Long days

Well, it has almost been a week since we arrived in Rapid City and frankly it feels like it has been a lot longer. Our days have been long and a bit up in the air. We have a schedule now, but our days end up being chopped up into bits and pieces. This is really no ones fault, but rather how it has to be with 4 cooks and the size crowd of people we have to feed.

My “typical” day consists of waking up around 6 and getting to the kitchen by 6:30 (no shower in the morning for me as I like my sleep so much more than being clean). We work on the meals for the day and serve breakfast (7:30am)/clean until about 9 then we take a break until 10:30. At this point we head back over and begin the lunch shift. This shift ends around 1:30 or 2 and we have an afternoon break until about 4. Dinner is served at 6 and we can get out of there by 7:30 (although this will be earlier as the student workers become more efficient in their tasks and we don’t need to be there to supervise). So yeah, my day is a bit choppy. We get one full day off a week and then 3 meals off at random throughout the week. The bad part is that Neile and I do NOT get time off together. We are trying to think of ways where we can at least get a dinner off together, but that could be hard as that is the biggest meal of the day. We’ll see.

I’ve struggled with being here on and off and I am not sure why. I don’t know if it is because of the unknown that lies ahead (am doubtful of this as I haven’t had time to even think about that yet) or the lack of schedule until this point or the feeling of being trapped on campus because everyone depends on you for food (or perhaps it is more just the loss of independence) or the loss of feeling of connected to people or even that my life has been so crazy for the past 2 months and it is just now hitting me hard. Neile and I have worked on this some by taking short hikes or at least getting some kind of physical activity each day. This has helped, but I am at a loss for what the cause is…probably a combination of everything.

There are also challenges to working with your spouse that I knew would be there, but have still been challenges we are working to overcome. Our life has been so filled with work lately that it is hard to not only talk about that. You know the whole - leave work at work thing. Yeah, we’re working on that one.

On a much lighter note here is the amazing view we have each day from our apartment. These were taking from our balcony.

And here is Montezuma. He is located on the back wall of our cafeteria. Any guesses as to why the staff has dubbed him with this name? hee hee hee

We have arrived

Well, we made it, although I have to admit it seems like just barely. =)

Last week was intense. Neile’s last day was Tuesday. My last day was Wednesday. We began packing on Thursday, got my car approved on its emission’s test and then packed some more on Friday, and even more packing on Saturday (although Saturday hardly counts as we took the time to get some sleep and went to a friends wedding for most of the day). We also attempted to say quick goodbyes to friends and family each of those nights. Then came moving day. Thank goodness for good friends! We managed to fit all of our junk stuff into a storage locker. There it will sit until…well, we still don’t know the answer to that one. Of course we weren’t able to complete all of our packing before the big moving day so Neile and I spent all of Monday finishing up and cleaning our apartment. Then we handed over our keys to our first home together. And wow that was just wild. The first of many I suppose.

Actually, while I was packing up the last of the boxes all that kept going through my mind was “I wonder where I will be when I open this up again?” Some days this is a big struggle for me. What is coming next? How can we plan for a future that is so completely unknown? There are definitely some things that we want to do that have been put on hold because of this uncertainty and frankly that just is hard at times. Other times it is exciting to think of this mini adventure we have entered into. It is pretty amazing that we have this opportunity to work so closely together for the summer, to do ministry together in a way we haven’t been able to before. Pretty exciting. So for now I am trying to take advantage of those times when this whole “what the heck is next?” thing is pretty exciting.

The past few days have been full days of setting up “camp” for the summer. There are 4 of us in the kitchen and it has been nonstop since we drove onto the camp property. In fact, I have been trying to get this posted and send out some emails for the past couple days, but have barely made it through the door of my apartment to my bed each night! Of course there is a lot of cleaning and disinfecting to do when the place is inhabited by animals 9 months of the year. I will try and post much more regularly and hopefully will have some fun stories to share.

The past week in a nutshell…

May have to check for more of
these after all the crazy settles down

The beginnings of the not so fun move

So close to being done!

Giving my love to Mitchell, SD

Mitchell giving some love of its own

Meet our good friend Zach. Doesn’t say much …perhaps the cat got more than just his thumbs.

In Denial

So today I found my first gray hair. Well, at least I think that's what it was. I have to say, I feel lucky right now with my light colored hair. Lucky in the sense that I really don't know if it is a gray hair or simply a hair that has lightened up a bunch from the sun. Unfortunately, I am leaning towards gray. Lucky for Neile, I have conveniently saved it for him to examine when he gets home from work.

Someday though I might be wishing my hair was darker. Ever notice how sometimes people with lighter colored hair don't really go gray? It is more like their hair just loses color.

Personally, I can't wait for see through hair!


Moving on...(although don't you like how my posts have already begun to exude "I have a Master's degree and will now only talk about deep meaningful things"?) Neile and I will be doing just that in the next week - moving that is. ughhh not looking forward to the packing, although I am sure the piles of empty boxes in my living room are. ughhh again. It seems like I finish one crazy thing (i.e. graduate school) only to start up another. Interesting thing about this instance is that we are moving only temporarily. See, now that I have graduated we both thought it was a good time to get a summer job...you know like we used to have back in high school and college. Well, this wasn't our ideal plan, but for now we can be excited about it while the two of us continue to look for a more permanent situation. So for this summer, Neile and I will be heading out to the Black Hills (That is South Dakota by the way) to cook for Wheaton College's Science Station. I am soo excited because I went to this very Science Station (oh let's just call it what it is...Science Camp) the summer of 2001 and it ended up being THE highlight of my college education. Of course my experience will be not even sorta similar this summer, but it will be beautiful and I will be working alongside my husband, and I can relive the good 'ole days...uh yeah.

I'm not going to miss certain things about this place...

Overheard as I am picking up my cap and gown:

In an overly whiny/I want to be the center of attention voice, “How come some are blue and some are black?”

I look at the student and simply say, “masters” as I walk off with my black cap and gown. (No I was not snobby about this at all, but I was the only one there with said black gown so I had to say something)

Holy Moly! I have a cap and gown and a tassel thingy--again. AND I get to wear a nifty hood…no idea what color though. Will find out soon, as in TOMORROW!!! Woot.

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You know what I learned today? When you graduate with a M.A. degree you don't do the whole move tassel from left to right like undergrad. Interesting...and I was given absolutely no explanation for this so that was the extent of my learning. Oh well, I am about to graduate, who said anything about continuing education?

Long Walk

Monday was the day. It was the day that I made my final walk across campus to complete an assignment. Literally, about a 5 minute walk, but it really took me about 3½ years to get there. And you know what? I am proud of myself for this degree. When I began this program back in the spring of 2004, I really was not interested in the degree itself, rather it was the experience I would gain and the classes that I could take that were appealing. However, now, I can’t believe I have actually finished all of the classes and work (and man there has been a lot of that lately) to earn a master’s degree. Yes, I earned it, which for some reason or another is hard for me to grasp sometimes.

As I was taking the final steps of my long journey my heart was racing a bit. A whole new chapter is about to begin and I hardly know what to do with myself. At the same time, this period of life, that I will never forget (especially my time at HoneyRock), will soon be part of my past and no longer my present.

So here’s to looking back on the past 3½ years:

48 master’s level credit hours – check
1 written comprehensive exam – check
1 oral comprehensive exam – check
1 mega internship paper – check
1 M.A. in Education Ministries – priceless (ha ha ha I wish! Hello student loans!)

Thanks so much for not giving up on me even though I have been mostly unavailable for the past months…you know who you are.


Oh and just so you know… (as in not related at all)
The glasses are cute, however the eyeballs are going crazy – and therefore my brain. Perhaps it is because I have a lazy lazy right eye that decided long ago to just let my left eye do all of the dirty work. (shame on you lazy right eye) So really, I am trying to reprogram my eyes/brain, but the headaches are not so fun. Three weeks into this and I can now wear my glasses/contacts a total of 1 hr and 30 min. And that’s progress! As of right now I do not feel safe driving with either of these corrective eye wear thingies, but the time will come.

I can see clearly now

Well, not exactly...

Last night I went shopping for glasses. I did not find any I loved...well, I did find one pair I really liked, but it had little rhinestones on the sides (not my thing) and try I might, I cannot get past those. Although you should have heard Neile and I trying to..."you could just paint them black or maybe we could pop them out". I know it might take me awhile to find ones I love as I am used to seeing my face sans glasses, but I think there is also some reluctance on my part.

My main concern is my prescription. I really am worried it isn't correct. I have absolutely no reason to doubt my eye exam other than my gut feeling. Well, and the doctors office seemed a little ghetto/sketch to me (Neile agreed). I know the doctor must be accredited so he has to be under some set of standards, and yet I still doubt. I think this is due to the seemingly high prescription for my one eye. Yes, I can tell it is weaker, but I just didn't think it was that bad.

So now I am left concerned. What if it is wrong?! Will I get stuck with a bad prescription for a whole year? Will it ruin my eyes even more? This is something I want a second opinion on, if only for my piece of mind....but my insurance won't cover another exam. Ughhh. I really don't know what to do.

Of course there is the real possibility that my doubt is most likely founded in my reluctance to get glasses - as well as my total ignorance in all things glasses. Why is this so hard for me? I mean most people wear glasses!

I’m pretty sure they call it envy.

I’ve been having a hard time the last month or so. There have been too many friends with babies and baby showers and talk of having babies and reading about babies. Yes, I am experiencing baby envy and let me tell you, I do not enjoy it in the least.

The truth of the matter is I so desperately want to have a child. I want to know what it is like to have a baby growing inside of me – to watch my belly grow. To dream of what they will be like or look like. To hold them, feed them, protect them, play with them and love them until it doesn’t feel like I could love anymore.

Confession: I find my self hoping every month that I am that small percentage of people that birth control doesn’t work.

I know that to have a baby this instant would really be more than just a little hard. Mostly because I’m still in school and Neile is fundraising his own salary, but also because our life right now is so incredibly busy that we hardly have time to do the things we really want to do, much less keep up with the things we need to do (take for instance making dinner, laundry, buying myself some glasses!).

Recently I saw a childhood friend. It was her baby shower. She looked great and so excited about her baby girl (due in 3 months). I am so excited for her and the adventure she has entered into, but I am also sad because I want that for me.

I’ve always wanted children. When I was single I would dream of motherhood and being a wife to an amazing man. Now that I am a wife to an amazing man those dreams of motherhood have only intensified. I know I can’t/shouldn’t spend all of my energy looking forward to the future or what may come and enjoy the present joys, but right now it is just hard.

I know I must wait, but this just brings up new fears. What if we wait too long (I know I am still young-ish)? Or what if nothing happens? Fears I try to fight, but also realize are a real possibility.

There are many things in life I have had to wait for. There are many unknowns I’ve had to face. There are many insecurities I’ve had to address. Through all of this I know I have not done it on my own, nor, thankfully, will I have to face my future unknowns alone.

“It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Deuteronomy 31:8

So for now, I sit and wait knowing that is what I must do.

Things I’ve learned in the last month or so…

If your hair doesn’t have enough protein, it takes forever to dry (or so says the hairdresser). I found this interesting as it shot my theory of “I have a lot of hair” to nothingness. So how does one go about putting protein in their hair? Well, it is simple really: buy shampoo that has protein in it. Oh…that clears it all up. Thanks! I did manage to find a shampoo that had “soy and protein” or something on it that was still in my budget. Go me!

Boundaries need to be set with new technology…for the sake of my marriage as well as overall health (sleep much?)

Eating more responsibly really does pay off. Can you believe it has been 5 weeks since I started this whole thing? Okay, so I admit that I haven’t exactly been good this week about writing things down, but I have still been good about watching and making mental notes! Still working on that whole exercise thing…maybe in May, no, June I’ll start that up.

Eye firming/wrinkle reducing cream has entered into my world. After trying sleep and more sleep, I still haven’t been able to get my “engagement-induced” under eye circles to go away. I can’t be that old can I?!?!

I need glasses. I am still really struggling with this; in fact, I had the appointment a whole 2 weeks ago and literally have not had a free night to pick some out. Ever been to the eye doctor and had them ask in total disbelief, “You don’t wear glasses?!?!” No, it isn’t that bad, as I hardly noticed it (only in my right eye and I am extremely left eye dominant…hmmm any connection perhaps?).

I cannot plan a meal/go grocery shopping if I am totally sleep deprived. Just ask my husband about that one…I am sure he will agree. Truthfully, it is at these times that I just break down and say “let’s just have pizza” (and no that does not fit into the “nicole eat more responsibly so her clothes will fit plan”).

I have an especially hard time waiting to hear about something that feels like a “sure thing”. As opposed to something that could go either way.

I possibly have to finish my internship paper before graduation. Crap. Graduation is May 5th; I can’t even start this paper until April 16th because of another huge project I am working on (for my oral comprehensive exam)! Hmmm…can I even do this paper justice?

Working full-time and finishing graduate school is hard on my relationships (friends, family, and even just the random people I interact with). Okay, so I knew that last semester too, but this semester blows last semester out of the water.

I know there is more, much, much more, but that is all I've got in me for now.

Happy Easter!

Once you go Mac you'll never go....Uhhhhh

Well, the verdict is still out.

Last night Neile and I purchased our very first computer together (aren't we just so grown up!). Well, after being brought up very much in the PC world, we ventured into the world of Apple computers...while praying that whole time that our families wouldn't disown us. We'd been talking about it for months (as in, since September) and decided that we would get a computer as our anniversary gift to each other - and we were excited. So last night we put down the big bucks and got ourselves an iMac.

Ohhh it is so pretty and shiny....ohhh it is so big (20" monitor)....ahhh there are only 2 cords....arrghh it Doesn't. Turn. On!

What the heck!

So yes, the verdict is still out, but for now we are off to the Apple service center... And we were so excited :(

This has gone too far!

I know that I have said it before, but cell phone use has just gone too far! I try and fight it, but I know that I am just as guilty as the next at being too reliant on my phone.

For example:
Working at a college one sees some pretty strange things, but yesterday tops the cake for me. I was out enjoying the unseasonably warm (whoa! we were actually in the 60's!) weather when I noticed something very odd. Two students tossing the football back and forth in front of their campus house--I know, I know, not so odd. But, I certainly was entertained watching them figure out how to catch and throw the football with one hand. Yes, it seemed their other hand was not available as it was already occupied with.....yes their cell phone.

Both of them were talking on their cell phone!!! Ridiculous.

A Weighty Matter

I’ve been rather upset with myself the past 2 years (I am sure it has been longer, but I was blind to it) when it comes to my weight and my inability to make exercising a priority. I’ve started different exercising plans and have proceeded to do them for about…maybe 2-4 days. No pat on the back for me.

Mostly it comes down to my inability to be disciplined in the area of food as well as activity. I have no idea when this happened, because it has not always been the case! In fact, I used to have no problem being disciplined (yes, I still was tempted and had to fight that off, but I was disciplined gosh darn it and was able to at least stick with my plan). But alas, that has gone and I haven’t been able to stick with any sort of plan.

I realize that some of this is because I am married…but definitely not because of Neile. The simple fact that there is another person’s schedule to account for does create logistical and time problems. No I don’t want to workout for an hour after work and then go home and cook dinner (much easier when my mom was doing the dinner cooking!) and I don’t want to be on an opposite schedule from Neile (Yes! I love to spend time with my husband).

So in the interest of figuring out how to handle this lack of discipline dilemma I have created a plan! Don’t laugh, because I am very hopeful about this plan. I like to call it the “Nicole eat more responsibly so her clothes will fit plan”. Basically I am counting calories and fat and weighing myself once a week. Yes, I have created a spreadsheet (nerd that I am) and keep track of every item I eat. The motivation of knowing I have to account for the calories and fat I consume has definitely been helpful. (Many pieces of chocolate have been spared the jaws of death)

Well, I have just finished a whole week of my plan and so far so good. I am even beginning to feel good about my ability to be disciplined. I don’t believe I am over the hump yet (as the cravings have only just begun), but I am getting there. And while I have not yet incorporated actual exercise into my plan (note it was simply “eat responsibly”) that will come. Right now it is simply baby steps – and if you have ever witnessed a kiddo trying to walk for the first time you’ll know what I mean. Wish me luck!

Sidenote: Look at me blogging like a real blogger...possibly because I am bored out of my mind!!!

This is not your bachelor pad anymore!

So last night as I am getting ready for bed I hear a strange noise from the kitchen.

Oh that was just the refrigerator door opening.
(no big deal...Neile must be getting a drink before bed)

Then I hear the distinct sound of the 2-liter bottle of seltzer water open.
(nothing unusual about that)

Then maybe 3 sec. later I hear the cap being screwed back on. I wait for the sound of the trash can opening (gotta give the benefit of the doubt)...nothing except the bottle being put on the shelf and the fridge door shutting again.
(No no no he did not do what I think he did!)
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Yes! He did exactly what I think he did! Arrgghhh....


CAVEMAN!

So how many times were you asked...

Now this past weekend could have a huge bearing on the future life of Neile and Nicole. And I can tell you overall, it was good. We went on a little trip to see some friends and blah blah blah. I will have to fill you in on the details at a later date. More importantly, I had the pleasure of being asked the same question over and over again for 4 days straight! (don't worry I was nice...I think) I do understand that this is mainly because I was in a different place and around people I am not normally around, but still...it is hard enough juggling school and work and home and friends and family and marriage without also having to think about my future! And I do realize that this is something I need to figure out.

You know what question I'm talking about right? "What are you going to do after you graduate?" Gee that is a good question...hadn't thought about that before. (sarcastic - who me?!?)

Actually that is the one question at the forefront of my thinking most days. And no I don't have an answer, nor will I have an answer for you any time soon! It is times like these that I wish someone would just tell me what to do (and...it would end up being perfect)

It's Official

This just in....I have passed my comprehensive exams! Huge sigh of relief. I just found out yesterday and it is still just sinking in. Praise the Lord that I do not have to take that over again (and no I was not confident that it would turn out this way).

Now on to the next few projects...case study, write paper, write paper, and write even more papers.

May graduation cannot come soon enough.

I am not going outside Saturday....or Monday...or at all in the next 5 days!

Who said anything about hell freezing over?!?


In other news...I have no sense of smell. Yes, the sinus infection has taken this prized possession away from me. I suppose if you have to lose one of your senses this might be the one missed the least, but seeing as I normally have an overactive sense of smell it has been more than just a little odd.

Take this scenario for example - and yes it has happened more than once

Parent: Something really smells in the basement. I think an animal may have died above one of the ceiling tiles.
Me: Well, I can try and locate it. (proceed to basement sniffing out nasty rotting animal carcass)
Me: Smells like it is under one of these two tiles...hope that helps!

Nicole (current state of sinus infectedness): sticking head in a pot of onions, takes a big whiff...and nothing

Crazy!!! So if we come into contact and I happen to smell bad, cut me some slack as I really have no idea.

Oh and in case you were wondering....yes I can still taste food, just not as well.

Things I am looking forward to in February

Superbowl Sunday. While we aren’t sure exactly what we are going to do that day, one thing is for certain... We are so watching the Bears beat the Colts!

February 22nd – day after my comprehensive exams…inhale, exhale, inhale……exhale…must survive until that time

The end of winter…yes I know it will probably at least go until the end of February (let’s be honest – probably the beginning of March as well), but I can still hope can’t I!!!

Possible travel – when this might happen? Who knows? Where this might be? Well, I certainly know that, but you’ll just have to wait to see if it happens…

Valentine’s Day with my hubby. No we are not doing anything big, but I can still look forward to spending a special day with the man I love right?!

Getting a haircut. It has been approximately…well, entirely too long (give you a hint – it was not in the past 6 months…or maybe even 8…or…honestly don’t remember). I was given a wonderful gift card for my birthday to a nice haircutting kind of place from my wonderful in-laws and can’t wait to use it!

Continued enjoyment of a house that is completely too large for two people and a dog. Yes, my parents are gone on a cruise in the middle of the coldest days of winter with some of my favorite people! On the plus side…I am soo excited to own a home some day, that is smaller, and has less sidewalks/driveway to shovel (shout-out to Neile!)

An end to the sickness...including pink eye (yes you heard me right - what 27 yr old gets pink eye!!!) and a sinus infection.

First day of my last class!!!

Introductions: Hi my name is Nicole. I started this program spring of 2004 just for personal growth – now, 3 years later? Well, I have no idea what I want to do with my degree…perhaps work with young adults. My favorite book? Hmmmm Can’t really say one comes to mind - mostly because that kind of stuff doesn’t stick in my brain. I read a lot, but have only read one book twice in my life. Oh what book is that? Well, Memoirs of a Geisha. (Me totally red-faced because of course everyone else has been saying these life-changing Christian books!)

At least we all laughed at it….although who’s to say that all but me wasn’t laughing out of nervousness. I wouldn’t be surprised if they all left class praying for that poor dear girl and of course all of the people I would be ministering to once I get a degree in ministry. Yes, I will get my M.A. in educational ministries this May even if it kills me! Let’s just pray it doesn’t kill my marriage and friendships in the process….

A little upset right now.

So Neile and I went down to our apartment office this afternoon in order to pick up a package from Neile’s folks. We get there and the door is locked. A sign on the door reads, “We will be closed at 2pm today.” We look at our watch…it is only 1:50. Lights are still on in the office so we knock. And we knock. And we even knock some more (with a little more force). No answer.

We know we can’t get the package tomorrow because they aren’t open on Sundays and of course they will be closed on Monday. We quick run back to our apartment and call them….still only 1:57…no answer. Neile left a message expressing our disappointment (frankly I am glad it was him leaving the message and not me as I might not have been as nice). Ughhh I am so angry and disappointed. Don’t worry, I know I will get over it, but still. They didn’t even tell us they would be closing 3 hours earlier than normal! Ughhh.

Weekend Fun

Disclaimer: after reading back through this I realized it is so much longer than I thought. So no hard feelings if you don’t get through it all. =)

I never did tell you about our weekend. Of course it started out as a normal weekend---except for the Christmas shopping and mailing of packages. But wait I am already getting ahead of myself…

Waking up on Saturday I knew we had a lot to do before going to our small group Christmas party that evening. We had to scrounge around and find some boxes so we could mail off some goodies and presents – you know so that everyone would get them before Christmas. We decide to drive to Neile’s office because he had the “perfect” box for us to use. He runs in and I stay in the car waiting…and waiting. Then I hear it. A strange grinding noise. I have no idea where it is coming from, but am not really that worried. I am much more interested in watching a woman across the parking lot play with her child. There is the noise again…a bit louder. This time the woman looks at me in the car. Hmmmm slightly self-conscious – did she see me watching her.

Ugghhhh that sound again except this time it sounds like a huge piece of ice is being pushed back and forth on top of our car. I sit there and look around to see at least 4 people staring at me and our car and me acting like nothing is going on at all. I just know that Neile will be out any second---afterall he was just going to grab a cardboard box and come back. What the heck was taking him so long!

This time when the sound started again I got out of the car to see if there was in fact an ice sheet on top of our car creating the horrible noise. No ice sheet. Okay I definitely need to tell Neile. I walk into the building and see him standing their chatting with his boss while I am out in the car that is about to explode!! No panicking in my voice though while I ever so calmly say, “Neile, your car is making a bad noise and you need to come out right away.” Well, this isn’t a big deal to him apparently since he just keeps CHATTING. (Well, I should forgive this since it is his boss….but I really did think his car was going to explode or something awful)

Well, when Neile gets into the car that horrible noise is gone. There is a noise, but not bad at all. That just figures. So we start driving…and get about 10 feet when that ever so lovely noise happens again. Yes! I am not crazy. The decision is quickly made that our packages can be late if necessary, we need to go home and change cars before this one breaks down completely. The plan…drop the car off at the shop on our way to the Christmas party.

Well, fast forward through long post office lines, shopping, insane traffic, present wrapping, food making, and we are off to the Christmas party.

I follow Neile in my car. Yes, I pretty much lost him after about a block of driving. Dumb lights. Not to worry because about 10 minutes later there is a slow down in traffic at a 3 way stop. Hmmmm…what could that be about? Oh dear, there is Neile running alongside his car and two guys (no clue who these angels are) pushing from the back. They end up pushing the car to a nearby church. From here we proceed to call the towing company (Thank goodness for AAA!). By now, the 6:00pm Christmas party has started and I still have a huge dish of potato casserole in my back seat. Oh well, it could always be worse right?!?

Well, towing man comes and takes us to the auto shop. Off we go to the Christmas party and it is only 7:45. Well, at least we made it to the gift exchange.

So that was Saturday. Sunday was a great and full day. We wake up a little early and roll some pineapple and water chestnuts in bacon for the Hawaiian potluck my family is having at noon. Pack up the gifts to celebrate Christmas #2 with my sister and her family for the afternoon and head to church. After church we go to my parents’ house. Let the eating commence! After eating some very interesting food and reminiscing about our time in Hawaii it is time for presents. Of course all of us are most excited about watching the crazy kids open their presents….and we were not disappointed as the hyperness ensued.

Neile and I had to make a quick exit from the Christmas celebration and head over to his office to go to a Hockey game with some of his coworkers. Yes, the Blackhawks won! Yes, we had box seats and lots of food! And yes, it was a super fun time.

What more is there to say…other than Neile and I were exhausted on Monday AND we still had a huge dish of potato casserole!

Who is that elf!

A friend of mine sent this to me and had me laughing so hard that I just had to do it myself! check me out