Where is Anna?

I've been everywhere man, oh I've been everywhere. Well, not really everywhere but a lot of places.

Why have I been so absent from my blog? I have good reasons, really I do.

Since Dec. 19 I have been to the following places:

North Carolina, Kansas City and Las Vegas

For Christmas, Jimmy, Dash and I drove down to NC for the holidays. We had a wonderful time.

Of course as soon as we get back from the holidays we both get sick. Not fun.

Our next trip was our annual get together with our NC State friends. Each year we pick a location and meet up. We try to pick places in between where we live. Somehow this NC State crew has managed to dominate the Midwest. So Madison, WI; Stillwater, OK; Davenport, IA; and Columbia, MO chose Kansas City this year. We had a great time. I liked KC. It was a neat place with lots to do and see. I would recommend the Power and Light District downtown for entertainment and lodging and 18th and Vine for good music.

Then our next trip was to Sin City, Glitter Gulch, Adult Disney World, aka Las Vegas baby.

Sara, Keith, Jimmy and I met up for our 5th anniversaries. We had a grand time. Didn't gamble too much but we did manage to see the Grand Canyon, have drinks in Paris, stand among lions, visit with Ceasar, walk around New York, go from Nevada to Arizona in one step and stand atop the Hoover Dam. It was awesome!

To me Vegas was one of those spots that was never on my top 5 list, not like Hawaii or Italy. It was however a city I knew I had to go one day. It lived up to my expectations. We took in a show, Phantom of the Opera. It is a must see if you are in Vegas. The theater was built only for Phantom so the set design, special effects and well everything are top notch and over the top. Plus I might also add this was the farthest west in the US I have ever been. It was really cool to fly over the Rockies and to see the Grand Canyon.

I am posting pictures in a separate posting. Hopefully, I won't be MIA again. Hope everyone is doing well.

Hello 2011

Gosh I have not posted in over a month.

Things are good. I was in NC for two weeks over Christmas which was a really nice break!

I will post more soon.

Daily Dash

O Christmas Tree

Any snow yet?

Winter Storm Watch issued for tomorrow night
Anywhere from 3-8 inches.

With this being said we would like to welcome an addition to our family.

An Ariens SNO-TEK Snow Blower! woo hoo

We will put you to work very soon.

Ornament Exchange

Last night we exchanged ornaments.
I gave Jimmy a Texas A&M ornament. This completes our college collection. We now have Appalachian, NC State and Texas A&M - representing the schools we have attended.

He gave me two ornaments. One really frisky leopard print ornament and a pretty glass one with doves. Both are quite pretty!

Now to make room for them on the tree....

Deck the Halls

My favorite time of year.....

On Saturday we went to Pine Hill tree farm near Freeport, IL and cut down our Christmas tree. She is a beauty. My niece Ella helped us choose the lucky tree this year. We decorated the house Saturday afternoon.

I just love ornaments! They all have a story. I have collected them for many years. My oldest is a glass horse given to me by my Auntie Gene (Hey Gene). This has always been my favorite. When I was little I would get excited to see it again and place it in a nice location on the tree - so the lights would hit it just right. When Christmas was over I would carefully wrap it up in paper so it would be safe all year long.

Then there is my App State ornament. I bought this one my junior year in college and was so excited about it! I think of my friends and the fun times we had every time I place it on the tree.

My oyster angel from Emerald Isle. My mom made this one out of white oyster shells. What a pretty little angel!

When Jimmy and I got married we started a ornament tradition. We choose a special ornament for each other each year. Our first year - I got a fairy ornament and I gave Jimmy a golf cart ornament -for his love of golf and for the infamous golf cart birthday fiasco.

Then there are ornaments from trips. The NYC ornament when Sara, Keith, Jimmy and I went to New York a few Octobers ago and then there is the thistle ornament from Scotland from our trip this summer.

I love the ones that have stories and I remember them each year.

I made cookies and Russian Tea for our decorating extravaganza. Then Jimmy and I snuggled up and watched Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. I do believe I have finally caught the Harry Potter bug - it only took me 13 years. I am buying the box set this week and will start reading.