Is Christmas really already over?

This Christmas came and went at an unprecedented rate. It was a lovely Christmas though. I had all of last week off and I spent my time with my family and Alex's (Cleveland & Cincinnati).

I am really tired of talking about the wedding though. In the midst of all of the visiting and eating, I managed to book a florist, photographer, cakemaker, dj and bought a dress (and I have the church, the reception site and the invitations). The dress happened to be the first one I tried on! My mom was tearing up. I was worried I wouldn't find anything I liked at all, but once I started trying them on I loved them all. There was magical lighting in there I think! Everything has been coming together in a way that makes me feel like it's all really meant to be. I feel better now that only the little details are left. All that you girls need to know is that the date is set for October 2, 2010! Start asking off work! jk!

By the way, CONGRATULATIONS MARIA! That is such exciting news. You deserve it and I am so proud of you. However, I am disappoinetd that you and Kev won't be making the pilgrimage to our fine state. By the way-that german bar you were describing on Erin's facebook wall sounded like the perfect place to spend a cold night.

Amy---have you started packing for LA yet? I am jealous that you get to leave this weather behind. I cannot wait to hear the stories about Mr. Fecker. Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY (a smidge early!). Do you have any birthday plans with John?

MJ-hope you're fully recovered from your surgery. I am glad to hear that everything went okay! By the way, you are santa's naughty helper! I got your text the minute I was going in to meet with the photographer and it freaked me out so much because I couldn't call you! When are you rolling back in town? Are you moving the rest of your stuff to Eric's? Let me know if you need any help!

Erin-any luck with the new year's plans and your work? I am sure you will have a real fire there--please roast a marshmellow for me!

LC-SOOOOOOOO jealous you had a real break! I am sure it was a much needed a break. I don't remember if you were off for a week or if it was two? You are such an inspiration!

Also, thank you girls for all of the lovely mail I have received lately! I LOVE getting mail! Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to each of you. What are everyone's New Years plans? I will be in gloomy Cleveland once again...

Hugs and Mistletoe,

Lauren

New Job!

Just wanted to let everyone know on Wednesday I got offered the position of Supervisor to Polly's Cottage! It was a great early Christmas present to me and Kev! So far as supervisor I have been dealing with non-stop crisis in my unit. I was at work last night from 9am to almost 2am! I've been getting a little beat up at work, but you guys know me, I love battle scars.

But as for the visit in January, my time off has been denied because of all the training I'm going to have to do. Now I get Saturday nights, Sunday's and Mondays off... so Kev and I are looking for plane tickets to at least get out there for a short weekend or something. I dunno, we've been brainstorming for a way to get out to Columbus ASAP. I'll keep everyone updated, I know everyone's busy so I'm going to talk to my boss today about when I should be able to take some time off. I love you guys, and I am sorry that the visit fell through, I can't wait to see everyone soon.

How is everyone doing? Wedding plans? Subleasing? Jobs? Trips out west? I want to hear it all.

Hope everyone has an extremely Merry Christmas and has a great time with your families!

Maria R

addresses

Hey guys,

I am terrible at keeping up with everyones address, so I was wondering if everyone could post theirs as a comment on this blog.

I'll start with mine:

6581 E. Knollwood Circle

Loveland, Ohio 45140

I may be subleasing my apt, so I am not going to put that address up anymore : )

Love you all!

Merry Christmas!

MJ

Tis the season...

Maria, great idea. Normally I can rattle off a mile long list of things I am thankful for, but pinpointing one thing of which I am truly thankful took some thinking. I feel like I am at a giant crossroad in life. I don't know whether I should stay in Cincy after I graduate, where I will have a stable job and family supporting me, or if I should move away. It seems like Eric will be going away for his phd in psychology, and I want to be there with him. I think it would be a fun time for us and it would definitely make our relationship stronger. However, I have a hard time leaving my family, my friends, my grandparents, and my little boys. I feel like one of my grandparents will pass away in the next 6 years (I know this sounds grave, but in all reality it will probably happen), which is how long it would take him to get his doctrate, and I am not sure that I want to miss out on time with them. In a sense, Amy, I can almost remotely understand what a tough decision you had to make. Also, I am so proud of you. Anyway, with such big decision ahead of me, I am thankful to have all my family together for this holiday season. I am not sure what it will be like in the future, but I am glad for the sense of security and happiness I feel now.

It's kind of interesting how a post that is supposed to be so cheery and bright can spawn so many dismal thoughts. On a brighter note, I want you to all to have a great Christmas. And, in the spirit of December and Santa, let's also post one magical thing that we wish Santa could bring us (that we know isn't practical)! (P.S. Ignore my terrible grammar, I just painted my nails, and I'm sure it impacts it! : )

I want Santa to bring me a new kitchen/bathroom floor in Erics apartment (which is pretty much where I live now), and I would also like a big plush couch!!!! (I am so sick of a futon. I definitely miss the homeliness of 1806) Oh, and I want Santa to fix my knee so I can run again!

Love you all! Merry Christmas!

MJ

I am thankful for...

I like this idea Maria! Sadly this was harder than I thought it would be. Things are definitely not how I thought they would be at this point in my life. Actually, almost nothing is. Some of that might be good but a lot of it is definitely not. I'm sure there are positives to a lot of these issues but it is pretty hard for me to understand why a lot of this is happening. Sorry, not to be like poor me... I know everyone is in the same boat in some way or another. I just get mad and frustrated a lot, so I'm glad you requested this Maria, because I think I need to do this more.

I know that I am very lucky in a lot of ways though. I, of course, am very thankful for all of the very understanding and loving people in my life, like you guys, my family and John but to be specific as you requested, Maria, I am thankful for Ryland.

I know I talk about this place like it's magical or something. It's really not that exciting but I am so grateful that my family has found a place that is so peaceful and welcoming. This place definitely feels like home to me and I think my family feels the same, which is probably why we haven't left yet! I know I won't be living here forever but I think that my family will be (at least during some point in the year). The people here are a little wacky and a lot nosey but I love them. Almost everyone we have met here has instantly treated us like family and cares about us like we are. So many are so understanding and helpful with Sarah, that sometimes it makes me cry. Most of the people here we have known for under a year and I feel like we have known them for years. On top that, it's just really beautiful here. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to know that my parents and Sarah will have a home here for good. It means the world to me that they have a wonderful home they are comfortable in and a community that will look out for them.

Anyway, that's my sappy story for the evening. I feel like I should call Delilah or something. I hope everyone had wonderful Thanksgivings. I'm so looking forward to seeing you ALL in the coming weeks!! And yay for Christmas time- THAT is another thing to be thankful for!

Amy

Sorry my entry is so late!

First of all CONGRATULATIONS Lauren!! I'm very excited for another of us to join the club!

Secondly, sorry to everyone that this blog entry is so long in coming. I know my month was November, and I was hoping (in the spirit of Erin's grandma) that will all say something we are thankful for. And let's all assume we are greatful for our family (I've met them all, they are awesome and hilarious) and friends (yes, we are equally awesome and hilarious) in the most general terms and come up with some specifics!
I am greatful for the fact that although at the end of every winter I am so sick of snow I could cry, every November and December I wake up with the renewed excitement that, although the weather channel has forcasted unusally balmy weather, there is freshly laid snow on the ground. It is a feeling that has never left me since my first winter in new york almost 19 years ago. I am greatful that life is cylical and that my memory is so terrible that each year is surprisingly fresh and new to me.

Everything has been good in the Richards household. Kev is done with football and we are both adjusting to the new way of life. But it is a fun adjustment, this week he just has two nights of class and no work so we get to spend some carefree time together, discussing plans for our first Christmas and making grocery lists. We equally love Christmas and food. I have been interviewing for the supervisor position at my job in Vanderheyden. It's been going well, so hopefully I will find out soon if I have the job or not. Basically the position entails me assuming a more prominent leadership role not only in my cottage where I work everyday, but also on the campus as a whole. As a supervisor you are responsible for being the Residential on call (the ROC) and for that shift you are responsible for the entire campus. So you are the go to if there is any sort of emergency, that kind of thing. It's a little intimidating because I know that I have been in situations where I have had no idea what to do, have called the ROC and they have come in a completely difussed the situation. It's a little nerve-racking to think that other people would assume I had the same magical powers. But, finally, my college degree is paying off, and puts me on a new playing field with the others who are supervisors. Why my degree in humanities makes me more able to handle crisis situations is beyond me, but I am not one to question how things are done (haha yeah right).

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I had to work, but Kev got to eat with my parents. And last night my Mom made another Thanksgiving dinner for Ben, Casey, Kev and me so we could all celebrate together. So I am feeling the effects of the dinner a few days later than most.

I have put in a request for some days off with my boss. I haven't heard any final words on it, but I don't think it should be too much of an issue going through. I have requested of January 7-12. It's a Thursday to a Tuesday, so hopefully everyone will have some time during the weekend to hang out with me and Kev for a meal or a drink or a snowball fight or something. I'll let everyone know if and when these dates get finalized.

Love you guys and miss you and cannot wait to see you!!!

Maria R

People are staring

Oh yes, that’s exactly how it was. I had to keep saying, Erin please take your straw hat off, it’s really embarrassing. People are staring.

Oh, please. Erin, you are the classiest person I know. I fit in there even less than you do. I love that we are Midwestern hillbillies. Plus, among other things, I am a full blown Disneyland junky – that’s hard to beat on the scale of "hillbilliness". For the record though, some of those people could stand to have a little Midwesterness kicked into them.

Good luck with the job fair tomorrow! You will rock it! I would leave the straw hat at home, though.

LC, thanks for the update on Mark. I keep meaning to ask you about him. I’m glad he is doing better! I’m thinking about him!

Amy 

P.S. In case anyone is curious, here’s a link the pictures I took in LA. I’m still anti facebook albums (weird, I know) so they are on Picasa instead. It’s actually kind of cool to use because you can apparently easily post photos directly on our blog since they are all google programs.

http://picasaweb.google.com/AmyCHorn/LAWithErin?authkey=Gv1sRgCKG5msTb9fvKMQ&feat=directlink