My Wife

If you even remotely closely follow our blog, you know that I don't post all that often - I even hesitate to write that it's "our"blog. However, I think it's time that I do something "out of the ordinary" for me and actually post something today, especially since Alex has been way too nice to me on this blog.

Now, I know that we've all laughed and joked about the husband of the year points and prize that Alex has been so kind to reward me with, but I must set the record straight and tell the truth, which isn't really a surprise at all. Alex is really the one who should win the wife of the year award, or cool wife of the year award, or kindest wife award - really, she could easily get a hat trick here.

To justify her winning such lofty rewards, I could go on ad nauseum about all the great things that she does for me like making me a lunch each morning, keeping our apartment clean, cheering me up when I'm down or helping me figure out and think through problems or questions. I could tell you about how she makes me laugh and builds my self esteem while motivating me to be better. However, instead of going through all that and more, I'll just tell you that 35 months after we officially started dating and 15 months after getting married, my life is happier and filled with more joy because of my dear wife, Alex.

So, ponder on that until my next post...and be warned, it may be a while until you see me on here again!

Ode to Tuesdays

Before I get to Tuesdays I want to set your minds at ease- just because Nicholas won Husband of the Year 2009 does not mean that he is taking a break from being wonderful.  Last week he surprised me with these flowers one day when he came home from work.

Now- I love Tuesdays...love 'em!  I used to claim that Thursdays were my favorite- almost the weekend, the Office was on, etc.  However now Thursdays are my long days at work and I don't even get to watch the Office until Friday.  Tuesdays are so great because I don't have to get ready at all if I don't want to- most Tuesdays I don't even leave the apartment! (Well, except for my morning exercise.)  

Now I know that may sound terrible- to be cramped up in a tiny apartment all day- but it really is wonderful.  I clean the apartment and there is nothing nicer than being at home when it is all nice and clean.  It is usually the day I get to do little random projects...making cards, getting out decorations, etc.  One "project" I was particularly excited to get done was making a space for my version of food storage- I am not going to grind my own wheat...quite frankly I don't even have the desire at all...but I do know we need to build up our food supply and I have been trying to buy extras of things we use regularly.  Up until now they were pushed under the bed between bins full of dance shoes, office supplies, etc.  However now they have their own bin (which has to go in my closet because under the bed is full) and it is full!  Wahoo!  

Another thing I get to do on Tuesdays is cook dinner- something that doesn't have to be good as a microwave meal as Tuesday is one night I actually get to eat with Nicholas.  I also get to be home to welcome Nick home from work on Tuesdays...welcome him home to a nice clean apartment with dinner on the stove.  Not to mention the fact that I can wear my grubbie clothes all day, wear no makeup, and pull my wet hair into a ponytail.

Above is a picture of my clean apartment today- I know it doesn't look like much, but it feels so nice...wish you were here to enjoy it!  And below is a picture of Koshka enjoying a clean home as well.

BEST HUSBAND IN 2009!

So I have been deeming Nicholas with "Husband of the Year" points for quite some time...a meaningless gesture to let him know he is doing something nice, funny, etc.  Well, I decided that he needed to receive an award for earning so many points this year.  On New Years, at dinner, I announced that he had in fact won Husband of the Year and we toasted to him with some sparkling grape juice. Then he got to open his present...season 5 of The Office!  We have already started watching it :)  I am super grateful for such a wonderful husband and such a great best friend...he makes my life easier and happier and I love him mucho!  Congrats Nicholas!

A Holly Jolly Christmas

It seems I did not take many pictures this Christmas so you will just have to believe me when I tell you it was great!

I had fun decorating our little apartment- we borrowed this fake tree from my parents again this year and Koshka loved it...a little too much most times.  It only officially tipped over once, but she liked to chew on the branches any time she could get her paws on them.  It didn't take long before I engineered a contraption out of cardboard and packing tape to put at the bottom of the branches to hinder her chewing fun.

This was a Grand Christmas year which means we all come to my parents for the holiday- easy enough for us!  We knew that we were going sleep there on Christmas Eve and so the night before (the 23rd) we pulled out our sleeping bags and slept in our living room...right under the Christmas tree.  It was fun and surprisingly comfortable (we highly recommend air matresses with pumps) and really got us in the holiday spirit.

While Nicholas still worked a lot, we had fun going to movies, opening presents, playing games, puzzling, ice skating, going bowling, exercising each morning, and eating a ton with the family.  I was off of work for the entire two weeks which was heavenly.  We love the holidays!

Koshka got a jungle gym type thing from "Santa" as well as a new collar and food bowl from us.  Our hopes were realized and she indeed loves playing on her new toy...which gets us out of running around with her all of the time.  Her new collar is black and white polka dots but has a little pink on it and so I am hopeful that now my family will not call her a "he" all of the time (her previous collar was light blue- it was the only one I could find that was small enough).

Anywho, we had a very lovely Christmas and are very, very lucky!  We can't wait until next year!