First hospital experience

So, being the idiot I am, after using a can opener to remove a lid 99% of the way, I grabbed it by the edges to twist off the last 1% and completely sliced my fingers. I won't go into the details, but no one should see the part of their fingers that I saw. I started freaking out, grabbed paper towels to soak up the blood that was gushing everywhere and IM'd Chels at work asking her to google the nearest hospital. I was shaking so badly I couldn't type, so she thought I was like dying so she and AK called me a cab and told me they would meet me at the ER... here is what we managed to document.

This is when they found me at the ER... I was a bawling mess.

Waiting for the doctor so I could get my stitches...

The finger that got it the worst... you can't even see the edges of the cut!

I have such amazing friends... it's the height of busy season (we're all working til between 2-4am each night) and they dropped everything to come to be with me at the hospital! This is how we felt about waiting 4 hours and passing the time eating a dinner of cheese and crackers (and pasta with no spoon/fork) - all that the Tesco Express across the street could offer in the middle of the night. LOL maybe one of my favorite pictures of all time.

I ended up with 8 stitches in one finger... but all is ok thankfully! Though it WAS weird walking out of the hospital and not having to pay one cent! 

The Austrian alps

Just like last year, we planned a trip for the first weekend in January to give us something to look forward to right when we got back from Christmas break (never underestimate the emotional low of Christmas in America(!) with family(!!) ending and heading right into busy season). So off to Austria we went for my first European ski/snowboard adventure.

There was too much snow in Innsbruck, so our flight was diverted to Munich and they bussed us to Innsbruck... here we are on the coach

AK, Becky, Chels and I played the bean game the whole way - my new FAVORITE game - Dad and Al you would absolutely love it.

There was too much snow to make it up to the mountains our first day, so we just chilled in Innsbruck all day - it's a really pretty city.

This was our 2nd dinner our first day, late night pizza.

At the foot of the mountain our 2nd day... so beautiful!

Hiking up to go rent our stuff

Excited for our first day on the slopes!

Me and AK trying to figure out the map

At the top - so beautiful!!

Bill, Chels and I ventured off to explore the hard(er) runs during the first part of the day - throwing snowballs at Chels as she tried to take our picture.

So the 3 of us went up this remote lift which dropped us off at the top of a cliff (worse than any black I've ever seen). There was SO much snow, the runs weren't groomed, there were trees everywhere and powder drifts up to my waist so Chels and I decided to take the "ride of shame" back down on the lift, while Bill decided to brave it.

So glad we rode down though, as we got this view the whole way!

Visibility was pretty much nonexistent the whole time we were there, but even the limited views we had were breathtaking!

Group shot after lunch

Rochelle taking a break.

Me waiting for the group...

Bill and Joe

Dinner our 2nd night - authentic German food - probably the best weiner schnitzel I've ever had!

And by FAR the best apple strudel I've ever had!!

Day 3 (day 2 on the slopes) - hiking up to "the P mountain" (we can't pronounce or spell any of the resorts we went to)

This is the mountain where the Olympics were held back in the day!

This is at the top of the mountain - we couldn't see ANYTHING. We all stood like this for a good 20 minutes trying to figure out which way the slope was.

The mountain was pretty much in a white out all day.

The girls!

I've never seen so much snow in my life - but sure made for some pretty trees!

View from the lift

Right after lunch, the snow stopped and fog lifted for literally 2 minutes and I was able to quickly snap this picture.

A really fun trip - and very different that skiing/boarding in the States! Definitely hope to fit in another one before I move back to the States...

Best Christmas ever

For Christmas this year, EVERYONE from my Mom's side of the family got together in Florida - that hasn't happened in almost 7 years! Between the family time, weather, shopping, and relaxation, it was one of the best Christmases ever. Here are the pictures...

Al and her dog Leo on the way down to Grandma's house - I just love him!!

First things first (I was able to squeeze in 3 Chick Fil-A meals during the trip)

Dinner on Christmas morning, just our family

Opening presents before heading to Grandma's

Christmas family pic!

Sisters on Christmas morning at Grandma's

Opening presents at Grandma's

Mom and Aunt Karen cooking Christmas dinner for 17 people in a kitchen the size of a closet!

The girls - chatting waiting for Christmas dinner to cook

The kids table, just missing Lesley (I love instagram!!!)

Hanging out letting the food digest...

Dessert action shot

The WHOLE family at the end of Christmas day!

This was while Allison and I were on the shopping spree of all shopping sprees... driving a car(!) with McD's iced coffee... doesn't get any better than that.

Can you tell we like these Christmas trees at our hotel?

Another family pic

Did I mention that I love Allison's dog?!

One night when we were all hanging out at Grandma's, Mom noticed Grandma was nowhere to be found, so we went searching and came upon her sitting by herself in her bedroom watching the Closer on tv. We all went in and gave her such a hard time! Having us all there wore her out apparently!

The last night we were all in town, we went out to dinner and played the bag game! Here's daddy giving the instructions for the trivia quiz.

Taking the trivia quiz seriously. We are a competitive family...

Jenny and Abby

Mom, Dad, Grandma and Aunt Beverly 

Aunt Karen and Uncle John

Precious baby Sydney

With Lesley

Jason, Kelly and Sydney

One last picture of the whole fam

Lunch every day by the pool overlooking the beach

The view from our lunch table

Allison and I walked along this beach every day

So, apparently I've lived in London too long - my skin doesn't know what to do with sun anymore!! I got sun poisoning day 4 so had to spend the rest of the trip with a "bib"

The ocean was SO gorgeous the last few days... Kates such a bummer you missed this!

LOL - Dad mediating some slight drama that arose our last night at Grandma's

I am so sad it's over... it's never been harder to board a plane in my life. But I'm so thankful for those 10 days in paradise with my family!!!