Christmas 2012

I hope everyone had a GREAT Christmas and Happy Holiday! 

We traveled the whole state of Kentucky and Ohio, and even through in a visit to Nashville all within 5 days. Busy busy holiday for us! Now it's time to relax and hang out at home for a few days!

On Saturday, we went down to Glasgow to see Ben's family. Ben had just got back from traveling for work LATE Friday night. Poor thing wasn't even home 12 hours before we got on the road Saturday morning. 

Ben's family went to the Western Kentucky - Louisville basketball game in Nashville, so we decided to go and spend the day in Nashville as well. We went to the hospital to visit Ben's family friend who had a bad accident in early December. Luckily, he is doing much better and gets to go home Monday!!!

Sunday, we celebrated Christmas with Ben's side of the family. We went to church and then had "Christmas" lunch. 

 

Perry liked to help everyone open their gifts. And use the ribbons for a bow!

After opening gifts, we went to get some drinks with some friends who were also in town!

Monday morning, we got up early and came back to Lexington to unpack from Glasgow, and pack for Columbus. Quick trip home, and back in the car!

We got to my sisters in time to change and get ready for Christmas Eve dinner at my aunts house! 

  

My sweet little niece was the gift passer outer :) 

Quick picture with the little Elf :)

Annual Sissy antler pic 

Daddio

Mom and I <3

My Uncle had 100 year old bourbon. Obviously a hit with the men in the family!

My sister framed an art piece of mine from 2nd grade! Such a cool gift! 

Family Pic!

We had a great time spending Christmas Eve at my Aunt's house!

Next, it was time for all of the Christmas day activities. 

We woke up early and went to mass. Ben survived Christmas service at the catholic church :)

 Attempted a family picture with Perry, ha!

It was a busy busy day and weekend/week, but we had lots of fun and I'm so glad we were able to spend time with both families! 

Ben drove back Christmas night because he had to work on Wednesday. My mom and I were planning on leaving WEdnesday morning to hit the outlets and Ikea in Cincinnati, and then back to Lexington. Then the snow storm that was supposed to hit changed over to an ICE storm, followed by more snow. The roads were AWFUL so we delayed our departure back to Lexington by one more day. I was perfectly okay with this because it meant I could go to my favorite restaurant, Figlio!

Early birthday drink and gluten free Chicken Diablo. I couldn't ask for a better birthday dinner 3 days early :) 

We left early Thursday morning to head back to Lexington. 

The roads were only bad in Columbus (and getting out of my sisters driveway/alley)! Then once we hit the Interstate, the roads were perfectly clear. Shew, what a trip!

We had a GREAT Christmas but I'm so glad we are back home now and can unpack and unwind :)

I hope everyone had a great Christmas!!!

Christmas Recap

I hope everyone had a GREAT Christmas and Happy Holiday! It was a jammed packed trip for us. I'm so glad to be at home and relaxing for a few days!

We were planning on leaving for our first 1/2 of Christmas in Columbus on Thursday after Ben got home from work. I was busy running last minute errands for Ben and my sister. I swear, that's the only bad thing about being off the week before Christmas... Everyone wants you to do their shopping, and gift wrapping and errands! HA!

So Thursdsay afternoon, I get a phone call from Ben saying he was leaving early and would be home soon so we could pack the car. I had everything out by the front door so we could just do a few trips to the car, and hit the road! As I was waiting for Ben to finally get here, I get a phone call.... "My car is acting really strange and the brake and battery light keep blinking.." I seriously didn't think anything of it and just said I'll see him in a little bit and to be careful. Well... his car basically died on the side of the road, literally 1 minute from our house, THANK GOODNESS! He called me saying he was on the side of the street and needed me to steer his car so he could push it... In the pouring rain..... I almost thought he was joking. 

Long story short, we got the car pushed into our parking lot, thanks to a passerby helping us get it over the bump when you first pull in. It was ridiculous. It was raining so hard last Thursday, Ben was still in his work clothes and dress shoes, and here we are pushing his car down the road. Yeah... not a pretty sight!

So, we decided we would wait and call a tow truck in the morning, and delay our trip to Columbus until the next day. Sadz we were missing a night out on Thursday :( but SO THANKFUL it didn't break down on us while we were on the interstate. Oh my word, that would have been awful!!!!

After dropping the car off to the garage, we packed up the car and headed north. Ben finally got a call that it was his alternator and battery. Great timing, huh?!

We actually didn't have bad traffic Friday morning, and made it to the Outlets in time to exchange a gift for Ben's dad, and hit up a few Pre-Christmas sales. And then made it to Columbus by early afternoon. 

Perry met his cousin, Lucy, which is new best friend! 

They loved each other, it was so cute!

Friday night, we celebrated the December birthdays - My dad's on December 20 and my birthday on December 29. It was so nice to see everyone! We had Tommy's Pizza, mmmm. And Graeters Ice Cream pie. I have had a Graeters Pie since I was in elementary school!!! It is a tradition to always get it on birthdays in my family. My dad called me Friday and told me they no longer carry the Grasshopper Pie (Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream). SO SAD! I have had that for my birthday for the last 16 years, at least! 

 b-day cake last year

Instead, my dad just got a vanilla and chocolate/caramel pie. Of course, it was delicious!

Saturday, we were pretty lazy. Ben wasn't feeling up to par (probably from all the bourbon and sprites he had the night before....). We went to my dads for breakfast, and then ran some errands with my sister. Then I cooked some of my favorite dishes for our X-mas Eve dinner!! Cheesy potatoes with corn flakes and a whipped fruit salad. Mmmm

Saturday night we went to my Aunt and Uncles for X-mas Eve. We had so much fun spending time with family in Columbus!

Dad and his girls. The hat from the movie Elf was making its rounds on people haha. 

My niece was the little Elf and helped pass out the gifts. Must have been an exhausting job because she was passed out in the chair an hour later :)

Sunday morning, we left earllllllly for Glasgow. It was a long 5 hours in the car, but luckily there was NO traffic at all, haha. Perry and I slept in the car :)

 

And got to spend Christmas day with Ben's family. 

I am so thankful we were able to spend time with both sides of the family this Christmas. I was sad I didn't get to see my mom though :( She had surgery on her ear last Wednesday and couldn't fly because of it. Hopefully I will see her in February though!! We did skype her using the iPad when we were opening gifts at my dads Saturday morning! It was better than nothing :)

I love having the week off post Christmas. I can't imagine having to work after all the festivities. I'm still trying to get the house in order and all of our gifts put away!

I hope everyone is having a relaxing week!

Ben and I are going to put the new Ice Cream Maker and Jeni's Ice Cream cook book to use tomorrow and attempt the amazing Salty Caramel. I can't wait to see how it turns out!!!!!

July So Far, Picture Overload!

I was going to do separate posts for each weekend/trip, but I just feel silly posting about July 4th when it was two weeks ago. So I'm going to do a 'July So Far' post! Ha!

July 4th weekend, we headed down to the lake in my boyfriends hometown! It was so much fun!!!

 Lauren and I on the boat!

 Oh so angelic, Lauren!

 Tubing!

My little baby is getting so big :(

 He LOVES going to Ben's parents house because he run all over! I love this picture of him!

Made a little 4th of July fruit pizza!

Driving back to Lexington after a long weekend!

We came back in time for the fireworks in downtown Lexington. Not the best show, but still fun to go down there!

Then it was back to a routine... I had 3 more days left of camp, and it as SO HARD waking up Tuesday morning. I came home and took a nap after camp, ha!

Bought some new running shoes for the upcoming weekend in Columbus!

We ran a 5K for the Lifeline of Ohio in memory of my 'Gammy' 

 Team 'Rosemarys Road Runners'

 Family!!

Ben and I post race

 Dad with his girls - Wendy, me, Dad, Zoe and Karie

 Sister and I - wearing our 'In Memory of Gammy' bibs

KK and I post race!

After all of the race festivities, we went back to my sisters and took a longgg nap. It was great! Then headed out to Easton, my favorite place to shop! 

We went over to my aunt and uncles for a few drinks. Ben and my Uncle had hundred year old Bourbon!

Zoe and I played on the iPad :)

Then it was off to Figlio, for my favorite restaurant at home!

Finally, Sunday morning, we went to my dads for Brunch. I played with Zoe, my niece, in the backyard. She was wearing my old cheerleading outfit and showed me some cheers she learned at OSU cheer camp!! Love her!

There are not enough hours in my trips home to do everything I want to do. But I think we got a lot covered in our short 2 day visit!

Whew, what a post! This week I have been trying to get some errands done and hit up the pool.

 

Hope everyone has a GREAT weekend!