Welcome home Jenni

So every time I come home all us sistas have a girls night (or hour if there's lots of homework to be done) and usually we go to Dairy Queen and get ice cream, french fries and lots of fry sauce.

This was us before Jen got home from her mission. She served faithfully in the California Arcadia Spanish speaking mission. And she was one AWESOME missionary!! I'm so proud of her... and just a bit jealous of her wonderful experience.

And so happy she's now just a phone call away.

Well, because my mom hadn't decided if we girls were going to get to take Jen away the day after she got home (which was also the day before I flew back home) for girls night. The three of us had a blast.

But luckily we were able to convince my mom and all of us went again.... can't wait for the next one!! I need me some fry sauce, I'm out. (I do stock up while I'm there and fly that good stuff home with me, really). AND I miss my girls!

A few of the banners, welcoming Hermana Schiess home. We also tied bows all up and down the street.

Coming down the escalator

She's home!!! It was oh so fun for me to be able to be there when she got home. I missed being able to hear her speak in sacrament meeting and missed seeing all the family that came. But it was so so good to get a hug right when she got home.

Welcome home!! It was a little emotional because my parents have redecorated the upstairs... and it looks awesome!! but It was a surprise to Jen and for the first few minutes didn't seem like "home" but now we're ok. Just a few tears then :)

LOVE LOVE LOVE my sisters. Love my family. Love my extended family. Love Brandon's family. Love our Utah friends. Love our Boston Friends. Love our Maryland friends. Lots and Lots of love.

I really feel spoiled, lucky and blessed.

Pezely's come to visit

Brandon's parents came to visit in February and that's when Maryland got dumped on with snow... So much snow they closed roads and schools and even most things in DC. So, it was sad that we didn't get to show them all around the city--- but we did get to play lots of games and it was so fun to spend so much time together.Watching the snow keep falling and falling and falling. ( I LOOOOOVED it!! but am sad that they didn't get to see everything, I guess they'll just need to come back for another visit).

Crab Cakes

Pandas at the ZOO.
Taking a break at the Natural History Museum.

Glimpses of Christmas 2009

The Problem I have with blogging or journaling or scrapbooking is when life gets busy I feel all this inner pressure to catch up on writing or blogging before I can write what it is I came to or wanted to...

So, for my sanity I'm going to continue putting up some highlights from this last year.

Speaking of highlights- treats!!! I went a little crazy last year and started making cookies for neighbors and employees (not the crazy part) and then I just got so excited I kept thinking of delicious things to make. In one- yes ONE night, I made: cinnamon rolls, sugar cookies, chocolate crinkles, peanut butter cookies, snicker doodles, fudge, carmel... ok that might be it but I was so delighted---- they each were delicious!! and I usually have a baking disaster every three times I bake.

I broke one of my favorite ornaments last year... I was really sad. I got a 4 pack of these while at Utah State at Walmart and can't find any like them.
Our fireplace for Christmas Eve--- on TV. ha

Cute Uncle Brandon with cute new nephew.

Happy New Years. Yes, he's asleep. We were really exciting as we wished in the New Year. :)
Actually, it was fun, we were house and dog sitting for some good friends and played games for hours and because he fell asleep I got to watch my chick flick. It worked. So, Temple Square in Utah is one of my favorite places to be in December. This isn't quite the same but pretty awesome. The Washington DC Temple has lights and last year they had a collection of Nativity Scenes from all different countries.... this one is from Australia--- how cool is it...look closer. All of the figures are made from pears and sea shells. Love it!

Making Gingerbread houses with Pat and Melissa. LOVE lOVE this time of year--- and love that it is about that time of year again. :) Already started listening to Christmas music.

Dear Mr. Neighbor (Still catching up from last winter)

So, we don't know our neighbors out here so well. We've tried to say hi and things but people aren't as receptive of welcoming strangers around here I guess. Not even with plates full of Christmas goodies. (We tried to give our stair well neighbors plates of yummies and the tenants above us were obviously home since we heard them above us and outside their door and even with a peep hole to see our delicious offering and kind faces we didn't get a hello, or even an open door)

Anyway, this wasn't an encounter that was quite as friendly.

In the previous posts you can see the snow snow snow that we had that winter. Well, it took Brandon, his dad and I were out for 3 hours shoveling out our two little cars. And then we shoveled multiple times. Well, usually you can reserve a spot in the lot but other neighbors had been putting folding chairs out to save the spots they spent hours digging out. Well, I did this too. I'm all about following parking lot rules, but saving your spot seemed pretty fair considering the time it took to dig it out.

So, imagine how irked I was when I got home at 10:30pm in the cold to find my spot taken. SO TICKED!!!!!

Fuming in fact!!

I left a nice but disappointed note on my little "friends" car.

So, neighbors dear, as the snow falling time approaches, be ready to dig your own spot! Or else.... you'll get a note too.

Thanks.

Snow Snow Snow

Last winter Maryland got the snow storm(s) of it's life.

Even growing up in Utah this was a lot of snow. So snowing this much here was CrAzY!!! Maryland doesn't have the plows for this time of weather, so when the weather man says snow schools shut down (before they even see the snow), grocery stores are bare, and this winter the snow was SO intense, even Massage Envy closed for a few days.