Home Alone...

Most years for Christmas I really look forward to getting together with family and friends and being busy and attending different Christmas parties. This year we had hoped my family would come for a quick visit, but due to my mom's surgery that didn't end up happening. In the end, we were actually quite content to have it be just the 2 of us this year.

Saturday - we drove across town in near blizzard conditions and spent the evening with Andy's side of the family we had dinner, opened presents and played a few group games. A good time was had by all. Then the rest of the weekend was ours. We have been so busy recently that this was just what we needed.

Sunday- we went to church and then spent the rest of the day shopping for materials for the bathroom remodel. And a significant wipe out on the ice in the middle of Lowes parking lot by me. I know I know it doesn't really look that bad, my pride was hurt worse.

Monday- we attended the Christmas Eve service, then ended up going to our good friend's Trent & Lydia to spend the evening enjoying yummy Christmas treats and visiting. Then we went home and started what I hope to be a tradition of new PJ's to sleep in!!

Tuesday- Christmas Day - we slept in. had a yummy breakfast of omlettes prepared by chef Andrew. opened presents. played a game of Dominoes- we tried to play and couldn't remember how and the directions were in broken English so we made a domino train instead. watched Bourne Identity. made a really late lunch/dinner of Pork loin, Ginger Glazed Carrots, Mashed Potatoes, Salad and Candy Crunch Pie. very very yummy. visited Andy's parents again. watched Bourne Supremacy It was the most relaxing day ever and it was so much fun, we didn't get bored once!!

The good ole days

Christmas Favorites:
*current songs: "Favorite Things" and "Winter Wonderland"
*candy: york peppermint patties

We had an "ugly sweater" Christmas party this weekend with our sunday school class. It was alot of fun. We visited, had yummy lasagna, played bingo and the host provided us with white elephant gifts from their house. Here are a few pictures, we even had cousin Eddy show up.

ice ice baby - i thought it was more fitting

I got this morning some would say on the wrong side of bed, I was dragging feet and kept hoping to hear on the radio that I wouldn't have to go into work. I never heard anything. Andy and I carpool to work so he drove me and we get there late and the parking lot is basically empty. I went in anyway, I figure I better check my email since I was there and see if there was an official announcement of the closures. nothing. The office is empty too except the one creepy guy from my dept. (Not sure why I am posting such a creepy pic but I felt I needed emphasis for the creepiness.)

Then I checked the internet and yup my place was listed on the list of closures. I was very aggravated to have made the trip, but it all ended well since I got to spend the day at home enjoying myself. Andy on the other hand worked a full day and took the bus home, I met him at the bus stop so he wouldn't have to walk through all the ice and slush. I actually like the bad weather I would prefer snow and ice to just plain boring and cold. No one has ever gotten a "too cold day" only "snow days" So if it's going to be cold bring on the snow!

our turn for snow

So far we have gotten about 4 inches of snow since late morning. I actually don't mind the snow as long as it isn't windy and freezing cold. Snow is so pretty. Even though my blog is about my love of sunshine, I really didn't mind the cleaning the car and driving home from work. Maybe because I had cute new boots and a fun new coat to wear. Funny story though, I offered to get the mail if Andy would take a picture of me in the snow, because you always need a good snow pic each year and I really liked my boots and my coat. Well I gingerly step out to get the mail, completely forgetting about the ice storm last weekend that left a few inches of ice that still remain on the porch and I wipe out down the steps hitting my boob on the flower pot on my way down. I guess that will teach me. Lucky for you I even have a visual for this story. Andy was kind enough to wait until I stood back up before taking a picture :o)

she made it home.

My mom came home from the hospital last night! So that is progress. I so wish that I could be there to see for myself that she is ok. Maybe just maybe we could squeeze a quick visit in over Christmas. Here is a picture provided my by little sister of all her plants and my dad in the background.

Mi madre is sick

We got a call from my dad on Saturday letting us know that my mom was in the hospital waiting for her appendix to be removed. Come to find out it had actually burst maybe a week prior, possibly over thanksgiving weekend. So she is spending the week in the hospital recovering. I wish I could go visit. My dad says she is not up for visiting, but I just want to go and sit at the hospital with her. It stinks being so far away. Mom is the toughest person I know, she never cries over pain - at least not that I have ever seen, and she rarely takes anything to ease the pain. Which may be why she waited so long to go to the Dr. So far she is doing fine- for what she has gone through. I know it is a fairly common surgery, but any surgery has it's risks. I wish her a speedy recovery and am praying for her.

A song about me :o)

So I never realized there was a song about Jennifer until I started playing around on You Tube and came across Jennifer Juniper. It's a little trippy but it could be a lot worse, at least it is happy. And thanks to Kandid Kiwi and a little patience on my part I can now post a video!

...on a sick day

Neither Andy nor I made it into work today. We both still have terrible colds. We spent all day Sunday on the couch watching movies. Today, I got up and got ready for work and crawled back into bed and slept until noon. And I am finally starting to feel better! I was able to get some Christmas decorating done and if you haven't noticed I got caught up on my blogging. Well Andy has returned with the Nyquil, so I will leave you with a few pictures.

Thanksgiving & the epidemic

We left DSM in the middle of a bad snowstorm to go to my Uncle Brian and Aunt Kristi's ranch near Phillipsburg, KS which I have always enjoyed visiting over the years. We brought their daughter with us who is currently attending FBBC here in Iowa. My parents and siblings came as well as another Aunt and Uncle and 5 of their kids. Yep that's right that means there were about 20 of us staying in one house! Married people got their own rooms:o) Also on this side of the family there are 10 granddaughters ranging from ages 16-25. I am the oldest by a few years. And a bonus we all get along great and love each other bunches.
While we were there we went 4 wheeling, had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal, and an annual bonfire the day after thanksgiving, hot dog roast, s'mores, a snow storm, snowball fight, and sickness.

The night we arrived we caught wind that the stomach bug had gone around with my cousin and his family that lived nearby. I try to keep this on the DL but I become a basket case whenever I hear this(heart racing, shortness of breath). Yup, everything was fine until Saturday morning. We found a few people not feeling well, I started secretly panicking. So I convinced my wonderful but sick with a cold husband and my cousin (who becomes a basket case like myself) to leave a day early. I am so glad for that decision, because the sickness spread. Andy and I escaped with only severe colds!!! I will take a cold any day over that other business! Here are some pictures of the good times from the trip. We didn't get any big group pics.

sleeping quarters

4 Wheeling with my hubby

Janae and my sister RachelSisters: Aunt Sara and my mom

hair party and lounging around

My brother Ryan shortly after he got his eyeball hit with a rubber band

The bonfire

Tessha and my sister Melissa at the bonfire

I've been tagged...

...and am slow in responding.
I was tagged in a lyric tag by Kandid Kiwi. This isn't necessarily my current favorite song. I can't presently think of one, but this song has been encouraging to me over the last year. I am also tagging Green and Purple Life, Garden Gnomes, and bcrist.




Mountain of God
by Third Day

Thought that I was all alone
Broken and afraid
But You were there with me
Yes, You were there with me

And I didn't even know
That I had lost my way
But You were there with me
Yes, You were there with me

'Til You opened up my eyes
I never knew
That I couldn't ever make it
Without You

Even though the journey's long
And I know the road is hard
Well, the One who's gone before me
He will help me carry on

After all that I've been through
Now I realize the truth
That I must go through the valley
To stand upon the mountain of God

As I travel on the road
That You have lead me down
You are here with me
Yes,You are here with me

I have need for nothing more
Oh, now that I have found
That You are here with me
Yes, You are here with me

I confess from time to time I lose my way
But You are always there
To bring me back again
Sometimes I think of where it is
I've come from
And the things I've left behind
But of all I've had, what I possessed
Nothing can quite compare
With what's in front of me
With what's in front of me

(After final Chorus)
I thought that I was all alone
Broken and afraid
But, You are here with me
Yes, You are here with me.

p.s. i cant figure out how to attach a you tube video. sorry.
p.s.s. and I figured it out thanks to Kelly!

The Mist

That explains the weather around here the past few days. We also went and saw a sneak preview of The Mist I am glad we didn't have to pay for the tickets. I would say don't bother with this one. It wasn't even scary because it came across as really cheesy.

This past weekend we were out at my Uncle's farm a few hours from here. They have an annual fall youth activity "Haymania" that we have helped with the past 3 or 4 years. Around 100+ kids from the area attend every year, have fun and hear God's word. A highlight is usually the 'hay maze' a human size maze made from somewhere around 300+ big round bales. Big enough to get lost in for a few minutes. Well I must go and finish my last day of work before the Thanksgiving holiday. Hooray for only a half day! Well here are some pictures of haymania and Magnum running across the top of the hay maze.


***side note: It appears I am doing yoga on top of a hay bale.

Gulf Winds

That is the color I painted our bedroom last weekend, tealish, green-blue, blue-green, sorta turquoise, gulf winds sums it up best. Pictures never quite capture the color or how it feels in a room, at least my pictures don't, but I will go ahead and post them. I still need to hang some things on the walls but you will be able to get the idea. I was looking at the calender and this weekend looks like it is going to be the last slow weekend until january. I plan to enjoy it to the fullest. The holidays seem to be creeping up fast. Here are the before and after pics:

The most amazing thing happened today....

Today was a blustery cold and windy day. We're talkin' 27 degree wind chill and I am not ready for this kind of weather. (I know it will only get worse) But, on the bright side it was so stinkin windy that all of the leaves mentioned in the previous post have left the yard, and I mean ALL of them!! It looks better than if we would have tried to rake it the honest way. And this is including most of those that were still left on the tree. Woohoo!! That means we don't have to rake anymore this year! Unless.... the wind changes directions. I hope not!

Fall is nice.

Summer has become my most favoritest seasons of all , but fall is pretty nice too. The colors are pretty and you get out some new sweaters but you don't have to wear a big coat over them to stay warm and I am so happy that it is November and I haven't had to bust out the winter coat yet!! Which is good since I am still looking for a new one. The only thing about fall that stinks is the leaves that fall in our yard. This pic is only the smallest fraction of what will fall in our yard this year.

Today I was at returning a few things to Southridge Mall. This mall is dieing out and they are trying desperately to revive it. It has been ghetto since we moved here a few years ago. So ghetto the only good stores are so few I can list: Bath & Body, Victoria Secret, Target, Yonkers, Maurices. There are quite a few cowboy stores and hispanic specialty stores. In the last week they have added a Steve and Barry's which was exciting! That brought in some more people, but it tends to be the typical people you would see at Walmart or the Fair. Anyway, I am walking into the mall today, and I hear some crappy rap music. There is this stage in the mall, from back when stages in the mall were cool, with 2 young guys attempting to put on a show. Kinda missing the beat maybe a little off pitch. Wierd. Then, as I am walking to Target I pass this guy in a bright blue costume walking around on 5 foot stilts. I couldn't help but laugh. What is going on with that place?! For anyone who reads this and aren't from DSM, there are better malls in the area :o)

Hypocrites

The following is a conversation during small groups.

Leader: What's a hypocrite?

jr higher: Isn't that when....um...when someone gets polio and then their legs stop working?

Leader: No, that's cripple

jr higher: yeah, you know hypocrip :o)

Wow jr highers can be really funny!

The Office and other ramblings

We are back from our whirlwind trip to CO. We left Friday night after work. Spent all day Saturday in Denver/Thornton, then returned home today (Sunday). The drive actually went really fast both there and back. I will have to credit that to watching the entire season 3 of The Office on the laptop. Husband had a great time at the game, even though the Rockies lost :o( He said it was worth it. Some of the Denver Nuggets players were in the club level seats not too far above them so he could see Carmelo Anthony-who kept moving as the picture was taken. I watched the game from about the 5th inning on. And... I did see the back of Andy & my dad's head on TV!! That was my highlight of the game! I saw them long enough to say "there they are, there they are" about 5 times :o) Don't ask me how I recognized the back of their covered heads, but my sisters saw them too! Now if only we had taped the game!

**side note: Thursday night we went to a sneak preview of Dan in Real Life, when we really should have been getting ready for our trip. We both really enjoyed this movie. Steve Carrel is just so funny, but I think we have had our fix for the weekend.

I got them!!

After a day of waiting and the site crashing and a few more hours of waiting with 2 computers, and finally getting them in my virtual shopping cart, then getting kicked out before I could buy them and then trying again I successfully purchased 2 world series tickets for Saturday! No, I won't be going to the game, but I do get to go to Colorado! woohoo! My wonderful husband and my awesome father will be attending the game in person. My dad loves baseball, and he has always tried to get us girls to like it, (now he is working on my brother who just turned 13 today!!) HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN !!

I don't mind going to a game once in awhile, because the games are always fun, but my dad is super excited to be going! When Andy first called him with the idea, he said he would be interested in going and it sounded like fun. He doesn't usually splurge too much on himself. Well as the idea took root he has been getting really excited and just wanted the best available seats, any chance at getting in. Success after so much waiting tastes so good!

What's that you say?

Last night we were watching TV, more or less just channel surfing trying to find something to watch. Now first of all I am really bad with remembering movies and actors who belong to what movies, and Andy always seems to know. He rocks at Trivial Pursuit type things. So Andy stopped on a movie with Tom Hanks and astronauts. I immediately knew the name of the movie, but for one reason or another I didn't volunteer the information. In the mean time me dear husband is trying to think of the name of the movie "Oh, that's.. uh..it's ...uh... Apollo 7" with an excited snap of the fingers! "Now what was so exciting about Apollo 7 that they made a movie about it?" I asked. It slowly sank in and we both ended up laughing pretty hard, and today I keep remembering Apollo 7 and start laughing uncontrollably. Then to make matters even better I was telling my dear cousin who was over for lunch about the Apollo mix up and she in all seriousness not quite getting the mix up said "Wasn't it Apollo 11?" ....Huston we have a problem :o)

him or me?

Your Man...
1. Who is your man? Andrew John
2. How long have you been together? 5 years, married for 4
3. How long did you date? I guess we "officially" dated 4 months before we were engaged.
4. How old is your man? 28
5. Who eats more? Him
6. Who said "I love you" first? He did, I even told him i wasn't ready to say it and that was OK with him. He confidently said "you will be some day"
7. Who is taller? He is maybe 3 inches taller
8. Who sings better? Him.
9. Who is smarter? Definitely him. He's got street smarts! he's my hero!
10. Whose temper is worse? I win this one. He is good at diffusing rage fits by being funny
11. Who does the laundry? Me.
12. Who takes out the garbage? He does.
13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? We switch every once in awhile.
14. Who pays the bills? He does
15. Who is better with the computer? Depends, but he has more patience
16. Who mows the lawn? He does
17. Who cooks dinner? We tag team it.
18. Who drives when you are together? He does, i like to daydream
19. Who pays when you go out? He's a gentleman and he always gets the doors
20. Who is most stubborn? Me
21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Him. I am the stubborn one (see above)
22. Whose parents do you see the most? probably his. mine are about 10 hours but we end up seeing them about every 6 weeks it seems.
23. Who kissed who first? He did, but he kept asking and the moment was finally right on the ski lift in Keystone.
24. Who asked who out? Oh, he did, many times, I wasn't interested.
25. Who proposed? Andy did
26. Who is more sensitive? not sure, I am definitley more emotional
27. Who has more friends? He does
28. Who has more siblings? It's a tie we both have 3 siblings
29. Who wears the pants in the family? Andrew

I love him so much and I have recently been reminded of how short life can be. God can call a loved one home at anytime, so I am again challenged to live with no regrets and savor everyday I have with my dear husband.

rain rain go away

I intended to get a good start on this blog when I set it up, but it seems that that has not happened. Maybe I will end up being one of those once a month bloggers. So I painted an 'accent' wall in my living room orange-ish this past weekend. It is a fun cheery color to have and my next room is going get painted a shade of turquoise. I think it might end up being our bedroom, but it could be the bathroom not sure yet but something is getting painted!

i really started a blog

I can't believe I finally caved and started a blog. I have been thinking about it for awhile now, but writing has never been my thing. I thought this would be a good way to get some practice. Maybe no one will even want to read my blog.... but I now have one and I hope to update it periodically. We will see how this experiment goes.