Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from The Patrick's!!

We hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday. Enjoy your time together, with friends, and family!

p.s. This is what our tree looks like... but not ornaments.. our dogs love the tree, especially the cookie ornaments that our nieces sent us.

Christmas Cookies!

Not too much time to make all the cookies I want this year, not to mention no one to eat them, but I thought these were super cute!

Cookie List:

Cranberry-Almond Biscotti

Molasses Cookies

PB Cups

Candy Cane Cookies

~Never made these, but according to my MIL, these are Chris' favorite cookies from his childhood.

Finals are this upcoming week so until they are over, I will only be dreaming of enough free time to make cookies.

Our Own Traditions

This year we started a few of our own traditions that I really hope keep growing through the years.

1. Advent Calendar.

We just got this little cutie this past week from my Grandma. Growing up, she always had a huge one hanging on the cellar door, filled with candy (and had a little mouse to fill the candy's place)

I hope to work our way up to this:

cute huh?

2.Ornaments

This is Chris' ornament for the year. I really want something like this for our tree this year!

3. Hot Cocoa

I love Christmas Eve so we can have Hot Cocoa (with a candy cane) while cuddling on the couch. No TV. No sounds. Just the Christmas tree all lit up.

4. Pajamas

You better believe Chris and I.. and maybe the dogs (lol!) will have matching pajamas Christmas morning.

Whoa December!

This past week has been crammed for me. I shouldn't even be blogging right now because I have so much work to do, but sometimes, I just have to have a break! Where to start... Well, puppies are doing great. They are 6 weeks old and LOVE to play. When I was cleaning their room the other day, they all jumped on the broom and were hanging on for dear life, then it was the mop... then they ripped up all the paper I just put down.. and then spilled their water bowl & food bowl all over the newly cleaned room. awesome. Only 2 more weeks til they are outta here!!

... But it's the next 2 weeks that worry me. The semester is wrapping up and that means everything is getting crammed into (less than) 14 days. Chris is studying away for finals/midterms and I haven't even started.. I am still trying to finish up papers, presentations, and projects... the three p's. To top it ALL off, my father-in-law and his caregiver just moved in with us. Our living room has been converted into a bedroom and there is no place to sit, for us anyway. Now everything is going to be doubled. Dinner, cleaning, stress... It will be a difficult adjustment for us, but until they find their own place, here they are:

but these guys look pretty comfy

Happy Thanksgiving!

With Love,

The Patrick's

Thanksgiving Traditions

This is our first (married) year of Thanksgiving. Our actual first Thanksgiving was in PA at my parents house (which was also the first time they met Chris). Last year, we spent Thanksgiving in San Jose, with my father-in-law, and a couple of Chris' friends. But this year, it is just gong to be us. No family. No friends. Just us and the nine dogs. I would like to think that I will still get up at 5am to get the turkey going and gradually progress through the rest of the meal, but lets be honest... not happenin'. I sleep in the basement with the puppies. There are five of them, so needless to say, not much sleep going on. I will probably roll off my air mattress around 10, feed the pups, potty the big dogs, then MAYBE get to work. I planned our menu last week but only just got the groceries this afternoon. We will have way too many leftovers (and we don't even like turkey!). But I have to say, even at 11:30 at night, my mouth is watering thinking of:

• Turkey
• Creamy Spinach and Bacon Mashed Potatoes
• Homemade Cornbread Stuffing
• Corn Casserole
• Green Bean Casserole
• Homemade Thankful Rolls
• Pumpkin Pie (maybe apple instead, haven't decided)
• Pumpkin Roll
• Sparkling Cider

Sounds good right? I want our first holiday as newlyweds to set the standard for the rest of our life. Happy Thanksgiving!!

30 before 30

30 things I want to accomplish before 30.

end date: {03/19/2020}

one. become a mom

two. cook a full thanksgiving meal for family/friends

three. grow a garden (where the dogs won't destroy it)

four. graduate with my master's in occupational therapy

five. pay off school loans and credit card

six. travel outside of the U.S.

seven. take a cooking class

eight. but our first house

nine. make a baby quilt

ten. start working out on a weekly basis

eleven. read one book a month

twelve. spend a day at the spa

thirteen. go skydiving

fourteen. get floor seat tickets for a basketball game (this one is for hubby)

fifteen. try surfing

sixteen. go scuba diving

seventeen. go on a cruise

eighteen. go to vegas

nineteen. go to an amusement park with hubby

twenty. go to a broadway show

twenty-one. play regularly in an adult volleyball league

twenty-two. open a retirement savings account

twenty-three. start a college fund for future kids

twenty-four. learn how to play tennis

twenty-five. decorate our house.

twenty-six. own my own car

twenty-seven. get lasik (weird, but i'm blind as a bat, and i hate my contacts)

twenty-eight. go back to california

twenty-nine. start our own traditions

thirty. work on becoming a better wife everyday

Day 20: Nicknames

No nicknames for me..

But, I have cute puppy picture to share! and I guess they have nicknames:

Xaia

Jax

Clay

Smokey, because I couldn't think of anything more unique until it was too late.

They are adorable. But they wake me up every 2 hours! 3 and a half more weeks to go!

Day 19: Something you miss

Grandpa Gary

The Guerra's (plus Rheanne and H)

California family, Chris, me, Jackie, Cici, Annie, Marina

Lucky I'm in love with my best friend.

{1} What are your middle names?

Mine: Marie Hubby: Musso
{2} How long have you been together?

est. November 2008
{3} How long did you know each other before you started dating?

We met through mutual friends at school in September. We became a bit more than friends mid November, and actually started dating on January 1, 2009, Happy New Year!

{4} Who asked who out?

Chris asked me.

{5} How old are each of you?

I am 20, 21 in March. Chris is 26, 27 in January.. what can I say, I like older men.

{6} Did you go to the same school?

Good ol' Keuka College
{7} Are you from the same home town?

Nope. Hubby grew up in Central California. I'm a country girl from Pennsylvania.

{8} Who is the smartest?

I would say that it depends on the subject, hubby would say otherwise. He knows it ALL.

{9} Who majored in what?

Hubby got his B.S. in Political Science and is now in law school. I am almost done with my B.S. in Health Care Studies, then on to my Master's in Occupational Therapy.

{10} Who is the most sensitive?

Definitely me. Chris has to bring me back to Earth a lot..

{11} Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?

3,000+ miles from New York to California, driving in a very packed Jetta

{12} Who has the worst temper?

He totally does, but I rarely see it. He gets his release from playing basketball. I don't have a temper, I just get bitchy.

{13} How many children do you want?

HA! When we first talked about this, I wanted 3, maybe 4. He wanted 10. Our compromise is at 7... for now.

{14} Who does the cooking?

When it comes to actual meals, I do. Chris never stops eating, so he cooks a lot.. but mostly for himself because I cannot keep up with him.

{15} Who is more social?

Definitely Chris. He is the most social person I know, and make connections with people in just minutes.

{16} Who is the neat freak?

Oh.my.gosh!! I am going to go with neither.

{17} Who is the most stubborn?

Definitely hubby.

{18} Who wakes up earlier?

I usually do because he is up all the time during the night with the puppies.

{19} Where was your first date?

Hahah... Madagascar 3

{20} Who has the bigger family?

I would say that I do.

{21} Do you get flowers often?

Nope. I used to get the on the first of every month.. but then I took them for granted :(

{22} How do you spend the holidays?

Last year, we had Thanksgiving at our house with friends. Christmas we open presents, play, eat, then watch Boston and Lakers.

{23} Who is more jealous?

I probably am.

{24} How long did it take to get serious?

Before we were even officially dating, he asked me to drive out to Cali with him and meet his family.. That was about a month and a half into the relationship.

{25} Who eats more?

If you ask anyone who knows us, hands down the answer is Chris. He can demolish multiple plates of food in one sitting.

{26} What do you do for a living?

I am currently taking 18 credits.. and Chris is in law school.. enough said.

{27} Who does the laundry?
We both do our own. I have never had to iron dress shirts and slacks.. I was in the habit of just pulling them out of the dryer and putting them on hangers. Chris took over his own laundry after that.

{28} Who's better with the computer?

We usually only do the same few things on the computer so I can't really say who is better.

{29} Who drives when you are together?

Chris.

{30} What is your song?

"Lucky: Colbie Caillat

Day 18: Something you regret

This is a tough one for me, solely because I believe that everything happens for a reason. Each path I've chosen to take in my life has brought me to where I am today--and, I couldn't be in a better place :) There are choices that sometimes I think I would have made differently, but like I mentioned, they have helped add to the unique individual that I am today.

Day 17: Something you're looking forward to

...I am looking forward to...
and not necessarily in this order

...graduating with my Master's
...Thanksgiving
...Christmas
...Puppies going to their new homes
...Starting our family
...Buying our first house

She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati
On a snow white Christmas Eve
Going home to see her Mama and her Daddy with the baby in the backseat
Fifty miles to go and she was running low on faith and gasoline
It'd been a long hard year
She had a lot on her mind and she didn't pay attention
she was going way too fast
Before she knew it she was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass
She saw both their lives flash before her eyes
She didn't even have time to cry
She was sooo scared
She threw her hands up in the air

Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel

It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder
And the car came to a stop
She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat sleeping like a rock
And for the first time in a long time
She bowed her head to pray
She said I'm sorry for the way
I've been living my life
I know I've got to change
So from now on tonight

Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I'm on

Ooh, Jesus take the wheel
Ooh, I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I'm on
From this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel
Ooh, take it, take it from me

Day 16: Dream House

This is going to be a long list..

+Big, old house

+wrap around deck

+big picture windows

+good view, city, mountains, water... I don't care which

+4-5 bedrooms

+at least 3 baths, master which separate shower and bath

+country style kitchen

+wood floors (dark)

+dining room, living room, den, and full, finished basement for game room

+master bedroom with loft

+2 fireplaces

+at least 2 acres

+french doors to go to the deck

+in ground pool

+fenced yard

+stables for horses

and lots of other things :)

Day 15: Bible Verse

Isaiah 40:30-31

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Day 14: Picture of Something you love

This guy

This guy.

The beach, and Cali in general.

My puppies.. and how much Diva loves to swim

Day 13: Goals

In the next 5 years I would like to....

graduate with my masters in occupational therapy

... with honors

buy our first house

... maybe even remodel it ourselves

find a job that i will love going to every single day

start our family

get rid of all our debt

go skydiving

take a cooking class

go to italy

actually cook dinner 4 nights a week

Day 12: Something you believe

+I believe that everyone has a right to be loved

+I believe that good friends are hard to come by, and you should cherish the ones you have.

+I believe that everyone has someone they can vent to and know they will not be judged.

+I believe that I will always have dogs in my life.

+I believe that we will be have kids soon.

+I believe that you can't always get what you want, but you will always get what you need.

+I believe that you have to work at your relationship e.v.e.r.y.d.a.y.

+I believe in love.

Day 11: Favorite TV Shows

Oh boy... This is going to be a long one. I don't always have the time, or the access to all these shows, but I catch up with them most of them before bed, when I'm too fried to do anything else.

Mondays:

Two and a Half Men

Mike & Molly

Hawaii Five-0

Tuesdays:

The Good Wife

Sons of Anarchy (if we ever catch up)

Glee

Wednesdays:

The Defenders

Thursdays:

Sh*! My Dad Says

Bones

Grey's Anatomy

Friday:

Pretty much a catch up day.. or movie night

Day 10: Something you're scared of

Birds, bats, anything that flies. GROSS!

Day 9: Picture of Friends

My Best Friend, Rachael is the most beautiful person inside and out.

Rachael, Jess, Nikki, Helen, Nicole, Me, and Kourt

Kourtni and Rae

College roommate, love my Hels

I've heard it said

That people come into our lives for a reason

Bringing something we must learn

And we are led

To those who help us most to grow

If we let them

And we help them in return

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true

But I know I'm who I am today

Because I knew you

Adult Truths

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blu Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

22. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch three consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey – but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from three feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.

Day 8: Someplace you traveled to

hmm.. I haven't ever been anywhere exotic like Hawaii or the Caribbean, but before living there for a year, California was the best place I had ever been too!

This was taken at Christmas in the Park in San Jose, CA. It was actually our first picture together, so i though the ferris wheel would be a perfect spot to commemorate. About 6 months later, we moved there!

Day 7: Your Favorite Movie

Like the last post, there is no way I can pick just one.. but this week I am loving musicals, especially this one:

Day 6: Picture of Something That Makes You Happy

There was no way I could do just 1!!!

Day 5: Siblings

My baby brother Johnny and I are a lot alike. He is in 8th grade and into so many extracurriculars. He is in all the bands, chorus', soccer, swimming, and track/field. He also is the lead in Bye Bye Birdie in the high school musical for this year!!! did I mention he's 13?!?!

This is my other, younger brother, Robb. He is 19.

My older sister, Carla, and I are pretty close. She is 22 and is mommy to 2 beautiful babies. Jocelyn is 5 and Brayden was born the day before our wedding!!

This is my new sister, Marina. She is Chris' younger sister. She is also mommy to these 2 beautiful girls, Cecilia who is 4 and Annie who is 3.

Day 4: Your Parents

This is my momma, Sue. I miss her a lot and am going to see her soon!! It's always been me and her against some pretty tough things throughout my life. Like anyone, we have had disagreements, but she has been and will always be my mom.

Meet Bob, my step-dad. He has really filled the "father" shoes in my life and I cannot thank him enough. He was always there for me.

I first knew her as Mama Masucci, and by that she will always stay. My mother-in-law, Jackie is amazing. Our relationship grew so much while I was in California. If I ever needed anything, she was there. I was truly blessed to have her in my life.

This is my father-in-law, Chris Sr. He is the sweetest man and really took me under his wing while I was in California and treated me like his own daughter, even before Chris and I were engaged.