Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Well hello there, 2011...

Happy New Year!!! Am I the only one who can't believe that it is 2011 now?!

2-0-1-1

A.K.A. the year I turn 30... THIRTY! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

I'm hoping for a happy, healthy, successful year... not just for me, but for all of my family and friends too. In true Nikki style, my year has started out with a bang (already!) - it's time to hit the ground running!

I was fortunate to be able to take holiday leave on New Years Eve, which is awesome because I think ringing in the new year at work is a form of cruel and unusual punishment! LoL
To celebrate, Brian & I hosted a small get-together at our house... my Mom, Grandma, my niece Hannah, my sister Kelly and her boyfriend David came over to hang out. We had a pretty decent spread of different snack foods... my mom brought crab dip, I made some queso blanco dip, 'lil Smokies in BBQ sauce, bacon wrapped 'lil Smokies sprinkled with brown sugar, etc. We ate and talked and laughed and played Wii Sports bowling... Brian even bought some champagne for a toast at midnight! It was a really nice time and I wouldn't have chosen to spend it any other way... it was a great way to start my year, surrounded by people I love! :) We also took a bunch of photos to go along with the wonderful memories... I can't wait to frame some of these! :)

Myrtle Jean even joined us for a little while! :)
4 generations! :)
Mom and her girls! :)
I love this lady! :)
I love this lady too! :)
me and my "big" sister... I might be bigger but she'll always be older! LoL
our midnight toast... to many more years together! :)
isn't my mom pretty?! :)
Mom-Mom and her girl Hannah :)
Mom's Mii looked just like Michael Jackson... and his/her name was "MJ" LoL
Mom & Hannah got very competitive with their bowling! LoL
Grandma, the self-proclaimed Steelers fan, keeping warm under a Bears blanket! LoL
Kelly & David

Saturday was a lazy, unproductive day for Brian & I but atleast we got to spend it together. We actually got to spend 5 glorious days together before we both had to return to work... I guess the saying is true, all good things must come to an end. :(

On Sunday, Brian & I had planned to have some friends over to watch football. My friend Jon is a Cleveland Browns fan and since they were playing the Steelers this week, I thought it would be fun to watch the game together. So Jon & his fiance Amy came over and we hung out and watched the game... and then after that we watched the Bears game too. Brian & I love having "double dates" with other couples... we almost had one on Saturday with My Maria (one of my best friends and my former partner in Paramedic class) and her husband John but unfortunately that fell through... we'll definitely have to try again soon! :)

Monday was the dreaded first lecture of the winter mini-mester at school... as much as I dreaded going back to school, I know it's a necessary evil. Only a few more months until all this hard work finally pays off... graduation is scheduled for May 26th at 9am! The 4.0 GPA that I was surprised with last semester gave me the push I needed to keep on trucking! The next few months are going to be tough but I know it'll be worth it...

So that's about it for right now... not too much else going on except work, school & clinicals.

Until next time... :)