Merrry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!  And thank you to our families for making it special.  We spent Christmas Eve with the Brzyckis at Missy & Dennis's and then Christmas Day with the Jasmins at my Mom's.  Of course Christmas morning was spent at home opening the gifts from each other (and Santa!).  It was a great Christmas and today we're planning to just lounge around at home and extend our celebration.  I do fully believe in celebrating for the 12 days of Christmas!!  We hope everyone has a joyous Christmas with family and friends!

Preparing for Christmas

Like most of you, we are in the throws of preparing for Christmas!  The shopping is done (okay, minus one gift that Ed is responsible for...but other than that, all shopping is done!).  Baking is also done!  And today will be spent wrapping!

To be done baking is a major accomplishment.  For those of you who don't know, I bake a variety of cookies and candies each year.  And each year, I tell myself I'm cutting back, but somehow that just doesn't happen.  I do like to bake a variety of cookies and I have stopped doubling recipes so that I only make a single batch, but I like to try new kinds.  This year, crazy me ended up with about 100 dozen cookies and that does not include the fudge, truffles, rum balls, etc.  And I eliminated some types of cookies this year that I traditionally make.  The good news, though, is that I give the majority of these away as gifts, so many benefit from my craziness (and I do keep a few in the house for Ed and Dan to enjoy!).

And speaking of Dan, I'm happy to report he is home for Christmas.  In fact, he is pretty much home until he finds a full-time job wherever that might be.  He has his apartment in Bristol, RI, through January and he will go back later in January for a few days to finalize/print his thesis summary and attend presentations for other arch students.  At that time, Ed and I will also go out with a U-Haul to bring the rest of his furniture/stuff home.

We are excited to have him home and thankfully he has some part-time work lined up so he can earn some money as he begins his search for a full-time job and begins the next chapter of his life!!

Ed continues to do well and maintains his "standard" two-week chemotherapy treatment.  Still keeping tumors at bay and, in general, he's still feeling fine.  I joined him this week for his doctor's appt so I could share baked goods with Dr. Bowers and his staff.  They are such wonderful people there and I can't thank them enough or express my appreciate adequately for all they've done for Ed these past two years.  Here's hoping I'm delivering Christmas cookies to them for many years to come!

Since I'm sure this will be my last post before Christmas, here's wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! And a Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate this holiday!

Lining everything up to begin the package prep!

Linzer cookies--new cookie I made this year. I'm pleased with how they came out!

First layer of candy boxes (fudge, truffles, rum ball, haystack)...

Top layer of candy boxes (macaroons, brittle, peppermint bark, choc-covered oreo, Linzer cookie)

The many finished packages (which I can thankfully store on our three-season porch to keep refrigerated!)

Happy 75th Birthday Mom

Sunday, Dec 11th marked my Mom's 75th birthday!  Because she hates surprises and parties and being the center of attention, we held a very small breakfast with just immediate family and a couple close friends.  It was a nice way to recognize my Mom and it had everything she loves most--family and friends and good food!  Next month we celebrate her Auntie Alice's 90th birthday, so here's to at least 15 more years for Mom!!  She definitely comes from good genes!!

Auntie Gingy, Mom, friend Sandy, friend Theresa

Dan's FINAL Thesis Presentation

This month marks Dan's last semester at Roger William University and on Friday, December 9th, he gave his final presentation for his thesis project.  We are so proud of this accomplishment and all his hard work to get him to this point.  His girlfriend Cassie drove up from Long Island to attend the reviews and so was there to take some pictures.  Once he completes this semester, he will have earned a Masters of Architecture (although he won't walk for graduation until May 2012).  We are so very proud of him!

Two Year Anniversary

Early December marks the 2-year anniversary of Ed's diagnosis.  Depending on what date we want to use, the actual 2-year mark is either December 3rd or December 9th.  December 3, 2009 was when the gastroentrologist informed us that, beyond a doubt, without a biopsy, he knew Ed had colon cancer.  December 9, 2009 was our first meeting with Ed's oncologist where we got the "official" diagnosis and prognosis.  Regardless of what specific date you use as the marker, here we are two years later and life is treating us well.  It is so hard to believe it's been 2 years.  The days and the events of those days are still very clear and vivid.  And I remember how we only prayed and dreamed of having 6 months together and if we were lucky, could we make it a year??  Never did we think beyond that or consider two years later Ed would still be with us battling this disease.

On December 2nd, Ed had another CT scan and the good news is "no change".  Tumors are still present, but no new growths or changes in the size of the tumors.  And Ed feels pretty good considering.

So as we mark the two-year anniversary, we are thankful that we've had this extra time together, that he has been "healthly" for the most part (except for that little inconvenience of needing chemo treatment every two weeks), and we are thankful for Dr. Bowers and his oncologist nurses (especially Shane), and their team and all the advancement in cancer treatment that enables those like Ed to fight this battle.  (Cait, I'm thinking of you as well at this time as you also mark your two-year anniversary!)

God is good!

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving was a wonderful, traditional event.  Dan arrived home Wednesday morning.  I had the day off of work so I could bake pies for Thanksgiving (a pumpkin, apple, lemon meringue, and butterscotch banana).  Dan was originally planning to come home Tuesday evening but since he didn't get out of studio until 7:30 PM, we agreed it made more sense for him to get up early Wednesday to make the two-hour drive home.  He was home by 9 AM!

What I'm most thankful for...having Dan home!

We were blessed to have the entire family together for Thanksgiving and we never take this for granted.  There was my mother, my brother, my sisters, my sister's husbands, and their children.  Auntie Gingy (my mother's sister) also joined us this year as well as my brother's friend Andy.  It was a great day with good food and good company!  I love this holiday...a day set aside for family and friends and to thank God for our many blessings.

Our traditional photo.
L-R, Andy, Dave, Marion, Jeanne, Ed, Cathy, Tim, Mom,
Dan, Nick, Matt, Lexi, Ali, Theresa, Gindy, Mike (with Shana and Sparky)

Enjoying the meal...

Enjoying the company by playing some board games...

Team A won Taboo (Mom, Cathy, Theresa, Ali)

Team B won Pictionary (Marion, Lexi, Dan, Jeanne)

Grandma and Dan miss each other too...

Dan and Grandma

Dan left to go back to school Saturday morning.  He has a lot of work left to do to prepare for his final and he's not very productive when he's home.  Now on to the mad dash towards Christmas!

Our First Cruise: Arriving Home (Sunday)

We arrived back in Florida Sunday morning around 8:00 am and departed around 9-9:30 am.

Sitting on the Lido deck waiting to disembark.

The guys--Ed, Nick, and Tim.

All-in-all it was a great trip. We wish there were more activities during the day but if we had known better, we might have planned our time differently. We sailed on Carnival Sensation which we understand is one of the older ships so it's lacking some of the amenties on newer, larger ships. My sister also indicated that the Disney cruises had more activities and more food options. However, Carnival was significantly less expensive, so I guess you get what you pay for.

Would we do it again? Absolutely! Seeing the Bahamas was quite a site! And we did upgrade to a balcony room and that was so well worth it as well. I could have simply sat on our balcony and been happy. But we did partake in the activities and that was fun as well. It's true you get out of it what you put in into it and what your expectations are. A great, short getaway (that seemed much longer than 3 days)...a perfect way to refresh after the events of the power outage!

Our stateroom...looking towards the balcony.

Desk area.

Looking back towards the entrance from near the desk.

Bathroom--toilet and sink (looking towards the left from the doorway).

Bathroom--shower (lookings towards the right from the doorway).

Across from the bed--TV and connecting door to next stateroom.

Our room was the extended balcony, bottom level, last one on the right.

The Carnival Sensation docked in Nassau.

Our First Cruise: Day 3 (Saturday)

The last day (Saturday) was a "day at sea". We basically hung out, went to the casino, sat by the pool, watched people, had the "drink of the day", ate, played bingo, participated in trivia games, and played mini golf.

It was quite windy that day.

But we found a sunny location that wasn't too windy.
Had our "drink of the day" and some pizza while hanging out here.

The early morning while I was out getting coffee.

Playing mini golf with Nick and Lexi.  It was definitely windy up there!

Lexi singing and dancing with our waiter Roberto at dinner.

A seal for our final evening.

Lido deck at night.

Our First Cruise: Day 2 (Friday)

Friday morning we watched a beautiful sunrise from our balcony.  I hit the jogging track on the top level and brought coffee back to our stateroom for us to enjoy while sitting on the balcony.  We then had breakfast at the buffet and then arrived in Nassau, Bahamas by noon.

Ed watching the sunrise from our balcony.

The blue seas of the Bahamas.

Arriving in Nassau, Bahamas

Nassau, Bahamas

We purchased a "Sea and See" excursion which included a submarine-like ride underwater to see the fish, coral, sponges, etc., followed by a brief bus tour of Nassau. Ed and I then walked over to a nearby beach where we had a drink, jerk chicken, and collected some beach sand for Dan. It was quite windy, but the water was so warm and we still cannot believe how blue the water was.

A small number of straw markets at the top of the hill in Nassau.
Nothing compared to the number down in the city.

The nearby beach we walked to.

On the beach!

Having drinks and jerk chicken on the beach.

Me on the Beach in Nassau.

We did souvenir shopping at the straw market and the stores along that area before heading back to the ship around 6:30 PM. What was most surprising was that the stores and market closed at 6 PM! Ed and I missed the sit-down dinner (elegant night) and so went to the buffet that night for dinner.

The buffet-style dining room.  You got used to the neon colors!

Friday nite we played trivia games in the main lounge. Having Lexi there to encourage us and make us sit in the front row to play made it actually more fun and enjoyable. Having the kids gave us reasons to act like kids and we also participated in a scavenger hunt earlier in the day.

Ed being a good sport and playing in "Carnival Conquest".

Lexi showing off the "trophy" we all got for winning "Carnival Conquest".

We had a lot of fun and laughs. We then watched the musical song-and-dance show before heading back to our stateroom for the night.

An elephant for Friday night, some chocolates, and our FunTimes for Saturday.

Our First Cruise: Day 1 (Thursday)

Part of the inconvenience of the power outage was that we were taking our first cruise on November 10th.  So dealing with the power outage and trying to get ready for that was a bit stressful.  Things like printing boarding passes, getting departure information, and even packing was proving to be more difficult than usual.  Since our flight was at 6:30 AM on Thursday, Ed and I also booked a hotel room at the airport for Wednesday night.  Thankfully they got power restored so that was not an issue.  When we got to the hotel Wednesday night, though, it was amazing to see the number of electric company trucks at both our hotel and those in the surrounding area.  While we were checking in, crews from the electric company where changing shifts--a bunch of guys checking in and a bunch of guys going back out.

Anyhow, my sister Cathy has previously been on two Disney cruises and earlier this year she decided her family was going to take a 3-day Bahama cruise on Carnival.  She sent out an invitation to the rest of the family asking if any of us wanted to join them.  Since Ed and I have never been on a cruise, we figured a short, 3-day cruise, traveling with "experienced" cruisers, would be a good opportunity to try out cruising.  What a trip!

Our flight from Bradley to Orlando left at 6:30 am Thursday morning.

Tim, Cathy, Nick, and Lexi waiting to board.

Me and Ed at the airport.

We surprised the kids and rented a limo to Port Canaveral.  We easily boarded without any long lines and were on the ship before noon where we had some lunch, the "drink of the day" and then toured the ship and enjoyed the beautiful Florida weather.

In front of our limo

Starting our cruise with our "drink of the day"!

The ship departed dock at 4 PM.  Our first day was spent checking out our stateroom and just walking around the ship.  We went to an auction before dinner (where at the end whatever you bid/won, you received for free!) and then all of us went to dinner.  Unbeknowst to me, the seas were quite rough and many people were in their staterooms instead of dinner and going to shows.  Of course, this was my first cruise so the fact that you couldn't walk around without swaying and holding onto things I did not realize was not normal (but Tim explained that to me).  Thankfully (depending on how you look at it), I need to take Dramamine or Bonine for flying (I used Bonine on this trip), so I did not have any problems with sickness that first night.  In fact, the rocky lulled me to sleep that night.

Lido deck; departing Port Canaveral

Our towel animal the first night.