Mark's Birthday and Another Snow Day

As of 4:30 this morning, I officially started my winter break. This comes a whole day early, as school has been cancelled due to yet another snowstorm! I have to admit that I am a little disappointed since it is a Friday and it is the last day before a big vacation (you see, I love Fridays and it doesn't really matter happens at work on Fridays, because it is Friday), but I am also a little relieved too. I have been battling a cold all week, and I actually missed work on Tuesday. I thought I was getting better Wednesday, but yesterday I was not faring well. I did go to school and did my tutoring, but by the time I got home, I had lost my voice and was coughing. Blik.

More snow

The cats check out the drifting on the porch

Mark is determined to keep me on the couch, but I find that very boring and I have too much to do. He also thinks it's pretty funny that he can be all sassy and I can't say anything about it (my voice is totally gone). I just hope to be better by tomorrow when Bragg Family South comes for a visit!

This is where I am supposed to be resting...

Mark's 41st birthday was December 11. We treated ourselves to an excellent dinner at Louisianne's in Middleton, a wonderful, small restaurant in downtown Middleton which features Cajun and other southern flavors in their dishes. Yummy. Of course, I jumped on the chance of Mark being dressed up for a quick photo op!

With Britches

This past Sunday night, Mark's mom, Judy, invited everybody over for Mark's homecooked birthday dinner. Both Mark and his dad always request the same meal for their birthdays: chicken and pheasant ghoulash, crusty Italian bread with butter, rhine wine and selzer, and German chocolate cake. Let me tell you that it is really, really good. Particulary good this time was the decadent German chocolate cake. Wow.

Lizzy was pleased that all her friends came over

Lily loves Judy very much

Phantom Sam

Our good friends, Joe and Krysta, joined us for the meal. They also got to witness the Canine Christmas we have for all the hounds in the family (although Fanny and Britches are also very thoughtfully included with gifts as well). Even though we are not exchanging gifts with each other because the upcoming Charleston trip is "our gift to each other," we like to do something for the dogs.

Lizzy and Abby open a gift

Joe and Krysta

Especially fond of this occasion is Greg and Renee's dog, Abby. Ever since my first Christmas with the Valaskey's, watching the thrill Abby gets over opening gifts still provokes joy and laughter. Lizzy was also really into it this year. Sam and Mingo prefer to play with whatever it is that's inside the wrapping and Lily, well, let's just say Lily is still just about afraid of everything. Thanks to Joe and Krysta who tolerated Lily's need for comfort and cuddles.

Lily makes herself at home on Krysta's lap

We also need to give a big ol' thanks to Greg and Renee who came over a couple weeks ago and helped set up our very beautiful but gargantuan Christmas tree. Mark picked the tree himself while I was tutoring one evening and he turned into Clark Griswald from "Christmas Vacation"--he even admits it. The only way we could get it into the house was through our 2nd floor patio door, so ropes were used to hoist it up!

Renee and Greg

Mingo likes to see what Judy is doing in the kitchen...

I probably won't write another blog until our return from the trip, so we send our love and good wishes to everybody during this Christmas season. We love you! Merry Christmas!

Van and Judy's tree