Whew have I been busy!

Sorry I have been MIA for awhile. We made it home from Massachusetts just fine, but the mess that we brought along took days to sort through. We basically emptied our apartment's entire contents into the house. I'm glad to report that we've found a spot to store everything. Glad that can be checked off my to do list!!

After we got our house back under control, we had Thanksgiving to plan. Of course that was fun! We had 13 people and tons of food. Just finished the leftovers last night.

Tomorrow is December 1st. The house is (almost) decorated and my lists are all in place for shopping, activities, cooking, baking and fun. I am so excited! I have tons of holiday magazines stacked up just waiting for me. I cannot wait to see what inspiration is waiting in between their pages. Speaking of magazines, have you seen Where Women Cook? I am loving it!! Check it out if you get a chance.

Okay, I'm off and running onto the next thing on my list. See you back here tomorrow.

Heading North

I'm leaving in the morning for Massachusetts. It's the last trip of the year to my home away from home. I have so many things I want to cram into the week while I'm there. Dinner with some friends, shopping, cleaning and closing up the apartment, shopping, stocking up on Dunkin Donuts Coffee (I think it's cheaper up there because they have so many DD's), one last road trip to Boston, church on the Cape, and did I mention shopping!?!

I'm excited! I'm as excited (if not more) to be taking the train again. Have you ever traveled by train? If you are more about the process than making time, then it's definitely a good option to consider. It does take longer (about 12 hours start to finish as opposed to 8-9 by car) but it is 12 hours of bliss! 12 hours to do whatever you want...or maybe nothing at all. It's my last 12 hours of solitude before meeting up with the guys and then hunkering down to spend the winter with them...all of them...all the time. I'm not complaining...just saying. I'm packing books, magazines, knitting, comfy socks, a pillow, a cozy throw, a mini DVD player, chick flicks and anything else I can cram into my carry on bag. Hope I have enough room for some clothes...if not, I did mention shopping...wink...wink! I have a lay-over in Philly. Looks like I'll need to get a steak and cheese while I'm there. Other than that, I don't need to leave my seat...unless I need a cup of coffee or a potty break. I'm hoping that the scenery is still pretty. I also hope there are some interesting characters to watch...I love people watching!

When I get home the following weekend (other than showering my pugs with tons and tons of affection), I plan to kick our family holiday celebrations into full gear. See you when I get back!

Oh, and if you'd like to follow my tweets from the train, my user name for twitter is Gkrigo.

Change

I just sent the guys back to Massachusetts. I am leaving on the train Friday to join them. I have four days to get things done around here. When I come home from Mass, they will be coming home with me...for the winter!! While that excites me more than I can express, it also freaks me out a little. It means change, good change, but change none the less. Do you do well with change? I don't. When you are married to a traveling man, you get used to being home alone. You get used to doing things your way. It seems normal to stay up late to watch Gilmore Girls for the millionth time. It's routine to make dinner one night and eat the leftovers for the rest of the week. It's perfectly okay to trash the house and wait until the night they are coming home to make it presentable. You can get away with it. Nobody cares. But that is all changing...at least until spring when the cycle starts over.


I've set myself a couple of goals for the week...in preparation of their return...and the mayhem that will take place.

• Clean the house and remove all the clutter
• Work on the leaves so they are caught up till we get home.
• Plan my thanksgiving menu and shoppping list.
• Spend a few more nights staying up late watching Gilmore Girls :)
• Pamper the Pugs since they will be staying behind with my uncle.
• Work my one day and run all my errands
• Keep up with my bible study (since I will be missing the next two weeks). Check in with some of the ladies.

Spending Some Time with this Guy

This is Brantley. My youngest. My gentle giant. One of the kindest, sweetest, most thoughtful people I know. Even though I am a tad partial, I can honestly say he is one special guy. He's home from Massachusetts for the week. I get him all to myself. We can have long conversations, I can cook for him, we can watch Expedition Wild together, I can get all the gossip about George and Jared, we can spend quality time together, just the two of us. Times like these are rare. I'm going to take full advantage of having my son all to myself!!

But there's someone else that's fighting me for his attention. She's actually trying to keep him all to herself. She loves him just as much as I do. Hello Meatball...okay...we can share.