Hope You Have A Minute!

I'm just warning you ahead of time- this one's going to be long. Christmas for Heather means many many pictures, so you get to reap the fruits of my camera. We started our Christmas festivities on Christmas eve in the night. I had to work until six, so we were a little late getting our santa on. Grandma and I went for a quick visit to a nearby nursing home where a lady from our church lives and gave her a gift. Tracy and I played santa after that, making these stockings which, if I do say so myself, turned out quite adorable.

We had breakfast for dinner-quite yummy! I love my dad's french toast! Then Tracy and I went downtown for a midnight service at the same church that mom and I had gone to the past two years. It's an old (around mid-1700s) church that looks to me like a cathedral. Lancaster is full of these kinds of churches. We came home and hung the stockings and I headed home to finish cleaning my apartment for my mom's arrival. She got there at the lovely hour of two in the morning, and we proceeded to open our jammies and then talk for another two hours. I don't think my neighbor upstairs appreciated it, but oh well. Christmas morning, we didn't even open our eyes until 10:30 and everyone was waiting for us over at dad's. The present fiesta followed.
















Mom and I returned to my place to open a few more gifts for each other, then we started the pie and rolls. After four different trips to four different places, we fianally had all the ingredients for them. I was, needless to say, a little stressed out by the time we finished and got back over to dad's. Dinner was amazing, and that night was spent playing with our new toys.
The next day, mom and I were headed to Target and stumbled upon a beautiful tableaux, so we stopped to have a little mini-photoshoot.





CHEERS TO A GREAT 2009 EVERYONE!

My Two Nephews!!!

Last night, we got the news!!! Little Remy Hite is officially here! He's such a cutie!

Of course, I AM a little biased!
And then today is my other nephew Rees' fifth birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE!!!! Almost a kindergartener! How exciting!

What better presents could an auntie want for christmas???!!!

O CHRISTMAS TREE

This year, as I've set up my decorations around my small apartment, I've come to realize something: My favorite decoration is the Christmas tree. I have two full-sized trees and, though I'm not quite sure how that happened, I wouldn't want to do without either one. The fuller one sits in my living room, and this year I put it right smack dab in the middle of the room, unlike last year where it was kind of hidden in the corner.

Then there's the one in my kitchen. It's skinnier and fits nicely into the corner where I can always see it. This one just has lights and bulbs.

In addition to my two full-sized, I have many smaller ones around as well. I have two that are made out of fabric and hang on the back of a doorway. You tie candy canes on them. Very fun when we were kids so I just kept the tradition going. There's also a sparkling tree candle and a tree that is made of beads and has lights in the middle. I didn't even realize I had so many trees! Of course, I have other decorations hanging around, but the tree clearly trumps them all.
I don't think the puddy tat likes them as much as me, but I still managed to get a few quick photos with him in front of it.

What am I thankful for?

Well, I think these pictures show pretty clearly what I am most thankful for. I love my family, and this has truly been a blessed Thanksgiving full of them! We had the traditional dinner over at my Aunt Sherma's house. Everyone on my dad's side of the family was there. Here's a few choice shots from that. And today, Black Friday, we decided to have our own family Thanksgiving with a few friends peppered in there for fun. Here's a few pics from that!

One Wedding and a Snowstorm-by Heather Hite

Heather was very excited that morning when she woke up. It was her friend's wedding. As she got ready, she just knew it was going to be the perfect day. She went to open the curtains, and it took her mind a few seconds to register what she was seeing. "What's all that white stuff?? What the.....Is that snow?? Oh crap. That can't be good." Despite the misgivings over the weather, however, Amanda, her friend, was still getting married that day, and so, snow or no snow, she was making the trip to Washington DC.

The wedding was lovely, and Heather shed a few happy tears for her friend. Up until then, Amanda and Heather had shared the joys of singlehood. Now that was ending. Heather couldn't be happier for her friend.



After many pictures, they (Amanda B, Brad, Addison, and Heather) took what seemed like the long route to the restaurant, made longer by Addison not being too happy with her wet diaper. After a very lovely meal at Olive Garden, The company of four wished the bride and groom well and began their sojourn back to Lancaster. There was, after all, a party in honor of the release of the movie of Twilight being held that very night and Heather and Amanda B absolutely COULD NOT miss this one! They had waited patiently all summer long for this movie, and excitement was high. About and hour and a half to two hours into the journey home, (a journey which was only supposed to be two hours long) the snow began again. This time, the traffic crept along at an agonizing pace. A few stops along the way increased the anxiety of Heather and Amanda B, for the party was set to start soon. Not long after the snow finished dropping it's white flakes of doom, the traffic came to a dead stop. And so they waited. And waited. And waited. At seven o'clock, when the party was set to begin, phonecalls of disappointment had to be made. There would be no party for the girls. But hopefully, if the traffic would begin again, they could make it to the movie. They waited some more. And some more. No news came to them about what the holdup was. Nothing but hundreds of cars sitting on a freeway reading books, making phone calls, and letting the occasional expletive slip. Two and half hours later, the news came- the freeways were shut, and were set to open up again at 8:30. Was there enough time for Amanda and Heather to make it to their movie? Crawling along, they kept the small flicker of hope alive, and finally, they were on the road soaring towards home. The minutes ticked perilously by as the time for the movie to begin approached. They raced the clock, keeping that flicker alive. Finally, fifteen minutes after the movie was set to begin, Amanda and Heather screeched in to the theater parking lot on two wheels and made a dash for it. They made it to their seat just as the last trailer was finishing, and luckily, missed none of their highly anticipated movie. All in all, they gave the movie a general big thumbs up!
The next day was much better than the previous. The bride sparkled, the lights were turned low, and the food was delicious. Heather, after contemplating the weekend, realized that a winter wedding was definitely out of the question for her, but overall, enjoyed the beauty of the fall colors and dazzling lights.

Bring it on, I'm ready!

This weekend is going to be a crazy one-and it doesn't stop until monday! Friday morning, one of my BFFs is getting married (hooray!!!! Love you, Amanda!)
And then, my other BFF and I are rushing back up to Lancaster for the Twilight Party. Yes, It's true, already have my ticket. Do you???
On Saturday is Amanda's reception. What could follow all of this you ask? I'm getting together with Sarah, yet another friend, to make homemade Advent calendars out of felt (they should be really cute. I'll post a picture so you can see, have no fear.) And then (inhale please, Heather, you need oxygen) sunday is the say to prep for my mommy who arrives on monday. (Whew, I'm going to need a nap now.)

At Mom's Request....

So my mom made the request that I put these pictures of her main man, Greg. I haven't properly introduced him, so I probably should. (drumroll please) This is Greg! Take note, because he's going to be around for a while!