Awards Ceremony

Today we attended the Asheville Chamber of Commerce Awards luncheon where Rezaz and Piazza Restaurants ( Gabe's employer for the last 8 years) won the Over-the-Top Excellence in Service Award.  It was quite an honor to be chosen. The awards are given to businesses of all sizes and sorts in Asheville and this year Rezaz/ Piazza was the only restaurant honored. I know I am a bit biased, but I'd like to think that the excellent, over-the-top service that they were being recognized for was in large part thanks to Gabe, who goes above and beyond day in and out to give every single person who walks in the door at both restaurants the best service and experience they could ever ask for. He is really good at his job!

 In the 6 years that we have been together, this is the first time that I've worn high heels and the last time he wore a dress coat was at our wedding... I thought we deserved a picture.

Also, I am sooooo excited, my good friend Kelcey from Sweet Mess gave birth to a little baby boy, Eliseo, today!!!!!!!! I can't wait to hear all the beautiful details and meet this amazing new member of our world:)  We Love you Kelcey!!

ups and downs

What a day of ups and downs!  Beginning with an up: an amazing morning out without the kids to attend a bible study with 200 women and my best friend. Then a weary string of downs: a flat tire and large mechanic bill; a frustrating dental appointment; a busted water pipe, a flooded basement; an insanely discouraged and frustrated husband and finally a cancelled date night :( . And then there was this freecycle score-

!!!!

 Once again, people, God really does provide! Yes, today was a trying and exhausting day.

This box LOADED FULL of nice, new craft paint, just the kind paint one would need to paint many, many little wooden dolls, was such a blessing and the pat on the back that I needed in midst of all the kicks in the shins.

Painting

S-s-s-s-ooooo C-c-c-coooolllld-d-d-d

It is sooo cold here. I don't like it. Our house is freezing. Despite efforts this summer to weatherize with new windows and doors, we are still shivering our arses off over here. As I've mentioned before, we rely on our wood stove for most of our heat. We've had a fire going round the clock for six weeks now. Still, when I woke up this morning the thermostat on our space heater said 42 degrees. (Teeth chattering as I write that). We've been up for 3 hours now with every space heater and the fire going full blast and this is what we are up to:

We ate hot oatmeal and warm milk for breakfast in sweaters, hats and mittens.

I am not the biggest fan of cold weather. I know I'm complaining.

Oh but, there is good news! This morning is the first morning that Gabe's new assistant at the restaurant is opening up all by herself!! She will be opening one morning a week and closing one night a week and Gabe will have a little more time at home.So, Gabe is here...physically, anyways. Its 12:30pm, he's asleep and he has to be at work at 2. I guess I'll take what I can get:)

In an effort to remain positive about my numb fingers and toes, I am open to all suggestions of how to make the most these frigid conditions. Anybody?

Some Christmas Cuteness