A Picture a Day for a Year

Allrighty, I'm reviving this blog to start this brand new project.

One picture EVERY day for a whole year.

Quite a challenge since I didn't really keep up very well with my 101 did I? I think I completed most of the goals, but I have yet to go back and reconcile which ones are done and which ones I'm working on and which ones are a complete lost cause.

Anywho, here is my first picture for 2011.


The story:

Why take a photo of a Christmas tree for the first day of the new year?

Firstly, I totally forgot I wanted to start this project. :-) (Hey, I'm honest) Thus, I couldn't exactly take a photo of my gorgeous kids to start off the new year sadly since they're in bed.

Secondly, I *love* our tree. I absolutely love how homey it makes our high-ceiling family room look with how grand and majestic it is. It's the biggest we've ever had (I think it's like 11 feet tall!) and according to the guy who DH bought the tree from, it was an epic year for Christmas trees. They were all incredibly full and beautiful and DH said he had a hard time choosing because they were all so magnificent.

Lastly, we actually like to keep our tree around until at least my birthday. If my hubs had his way, we'd keep it up until his birthday (if the tree were to live until mid-Feb) but I'm usually pretty ready to have it all put away by the 2nd or 3rd week-end in January.

DH's family customarily decorated their tree ON Christmas Eve, so of course they wouldn't want to take it down right after Christmas. I had to slowly convince him that it was easier to find nicer trees earlier in the month and harder to have the tree properly disposed of in February. So, reluctantly he started to agree and now we usually get it in mid-December or maybe a little earlier depending on when the week-ends fall.

P.S - I'm still trying to figure out where to host this project. Since I'll post pictures of the fam, I'll either have to restrict this blog or move it somewhere else more private. Still trying to figure this out, so consider this project officially under construction.

ABCs of Me

I love the Memes out there in the Blog World. I can't remember which blog I saw this on, but I lifted it and put in my own info.

The ABC's of Me

A - Attached or Single: Very attached to my wonderful DH.
B - Best Friend: I am blessed to have more than one
C - Cake or Pie: Mmm...cake
D - Day of Choice: Saturdays for sure
E - Essential Item: Toothbrush
F - Favorite Color: Blue
G -Gummy Bears or Worms: Gummy bears - they're so cute
H -Hometown: A city in Canada
I - Indulgence: Monthly massage
J - January or July: January, of course :-)
K - Kids: Yep, a very handsome little boy and ...
L - Life is incomplete without: Music / Traveling abroad
M - Marriage Date: September 17, 2005
N - Number of Siblings: 1 younger sister
O - Oranges or Apples: Apples
P- Phobias or Fears: Sharks
Q - Quote: 'The journey is the reward'
R- Ring size: Don't know at this point
S - Season: Spring in TX, Fall anywhere else
T- Tag 3 friends: Some have already included this, so not tagging anyone.
U - Unknown fact about me: I'm a leftie.
V - Very favorite stores: Target, PB, Nordstrom
W - Worst Habit: Staying up too late to catch up on my fave tv shows and emotional eating.
X - X-ray or Ultrasound: Ultrasound because that usually means something wonderful. :-)
Y - Your Favorite Food: Sushi
Z - Zodiac: Capricorn

Back from our Summer Vacation

Thanks Flygal for keeping me honest here and nudging me to put up a new post. :-)

Well, we're back from our trip to Germany. It was the first time that we took our annual trip in the summer. Normally we go at Christmas time, but we decided a while back that we would probably get more out of a summer trip and I think we were right.

Don't get me wrong though. Germany at Christmas time is beautiful and wonderful. We do miss sledding in the snow, the Christmas Markets, the Gluh wein, and the delectable Christmas cookies. But, it also gets dark very early in the winter, which means less time to spend with all of our family members whom we only get to see once a year. And not that I mind the cold weather, but it gets really cold to the point where you can't really go out and do much.

Whereas on our trip this summer, we played outside until 9pm almost every day! Even Baby stayed up past his 7:30pm bedtime and had a blast.

DH's family lives on the edge of the Black Forest, which is such a beautiful region of Germany. We took a few day trips here and there. One day to Lake Constance, and another day to Strasbourg, France. It was nice to know that I haven't completely lost my ability to speak French. Overall, we had a fabulous time.

There was a sad element to our trip and that was that FIL is not as well as we had hoped. He has aged considerably in the 8 months since we saw him last and he appears very gaunt and more frail. He enjoyed spending time with his one and only grandchild, but not as much as if he were more healthy and happy. In any case, Baby Boy definitely charmed him and the rest of his relatives.

Here are some of the pictures from our trip. Enjoy!

Typical German Architecture and the beautiful flowers everywhere

Lake Constance
Strasbourg, France - on the German border
A huge cuckoo clock next to a Clock Shop in the Black Forest

A shout out to FlyGal and MrsMillerTIme

Ladies,
May I just say that I puffy heart you both?

I think it's really sweet how you take the time to read my (and others') ramblings, but even more sweet that you always leave a nice, thoughtful comment letting me know that a) you've been here and b) I'm not totally crazy and c) that you actually care. :-)

Seriously, you are truly the nicest gals around and I wanted to let you know that.

Hugs,
HappyFrau

My poor hands

Well, I'm working on Goal #99.

I went to a chiro a few weeks ago, but he couldn't help me. But, he discussed my case with my PCP, so I had an appointment with her today and basically the jury is still out. She referred me to a rheumatologist, but I can't get in to see him until the end of July! UGH! So, now she wants me to see if I can get in to see an orthopedist before then.

This is so frustrating.

The long and short of it is this. My hands suffered some swelling on the last day of my pregnancy and have never been the same since. I developed carpal tunnel and now there is an issue with the joints in my fingers. I cannot make a fist with either of my hands, nor can I completely straighten out my fingers.

The pain comes and goes. Some days it is worse than others. What I hate the most about this situation is:

1. I can't wear my wedding rings.
2. I can't play the violin.
3. I do not have full functionality of my hands for everyday use (opening bottles or jars, lifting weights, etc..)
4. My PCP originally chalked it up to pregnancy hormones and predicted that this would all go away after I quit breastfeeding. Ha! That was 2 months ago and No such luck.
5. It doesn't matter what position I sleep in, my hands are numb whenever I wake up.
   

I could go on, but I won't. I just want some answers so that hopefully some day soon, we'll be able to think about TTC #2. And what does one have to do with the other? Well, DH and I are both concerned that my hands could get even worse with another PG.

Wish me luck!

GORGEOUS

After three.whole.years, our peony is alive and finally blossomed! Thanks to DH and his nurturing and perseverance.

I had honestly given up on her and didn't think we were going to bring her with us to the new house, but DH had the faith and kept watering her and believing in her and there she is in all her glory.

People actually told us we couldn't grow peonies in TX. So glad we proved 'em wrong!

P.S - This relates to my goal #46 of beautifying our new front yard.

I met TIm Gunn!

So cool!

I am not using the word 'met' lightly. We actually got to talk to him and he is fabulous.

Mr.Gunn (as I called him) was in Austin promoting the Liz Claiborne line and he was at the Dillard's at Barton Creek Mall this evening doing a Q&A and 'hosting' a fashion show. My friend K cleverly scoped the event out in the paper and our friend J did the leg work and reserved us the spots. Thanks Ladies!

Anyway, as we were leaving, he came out surrounded by security guards and was hanging out waiting to do some of the required promotional stuff for his mall stint. I called out to him as we were walking by and he came up to us and I started chatting him up.

Doesn't it look like he's listening to me intently?

He is so awesome! In our brief conversation, he referred to me as 'Lovely' and told us that it was very nice to meet us. It was especially funny because both of my friends were left speechless. :-P I was kicking myself later for not returning the compliment on his beautiful pink tie.