Adventures of the Happy Hineys

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Thanksgiving Weekend

First of all, I am terrible and took NO pictures of Thanksgiving this year...boo.

We spent Thanksgiving Eve at the Dunbars. It was so wonderful to hang out with their whole fam, meet a new friend, and bake and cook with them!
Thanksgiving day, we spent the morning helping Momma Hine get ready for their guests, and then headed our for our Thanksgiving dinner with my parents. We went out with Mom and Dad Santopietro, my Aunt and Uncle Wojdyl, Dave, and Marie. It was a fun dinner, and so good to spend time with everyone! We then hung out for a bit at M&Ds before heading back to the Hines to see the whole fam. We spent the rest of the evening having dinner #2, rock climbing in Hubbs room, and hanging out.
Friday, Tim went back to work on our car, and I hung out for the day with my mom and dad. I was so tired I had to nap! Then Nora and I got to have a coffee date at Starbucks - it had been far to long and I am so thankful we live close enough that we can do that every once and a while! We shopped for a bit at Loft too, even though I swore I wouldn't shop on Black Friday! That evening we went to Cadillac Ranch with a bunch of friends and I had a blast learning some line dances :)
Saturday I was beyond lazy, and didn't do anything until late afternoon when I got to meet up with one of the little guys I nannied for in CO in Greenwich! His fam was in town for the holiday, so Tim and I got to meet up with them for a drink. It was SO great to see them, I missed C so much! I'm lucky that both of the little guys I nannied for have family nearby to where we are, so as they grow up I will probably get to see them still! We watched a movie later on (I pretty much slept through it), and were asleep by 9. We are such old farts.
Today, we are doing some household stuff - laundry and working on the car. A very chill day to end the holiday weekend!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Getting ready for Turkey Day...

It is simply pouring outside as I write this - which will probably make the worst travel day of the year even MORE crazy. Hopefully, Tim won't be stuck in traffic for too long coming back from NY today! As for me, I got up early and started the crazy amount of laundry we have so that we can get back to Southbury either tonight or tomorrow morning - just have to make it through one more short day of school first!

This week has already been pretty crazy - so many teachers/kids are sick, and we even had to split a class because there weren't enough subs to go around! Seems like there is a nasty stomach bug going around, I am praying to NOT get that and I am SO ready for a 4 day weekend!

We are spending Thanksgiving with my parents, aunt and uncle, and cousin...I am so excited because I havn't seen them since last Christmas! Then we will see Tim's fam later on :)

SO excited to spend time with the Perreaults, Dunbars, and Hersels as well...oh Thanksgiving, I love you...and have so much to be thankful for!

Last year we were doing this:

skiing at Breck

How life changes in a year!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Go Katie!

Katie (our lovely house hostess) is going to be a dancer (1 of 4!) in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show airing on CBS, Tuesday November 29th at 10 here on the east coast! Make sure you tune in, she is going to be the P in PINK! :) Congrats Katie, you are amazing!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

ABC's of me

Saw this on another blog I read, and since I'm bored, I thought I'd take a crack at it!

Age: 27

Bed size: Queen

Chores that you hate: Laundry, cleaning (mostly b/c I get obsessed and must make everything perfect all in one day or I'm not happy)

Dogs: Love 'em. Tim and I can't wait to have our own. We love our Rocky Roo, and are living with a beautiful golden named Ronin, who makes the best faces ever!

Essential to start your day:Snuggles from Tim. Coffee. And something to eat, lately loving homemade cinnamon apple oatmeal w/ maple syrup.

Favorite color: Blue, Green, Pink

Gold or silver: Either, I wear both everyday

Height: 5 feet 7 inches

Instruments you play: None. Tried the flute, didn't like it. Would like to know how to play the piano, but don't really want to learn!

Job title: Building Substitute

Kids: Would love to eventually have 3ish.

Live: I live for my God, husband, family, friends, eating, cooking, baking, and doing all adventurous things with all the ones I love!

Mothers name: Jane Wanda Santopietro

Nicknames: Gerbs, JLaur, Jess, CBO (Cry Baby Onions)

Overnight hospital stays: When I was born?

Pet peeves: Being cold. Rude people - specifically when people are rude to their waitresses for no reason. Traffic. Probably a lot more :)

Quote from a movie or TV show: "Yesterday it might have been a ball, tomorrow it might be a ball, but today it is a strike." - A League of Their Own

Right or lefty: Lefty :)

Siblings: Brother Alex (I'm 6 years older), Sisters in law Sarah and Lisa. Brother in law John.

Time you wake up: During the week, usually between 6:15-6:45, weekends between 8 and 9:30.

Underwear: Lots, anything comfy :)

Vegetable you hate: Boiled carrots.

What makes you run late: When I forget to do something, do it, and then run out of time. Or if I get lost. Or traffic.

X-rays you've had: Teeth. Think that might be it.

Yummy food you make: Lots of things, not to brag :) I just love cooking. I am currently waiting to eat some delicious homemade sauce and meatballs!

Zoo animal: Tiger

Monday, October 31, 2011

Snowy Halloween 2011

On Saturday, I watched the snow fall from the freezing indoors while wearing my coat, headband, and blankets and drinking multiple cups of hot cocoa topped with whipped cream and cinnamon.
On Sunday, I attempted to buy the makings of meatballs and sauce, but the grocery stores weren't selling perishables. So I caught up on ironing, as the cable was out. Thankfully, Peter made the heat work and made it so we were able to take hot showers WOOHOO! Went to church, which was running by generators. Got home right before my hubby (who worked all day Sunday), and came back to working cable, and the news that school was cancelled for Monday.
Today, so far I am relaxing in the heated house. I'll probably have more hot cocoa and try another grocery store. And I'll do some laundry. But I'm excited that I was able to sleep until 9!
Oh New England, you have some crazy weather!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Fall is...

Fall is...
Leaves changing to brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red (my fav)
Apples
Baking
Pumpkin anything (my favorites this season - pumpkin coffee, beer, waffles, creme brulee, and hopefully this weekend, pancakes!)
Pumpkin and regular candy corn
Getting chillier
Acorn squash
Halloween

I'm enjoying this New England fall sooo much...except for the damp/mold that has decided to give me a killer cold/cough and makes me feel like sleeping all day everyday!

Friday, October 14, 2011

Sarah and John 10/10/11

This past weekend was Sarah & John's wedding. It was a fun-filled weekend of wedding stuff, and it was amazing! They truly could not have asked for better weather, it was a beautiful 70+ degree weekend, blue skies, and amazing light.

On Friday evening, we had a Hine/Spear dinner in Southbury. We got to meet John's brother Grant, his wife Kelly, and their two little girls Kendal and Cami. It was so much fun to see everyone, and get to know them a little better. Then Tim and I had a drink with my parents, and then Sarah and I went "shopping" for jewelry in my mom's jewelry boxes!

On Saturday, we went to Crossfit, and I did my first WOD (workout of the day). It went pretty well, I even carried Tim for almost 200 meters, but I dropped him when we were almost there...oops! Afterwards, the ladies (Sarah, Lisa, Lauren and I) went to the salon to get our hair done for pictures. We had the dress rehearsal at the sailing center, then headed over to Platt's Farm to take photos. I am so excited to see the professional pictures, they are going to be fantastic! Sarah's friend Desirae was the photographer, and she is amazing! That night we had a wonderful rehearsal dinner hosted by John's parents, complete with a video of Sarah and John. It was lovely. We finished off the evening by having a drink with Nora and Joe :)

On Sunday, my dad and I went shopping - he was nice enough to chauffeur me around to get pie ingredients. Then I made 6 pumpkin pies with the help of Nora. In all, I made 12 pies for the wedding...it was a lot of work, but so much fun to make the pies for Sarah and John! Tim went golfing and out to dinner for John's bachelor party. That night I was pretty exhausted, but hung out with some fun ladies and helped Momma Hine at the sailing center. She, by the way, did the most amazing job on the reception decorations, with the help of Mrs. D and a few others. They completely transformed the place!

On Monday, it was finally WEDDING DAY! We got up early to get ready, and headed to Hamden to hike Sleeping Giant! The hike up was beautiful, and then we started the ceremony. It was a beautiful ceremony, and it was such a joy to see them get married! We hiked back down, and headed for the reception - it was so much fun, with amazing food (sushi station anyone?), drink, dancing, and speeches. John's niece Cami was the hit of the dance floor - she isn't even two yet and was out there more than anyone else!

It was so wonderful to see the intense, beautiful love that John and Sarah have for each other - I can't wait to hang out with them in their new home in St. Louis. They are in Hawaii for their honeymoon right now, and I'm a little jealous :)

We love you both so much. Sarah, you were a beautiful princess bride. We are so happy that you found such a wonderful man to spend your life with. John, we are so happy to have you as a part of our crazy family :)

Photos totally out of order and courtesy of me, Kelly Spear, and the amazingly talented Lauren Volo - her website is http://www.laurenvolo.com/ and you should absolutely check her out!