On the Eve of New Years Eve

Life in general... is awesome. Adam and I hit 5 months married tomorrow!! I just told him this right now, and he high fived me. Yeah, we are romantic like that. :)

150-some-odd days of waking up next to my favorite person in the entire world. I am so lucky. :) So again, Happy five little months of sweet married life to uuuuuusssss! Haha. Time has really flown by. It's always so sweet to intentionally take time out from the crazy schedules and busyness of life to step back, take a deep breath, and reflect on this little road that is ours. I know in the blink of an eye, we'll be clinking glasses over several other milestones in our life (our-hopefully-soon-to-be-home)!

On that note, I guess I knew that this buying-a-house process was going to be nutty, but until you actually go through it, like anything, you don't fully understand. It's been a very busy week, and I've got details coming out my ears! But overall, so far it's been going well... and thankfully we've got lots of people to pester all day long with all our questions, while poor Adam is still working hard with hockey. We have our nightly "house re-cap" each day, and we're getting it done! But ay-yi-yi...! My mind needs to go to Maui for a long weekend, let me tell you! LOL

In another buying-our-first-home milestone moment, we had the inspection last week and it went well! Nothing crazy or unexpected arose -- we were pretty much expecting what came up on this little demo charmer. And we are up for the challenge. :) As the inspector crawled around the house in the 78 degree weather (yay), Adam and I looked around dreaming up ideas for how to "decorate" it. We came up with great plans and we are SO excited! I'm now trying to throw myself into all the magazines I've been hoarding these past weeks to really narrow down some specifics about style and design. Darlene Healy, I need to make a date with your magazine collection sometime soon too! I LOVE this part. Okay, I'm deviating from my thoughts. We told the bank about the inspection and they said to get quotes! So we are hoping it's because they are willing to fix up some of the findings. Will keep you posted...

Well, have a great Eve of New Years Eve!!!

A Christmas Blog

Our Christmas Tree 08'

Ahhhh, finally a moment to catch up. We are having nice sunny skies here in Holyoke, MA this Christmas day!! Our first one together (married) and we crammed in lots of fun and traveling. We spent Christmas Eve and part of Christmas Day with Adam's fam, and the rest of Christmas day and evening will be all about traveling back to Syracuse (listening to Christmas tunes, of course). It was a sweet past few days that was filled with non-stop activity and we were prettttty tuckered out by the end of it.

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/MAecLFPMQuxJ6drWbBUx

Tomorrow, back in our normal routine. Adam has a game away so I might take advantage of "the new black Friday". It's been so long since I bought any clothes, and dontcha just feel like a brand new person in a spiffy new shirt?

Well folks have wonderful Holiday!!!!!!

Inspection...CHECK!

It inspected! It inspected! This was our last big step... now it's just hurry up and wait for our closing date! It has only been 14 days... yes, 14 DAYS, since we made the offer on this house, and here we are... ready to go! The inspection had minor concerns that we will ask the bank to take care of but if they refuse, we are still in for the deal....shhhhhht (between us). There is 3 other offers in line for this house so a big risk to loose such a great deal. While it's not final until the keys are in our eager little paws, we sure feel like this is more real. Operation "decoration" is only weeks away now. We've got spirit and we're excited to take on this new adventure and make it our first home!

We had a whirlwind 48 hours (barely!) to spend in Florida. It was a perfect little trip... aside from some travel snafus that didn't dare get the best of us, and we just ate up the chance to get to spend time with our dear friends Kevin & Kristy!! They treated us to a fantastic seafood dinner on the water in Daytona Beach... Aunt Catfish's on the river (http://www.auntcatfishontheriver.com/) is Kevin's cousin's restaurant. Simply delicious!!! We got to taste shark & alligator. It was a good Southern meal!! Thank you so much Kristy & Kevin xox
I snapped some pics and posted the album on our other blog. Enjoy!!
So, there you go...a little update. Merry Christmas!!

House Hunting!!

We found a house that we were super interested in, therefore last week we decided to draw up an offer and get the ball rolling with that. Ok, ok...All to say, we have an update on our venture to buy a house. We're engaged!!! haha Well, I should say we've taken it to the next level... and our offer on this little charmer was accepted, only a couple of days after we wrote it up! Like we kept saying... when it's right, it will be right! God's timing is SO much better than ours. If all goes well, we will close on January 23rd (yeah, like in 30 some days), and be on our way to Daytona Beach after the hockey season!!! Our heads are still spinning a bit, as this all happened lightning fast! We've booked our flights to go visit our hopefully-soon-to-be home and leave December 21st. We are soooo thrilled about this place...best we've found yet. We are so thankful. Yipee!!!

Things are going good, though, and Team Pineault is working hard to make this work! I'll provide some "house stats" soon!!! Happy Fly-day :)

A little update

I have to apologize for not having posted a blog recently! I could go on to tell you that I've been very very busy but.....not it. Don't get me wrong, things are busy but what has been taking up my time is those darn Holiday Movies LOL. I'm not joking. I've watched a gallion of them so far and didn't realize that there were so many. Proof!!!

~Christmas in Boston

~Eloise at Christmastime

~Richie Rich's Christmas

~The Christmas Card

~Together Again for the First Time

~Snow 2 Brain Freeze

~Home by Christmas

~The Christmas Gift

OHHHH!.....and I have a few more on my TVO (recorded). I know, I'm such a nut for them!

On a different note (but not really) haha, my book is in!!! I ordered it from Barns & Noble and went to get it today.....SWEET! I love this author. She writes exactly the type of book that I just can't get enough of.

Okay, now on a different note. My favorite tea is out for the Holidays!!! It's Candy Cane Lane - A nice, fresh, relaxing tea that I enjoy right before bedtime. It's great cuz they have decaf! Give it a try it :) Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Well, more posts to come!! I'm off to bed with my book & tea. Good Night!

December Birthday Duo!

Happy December 14th Birthday to my dear brother Denis "Goat"! He is exactly 2 years and 4 days younger than I am and he just turned the BIG 30!!!!!!! Niiiiice... Denis is a funny, genuine, happy go lucky guy who got all the brains doing hands on things such as playing music (he plays guitar) and fixing/repairing things (i.e. replacing windows, flooring, etc...). Good for you Goat! It means a lot to me to be able to see him every so often :) I am so thankful for him!! Happy Birthday, Brother. Love you xox

Another December B-Day.....ME!!! On December 10th. Yup, we are both December babies and Sagittarius. As kids, we would have a double birthday bash (our pour mom) haha. Well, my birthday had a windwhirl of events happen. My thoughtful husband came home with a gorgeous puppy that had to be returned - I won't bore you with the details. Then, I ordered a pair of jeans online that turned out to be a scam! Ya, no kidding...thank goodness for PayPal. But what counts is that I got tons of lovin' from my husband, family & friends so it's ALL good!

Thanks hunny for being so wonderful to me and thank you to everyone for sending all those kind wishes xox

A little late...

This Thanksgiving post comes to you a little late. Aren't these turkeys in the above picture super close? It was weird cuz this picture was taken early Thanksgiving morning as I put our turkey in the over?!?!?! I know....


Thanksgiving was great! Our first big holiday together as a married couple :) We crammed in a few friends around our table and had a gigantic, delicious meals. It was our 3rd annual turkey and it turned out fabulous. Anyway, great day of hanging out, watch the Macy's parade (of course) and 4:30am "black Friday shopping". Can't wait for Christmas!

Yay!!

Back with my husband! Adam was on a week-long roadtrip in Texas... So good to see him as I drove in a storm to go pick him up at the airport. Ouff, I missed him lots. Airport reunions have a special little place in our story, so I love that I still get a few butterflies as I round those familiar corners of the airport to see him in the distance.

Speaking of which, here is an article that recently came out in the Times Transcrip http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/sports/article/502750

Good job babe xoox

MagicJack

New thing on the block... Our latest purchase is this little device called "MagicJack". It is simply a-m-a-z-i-n-g. MagicJack costs $39.99. This gives you one year of calling to the U.S. and Canada. No monthly bill! Then you plug it into your computer (yes, you must have internet), plug it in your phone and start calling. Easy & Cheap!! You can take it with you anywhere as long as you have a computer and a phone (i.e. at a hotel). You can read more about it on their website http://www.magicjack.com/

Hot item for Christmas!!!

Turkey Time

Can you believe this... Last Sunday, we noticed a flock of wild turkeys in our backyard. What a striking occurrence being it's Thanksgiving?!

It's Turkey Time!!! Thanksgiving dinner with a few of Adam's teammates. I've been cooking up a storm ~ Boudreau sisters, you'd be proud :) Last night was all about playing with new recipes. I decided on a pumpkin/walnut bread and pumpking chocolate chip muffins. They turned out awesome. The turkey has been in the oven for a while already now. I just love this Holiday! I am watching the Macy's parade while making chocolate macaroons and sipping on my coffee. Adam is at his practice. Once, he returns let the fun begin......or should I say dig in!

Another turkey note; Have I ever mentionned my first experience eating a deep fried turkey? It was at the Healy's this summer. Jamie fried a turkey outside and within 45 minutes it was complete! It was so delish... Hmmm... but then wouldn't deep fried ANYTHING be really good??! Even vegetables? I vote: pretty much yes. :)

Well, break is over. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

28 days till xmax :)

Life...

…is good! Do you ever wonder what you did last year at this time?? Well, I dug through some of our pictures 07' and found that we had our friends from CT down (in Syracuse) for a fun visit. We miss you guys in Westbrook, Connecticut!!! Come back soon :)

I want to shout-out "Good job" to Adam who got 3rd star on his first game back from his injury last Sunday!! Way-ta-go-sweetie!

I'm pumped that Christmas movies have started on the Hallmark, ABC Family & Lifetime movie channels. Woot Woot.. We are currently watching "Christmas Caper" with Shannon Doherty. Yup, while I blog....call it multi-tasking!

Beyond that, happy birthday to our friend Jeremie who just turned 7 years old yesterday. Jeremie has been following Adam since he was 4yrs old, when Adam played with the Moncton Wildcats. From the "Pineault" jerseys to signed hockey pucks, the kid has it all! Happy birtday kiddo!!!!

Game on!!!

Yay!! Just a little post to say that Adam is back in the line-up and will be playing tonight @ 5:05 pm EST. Syracuse Crunch vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. GO-ADAM-GO :)

Good Morning Deer?!

This is what Adam and I woke up to this morning!!! Six very quiet deers in our backyard... We stood there amazed that they were so close and that there was so many. Unreal!!!


House update ~ We've been doing vitual tours of houses on internet and scoping out new listings. We found a few on the cutest little street that we are both very much interested in! But all-in-all, the house hunt continues to be both fun and exciting, while also a test of our patience. Since the house market has been on a rise in FL with short sales and foreclosures, we found that there are "snipers", like Adam & I would like to call them LOL, out there. Snipers, in our mind, are people who shoot offers in a flash at these housing opportunities. We are just so eager for the right fit to come along! But we are making an effort to enjoy the process as much as possible :)

Citizenship update ~ let the circle develop bumps haha jk. We are searching for a location around here that can do passport pictures....Canadian style! We've learnt that the picture dimensions for the US & Canada aren't the same so both Wal-Mart and the post office have refused to take them (c-r-a-z-y). We did however find a detour for the driver's license road block. YAY!!!

Tonight Adam is at his game (not playing) and I'm kick it on the couch and watch TV. Adam will get an update tonight after the game as to when he can start playing. Tomorrow perhaps?!

That's about it from here!

The Latest

So... yeah. Life has been full and busy and good and challenging, and all the things in between! Adam's groin injury is wayyyy better. His trainer is thinking he will return to the line-up on Saturday or Sunday. Yahoo! He is eager to play however real happy that he took good care of recovering from the ligering problem.

Dual citizenship & green card update; we did a thousand more calls yesterday and only have a handful of not-so-significant baby steps done. The big stuff is still ahead! Getting my new license from New Brunswick = 'not-so-easy'. I need a new driver's license for my new passport but I need to present myself in person in Moncton, New Brunswick but I can't leave the U.S. -> are you following this?!?! Can you say i-m-p-o-s-s-i-b-l-e. So what now?? It's wild... Adam has been SO helpful. Thanks sweetie!! :)

To make life even that much fuller, we've found a few houses that we're interested in!!! Without going into tooooo much detail, because I don't want you all getting too emotionally attached (ha), Adam and I found some houses in Daytona Beach Florida that we really liked. Lots of late nights filled with big decisions :) :) Even if these particular houses don't work out (including the above house), it's been a great chance for us to learn how this all works... and have we ever learned some things! We are both pretty even-keel about it all. We trust that the right thing will happen. If it's not this house, that's okay! But it sure is a cute little charmer! I'll keep ya posted. Nutty, huh!?


Finally, I found a great recipe the other night. And not to get all Martha Stewart on you, but I sort of experimented with cooking tilapia and it came out scrumptiously... The secret ingredients: parmesan cheese, melted butter, fresh lemon juice, dried basil, onion salt, celery salt and ground black pepper covered the fillets w/ the mixture and broiled in the oven... Deeeelish.

Ok, so I better get back to my day. Forms, Forms, Forms!! Calls, Calls, Calls :)

Baby-Fest!

Three of my friends are PREGGERS and will be having little bambinos!!! Sarah Mackenzie who is in the above picture in the lovely blue scarf. We went to dinner with her last Sunday and she announced that she was pregnant. Yes! the Mackenzie's are pregnant!!! How exciting! :) That makes a total of 3 wives who are pregnant on the Syracuse Crunch team. What was in the water this summer?!?! (don't misunderstand this post....I am NOT pregnant) LOL.

I can officially announce that Penny & Errol are pregnant - obviously :) by the picture I just saw a few minutes ago! They surprised Adam with the big news over a nice phone call a little while ago!!! Yay, keep sending pictures our way...

Last but certainly not least our friends down in Florida, Kristy & Kevin, are also expecting!!! Such great news... These are all baby #1 for our friends. Bring on the baby bumps ;) You ladies are going to look so darn cute. WE ARE SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!! Congrats y'all...

Saturday Morning Catchin' Up!

I am so happy to report that the snow is all gone and we are having such a gorgeous fall. Halloween was wonderful. We got about 50 trick or treaters (I'm guessing). We were, however, gone for about an hour with my friend Cheryl-Lynn and her 3 kiddos. (above) Avery and Adyson super excited about getting treats! Fun Fun Fun...

Last night, Adam and I got to hang out almost all day/night (yes!!!!). The Syracuse Crunch were in Binghamton and since Adam isn't playing, he didn't have to join the roadtrip. We hit the mall, Dunkin Donuts, hair salon, dinner and a movie at home. Perfect weather, no crowds and the comfort of our home. We talk about everything and nothing haha... It was so FUN!

In other developments, the United States of "Adam Pineault" (like he often says haha) has a new President. Also, how great is this? I filled up the Commander for a whopping $36.00. That's a full tank. LOVE IT!! Finally, I've uploaded a few albums on my Windows Live blog. Halloween pics and all... Yay!

Last but not least, Happy Birthday to our friend Andrew Murray! Better know as Murr-dog and husband of Amanda. Andrew and Adam hit it off here in Syracuse.

We love hanging out with them! It's so cool to be able to see our friendship continually deepen with the Murray's. Murr is one of those people that it's easy to talk to about anything, and offers such great perspective... Thank you so much for being our videographer at our wedding :) Happy Birthday, Murr!!!

ANNNND... in case you're dying of curiousity (which you probably aren't)... I'm neck deep working on my petition for alien relative. I know, why the BIG words haha why couldn't they just have used words like "application, wife, spouse, etc..." Nope, it's not that easy. I found myself using the dictionary a whole lots LOL!! I've completed our Biographic Information form along with our Relative Petition form. Only a million more to go... :) Interestingly enough, they require "passport-style" color photos of us taken within 30 days of the date of our petition. Each step of the way?!? More to come... eventually! Hang with me, this new schedule is kind of getting in the way of my blogging, I know. I'll find my groove soon.

'Twas the night before Halloween

No treats just yet but snow, snow and more snow!!! In case you were wondering, we got crystalline water ice, better known as snow, 3-days-in-a-row. Notice my lack of enthusiasm for the first snow of winter haha... Really hope these flakes that have formed a layer on the ground GO AWAY!

Well it's the eve of Halloween. I'm excited because children in costumes will solicit treats at my door tomorrow :) I will try to take some pics!! Did you know that one-third of all Americans believe in ghosts?!? It came as a surprise to me. Happy Halloween!!!

This & That

I'm baaaaack! Sorry it's been a while. I have felt SO disconnected from the blogging world lately but I'm catchin' up. Jolene & Angie, thanks again for sharing your pics of Francine's wedding with us. I apparently missed a great road trip!!!

Okay, so life... let's see. We got cable, internet and furniture last week :) :) Tomorrow Express Rental will deliver our computer desk and we will be all set! Adam and I bought a BBQ and assembled it. Yes, it took us a l-o-n-g while haha but those cheeze burgers were unreal! Well, it's such a pretty time of year up here, with all the leaves changing. Since I last gave you an update, we went horseback riding at Maple Hedge Farm which is located only 40 minutes from here in beautiful Highland Forest. This farm is home to over twenty horses and is surrounded by over twenty miles of trails. It was wonderful!!!!

We got our first grocery out of the way ~ oufff... Autumn Delights = waistline expansion?!? Is it just me, or does the cold crisp autumn days stir up the Betty Crocker in you? Honest to God, I look at the weather; see that its cold and dreary and just automatically start to dream about baking banana bread, chocolate macaroons, zucchini and chicken soup, and so on and so on...

While I've been cooking up a storm, Adam has been busy signing hockey cards. I believe he signed over 1500 lately. Keep an eye out for those! You can find them in those little hockey card packages when you stand in line at the check-out counter in grocery stores and/or gas stations. Adam has been doing great! They had a very unfortunate lost last Saturday (1-7) outch!!! So the Crunch is getting ready to get back on the winning streak this weekend as they play tomorrow night and Saturday.

I went to see Carrie Underwood last Saturday. She was so good and put on a great concert! Adam and I watched the Boston Red Sox loose to the Tampa Bay Rays last Sunday. I thought for sure they would win but was wrong :( Better luck next year!

Well, I'm off to surf internet to try and see what we can experience next here in Syracuse (and surroundings). Will let you know! Have a great day :)

Mandy's turn...

Happy Birthday to my sweet friend Amanda!! I'm very confident that she had no troubles yesterday wrapping things up on her end, with a wonderful husband who spoils her, along with so many family and friends that adore her. That's the thing about Amanda... it's kind of impossible NOT to laugh your head off with this girl, and have the best time with her. I've had the privilege of walking alongside Amanda in a few hockey seasons of life, and What would I have done without Mandy's incredible support, perspective, and deep friendship as we navigated these new roads together?! Undoubtedly it's so many of these shared experiences that grew us together in such a uniquely deep way.

Mandy, I can't imagine my life without your friendship. Our talks, our fits of uncontrollable laughter, our randomness that is almost like a language I often think only we speak, our ability to be there for each other in ways that comes from our past few years of learning how, and our like-spirits that gives us an amazing sister-like connection... these are some of the things I truly cherish when I think of who you are in my life! Happy Happy Birthday to you, Mandy!!! I wish I was actually there yesterday, but my memories of so many great times together will have to suffice. Miss ya & luv u sista!!!!