Saturday, December 18, 2010

Boring Saturday Night

Have we already turned into that old married couple? I have been sitting at the kitchen table for six hours studying Constitutional Law, while Mike is watching crime shows upstairs. I think he intentionally does this when he wants to be alone because he knows I cannot stomach the blood and gore that are portrayed in the re-enactments. I am ready to head home for the holidays. I got my stockings up and holiday cards out, but we do not have a tree this year. :-(

The tree that I bought in St. Louis has been somehow so "tucked away" in the back of the closet that you cannot get to it without uprooting the entire house. I suggested that we go pick out a live tree, but was not quite aware of how expensive they are! Plus, neither of us have had the time. We don't even have any gifts for anyone yet! But, it will all work out. We are leaving for Birmingham on Wednesday and staying there until Sunday. On Sunday, we head towards Atlanta to celebrate Christmas and Mike's father's b'day before heading back to Birmingham. We will stay there one day and then come back to Texas. It will be a lot of traveling, but I am so excited to see my family and friends in Birmingham. It has been almost seven months!

This week, my highlight was when one of my old college roommates and bridesmaid, Lauren, came in town. She was here for her brother's graduation, but came in a little early to work in the Dallas office, and have dinner with me! (Or so I tell myself.) It was so great to see her. I love friends where you can pick up like you just saw them the day before and continue on. We went to eat Mexican and realized what seemed like 5 minutes later that we had been sitting there for 3.5 hours. I have not laughed so hard in such a long time and it was just wonderful to see her.

The rest of the week consisted of working, sleeping and studying. We had our holiday party at work, and after a feast of turkey and all the fixin's, we played Dirty Santa. I was so excited because I stole (yes, I stole) a Snuggie from one of my co-workers. I have been wanting one for so long! And then, someone stole it from me. My next gift was a gift card to eat. Very quickly stolen. I ended up with some cute wine stoppers and wine glass identification things that look like Christmas ornaments. My boss gave me a bottle of sweet tea vodka and a book I have been wanting to read - pretty much right on the money!

The last thing I have to ramble about is that my very best friend from the time we were 2, is expecting a little boy. He is already a week late, and I am getting very impatient!! I can't begin to imagine how she is feeling. The doctors told her, if the baby does not come by the 24th, they will induce and he will be a Christmas baby! I can't wait to get home to Birmingham and meet my little nieces and finally see pictures of my new nephew!

Well, Mike has emerged from upstairs...he is charge of buying the Christmas presents this year because he is on Christmas break. As a student. I will update if anything exciting comes along!!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Thanksgiving Recap

Well, I know I am a little late, but I have to tell you about my first Thanksgiving as a married woman. Mike and I did make it to Hilton Head, and the weather was wonderful. We got in late Wednesday night, and woke up Thursday to start cooking. Let me tell you the cast: Mike and me, Mike's pregnant sister, her husband and their two year old, and my new mom and dad in laws. I had prepared myself to expect new traditions and attempt to embrace them. I truly have never had so much good food at one time in my life. We didn't stop eating for 3 days. And we never had leftovers! There was something new every night! (Which I love because, quite honestly, I don't love turkey leftovers as much as my family does.)

A few blips in the road: My first attempt to make a pie. I have a confession. My mother is a baker. I am not. However, at some point, I told the Cherbonneaus that I would contribute the "Blackburn" portion of Thanksgiving with a homemade pie. Everyone was all impressed that I could make a homemade crust until they found out...I can't. I lied. My plan was to practice several times before Thanksgiving and then have everyone be amazed with my pie baking skills. Yes, I have made pies with my mom, but NEVER alone. And that whole, "practicing" thing just never came to fruition. So, when I was offered one of the pre-made crusts, I took it, saying, "It might just be easier." Now, somehow, Mike's sister had been told that we were having a bake off. That is the only way I can explain this:



My pie got locked in the oven. I can only suggest sabotage. Have you ever heard of an oven with a "lock" button?? We started to smell something burning (perhaps the pecans that I so lovingly chopped?) I ran over to the oven to pull out my materpiece and realized no doors were going to open. After a lot of yelling, "Michael!! Michael!! MY PIE IS LOCKED IN THE OVEN!!" Someone somehow got it out. I have to say, it wasn't so horrible after you smothered it with whipped cream!

Then we had the family photo. I had been instructed to bring black and white so that we would all blend in the picture. Mrs. C decided on Saturday afternoon that she wanted to take the pic. Instead of everyone changing into their planned outfits, everyone just made sure that the colors they were wearing "went together." Of course, this was the day I chose to wear a fushia shirt. I didn't blend. After rummaging through Mike's mother's closet and Kristen's closet (Remember, everyone is at least 2 inches taller than me and someone is pregnant....) I ended up in the back of the picture with a khaki maternity top on. Yep. I don't have a copy, but I am not so ashamed that I wouldn't post it. After the picture, Mike informed me that we had to keep up with his Thanskgiving holiday tradition. When I asked him who it involved, he explained that it was just him. And we were headed to....

Wing World. Or something of that nature. To order a platter of 6 types of wings. We wrapped the night up with a chocolate martini and headed home to play dominoes with the rest of the family. So, we survived. And I learned that every family operates differently. I had a wonderful time spending the holidays with my new family, and am looking forward to seeing how Mike integrates into our holiday traditions...I kinda don't feel like he is going to be getting up for a run with my dad and me on Christmas morning! Hope that everyone is having a wonderful, and somewhat stress free, holiday season.