I have arrived!

The last 3 weeks have really been a whirlwind.  So lets do a little recapping...

I did in fact make the drive from San Antonio to New Hampshire in 2 days, there were a couple "bumps" in the road.  I left work and jumped into my packed car around 2, about 2 hours in my brand new tires were giving me some serious issues so now its about 4 and I have to drive 30 mins out of my way to the nearest store.  I walk inside and tell them how in San Antonio they put on new tires blah blah can you check them out, so we walk out to my car and he asks me to unlock it and I tell him its unlocked....

It was locked with the keys sitting on the front seat.  Thank God for AAA, and I was back on the road by 6 pm with my tires aligned properly.  

Virginia was by far the most scenic state, and 81 is by far the best route to travel on.  

Pretty smooth sailing until I got to Pennsylvania where I was hit with a 20 minute blizzard.   I am driving along and we come to a dead stop, a cop drives up the exit ramp, stops in the middle of the highway, and closes it down due to an accident forcing us to get off at the immediate exit.   

I am sitting in a Macdonald's parking lot asking myself what the heck am I going to do, could I go around yes, but I dont know the route and Garmin keeps telling me to get on the ramp thats closed.  And then I spot this UHAUL vehicle that I was following since the morning, I see the driver go into the store and then gets in the UHAUL so I hightail it over to there in my car park him in till he rolls down his window and without any explanation I ask  him where he is going.  Long story short, I followed him to bypass the accident and was on my way again.

Something happened in NYC,  I somehow missed a turn and I ended up on Merritt Parkway.  I was calling people flipping out about this road saying how unbelievably beautiful it was and its the prettiest highway ever, not sure if I was delirious from the drive or what but looking back at the 100 pics I took of the road it doesnt look that astounding but at the time it was. 

38 hours of driving later, I had made it to NH.  It was AH-MAZING to be home away and to be greeted by this face

and this face 

I spent my first full 2 days with these two.  I always joke to Craig about Isla, saying  I wanted one, because she is so freakin cute and he says well lets see how cute she is when you have her by yourself for 9 hours.  Well she proved him wrong because all 3 days that I had her she was a little angel and NEVER CRIED ONCE, except when I punched her in the face by accident trying to carry her and her activity center at once ( I know, awful, dont worry I cried longer then she did).   

Every time we hangout I immediately take off all her fancy clothes and put her in her diaper (which her mom hates) and she just goes NUTS.  BTW putting tights is not an easy task!

Love this from Aunt Jan

 

 There is nothing better then this little nug sleeping in your arms!  Shes my little buddy.

 We did alot of skype sessions with Uncle Craig

And made some xmas ornaments, which would have been disastrous if Aunt Janet didnt stop by to help out (pinterest always makes everything look so simple!)

Martha completely blew on Thanksgiving, I did make individual salted caramel apple pies which were pretty good, but that was the extent of my cooking for my entire trip home, my parents were a little disappointed.  My sister picked up my slack, and hosted this year.  Food was amazing thanks to my Aunt Janet!

these are really bad pictures of the food 

pumpkin log by aunt Jan

football time 

Everyones favorite turkey

My time was way to short at home, I wish I could have seen everyone, but I will make up for it when I return!

Mark's b day!

I really did try my best to consolidate my packing this year, and I did I checked two bags for myself that were 50lbs, so that was only $100 butttt I had a box of sticks and protein shakes for Craig so that 3rd checked bag was an additional $285 NOT MY FAULT?!

 And Im gonna pretend like I dont have my friends bringing over my late cyber Monday packages.


So, I have been here for about a week and a half, my luggage on the other hand has only been here for a week.  Oh dont worry Delta, Ill pay you $385 for my luggage so your shitty plane can have a light out, delaying the plane, and causing my luggage not to make it here for over two days, oh and thanks for sending it to Vienna from Munich because that makes so much sense.

my running route

The very first thing on my to do list was to consume a Kebab.  AHHH so greasy, so good.  My mouth is watering right now just thinking about it.  Its shawarma meat in a wrap (bread or alone too) with all these delicious  sauces and some veggies.

 Second order of business taking a stroll through the Christmas Market, which if you can remember is my favorite thing to do this time of year!

 

mini donuts with cin and sug

 And then we got our mini Christmas tree

this nug will do

Our new shark-mobile

There are a bunch Christmas Markets around Innsbruck and the surrounding towns, usually in populated areas.  So when my neighbor Melanie told me that there was one in our backyard I thought that I must be misunderstanding her (shes Austrian).  But sure enough right in our backyard was a mini market!

It was only put on for two nights, which was perfect timing because the guys were on the road for two night straight.  We enjoyed some Gluhwein and some xmas tunes.  It was small but super cute, and in our backyard = perfect!

I was finishing up making dinner the other night and I hear all this commotion and commmmeee ons and I knew what was going on, Craig was untangling the Christmas lights...which was a 30 min process because he DIDNT need any help 

I still need to make an Innsbruck 2013 ornament!  Check out Craigs Simply Sunflower guitar ornament from yours truly. 

We also bought this little smoking Austrian hunter??  You put some incense in his stomach and he smokes it though this pipe.

 Craig's team had their annual team Christmas party, which was awesome because I got to hang out with the girls (I had met them briefly at the game).  There is a large group of import ladies this year, with more on the way!  They are all really sweet!

I am starting to get a little worried about our wedding photo's.  I mean this is just the two of us in are apartment and look how awkward we are haha

our leaning tower of mini-trezza

Craig's only had one home game since I have been there, and they have morning practices so it has allowed us to have our days completely free this year which is awesome.  And I have been going into town with him in the morning to work out at the gym.  The other ladies do it too, so its awesome to have some gym buddies! 

We took a trip up to our favorite nearby town, Seefeld

 

holiday cuteness

are you getting sick of seeing pics of us together yet?

Craig has found his Grizzly (bar in Soelden) in Seefeld.  This place is tres cool.  

 Aspen bar/Yurt hut/ outside swank deck

Weissbeer!

What the hell has happened to Martha.  I wouldnt say I am starting from scratch here hehe but I am a tad rusty.  So I started off with really basic meals. 

breaded pork tender loin, roasted potatoes, salad (chix peas, feta, and balsamic)

Salad, Chix with zaziki, garlic broccoli 

I am starting to feel pretty confident until I did this to my salmon

I redeemed myself with a roasted pepper and tomato soup 

roasting tomatoes 

We added spinach and cheese tortalini on the second day!  It took forever to make, peeling roasted peppers isnt the easiest thing I have done.  My knife skills are still there though and all my digits are still in tact.  It's time to step up my game because I am going to be cooking for two more special guests who arrive tomorrow!  Hopefully I dont ruin xmas eve and xmas dinner, because the only thing that will be open is the kebab place (hmmmm).

This year seems like its going to be the season of traveling and visitors.  We pretty much have people coming every 3 weeks starting with James and Elle, then Colleen-Shawna-Jaime, and then Meg's return for the rodel races!  The invitation is always open for anyone to visit! I am so excited to play hostess for everyone!  I am also planning on doing some traveling to spots that Craig has no interest in seeing like Paris and London while hes playing games.  Trying to convince my Mom and Sister to fly over and join me on one of the trips.  We have also decided that we are going to do our honey moon over here as well, because well why not since we are so close to so many amazing  cities like Dubai (which we are really considering the Atlantis there....YEEEEEEEEEEEE).  

Since I will be busy beepopping with the fam, I probably wont post till after they leave around NYE so everyone have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, and a fantastic NYE. Miss you all and love of love!

Jaime they are all the rage here too! Hahaha