Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Here are some highlights from our Christmas in Iowa, Evie's second. It was a great time!

New pajamas!

It was a more fun to use her feet to knock over her "pins" (milk bottles) then it was with the "bowling ball." She laughed and giggled the entire time.
Our family in our new pajamas.

Opening presents.

Auntie Laura on Evie's new "cell phone."

Talking on her new "phone."
Grandpa making Evie look silly in his Air Force hat.

Playing with her purse, which came with a coin purse, keys, mirror, and cell phone.


Silly Uncle Brandon won't share his hat.

Giving Grandma A. kisses.

Looking at the tree.

Playing with her first dollhouse.

We had a very Merry Christmas. Hope yours was too. We get to celebrate a 2nd one with the V. family this weekend and we are really looking forward to it. We miss our families immensely and wish we were closer to each. We love all the time we get to spend with them!! Miss you all!

Friday, December 26, 2008

Day after Christmas Fill-in

1. I must accomplish what God wants me to before I die.

2. You can't stop aging.

3. I wish I never had to buy migraine medication again.

4. Having a daughter has helped me change my life.

5. I know the song When God Made You by New Song (Shawn & I's song) by heart.

6. If I weren't so afraid, I would public speak.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to more pie, tomorrow my plans include alone time with Shawn--more business planning and Sunday, I want to drive home safe!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Ho, Ho, Ho...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It has been a good Christmas. I'm pretty sure Evie doesn't get that we are celebrating the birth of our Savior, or why she has to pull paper off of her new toys before she can play with them. It definitely feels like I've left being a kid behind. Santa no longer leaves toys for me... BUT I had a lot of fun being Santa. Giving is definitely much more exciting and leaves a special joy in your heart. I made gifts this year for our family and its so special to watch them open them and enjoy all the love I put into them.

What traditions have you started for your families or have you been doing for years? What special things do you do to remember the gift of Jesus and his miraculous and special birth? This year we started a tradition of watching The Nativity on Christmas Eve. I got shivers witnessing the wonder of His birth. I think it is so important to reconnect to that moment and make it the center of our Christmas celebrations. We also get new Christmas pajamas every year. Then we take a family picture in front of the Christmas tree. It will be fun to see our family grow and change over the years. I plan to display them every year.

Do you have any special traditions to share? What way do you keep Jesus the "reason for the season?" I'd love to hear from you! Love from our family to yours!

Friday, December 19, 2008

Friday Fill-in

1. I love Christmas.
2. White is my favorite color(s) for the Christmas tree lights.
3. The candles in the window have no bulbs.
4. The Nativity is one of my most favorite Christmas movies. Even though I've only seen it once. I love to watch my Christmas movies which are: Santa Clause(s), Elf, White Christmas, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and Miracle on 34th Street.
5. My favorite Christmas lyric(s) are from the song Mary, did you know? Mary, did you know?

The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the lamb

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is lord of all creation?
Did you know
That your baby boy will one day rules the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heavens perfect lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding
Is the great I am.

6. I'm dreaming of summer.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner w/ Shawn, tomorrow my plans include trying to finish Christmas gifts and Sunday, I want to relax and relax some more!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day!

Today has not been a good day. It has been a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day! First, today would have been Candii's 33rd birthday. I miss calling her and hearing her laugh and "crow." She loved her birthday. Even though we know she is having the best birthday ever, it's hard to celebrate because we miss her so much! Happy Birthday, Candii Cane! I miss you!

If that weren't bad enough, I've had to change my clothes 3 times today. Why? Because that's how many times Evie threw up on me today. Ick, ick, ick, ick, ICK! And she threw up 3 other times but I managed to get it in a bucket and she threw up in her crib once. Ick, ick, ick, ick, ICK! For those that don't know it, I have a fear of vomiting. I just can't be around it without a racing heart and major anxious nerves. Being a mom must inspire courage where there has been none before because I've been able to comfort her and hold her even covered with ick, ick, ick, ick, ICK! She had three spells between 5 and 6:10 then we had a 3 hour reprieve where she played and acted very happy. Then at 9 we started a second set of spells. She is in her crib now sleeping and I am praying that we are done for the night. Please, please, please let us be done for the night!!!! Shawn and I are hoping that tomorrow, our 4th anniversary, is not full of buckets, clothes changes and ick, ick, ick, ick, ICK!

Update: Shortly after finishing my blog post last night Evie threw up again. That was the last time and now at 10 am she has had several small sips of water without problem. I had a very bad night of sleeping because for the first hour and half every time she would cry I would rush to her room. Then she woke up twice more and required rocking for 45 minutes. I am hoping to get back to when she was sleeping till 9:30 and only woke up once. We are going to try a little toast this morning and I pray it goes well.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Brrr...

Is it just me or does everyone else miss summer really, really badly?? It is so windy that it is making this winter absolutely miserable. I love all the snow, it makes winter so beautiful. How can you enjoy it when it's blowing all around?? We are definitely staying a little closer to home. Who wants to bring a 15 month old out in a blizzard?? What are you doing to make the best of a cold, windy, snowy situation??

Me: I'm scrapbooking and enjoying plenty of hot chocolate (don't forget the mini marshmallows), hot soup and wearing my comfy wear-only-in-private sweater. I also cuddle close to Shawn at night wearing my pajama pants and count-them 2 long-sleeve shirts. My favorite: Shawn lets me put my cold feet on him to warm up. I love it! Now that is true love! I also sleep better when I am touching Shawn's arm or leg. We'd never need a king-size bed because I'd still be plastered to his side.

Stay warm!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Friday Fill-in

1. Snow white and the seven dwarfs.
2. I'm looking forward to Christmas movie marathon.
3. Scrapbooking is the best hobby ever!
4. One of my favorite old tv shows is Little House in the Prairie.
5. I'm done with winter.
6. The most enjoyable thing around the holidays is family, Christmas movies, and opening stockings. When I was a kid we couldn't wake up our parents so early in the morning BUT we could open our stockings. We'd go through them over and over, eat candy and play in our pajamas. It was the best! I hope to pass the tradition onto our children.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to scrapbooking, tomorrow my plans include a strategic planning session for our office w/ Shawn and Sunday, I want to enjoy our church's Christmas Singing Tree program and relax.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

It's official...

Evie is officially teeny-tiny. I don't know the definition but I guarantee that there is probably a picture of her besides the word. At 15 months she is 31 inches long/tall which is in the 69%. And she is 19 lbs 9 oz in the whopping 7 percentile. Itty-bitty doesn't begin to describe how small she is.

In other news she is very healthy. A blessing we praise God for!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Pictures

We had our Christmas pictures taken today. They went GREAT!! Evelyn couldn't have been more perfect. Sitting pretty and smiling. Woo-hoo! Here they are:









Thursday, December 4, 2008

Has this ever happened to you?

Have you ever had this problem??



It happens to her all the time! No matter what pants we put on her, sooner or later she has a "plumber's crack" or this happens. The poor thing can't walk, she just hobbles around with her pants around her ankles. Many people would think, "does she get enough to eat?" The answer is yes. She eats like a horse, and then snitches food from us when she's done. Yet none of her pants fit. It is certainly a problem I wish I could have. Eat plenty but still be too thin for your pants!

Winter has finally "arrived." I use the quotations because for me winter doesn't start until there is snow on the ground that stays around longer then a day. I hate cold weather without snow. Of course, I hate winter period. Everyone figures that because I'm originally from Northern MN I should love winter and not feel the cold at all. I hear comments about it all the time. "You're from Northern MN..." they say. Well, the way my system adapts to the cold I should've been born in Texas. In the winter I am cold ALL the time. I wear three layers most of the time. I have to warn patients because my hands are freezing. I even had my thyroid checked because I was hoping that that was what was wrong with me. Turns out I'm just not suited for cold weather. When I was pregnant during the summer I would get all sorts of pitying looks and comments about how "uncomfortable" and "miserable" it must be for me. But do you know what? I loved it! It was the first time I could wear short sleeves in the summer inside. Normally, I would wear sweaters, sweatshirts and long-sleeves even in the summer. I was freezing in the air conditioning. Being pregnant made me comfortable. I'm odd that way. What can I say I have a VERY warm heart;o)

What I do like about winter:
1. Warm sweaters
2. Hot cocoa
3. Thick blankets
4. Hot soup
5. Christmas
6. My anniversary
7. New episodes of shows
8. Christmas movies/music
9. An excuse to stay indoors
10. Cuddling
11. Christmas cards/letters/pictures
12. An excuse to shop
13. Candy canes except mint
14. The Nativity and
15. Scrapbooking especially warm topics

Do you love or hate winter?? Me, a bit of a hater. Thankfully its not the longest season of the year which is actually summer...despite how it feels.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

The List

I found this list on another blog. You’re supposed to highlight those that you’ve done or accomplished. Some things I will never do and some should be added to my list of “things to do before I die” if I had one. Here it is:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band ....at school
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland /world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day


I finished Evie's birthday pages today, besides adding a few pages to hold extra photos. I think my favorite is the one I posted previously and her cake one. Now I'm onto Christmas gifts. Lots to do...not a lot of time!



Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Race Day

Things being so crazy around here I never got a chance to post about Shawn's first 5K. He did AWESOME! He came in 42nd out of 99, and ran through freezing rain/snow. Evie and I missed the start but we were there to cheer him on at the end.


Here he comes!!!

Recovery!


In case I haven't said it before: Baby, I'm SO proud of you!!! I love you, now and forever!