Christmas 2011

Christmas was awesome!

We splurged on a small couples gift (something practical and boring) and had most fun wrapping gifts for Ayla and spending quality time with family and friends!
We spent our time eating (almost non-stop) for an entire week.....THANK YOU stretchy pants and loose sweaters! and decorating treats and making feasts for family gatherings.

The holidays were spent at home this year and it was fun to relax and spend time together for a few days. 
Ryan began a new career opportunity so holidays and special occassion may be limited for the next few years.

StOcKiNg StUfFeRs!!

Decorating treats at Teresa's house and competing for the "Coolest gingerbread house" Award.

 Some people became most creative in their decorating but all the houses turned out fabulous!

This year we are most thankful for:

• Our blessings from God - they far outweigh any negative 
• Healthy Bodies and Minds
• A Warm Home
• Reliable transportation (yes, there is a story behind that...dumb Dodge)
• Work and the ability to be employed
• Superb Family and Friends

...realistically, the list could continue for a loooong ways.

But in summary: our lives are richly blessed and it's through a loving, gracious Father in Heaven who hears AND answers prayers. What an inspiring thing to know that He loves us and is aware of each of us and our individual needs. 

Christmastime became a tad sad when we hung the stockings and placed the customary candy cane inside Zoey's. Only because we miss her and watching Ayla unwrap her gifts and play in the wrapping would have been sweeter if Zoey were there to join her sister in the fun. Double the mess! 

Projects

Where does he find the time?

Ryan has been working on a few home-improvement projects the past two months:

 Creating extra storage space in the attic above our garage (almost finished!)

 He built a small cabinet in the small hallway in our small house (sound like Dr. Suess, yet?) to maximize storage capacity......

 and he even found time to make and can Pepper Sauce using peppers from our garden! Sadly, that's about all our garden produced this year...weird.  

Of course, carving Holiday Pumpkins is a must for Halloween!

Notice the drill on the counter? It was used to carve the words, "Trick or Treat" into a pumpkin. Clever!

Yep- he's a pretty amazing guy!

"Foodies"

This is a different post than the norm and about 'what I do' (professionally speaking). I'd love to stay home and be full-time wife & mom but as that is not an option, I do the next best thing....working a cool job.

Ironic that I work in an industry which is centered around food....and truthfully, I'm a horrid cook and a bit dangerous in the kitchen (and I'm okay with that- have accepted and moved along). 

I'm a wife, mother, sister, employee, ect and fortunate to have a career which is:

Fun

Challenging

Silly

Frustrating

Goofy

Not-the-norm

Detailed

Creative

Hard....

....amongst other things.

I am a wholesale food-broker.

A 'middle-man/woman' between the food manufactures and the wholesale distributors.

What? What is that?

Yep, get that all the time. Never heard of it? Me neither, until several years ago.

I really like my job- weird, right?

What's not to like about creating a beautiful, yummy-inducing table display of imported cheeses for people to taste-test?

 Or when I'm really lucky, getting to dress-up in funny costumes and promote food during business meetings!

 and creating eye-appealing plate displays at food shows is also a plus (thought not my area of expertise).

But hosting hilarious contests for sales associates is probably my favorite....like below:

These guys were racing mini-bikes around an outdoor pool for cash prizes and other freebies.

Seriously, what's not to love about that?? Note: I'm on the sidelines in black cheering and clapping loudly. ha!

I get to eat free food and promote the latest new-restaurant-food-trends while talking with restaurant owners, chefs and managers. I get to travel on a flexible schedule. 

It's a job, but a cool one.

and now you know (and you also know why I've gained 20 pounds in 5 years).

The End.