The upside to being sick...if there is one.

If there is one good thing about being sick for over a week, it must be the fact that one can get in a lot of movie-watching time

I think I have watched about 8-10 movies in the past week and a half - lying on the couch! I am currently in the middle of Eat, Pray Love. Kind of slow so far - one of the reasons for the blog post. Give me a movie with Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Lopez or gay men, and I will be a happy camper.

Besides the multiple movies I have watched this week, Derick and I have watched a ton of episodes of Modern Family - catching up and finishing season one and starting season 2. that show is too funny. My favorite is the gay couple with the adopted daughter - Cam and Mitchell. Too funny!

Here are just a couple of quotes from the show from them that make me seriously laugh:

• Cameron: I’m sort of like Costco. I’m big, I’m not fancy and I dare you to not like me.
  
• Mitchell: Take it down a notch. We’re trying to make a friend, not initiate a three way.
  
• Mitchell: It’s Cameron’s turn to be out in the world interacting with other grown-ups while I get to stay at home and plot the death of Dora the Explorer.
  
• Lol here is a quote from the movie Eat, Pray Love:
  "Do you always talk in bumper sticker?"

I am happy that I am finally starting to feel better! Yay! Just in time to go back to work on Monday. Ugh.

But, let's not focus on that part. I have had a decent holiday this year, despite Derick first being sick and then me, following after, picking up his cold.

Christmas with my mom's side was pleasant and short, just as it has been the past few years since we have transferred Christmas to Lucky's restaurant vs. my grandma or aunt's house. We all travel out there, eat a good home-cooked style meal, the kids open their presents and then the adults participate in the White Elephant gift swap. This has only been the second year of the White Elephant, but is has been a big hit! This year a couple of the last year's gifts resurfaced and were TOO funny!

Then my parents hosted my dad's side Christmas. My uncle and cousins drove up from North Carolina, and it was fun to get to spend some time with them there. Later in the week Derick and I went over to my grandma's house to spend more time with them. We played games and were able to see their puppy Shadow! What a cutie! Maybe they are in town next time - the summer - we can take both their dog and Tucker to the dog park. I love dogs. Didn't think I would say that, and if you asked my mom and dad the same thing, they wouldn't think so either!


The Doberstein Christmas was fun as well - also short and sweet. The drive over on Christmas Eve day was really nice. We took an alternate route in hopes to stop-in at Derick's Grandpa's house, but we could not get ahold of him on our way there, so we abandoned that route and went straight to his Grandma's house where there was so much lasagna that I thought I might be in heaven! There was a lot of good food, a little dash of drama, and then the flurry of tearing gift wrap and tissue paper as everyone opened their presents. I now have enough popcorn to last me until next Christmas! My goodness! We decided to head out that night for home since Derick was not feeling great and I was starting not to feel so great as well. Derick and I realized that over the past 5 years we have been together, we have been on the road for more holidays that we can count!

Next up in our Christmas celebrations, was my little intimate family Christmas with my mom, dad, sister and Derick. We always light the advent wreath, read the Christmas Story in the Bible and then exchange and open gifts!

This year I got many of the things that I wanted! A lot of baking accessories, including a new set of airbake pans, cupcake liners and much more. I think that a lot of my family and friends have caught on to the cupcake devotion I have more recently acquired. It is fun to see when and where the cupcake-inspired gifts pop-up! My friend and coworker got me a smattering of things all cupcake related - a cupcake mix from Sprinkles, the famous cupcake bakery, a cupcake corer and a cupcake ornament and chapstick cupcake scented! It was too cute!

There are so many things that I am thankful for this year, and so many happy moments and memories. Some sad ones, some bad ones, but all in all, it has been a year of growth and experience for Derick and myself. My wish for all of you reading this is that you can reflect on your moments of experience this past year and look ahead to making new ones in 2011. Thank you for following me and reading with me through some of those moments.

-L