Holiday Season

Last weekend Nick and I went to a Christmas tree farm and I got my very first real Christmas tree! It was very exciting....we trudged through the farm until we found the perfect little Christmas tree. We threw it in the back of Nick's "new" truck and brought it home to decorate. We were afraid Maverick might pee on it or the cats would knock it over, but everything seems to be okay. Last year was technically our first Christmas as a married couple but by the time we got back from our honeymoon and everything it was Christmas, so this is really our first "Christmas season" being together and being able to just enjoy the holidays. It's is also kind of funny...we could tell when people started decorating for the holidays because we would get random "happy anniversary" messages or comments when they found their ornament from our wedding :) Yes, that's right, the memories of our wedding will haunt your holidays forever!


He really did appreciate the photo shoot while he was doing this ;)

Our finished tree. I think Nick will complain every year about how many ballerina ornaments I have but oh well; my little dancers would get them for me every year at Christmas and there is no way I'm getting rid of any. We'll just have to slowly balance them out with guns, camo, and golf ornaments.

On another note, you know how I commented at the start of this blog that even with the tough economic times, my job shouldn't be in jeopardy? Well, I got called into a meeting with my boss (well, I guess boss' boss actually) and was told that I'm being transferred to Organizational Development and will be in charge of the employee development and training at LCC. The main girl who is in charge of this now is going on maternity leave and I will be her replacement. There is lots of drama and re-orging going on at the college so I will most likely stay in Organizational Development and possibly work a hybrid position between there and Employee Wellness (both departments are under the Human Resources umbrella). So I have been busy learning this new position and trying to wrap up my work in Wellness. Busy busy, but I will be sure to keep updating as a learn anything!

Have a great weekend!

Thanksgiving Weekend & 1st Anniversary

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Our holiday weekend was definitely action-packed! Our good friend Wayne from Virginia flew in on Tuesday to spend Thanksgiving in Michigan. Wayne was Nick's coworker and our roommate when we lived in Virginia. He was one of Nick's groomsmen in our wedding and he's still one of our best friends. Nick took Wednesday off and I got off work at noon, so the three of us went out to lunch, to the mall for some early Christmas shopping, and then met some other friends out that night.
Thursday, we were up early and headed over to Nick's parent's house to help with cooking. We were in charge of making the macaroni and cheese (a tradition at every family event, and loved by all) so we just decided to get there early and make it at their house. Somehow, Nick managed to mess up the recipe (too much cheese, not enough condensed milk, etc.) and I made the mistake of bringing organic butter. A friendly family debate started over the whole "organic food" thing. That was interesting....I should have known better. Anyways, the macaroni ended up turning out just fine and everything at dinner was wonderful! There were about 18 family members there, so lots of visiting, eating, and football watching was done by all. Wayne, Nick, and I got back to our house late and were up early the next day. We had to get Wayne to Detroit for his flight early Friday. Nick and I stayed over in the Detroit area had lunch, did some shopping, and saw a movie. That night we had a suite at the Pistons game (thanks National City!), so we met his parents and brother and sister-in-law at the game. Another late night, and long drive home.
The next morning we were up again and headed to Hastings to have a belated Thanksgiving with my parents. My mom and I did the cooking and we had a good visit together.

A few days later, it was December 1st and our one year anniversary! I can't believe it's been a whole year, but it's been a great year! We're no longer "newlyweds", now we're just plain married :) That's ok with me; the wedding was absolutely wonderful, but I'm glad it's over and we now have the memories! Our anniversary was on a Monday and it was snowing like crazy all day (haha...just like at our wedding!). Nick and I went out to a nice dinner, and then to see the movie Four Christmases (it's very good, by the way, for any of you contemplating seeing it).

The top of our wedding cake! It was still sooo good. We both ate it every night for a week and only got half way through the cake!

All in all, life's been good lately! Now all I'm doing is looking forward to Christmas break (the perks of working at a college!).

Parties and New Truck

The past couple of weeks haven’t been too eventful. Nick got a deer on opening day…finally. He got a doe, about 140lbs. On his family’s property they have implemented a deer management program to help "grow" the deer on the land, so no one is supposed to shoot a buck unless it is very big. All of the guys that hunt there got at least one deer so everyone is happy. They had the skinning/cutting up party this past weekend, but darnit, I was out of town and couldn’t attend :).
I had a nice girls getaway weekend. Our friend Lindsey from college is getting married at the end of December, and she had her bachelorette party this weekend. One of my best friends, Caresse, flew in from California and another, Becca, came down from the U.P for it. Five of us girls had a sleepover at Caresse’s mom’s house on Friday night complete with dinner, cocktails, birthday cake, and the obligatory watching of the Sex and the City movie!

On Saturday we all (along with Lindsey’s other friends) met at the Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids for the bachelorette party. 18 girls ran around Grand Rapids that night between Sanchez for tapas, McFadden’s for drinks, and Moxie for a few more drinks. Everyone had a really good time...it was much overdue! It’s so nice that our group of girlfriends from college can get together like that a couple times a year despite all being in different places. It was such a good time and I’m sad it’s over, however, we will be back together in a month for the actual wedding!

There is also a new addition to the family…Nick bought a truck this weekend. A 1991 Ford….it’s a gem. He has wanted his very own beater truck for the longest time and he finally found one that met his specifications last Thursday on ebay. He won the bid and went to pick it up from Byron Center, MI last Saturday. It has a small lift kit, is a stick shift, and makes extra noise when you drive it (for whatever reason…). Nick is absolutely in love with it, so I guess that is all that matters!

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Mom's Birthday

Well, my mom turned 60 last week! She is doing well; her and my dad have totally redone both of their bathrooms and are most of the way through redoing my old bedroom. They are keeping busy and trying to avoid a "retirement coma". So for my mom's birthday I had a nice weekend planned for her. She came over Friday afternoon and we went out for dinner to Ukai (a Japanese restaurant where they make the food in front of you). She had never been to one of these because my dad REFUSES to eat Asian food (of course any of you who know him, knows this). So I thought this would be a good opportunity to take my mom somewhere where she wouldn't get to go with my dad. Then we had tickets to see the men's and women's Olympic gymnastics team at the Breslin Center at MSU (2nd row-thanks Nicky!!). It was really a great show. We were right on the floor with them so we got to see everything up close. They had both the men's and women's 2008 Olympic teams, rhythmic gymnasts, plus some oldies but goodies like Shannon Miller and Blaine Wilson! There was live music and it was a really entertaining show. Mom spent the night at my house and then we watched the Sex and the City Movie the next morning. She hasn't really ever seen the show, but she LOVED the movie so I think I've created and addict :)

Gold medalist Shawn Johnson on the floor

One of the men (can't remember who) on the rings.

Other than that, Nick and I went out for a nice dinner and then some shopping last night. He is working this morning and hunting this afternoon. With the time change it gets dark so early, so even when he is hunting he is home by 7:00 usually which is nice. He is overdue (and cranky) to get a deer so hopefully he will get one soon. This is the longest he's ever gone without getting one so he made a few "necessary" hunting purchases last weekend to help him along; quiet boots (literally, that's what they are called-so he can sneak up on deer??), lots of bullets/shells/ammo-whatever, and a new tree stand. I also made a purchase at Gander Mountain; a BPA-free water bottle. I've been wanting one for a while, since all of this new research has been coming out about the bad plastics. Of course I get made fun of for this, but we make a good team. I supply us with carcinogen-free water bottles and Nick kills the deer. It works. It also looks as if our nice weather is done with. This past week it was close to 70 degrees most days, but I'm looking outside now and there are the first little snowflakes of the season flying around. That's ok though, I always hope for a white Christmas! Well, I had better get on to the things that Sundays are for (cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping). I hope everyone has a great week!

Nick and Lynn in NYC in September.

New Blog!

Well, I'm new to this whole blogging thing but I thought it might be a good way to keep in touch with family and friends that are scattered across the country and world....so we'll give it a try!

Nick is out hunting tonight (no surprise there) patiently waiting for that huge buck to walk out in front of him. I don't know how many years this will take, but he is determined :) As a hunting widow, I have a good amount of uninterrupted time on my hands during October and November. Depending on my mood, this could good be a good thing some days! Nick always keeps busy throughout the year with golf, hunting, basketball, and lifting. He is, however, mastering the art of balance between his family (me!), work, and his sports which I give him great credit for.

I'm in school (again) taking 1-2 classes per semester along with working as the Wellness Event Coordinator at LCC. Work is always interesting...new challenges everyday. Even with the tough economic times it looks as if my job is secure (which is always in the back of your mind when you are the "fluff" of the organization). Other than that, I still love spending a night out (or in) with friends, traveling, and of course hanging out with our lovely animals Maverick, Pudge, and George.