Cabin Adventure

This past weekend, Nick and I took a little get-a-way weekend to Chrystal Mountain. We hit the slopes on Saturday and had such a great time! The skies were clear most of the day allowing scenic views from the top. As the day progressed, I noticed Nick becoming more and more jovial. I have always known him to love the great outdoors, but it really hit me on Saturday: This man was made to be on a mountain, doing something...anything active. He seems to be at his best. I don't know if it is the fresh air, the activity, the freedom from the daily grind or a combination of all of those, but I do know that I will be much more proactive in getting us up there...anywhere.

When we got back to the cabin, mom had a simmering pot of delicious beef stew...the perfect hot dish to fill an empty belly. After dinner we played three very intense games of Taboo (rotating partners) then snuggled up on the couch to watch a movie. It was the perfect way to live a weekend...play hard then rest hard.

As a side note, Nick surprised me with a ski helmet prior to our departure. I have never skied with a helmet before, so once I had it I began to wonder why the heck not. For the following reasons:

1. You are going down a hill on wooden sticks at 30 mph with trees and people all around

2. It is so much warmer!

I welcomed the gift and encourage any of you who ski to get a helmet if you don't have one yet.

We also took our new Subaru on the trek to give her a test run. She was a champ...she drives smooth as butter!

Charlotte Update

Yes, it's true...we LOVE our dog. Each day seems to get better and better with Charlotte being a part of our family. She is quite the trooper when it comes to hiking:

Dealing with the crazy snow storms (doesn't the snow look like leg warmers):

Working with me in the office (she often hogs my seat):

And, of course, being completely spoiled by Alpha Nick:

Now that she has passed her 6 month marker, Charlotte is turning into quite the obedient dog. Her traumatic chewing phase lasted about 2 weeks (for me that is), and though it wasn't completely financially or emotionally damaging, it was still very annoying.

She spends most of her days sitting on something soft (not the couch unless invited) and looking out the window or sleeping or following me from room to room as I go about my day. Ruff life. She has also graduated to a being confined to the kitchen area while we are gone, rather than locked up in just her small kennel. So far, that arrangement is working out for us all...except for the random times she decides the the throw rugs should entertainer her, rather than her chew toys and the ipod playing music. She responds quite well to her name (when other dogs aren't around of course) and is nothing but a little lover, which seems to make up for those moments of complete and utter frustration. It's all a learning process, but I am happy to report that I am more and more content with her overall temperament as she matures into a dog.

Delya Debut

Week 3: "What the heck are you doing Auntie Andi...Another Picture???!!!"
A few weeks ago my parents hosted what my mom coined: "The Delya Debut." She invited the family over for a little show and tell of her new grand daughter. Nick and I joined in on the debut of course, after all Nick had yet to meet his niece. It was a great time and I really enjoyed seeing not only how much Delya had grown in the last 2 weeks, but also how Matt and Ami have grown in parenthood. I was taken aback at their love for their little one...let alone their enhanced communication with each other and complete sense of servant hood. Child bearing seems to be doing wonders for them!


Passed out in what Matt calls a "milk coma:"

Aunt Andi and Uncle Nick beginning the spoiling: Love, love and more love.

Aunt Andi starting the lessons on how to whoop Uncle Nick at Scrabble (I'm not sure she's too into it yet):

Ortho complete!

Nick got his lower braces of a few weeks ago! It was a harsh 9 months...challenged with leafy greens wedged between his teeth, agonizing pain after doctor appointments (so tight) and learning how to live in the day to day life with metal in his mouth! But now the journey is over and his teeth are beautiful! See: