2008 Christmas Newsletter

Here is a Copy of Our Christmas Newsletter that we sent out with Our Christmas Cards.

It seems like time has flown by once again this year… It’s already time for an update for our family and friends. Josh and I have been very busy this year. We purchased a house in Lakewood, it is an older one, but has a lot of character and we have so many ideas for updating it. Hopefully in 2009 we will get around to some of the bigger projects. We made an addition to our little family, Josh got a puppy for Emery, well, he really is a family dog, but such a Mommy’s boy- he sleeps with Emery every night. He loves to go to the Dog Park, which is really nice since it is so close to our house and we don’t have a fence around our yard yet. Our beloved cat Morris was hit by a car in September, it was such a loss. He was such a wonderful animal, Stryker (our dog) and KoCo (Emery’s cat) both loved him so much. Josh and I really wanted another cat and 2 days after Morris was gone, there was a stray cat at the Public Works building in Steilacoom, Josh went and looked at him and decided he was the cat for us. We named him Mosely and he very similar to Morris. I guess it was meant to be. KoCo is still very prissy and loves to cuddle when ‘she’ wants to. We both love our animals and wouldn’t know what to do without them.
Now that we have updated you on our children, Josh is currently a Sergeant Police Officer for the Town of Steilacoom; he is also the Assistant Fire Chief. He has been doing really well and enjoys spending time with our animals and playing his new Play Station 3. Josh is also planning to put up a fence around our house with the help of a few of his friends. We are also going to be putting in new flooring down stairs that Josh is planning to accomplish sometime soon. =) He is becoming quite the handy-man around the house. Shortly after we moved into our house, Josh also got a truck. It is older as well, but a very good work truck, and as Josh says, “You can’t have a house without a truck.” I think that was a good line that he came up with to convince me that he ‘needed’ a truck. It has been a very nice convenience to have a truck. So I guess he was right. =) Josh is also getting everything in order to start his lawn and garden care business next year. We have purchased a lot of the equipment and are trying to get everything organized so it will run smoothly. Hopefully Emery will learn how to run the books as well, and maybe even help with some of the work.
Emery has been very busy as well this past year. She has decided to go to Nursing School in April 2009 (still waiting to hear back from the school as to whether she got in…) She will go through the LPN school with the military and then get her RN at either PLU or a nearby Community College. She then would really like to work in Labor and Deliver at a hospital. Emery is currently working for Charles River Clinical Services in Tacoma and is learning a lot about medical research. It is a very good company with plenty of room for growth. She is still in the Army Reserves and just Re-Enlisted in September for another 6 years. Emery is continuing to Volunteering for the Steilacoom Fire Department (3 years in February 2009) and babysitting 2 children that she absolutely adores once a week. Emery loves spending time at home with the ‘kids’ and scrapbooking. She recently got her 1st sewing machine and her very own craft room. When Josh got his truck Emery also wanted a new car, so we got her BMW. Emery has also been quite the Party Planner this year; she was in-charge of her Army Reserve Holiday Social and hosted the Police and Volunteer Fire Fighters Holiday Party. She is definitely ready for a few days of while her Mom is visiting from Texas. =)
We hope all is well with you and your families.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Emery, Josh, Stryker, KoCo & Mosely

December Update:

So I know that is has been quite awhile since I have posted a blog. Life has just been crazy with Party Planning, getting ready for Christmas, and work. Josh has managed to keep himself pretty busy as well.

ARMY HOLIDAY SOCIAL:

I was the head party planner for my Army Reserve unit's Holiday Social. It was a very stressful week before the event, just getting everything ready and planning all of the food and decorations. I took the Friday before the even off, so I would be able to run around like a chicken with my head cut off getting all the last minute items. Saturday during the day I had to do my P.T. test, which I did really good on. =) And then it was time to get the decorations ready and assign some more last minute tasks. We got to the Steilacoom Town Hall around 4PM and began putting up decorations and getting the food ready. We finished the decorations right at 6PM (the time everyone was arriving). So I went home and put on my 80's attire, made my hair poofy and headed back to the Town Hall. I had to be 'fashionably late' to make my grand entrance. =)

Overall the party was a sucess, Melanie Tinsley did our pictures, Santa made an appearance, the food was good, and everybody who attended had a great time. We are going to start the planning in January for next years event, so hopefully it will run a bit smoother.

Next Event, STEILACOOM POLICE AND VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS HOLIDAY PARTY:

Once again, I was incharge of planning this event. Chaz was a great help with all the odds and ends that I just didn't have time to do. I was a bit smarter this time with the food... Or at least when I ordered the food, I thought it would be easier than the Costco food we had for the Army Social. Unfortunately, I was wrong. To put is short and simple, Turkeys take a whole lot longer to cook that I expected! I was suppose to start decorating for the event at 4PM, but didn't even leave my house until 5:45 to take the food to the Town Hall... needless to say, everything ended up being thrown together very quickly. Lesson Learned: I need to delegate the cook and preparing of food to a couple of people... Trying to do all of it myself just isn't the best way. After all of the stress of getting everything ready, once again it was pretty successful. Chief had a nice speech, awards were handed out, and the food was pretty delicious! I don't have any pictures of this event, but I will post some once MacFarlane puts them on the Steilacoom website. =)

So now that I have caught you up on what consumed the first two weeks of my December, let's get to what is currently going on...

I Finally completed my Christmas cards and mailed them.

The snow has been insane! Last night it took me 1 hour and 45 minutes to get home from work, which normally takes me 20 to 30 minutes.

It was Thursday, so I had EMS training at the station and it was my shift night, so I got home and changed and left to head to the station...

But I didn't make it too far when I went sliding down a hill near my house... I ended up in one of our neighbors bushes. He came out and was trying to break the ice that was behind my tires so I could get some traction and back myself out... until a van decided that it was going to try to make it up the hill and came sliding down into the Jeep. Thank goodness that the man who was helping me and I got out of the way and the two people in the van were OK. Josh was working and all of the Lakewood Officers were busy, so he and Whelan came and called for a tow. The first one that arrived didn't have chains on... Idiot! So he couldn't help us, the 2nd one, ended up hitting one of the cars parked on road, so he was out of commision... 3 tow trucks later and about 4 hours, Our Jeep was free and Josh made it home (I went home because I was absolutely freezing!). And Josh was a good boyfriend and stayed with the Jeep.

On the note of SNOW... Stryker LOVES it! =) KoCo, not so much and Mosely was OK with it. Here are some pictures of our babies in the frosty weather.



Well, I am going to continue to get stuff done around the house since there is no way that I am driving until all of the ice clears up.

Oh-yea! MY MOM GETS HERE TOMORROW!!! =)

Shopping on Black Friday!

You guessed it! Of course I was up Bright and Early on Black Friday to get some Christmas Shopping done. =) I was pulling into the JC Penny parking lot at the Tacoma Mall at 3:50AM on Friday. This year it was packed full of excited shoppers. I went to Macy's & completed my shopping for my cousins; Marisa and Adam, my Grandma and Mom by 8AM!!!
I also picked up a few things for myself (plates, 2 big pans, and a steamer) and some stuff for Josh. I love Christmas Shopping and getting out there and getting it done early. I also bought some more decorations for the house this year since we will be hosting our FIRST Christmas Celebration with the families. Yesterday was a long tiring day. Mike came over last night, so He and Josh stayed up all night playing Josh's new PS3. I guess Boys will be Boys! I am at work today and hopefully will be able to set up my sewing machine tonight! I got it on Wednesday and still haven't managed to get it together and start making Josh's pants for my Army Reserve Holiday Social (Old School Theme). I am going to make Josh some snazzy Hammer Pants!!! And I need to add some tool to my dress to make it PooF! Don't worry, I will post pictures from our blast to the past evening.
I will be starting Christmas Cards on Sunday with Jen and hopefully mailing them out soon. =) Hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving and have fun planning for Christmas!

The Original 1st Blog Post.

Just a note: I attempted to start a blog about 2 months ago and then never finished, but just recently came across what I had written, so it is a bit out-dated, but I thought it would be nice to let you guys read it. =)
Enjoy!

(I would like to start writing in a blog just to keep family and friends up-dated. I have a myspace and facebook, but I think I am going to just start blogging instead. It is easier and a better way to stay connected with everybody. =)
I am so excited for the up-coming Holidays with Family. Josh and I will be hosting our First Christmas Day with both of our Families this year (Chelsea, Jason & Ivan, Hopefully we will have gotten a web-cam since you guys will be in Maine.). I can't wait to start decorating! Thanksgiving is coming up which we will be spending with Josh's Grandparent's on their boat in the morning, and then I will be heading up to my Aunt Debbie's House when Josh goes to work. I love TURKEY and potatoes, so Thanksgiving has to be one of my Favorite Holidays, not to mention the shopping the day after! (Last year I had all of my Christmas shopping done by 10AM on Nov. 28th!)
Also, Josh and I have talked about continuing the tradition of Our Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. This year we need more people to find the ugliest sweater you can! Don't worry, Josh and I will actually be participating this year =) Andrew was a champ last year with the best outfit!)

It's Almost Thanksgiving!!!

Today is one week from Thanksgiving! I think this is the first year in a really long time that I have been so excited for the Holiday Season. I have been working like crazy with Charles River Clincal Services, the Army Reserves, Volunteering for Steilacoom Fire Department, and Babysitting; I am very excited to have those extra days off. =) Also, as I said in my last blog, the shopping after Thanksgiving is Amazing! I started a list the other day of everything I am going to need for Christmas this year, and the list is just continuing to grow (With that said; If anyone knows of any great stores to get Christmas decorations or serving platter for in-expensive, Let me Know!). Josh and I have also been trying to eat healthier lately and even throw a bit of working out into our crazy schedules.
This Holiday Season, I am also planning 2 Christmas Parties, possibly 3. One for my Army Reserve Unit, the 2nd for the Volunteer Fire Department and the PSOs, and possibly Our Annual Ugly Sweater Christmas/ Poker Party... That one is still to be decided. I don't know if I will have the time or energy to make all of this happen within a few weeks. =)
Animal Up-Date: Stryker is still just as crazy as he was when we got him! Hopefully time will calm him down...
KoCo has her attitude problems sometimes, but is such a snuggler when she wants to be. The other day, I got her a pink sweater, elf costume, and a Christmas sweater to wear for the Holidays. Needless to say, she is not thrilled to wear them, but she deals with it. =)
And Mosely loves to get into everything. Curiosity should be his middle name, he also teases Stryker and gets him in trouble just like any little brother would. Mosely has also gotten a Christmas sweater that is just so cute on him, but Josh does not approve. I have to sneak the clothes on to him and then hide Mosely from Josh. ;)
Other than our daily lives, Josh and I have been really good and just trying to keep up with everything and all of our Friends.
We will also be putting up a FENCE (finally!) very soon, so if anyone would like to donate some time to help, it would be greatly appreciated. =)
Hope all is well with everyone and hopefully we will be able to get together before the Holidays take over the next few weeks.

Getting Ready for the Holiday Season!

Josh and I will be having Thanksgiving morning on the boat with his Grandparents. =) And then in the afternoon, I will be going up to Federal Way to my Aunt and Uncle's house for Thanksgiving dinner while Josh is working. Don't worry, I will bring him food from my family gathering.
Let me just take a few minutes to let you know how excited I am for Thanksgiving...
#1 All of the Delicious FOOD!
#2 We are drawing names for Christmas Gifts.
#3 SHOPPING @ 4AM THE Morning After!!!
#4 I get to start decorating Our House for CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Josh and I will be hosting our FIRST Family Christmas Gathering at Our House this Year!!!
I am so excited! (could ya tell?!?) My Mom will be here staying with us from Texas, and I haven't had a Christmas with my Mom in 5 years! So that will be amazing and Everyone is going to be coming to my house, which I have wanted since I was a little kid. [We always had to go someone in the morning and I just wanted everyone to come to me =)]
This also means that I get to decorate our entire house and cook for everyone! By the way, our cats got Christmas outfits yesterday! =) Josh was not impressed but they are so cute with their little sweaters!

Well, with all of the work I have cut-out for me, I am going to get going. =)

Our First Post.

Here is some background information before I 'officially' get started on our new blog. =)
Josh and I started dating 07/17/2006, We met when I became a Volunteer Firefighter for Steilacoom Public Safety. Josh is one of the PSOs in Steilacoom and I immediately thought he was cute! It was like one of those little crushes that you don't tell anyone about, but I let it slip to Earl that I liked Josh... and being new to Steilacoom, I didn't understand how everyone knows everyone and also the small town life of everyone knows everything about everyone! So, needless to say I learned that very fast, oh-yea, and not to mention that Earl and Josh are really close friends from High School. Basically, my secret was out, but everything ended up working perfectly. Josh knew that I liked him, I would always be at the Station on my Shift Night, and Josh would always be working. =) Coincidence... We became friends and he helped me get the cakes for our Volunteer Fire Academy Graduation, and from there it is all history!

When I first started volunteering I lived in an apartment in Tacoma, my first place by myself. (It had it ups and downs.) Josh was living in Lakewood with Brian who works for Lakewood PD. Almost a year after we had been dating, Josh decided that he wanted his own house and decided to rent for a year in Steilacoom. I moved in a few months later, since it was pointless to pay rent for my apartment when I was hardly ever there anyways. We lived in this house for a year and then Josh bought a house for us in Lakewood. We have an amazing house, it is an older house, but there is so much potential that we can't wait to get started on all of our remodeling!
We recently got a new desk for our office and just last night started to put together the furniture for my Craft Room! Yes, I am having a craft room. =)
To be continued...