An Irish Girls Mind.

Well hello there internets…..

So it has totally been forever since I have posted. And I apologize. I stare at the blogs I check on a minutely basis, waiting for some kind of update to show me that everyone is alive and kicking. But my computer came down with a virus and it had to be rushed to the the Hogan Hospital in Perry, where Dr. Greg worked on it for four days. He worked and worked on it, to finally get it to start breathing again. It was very scary but after lots of prayers and good well wishes, it was healed. So thank you Dr.Greg, MY VERY BEST FRIEND EVER!!!!!

So in order to catch up, this one will be a long one, so bare with me internets. Please.

So Christmas came and went. I was nervous about Christmas. You see, I was the baby of the family for 25 years. Every Christmas, for 25 years, was about me! me! me!

I made sure for the last 25 years that the majority of the presents under the tree were for me. The biggest and greatest were mine. Point. Blank. Period. If not, I totally pouted in the corner and didn’t want anyone talking, looking, or breathing near me. You think I am kidding???? Last year Greg got a box of beers from around the world. I squealed with delight, while I ripped through my presents like the Tasmanian Devil until I got to my box, just like his. It never came. I pouted so much that my dear Mother went back down to Florida and got me, my own box of beer from around the world. That is just how the baby of the families rolls. But this year would be different, because last year I gave up my title of “baby of the family” and handed it over to my beloved nephew Desmond. I psyched myself up and was like “Jenn you can handle it, your not going to get all the presents, there is a new kid on the block! You love this kid more than life itself, so you will not and can not throw a hissy fit, when he gets the most presents!” So even though I sat there staring and salivating at the presents under the Christmas tree, I was able to keep my composure. Because, YES, Desmond got the most and the biggest presents. Lets enjoy some pictures of him with his new presents.

Did you notice how all the present were musical? Yes, well music runs in our family. Greg can play the guitar better then anyone EVER and I can carry a note or two. We were totally in a fifties band growing up. This band was so huge in the Middle Ga area, that it opened for KMART when it was upgraded from the standard KMART to the SUPER KMART. For some reason, Greg and I never made it in the big league, so it is just known that Desmond will be the one with his name in bright lights, in the big cities.

So that pretty much sums up Christmas. Honestly having a kid around, takes Christmas to whole new level. Having my Nana fly over to America from Ireland to enjoy it with us, just wrapped it up into the best Christmas EVER!!!

On a side note. Before Christmas, I was over at Greg and Jackies. Jackie and my Mom had went to ATL to pick up my Nana. So Greg is sitting at the computer and I am laying on the floor playing with Desmond. I pick up one of his teething toys. It is an album. Each page has a member of the family on it. I flip through it. Everyone is there, except me!!!!! So I perk up and yell over to Greg, “Hey why aren’t I in this album???” And he is all like “Jackie is going to be so disappointed that you saw that!!!” During this exchange of words, Desmond has picked himself up and starts walking towards me, to see what the commotion is about. He wasn’t walking in more than two steps at this time. So I totally stole their moment. And I loved it!!!!!

So after Christmas, we have New Years. One of my good friends Kelli was telling us about this deal that the Foundry Park Inn, in Athens was having for New Years. Her husband (Andy) and Matt are like BFF. So basically, if Matt and I agreed to go, Andy would sign on the dotted line that it was a go. So I explained it to Matt and he was like “Well lets do it!”

So we went and we had the best time ever.

So we get to Athens and check into the hotel and go to the local Chic-Fil-A and eat like a bunch of college students that just left their dorm room after passing the bong back and forth. We literally licked the table when we were done. We were starving. Then we hit up the liquor store, to get some drinks for the room!

After picking up our beverages, we venture to back to the room for naps. The rooms were the nicest rooms I have stayed in. The beds were huge and the room was simply elegant. I couldn’t sleep, so I watched TV and got Matt and my outfits ready. There was a knock on the door. I opened it and was handed these.

Romantic right???? I loved it. We then proceeded to get dressed and ready for dinner. We head down to the resturant where we were going to celebrate at. Literally, not five minutes there, I stick my foot in my mouth.

We had grabbed some drinks and were sitting outside smoking. I look up and notice that the heaters are absolutly adorable.

The minute I announce very loudly “OH MY GOD THESE HEAT LAMPS LOOK JUST LIKE LIL CHINA MEN!!!!” A CHINA man walks by. Everyone busts out laughing and I cringe into the corner, ashamed, that I am totally a racist. What a way to bring in the New Year. But its ok cuz my best friend is Korean. Hey Monky~

I drank beer the whole night, apart from a couple of mandatory shots. Andy and Matt drank, crown and sprite with a sqeeze of lime. After they come back with their drinks from the bar. I bust into a fit of giggles. Andy and Matt stare at me, like what the heck is she on.

So looking at the glasses thier drinks are in, I am all like “So you two homos going to exchange a KISS at new years?? Those are the girliest glasses I have ever seen!!!!!!!!!!” Here is Matt holding the “manliest drink ever!”

Oh and that homo new years kiss, this is the best I could get.

The rest of a night was a blast, but using a camera involved soberness and that wasnt an option.

After New Years, we had my beautiful, gorgeous, adorable, funny, cutie-pie, most perfect nephews birthday. My baby boy turned one. I remember when Jackie and Greg came over here to tell me that they were expecting. Greg said “well Jenn in January, we are going to need you to clear your schdule to be a baby sitter!” and my immediate thought was oh they need someone to watch the dogs, no biggie. But I looked back at them and it clicked. They were giving me the most precious gift of being an Aunt. So of couse I started bawling crying. This was the most beautiful, precious, out of the world extrordinary gift, that anyone could give me. A child, that somewhere inside of them held part of my DNA. During the past year, I have had the absolute privilage of watching this kid grow. He is by far the most gorgeous child I have ever encountered. He has the most easy going personality that he got from his mother, cuz that is not a Hogan trait. He makes me laugh and cry (when his parents leave for 10 minutes to long and I have no idea how to fix him!). The only way I can describe my Desmond is by simply stating ” by watching him, it is like watching my heart walk on the outside of my body.” I never knew I could love so much. I love all of my family with everything I have. My Matt, My Mom, My Dad, My Nana, My Greg, My Jackie, My Desmond and my friends that are also my family, are my life. But Des is my absolute favorite human ever, I will do anything and everything to make his life perfect. Especially when he shows me this face. It melts my heart.

One of my best friends Jennifer Rich and I Claimed 2009 is mine. And it is. So its only a few weeks late, but Happy New Years and make it yours.