Holiday Highlights...

We enjoyed the holidays as usual, Ryan and I both got to take some time off work. Thought I would catch you up on some of the highlights:




This was little fruit dish I put together for my holiday brunch at work. Sad part is this the first and last time I got to use this cute snow man platter. I left it in the car after I used it and I guess it got too cold, when I went to move it to the back seat one morning, I barely taped it on the dash and the head feel right off!. RIP snow man platter.



We spent Christmas in Broken Arrow, I didn't take many pictures there. We had a good time, we slept a lot, we ate a lot, got lots of great gifts, enjoyed time with family, saw the Movie Marley and Me and cried and cried, it was as great as the book!





Then it was back to OKC, Matt and Lori came and stayed a night with us, so did the Chloe and Allie. More sleeping and eating and reading (I have been totally engrossed in the Twilight books since starting them earlier this month).





Then we hosted New Years Eve at our house it was Friends and Fondue the best way I could think to ring in the new year! More eating, laughing and an all around good time.

The holidays are over I go back to work tomorrow, the tree and other decorations need to come down too but I find myself reluctant to take any of it down, I wish it was acceptable decor year round. Hope your holidays were great too!!

Italy!

Sorry its been so long since I've posted my trip pics. Its been non-stop since I've been home. I can't believe Christmas is just next week!!

Colosseum:

Pantheon (the coldest and wettest day we were there):

Climbing to the top of St. Peters at the Vatican:

Mid week enjoying some American Cuisine at Hard Rock:

Venice:

Trevi Fountain: (Traidition to throw a coin in to ensure your return to Rome)

Last night in Rome:



We took 547 pictures! So this are just as sampling. It was an amazing trip but wore me out by the end!

Home Sweet Home...

We are home!! I will have to sift throught the 547 pics we took to see what to post and give an overview of our trip. For now I am a little bumbed to go back to work and the real world today but enjoyed sleeping in my own bed, Dr. Pepper and can't till Rory will be here when I get home from work today. After first glance at pics I think this is one of my favorites:

Marriage Retreat....

Last weekend we enjoyed retreating and focusing on our relationship. This year has been a hard one with Ryan's increased work demands and time away. We've tried to make the most of the time we get to have together like this weekend retreat and other fun get aways like Chicago and our upcomming Rome trip (one week away!).

Movies!

I just love a good movie or documentary, Sometimes you just don't feel like there are any good movies out there, but right now my holiday movie list is stacking up fast, I am considering these some must coming up on the big screen sometime over the Holidays:

1) Australia - This is with Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman. Looks epic and wonderful. http://www.australiamovie.com/

2) Marley and Me- Owen Wilson and Jennifer Anisten. One of my favorite books, the preview looks fantastic. All dog lovers everywhere you need to see this but if its like the book was for me you will be laughing and crying throughout, If you ever loved a dog this movie is for you!
http://marleyandmemovie.com/

3) Four Christmases - Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn looks hilarious!! Reminds me a bit of Ryan.
http://www.fourchristmasesmovie.com/

I think I could watch movie previews for hours. I get so excited to see the movies! lets just hope they live up to the previews.

Home Sweet Home!

Well I don't have any pictures to post but we had a good weekend. We visited Broken Arrow, Tulsa and Bartlesville. We got to visit with Ryan's grandma and my mema. We hadn't been home over the whole summer, even though we will be back in the area in just a few weeks for Thanksgiving we decided to take advantage of a weekend Ryan wasn't working to do an over night visit. I think its funny how places become home, whenever I am headed to Broken Arrow I feel like I am "going home" whenever I head back to Edmond I also feel like I am "going home". Then you have places like Bartlesville and Claremore that also have feeling of familarity and warm memories. Its was just what I wanted and needed.

Then we had the Mitchells over for dinner tonight to finalize trip plans for our side trip to Venice on our Rome Trip. Its starting to feel real! I am so excited to be going and so excited to share it with dear friends!

Halloween Happenings

Friday night we went to a Halloween party hosted by friends. The girls played cards while the boys played Wii. There was lots of laughing, I lost so bad at the card game (Nertz) it became very comical by the end, also lots of yummy yummy festive food was enjoyed.



This is post Halloween fun, I wanted to get this for Rory for a while and a friend let me know they were half off at Target on their after Halloween sale!

What could be a better costume than a dog being a hot dog!

Saturday we enjoyed a low key day of cleaning the house thoroughly and doing laundry which felt good to get so much done around the house. Today I'm starting the official count down to Rome, 27 days and counting!