Holiday fun!!

Happy holidays!! I hope your festivities were as wonderful as mine! I was able to spend time with wonderful friends, fantastic family and loads of loved ones. I have had the opportunities to road trip, hang out with my kitty, catch up on the newest movies, and have many, many times to smile! :)

My oldest brother, Morgan, flew in on the Tuesday before Christmas and we all but painted the town red! I was lucky enough to get out of work early and pick him up from the airport myself!! He sent his winter jacket, jeans and fleece jacket up ahead of time.. typical southerner, not ready for the cold that awaits. Once I picked him up, we grabbed lunch for the two of us, and our brother, Andrew.

Trying to be the accommodating sister for my tourist brother, I planned out a few holiday-specific activities including seeing the Macy's elves, going ice skating, playing in the snow, and seeing the Holi-Dazzle Parade downtown. Guess how much of that we did? If you guessed none of it, you are correct. We spent more time catching up on odds and ends shopping and taking opportunities to catch up with family.

On Wednesday, I had been granted a day off because projects and tasks around the orchestra office were slow. I was so excited to spend the day with Morgan! We hit various places like Walmart, Target, IKEA, and a few local shops. It was such a blast getting to spend time one-on-one. I am not sure Morgan and I have had this opportunity to hang out since I was somewhere around the age of 13. Yikes. Talk about a need to catch up with your sibling! Just before dinner at Andrew & Mary Elizabeth's, Andrew and Morgan went on a run with The Running Room's runners club. I picked up the boys, we hit the liquor store and headed to the house. We spent the night with great beers and delicious chinese food. The boys took turns playing in a RBI Baseball tournament with one of Andrew & Mary Elizabeth's roommates. It was an absolute blast.

As for Thursday, I had a half day in the afternoon at work. In the morning, Morgan and I ran a few more errands, grabbed lunch, and while I went to work, he did some honey-do lists for my Aunt and Uncle. After work, I headed to happy hour with some work friends for the Secret Santa reveal! My Santa ended up being my supervisor, she had some of the best gifts! I received ingredients for green bean casserole  a musical scarf, Apples to Apples in a Can, Travel Pictionary, Travel Would You Rather, and a bag of Peanut M&Ms. Talk about spectacular!! After I headed home, I went to see my friend Hannah's band, Luna and the Sunbrothers, perform at their coffee shop. They played a number of Christmas/Holiday-themed music and it was (of course) wonderful. More people should come to see them perform! If you're interested in joining me, text me- email me- facebook me- tweet me- I'd be happy to have you along! :)

Friday began with work, all day at the orchestra. Unfortunately it was announced that morning that more concerts were to be cancelled due to the lock out- through February 10th. After work, I headed home to pick up Morgan and go out to dinner with some lovely people-- our cousins! Although not everyone could make it, due to my poor planning and bad, bad misunderstanding, it was a blast for the couple of us who did make it. It was Morgan, Tom & April, Caroline & Nic, and me. Four cousins and two spouses. We'll get our acts together one of these times and make it a full group! We ate dinner at Pizza Luce and had an evening full of laughter.

Saturday meant family!! My parents drove in from Wisconsin and Mary Elizabeth's mom flew in from South Carolina. We began setting up as though it was a proper Christmas! We had dinner at the Depot in St. Paul with our five, plus Mary Elizabeth and her mom, AND my Aunt and Uncle! I think the waitress thought we were nuts... On Sunday, we celebrated Christmas in many different ways. Four of us had a gift opening under the Christmas tree, and then joined with Andrew, Mary Elizabeth, and her mom, then with our cousin, Caroline with her husband and children, and our Aunt and Uncle for dinner at my Aunt and Uncle's house. A feast, presents, family, loads of love. It was Christmas.

The next morning, Christmas Eve, Morgan flew back to South Carolina while my parents and I drove to Wisconsin. I had a week and a half off from the orchestra, I figured I might as well spend some time at home with friends who only make it home for the holiday, my kittttttty, and hang time at my parent's house. Boy was it needed. I hope your holidays were full of love and cheer!
Sarah Marsh