Here comes the bride! (My big sister!)

 

 

A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to travel to Denver and celebrate the wedding of my big brother and his new bride!  I can't tell you how excited we were to be a part of this weekend wedding celebration!  The bride and groom couldn't have been happier . . . and their families couldn't have been happier for them. 

 

 

We haven't had many opportunities to spend time with our new "sister", but it didn't take us long to learn that we absolutely adore her.  More importantly, she and my brother adore one another!  We certainly feel blessed that she is a part of our family! 

 

Here are a few pictures from the wedding and our time in the big city.  

 

 

Representatives of my dad's family.  We have so much fun together!
It doesn't happen nearly often enough!

Pinky Pie with her new Auntie B!

Mr. and Mrs. 

Exploring Denver

Downtown Denver

Wiki Stix - Don't leave home without them!

I see lots of fun times in our future!  Welcome to our family! 

 

We've had a pretty exciting start to 2013!

 

We are SUPER excited about the addition to our family coming in June!

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Where's my baby?

Has it really been 3 years since we brought our little Pinky Pie home from the hospital?  It doesn't seem possible.  Although today was just as wintry and cold as that day 3 years ago . . . it's hard to imagine how life has changed since.  What did we do before we brought our bright eyed bundle of energy home????

We've been busy celebrating the big birthday this week.  Thursday morning we got up early to stop at one of our favorite bakeries to pick up the special donuts we ordered:  2 dozen frosted donuts with sprinkles!  Plenty for her class and to share with her friends at church.  After work/school, we opened a few gifts and then met some friends for dinner.  We decided to skip McD's this year, and chose Mexican instead.  Chips, salsa, a cheese quesadilla and a kiwi slushy - what else could a birthday girl ask for? 

Tonite we celebrated with friends and family at our house.  Fortunately, the predicted winter storm missed us, and most of our guests were able to join us for a warm winter meal of chili and baked potatoes (the bday girl loves "potato pockets"!).  Pickles, chocolate milk, and lots of cheese.  All of her favorites.  We topped it off with a homemade ice cream cake.   (2 bags of oreos, 3 bags of chocolate chips, and 2 cartons of ice cream - thank you pinterest!)

Once again, we were overwhelmed by the generosity of our family and friends who shower our girl with gifts and love.  It's amazing how one little girl can be so loved, not just on her birthday, but all year through.

So, what is our 3 year old into these days?
    Dress up clothes
    Dressing her babies and her bears
    Blocks
    TV:  Mickey Mouse, Clifford, and Doc McStuffins
    Stickers
    Games:  Hide n Seek, Memory, and Cootie (with modified rules of course!)
    Dancing, twirling, and singing
    Hugs (but you can keep the kisses, she wipes them off these days!)
    Snacks:  fruit snacks, string cheese, chex mix, chocolate (loclate)
    Cracking us up with her smarts and clever use of vocabulary.  Some of her favorite new words      
    include:
        Actually:  Example - Actually mom, I want to wear sweat pants.
        Recognize:  Example - Is this mine?  I didn't even recognize it?
        Certainly:  Example - It certainly does taste good.  (referring to an old cracker found in her
                           car seat!)
        Seriously:  Example - Seriously Dad, you need to learn to listen. 

Birthday Dinner with Friends!

Minnie Mouse Ice Cream Cake

Delicious!

Looking forward to many adventures with my big girl in the next year!

Tis the Season

After a fun, busy, and relaxing week of celebrating Christmas with our families, we are back at work and struggling to get back into a routine.  This morning was rough for all of us . . . Our 2 year old in particular could be heard "barking" out the words "I'm still tired" this morning, long after she should have been out of bed.  Of course that couldn't be due to the fact that she was still up talking in her bed at 10:00 last night . . . Tis the season to get back into a routine!

At Christmas, we are reminded even more how blessed we are!  This is clear by our overflowing dressers, closets and store room, that were full before the Christmas gifts came home.  It's amazing to me that we can have so much when there are so many that have so little . . . Tis the season to share our blessings!

Our tree is still up and we have several gifts still needing a home.  Miss Pinky has 9 new stuffed furry friends, several which have new dress-up clothes, as does their owner!  I think we need to get her a closet organizer for her birthday.  Think she'd like that?  New shoes, new clothes, and new items for the garage . . . Tis the season to get organized!

Our treadmill has been collecting dust in the basement for much too long.  We're feeling motivated by friends how have hit 1000 miles running in the last year.  I'm trying to convince my better half that he can hit 1000 miles, especially if he trains for the half marathon this spring.  I am thinking 500 miles will be more realistic since I will be wearing my walking shoes through most of June (and hoping to waddle the 5K in May) . . . Tis the season to get moving!

I read a joke the other day about new year's resolutions . . . Someone was explaining what they meant to another who didn't know.  His description: a "to-do" list for the first week of January!  Tis the season to be realistic about what we can accomplish while committing to making some positive and healthy changes!!!

Happy New Year!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was here and gone in a flash it seems.  We had a wonderful weekend with family.  Lots of yummy food.  Lots of laughter.  A little shopping. Lots of coffee.  And of course, lots of lefse!

Now it is Sunday afternoon.  The house is quiet.  Pinky is napping.  Her daddy is out running errands.  Our company has left  . . . and now the only sounds in the house is the sound of the washer and dryer humming and a Christmas moving on TV.  Life is good!

And now, here I sit with my cup of coffee, thinking I should start organizing some of the Christmas gifts we've purchased in the last couple of weeks . . . But before we get to Christmas, I had to take time to share all that we have to be thankful for this year.

Friends
I think all 3 of us would agree we have the best friends ever . . . New and Old, Near and Far.  We couldn't count them if we tried, but we know we can count on all of them at the drop of the hat. 

Our Home
It's not big or fancy, but we love it.  It meets our needs with room to spare, keeps us warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and is the most beautiful when it is bursting with family and friends.  We all have new beds to snuggle in at night and lots of warm blankets keep us warm and cozy. 

Our Jobs
They pay the bills, but more than that, they challenge us to grow professionally.  Although it's not always easy to get up and head to work, we are grateful for our jobs every day and know we are blessed to work where we do. 

Pinky's "School"
Pinky has the best teachers and a class full of some of the cutest, sweetest, 2-3 year olds in the community.  She learns so much and is taken care of in a loving, nurturing environment. 

Food
We always have plenty, and throw out more than we should.  We were blessed with a feast on Thanksgiving, and have been enjoying the leftovers since.  When it comes to food, we each have our favorites.  I'm most happy when I have a pot of coffee brewing, a little chocolate close by, and have some yummy pasta now and again.  My husband prefers pizza,  a little spice (buffalo wings), some carbonation (a diet soda), and a jar full of pickles.  Then there's Pinky, who loves cheese in just about any form, except melted over macaroni.  Although she still doesn't like  pasta, she can't get enough hot dogs, Goldfish, or fruit snacks. 

Family
Our parents are wonderful and completely supportive in every way.  They love us unconditionally and have taught us about marriage, parenting and family.  After a year when so many of our friends have lost a parent, we are thankful for every day we have with ours!
Our siblings, who I could say "refer to Friends," are a blessing.  Each have chosen a partner that suits them and has helped complete our growing families!  (We are especially excited and thankful to add a brother and sister to our family in the upcoming year!)
Our nieces and nephews are a joy.  We love them dearly and treasure our time with them.  They are cute, funny, and mostly entertaining! 

Our Pinky Pie
She's growing so fast and nearing the age of 3.  She cracks us up with her quick wit and funny expressions.  She can carry on a conversation on the telephone and enjoys talking to grandmas and grandpas on the computer.  She loves gymnastics, baby dolls, learning her ABCs, books, blankets, and stuffed friends.  She's potty trained (something we are all thankful for) and loves wearing big girl underpants!  And now she's awake and trying to lick my face as I finish this post.  Time to sign off and enjoy the rest of this Sunday afternoon with my little honey. 

For all these things and so much more, we thank our Lord and Savior, today and always!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Big Girl Bed

For the last couple of weeks, Pinky has been sleeping in a toddler bed.  We decided a good time to make the change would be when we had a couple of days off when we were actually going to stay home.  So, during my last 4 day weekend, we moved out the crib and moved in the toddler bed.  (Both hand-me-downs from her cousins!)

The transition has been much smoother than anticipated.  Her mobile didn't fit, which was a bummer for her, but her monkeys made the move with her and that was definitely a good thing!  We've had to add a night light in her bedroom, something she has never had before, but other than than we haven't had many changes . . . well, besides the fact that she can now get out of bed any time she wants! 

Plenty of familiar faces joining her in her new bed!!!!

Her escape route . . . We hear pitter-patter in her room until 9:30 some nights.
Fortunately, she always ends up asleep back in her bed!  Our little night owl!

Bzzzzzz......

Halloween . . . I'm not sure what it is about that holiday, but it sure brings out a lot of excitement in children.  What a crazy holiday!  I remember dressing up when I was a kid and I loved it.  I also remember that my parents never had quite the same sense of excitement as the 3 of us kids . . . And now, I know why!  It's a lot of work to get candy that you don't want your kids to eat anyway.  HA!

Hopefully, my daughter only sensed enthusiasm from me as she dressed up for her Halloween party at school on Friday . . . and as she dressed back up for "trunk or treating" at church on Sunday . . . and as she dressed up one last time for the real deal last night!  Yes, we've had one busy bee!  And she loved every minute!

All fall, people were asking her what she "wants to be" for Halloween.   At our house, we take a different approach (while we can):  what do you "get" to be!  We found her costume early this summer at a garage sale for $4!  It was warm, hooded, practical, and cute.  SOLD!  Paired up with a cute little tutu she just happened to have gotten from her cousins last spring, she looked like a hundred bucks!  And was happy as could bee!

Here are some of our 2012 Halloween memories with our excited little Bumble Bee:

With Daddy at her school party.

BFF - Spidey! 

Trunk or Treat!

Every "trunk" had a theme . . . Can you guess ours?

I think this was the first time she experienced pumpkin guts! 



Halloween Treats/Dessert







Trick or Treat

 

She ran out of steam a little early, so we didn't quite make it to all of the stops we had hoped, which means she may have to dress up for a belated trick or treating stop next week. I'm sure it won't be too hard to convince her!