... And....

My goodness! Where has time gone??? It would be so much easier to update this thing if my computer was working properly. and now it is...

There is so much to update. December came and went so fast I don't think I managed to blink. This post will be an overload of pics. Next post will be about the great deal we got AFTER Christmas. I could care less about black Friday but when December 26th comes I am ready. So hang on tight and here we go....

Early in the month of December, after we decorated the house and trimmed the tree we kicked off the Christmas season with making gingerbread houses. I didn't get any pictures during the process but here is the ending result:








During the month of December we always attend the 'lighting of the candles' This is at the cemetery where my best friend is at. It always tends to be on her birthday or within a day of her birthday. We always stop and leave her some flowers. This year we were running really late and due to the rain/snow the majority of the candles were out but I still tried to get a picture. After that we decided to head over to Christmas Tree Lane to help get in to the Christmas spirit. Here are just a few pics:






This Christmas was our first Christmas alone! There was much anticipation. It was very exciting for us. We usually have a full house for 3 days (and nights) straight. It was really nice to have our alone moments. For Christmas Eve we did a candle lit dinner. After dinner we did chocolate fondue and watch Christmas Vacation (A tradition). Our 'traditions' are still evolving...

and here is the recipe... You are welcome!!! (for those who are worried about the alcohol, you don't have to use it. It is just as good without)

Christmas morning we woke up bright and early (can't you tell in the first picture???) I am such the kid in the relationship! but this year Bryce was up before me... It was really nice to spend the morning opening gifts together and going back to bed...




After a relaxing morning we headed to Aunt Eileens house to open more gifts. I didn't take any pictures and I didn't stay long. I made my first ham this year so I had to come home to finish dinner. Later in the afternoon everyone came back to the house to enjoy a yummy dinner and open even more gifts.






After all of the Christmas celebration we had Grandma's 80th birthday. Since you only turn 80 once in your lifetime we had to throw a surprise party. Oh boy was she surprised, she was like a giddy school girl!











The holidays were busy but they were fun. Now here is to things slowing down...

Negative Nelly ate Christmas!

With Christmas fast approaching I have so much to be grateful for but I find myself being attacked with negativeness. I feel bad for my friends. I am consumed with stuff that is happening to me instead of all of the good things going on around me. There should be magic in the air but I think I killed 'magic'. I need to revive it... and fast! So I guess I am writing this to help me get over my cloud of doom and get back the magic Christmas has to offer. In honor I would like to reflect on my 2010 and find the positives of the year

Jan. - I started my LAST semester at school. I did Graduate in May but this was the beginning of seeing light at the end of the tunnel. I have never been so stressed but it all paid off! Another thing I wanted to mention that we did was snow shoeing! I never thought I would do that. It turned out awesome. There was lots of times that I thought I wouldn't make it to the top but with the guys (Bryce and Bryce - a mutual friend) I did make it! And it was amazing!

Feb - I was able to start the process of state boards to get licenced

March - Bryce and I got our pics done. Thanks to Beckah. She is amazing. I am very grateful for the friendship Beckah has given me, even when she took time out of her schedule to help me do something nice for a re-kindle relationship I am starting with my sister. Thanks you Beckah and I am grateful for the small unfolding relationship I have with my sister.

April - Vegas baby!!!!!

May - I got a new niece! She is adorable and cute and I would take her in a heartbeat. Too bad her mom loves her so much that she keeps a close watch on her when I (or anyone else) is around.

June - Our trailer came out of hibernation. I love summers for the fact of camping. I LOVE LOVE LOVE camping and if I could, I would spend all of my summers lounging in the mountains.

July - Bryce took his first ambulance ride. Although this may not seem a happy moment (it wasn't!) it did make me extremely grateful for the relationship that I have with him. You don't know what you have until you don't have it anymore (in my case, almost lost it)

August - We finished the deck! With Bryce's injury this was a challenging task but with communication and team work we were able to enjoy it and spend the rest of our summer out there. It turned out awesome!

Sept - We found out Debbie (Bryce's mom) was moving out. Although she didn't move out until Oct and there were lots of stressful moment I felt as if this is the day our life began as a couple... fully. When you have family living with you there is always a piece of your life that is missing. In my case, a piece that I was not able to experience. This month I learned I would be getting that experience.

October - This month I could have died the proudest aunt. My nephew got an opportunity that he has never had before and I was there to witness that. I am very proud of my nephew of what he has become. I cannot believe he is graduating in 5 short months!

Nov - Thanksgiving with my Brother and his family. Our first Thanksgiving with them. It was fun and I appreciate them taking time out of their schedule to make dinner for us!

Dec - It has been a really stressful month for me. I have been on overload yet I feel as if no one understand. In the end I have realized that I have many great friends who listen to my whining and who appreciate what I do. I think by far the best thing of the year will (hasn't happened yet) be that Bryce and I will spend our first Christmas alone together. I am sure it is something neither one of us will forget.

Moments to Memories

Today was a day that was productive... really...

I got some Christmas shopping done: 1/2 of Bryce's mom, 1/2 of grandma, all of my dad's, 1/5 of Bryce's done, and I even manage to pick me up an item or two.

The house is clean...

I have uploaded some 'recipe cards' into walgreen photo center to be developed for a gift for my brother and sister...

I also went through my camera and cleaned everything off of it...

Now I just need to go through and organize my computer desktop but that will have to wait.

I thought I would share a few pics I had in my camera.

Here are a few from my work Trick or Treating

Emi and Brooklyn (Fairy and Fish)

Kaleb and Jayce (SWAT Member and Transformer)

I also thought I would show some pics of my indoor decorations. I know I posted these last year but I have added a few new items! I love decorating for the holidays!

The 'Autumn' is new this year.

So is the acorn

Still love the not so new spiders

Oh and Last but not least I thought I would share some 'moments to memories' with you. This is not to bash on Bryce but to help myself from losing it I have to take a step back and laugh a little bit so I thought I would share this. Bryce is known for taking our tupperware and placing them in misc places for me to find. The last time I found some tupperware in some random place i took it upstairs to rinse out. Apparently it had been there for a while and when I opened it up the smell was so horrid that I literally threw up. He has been trying really hard to not leave them in 'random' places for me to find. Well as of lately this is what I find....


Oh wait lets take a closer look.....


For those who cant really tell, These Tupperware are EMPTY... and they had been sitting in the fridge for about a week... So instead of leaving them in random places for me to find all rotten he now sticks them into the fridge to keep them 'fresh'. As I said sometimes I have to just laugh to prevent myself from hurting him...

Isn't she just sooooo cute..????

Yeah I thought so too... It kinda makes me want to have one... wait, yep, nope I don't want one. I like spoiling then sending them home to their parents.

Pumpkins and cats tails and zombies oh my!

There are alot of things going on in the Hardman house! Oh goodness. We have been busy painting, moving our stuff from down stairs to upstairs, organization like crazy, winterizing the house (an awesome thank you to my sweet nephew who came to help us with that!) and much more. I should make a post everyday to keep up with the many things that are going on. Hopefully soon after Christmas I will be able to post some house pics. I got the sad news yesterday that my desk will not be done until shortly before Christmas. It is going to be quite the project for my nephew! I am very excited to get it going and can't wait to have it completed!

As for right now I thought I would update the happenings of the most recent holiday. We went riding with my brother and nephew, to the pumpkin patch, carved pumpkins, went to witches night out/made carmel apples (that was just me!) and had a murder mystery party. It was all so much fun!!! I could go on all night about all of the activities so to save myself (and all of you) time I will just let the pics say it all...

Riding in North Willow:

Will


Cam


Will and Cam


Cam


Will


Will


The view



Will taking a snooze


Another cool view


Will


Bryce


My 3 boys

Witches Night Out/Carmel Apples:

Kerri, Jessica, Brit and Dezi

Pumpkin Patch:

Found the perfect pumpkin!


Taking a pic of myself, I had to fit one of me in there somewhere!


Found it!!!


Brit


Such a cute and perfect couple!


Bryce and Eddie, just like when they were younger


Brit


Standing guard


Making sure we have the perfect one



I take a pic of you while you take one of me


Brit and Sam


I had to get a funny one in there too!


Cheese!

Pumpkin Carving:

Here I go:


Eddie - its intense!



Bryce


Brit


Where did I go?? Oh yeah I am taking the pic!


All of our happy pumpkins (mine, Bryce, Brit and Eddie)

Murder Mystery:

Cat's tail and zombie. I was the murderer!!!!!!!

The entire group. The party was a blast. Thanks to Brit and Eddie