Happy Holiday...break!

Ahh the great feeling that is Holiday Break time! Derick and I were blessed to be able to enjoy Christmas this year with many family members! Here is a small run-down of what we did!

Friday, December 18th
This was the day of our CBK corporate holiday party! It was a lot of fun because me and three other girls from the "Culture Keepers Committee" dressed up and were the hosts and MCs for the game! It was a really fun time at the Radisson hotel in Plymouth. The food was good and there were some really nice prizes given out at the end of the day, not to mention that we were all released from work at 10:45am and then at the end of the party at 2pm! whoo hoo!

Meet: Miss Ginger Bread, Ms. Holly Berry and Miss Candy Cane!

Saturday, Dec 19th
We drove out to Menomine, WI to watch Joe graduate from Stout University! Derick and I watched the ceremony from the comfort of swivel chairs in the student lounge - since Joey didn't have enough tickets for all of the people who wanted to watch him graduate! It was a very chilly day in Menomonie, and being that close to the lake didn't help! We met Joe, his dad, sister, Steph and Carol and Larry at Applebees where we had a celebratory lunch for Joe (and also a mini birthday celebration for Derick and Joey).

Sunday, Dec 20th
We traveleld with my parents over to Amery, WI to celebrate Christmas with my mom's side of the family. We meet every year at Lucky's restaurant to eat and watch the kids open gifts. There was a small twist this year when I introduced the First Annual Nordquist White Elephant Gift Exchange! It was a big hit and a lot of fun to watch what people were trying to get rid of. I think the highlights of that were my cousin Dave, who ended up with a high-heeled shoe candle. He tried to persuade everyone who had their turn after him that they needed to take it from him! The other one was my cousin Eric, who ended up with an angel rose clock! That thing was so funny looking, it was ridiculous! After some chatting and eating and laughing, we headed home.

Monday, Dec 21st
It was Derick's birthday! I gave him his present right when we woke up, because I knew that he would want to play with it right away! I got him 2 video games and 2 movies (thank you Black Friday sales!). My assumption was correct - he played and played and played games all day! I made him a "Better Than Sex" cake for his birthday - his request. For dinner, my parents and sister came over and we headed to the 5-8 right across the street from us. Their food is SO good and cheap! At least there is a good thing about being married to a gamer - it is usually pretty easy to buy gifts for them!

Tuesday, Dec 22nd - Thurs, Dec 24th - Christmas Eve
We packed up and made the 3hr drive to Medford, WI to spend time and Christmas Eve with Derick's family! We stayed at his aunt Steph's house and spent a lot of "couch bonding time" with Steph, Ratt and Megan and Cassie. I also finished one more of the book series that I am reading! I was able to experience High School Musicals 2 and 3 with Cassie...that was entertaining. I had Cassie singing every song right next to me, and when I had confessed earlier that I had not seen the second or third one, I thought her jaw was going to drop through to the center of the earth, and she proceeded to drag me into the porch to educate me in the ways of High School Musical sequels. Christmas Eve, we went to church with the almost entire family! (man, can we pack a few pews!) When the time came to light the candles, I looked down the row and saw, what any normal person would expect to see...straight candle, straight candle, straight candle...curvy candle...wait...yes, Ratt had softened the wax between his hands during the ceremony and then curved the candle. I wish I would have gotten a picture. It was pretty funny. Then we all trucked back through the snowstorm to the house for Christmas dinner and the chaos that is gift opening! I helped Dawn slice about 20 Granny Smith Apples for her Snicker Apple Salad and a lot of other prep and finishing work on all of the yummy food! After we had stuffed ourselves, we all sat down again and then the present pass-out began and then the insanity that was the unwrapping.

Friday, Dec 25th - Christmas Day
We packed up and left Medford Friday morning before the weather was supposed to get worse. It was pretty decent conditions getting home; we didn't hit snow until Hudson, WI! When we got back, unpacked the car and showered, we headed over to my parent's house to celebrate Christmas with them and my sister. Upon our arrival, we were greeted with our stockings that "santa" had delivered. Then we ate (more food!) and talked for awhile. We made our way downstairs to light the advent wreath, read the Christmas story from the Bible and then open gifts. I got many gifts this year! Derick got a lot of clothing (which he needed to round out his teaching wardrobe). I think one of the highlights was my Top Chef cookbook and new baking utensils! From my sister, we got Mario Brothers for the Wii and Mario Party 8 for the Wii as well. I have been playing both games like crazy since we brought them home that night!

Saturday, Dec 26th - Day after Christmas
On the day after Christmas, we woke up and went right out after Christmas shopping! We headed over to Maple Grove to the Walmart to spend our gift card from Derick's mom and step-dad. From there, we trekked to Hallmark for me to get some small things for gifts for next year and the Snoopy ornament for this year. After that, it was off to Target in search of the lighted moose lawn ornament (which sadly, we did not find) and "my" snowflake First Frost dishes! (which we did not find either). Since we did not find those things at the Maple Grove Target, we decided to run to the Champlin Target where (yay!) we found 2 dinner plate sets of my dishes and 2 bowls! No moose there though either, which we were bummed about. People were CRAZY shopping! It was almost worse than shopping on Black Friday! After our shopping trip, we spent time at home, cleaning up our gifts and our house that looked like it had exploded with Christmas gifts and decor! And when I say we, I mostly mean me. Sometimes I think that most men cannot tell when things are out of place or need cleaning and straightening up, until, in my terms, it is almost a lost cause to do so! We're talking catastrophic World War zone here! Not that our house was that bad...

Sunday, Dec 27th
Just another day of being lazy and playing with our presents!

Monday, Dec 28th - Tuesday, Dec 29th
I spent these days easing back into the little thing called
"a corporate job." I am glad that I only had to work 2 days this week! I actually didn't really mind coming back into work. I think too many days at home would have bored me to tears! But, on the other hand, I do have one design project to start and finish as well as a stack of books to read from my new series of interest as well as a few new video games to play...hmm...maybe I jumped to that assumption too quickly. Good thing that there is a weekend coming up!

So that, in a nutshell is what we were up to this Holiday season thus far. My uncle and three cousins are in town from North Carolina, and we will be getting together with them during New Year's. We will also be getting together with some family friends- the Sunnarborgs during that time as well! There is no rest during this busy time of year!