Bachelorette weekend

Greg and friends, Ryan and Chris, have left the warm Texas weather and headed to brave the chilly temperatures in Keystone, Colorado. Today's forecast...snow with a high of 10 degrees! Yikes! It took a little longer to get there then they expected given that their GPS left out a crucial connection between two highways. They were expecting to get in around 4 or 5 this morning. Fortunately, Keystone has night skiing, so they can still get in plenty of snowboarding when they wake up today!

As for myself, I've got a nice relaxing weekend planned. I'm going to hopefully finish Christmas shopping and get the house cleaned before we head to St. Louis next week.

Greg brought the digital camera and his new video camera to Keystone, so hopefully there will be awesome pictures and videos when they return. Really, I'm just praying that no one gets hurt and that Greg gets back in time to leave for St. Louis on Wednesday! I know they'll have a great time and it's going to warm them up for another snowboarding trip in March. Hopefully I'll actually get to go to that one!

We're PREGNANT!!!!!

Or as Greg likes to say, "Lisa's pregnant, I'm just eating for two!" Here are our first pictures. We're so excited! Our first sonogram was at 6 weeks (I thought I was 8...oops! Long cycle!) and we were not really able to see very much. Just a yolk sack or something. We went for our second sonogram today. I'm about 9 weeks along and the baby is looking good. The heart rate was 172 bpm and he/she/it is measuring at a whopping 2.64 cm! Today we were actually able to see the baby moving their hand. I can't wait until I can actually feel all that moving! And it was much easier than I thought to figure out what things were on the sonogram. Very fun!

So far I've been feeling pretty good. Initially I was just getting a little nauseous at 11p.m., so I just went to bed and woke up feeling much better! More recently I've been having a little "morning sickness", but I just eat a little breakfast and I'm good for a few hours! Mostly my "sickness" is just annoying, so I'm very blessed with that. Lately I've been super hungry and have the strongest cravings! About 3 hours after I eat, I'm ready for a snack! And until a couple days ago all I wanted to eat was fast food and anything salty. Now I can actually stand the thought of vegetables and fruit. But I'd take something salty over anything else right now.

Other fun pregnancy things that I've noticed...My sense of smell is out of control! I was at Mass the other day and I could not figure out what I was smelling. Then I realized that I could smell the wine that was sitting about 20' away! I thought I was going to have to move. And at work the baby's bands reek! One of the good things that I've found about my new heightened sense is that if I'm feeling nauseous, I can just smell the Black Jasmine Vanilla candle from Bath and Body Works and I'm instantly better! Another thing I've realized is that my emotions are a little on edge lately. I think I've been pretty good so far (no tantrums or crying fits yet!) But at Mass the other day (I wonder why am I figuring all these things out at Mass?) there was a little girl playing the violin with the band and I nearly lost it! I don't even know why! And then they had three kids dressed up as the three Wise Men this Sunday and I about lost it again! I'm worried about having more of these hormones flowing later in pregnancy! The only other thing that's been heightened is my gag reflex. When I brush the back of my tongue I swear I could throw up if I brush too long! That's nasty, I know. But just another thing I've noticed!

Weddings and early morning shopping

This past Friday my best friend from high school got married! I was honored to be a part of their big day and the wedding was wonderful! Katie is so creative and you saw that in every aspect of their special day. The church was beautiful. I thought this picture that Greg took was neat.

Here is a picture of the gorgeous bride and groom.

Me and two of the other bridesmaids, Julie and Kayte, talking with Kelly after the wedding. Kelly just had her baby, Mason, 2 weeks ago! He was so sweet! They are all good friends from high school. I love that even though we all live in different cities now, we have a great time together on those special occasions we do get to hand out! I'm so lucky to have such great friends!

Greg and I at the reception and Mike, who was Greg's table mate and took our picture so we didn't have another arms length picture of the two of us!

The rest of the weekend was great. We did lots of shopping...well, mostly browsing because there wasn't any room in our suitcases to bring things home. I did get up at 4:45 Friday morning to go online to buy something for my sister who was outside waiting in long lines at the stores. Unfortunately the website crashed and when it came back up at 6am the item was sold out online. I felt bad that I wasn't able to get what she wanted, so I got in the car and drove to the store at 6:30! They were so busy! I had to park at the back of the lot and when I got in the store things were madness! There were people waiting in lines that started at the registers and wove through aisles to the back of the store! Needless to say, they were sold out at the store too. So I hopped in the car and went home, just to get dressed so I could go help set up for Katie and Erik's reception!

On Saturday night we got a little bit of snow in St. Louis! It melted by the afternoon, but it was pretty while it lasted!

And on top of all the celebrating, visiting with friends and family and shopping, Greg was able to get all of his hours billed! Woohoo! He has been working so hard and I'm so proud of him! And he came home and ate lunch with me today! What more could I ask for?!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We hope everyone had a relaxing day and plenty to eat! We're up in St. Louis this weekend and had Thanksgiving at my parent's house. It was delicious as always! I can't wait for leftovers the rest of the weekend! Because today always reminds us to focus on the things we're grateful for, I made a quick list I'm thankful for this year...

- our wonderful family and friends that we love

- being able to SEE and VISIT those family and friends

- an amazing husband that works so hard every day and NEVER complains

- that same husband who is allowing us to spend both Thanksgiving and Christmas in chilly St. Louis this year

- our (family and friends included) good health

- the delicious Starbucks hot chocolate I got at the airport this morning

- the Shout and washer/dryer that took the hot chocolate stain out of my jeans when we arrived in St. Louis (I was pretty clumsy this morning!)

- a FIVE DAY weekend (including Monday!)

- talking with my brother in Italy on the video phone and his safety overseas

- our freedom and safety

- being able to celebrate with Katie and Erik at their BIG DAY tomorrow!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! Enjoy the leftovers!

Christmas Survey

Usually I don't take the time to fill these out. But I was cracking up with some of the answers my friend Leah sent. So I thought I'd do my own!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Absolutely wrapping paper! I love having nice 45 degree angles and sharp corners on my presents. I look forward to spending hours on end getting them just right!

2. Real tree or Artificial? That's a no brainer for me! Real!

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually sometime soon after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? Typically the end of January unless it has become a fire hazard from not getting enough water!

5. Do you like eggnog? Not so much.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I'm not sure. The only thing that comes to mind is an air hockey table. It was very fun!

7. Hardest person to buy for? Probably Greg...I honestly don't know that I've ever gotten him anything that he's really liked! What can I say, I like practical gifts...Greg, not so much!

8. Easiest person to buy for? Mom and Dad. They always like what we get them (or at least pretend to!)

9. Do you have a Nativity scene? No, but maybe that's what I'll ask for this year!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. Unfortunately sometimes they are more like New Years card! Oops!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I think I'm pretty easy to please and I've liked everything I've ever gotten!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Hands down...A Muppet's Christmas Carol! Love it! And I just got the special edition on DVD last year! I could watch that movie 100 times each year!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Throughout the year, but mostly after Thanksgiving.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I doubt it. I tend to like the gifts I get and want to keep them for myself!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? I'll agree with Leah on this one and say "everything"...except cheesecake.

16. Lights on the tree? Absolutely!

17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night

18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? In order to see my family travel is required.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph! (I took that from Leah too!)

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angels

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Both with my family!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? I don't know. I can't think of anything right now. Ask me December 26th!

23. What theme or color are you using? Again, no clue! Let's go with..random!

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey and lasagna!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I already got it! A lateral file and a scanner for receipts! So excited! I'm going to be so organized!

Oh Happy Day!

Hopefully you all won't have that song stuck in your head like I do! Anyways, I'm so happy because we got my car back yesterday! It looks great! They replaced both bumpers, both back lights and a front light along with something called a rear end panel. And they washed and vacuumed it! Oohhh! Very nice! And the trunk closes! What a luxury, I know! It's so nice to drive my own car again. But I did go ahead and double the mileage on the rental car in the 3 weeks that we had it! Off to start the weekend! Have a great one!

Eagles, all-you-can eat sushi, babies and veterans!

We had awesome fall weather in Dallas this weekend. It was in the low 70's and sunny! Perfect weather for being outside. Greg and I went up to Plantation Golf Course in Frisco, which was a pretty nice course. On two of the holes you literally drive through the middle of a pond! Good thing Greg was driving! I would have turned around because I thought we were going the wrong way!


This is the view right before you drive across the pond. I was a little frightened because there was moving water on one bridge we drove over! I thought we were going to get swept away!

Greg played really well. Look at that perfect form. He made several birdies and an eagle throughout the day! Very nice!Greg multitasking...it's hard to see, but he's talking on the phone while chipping the ball left-handed onto the green. Don't worry that he's so close to the fence! I think the previous shot went a little too far to the right!

After golf, we met up with friends at an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant. Fortunately no records were broken this time! The last time we went Ryan ate 49 pieces of sushi! He tried for 50, but all the rice expanded in his stomach and he couldn't fit another one in! This time we all left full, but not too stuffed!

This weekend we also found out that some of our friends welcomed their new baby girl into the world! We can't wait to see pictures! We're so happy and excited for them! And tonight I'm going to visit a friend from Pate whose baby is a couple months old! I'm so excited! I haven't seen her since I left.
Enjoy Veterans Day tomorrow! Click here for a brief explanation of Veterans Day.