Times are a changin'

Some of you were probably wondering why my blog was suddenly private. This was only temporary and by the time you can read this it will be public again. Why do you ask when it's been MONTHS since I last blogged?

Well lot's of things going on with the Britts and life just got in the way ;-) We had a wonderful (and fast) summer, filled with lots of family QT, a trip to Europe and some amazing weddings. We started planning for 2012 and all the little things we want to do to the house, the trips we wanted to take and even talked about potentially starting a family sometime...

and well, you guessed it. some time came a lot sooner than I was planning for. All of a sudden, we came back from Miami and something didn't seem right. I wasn't feeling myself and a positive pregnancy test told us I was 6 weeks pregnant. I'm not one to hide things so I'll tell you honestly--I was SHOCKED. I was so surprised that I couldn't even truly muster a smile. The ultimate guilt. I don't know if woman want to admit this, but it's really hard to go from being a 20 something gal to PREGNANT. no drinking, no unpasteurized cheese, no deli meat...oh and exhausted. Tired in your bones, in a way no man could ever understand. And now, well, the nausea. I want to throw up constantly. My body was hijacked by something the size of a pencil eraser.

And at 10 weeks now, I'm ever so close to being able to reveal the news to the world. I'm in a much better place emotionally, yes, i'm excited :P (and scared out of my mind) but I'm still feeling le mis. And as I write this, it's Saturday night and I should be at 1 of 3 christmas parties. But instead, i'm sitting on my couch watching tv because I literally cannot get up and feel like puking. And the idea of pretending to drink two nights in a row makes me ill. Did I mention it's 9:30 and I feel like it's 2am? But I can say, I'm sitting in on a Saturday night with the absolute most wonderful husband in the world. He chose not to go out. I cried because it made me so happy. And then I laughed for crying? (oh hormones) Did I mention the bagel he got me this morning? (because if I can eat, it's only starch). And then the soup he tried to make me? And the countless tasks I asked him to do while I sat on the couch in misery? If there is one thing this baby has done thus far...it's make me realize how lucky "it" will be to have this man as their father.

I am a terrible blogger.

2011 has not been good for my blogging. It has however been good for the hubs and I, which means it's been very very busy. I promise to be better!

In January, we took on Disney World. What a fantastic way to be kids by day and posh foodie adults by night. I have to admit, it was a perfect trip. The weather was good, the rides were extremely fun and the food (Flying Fish, California Grill, Bluezoo...) all awesome!

February had me traveling a lot for work, including a trip on Valentine's Day. But also gave us some insight into our tax returns so we could plan for the home renovations. On the list was:

• New carpet for the stairs (installed, pics soon!)
• New dining room chairs (done!)
• Landscaping (in progress)
  

...I'll have some great pics soon. But as we got into March, we had a wrench thrown into the mix. While outside playing, Lincoln noticed a somewhat week, old fence and took advantage of the situation and "visited" our neighbors. Luckily I found him...but it made us realize we need to fix it sooner than planned. So we are currently getting quotes for that. OY!

I'll follow-up soon with pictures of the transformations and in the meantime we'll be focused on Jarrett's 30th birthday this Friday. What a weekend I have in store :)

Merry Christmas

I know, i am such a slacker lately. Per usual, December becomes a month where I just lose track of time. With the holidays and shopping and end of year/quarter at work...it gets very busy for this gal.

We had a simply WONDERFUL Christmas. Jarrett's dad came to visit the weekend before, then his sister and mom came for a few days before and after. We ran around, saw both sides of my family, and got to share my traditions with the Britt's as well as create our own. We (and really I mean Jarrett mostly) pulled off a successful meal with WAY too much food, but I loved every bite of it.

I thought I'd share some pics of our house and dinner on Christmas Day.

Strike a Pose

I am so lucky that I have friends that are talented. Especially when those friends become photographers and can shoot amazing work.

This year, I wanted to make really snazzy Christmas cards. I half-assed it last year, and was really displeased with the result. And given our handsome pups, I thought why not get a picture taken with the four of us by someone who knows what they are doing?? Capturing these four-legged friends looking at the camera at the same time proves quite challenging.

So I enlisted a friend, and former Bentley classmate--Brooke Allison Photography. I encourage you to check out her work. Not only does she do fabulous work, but she is a warm and bubbly person just waiting to take pictures and so easy to get along with!

We headed to Marina Bay in Quincy on a brisk fall day. So here are a couple shots of her fantastic work.

PK 11.16.09

Today's post is a solemn one. Today mark's the one year anniversary since my aunt patty's passing (and my Nana's birthday!).

I've had a strange feeling all day. I feel like I should be sad. Then I think no no, stay strong. And then I feel like I could completely lose it. But I think it's because I have this sense of longing that will probably never go away. I find myself driving home some nights and going to pick up the phone to call her the way I always did. To update her on my life, work, personal, whatever it may be. She'd then of course give me her opinion whether or not I asked for it, the best part of our conversations. And of course her laugh, after I told her some ridiculous story.

Last year was a blur, I can't remember if I told her I loved her enough. Or if I thanked her enough. So here it goes...

Thank you Aunt Pat, for your amazing ability to listen and for your countless words of wisdom. Thank you for always being there and looking out for me, and my mother. Thank you for proving sometimes you have to give your mother a hard time because that's what daughters do. Thank you for believing in love despite hardships. Thank you for your ability to stay strong in the hardest of times...to never give up hope, to always believe, and to fight. We thought we were going to lose you 18 years before we did, and the world was a better place with you in it.

And thank you, to the man above, for giving us those extra years. Thank you to Dana Farber, Hospice and all of her best friends for supporting her, John, and my family through such a difficult time. I miss you every single day.

Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.
Buddha