So Thankful

This time of year I can't help but be greatful for all the good things that I have going for me in my life. Particularly...

#1 My husband, Aaron. Because without him I would not have made it through these past few months when things have been the hardest. He has taken on more than his fair share of the household chores (cooking, cleaning, dog walking). He has dealt with my grumpiness (from not being able to run for the past 4 months) and celebrated the highs and commiserated with me on the lows. Love you Aaron!

#2 I am thankful that the snow has melted... at least for a little while. This place has been a huge sheet of ice for the past couple weeks. And since I still can't quite bend my knee all the way, climbing over snow drifts on my way from the car to the house, store, anywhere has been a challenge.

#3 That my knee tolerated a 4 hour round trip drive to visit family on Christmas day. I really thought I would have to sit this year out but with some recent improvements to my range I decided to risk it. I managed to make it through the day with some moderate stiffness but not too much pain.

We started our Christmas at home opening up gifts on Christmas Eve. The cats got catnip toys in which they got thoroughly engrossed in.

My favorite gift is a toss-up between my new profile water bottle with a splashproof lid for my bike (no more getting soaked when I hit a rough patch!) and a collection of the 50 different US state quarters. My grandmother started collecting them for all her grandchildren (there are about a dozen of us) back when the first ones came out. This year they were finally done and we each got them in a book along with a few coins from my grandfather's coin collection. One of mine is a silver dollar from 1979.


It is apparently a Radlinski tradition to forget about some gifts until Christmas day. Here, Aaron is wrapping some gifts for his brother that he found in his closet. Strider is again... helping.

Then it is off to the relatives...

I only have photos from the Radlinski family because I was the only one with a working camera that morning. The other two places we went, I forgot to bring it in.

I wasn't very good at letting Justin (Aaron's bro) what I wanted for Christmas so I got a packet of zucchini seeds.

Aaron got a pack as well. I guess I know what we'll be eating in 2009.

I noticed when going through these photos, Sparta was a very involved dog in the whole gift giving process. It's only her second Christmas so I don't think she entirely understands it all.

Happy Holidays!!!