Alderbrook Resort on Christmas Eve

Absolutely amazing!

She's A Maniac

I got Sophia little "Baby Legs" as part of her Christmas present and Santa brought her ballet slippers. Doesn't it look like she has been at Dance Class all day?? Love it! (She's got a cold so looks a little drowsy)

Tis the Season

I am supposed to be making cookie dough for my fun Christmas platters but all I want to do is lay on my couch, smell my yummy candles and stare at my tree. Take a look. .. Kinda hard to see but if I used the flash, you couldn't get the glowing affect I am staring at. :)

So, since I am vegging until it is absolutely time to bake, I thought I would do the Christmas questionare. . .and have a glass of wine. I love those things (the questionare. ..well, and I guess the glass of wine too.)
Christmas Questionare-
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Paper, usually the same for the whole family-- I like that everyone know's those are my gifts under the tree.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real! I hope when I have children no one is allergic.
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually around the second week of December so it lasts through New Year's.
4. When do you take the tree down? After New Years.
5. Do you like eggnog? Gross--agreed!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Hmmn, I loved those Cabbage Patch Kids.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? yes
8. Hardest person to buy for? The Boys in my fam. . .they never act like they want anything
9. Easiest person to buy for? Usually my sisters
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Well, if I did anything it would be mail, I love getting them and just need to buck up and send something out.
11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Win Lose or Draw board game, My mom got it for me as a filler gift (she always made sure my sis's and bro's all got the same # of gifts) I think I gave it to Goodwill brand new
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Don't think I have a fave, but I like Home Alone
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I usually start thinking about gifts in October and start shopping after Thanksgiving
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Sugar Cookies and Chocolate Crinkles
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear
17. Favorite Christmas song? Baby It's Cold Outside
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I go to my Parents house and it is so much fun. I'm sure that will change when I get married and have a family. . .at least every once in awhile.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Maybe.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star, that makes my tree look like it's going to topple over.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? A few on Christmas Eve (name draw and Dad's) and the rest on Christmas morning, which then leads into the afternoon--BIG FAMILY to go through
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? That I can't just take the entire month off to be festive with friends and family and enjoy the spirit of the season.
23. What do you want for Christmas this year? Nothing major, mostly things I need but don't want to buy.
24. Favorite ornament theme or color? I like to describe my tree as somewhat of a Country Christmas Tree because it has apples, and gold balls along with all the fun orni's I get every year at the Orni Exchange.
25. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Our family friends, the Flukes, usually bring us over Christmas dinner in a basket. . .wine, bread, salad, steamer clams and oysters so we do that along with all kinds of other things--whatever anyone is hungry for that is available, pretty casz.

Merry Christmas everyone. May you all have safe travels home or to where ever you decide to spend this glorious holiday. :)

The Tall & The Short Of It

Everytime I look at this picture I LOL! This is my momma, standing tall at 5ft 0 inches and the guy is just shy of 7ft. Can you imagine dating someone that tall???

Eat Drink & Be Merry

Ornament Exchange 2008-a tradition we have been doing for 6-7 years now!

Remember how everyone would "over-indulge" for special occasions like Cruise or Chi-O's Christmas Party??? Well, years later you'd think we would have grown up a little but no. . .we use the Ornament Exchange as an excuse to Over-Indulge!

EAT

DRINK

& BE MERRY

I just thought this last picture was funny. . .Zach is tall. :)

A Play Date w. Jillian

Last night I got to go to the Sousley's for a play date with Jillian so Molly and Justin could go to a concert. It was so much fun and Jillian is so dang cute. She had dinner, showed me her bookshelf and then took a bath with her fun water crayons. She helped me start the water and wash her hair and body. Thanks for your help Jillian! After bathtime we got into some snuggly PJ's and grabbed her favorite books (for the night.) She has her big girl mattress now since little brother will be here soon and will have the crib so we sat on that to read. At first she wanted to jump on it and I was going to let her have 5 bounces but as quickly as she said it, she forgot about it so I didn't have to worry about her getting too rowled up right before bedtime. :) 3-4 books and I had her lay down, was going to let her look at a book as she got sleepy but she was out like a light! Easy as pie. . .I hope when I have children they go to sleep that easily. (I think she is getting a little cold though so that probably helped a little) :)

Alderbrook's Winter Wonderland

We all made a trip out to the Alderbrook Resort & Spa this weekend to experience their Winter Wonderland. They have everything decorated so beautifully and have tons of lights. . .we got lucky because we even got SNOW to make it a MAGICAL (my word for the weekend) Winter Wonderland. Everything was perfect, dinner in the restaurant, the cottages we all stayed in (complete with cozy fireplaces and our own Christmas trees), the resort staff and best of all SANTA! Check out the website, http://alderbrookresort.com/. I work there so if anyone is interested in making a trek to the Hood Canal, let me know, I'll see what type of deal I can get you! THANKS Mom and Dad for the magical weekend. . .what a wonderful way to start the holidays. I can't wait to do it again.

The Hussey Family (except for Richie) + Zach and Nick (Amy is taking the picture)

Zach & I on Santa's Lap

Little Sophes lookin so cute!

Sophia loved the snow, she would look up at it and laugh

100 years of Apple Cup!

GO COUGS! Apple Cup 2007 was AWESOME. You can tell we are maturing as we partied all day with Huskies. . .and we all got along just fine--even after the WIN. :) Here are some pics of the fun day.

Us Coug Gals with Kyle (twinner) and Jason

Zach and Mike played with us too!
The Three Stooges
All fun and games until someone gets their eye poked out
Ah Sweet Victory!
Thanks Zach and crew for letting us tailgate with you!

Maybe in two years, I'll submit a chile for the cook off. . .and not come in last place. :)

Book Club (BC)

Last night was our monthly Book Club meeting. . .which we bookclubers like to call BC. We met at Julia's on Queen Anne. We've been doing BC for almost 3 years now!!! We decided that instead of having it at someone's house each month, we'd pick a new restaurant to try out each month. It's great, not only do we get to read some interesting books but we get to try out some awesome restaurants and no one is left having to clean up afterwards. Last Christmas we even held our 1st Used Book Exchange. It's perfect and I look forward to it every month. . .a great group of gals. Meet the crew:

Molly-always has great things to add at BC and usually the group calculator for bill time

Annie-one of the newer BC members, had to be jumped in, she is the Group Socialite--usually doesn't read, but loves to meet for dinner and good convo!

Tanya-also a newer member jumped in with Annie. . .although she is doing much better at finishing the books than Annie

Laura-BC Secretary, always keeps track of everything in her little Book Journal and saves great quotes from each book

Kora-BC last minute car reader--usually finishes the book in the car before heading into the restaurant (also has a book journal for quotes)

Sara-usually gets stuck in traffic on her way to the restaurant, :( but we're always glad she can make it

Marcy-you can always count on a light hearted, somewhat romantic read from Marcy, which we tend to need here and again, and she always looks fab, dressed to the T

Marisa-The Hussey Lil Sis, newest member, doing great at finishing the books, not so great on making the meetings--she's gonna need to try a little harder or we'll jump her out of BC :)

Me-the BC follow up email sender outer (HA, do you like that name?) I always make sure everyone knows which book we are reading, when the next BC is and who is picking the next book/restaurant, I've also been known to get on tangents and turn BC into Dream Club (not allowed--oops)

STP BABY

I noticed my friend Molly wondered why I didn't have any pics of us in our spandex from this summer. For those of you who didn't know, we trained since February to compete in the STP (Seattle to Portland bicycle ride) 204 miles (thanks Molly) riding on a freaking bike!!!!! We did it and it was awesome, one of my proudest moments. So, here is a pic of us at the finish line. . .

Of course I had to get a pic of us with a beer in hand, believe me the water came first.

Last Minute Leavenworth Trip

Zach and I decided on Friday that we wanted to get away for the weekend so I got the last room at the Enzian Inn (very nice) and we headed out early Saturday morning. It was so gorgeous! We shopped at all the little stores and wine tasted at all the wine shops. (If you haven't been there in awhile, go back--there are a ton of wine tasting rooms!) Of course we had to watch the Cougs and the Huskies (yah, he's a Husky) so we plopped down at a cozy bar for the rest of the day to watch our teams. GO COUGS!

This picture was taken after lots of wine tasting.

First Posting

I finally did it, I finally created a BLOG for myself. I love reading everyone elses and feel I can provide you all with some fun stories and pictures too so here goes. It may end up looking more like a "Hussey Family Blog" as most of my stories will be about my mom, dad, sisters, brothers and my beautiful niece. . .and I'm sure my friends will also see themselves on here too. :)

This is my Grandpa Hussey's 85th Birthday Party out at Kyle and Amy' house.