Our Christmas Day....

Luckily, our Christmas Day was a complete 180 of our Christmas Eve. I woke up that morning so excited that it was Christmas! Again, I had to work, but Tyler got up with me and we had a nice morning before I headed out the door. He went back to sleep and then ended up coming up to DRC around 10. Working on a holiday is actually really nice. It is a lot of work, because there were only 3 of us there, but its a pretty easy going day. Tyler got to hang out with us and just enjoy the day, which was beautiful!! It was me, Laura, and Margaret who worked along with 2 of our interns, Jackie and Kristen. We worked really hard in the morning, so that the afternoon could be nice and easy. Laura's family came in and they all got in with Merina and Flagler. I decided to hop in with Tursi and her son Gambit. Tursi is one of our older dolphins, she is 37, and our wiser dolphins. She has taught me so much since starting to work down here. I wasn't quite sure of how she would react, if she would want me in the water or she would make it obvious that she wanted me out. I know it sounds really cheesy and lame but after the night before where I was so down, getting in with Tursi made my day!! She LOVED it! She kept coming by for rubs and wanted to take me on dorsal pulls, and peck pulls. I definitely think she knew I was feeling kind of down and wanted to cheer me up. Here are a few pictures Kristen took for me...

The dolphins have been showing me little things lately just to make me appreciate them so much more. I'm sure they did stuff like this in the past, I just wasn't aware of it, but for example, the other day I was about to do a swim. I bring my people down and were talking, and I see that there is a toy floating in the water. Gypsi, who is one of our 5 year olds and loves toys, was sitting in front of my dock just looking at me. I asked her to go get the toy and bring it to me. She did and when she came back, I snuck her a little fish for helping me out. I thought no other dolphin was around, but then I look over and Aleta is sitting on the other side of the dock just looking at me. I knew she saw the whole thing, so I snuck her a fish too so she wouldn't feel left out. My swimmers laughed and we all kept talking. the next thing I knew, Aleta pops back up at the dock with a mangrove pod for me. She was so sweet. She brought me something to say thanks for the fish....like she knew I wasn't suppose to give her one, but she appreciated it. It was the day after Christmas, so I kept the pod and made it into a Christmas ornament. Now its hanging on our tree at home :)

The dolphins really do have a sense for people and just like our dogs or cats, they can really turn your day around. They are so special to me and even though I really missed my family this year, the dolphins knew that and had their own ways to thank me for hanging out with them on Christmas!

It turned out to be a fabulous Christmas and we really did enjoy it. It will just take some getting used to :) We love and miss all of you guys so much and we are coming home Jan. 20 so we will see you soon!!!

Our Christmas Eve...

So this year was definitely a weird Christmas. Not only was I in shorts and a T-shirt most of the day, it was our first Christmas away from home. Tyler and I are horrible at keeping surprises from each other and were both very impatient, so we couldn't wait to exchange Christmas presents! I got him a gym membership (yes, he asked for it, it wasn't a "hint hint" present), and he got me a scarf, an ornament, a cute little sign, and a pair of ear rings. He got everything from this store up in Islamarada that has recycled stuff and everything is homemade. I was so excited and very proud of him. He did great!!

We also got presents from both of our parents in the mail! These were so hard to wait until Christmas, we ended up opening them the day before. haha. We are so bad. My parents got us catch phrase....


and a new computer!!!!!

I was pretty excited!! Tyler's parents got him a bass pro shops gift card, and me a few gift cards to my favorite places...Olive Garden, Banana Republic, and Victoria Secret!! We really love all of our gifts and could not be happier to have such wonderful family and thoughtful family to do everything they did for us! We love you guys so much!

On Christmas Eve I had to work until 5. We wanted to go to our church for their Christmas Eve service and that started at 6, so I rushed home to change, and then we were off. The service was really nice. It was just a Cantata, so they just sang a bunch of Christmas songs, and it had a beautiful narration to go along with it. At the end, they did the candle lighting and we all stood and sang Silent Night and then Joy to the World...it was just like church back home....which ended up causing me to have a nervous breakdown. As soon as church was over, we got in the car and I just lost it. I started balling crying....which is so unlike me (I am not a cryer). This year was so different for me and I had been putting so much pressure on myself to make "Our First Christmas" such a perfect event, that I just caused myself to loose it. I missed my family, I was tired from working, and we had no plans on Christmas Eve. I ended up getting myself together enough for Tyler and I to go out to eat at the local steakhouse here in town. It was really nice and just what I needed...to spend a nice quiet night out with Tyler. We talked to our families and told them how much we missed them, and then headed to bed. So it wasn't quite to night I had planned, but we got through it and I know everything is going to be OK. Change is hard and I think its just something everyone goes through as a part of growing up :)

5 More Days!!!

Well this week has been just as busy full of Christmas surprises! First, Catherine and Mike surprised us by inviting us to go on the Key West Christmas Light tour. You go down to key west and ride a train all through key west and look at all the lights. I must say I was very impressed with the decorations! I was thinking, I mean how many people could put up lights, but there were a lot of people and it was cool because almost everyone on the street joined in. As the train came by, the families would come outside in their Christmas get up, and wave. It was pretty fun and Tyler and I decided that will definitely be a Christmas tradition from now on!

Heres Ella and I on the train...and Tyler in the background. It was so windy!

The boys side...

haha...after the ride!

Tyler waiting in line to pee..haha.

And finally, we got to see the winning house!! It was actually in an apt. complex and a few of the apts. went in together and made this awesome display!!

In case you couldn't see, thats a scooter decorated in the bottom left corner with Santa on the back. It was crazy....don't worry Tyler and I were taking notes :)

So besides looking at Christmas lights with me, Tyler has also been having fun playing with his new blow gun. Norman, who he works with, gave him one. He has been shooting the darts into the wall in the house!! All I told him was that if he hit one of the animals, he was dead! haha. His favorite thing to do now is stand by our bed and aim into the bathroom. The ring that holds our wash clothe up, has become his target! So I got a picture of him in action...

It just reminds me of something someone would use out in the bush or jungle.

I know this one is random, but it was a cute little decoration I got today on sale :)

And finally today, I went to the post office to pick up a package Tyler and I got. I guess this is how Christmas is done in the keys...everything gets mailed to you. I have to wait until Tyler gets home to open it, so hopefully on the next post, I'll be able to share what we got!!

As far as Trigger and Bear go, they are doing great. Bear went outside yesterday. My heart was racing because I was so nervous he wasn't going to come back, but he just walked around on the porch and then came right back to the door. Trigger got to have a date with his girlfriend today. Sarah is going home for Christmas, so we are going to check on Sadie every now and then. I went over there today to get her and brought her over to our house. The two of them were running around like crazy dogs all afternoon. When I looked outside to check on them, they were both passed out! haha.

We also wanted to tell everyone how much we miss them and hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas. It will def. be a little weird one for my family as everything is different this year, but the good news is that after Christmas, we only have 20 days until we come home!!! We are super excited to see everyone!! Miss you guys and love you!! Hopefully I'll be able to post again before Christmas...but we'll see :)

Cute Videos...

Tyler and I got this sweet video from the kids the other night and it just made us smile...so I figured I would share it with everyone!

This one...Trigger dropped his tennis ball into the laundry basket and he wasn't quite tall enough to reach in and get it out...haha.

Now I Know!

Wow! Now I know why people go crazy during the holiday season! Things get so busy so quick. I am so sorry I haven't updated my blog in so long...I've just been busy being Santa's little helper :) so here is what we have been up to lately..

Going to Christmas parties...

(yes, these pictures are all the same party...we didn't wear the same thing to all of them.)

Baking Christmas treats for all of our friends and neighbors...

Alright...this last one I didn't make myself...but Tyler and I went to Outback and I tried one! It was good but superrrr sweet!! But I thought the idea was cool!

Doing Secret Santa at work...this is what I got. Sorry its not turned :)

Going to the boat parade on key colony beach...


sorry the pictures are blurry, it was so hard without the flash to get some good ones, but it was so cool! We sat on the top of the car and watched the parade! Def. something we will make a tradition.

And finally...getting Christmas cards from all of our friends and family!

I got these Christmas colored clothes pins to hang them along all the lights....

Also, Tyler and I joined a new bible study at church that meets every Tuesday night and I have started my new job at Sweet Savannah's. It's an ice cream/cupcake shop. Its really fun, but back to having 2 jobs is not :( I am currently working there Wed., Fri., and Sun. nights. So basically almost all of our nights have plans already! haha...I wouldn't have it any other way!

So as in writing this I am realizing how busy we have been and its so important to just take a few min. and remember why we are doing all of this...why we even have a Christmas season. Tonight, luckily Tyler and I have nothing going on and he is making STEAKS!! yummmmy!! Can't wait to eat them! I hope everyone is enjoying their busy season just as much as I am! We miss all of you so much and wish we could be home for Christmas...but someone has to feed the dolphins and this year its me :)