On to the new year!

Christmas is over now...on to 2010!  Shawn and I made it back home (Mimi & Ian - and the doggies - are safe back in Texas as well).  It took quite a bit to make our apartment livable again after all the visitors we had...but we did it!  The apartment is clean, laundry is all done, the bathrooms are restocked with toilet paper :)  The Christmas stuff is all still up because I just can't take it down yet.  I love my Christmas tree...maybe I'll take it down in a week or so.

Shawn & got a game for the Wii called Smarty Pants from Theresa and it is so much fun!  We played a few games and we each won a couple so additional rematches will be necessary.  We had such a good time playing though.  There is a part where you can try to steal a question from the other player if they already buzzed in but you know it.  In order to actually steal it though, you and the other player have to have a "tug of war" using the wii remotes.  Oh wow!  We did that once and it was so hard!  Both of our arms were sore afterward!  Haha!  But I won so it is ok :)

Today is the time to get stuff sorted and put away, while also getting all the bills and stuff that I've been putting off taken care of.  Shawn will FINALLY have health insurance again once Jan 1 rolls around, so I needed to take care of some stuff with that (gotta love making calls to Blue Cross Blue Shield).  Also we decided to change our Netflix stuff around, which turned out to be slightly more complicated than I though, so I had to make a call to them and luckily the guy I spoke to was SO nice!  Also needed to update some stuff with the renters insurance, so of course more calls for that...then to deal with Comcast who are a bunch of idiots!  I also put a digital copy of Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince on my iPod, so that will be fun for work tonight!  Woohoo! I got some new Christmas music as well as the new Rob Thomas CD for Christmas so those have been added to my music library as well.  Love it! Oh well, I got all my stuff taken care of and now it is time for a nap before work!

Indy visit

Today was our last Christmas...with the Mannings.  We did our normal Christmas Eve thing but not on Christmas Eve this year.  Shawn and I got our gifts from Dave as well as a little something from Colleen & the girls. I got the 4th season of Bones (which is awesome!) as well as Wii Sports Resort.  Shawn and I are really excited to play that!  Shawn got a couple of gift cards and a graphic novel he wanted.  We had a great time hanging out with Haley & Holly too. We played Twilight Scene It (kind of...we couldn't find the remote to the DVD player).  I think Haley & Holly are gonna come over tomorrow too since its our last day here.

Shawn and I drove to Indy for dinner with Theresa & Albert.  It was so nice hanging out with them for awhile, although it just doesn't feel exactly right without Andrew.  We went out to dinner at Texas Roadhouse (yummy) then we went back to Theresa's place to play a new game she got called Apples to Apples.  It was so fun!  Albert won.  We also played a sword game on the Wii Sports Resort.  Albert calls it Swordsies.  It is basically walking along and killing people with a sword.  Sweet!  I played too and I am awesome at the easy levels...we'll see how good I am when I get to the hard levels though!

Tomorrow is going to be a chill day since it our last day here as well as Mimi & Ian's last day here.  We are gonna do some after Christmas shopping (for like wrapping paper and cards and stuff), then some of us are gonna go see Avatar (no one has seen it except us), then we are gonna have Puerto Vallarta for dinner (yummy).  When we got home this evening we got to see the doggies :)  I love to play with my sweet Annie Puppy Girl.  She is starting to look old though...she muzzle is getting gray hairs.  Poor baby!  I am getting tired though, so time for bed.

Three Christmases

Christmas has come and gone and as usual it has been a whirlwind for us!  We have three of our typical four Christmases done though and we might get to relax and just enjoy having Mimi & Ian here on Monday!

We did Christmas in Chicago on Christmas Eve with my Dad's family and my Aunt Mel & Uncle Glenn's house.  Since Mom, Eric, Sara, Ian & Mimi were all staying with me we all went together.  It was a blast!  Eric got to enjoy the full experience that is my Dad's side of the family!  Loud & crazy but really fun!  I had to cut out early though because I had to work that night (Boo!). I did get a chance to exchange gifts with Dad & Ana before I left and they got Shawn & me both Blackhawks Jerseys!  They are so awesome!  We both wore ours today :) 

Christmas morning when I arrived home from work Mom, Eric, Sara, Mimi, Ian and Shawn were all awake and ready for presents!  Our stockings were all hung neatly by the window.

Plus there were a ton of presents under the tree!  (There are a bunch you can't see crammed behind that couch...haha)

We changed the normal Christmas rules and let mom open her presents first.  She got some movies she wanted (Star Trek of course!) and we also got her this personalized family tree ornament that has all six of our names on it!

Next was Eric's turn.  He got some fun stuff (like the Star Trek Communicator from mom) as well as some useful stuff (a super cool tie from me).  Of course there were movies in his pile...there always are.  Not too bad!

Sara had a pretty good pile too, especially when you consider that Mimi almost forgot Sara's presents back in Muncie.  Oops :)  But it was fine...they were all there for her to open.  Sara loved the new season of LOST from us as well as her jar of Baconnaise from Mom.  If you watch John Stewart you'll know why that is hilarious!

Shawn got The Complete Series of That 70's Show from Mom, which is something her really wanted!  Plus since he and I decided not to get presents for each other this year we each just got one small present and these are the awesome Colts jammie pants I got him.  He loves that they match his Colts Christmas hat :)

Shawn wrapped my present all by himself...which is fairly evident if you look at it! He got me the 3rd season of Bones to go with seasons 1 & 2 that I got with birthday money from his parents.  Yay!  We also got some good movies, like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Chipmunk Adventure, Up, & Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince.  We'll have plenty to watch!  I also got a sweet travel glass from Starbucks that I have been wanting.

Mimi & Ian got some presents too but apparently we forgot to take pictures of them.  I promise they were there :)  We all got good stuff and had a great time together!  Mimi, Mom, Sara & I played The Beatles Trivial Pursuit while dinner was cooking then we all played Scene It: The 80's later that night.  Scene It was pretty intense but we laughed a ton and that is what it is all about.  Ian & Mimi won, but Shawn and I have demanded a rematch!  Results to follow.

Today we headed toward Muncie with stop in Burlington to visit Shawn's family.  Shawn's parents got us some nice stuff including some Cubs Jersey shirts, a new wallet for Shawn and some Captain Morgan glasses for his drinks.  We had some lasagna and chatted for a bit before heading to Muncie to prepare for one last Christmas tomorrow with the Mannings.  P.S. We are wearing our new Hawks Jersey's in this picture!

Needless to say, we were all pretty exhausted after these few days!  I was napping too but seeing as this is my blog my sleeping picture did not make the cut!  Don't they look sweet? 

Tomorrow after the Manning Christmas we will pick up the dogs...I am so excited to see them!

P.S.

I almost forgot to mention (to those readers who don't know yet) that I am going to be an Auntie (finally) in June!  Baby Richardson is due to arrive on June 2nd!  Mimi and Ian are going to find out the sex in a couple of weeks!  We are all so excited!

It's Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Just got home from work a couple of hours ago and we all just finished opening presents and eating homemade biscuits and gravy (yummy).  Now to sleep a few hours (since I've been awake now for 26 hours or so) then Christmas dinner!

It's almost here...

Christmas is one of my favorite times of year for many reasons.

I LOVE my Christmas Tree.  It is totally unlike the tree I had growing up (not that I don't love your tree Mom...) and it is exactly me! It is all blue, white and silver...which is beautiful to me!  I wrap all the present matching paper so the entire look coordinates.  It makes me happy.

Christmas music makes me smile and often times it makes me cry.  Just today on the way to work I was listening to my Christmas playlist and ended up in tears.  There is just something about this time of year that gets my emotions all swirly. Songs about being away from those you love make me cry. Songs about children not having the kind of Christmas I was always able to enjoy make me cry.

Christmas lights and decorations are so cheerful!  I love to see stores all decorated and lights lining the streets.  The houses that go all out with lights all over the house and yard and with Santa & his sleigh on the roof make me smile (even though I DO NOT want my house to ever look this crazy).  People's homes all decorated with decorations made by the kids at school are so sweet.

Of course, we can't forget mistletoe.  What's Christmas without mistletoe :)  Mine is hanging in the doorway to the kitchen...but it's made of bells.  It's so cute!

My favorite thing about Christmas is being able to spend time with the people I love.  I get to see my family.  All of my families.  We do different things and have different traditions with each group, but they are all great!  We all eat too much food, laugh a lot, sing Christmas songs, watch Christmas movies, and play games (with a dose of healthy competition - I am so gonna beat Mimi & Ian and Twilight Scene It next week with my awesome partner Haley).

I am so glad that Christmas is almost here!

Avatar

As I mentioned in my last post, Shawn and I went to see Avatar on Friday. If you haven't heard of this movie yet then you must be living in a void because they have been talking about it for months now! James Cameron (director of Titanic) is the mastermind behind this movie. He has been dreaming up this film for over 10 years and finally has created the technology to make it possible. Special 3D cameras were created to allow the style of this film to become a reality, as well as some kind of headset that allowed the actors to visualize themselves in the environment of the planet Pandora while they were acting in motion-capture suits on green-screens.  There is much more to this aspect that I learned in an interview with Sigourney Weaver on The Daily Show.  She plays scientist, Dr. Grace Augustine in the film.  I will try to find a video of this interview because it was quite interesting.

This film takes place on a planet called Pandora.  Paraplegic Marine, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), is working with a team of scientists led by Dr. Augustine (Weaver) to study the planet of Pandora as well as the inhabitants, called the Na'vi.  He is also reporting to the military as he tries to find something the Na'vi people might want so that the military can negotiate a relocation due to their home being located on a huge reserve of a very precious, valuable mineral to the people of Earth.  Jake agrees to help the military in exchage for a sugery that will restore the use of his legs.  Dr. Augustine has created an "Avatar" identity for Jake (as well as herself and others) that allow them to explore the native environment and people.  Problems arise that cause some ethical dilemma's for Jake as he meets Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and she begins to teach him the ways of the Na'vi. 

The planet of Pandora was created in such detail that during the movie you really do feel as though you are there.  A linguist was hired by Cameron to create the Na'vi language and all the unique creatures were created specially for the unique environment of Pandora.  The reason there are scientists studying Pandora is partly due to it's unique biological nature.  The entire planet, including plants, trees, animals, as well as the Na'vi, seems to be interconnected by a series of neronal-like networks.  The Na'vi can literally connect there minds with the other life forms on the planet so the entire world is working in harmony.  One of the things about Pandora that was visually so interesting was the was this life force within the plants, animal and Na'vi shown out them.  Literally...there was a bioluminescence that eminated from all living things.  The Na'vi diety, called Ehwa, guided and protected this force.  It is hard to explain but extremely interesting and made visually for a stunning world that I wish really existed because I want to go there!

Shawn described this movie as a cross between Ferngully and Dances with Wolves, and I think that is a fairly good description.  As in Ferngully, the natives are trying to make the humans realized that the forest has a life force that is worth protecting and living in sync with while the humans simply want to come through and destroy for monetary gain.  Dances with Wolves is comparable just as other movies about the destruction of the Native American way of life are reflected in this film.  The people of Earth find something they want and simply because they are ignorant and money hungry the look past the unique aspects of the native people and try to displace them from their home and their way of life.  The message throughout the film is very touching and due to the amazingly realistic nature of the world of Pandora and the people of the Na'vi, you feel as though you are part of it.  The movie was quite long (over 2-1/2 hours) but it didn't feel that way at all.  I found myself gripping Shawns hand tightly many times because I was so involved in the film.  And of course we can't leave out the several times that I cried.  This film is one of the best movies I have seen and I can't wait to see it again!

Friday Out

Shawn and I had a great day Friday! We were both off work and had a full day planned. We spent all day in the city. It would have been nice to have had a nicer day (gloomy rain all day) but it was still nice. We drove downtown and went to see Avatar in 3D at the iMax at Navy Pier. The movie was awesome (further movie review to come...I just need to process it a bit more before). We ate lunch at Bubba Gump Restaurant, which was a first for both of us. It was delicious! Yummy shrimp. Then we walked around the Magnificent Mile for a couple of hours to do some shopping and look at the lights. We had a great day together.

My friend Sarah from work was having a surprise 30th birthday party for her husband downtown, which was the reason we came downtown. They are buying a condo in a high rise near Navy Pier, and that is where they were having the party for Chris. We were given a special parking pass for the garage in their building for 12 hours, so we parked there and made a day of it in Chicago. The party was a lot of fun! Chinese food and free drinks, plus Sarah hired an "inspirational speaker" in the form of a Chris Farley impersonator. It was really funny! They also have a friend that is a magician, so he did "illusions" for us and it was quite interesting. He wandered around throughout the night doing card tricks and such too. We also got to meet some of their friends, which was nice because we really don't know many people our age around here. After they get all moved into their place next month we're gonna go back to check it out. The building was really awesome, with 2 pools and a nice gym and outdoor garden on the 3rd floor terrace. I'm sure the condo will be really nice!

Oh Christmas Tree

I love my Christmas Tree :) I'm pretty sure that no one who knows me is surprised by this information, but still...I love it! I think my favorite thing about it is when the underneath is full of presents (and only one is actually for me!). Love it! I can't wait for Mom, Eric, Mimi & Ian to get here for Christmas!!!

First snow and furniture

The snow started this week. I woke up one morning and peaked out the window to find snow covering the tree outside. It was early so the sun was just rising and it was so beautiful! One of only 2 days each year I like the snow (the first snow and Christmas morning...that's it!).

We have been planning to get a new dining room table since we moved, but we weren't in a huge hurry. I wanted to have a new table before Christmas since some of my family is coming here for Christmas dinner, so I have just been looking from time to time waiting for something to catch my eye. Well, I found our table. It is so pretty! I love it! I got a good deal and free delivery (which is awesome because we have a tiny car and the one I had been looking at from iKea was too big to fit in the car). I also decided to take the ceiling fan down from the dining room and put up a regular light fixture. For some reason our apartment building decided that the only room in the apartment that needed a ceiling fan was the dining room (I have NO idea why that room of all rooms) and it was NOT centered in the room. Another thing that REALLY drives me nuts! What kind of dining room doesn't have the light centered? Anyway...this has been bothering me so I found a pendant light that I could drape so I could hang it over the table without moving the actual hole in the ceiling. I took the ceiling fan down and stored it away so now I have a complete dining room that I love! So ready for Christmas dinner now!

Happy Birthday To Me...

My birthday came and went. I survived. Getting old isn't as bad as I expected. I don't feel any older than I did before. It was a fun weekend though, which I'm sure helped! Theresa came to visit. That always makes for a great weekend. Friday night we went to dinner at Bucca di Beppo with a friend of mine from work and her husband. We had never been there before. Oh...delicious! The food was heavenly :) It was nice to get to meet Stacy's husband too...we talk so much at work about our families and it is nice to get to put faces with names and stories :) I hope we can get together again soon! After dinner we made an appearance at the holiday party for my work. I had previously insisted that I would not go just because it was my birthday, but we stopped by so that we could meet up with another friend from work, Sarah, and her husband. The holiday party wasn't too bad (the alcohol was free) and then we went to a bar nearby with Sarah and Chris. It was a late night, but we had a great time!

Everyone slept in on Saturday (Dad had to work so we didn't get to do breakfast). We had planned to go to Dave & Buster's Saturday night but by the time evening arrived we decided to make drinks at home, order in the best pizza in the world (Lou Malnati's) and play games. My step-brother, Niko, came over and we played games for a few hours. It was lots of fun! Theresa and I were the big winners overall...although Shawn and Niko did win Cranium. We started to play LOTR Trivial Pursuit, but everyone decided it was far to skewed in my direction, so we changed games. Boo!

Shawn made me a birthday cake too. It was yummy...he got trick candles though. Meanie!

Early Birthday

As I'm sure everyone knows, I have been sick all week. I have been spending just about all day and night in bed, sleeping and watching tv. I am also someone who likes to get and give presents early. If I have already purchased a gift for someone and they are around me, I will try to give them the present. Similarly, if I know that a present has been purchased for me I will bug you tirelessly to know what the gift is. Shawn knows that I am like this but he is very good about fending me off. He told me weeks ago that he already had my birthday presents but he was keeping them at work. Side note...I am not a snoop! I don't go looking for hidden presents. I like for people to just give them to me or tell me what it is! Anyway, I think Shawn felt pity for how sick I have been feeling and he caved and gave me my presents a few days early. Yay! They were great presents too! Here are a few pictures he took...ignore how gross I look.

He got me the complete Anne of Green Gables movies (all three), which I have been wanting for quite awhile!

He also got me a new Precious Moment. It is one of Sleeping Beauty. Princess Aurora being kissed awake by her Prince. Sleeping Beauty is my favorite of the classic Disney movies, although Belle is my favorite Disney Princess. I love this Precious Moment. It is called "Believe in the Power of True Love." Fitting to get this gift from my true love!

We'll be going out to dinner on my birthday with a friend that I work with and her husband. I'm looking forward to that! Then I think we're going to do some partying the next night to help me to forget that I'm getting old.

Star Wars: In Concert

Months ago, Shawn and I heard about a show that would be touring the country. Star Wars: In Concert. It would be a symphony orchestra performing the works of John Williams from all 6 Star Wars movies, with video screen showing movie moments and a light show. We checked the website regularly to see when and if it would be coming to Chicago. Finally, a couple of months ago we saw a Star Wars special on PBS and they were selling tickets to the Chicago concert at the United Center! Part of the money was a donation to the local PBS station, but they would surely be good seats and we also would get in early to the exhibition of Star Wars props that would be touring with the show. The show was last night, and it was AWESOME! For those of you in Indiana, it will be in Indianapolis next Saturday (December 12th). Go if you are a Star Wars fan at all. It was so good! The music and chior were wonderful, the screen was huge (so there won't be a bad seat in the place), the light show was cool, and the evening was hosted by Anthony Daniels (who plays C3PO in ALL the Star Wars movies - even currently in the animated series The Clone Wars). I can't even describe how cool it was. You'll just have to go see for yourself, or wait until they release it on DVD next year.

Of course, Shawn had to buy a poster. Another one. Now the guest room will have NO free wall space!

There was a bar that was serving special Star Wars drinks. Shawn had a Nerf Herder. It was delicious! We're definately going to get come amaretto and make these at home! I got some of Aunt Beru's Blue Milk in cocktail form. It was really just a blue colored White Russian, but it was still cool!

Overall, the evening was amazing! Except for the little boy sitting in front of us waving his light up light saber key chain in everyone's face and the fact that I didn't get nearly as much sleep as I had been that week...good night. I basically crashed as soon as we got home. The drawbacks of being sick all week but going out anyway. We had these tickets for months...I was not missing it just because I was a bit sick! I feel much better anyway. Just tired.

Sick

I've been sick for a few days, but I really thought I was starting to get better. I went to work Thursday night and boy was that a mistake! I had to wear a mask all night so I wouldn't get the babies sick, but my nose was running so badly that I had to change my mask at least 30 times! With about 45 minutes to go of my shift I started coughing too...that was a new development. By the time I got home I was coughing like crazy which made it difficult for me to sleep (which I needed to do because I was supposed to go back to work for Friday!). Needless to say, I woke up around 3pm and realized that with the plugged up nose that wouldn't stop running (seems like that isn't possible, right? well it is!) there was no way I could spend 12 hours around the babies without scaring parents and possibly getting babies sick. Not to mention just staying awake that long! So I had to call in sick to work, which really sucks because I hate using my PTO/vacation days for sickness! I went to the doctor, which was a huge hassel because my doctors office closes at 2pm on Friday and I have an HMO so going to an urgent care center is a bit of a challenge. I pulled it all off though and discovered that I do not have a cold...I have a Sinus Infection (shocker) and an Upper Respiratory Infection, but not Bronchitis (which is what I was afaid it would be). So the doc sent me off with a prescription for antibiotics and an order to go to sleep, turn on my humidifier, drink lots of fluids, and not to talk too much (because of my scractchy voice). Fun. So now I'm in bed with a Harry Potter movie marathon going on in the background. I admit I've only actually watched about 15 minutes of them because I keep falling asleep, but that's ok. I guess I need the rest. I can't imagine why though because I'm pretty sure I slept 75% of Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday until I had to get up to go to work!