my husband deserves a medal

Seriously.

So I’ve been back to school for two weeks now (hence the last two Paleo challenge day blogs are STILL forthcoming), which means ‘school Holly’ has taken over and wreaked havoc on our entire existence. Or at least that’s how it feels…

After having to drive into Buffalo in really crummy weather all last week, I’ve decided I never want to work full-time and all I really want to do is be home, work out, cook and clean (sometimes), and be able to pursue all my other interests like reading and writing and taking Hadrian to the dog park and countless other things. (There, I said it.)

Anyway, today was really our first day in two weeks that we were home for any real amount of time, and Andrew kicked some major ‘to-do list’ butt. He folded three loads of laundry (that had been clean and staring us in the face for a week), cleaned the cat box, vacuumed the downstairs, mopped up our snowy, salty footprints, played with Hadrian, fixed a noisy exterior roof fan, cleaned our bathroom (I think he forgot the mirrors, but whatever), and vacuumed the bedroom. And I’m sure I’m forgetting some more things, too.

FOR REAL.

And all this after we hit the gym before church, ran some errands (purchases: snow pants, wine, balsamic vinegar, more Valentine cards, gas) in town afterward and had a late lunch at home. He even snuck some trip-planning time in while I made dinner. (I was in the kitchen the entire afternoon food-prepping, cleaning up and making dinner, then cleaning up again. And doing more laundry, which I folded. It was only fair.)

Back to Andrew.

I love this man. I love this picture of this man. I love that he loves me enough to clean for me. That, my friends, is true love in our house.

More blogging to come before next weekend I hope!

snovember

So, we had a giant snowstorm back in November. You might have heard of it.

It started snowing Monday night, and I was definitely stressed about having to drive into Buffalo the next day to go to the hospital. I knew if the Buffalo Public Schools were closed, I’d also have the day off. However, the snow was expected in the Southtowns, not Buffalo, so we weren’t sure what was going to happen. Moog rarely closes, so Andrew anticipated going into work.

I woke up around 5:30 with texts on my phone about school being cancelled, so that was a relief. Otherwise, I’d be the lone student who couldn’t make it in…and have to make up the missed time on my own. Later in the morning, we heard Moog was closed as well. By mid-morning Tuesday, the accumulation was growing and it snowed virtually all day. We were out three times to shovel and snow-blow, and that was just to keep it manageable. When we weren’t outside, we were parked on the couch trying to rest up before heading out again just a few hours later. There may have been hot chocolate and episodes of The Walking Dead involved…

Wednesday morning we awoke to sunny skies and not a flurry falling. It was almost surreal. It felt as if we were in the ‘eye’ of the storm, knowing more snow was coming. We spent the day relaxing and visiting the Nyes’ house. That night, we did a quick shovel and snow-blow of the driveway to clear the six or so inches that had fallen the previous night.

The snow returned with a vengeance Thursday, and we were out three times that day to keep up with it. Keep in mind that when it snows this much overnight, the first person up with the dog has to shovel an entire path just so they can relieve themselves. Not fun.

It finally stopped snowing sometime that evening while we were out doing our final clear. By that point, I’d had it with shoveling. I didn’t have anywhere to throw the snow anymore!

On Friday, yet another snow day, Andrew decided we needed to clear the snow off our side roof, which is above our laundry room. To get to it, he used the ladder as a walkway on top of about 3-4 feet of snow.

Shoveling off the roof:

That night we decided to get out of the house–for something other than snow-blowing–and we headed to Main Street to see Mockingjay at our local theater.

Afterward, we walked all the way down to the other end of Main Street to grab a beer before heading home again. I think I made a pizza at home, too…

Our last day of snow removal was Saturday. You can see Andrew’s head on the top of our roof in the photo below. He shoveled all the snow off our roof…and let it all fall right in front of our back door (a.k.a. the door we actually use). I could have killed him. I spent the afternoon trying to get our car out of the driveway, which has been snow-blowed but not quite wide enough all the way down. A kind neighbor came and helped me while Andrew cleared the roof, and then Dad Layer stopped by and the three of us (sans Andrew) attacked the snow piled in front of our door.

If I never shovel again, it will be too soon. (Disclaimer: We’ve already had more snow. It was too soon. Definitely too soon.)

And to think: Buffalo (the city) got, like, NO SNOW. Seriously. Maybe a few inches. We got 90.5 inches. NINETY-POINT-FIVE. Seven and a half feet of snow. In three days. #snovember

not just a little courthouse wedding

One week ago, my best friend got married.

Betsy was the first friend I made in Air Force ROTC at Penn State, my maid of honor when I got married and remains the ultimate voice of reason. We may not talk every day (or even every week or month), but she will always be one of my most treasured friends.

Due to life circumstances (i.e. military assignments and timing), Bets and her now-husband, Josh, decided to have a simple courthouse wedding in her hometown just six weeks after he proposed (see photos here). The wedding was set for Oct. 25, a Friday afternoon.

(Her hometown, Doylestown, PA, is kinda like my hometown as well; my sister still lives in our parents’ house there, Betsy’s family still lives there, and Abigail’s future husband–Marvin–lives just a few streets away from Betsy’s parents. And they go to the same church as Betsy’s sister. Small world.) Not to mention that my two other girlfriends from college, Leslie and Wendy (also my bridesmaids EIGHT years ago) still live in PA.

So, I made a trip of it, as I always do, starting in Philly and winding my way back through PA, stopping to see friends along the way.

After skipping my last class last Thursday, I sped to Betsy’s parents house in time for the ‘rehearsal’ dinner. There may not have been a rehearsal, but there was wine and cheese, amazing pasta with vodka sauce and fantastic company. It was a chance for me to really talk to Josh-I’d met him briefly at Bets’ weapons school graduation a couple years ago in Las Vegas-and visit with people who are like family to me.

Coincidentally, Abigail and Marvin were headed to his parents’ house (again, just a few streets away) to spend the weekend there enjoying the fall foliage, and–unbeknownst to Abigail–to get engaged. (More on that later.) I was able to spend the night at Marvin’s house that night and get to meet his parents, all while being conveniently close to Bets and all the action this wedding weekend. We spent an hour or two sipping wine at the Johnson’s kitchen table that night chatting before we all headed to bed around midnight.

The next morning, I spent a relaxing half-hour with Mrs. Johnson chatting over coffee before I headed out to the salon to meet Bets and the rest of the female family and friends. It may have been a courthouse wedding, but that doesn’t mean a girl can’t get her hair done! I got a polish change and enjoyed visiting with Betsy’s family and new in-laws while everyone finished up.

After the salon, we headed to Betsy’s parent’s house for a pizza lunch before we all got ready for the big event.

Betsy chose a simple, yet elegant (so Betsy) white fall dress from White House Black Market, and a pair of bright blue (‘something blue’) heels. The rest of us (not planned) ended up being in dresses that coordinated so well–teals, blues and black and white. A couple family members were in solid purple and red dresses, which really rounded out to be a beautiful wedding photo!

There may have been a few tears…

And a few more tears…

Sarah, Betsy’s sister who is also a professional photographer, took some quick photos out front before we all headed to the courthouse.

A dear friend of Betsy’s family gave a beautiful message about God’s plan for marriage that he read to the soon-to-be-joined couple. I loved that Bets and Josh stood next to each other the whole time, instead of traditionally facing each other.

After they exchanged rings, they were husband and wife!

With just 23 people in attendance, that courtroom ceremony–with its deeply personal message and combined love of all the guests–was perhaps one of the most intimate and meaningful weddings I’ve ever experienced. Josh was joined solely by his immediate family–mom, dad, brother and sister, while Bets had a set of grandparents and an aunt, uncle and cousin as well. AND her three best girlfriends. I can’t tell you how honored I was to be that courtroom in that very moment.

Sarah had us meet at a local park to take some photos. See them here.

The reception was held at a local restaurant where we had appetizers and cocktails, followed by dinner and wedding cake. There may have been a few fatherly speeches, but there was no dancing, which is probably just as Betsy would have wanted it. I spent that night with Leslie (who is expecting and due in February!) in Pottstown. Leslie and Christian’s house is always on my itinerary when I pass through PA.

The next morning, we all headed BACK to Betsy’s house for the last of the wedding weekend festivities: a brunch with more of Betsy’s extended family. We had quiche, biscuits and gravy (Josh is from the South) and fruit. And mimosas. And more wedding cake.

More excitement was happening just a few miles away; while we were celebrating Betsy and Josh’s marriage, Marvin was asking Abigail to be his wife! At a local pumpkin patch (one I used to pass each time I drove from my house to Betsy’s house all those years ago in college), he popped the question on a hayride with a bright pink banner and stealthy friends taking photographs. I popped in afterward to see the future bride and her ring before I left town.

I drove that afternoon to Hershey, PA, where my friend Wendy lives with her hubby and now THREE kiddos. We went to a local park for a Fall-fest for kids, where Natalie was able to run through a maze and try to find candy in a pile of hay. It was so nice to see them all–I even got to see Gary, a surgical resident, when he came home for dinner–and I marvel each time at how motherhood suits her.

I spent the night and enjoyed pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes the next morning before waving goodbye and heading back to NY.

Until next time, PA!