Anyway, Jan. 6 starts Downton Abbey, Season 3...so excited!!
Saturday, December 29, 2012
A swim, hunting and the British...
Last night Jeff took Norah to the family swim at our local gym and she had a blast! We have to find out if kids can use the indoor pool more often. Today Jeff got up early and went dove hunting and loved every minute of it.
I completely forgot to make note of a hilarious movie I saw during Christmas. I randomly saw half of it one day after my surgery while my mom was here....just flipping through the channels and it was on Showtime. It is a british movie called "Nativity!" and if you find British movies/tv funny...you will love it! So then I looked for it again so I could watch the whole thing. It is too cute! It will be a must watch for next Christmas too!
And with football starting to come to a close and "Homeland" officially over for the season...love "Homeland"...you must watch it if you are not already watching it! Saul is the best...
Anyway, Jan. 6 starts Downton Abbey, Season 3...so excited!!
Well now I am going to motivate to take the ornaments off the tree and pack all the Christmas stuff back up till next year.
Anyway, Jan. 6 starts Downton Abbey, Season 3...so excited!!
Friday, December 28, 2012
Christmas 2012...
I cannot believe Christmas is over! I love all the music, food and excitement that leads up to the Big Day. We had a wonderful Christmas! Christmas Eve we went to Church and I always love the Christmas carols you get to sing and every time I sing or hear "Angels we Have Heard on High" it makes me chuckle because all I can think about is the scene from "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" (one of my favorite movies!) with Helen Hunt trying to distract so Sarah Jessica Parker can escape choir practice!
Anyway...back on topic. Church was great as it was the family service and the kids were involved so it was fun to watch! After Church we remembered that we had a couple things to get (example...we were completely out of dog food!)...and rushed around finding somewhere open and getting gas in the car for our trip to Charlotte. Jeff had also cooked a Boston Butt all day and made a BBQ package to take over to Father Wil and Amanda's house...this was something Jeff loved doing...you know how he likes to grill it up! After Norah went to bed...Santa came to visit! It was a late night for Jeff and I too so the next morning...Norah slept in some...could not believe it! She got up about 8 am and was ecstatic to see what Santa brought (I was up at 6:30 so excited but Jeff would not let me wake her up!) The first thing she did was go to Darcy and Finn's stocking and give them their presents!
Everything was a big hit and here are a few pics of her in action!
She loved every minute of it! She made a comment about everything she got and was literally in awe and shock over each gift. She was so happy! Our families and Santa really went all out for Norah...she even said that this was the best Christmas ever! Since we had a late start....we had breakfast and then it was a mad dash to get ready and packed and hit the road to Charlotte. We arrived in Charlotte about 2:30 at Jeff's brother's house and started 24 hours of whirlwind fun! We had a great lunch and then the kids and Mrs. Hoppe opened gifts...I use kids loosely as the ages are 5, 15, 18 and 19!
It was a great time and then we headed with Jeff's brother Glenn, wife Denise and cousin Wil to Mrs. Hoppe's house to hang out with our full bellies! The next morning we got up and made a rush to meet our friend Chris for breakfast at Panera. If you know Jeff...you know that he has missed eating at Panera more then anything else! He ate Panera every single morning when we lived in Charlotte...everyone was excited to see him that works there when we came in! He is obsessed! Then we got to see our friends and old neighbors...Meredith, Thomas and Afton and then The Oliver family and their new addition of Eliza! It was so wonderful to get to catch up...we miss all of you!
We headed back to Jeff's mom's house and broke out a new game Norah had gotten from Hoppe Family-Glenn/Denise/Wil called Animalogic...I had never heard of this game...it is awesome and everyone must buy it! Seriously Norah loved it and I have even played it by myself when I got home some! :)
Then we hit up Chipotle (Yummy!) and got some food for the ride home and next stop was to see our friends...Ben/Christie/Harper/Perry....loved it! Norah had the best time playing with all her friends that day and loved catching up too. Christie...loved your new room! :) We then loaded back in the car and made the drive back to Pawleys Island. Whew! It was such a fast trip! It was hard not seeing more friends while we were there but hopefully we will get another chance soon.
When we got back it was like Christmas all over again because we left in such a hurry that Norah did not really get to open and play with many gifts before leaving. So she loved going back through things and getting to play some. She got some clothes for her American Doll...Norah named her doll "Flora"... from Hoppes-Allan/Robyn/Allyson/Jonathon...which she has changed Flora into PJs each night and back into clothes during the day....so cute!
Yesterday had the theme of "Play and Clean"...I did laundry and literally put up all laundry (yes, there was a 5 minute span where all laundry was officially done!), all beds got made with clean sheets, bathrooms cleaned, etc. Norah painted a jewelry box, made beaded necklaces, played with all her animals (feeding Butterscotch the horse, walking the puppy, hugging the pillow pets), played with play-doh, played puzzles and games, played with fairy dolls, twirled around the house with THIS ribbon and the list goes on! Later in the day we went grocery shopping as we desperately needed to restock the fridge and continued in play mode! Wow!
Oh yeah I almost forgot about one of the BEST gifts ever that Santa brought me...all eight movies of Harry Potter...oh yeah!! I have watched 3 so far! Love it!!! And yes, I am still re-reading Harry Potter books too...on book 4 now! And if you have made it through this whole long post...here is a treat for you...
Norah colored this picture and told us it was Darcy and Finn cooking a squirrel on the fire. Hilarious!
Everything was a big hit and here are a few pics of her in action!
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| This is actually Christmas Eve as we let her open one present and she opened Butterscotch from my mom and Denny...she is in love! |
We headed back to Jeff's mom's house and broke out a new game Norah had gotten from Hoppe Family-Glenn/Denise/Wil called Animalogic...I had never heard of this game...it is awesome and everyone must buy it! Seriously Norah loved it and I have even played it by myself when I got home some! :)
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| Here is the link to it on Amazon |
When we got back it was like Christmas all over again because we left in such a hurry that Norah did not really get to open and play with many gifts before leaving. So she loved going back through things and getting to play some. She got some clothes for her American Doll...Norah named her doll "Flora"... from Hoppes-Allan/Robyn/Allyson/Jonathon...which she has changed Flora into PJs each night and back into clothes during the day....so cute!
Yesterday had the theme of "Play and Clean"...I did laundry and literally put up all laundry (yes, there was a 5 minute span where all laundry was officially done!), all beds got made with clean sheets, bathrooms cleaned, etc. Norah painted a jewelry box, made beaded necklaces, played with all her animals (feeding Butterscotch the horse, walking the puppy, hugging the pillow pets), played with play-doh, played puzzles and games, played with fairy dolls, twirled around the house with THIS ribbon and the list goes on! Later in the day we went grocery shopping as we desperately needed to restock the fridge and continued in play mode! Wow!
Sunday, December 23, 2012
2 more days!
We are getting very excited about Christmas 'round here at the Hoppe house. Friday Norah and I went to the movies and saw "Rise of the Guardians." I was not sure how she would like it but she picked it so off we went. Norah loved it! I thought it was okay but she is still talking about it so that was good!
On Saturday, Norah decorated a gingerbread house and we made out first batch of sugar cookies. It made me think about all the years we decorated cookies with our girls in Charlotte (HERE is last year.)
I also cooked a turkey and made soup with it...turned out good! If you know me and making any type of soup...I just throw a bunch of stuff in there and spices and see how it turns out...it was a winner! Anyway by sometime after lunch I was worn out...so movies on ABCFamily were watched as we lounged away. Then around 5:30ish we headed to Brookgreen Gardens to finally see the Night of Lights! It was so crowded but beside that it was great! I loved this one area where the lights used were only white and gold lights...it looked great!
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| Fuzzy but I was trying to take a picture without the flash so you could see some of the lights! |
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| This was one of Norah's favorite parts...in the children's garden there was a bubble machine shooting out bubbles everywhere! |
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| We checked out some rooms with all these bronze statues that were pretty cool. This one was Norah's favorite! Also in the gift shop they have some awesome ones you can buy but they are expensive! |
It was really cold out too which was strange since it was 70 degrees on Thursday here! Today we headed to Church and I was scheduled to teach Sunday School but got lucky as we combined classes and I got to do a small part and then watch Mrs. Amanda do a great job with the lesson! Jeff went to the Sunday School class that I have been going to...he went last week too...he also really is enjoying it so cannot wait to go together next week to it! We have so enjoyed our new Church and look forward to the service tomorrow!
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| Holy Cross Faith Memorial Episcopal Church |
When we got home, there was more cookie baking and cleaning that went on around here as well as Jeff getting some work done. Whew! Now we are chillin' out and we will see what the night brings and then tomorrow is Christmas Eve! I am feeling much better and the doctor was right...it took a week to start feeling good again. Now my incisions itch and some burn but I think that it just it healing. I also am ready for the strips to come off! Well I will leave you with a cute picture of Finn to make you smile! Seriously, our dogs act like people!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
The Start of Christmas Vacation...
Wow! This week has been interesting. I went back to work on Tuesday as I'm not so sure I was really ready but my sixth graders had an exam and I hated not being there for them! I paid for it when I got home and slept for like 3 hours! Wednesday and today weren't too bad just trying to rest some. Today was a half day for Norah and I and the start of our Christmas break!
I am really excited about getting back to a 100% over break, spending loads of time with Norah and Jeff and enjoying the season! Norah is still super excited everyday about Christmas...it really is so cute! Tonight she is starting to get a runny nose so I hope it is just a fluke and doesn't turn into anything.
Last night my sister and boys came into town and we had dinner together...kids at Christmas are the best! It was good to see them before Christmas too! When we got home from my mom's house, Norah wanted her nails painted.
Unfortunately my mom headed back home today. She was a big help this week even though we joked that it was one crippled helping the other crippled! I know she was ready to get back home but we will miss you! Especially having a chef and master baker around here! ;) Thanks for helping us get through this week!
Well I'm off to get Norah's toes painted red and green now and maybe wrap a present or two! Then to bed early for some much needed rest again. I did see that "Christmas Vacation" is coming on ABCFamily tonight at 9 pm...will have to record that one! Just 5 more days!
Last night my sister and boys came into town and we had dinner together...kids at Christmas are the best! It was good to see them before Christmas too! When we got home from my mom's house, Norah wanted her nails painted.
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| Red and Green Nails! |
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| My mom took Norah to her school Christmas Concert on Monday night as I still wasn't up to going and Jeff worked late. Here is a pic before she left to go! |
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Recovery Time....
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Update...
Well today I saw the surgeon and also got hit with some intense back pain that the doctor says is related to my gallbladder...and so I am having my gallbladder removed this Friday. I really was hoping to make it to next week so as not to miss school but the doctor wanted me to have it before then as he did not think I would make it to next week without ending up back in the hospital. So Friday it is! The doctor says that it is about a 1 week recovery time so at least I should be good to go before Christmas and I am so ready for the pain to be gone. Now I am taking lots of pain medicine and trying to get some things done for school before tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who has checked in on me...it means so much to me! Send your thoughts and prayers this way!
Monday, December 10, 2012
You are not going to believe this....
So Saturday I was in awful pain for a good portion or the afternoon and night...it was rough but I kept thinking it was something I ate, or anything else. Sunday I got up and felt strange but the pain was gone so I tried to do things (but I was scared to eat or drink anything....). Well after dinner that night, the pains came back full force and I knew I couldn't deal with it for another full night. So Jeff took me to the ER at the hospital (Why does stuff like this happen on the weekends where there is no where else to go?) Luckily my friend Glenn, YOU are an Angel!!! Thank you!, came over and sat at our house so we didn't have to take Norah with us. Long story short...I have Gallstones in my Gallbladder. The pains I was having are Gallbladder attacks and let me tell you...it feels like death is coming.
So after they verified it was not infected, I got lots of medicine to take until I can see the surgeon next Wednesday in which we will schedule to have my gallbladder removed. How exciting (sarcasm.) I still cannot believe it as this came out of nowhere! Now I have to eat super careful until the surgery and then after the surgery there is a change in what you can eat too. I asked if I could still work out...and he kinda looked at me crazy and said "Do you want to work out?" Ummmm...yes....that is why I asked....so he said I could if I felt like it I could but not to overdue it.
I hope to have the surgery over Christmas break so that I won't have to miss any work, etc. Well I am off to try to do some things around here that I wasn't able to do last night and figure out what in the world I can eat for dinner.
P.S. Up until this weekend...I had no idea where the gallbladder was located in the body...so weird! (This is why I teach Math)
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| Had to leave you with a fun picture! Norah wore this to Church yesterday...hat and all! |
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Christmas Card Picture Day...
Yesterday I got sick or something was wrong as I was in misery for a good 10 hours. So we had to postpone our Brookgreen trip to another night. Today I was feeling better so went to Sunday School and Church...then Norah and I headed to the beach so I could take a few pics of her for our Christmas card. I don't won't to spoil it so here are some pics that did not make it to the card...(I will post the real card later!)
I really wanted to get a picture with all three of us in it but time got away so we will plan ahead next year! Well I'm off to get a couple of things done and rest up for tomorrow!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Three Things Thursday...
1. I saw these at the Fresh Market..."Blingsettia" $12.99. They have sprayed glitter on all the leaves. Do you love it or hate it? :)
2. Go out and buy this...
It makes me think I'm drinking a fancy drink from Starbucks...but way cheaper! I found them here at the Pig but you can get them at Amazon.com too...
3. I saw some random things that would make good gifts for guys that I thought I would share...(click on description under picture for link...)
Can't wait for tomorrow...so ready for the weekend!
3. I saw some random things that would make good gifts for guys that I thought I would share...(click on description under picture for link...)
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| Fish Hook Belt |
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| Oyster Knives |
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| Bacon Chocolate Bar |
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| Garden & Gun Magazine Subscription |
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| Si Bobble Head |
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