Beach Bound

So for me and my family, it was a most unconventional christmas this year.

For starters, the few days leading up to my departure to Florida Ashley's mom and sister had arrived to spend Christmas with her so I was able to play co-host and entertain them while Ashley was at work. It was fun, but made me miss my own family even more and I grew even more excited to see them! I flew home on Christmas day which a was a first due to having to work on Christmas eve, and my family was waiting anxiously for me to get there since everyone arrived before me.

When I did finally get there, my parents had literally just moved in to their new place in Jupiter which I had not seen yet, so that was somewhat of a strange feeling not going to my "home" I'd known for 11 years in Atlantis. I got a little nostalgic and missed our neighborhood parties, Christmas golf cart parade (in which one year I had to get stitches lol), and cook-outs. I also got to thinking of all the good memories with my family and friends from that house too - and my room! Oh how I loved my room.

I had a chance to meet up with a few friends that were in town, and that was great for my soul - it was wonderful to see them! I also got a great bit of news - my best friend Carly got engaged right before the holiday and I was asked to be her Maid of Honor!! This wedding will be taking place in October and makes a total of two for me this year that I will be in. This will certainly be a year to remember lol.

Sunday came Reese's baptism, which took place at the Seagull Cottage at our church and is a beautifully restored historic building previously Henry Flagler's home. It was very special and a bunch of Jodi's family was there too - it was great! Since my family took so many pictures over this entire vacation, I thought it might be easier just to post the link to my facebook album for you all to check out  :)

A Merry Little Christmas

Enjoy!!

Surprises & Shananigans

So this week was a fun week!

Like I said before, mostly everyone is on mental vacation already so the QA/Coverage staff seized the opportunity to have some fun with our Christmas gifts for the staff. We were in charge of gifts for the business office and patient managers, and we decided to make light of the general hatred for the tasks we are sometimes required to do. For those of you who don't know, that includes auditing charts and finding everything wrong with them then making everyone correct the mistakes.

 So we decided as part of our gift, we would include a target with the QA staff picture on it that they could post on their wall and shoot with a nerf gun - also included of course. It was an absolute hit!! (No pun intended of course). And what made it better is my brother helped with the design of the target and it turned out fabulous. My favorite part was the delivery of these gifts, which was done under the pretense we were actually coming to audit charts at each of the locations and got the patient manager's dreading our arrival. Much to their relief it was only cookies and a gag gift!

This week I also had my first chance to help with a doctor's luncheon. This is part of Marino Therapy Center's marketing techniques, and on top of bringing in lunch for the office staff we have one of our therapists come in and speak a little with the doctors to educate them how therapy could benefit their patients. Now usually, this is very effective EXCEPT when the doctor starts flirting with the therapists or our marketing manager. Needless to say it didn't go quite as planned lol.

Besides getting a little bit flustered and red faced, Heidi handled it well and no harm was done - but it made my first experience with neurologists an interesting one! At least I had great one-on-one time with one of my bosses on the car ride and had the opportunity to get to know my co-workers even better.

Later Everybody!

Christmas Spirit

Its everywhere!
In the stores, on the tv, and at work - everyone can't stop thinking about Christmas! It seems like since immediately after halloween the christmas advertisements began, and everyone at the therapy center is already in Christmas mode ... bringing in yummy food and baked goodies all the time and talking about shopping and christmas plans. And all the more I can't wait to go home and see my family. Unfortunately, I have so much to do before then that its probably just as good that I have a week to finish up my shopping!

I know most of you can relate to my dilemma of the people that are IMPOSSIBLE to buy for - those tend to be my last minute purchases ...and also adding to the mix this year is sending some of my presents by mail. Definitely will be taking advantage of easy online shopping! :)

The only bummer is the fact that when I go home, I won't get to see friends who are going to their own homes for Christmas - it will definitely be a different experience than I'm used to, and I'm still adjusting to not being near my friends all the time anymore. I try not to dwell on it too often, but its been hard lately for me as I am getting more antsy to meet friends and feel more settled... Ashley and I joke that we sometimes feel like we've taken a 4 month vacation and we could be going home anytime now. I miss all of my friends A LOT, but feel very fortunate to have friends that have kept me updated and feeling loved.

I am looking forward to seeing my family for Reese's baptism in just over a week, and spending an awesome 5 days catching up with friends and soaking up the Florida sunshine! As you all prepare for Christmas and the craziness of the holiday season, remember to take a step back and enjoy the moment your are in and the memories you are creating - they are very special indeed!

Till next time, M

Much to be thankful for...

Better late than never, but here are some pictures from Thanksgiving weekend with the family!
It was a great weekend of meeting baby Reese, playing with Olivia, and catching up with Lee and Jodi. We had a belated celebration of the two girls birthdays, and I must say Olivia LOVED her gift - hopefully she doesn't drive her parents crazy because of it :) I even got a chance to babysit for a little over an hour without any problems...well, unless you account for a monumental spit up from Reese, but of course she took it like a champ (how does such a little human being have so much STUFF in them?!). A diaper and outfit change and she was as good as new! Olivia also spent most of it napping so that helped too.

I am excited to report Reese is a very well adjusted, happy baby. Only making a fuss when she needs something and very content to just be cuddled in your arms! :) I can't help but watch in amazement as Lee and Jodi balance business and family, especially with another addition to the mix. They do it with style and I can only hope someday I can manage it as well. I look forward to being involved in the girls' lives and being an "auntie" (which Olivia said for the first time this weekend!!) and have loved being a short drive away. I hope I get many more opportunities to babysit and I've learned to really treasure that one-on-one bonding time with Olivia especially! I can't wait to build memories and share all the fun things with my nieces that my aunts shared with me.

Meeting Reese for the first time!

Olivia patiently waited till I got there to eat her cake!

She ended up having to wait till the next day since I had to drive over after work

and got stuck in traffic - and finally arrived AFTER her bedtime :(

Playing with the party hats!

YUM!

Loving the dress up clothes! Wand, crown, tu-tu and all

 Goofing off with my dad, better known as "Poppi" to Olivia!

Me baking desert, which included sugar cookie dough, cheesecake filling, and yummy fruit.

It doesn't have a name that I know of, but I stole the recipe from my friend Carly!

It was a wonderful weekend and now the countdown till Christmas begins :)