the jenni chronicles

Cody was very happy to see me

After a much needed night of great sleep in my own bed, I finally feel rested. You know how vacations are- you almost need another break to recover! My cold is almost gone so I’m feeling human again. Being back at home feels good.

The trip was awesome, and I got some great family time with Sarah and Nathan along with my parents. It took me three planes and 12 hours to get there, but I finally made it after being on the smallest plane I had ever flown in; it only held 18 people at max! But I got to see Lake Eerie for the first time, and even though it was in the dark I could tell it was enormous. We got back to the apartment after mom dad and Sarah picked me up and the airport and Matt was there with Nathan. Matt was the best man at their wedding and was in town with his new wife for a visit. We all stayed up until 3 talking and having beers after mom and dad left for the hotel. It was fun. good times…

No baby yet, but you can tell Sarah is getting close. (I updated the baby bump pictures) She is doing her “nesting” thing all over the house. While I was there she rearranged stuff in the kitchen, and moved furniture in her bedroom to have more room, dad built them some shelves for their laundry room so she rearranged in there. She even moved around my clothes that were hanging in the closet of the room I was staying in. She’s the epitome of every pregnant woman; hot all the time, peeing every ten minutes, a little more moody and tempramental than normal, hates the weight she had to put on, having trouble breathing now that the baby is squishing on her lungs…you know, normal.

We did our normal family stuff, mom sort of took over when it came to meals and grocery shopping which made Sarah a little uncomfortable, but that’s just the way my mom is. Sarah will be one of those women who keeps herself busy all the way up until the baby’s head crowns, so when mom tried to get her to sit down and relax Sarah didn’t know what to do with herself. She had been working up until a couple days before Christmas adjusting people at her Chiropractic practice with her big ol’ belly! Shes taking this whole week off (hopefully) so Nathan can go into work for her. Aw, my baby sister is all grows up.

We took a day and visited a town called Frankenmuth and toured a huge Christmas superstore called Bronners. It was incredible; there were thousands of trees inside decorated with any imaginable ornament you could ever dream of. The place is enormous and every possible nook and cranny is completely packed with all things Christmas. Even the ceilings had decorations and automated statues and toys. It was incredible. Dad kept a short leash on mom though, so that she wouldn’t go crazy buying things!

Frankenmuth is a really neat little German community and the town is like a “little Bavaria”. All the buildings are designed to look like a Bavarian villiage. It looks very authentic. We walked through town and went into some shops, we even got to watch how fudge is made. The whole town smells of chocolate, it was wonderful. We had lunch at Zehnders, and let me tell you I still drool when I think of our meal. They are famous for their chicken dinners and I don’t know of any meal that I have had that tasted as fantastic. The place is really neat inside and resembles the original atmosphere of an 1856 establishment, including the costumes the waitstaff wear. I have to go back. Dang I’m hungry now.

Christmas eve we drove to Lapeer to attend a beautiful candle lit service at the First Presbyterian Church; the same one Nathan’s grandparents were married in, and where Sarah and Nathan were married last February. Now, I am not a church goer, and I’m still not sure if I believe in the whole god and jesus thing but I didn’t burst into flames when I walked through the doors so that was a plus. Church to me is like a cult, I don’t know, so it was a little weird singing the songs and chanting and praying (although I didn’t pray with everyone I just looked at my shoes) but the atmosphere was very warm and it was all about Christmas so, I lived. Nathan’s grandparents invited us all over for a big family dinner after church and it was very enjoyable. Sarah and I were never really close with our grandparents so its a nice change coming into Nathan’s family.

Christmas day was a lazy one, as they all are normally, but this year we didn’t give presents since the baby and being together were all we needed. Mom and dad picked me up and we drove to Elba township where they showed me THEIR NEW HOUSE! Yes, my parents bought a house in Michigan, I never thought Id hear myself say that. Its huge too, and on about 8 acres of land including two ponds. The selling point was the in-law suite that was built onto the house not too long ago. Sarah and Nathan will move in and mom and dad will live there part of the year. I am still confused as to how that is going to work, but yay for them! (can you tell Im a little jealous?)

We spent the day over at Nathan’s parents house just mulling around. His mom made home made cinnimon rolls and the boys went outside for a little man time playing with their guns and shooting at dirt piles and clay targets and whatever they do. It was funny because their family eats sweet and sour chicken every year for their Christmas dinner. While that was nice, I still missed my moms home cooking. Mom did a lot of baking though so that was nice. I must have gained at least 5 pounds in the first few days.

During all this I was terribly missing Rugby Dude and my Cody. I talked to RD a lot on the phone but wished that I could call my dog too. The lady who was taking care of Cody called me a couple days into the trip and told me that everything was going great and not to worry. She included that he had already torn the head off his “Moosey” that I bought him for Christmas ( a stuffed moose) so I knew he was a bit frustrated, but he does that all the time. I believe this is Moosey number 7 that we need to replace yet again.

It went by way too fast, but I was a bit eager to sleep in my own bed and snuggle with my Cody. I had to take the same route back home, three planes, two stops and a supershuttle so by the time I got home it was almost 10pm. Cody was asleep in the living room and didn’t come running like I thought he would when I came in the door, but I think he must have been expecting it to be the dog lady. He stood there when he saw me and started shaking his tail vigorously before HURLING his body at me across the length of the kitchen. I think he covered my face in kisses before I could even say hello. Then he wouldn’t let me out of his sight, I even had to go outside with him so he would pee. He slept the whole night with his head somewhere on my body, mostly on my chest right under my chin. I didn’t care, I was sick so I passed out cold. Hes right here with me now sleeping on my feet (his alarm for when I get up and move)

Thank you to everyone who sent me a card! I checked the mail this morning and had a mailbox full of cards! Very nice of you.

It is rainy today here in Austin so instead of taking Cody for a walk we went on an hour drive around town. that was my treat to him today since he was such a good boy while I was gone, and riding in the car is his favorite thing ever. I missed him.

Of course click the pic of cody to see more from my trip- I’m glad to be home.

-Jenni

ps- poor RD has been stuck in Denver since before xmas because of the snow. And now another storm is dumping on him again! I wish I was there stuck with him…check out his pics and snow cam!