Express Christmas

Every holiday season there is that time span when the most classic movies are played over and over leading up to the big day. When Christmas rolls around you can count on seeing “Home Alone”, “Home Alone 2”, “National Lampoons Christmas Vacation”, and “A Christmas Story” leading up to the big day. However, this year it was a tv show that really captured the Christmas spirit for me. Modern Family had an episode called “Express Christmas” and it was perfect. The family can’t come together on Christmas Day so they have to get creative and have Christmas early without any time to plan. The day is filled with wild family antics and surprises. For the first time Steven and I are trying to celebrate all of our family’s holidays together which has meant not one, but several “express” Christmases.

So far, we have had two of our Christmases. The first was in Lake City, Minnesota with my mom’s side of the family. It was great to be able to get together with aunts, uncles, counsins, and the whole extended crew since baseball tends to make it hard for Steven to be part of family gatherings. It was our version of an “Express Christmas” completed with an evening mass and delicious meal.

The second Christmas we’ve had was with my parents and between Steven and I here in Wisconsin. Since we will be traveling I will miss my immediate family’s Christmas so we decided to have that early too. Usually my family has our Christmas early so it wasn’t much of a change from other years but I did miss having my sisters there.

Our next celebrations are in North Carolina which means at the end of the week we’ll pack up the car, throw in the dog, and start our 16 hour drive to Asheville. Steven was there in the fall and I haven’t been back since last Christmas break so we are both excited to see family and friends. Although we get to spend just over a week there our schedule is already filling up. Somehow, Steven has even managed to get a hunting trip in there! I’ve never hunted and definitely never killed anything so it should be interesting to say the least. Aside from all of the Christmas celebrations, we will also be celebrating Steven’s birthday.…a quarter of a century!

After the 1st of the year we have to head back since the schools start up which means back to work and teaching for me. Managing all of the Christmases, celebrations, and a road trip has definitely required some organization and been hectic. It’s required us to work together and compromise and I’m sure the 32 hours in the car will really put us to the test. Just like in Modern Family, hijinks and mishaps are to be expected by the time all is said and done. Christmas this year has been and will be different than our family Christmases from the past but as Gloria says, “Family is family. Whether it’s the one you start out with, the one you end up with, or the family you gain along the way.”

A Tale of Two Off Seasons

The off season looks a little different for each athlete and their family so since it has officially started for us, we're doing a joint post on what we have going on.

Ashley:

For me, the off season is in the summer when I'm not teaching, so during this time of year I'm busy working. Since I'm not teaching full time this year I am staying busy subbing in the area and working with a program at UWEC. I'm really enjoying getting to work with different grade levels and teaching different subjects when I sub. I've even been able to work at the same school as my mom a few times.

Although I plan to take a break from traveling until Spring Training, at the end of November I got to take a trip Florida for a PAO conference. I was able to connect with new people and hear some awesome messages.

In my spare time I've been working with Mira on some dog training and watching Packer football! For the most part, I'm just enjoying having family and friends around and taking the in the moment before its back to baseball.

Steven:
This offseason has been a lot different for me this year than it has been in the past. I have usually went home to my home in NC and hunted and hung out with family and worked out at the RUSH facility. Since Ashley and I have decided to try to have a "normal" relationship (where we get to see each other more than once a month), I decided to spend my offseason in Wisconsin with her and her family. She is able to get plenty of work teaching and also works at the university in town.

We just got back for a Professional Athletes Outreach (PAO) conference in Florida. I can't explain how God worked in both of our lives during this 5 day conference. It truly was a blessing to see God move in our lives. Since being back from that I have had my wisdom teeth cut out and it has been a nightmare. I am currently writing to say that there isn't a lot I wouldn't do for a cheeseburger right now! Went back to the doctor today and I have dry socketed myself. Ha Ha. Anyways that is just a little glimpse into the offseason so far. I hope that God continues to bless and His glory and honor grows more and more each day!


Don't let Steven fool you, he's been doing TONS of hunting too. Hopefully we'll be able to post of a pic of a kill soon :)