Christmas with the Delaney family

Our first half of Christmas is already over :-( It went by so fast... I can't believe it! We headed down to Fort Wayne on Thursday afternoon, the 22nd. And we greeted by Ian, Jen, Evan, Colin, Mom and Dad Delaney.

First night Ian and Jen and Ryan and I went out for Ian's birthday to an amazing restaurant in this small town... Definitely a hidden gem.

Friday we spent lounging around and also the 4 of headed out for a power shopping trip - Jen and I hit up kohl's while the boys had a beverage or two at the bar and then we all headed to Sam's for the peanut oil for our deep fried turkey that we were having the next day. Then back home to hang out and eat more.

Then Christmas Eve! What an amazing and beautiful day. Mom Delaney prepped for a great dinner, Jen made some great sides and the boys deep fried 2 turkeys (and no houses were damaged in the process). Then we all sat down for dinner- wine, salad and all the trimmings! Then a special Danish tradition - montel - which is jello and whip cream and 1 almond hidden in one of the dishes. Then its a guessing game to see who got it. Ryan guessed it right... Ian had the almond and got a gift. Then coffee and desserts! After a little clean up, it was time to sing Christmas carols around the tree! So fun and challenging to see if we could remember all the words :-) I loved this tradition that the Delaney's have always done.

After that it was present time! Lots of opening and great gifts for all. Then off to bed in hopes that Santa would come!

He did! And Evan had a great time opening! Finally we finished with a yummy breakfast and we were off to our next Christmas destination - Unionville.

Dance Off

So... it was dance off time at Ian and Jen's!  And it was a great time... and a great workout!!  Here is some evidence!

Our First Christmas

Ryan and I celebrated our first Christmas and had a great night!  We started the evening with a few drinks and then decided to open presents - so I would finally get to find out what was in the big box that had been taunting me all week.  We started opening... first box - Ryan asked what I thought it was and I said definitely not a faucet... haha!  That's exactly what it was - a new faucet for our bathroom... Ryan opened a new Craftsman toolbelt from me.  Next gift - he asked again and I said a new shower joking... and yup - that's what it was!  Ryan opened some clothes next.  And then finally... it was time for the big box.  He asked again if I had a guess... and now I'm clueless as to what could be in it.  And I open it and it's a new countertop

 for the bathroom!  Woooo hoo!!!  It's getting a complete facelift!  Ryan then got to open his big gift... and set of nailers... most importantly a framing nailer!  Then Ryan opened a bunch of socks - which were on his list.  Stockings were next... I got some new perfume - Flower Bomb - so good!  And Wii Dance 3 - which is really funny because I had it in my hand at Target to buy to but decided not too (we played it tonight - so fun and a great workout!). 

Then we grilled some fillets and I made some pasta and we had a bottle of red.  Great evening!  We then spent the rest of the evening organizing and packing for our trip to Fort Wayne first and then Unionville for Christmas.  Our 6 day Christmas trip was almost here.

Almost time

Well... with 1 day of work left and only 1 class left to teach at the gym... I am ready for Christmas break! It will be great to have over a week off! 

Also - I'm ready to have Christmas with Ryan and I.  We are celebrating tomorrow at home before we take off to Fort Wayne and then Unionville.  He wrapped presents this weekend and now they are under the tree, just taunting me!  There is a really big one, shaped like a TV box (but I know it's not) - and I cannot figure out what's in it!  There are several others too - but that big one is playing with my mind - and it's really heavy - because he was grunting carrying it up the steps.  I did get to open a gift last night and it was a super cute Michigan sweatshirt from Victoria's Secret.  Good buy!

Tonight - I am finished up my Christmas baking and starting to organize for our week on the road.

Weekend before Christmas Weekend

So... the last weekend before Christmas and we used it all to get ready and finish up projects around the house.  Saturday morning - up and at them - Ryan's main goal, fix the water softener discharge... something, something, somethings (LOL).  My mail goal for Ryan - finish hanging the sconces in our bedroom or rather the hallway of our bedroom.  And to my liking, both projects got finished!

Ryan's project took many trips to Lowe's to get what he needed, only to settle for something to would work, but not really want he wanted.  My shopping excursion in the morning was successful with getting everything on my list and several things that weren't on my list, but I absolutely needed.  I also picked up some crafting supplies on Joann's and started crafting things for the wedding.  So excited for it!!

Also, I decided to make cookies and when I say cookies... I mean like 13 dozen cookies!  Chocolate chip, Cranberry White Chocolate Chip, Butterscotch Chocolate Chip, Molasses cookies, Snickerdoodles, and Pebble Noddle (a Danish shortbread cookie).  All very tasty and by the end of the night, I did not want to eat another cookie - and I'm not sure that has ever happened before.

Then crafting with the supplies I bought earlier... some burlap, lace, pearls and twine... and ta da!  Oh and mason jars!  Then I also started the wine bottle project and began removing the labels... which by the way - if you heat your over to 350 and put the bottle in for about 10 minutes then pull them out and using a razor - you can pretty easily remove the label.  I did about 20... good start!

Sunday - we headed to Jonesville to watch Karle and Kahle in their Christmas program and Mary direct her first Christmas program.  It was awesome!!  Karle had her part all memorized and said it beautifully... both K & K sang really well and I could actually hear both of their voices.  And Mary did awesome!  It was a great program!  Then we headed to brunch with the Welden's and Mom and Dad and some of Scott's family.  Then back to the Welden's to hang out for bit and make a gingerbread house with the kids - so fun!

Body Coach

So my side job at Seung-Ni has also allowed me to be a body challenge coach.  Part of this is encouraging and coaching participants to reach their goals in the 8 week challenge.  Last night, I had a proud coach moment.  A girl in the challenge (even though not on my team but has been in almost all my classes) showed me her before picture and then a recent one.  She was wearing a bikini and the difference was like night and day.  She has lost over 25 pounds and lots of inches.  The smile on her face made all the efforts totally worth it.  I remember being in her shoes and wanting to lose the weight and until Seung-ni, I really couldn't do it on my own.  Now I have the tools to lose it and keep it off and now to help others - which is very rewarding.  This particular girl told me that she never thought she could do it and she did!!  It just shows that anyone can do it, you just need to be in the right mindset.

All decorated

Our first Christmas tree is officially decorated!  It has 1,150 colored lights on it and lots of ornaments! In the process of putting the lights on it, we ran out - so I took the colored lights that were on the railing upstairs off and then that wasn't enough, so I took the lights that were on the mantle off... and finally enough!  So after decorating, I had to put new lights on both those places - white ones this time - but I think it totally works!

Ryan hanging his new Bronners ornament

Hanging my Abbey ornament