Christmas, New Years, Ski Trip & Sad News

The Grizzles are back in Alabama after a 10 day trip to the big O-H-I-O. Just now starting to feel caught up. We had a wonderful time with my family. I only get to go home once a year, so we make it count when we go!

We spent all day on the 23rd trying to make it to my parent's house with out killing ourselves on the icy roads. We even had to stop off an exit in Kentucky because they had closed the interstate due to bad road conditions. It was extremely icy and very scary to drive on. All I could do was coast my car and pray we didn't hit anything while it slithered across the lanes. I was a nervous wreck with Marley in the car. I can't imagine what it will be like to travel with actual children in the car. He was sedated in the back seat the whole time and never even noticed a thing...lucky devil. Nonetheless, we made it to Proctorville LATE that night without any scratches.

The next day was Christmas Eve and we went to my grandparents house to continue our tradition of opening presents and eating with my dad's family. It is one of my all time favorite traditions. We came home that night and continued another tradition of opening new PJ's to wear to bed while we wait for Santa to visit. Usually just Ben and I do this, but I decided to buy the whole family matching sets this year. They weren't identical, just flannel pj's with matching button up shirts. But I must say, we all looked pretty darn cute!

Christmas day my sister had to work and couldn't make it back home until Saturday so we put off opening presents. That's right, I had to wait 3 extra days to open my much anticipated gifts! So goes the life of a girl whose sister works for the Big Ten. Ben and I went ahead and exchanged our presents on Christmas day and we killed time Friday by hitting the after Christmas sales and going to dinner with one of my best friends and her husband, Josh & Manda.

Saturday turned out to be worth the wait. I received a ton of goodies including but not limited to a new ski coat, a Cuisinart food processor (I had been DYING to have one and couldn't be happier with it), a fax/copier/scanner/printer (also much needed and appreciated), a label maker, lamps, movies, gift cards, clothes, perfume and the list goes on...

Sister got new slippers to match her new pet, Zoe the Bengal Cat!

Ben and I in our new ski coats. Luckily they both had removable liners since it ended up being in the 50's where we skied!

Mom's so cute!

Dad with is new Golf GPS thingymajig.

Part of our Christmas from my parents was a ski trip. They got us all a cabin for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at Winterplace Ski Resort just outside of Beckley, West Virginia. I hadn't skied since high school and was afraid I had lost the knack but picked it right back up. This was Ben's first time to do it and he was off to a really good start until he tore his ACL on a really hard fall down a slope he wasn't supposed to be on (thanks, Sister). Still, we had a great time skiing, playing games at the cabin and just hanging out.

Before Ben tore his ACL.

After Ben tore his ACL.

Wednesday morning we got a call that my cousin Nikki had died. She fell 16 stories from her balcony at a hotel in Orlando. We were and are, of course, devastated. Nikki was a single mother with an 8 year old little girl. We will miss her beautiful smile and wonderful sense of humor. Thank you so much to all of you who have been praying about this ongoing situation. There is nothing more sad than seeing Taylor without her Mommy. Please continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

We made it home New Year's Eve. After the trip and finding out about Nikki we were pretty much exhausted. We watched Hancock and Ben and I were in bed by 11:00. So much for watching the ball drop? Although I have to admit that I haven't watched it in years...so I didn't miss it that much.

We drove back to Alabama New Year's Day. It was good to get home, even if it was to rainy and stormy weather.

I pray this year brings lots of blessings to you and your family!