Where Are You Christmas?

It's one of my favorite Christmas songs, but goodness, it went by so fast. Wednesday Matt and I both ran a few errands, finished wrapping up the gifts, and then got ready for the Christmas Eve service at church. We did t he 6:00 service with my family, continued the tradition of going to Symposium afterward, and then went to the 10:00 service with the Pavelko's. Matt and I got home late and I was ready to crash...ugh, I'm so old! Heck, I almost fell asleep at the 10:00 service. Anyways, we got home and I made my two yummy cheeseballs for Christmas Day at mom and dad's and then we went upstairs, ready Twas the Night Before Christmas and waited for Santa to arrive. The next morning we woke up, exchanged gifts, went over to the Pavelko's to exchange gifts and then over to my parents to enjoy the day with family. Here are a few pictures from the day. More to follow...

This one just cracks me up! Sometimes I just get the giggles.

Now we're serious. My beautiful sister and I on Christmas Day.What can I say...we make each other laugh.This one makes me laugh too. Matt is allergic to dogs, and Liddy always finds a restful spot nearby on Dad P's lap.

Things I love all in one evening...

First of all, I absolutely love to give. When I was little, I used to want to take meals to the homeless on the streets, I served at Water Street Rescue Mission with my family and church, and some day I would like to walk the East Coast of the United States (in my spare time) and raise money for a cause. I am so determined to make a difference one life at a time. I guess it's the pay it forward concept. Anyways, last night I started an annual tradition of collecting warm clothing, used instruments, and food for children and their families at the School District of Lancaster or families in that area. I was so impressed by how much stuff I received, considering it was only two days before Christmas. If you have items that you would like to donate, please let me know and you can drop them off. I have plenty of wine and cheese left over if you would like to have a glass of wine too :)
Then, after everyone left, and my favorite CD was on...Jim Brickman's Holidays, Matt and I turned off the lights and danced. It was the perfect way to welcome in the holiday season. The distraction of TV and the hustle and bustle of everything can just get to be too much sometimes. After our little dance, my brother-in-law Dan stopped over and we had a nice chat with him. After he left, we watched my favorite Christmas movie, the Nativity. That IS the true meaning of CHRISTmas. Rejoice! Our Savior is born!

Christmas Time

Matt's school Christmas concert was on Thursday. It was so cute and the kids just sang their little hearts out! I so enjoy going to his concerts each year and seeing the kids. You see the joy in their faces and the pride in their hearts when they're done singing their song. As Matt announced one of the songs, one of the little first graders yelled out as he stood there on the bleachers, "Ooo...I love this song." So cute!
I've never waited this late to do my Christmas shopping, but Saturday and Sunday we walked around the mall and did our Christmas shopping. It was tons of fun. Most people hate the crowds, but I kind of enjoy them. Call me crazy, but it adds to the Christmas fun. Saturday night was our Christmas Party at the Kocher's.
And, traditions continue. Each year we have Pappy over to decorate our Christmas tree. Last night we just ordered pizza and snacked on some cookies while Matt and I decorated the Christmas tree. Pappy was our entertainment as he shared his jokes and stories of when he was younger. Last night he told a story I never heard before about Nanny and Pappy dating way back in the day. It was really cute! Does he look his age? 93 years old and going strong!

L&A Christmas Party

So much fun that evening...but we always have a blast!

...wait until you see our Christmas card. Too funny!

The boys...Matt, Charlie, Chris, Jim, and James

The girls...Abbey, Allison, Me, Sarah, MollyUs...and no, we did not try to match that evening...I promise!

Christmas Favorites

I was tagged...

Christmas Song:
Grown Up Christmas List, Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire, O Holy Night, All is Well, Welcome to Our World, Where Are you Christmas, I love Luther Vandross's O Come All Ye Faithful, there's so many...

Christmas Movie:
Definitely the Nativity Story...talk about the real spirit of Christmas and then some fun ones like Its a Wonderful Life, Polar Express, Babes and Toyland (watched this with my sisters growing up), Rudolph, White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, Santa Claus with Tim Allen, and the movie Elf cracks me up so much! I love Will Farrell!

Christmas Cookie:
My nanny's raisin filled cookies. My aunt and I used to fight over those. The best! But, I also love snicker doodles, sugar cookies, and you can never go wrong with chocolate chip. I love baking cookies just as much as I love eating them, but I also love giving them away to clients and putting a smile on their faces.

Christmas Gift:
I remember getting Snowball when I was young. I wanted a puppy so badly and my parents gave my sister and I a Westhighland White Terrier. I cried and was so excited!

Christmas Memory:
I would have to go with my sister in having my dad wake me us in the middle of the night because he heard Santa. He said we had to let mom sleep, but the rest of us went downstairs and saw Santa putting gifts under the tree. Years later I found out it was my mom dressed up like Santa….but I’ll never forget the pure joy that brought me as a little girl. My mom did so many great things for us…and still does. Every holiday she made so special...really, every day my parents made so special.

I also enjoyed surprising Matt one Christmas with a gift of encouragement by gathering letters and memorabilia from each of his teachers/professors that have inspired him musically. Then, we had the opportunity to visit one of his all time idols in VA, Steve Melilo.

Christmas Tradition:
When I was young we would go to Longwood Gardens with the Beyers, go to the Christmas Eve service at Lampeter United Methodist and Mrs. Godfrey would give us a Christmas ornament, decorating the Christmas tree in the basement, living room and family room, writing letters to Santa and leaving cookies out for him and carrots for the reindeer, going Christmas shopping with Dad and going down to Watt & Shand's to get a Texas Tommy, sitting on Santa's lap, going over to Nanny's with all of my cousins, spending Christmas evenings with Grandma, Grandpa and Dad's side of the family, making appetizers on Christmas Eve and spending that time as a family, putting fires in the fireplace and sipping hot chocolate, looking out the window on the way home from the Christmas Eve service to see if we could spot Santa's sleigh, oh, there were so many...

Now Matt and I enjoy putting up our two nativity sets, decorating the tree with Pappy, baking Christmas cookies (oh, so many), reading Twas the Night Before Christmas (still), reading the Greatest Story Ever Told on Christmas Eve, Watching the Nativity Story, listening to Christmas music on the way to Thanksgiving, going over to the Pavelko's to unwrap Christmas gifts (after we unwrap our own, that is), eating Dan's awesome stuffed French Toast, going over to Mom and Dad's and having a wonderful fun-filled day with family, picking out a Christmas tree, Christmas Eve service and dinner at Symposium, Christmas shopping, Christmas morning joy.

Christmas Meal:
Um, everything you can think of. Meatballs, cheesy shredded potatoes, green beans, cheese and crackers, crab dip, cookies, fruit, veggies, more cookies...

Christmas Beverage:
Love apple cider, hot chocolate, and always enjoy a glass of wine at holiday parties.

Christmas Decoration:
Nativity sets and white Christmas lights

Christmas Flower:
Is there anything other than a poinsettia

Christmas Ornament:
Like Carrie, my Christmas pickle from mom, and the ornaments I made Matt when we were dating. I made an ornament for each year we were together. I can't wait to have kids and have them come home with homemade little Christmas ornaments.

Christmas Smell:
Christmas tree (although I'm allergic), Christmas cookies, cinnamon, my new potpourri

Christmas Hymn:
O Come All Ye Faithful, Silent Night, O Holy Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, there are so many good ones.

Christmas Card:
I love getting pictures of my friends kids. So cute...they usually end up staying on my fridge until next Christmas.

Christmas Shopping Moment:
I love Christmas shopping, period. I just love giving

Christmas Book:
The Greatest Story Ever Told, Twas the Night Before Christmas, and Polar Express

Christmas Party:
This year we had a lot of Christmas parties to go to and all of them were different and fun. Although, I love my guys at Lewis & Associates and we always have a blast at that Christmas party. This year, I even won an award for one of the most funny moments in the office, but I won't proceed in going into details...today, anyways.

Cooking vs. Baking

There's a reason why Matt does all the cooking and I do the baking. Oh, we laugh about it though! We had such a great weekend, and maybe I'll share more in a later post, but it was just a laid back fun filled weekend...one of the best weekends we have had in a long time.
Anyways, Matt decided to do some baking on Saturday and I decided to cook dinner tonight. Well, there's a reason why Matt does the cooking and I do the baking. Matt tried to make an apple pie...I really think it would have been fine, but he put way too much sugar in it (because he's experimental that way...he doesn't believe in measuring or following recipes). Not only did he put too much sugar in it, but he decided to make an Apple, Peanut Butter, Raisin Pie. Hmm... He tried...hehehe... Just a little too sweet.
Today he said that he wouldn't be home to cook dinner so he helped me get some soup started. How do you screw up soup? I don't know, but I managed to. It's just one big mush pile. I guess we'll eat it...either that or pasta, but it looks pretty funny. I tried making a chicken rice vegetable soup, but it looks more like mush with some color in it...not appealing at all. So, I'll hold my breath and give it a try tonight. Better luck tomorrow...

Thanksgiving

We followed our tradition of going up to Kingston to visit Matt's extended family. It was a lot of fun and it was really good to see everyone again. It was a smaller crowd this year, but still just as much fun. And, as always, we all ate way too much and then fell into a food coma by the end of the evening. I helped in the kitchen by mixing up the mashed potatoes and I'm always assigned to make the desserts. Oh, they were so yummy...of course we had the traditional pumpkin pie, rice krispie treats, chocolate truffles, brownies, and butterscotch brownies. I also made an apple cranberry crisp that we forgot back at home, but we were able to enjoy that later that weekend. Anyways, back to the kitchen... I can't say this ever happened before, but as Uncle Jack was carving the turkey, Tom the Turkey decided to walk right off the table onto the floor. Uncle Jack let out a great squeel...a few ran to the kitchen to wonder if everything was okay and then we all burst out into laughter and put the good ol' 10 second rule into play! So, with all that said, here are a few pictures of our day. More to follow of Thanksgiving Weekend and our first Thanksgiving meal of the season.

Our little guy...

We just received notice from World Vision that we have a new little boy now that we'll be sponsoring. His name is Aregahegn Chofora and he lives in Ethiopia with his parents and two brothers. He's 6 years old and enjoys playing hide and seek. We're excited to get in touch with him!

Welcome Rowan

Rowan Zachary Young was born on Friday, November 21st!

Congratulations Adrian and Julie, and Olivia too!

Lake Placid, here we come!

The other week, the Chesters family sat down and discussed some options for 2009 Family Summer Vacation...our first family vacation with the Chesters Clan and our spouses! We decided on this awesome resort in Lake Placid called, The White Face Lodge. Check it out! Anyways, we'll be headed there sometime in July and I'm just so excited! Spa day, shopping, water sports...how can you go wrong!

Happy Anniversary to me!

I just realized today is my 2 Year Business Anniversary! Woohoo! Two years ago today I sat down in front of a 'Focus Group' or other local professionals who serve Lancaster County seniors and presented my business idea. Everyone agreed that I needed to proceed with providing my services to Lancaster County seniors. I feel so lucky to have all of my mentors, family and friends supporting me every step of the way. It's certainly not easy running a business, but well worth it at the end of the day!

It's the Most Wonderful Time...

I love the Christmas season. After I clean up the house today and go to the gym, I think Matt and I are going to start our Christmas shopping. Some of my favorite things about this time of the year are:

• Listening to Christmas music
• Driving up to Scranton and having a few hours to just talk about life while we listen to my favorite Christmas CD
• Thanksgiving!
• Seeing extended family members
• Baking, baking and more baking...Christmas cookies, truffles, cakes, tortes, pies...
• Watching some of my favorite Christmas movies...It's a Wonderful Life, the Nativity, Polar Express, Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, and the list goes on
• Christmas shopping and wrapping gifts while watching one of my Christmas movies
• The scent of cinnamon and evergreen
• Christmas morning!
• First Friday downtown and Tuba Christmas
• Spending weekends with friends
• Hearing Dominic the Donkey on the radio and laughing like crazy!
• Christmas parties
• Matt's Christmas concerts...especially his school concert...the kids are adorable!
• Picking out a Christmas tree
• Decorating our Christmas tree with pappy
• Getting dressed up and going to the Christmas Eve service
• Seeing the little kids at church in their Christmas dresses and suits...so cute!
• Spending lots of time with family
• Sipping on hot chocolate and enjoying a Christmas cookie or two
• Apple Cider, Spiced Rum, a little dab of butter and cinamon to finish it off
• Celebrating many many birthdays within a month...Dad P, Mom C, Matt, myself, Eric R, Kent, and a few others that I can't think of right now
• New Year's Eve!
• Snow...hopefully we get some this year. I'm not a huge fan of it, but I'd rather have snow than dreary rainy days like this one! And, if we get snow, let's get lots of it so we can go out and play!
• Seeing my Messiah girls (miss you this weekend!)
• Lewis & Associates Christmas Party
• Christmas caroling (which, by the way, I'm going to arrange to go to a retirement community and go Christmas caroling)
• Decorating the house with lights, candles, and my nativity set
• and so much more...

Thank You.

Thank you to all those who fight for our freedom. Happy Veteran's Day.

PMS!

Post Marathon Syndrome. You get a little depressed and you're waiting to sign up for the next marathon. Well, today my PMS symptoms stopped...finally...for my sake and for Matt's! hahaha... I found that Lancaster is having it's first marathon!!! Holy Crap! I'm so freakin' excited!!! And, not only is it in Lancaster, but the proceeds go to one of the retirement communities...Garden Spot Village! Ha! Sign up! They're taking walkers too! Let me know if you're interested and we'll all be in together! It's the best experience ever!

Just Me, Myself, and I

Tis the season! Matt is crazy busy this time of year and I miss him, but I've started enjoying these little nights to do some of the things I love the most...baking, crafts, scrapbooking, running, etc. I was never fond of staying at home by myself, but now I love those "Me, Myself, and I" nights! I found this yummy recipe in my last Kraft foods magazine that I'm going to try out tonight. I'll let you know how they turn out. Nothing like a little glass of red wine with dark chocolate truffles.

Lewis & Associates Halloween Party

Last night was pumpkin carving night with the families at Lewis & Associates. What fun! The guys always go all out with the office...I must say, it looked pretty cool, and spooky too! The kids always have a ton of fun...of course, so do the adults!

World Series Champions!

Need I say more?

Running is a mental sport, we're just all insane

30,000 runners. 100,000 spectators. 26.2 miles. 5 hours later...finish! And, free beer at the end! This is a little description of my past weekend at the Marine Corp Marathon. What a wonderful weekend. It was my 6th marathon, my 2nd Marine Corp. Saturday we walked around the Expo a bit...it's the ultimate 'Obsessed with Running' Expo and I love it! We started at 8:00, or should I say, the horns blew at 8:00...I started at about 8:15. It takes a little while to get to the start line...as there are over 30,000 runners. You really can't start running comfortably until about Mile 4. If you're in it to get a great time, you're probably at the wrong race because it's nearly impossible to move the first couple of miles...you just go with the flow and have a good time! So, enough of my babbling, I'll show you some pictures. More to follow later this week. Oh yeah, I finished in about 5:14 and Danaun finished in 6:30. Most importantly, we beat the bridge. If you don't beat the bridge, you can picked up by the 'clean-up bus.' Funny, but not funny. That bridge is brutal.

Matt, Danaun, and I at the Carbo Load dinner. Gotta get your carbs in!

Before the marathon in the freezing cold

Walking to the start line...I think I'll get somewhere between the 5 hour marker. And we can't even see the Starting Line from here. You have to walk a mile before you even cross the Starting Line. Insane, huh?

This official start is under the red balloons.

This is mile 4...see how crowded it still is?

Almost there! .2 to go. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!

After the marathon, waiting for the Metro

Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body

This was one of my favorite posters I saw yesterday in running the Marine Corps Marathon. Yeah...I'm in a bit of pain today, but it's well worth it. Experience the ultimate runner's high...there's nothing like it. Of course, there's nothing like the pain you experience either! Ha...walking down the stairs...IMPOSSIBLE! How about crawling down the stairs... Which leads me to one of my other favorite quotes: "Toenails are for sissies." Yup...lost another three. It's sad when you're not even 30 and considering going to a Podiatrist already!

Just wanted to let you know I'm back and alive. I'll be posting some pictures later on today as well as some information about my finsih, etc. Yesterday couldn't have been more beautiful outside!

If you're interested in running a marathon, let me know and we can train together. I think the next one I'll be doing will be the Flying Pig Marathon in Ohio. We'll see...

Let's Get This Party Started

I live for these marathon weekends. Danaun, Matt, and I are headed down to DC this weekend...and no, Matt's not running.t I know at least three other people running, so that will make it even more fun...Dave, my senior roommate Kerri, and of course Danaun. Last summer Danaun and I trained together for two separate marathons and this year we're running the Marine together. It's the best marathon there is! Over 30,000 runners and over 100,000 spectators. As if that's not good enough, the weather is supposed to be perfect on Sunday! So, wish me luck. Oh yeah, if you want to see where I'm at on race day, you can go onto http://www.marinemarathon.com/ and track me. Kind of freaky, but still cool! Wish me luck!

Fall Baking

Two things I absolutely love...Fall and baking. Put the two together, and life couldn't be any better. Last night I had some of my girlfriends over to do a little baking. Yum Yum! We made applesauce (what a workout!), pumpkin cookies with chocolate chips (everything is better with chocolate) and an apple pie. What a fun evening!

Recap...

Last week my computer crashed, as you could see, so I'm just going to do a quick recap here, because I have to get back to working. Here's a few highlights of the past week or so.

Rob and Kathy's twins, William and Wyatt, got baptised last Sunday. They are so precious!

Here's our little buddy Price. We can't leave him out of the picture!

Friday night we went out to dinner with Christen and Dave and the boys, Jullian and Colton (I used to babysit for them). They are such great boys and I miss them! Dave is running his first marathon, Marine Corps, next weekend, so we went over a few of the details before the weekend. I know he's going to do an awesome job!

Matt, Danielle, Pam, and Butch were in from Pittsburg this past weekend. Matt is my 2nd cousin and we used to be little pen pals for a few years back in High School. It was great to see them over the weekend. We'll see you again in November! Have a great time in Hawaii!

Our neighbors Trevor and Unissa got married this past weekend! Congratulations!

And, Matt and I at the wedding.

Crazy Computer

My computer crashed, so it's going to be a few days until I post updates on my blog. Hopefully I'll have my computer back by the end of the week. It's amazing how much I depend on my computer. Craziness!

Spoiled Rotten

You must go! Trans4mation on South West End Avenue is AWESOME! I've always enjoyed getting my haircut and going to the salon to get pampered, but this place tops it all! I went around the block to get my haircut, they did an awesome job (I love my stylist), they asked me if I wanted a complimentary makeup touchup (umm...YES!), gave me a whole bunch of free skin care stuff, and told me that I would get a complimentary eyebrown wax if I schedule my next appointment. Just try it out. It's right behind the Republican office. Make sure you ask for Tiffany! She's awesome!

Hands on House Half Marathon

Yea! I completed another Hands on House 1/2 Marathon and conquered some of Lancaster County's most grueling hills! Now it's only 3 weeks to the Marine Corp! And, I have to mention...I'm so proud of Sarah for completing her first 1/2 Marathon. Once you start running these, you can't stop. Way to go Sarah!

Choose to Make a Difference

I've always wanted to make a difference in people's lives. Some days I get discouraged because I don't see the immediate affect I have on someone, but then I realize that it's not up to ME to change that person...maybe it's what God does through me. But, you have to make the choice to allow God to work through you (maybe that is choosing to make a difference). You plant the seed and someone else waters it and puts the seed where it will get sun...or vice versa. There are so many needs in this world...find something you're passionate about...whether it be helping a child, listening to a senior, lending a hand to the homeless, or just share a smile with a stranger. I want to share a story with you. Maybe some of you have read it before, maybe not. It's just been on my mind lately. Today, I've kind of used this blog as a journal. I promise I'll put something on here soon that's a little more light hearted. I think I'm too serious sometimes, but take this poem for what's it worth!

I'm inspired...

Ainsley's a big sister!

Congratulations to John and Alexa for their new baby girl, Kathryn Elaine Eidam