Joe and I got home last night after celebrating Thanksgiving/Christmas with my family for a couple days. Here are some of the highlights.
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| A 2010 family picture |
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| Adyson couldn't get enough of Amyjoe (yes, we're just one word around her) |
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| Brylea and Adyson in matching pjs from Aunt Amy & Uncle Joe |
I have a Christmas question: how do you display your Christmas cards or do you? Back in the day, when I lived in an apartment, I would always tape my cards to the back of my door and display them throughout the month. Now, in our current space, I am not really sure that is appropriate. I hate the idea of getting all these great cards and photos from friends and family members and then not doing anything with them.
Happy birthday to Joe! He is working all day and teaching ESL tonight so we spent the weekend as he'd like...saw Megamind and ate Indian food one night and last night celebrated with Chicago deep dish pizza.
I have a new job! Okay, it's not a REAL job but I am volunteering in the marketing department of a local hospital. I decided to offer up my services and expertise as a way to meet people, network, sharpen my skills, etc. Anyway, I went in today to officially get my badge and meet the staff. I know part of the job will just be grunt work but I think I'm really going to like it. It's funny how things can change; I used to interview our volunteers, help oversee them, give them odd jobs to do, etc, and now the tables have turned. Anyway, it felt really nice to get up this morning, dress in my professional clothes (I almost couldn't find them hidden in my closet) and be around an environment that felt familiar (even though I'd never stepped foot in that actual office before).
Joe is still on vacation (although he has "worked" or gone to meetings every day) so today we went to see the Jim Henson exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. We got to see Miss Piggy, Kermit, Rolph, Bert and Ernie and some other puppets. My biggest complaint is that I wish we'd gotten to see more puppets but even still it was a very interesting exhibit and I especially enjoyed seeing some of Henson's sketches and screenprinting from his college days.
Joe and I (along with my kidney stone because we're cool like that) spent the weekend at an amazing bed and breakfast. We had a great time and can't wait to go back again some day. The inn features: a spa, theatre room, hot tub, fresh homemade cookies in each room, gourmet breakfasts, walking trails...why would we want to go home when we could stay there? But, alas, we missed our dogs so back to the real world today.
Over the weekend, we also visited the Anderson Japanese Gardens. The gardens were a bit barren this time of year with just a hint of fall colors left. We'd love to go back again in spring, summer or early fall to catch all the great colors and greenery but we still enjoyed our first visit very much. Also, on this brisk November day, the place was pretty deserted so, in a way, it was neat to feel like we had the place all to ourselves. It's truly an amazing little place!
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| Our bed and breakfast. We highly recommend it! |
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| One of our views at the Japanese Gardens. It was such a serene place to visit! |
It has been quite a week. It started first thing Monday morning for me with some very intense pain that I have never felt before (and hope to never feel again). Joe took me to urgent care when I told him matter-of-factly that I did not need to go to the emergency room. Well, I got my very first ambulance ride on Monday when the urgent care clinic around the corner from where we live, sent me straight to the hospital. Hearing the sirens as the ambulance pulled up and knowing that it was there for me was not a good feeling. After I got to the ER, I had a few tests done, including a CT scan, which confirmed that I had a kidney stone. The scariest part was not knowing what was wrong so when Joe and I got the news "kidney stone," I think we were both very relieved and happy to hear it. (Yes, happy, as weird as that sounds.) After lots of really powerful medicine, I was sent home to wait it out...where I am still waiting it out. Sigh.
On election night we found out that an issue Joe had been working on for several months had passed. What a relief after so many months of hard work!
We were hoping to go away somewhere this weekend just to regroup after being so busy lately but I have a feeling we may be having a staycation instead depending on how I'm feeling...stay tuned.
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