Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Love
The Morse Family
2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Christmas Caroling
Friday night Olivia and I had a date with Grandpa while Daddy worked. We went on a hay ride and did some caroling with some family friends.
We arrived just in time for a little snack before we headed out, but then it was time to load up. We headed down some beautiful dirt roads checking out all the decorations and stopped at many houses to sing some Christmas songs. Everyone was given some jingle bells, which took Olivia just a little bit to get used to, but once she did she just shook those bells the whole time. She just sat and shook the bells on Grandpa's or my lap.
We arrived just in time for a little snack before we headed out, but then it was time to load up. We headed down some beautiful dirt roads checking out all the decorations and stopped at many houses to sing some Christmas songs. Everyone was given some jingle bells, which took Olivia just a little bit to get used to, but once she did she just shook those bells the whole time. She just sat and shook the bells on Grandpa's or my lap.
Olivia and I shared this first as I have never been caroling before either, we both had a great time and very much appreciated being included by the Crofoot's. We hope to get to join again next year.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Sisters! Sisters!
My Sister/My Friend
You are someone I look up to
You were there when I needed you most.
Though we’ve had our differences
You were someone I have always loved.
Thanks for being my sister.
It means more than I can say.
We are sisters because we’re related
But I choose to call you friend.
As I sit back and think of my little princess becoming a big sister to a little brother, I am reminded of my own sister and all of the amazing things she has done for me.
 |
| Going to dinner for my birthday while I was pregnant with Olivia. |
Let me begin by saying that I am very grateful to have a sister as wonderful as I do. Yes, I may not have always realized this and by that I mean for the first few (read: many) years I didn't want to have a sister. I was in my glory as an only child (as short lived as that was) until they brought that little baby home and she didn't leave. Mom tells of the time where she was in the cradle in the living room and she caught me pushing it really high trying to turn it over. Don't worry I didn't succeed and it was then pushed up against a wall. There is also a video that Daddy shot of me laying on the edge of the couch and Jamie sitting on the floor in front of me. Sweet I know until you realize that I had the back of her overalls in my hand. When we were in school at St. Mary Magdalen I think 4th and 3rd grades I put her panties in her backpack so when she pulled out her book out they would come as well.
Please do not fear for all the not so nice things I did to her while she was younger I sure got my payback. Somewhere between grade school and high school she became much smarter than I, clever I should say! The one that I will never forget is a night we returned home late from a Solar Bears game. As I was flushing the toilet I was sprayed (from the clean top tank, I feel the need to add that) with water. I was screaming and after Mom and Dad found Jamie giggling under her covers they pieced together what she had done. Yes, yes, how can they be mad and scold her when it was so damn funny and what kid would think to pull the little tube out and stick it between the tank and the lid.
No matter what our past and not getting alongness there may have been I have always been very protective of my little (read: younger, because she out grew me a long time ago) sister. My favorite was a time she had boy at our house and I came home upset for one of the million teenage girl things and he was just being plain rude. So I told him to get out of our house...he listened.
I can apparently grow much past my small size and have nerves of steel when I need to and one of those times is when you are messing with my family. I am allowed to not like her and be mean to her but no one else better even try!
My sister has always been one to have a tough exterior and in my 27 years with her I am still surprised by things she does. Jamie has never been one to show her emotions or let you know how much you truly mean to her. Much unlike myself where I wear my heart on my sleeve, she guards it and only lets you see it when she wants you to. We have control issues!
She let me in when I had my first child. Jamie showed up at the hospital just as the sun was rising, only a few hours after Olivia was born. Everyone else was home still and as I was working on getting out of bed to take a shower when in walks Jamie (no warning, no call (I may have gotten a text?), just Jamie). Ben was going to help me get ready, then go retrieve Olivia from the nursery but instead Jamie offered to help me so that Ben was able to spend some quiet time with his daughter. Not many people would come in and put aside the urge to pick up and hold a newborn, but my sister put me first. She spent the next hour and a half helping me shower and get dressed. She even dried and straightened my hair, no argument just a wantonness to help. What others saw was Jamie's Facebook status saying, "The early bird gets the worm!" with a picture of her holding Olivia. See, she doesn't want anyone to know how awesome she really is.
Since Olivia has been around I have seen a side of my sister that I never thought existed. She takes her role as Aunt and God Mother very seriously, but don't get me wrong she is the first to teach Olivia how to have FUN, like jumping on my bed. Each day she never ceisis' to amaze me.
I have taken lots of time to think of what I am grateful for as a daughter, sister, wife, and mother, Jamie is certainly one of things on the top of my list. It may have taken me awhile to see all of her wonderful attributes but I since I have I wouldn't trade her for any amount of money in the world.
She is my sister and only mine.
I hope that one day Olivia and Benjamin will have the type of relationship that her and I have now. I would like to skip the beginning when I didn't care for her and just skip to the good stuff. I know that there is arguments that I will be breaking up but as long as I instill the love between the two of them like my parents did, I think I have done my job.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Belly Comparison
It has started again. I guess people just don't realize that all pregnant women are different and grow at different rates.
You would think that going through this once already would have prepared me a little better for the comments that people say to you. Yes, right to your face with no concern for your feelings or that you are a complete stranger or that your hormones are crazy and you could snap at any moment.
I have been asked on numerous occasions if I am going "to be getting an early Christmas gift?". Of course when I reply no that I am not due until the end of March, you should see their faces. Or even better their reply..."are you sure there is only 1 in there?" No you know what those sonograms are always wrong and my doctor knows nothing. Of course I am sure there is only 1. I want to be like I am only 5'1 where do you think I am going to put this kid.
How would people like it if I just went around telling people how fat I thought they were?
Although I have to say that with all of the not so complimentary comments I have received I have gotten a lot of very nice comments that I didn't get with Olivia. I have had many people tell me that I make pregnancy look good, and one young girl say that she hoped she looked as beautiful as I do when she gets pregnant. Wow I am honored and wonder if were are looking in the same mirror? Keep 'em coming people you cancel out all the people who have no idea what to say.
 |
| (Pardon the pained look on my face in the new one) I am just about the same size as I was with Olivia. My weight gain is now even with the first pregnancy. |
You would think that going through this once already would have prepared me a little better for the comments that people say to you. Yes, right to your face with no concern for your feelings or that you are a complete stranger or that your hormones are crazy and you could snap at any moment.
I have been asked on numerous occasions if I am going "to be getting an early Christmas gift?". Of course when I reply no that I am not due until the end of March, you should see their faces. Or even better their reply..."are you sure there is only 1 in there?" No you know what those sonograms are always wrong and my doctor knows nothing. Of course I am sure there is only 1. I want to be like I am only 5'1 where do you think I am going to put this kid.
How would people like it if I just went around telling people how fat I thought they were?
Although I have to say that with all of the not so complimentary comments I have received I have gotten a lot of very nice comments that I didn't get with Olivia. I have had many people tell me that I make pregnancy look good, and one young girl say that she hoped she looked as beautiful as I do when she gets pregnant. Wow I am honored and wonder if were are looking in the same mirror? Keep 'em coming people you cancel out all the people who have no idea what to say.
Monday, December 12, 2011
A Sea World Christmas
The Morse Family Funday Sunday!
 |
| Our group consisted of over 30 people so this is just a small portion. |
We were so lucky to be able to spend time with the family yesterday at Sea World checking out all the Holiday fun. We squeezed in so many shows and for lack of a better word exhibits, most before the rain hit. Lucky Olivia has a stroller and was the one person to make it through the rain completely dry and with over an hour nap. (Why don't they make these in adult size?)
 |
| Sorry for the lack of pictures my camera died after being there for only an hour. |
While in one of the stores Olivia had a field day trying on a bunch of hats. She has an accessory habit that I think is going to be hard to support as she gets older.
We got special seating at the Shamu show which Olivia couldn't take her eyes off of. It's amazing what those animals can do with their size. They ended up having to stop the show without doing the end because one of the whales wouldn't leave the big tank. It was pretty humorous and reminds us that they are just animals and no matter how much training they can still do what they want.
I think the highlight of our day and especially mine was the Christmas Show. It really reminded me that it is the holiday's. I can't say how much I LOVE this time of year!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello Santa...
...I like you but not up close! Will you still bring me presents?
Love,
Olivia
This year our Santa visit went much different then last year (click here to see the amazing pics we got last year). We went back to the Millenia Mall to visit Santa because they were so good the year before.
With things the was they are we were not going to take her this year and we figured she would freak out. But Gigi and Papa wanted to take her so we decided to meet Friday at noon which worked out for Aunt Jamie as well because she made it just before she started work. We ended up having to wait in line for almost an hour and Olivia did great and for the most part entertained herself.
We finally reached the front of the line and it was Olivia's turn to visit with Santa. She immediately turned into our little cling on and wouldn't let go of Daddy's neck. The photographers were amazing and worked very hard to help us get a few shots of her with Santa. But since she wouldn't separate herself from us she sat on my lap with me plastered against the back of the chair so I wouldn't be in them.
Not to shabby if I do say so myself. We even got a somewhat happy look on her face in 1 or 2.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Welcome Bernard
Welcome to our family Bernard!
We found Bernard taking in a little snooze in Olivia's crib with this little note last Thursday night.
Holiday Spirit
Let me start by saying that this time of year is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE, and last year it got even that much better with the addition of Olivia. She may have only been 7 month's old but I was sure going to live up every minute of the season.
Turn the page to this year and I am certainly going to squeeze every ounce of Holiday Spirit out of it. I decorated the tree before we left for South Carolina so I have given myself an extra week to enjoy its beauty and sparkling lights. Ben and I are loving carrying on old traditions and beginning new ones and I am certain these memories that we are making will last generations. I will make certain that Olivia's childhood is filled to the brim with happiness and memories just like my parents did for me.
Ben and I have begun a new tradition this year with Olivia (its not grand but its festive). We now take walks after dinner and after Olivia is ready for bed, we strap her in the wagon with her blanket and head out. We walk each street just looking at the lights and moving lawn ornaments while my Pandora Christmas station plays loudly in the background. Olivia loves it, she squeals and points as we pass the lit up houses. It makes my night!
Bring it on Christmas Season, we are ready!
Turn the page to this year and I am certainly going to squeeze every ounce of Holiday Spirit out of it. I decorated the tree before we left for South Carolina so I have given myself an extra week to enjoy its beauty and sparkling lights. Ben and I are loving carrying on old traditions and beginning new ones and I am certain these memories that we are making will last generations. I will make certain that Olivia's childhood is filled to the brim with happiness and memories just like my parents did for me.
 |
| She loves her Reindeer PJ's |
Bring it on Christmas Season, we are ready!
Monday, December 5, 2011
Tough Mudder
Ben several months ago signed up to do Tough Mudder in Tampa. It is 12 miles of 26 military obstacles that they have to complete. Our friend Jim signed up on his team and off they went this past Saturday. Below is a little glimpse into what happened in Jim's words. I wish you could have all seen them when they came home Saturday night, both walking with legs and arms spread apart and lots of limpy walking.
Race summary: Thinking that registration closed at a certain time (because that's what it said on the website) we arrived about 4 hours earlier than we needed to. That left plenty of time to walk around most of the course and take a peek at the obstacles. It was then that we say the quarter-pipe, a 12 foot high concave wall that was slippery as all hell. We saw one guy try for 20 minutes to get up it, failing every time. The worst part was that it was the second to last obstacle before the finish, so you're already worn out by then. Needless to say, we were haunted by the thought of it through the entire course.
We finally took off at 1300, and I almost bit it hard on the first obstacle, Steeple Chase. Approaching what looked like just a series of 4 foot walls, I got over confident, since I've gone over plenty of walls much higher. It wasn't until I was airborne over it that I saw the ditch on the opposite side. Nothing but luck kept me from landing the wrong way and breaking an ankle or two. I soon forgot all about it though, because the next one, Cherynoble Ice Bath had a similar effect to those zappy things the Men in Black use. It's a large dumpster filled with literally ice-cold water - they dump huge quantities of ice in it - with a bar in the middle that forces you under water. I jumped in and almost died, because the shock made every muscle in my body want to gasp for air. As I was underwater, somebody on duty inside my brain did a good job of activating the manual override until I was fairly certain I had broken the surface. For several hundred yards after that it was like being stabbed with a thousand needles all over your body. You could say it was exhilarating.
Onward we trudged, through 12 miles of cargo nets, mud, balance beams, mud, fire, mud, mud, mud, tunnels, mud, culverts, mud, 12 ft walls, and a little more mud. When we finally made it to the quarter pipe, we were sufficiently exhausted, but we both were somehow motivated enough (maybe out of fear of attempting it several times...) to get up and over it on the first go, and in pretty good fashion. After that was the home stretch, with the end so close it was almost impossible to feel anymore pain (except for Ben's leg cramp which tried to do him in 40 yards from the finish, which he powered through like a champ.) At the end there were pretty girls to don you with a head band, someone gave me a banana, then a t-shirt, then, the most glorious and delicious plastic cup of Dos Equis i've ever drank. It was only after we sat down, beer in hand, race behind us, that we discovered everything that could hurt, did hurt.
A long, cold, zombie walk to the truck, dry clothes, cranked heat, followed by another long drive to the closest restaurant, and we were able to finally relax. It was an awesome experience, glad to have done it. Thanks to Ben Morse for having the idea to run it as a team, because without accountability to someone else, I'd probably bitch out. Now I just need to learn how to walk again (my right hip flexor is useless) and I'll be ready for the Spartan Race in February. It's only 8 miles - kid stuff.
 |
| After they finished the race. |
We finally took off at 1300, and I almost bit it hard on the first obstacle, Steeple Chase. Approaching what looked like just a series of 4 foot walls, I got over confident, since I've gone over plenty of walls much higher. It wasn't until I was airborne over it that I saw the ditch on the opposite side. Nothing but luck kept me from landing the wrong way and breaking an ankle or two. I soon forgot all about it though, because the next one, Cherynoble Ice Bath had a similar effect to those zappy things the Men in Black use. It's a large dumpster filled with literally ice-cold water - they dump huge quantities of ice in it - with a bar in the middle that forces you under water. I jumped in and almost died, because the shock made every muscle in my body want to gasp for air. As I was underwater, somebody on duty inside my brain did a good job of activating the manual override until I was fairly certain I had broken the surface. For several hundred yards after that it was like being stabbed with a thousand needles all over your body. You could say it was exhilarating.
Onward we trudged, through 12 miles of cargo nets, mud, balance beams, mud, fire, mud, mud, mud, tunnels, mud, culverts, mud, 12 ft walls, and a little more mud. When we finally made it to the quarter pipe, we were sufficiently exhausted, but we both were somehow motivated enough (maybe out of fear of attempting it several times...) to get up and over it on the first go, and in pretty good fashion. After that was the home stretch, with the end so close it was almost impossible to feel anymore pain (except for Ben's leg cramp which tried to do him in 40 yards from the finish, which he powered through like a champ.) At the end there were pretty girls to don you with a head band, someone gave me a banana, then a t-shirt, then, the most glorious and delicious plastic cup of Dos Equis i've ever drank. It was only after we sat down, beer in hand, race behind us, that we discovered everything that could hurt, did hurt.
A long, cold, zombie walk to the truck, dry clothes, cranked heat, followed by another long drive to the closest restaurant, and we were able to finally relax. It was an awesome experience, glad to have done it. Thanks to Ben Morse for having the idea to run it as a team, because without accountability to someone else, I'd probably bitch out. Now I just need to learn how to walk again (my right hip flexor is useless) and I'll be ready for the Spartan Race in February. It's only 8 miles - kid stuff.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)