I'm Going Bananas

First, I want to say "Happy dating Anniversary" to Ryan. These past seven years have been all the better with you in them. I'm not quite sure how we made it through two years of long distance, but I'm really glad we did. I love you, cutie.

I'm usually all over celebrating little things, like today, but I definitely had no time to get him a card or little gift. Although, I did him a six pack for Halloween yesterday. A six pack of Reese's pumpkins that is. He declined to bring them up North where we are this weekend to celebrate his sister's birthday. I think it's because he wants to horde them all to himself. 

Now, since we're in the North Country, I see Ryan side-by-side with Craig, his dad. I am totally convinced Ryan is going to be exactly like him when we have kids. I often call him Craig 2.0 and there's a clear reason.

No, it's not because they're nearly identical. As I'm typing this, Craig said, "Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while." The same exact phrase Ryan uttered at a golfing tournament a few weeks ago when a guy in the group ahead of us hit a really nice shot. 

Earlier today, Craig was walking around the kitchen talking about bananas. Literally. I think it's his life goal to either make you laugh or drive you insane. If you ask Tammy, his wife, it's the latter. Ask Ryan? The first one. 

Then Craig started talking about how he says goodbye to his bananas in the morning. He looks at 'em, waves, and says, "I'm going, bananas." He must've said it five times with varying degrees of comma, no comma. I have so much to look forward to over the next fifty years or so.

In other news, Happy Daylight Savings tonight! I hope you enjoy your extra hour of sleep. Or partying whatever you choose to do. I'll be sleeping. Because that's one of my priorities. If you ask Craig what he'll be doing? He'll set the alarm for 2am, set the time back, and sleep for the extra forty-five minutes...

And if you believed that, you're as dumb as me. Happy November!

The Frozen Tundra and Ice Skating

There's a reason my family and I call the North Country the Frozen Tundra. It's cold. It's icy. And it's cold. Did I mention that yet?

Today, the high in Norfolk is 7F. Yea, you read that right 7F. It's cold. Have I mentioned that yet?

I ventured outside today, finally. To take some pictures of what it looks like outside. After two days of sleeting and freezing rain and one day of snow showers. That stuff just tops off the snow that was already here. Cleaning off my car was a joy. 

There's a reason we call it the Frozen Tundra...It's not like it's untrue. Funny enough, ice skating is popular up here. When it's snowy and icy for nine months out of the year, I guess it's one thing you can do for most of the year. Okay, so there might not be nine months of ice and snow but people who live up here joke that there's two seasons, winter and construction. 

My sister-in-law wanted to take her boys skating for the first time at a local arena. Since Ryan and I have only been out once this year I thought it would be perfect to join them! 

Unfortunately the arena that had free skate wasn't renting out ice skates. Fortunately, there weren't many people (read: 10 including the six of us) there so the boys and my brother-in-law could still walk around on the ice - which they enjoyed! Here's some pictures:

this was the rink at 9:15am - free skate started at 9:00am

my nephews, Luke and Cole

the boys thought it was fun to run on the ice and make themselves fall

the hubbs is a phenomenal skater - should've been a defenseman

sibling love

us!

the whole group - clockwise from top left: Ryan, Jessica, Tracy, Me, Cole, Luke

This was a perfect start to the Christmas festivities beginning tonight. Let the love and joy start! Happy Christmas Eve!

My Kind of Luck

Ryan and I are up North this weekend. Up North, being Norfolk, New York, where he's from. Originally our nephew's birthday party was going to be this weekend and Ryan and his dad planned to play golf. Well, the birthday party got moved but it's just about the end of golfing season here. So we made the drive up last night so Ryan and Craig could play one final round. 

Now being in an apartment, we don't have the luxury of a washer and dryer. Rather than spend money at the laundromat, we either bring our laundry to my parents' house (when we're home) or up to Ryan's parents' house. 

Ryan and Craig are out golfing, Tammy's (Ryan's mom) at her flower shop, and I'm at the house with the dog doing laundry. In between loads I decided that the light and leaves would be great to snag a couple of pictures. 

I hook the dog on the lead out back.

I step outside.

I shut the door.

The back door is locked.

The front door is locked.

I have my phone, my camera, and the dog for company. Not to worry, I have the shop number. I give Tammy a call and she tells me where the hide a key is. 

I grab it.

I walk toward the back door.

I drop the key.

*sigh*

...I then spend the next ten minutes trying not to have a meltdown, talking to the dog, laughing at myself, hunting around in the grass.

I eventually found it and unlocked the back door. But never to forget my mission, I did take some pictures around their house. For your viewing pleasure:

these apples are absolutely terrible

how awesome is this barn? i love it!

sherman - my buddy who i got locked out with

How's fall shaping up around your town? Do you have some amazing colors coming out?