some pictures

my time is limited these days.
between the holidays, MP, and all the other fun stuff in between, it's no wonder my naps are few and far between... hehhhe.


only a few days left on the Mandarin Pixie sale!
check it out... all the 'old' stamps are on sale, and the new stamps are fun fun fun!!
(and don't be shy... spread the word!! i had orders to Montana, and North Dakota this week!! FUN!!)

wanted to share a few pics before the next week slips me by.
baby Fin pics are coming soon :) (those pics get their own post)
all is well... and Fin is a bit on the 'big' side. imagine that :)


now for the pictures...

daddy's alumni hockey game :)
love going to these. reminds me of our dating years :)
and as lilly says "hi stinky daddy"



dancing with her new 'ipod' and princess phone from grandma and grandpa h.
she hasnt quite put either of these down.



setting out cookies for santa with aunt melissa.
i forget the exact wording of lilly's letter... something like, "here's some cookies. it's sugar." yep, pretty much. good stuff.



christmas morning at my parents.
although the amount of gifts is a bit amazing, we were mostly glad to have everyone together for christmas.




alright everyone, have a wonderful week!
im off to start updating the MP site and blog...

merry christmas, a little early.

Many of you have seen this picture, but wanted to share here too.
I thought this year would be a bit 'easier' to take pictures.
Not so much.
But, as always... we got one that works.
1 out of 70 isn't bad :)



Christmas brings so many joys, and this year has been so much a reminder of that.

Our dear friend Marge, passed away last night. She was 87. She had been in Hospice for about a month, so we knew the time would be soon, but it is still hard to say goodbye.

Our family met her about 15 years ago, when I started writing to her husband who was then a Hospice patient. I was in middle school at the time, and it was part of a service my Campfire group was doing. Who knew that she would turn out to be like a grandma to me, and a parent to my parents. Her husband, Jean, passed away over 10 years ago. They had no children of their own, so we became their family.

Here is the last picture we have of Marge and miss lilly :)



We will miss you Marge.
Thank you for being part of our lives.
We love you!

im still here...

this holiday season has got to be the busiest and most tiring for me yet.
im sure it will only get better :) right?

here are the most recent belly pics.




and one with the big sister belly :)



lilly is enjoying making up her own songs these days...
our favorite so far (and this one comes up over and over and over... to the same made up tune)

"i have a hangnail Jesus... i have a hangnail Jesus...."

yes.
you read correct.

she has also mastered peeling off the 'no bite' nail polish that we are trying to use in attempt to stop her from gnawing her fingernails and toenails. oh this girl.

another 'job' of hers right now is talking back, and telling daddy and mommy 'no'. this has meant many a time-outs in the past several days.

we have a feeling this 'terrible two' thing may last a bit longer than they say. thats ok though, we love our miss lillian, and wouldn't have it any other way.

stuff

hey eveyone.
life is busy busy for me right now.
but i'm still smiling :)

*my mom is home now, and doing well with her recovery. thank you to everyone for all the warm thoughts and prayers!!

*thanks for the bday wishes for dave, i wish i could take credit on that dessert, but that was actually a HUGE delicious brownie that my sister sent him :) is was tooo good!

*lilly is still a little snotty nose (literally), but we are hoping she is well soon! we've been watching a lot of 'santa saves christmas' to keep her entertained.

*check out the sale and the new stamps over at the store... MandarinPixie... only a few days left to get all the 'old' stamps at sale prices :)

oh and one picture to share... lilly with santa right before the OSU/Michigan game, in November... lol. (notice her buckeye necklace)



i had actually vowed not to get in the habit of pics with santa every year (we did get one on her 1st christmas...). but there was no line, and he kept calling her back for hugs, and she was so good for him, i couldnt resist a picture! plus, he is the best santa and the same one she had in her 1st picture :)

lilly is still talking about part of their conversation.

santa: i see you have a buckeye necklace!
me: ask santa if he likes the buckeyes.
lilly: do you like the buckeyes?
santa: oh yes, but i think the game is going to be too close. (in reference to the OSU/MI game)

so now every time anyone asks lilly about santa (or the buckeyes) she says...

"santa says, too close!"



she makes me smile :)

happy birthday

happy birthday to my best friend.

i appreciate all you do.

for the daddy that you are.
for working so hard in all that you do.
for supporting me.

i love you so much.
happy birthday :)

update

hi everyone,
just popping in for a quick update.

my mom is doing so good, they think she may be released tomorrow! truly amazing. i havent 'googled' what happend to her yet. not quite ready. all i know is the surgeon said it was divine intervention, all he did was sew, and that it is a miracle she is still here and so many 'other' complications didnt come up. other medical people have said that 'people don't survive aortic dissections'... still seems so unreal, but i am sooooo happy that everything worked out the way it did!! i know a lot of you have gone through losing loved ones, and/or having sick loved ones... and i admire all of you for being so strong.

im rude to ask this... but if anyone would like to send my mom a card, email me and i will get you some info. i know she would really enjoy some fun happy mail.

also... (((HUGS))) to all of you who placed MP orders. that REALLY made me feel so good, and i needed a little smile this weekend :) the orders are all packed and sitting on the counter to head out tomorrow!!

ok, im off to bed. i am exhausted, still running on adrenaline, or strength, or whatever kicked in last week. baby fin has been kicking more and more, and lilly has been wonderful (even though she has a nasty cough right now) so my babies, and my mom are my strength right now.


hugs to all of you!!

rainbows.

there is always a rainbow.
but crocs with socks in the rain, i wouldn't suggest.
especially when its cold outside :)

i am still in shock.
not really believing this is all going on.
i had never even heard of an aortic dissection.

my mom is a miracle.

i am so thankful that she is still here with us today.
i still have my mommy.
and lilly and the baby still have their grandma.
amazing.
thank you God.
i am so grateful.

(((HUGS))) to anyone who needs them.
'i love you' to anyone who needs to hear that.

thank you for all the support, prayers, thoughts... whatever ever it is that you are sending. we can feel it. and it's working :)


and i can't wait to tell all the 'deb on narcotics' stories.
those will have to wait. but they sure are good :)

i scrapped!

i finally scrapped.

i didnt journal, which is something i want to do better with, but i did scrap, which is more than i can say ive done in a long time.

scrapping was nice :) need to do this more...
used some new MP Stamps! they'll be available soon... december 1st! yeah :)



thanks for looking!!

giving thanks.

here are some things i am thankful for.

1. my husband
2. my baby girl
3. my baby fin
4. baby fin kicks and hearing that little heartbeat
5.these kids



6. this and this too
7. the shark (had to throw in a silly one, but i truly am thankful for this!)
8. my family
9. my friends
10. everything else that makes me smile

(oh... and #s 3, 4, 7, 13, 14, and 15 from my last post are done... #s 5, 6, 8, and 9 are half done... )

happy thanksgiving everyone :)

a list of sorts

here is a list of things i need to do and other things :)
im a lister... they are everywhere :)


1. the buckeys beat michigan!! GOOOOOOOO Bucks!!
1a. enjoyed watching lilly flirt with dave's 2 buddies that came over to watch the game.
1b. enjoyed the entire neigborhood shouting, setting off fireworks, and their car alarms to celebrate the Buckeye victory. (this town is crazy)
2. visited with IDOS friends this weekend :) VERY fun!
2a. took a nice nap today

and i went to a crop with erin friday night!!

(the things to do part...)
3. make a pumpkin pie
4. make a pecan pie
5. hard boil, and devil some eggs
6. cut out NEW MP stamps!!
7. post MP sneak peak to The MP Blog
8. cut out new rubber!!!! (oh duh, didnt i already say that?!?)
9. work on updating MP site for the Dec 1st new stamps and guest DT member :)
10. work on christmas gifts
11. work on birthday gifts
12. work on christmas cards
13. baby appointment tomorrow (don't forget to take pee sample... teehee)
14. call secret person about a secret... hehhehe
15. send pics to print before the holidays start and i have to print a billion pictures
16. not too much TV on this week, which should make for getting things done easier

we will see ;)

hello

the most recent belly shot...
a bit bigger than i was with lilly at this time... hehee.
not as cute as last time.
i know, that's normal.























we had a beautiful day last week, so nice to get the kids outside.
here is the normal 'smile' i get from the booster :)























ok, not too much to this post, just havent blogged in a while.
ill try to come up with something more interesting next time :)

happy day all :)

mmmmmm

i've been cooking dinner.
that is good. means i must be feeling better.

tonight...
sesame western pork ribs (in the crock pot)
au gratin potatoes (homemade, not from the box)

last night...
bruschetta chicken bake

sunday...
coke roast (in the bean pot... YUMMM)
oreo cheese cake bars (i've eaten half the 9x13 sheet myself)


i'm starting to like food again, which makes me happy.
not to mention reece's cups, sunkist gummi chew things... and coffee.

yes... went to meijer last night.
smelled coffee.
had to have some.
i don't drink coffee.
but now have 2 cans of sugar free, caffeine free, instant coffee in my cupboard.
mocha and french vanilla.

and i will happily admit my addiction to Taco Bell bean burritos.
heheheheheh.
i'll be asking for gift cards for christmas :)


anyone have any good recipes to share?

gorgeous wedding.

ive been meaning to post some of these pics for a while.
these are from a wedding and reception of a friend from elementary school:)

the wedding... gorgeous.
the reception... so much fun.
both truly unique and absolutely stunning...

congratulations jessica and mike!

the weekend is here

even though im not a 'working' woman anymore... i still do love the weekends :)

dave and i went out to dinner all by ourselves tonight.
very nice :) enjoyable... ate way too much, but still had dessert.

i love thursday nights just as much :)
we watch grey's anatomy now, couldnt not join in.
we also watch the OC. the new season started last night.
unlike the rest of the civilized world, we dont have DVR, TiVO...
we do however have 2 TVs and VCRs.

so, we taped grey's upstairs, and watch the OC in the basement.
hehehhe...



also, big sale going on over at the store... Mandarin Pixie
check it out :)

geisha girl

here she is...
the littlest geisha :)

kimono, shoes, and umbrella.
straight from china town.

not sure how we will top this costume.
love it. love it. love it.






hugs to grandma, grandpa, and aunt melissa for making her so stinkin cute :)

laugh.

she makes me laugh.
if nothing else does, she will :)

here are 2 conversations from tonight...

conversation A. {lilly in bathtub... me wearing a bowling green tshirt, with orange lettering}

lilly: wass your shirt say?
me: bowling green.
lilly: no! it says home depot!

conversation B. {lilly, just having gone poopy in the toliet, and admiring her work}
lilly (to daddy): chicken nuggets!


infact, she likes to name her poopy, and does so pretty well.

she does this often, though this is the 1st time dave got to experience it on his own. (i think he was beginning to think that i was the one handing out the titles...)

here are some other names, all appropriately given.

"snake!"
"2 snakes!"
"alligator..." (must have had peas for dinner...)


she is a fun one :)

this weekend

first, thanks for all the happy wishes on our happy news!!
we will keep everyone posted :)

this weekend... was good!

friday night i got to crop with erin! (dave took lilly to the OSU hockey game.)
i have not scrapped in a LONG time, it felt nice :)
i did 2 LOs and 10 recipe swap LOs...

























my mom came for the weekend, which was fun:)
-we shopped.
-watched a movie.
-folded laundry.
-went to my grandma's.
-ate oreos.
-took a nap.
-made chili.
-got very COOL (i mean, VERY cool) wrapping paper at old navy... clearanced for $1.25.

you know, all the fun stuff (in no particular order).

im taking vitamin B6 (as recommended by my OB) and seem to be feeling better (knock-on-wood)
also have some new comfy cute jeans from my mommy :) so that makes me feel better too :)

have a great week everyone!!

new pics :)

here are a few 'new' pictures :)

10 things that make me smile.

katie is always posting tuesday 10 lists on her blog.
i think they are fun to read.
so here is a list of 10 from me :)
mine are a bit more random...
but they do make me smile at the moment.


10 things that make me smile.
1. caramel apples
2. milk duds in trick or treat portions
3. strawberry shortcake ice cream on a stick things
4. healthy choice ice cream sandwiches
5. potatoes
6. getting to crop this friday!
7. lilly's conversations (which are too too funny...)
8. fall TV (even if half the shows i watch aren't on right now due to sports)
9. visiting with friends in BG
10. going to a wedding of a friend i met in elementary school (a beautiful wedding... hope to post pics sooner or later)



and im glad to know that 7 people read and left comments on my last blog post :) thanks ladies... it is nice to know that someone is reading. (((HUGS)))


happy week :)

hello.

ah. are you there?
anyone reading this?
so, im know im not so exciting these days...

no great scrappy stampy work to show...
no crazy work or life stories.

barely any comments on my posts...
ah that's ok... i'll blog to humor myself :)

maybe ive been booted off your blog reading, blogline lists... lol.
(if you dont have bloglines yet, and you read a lot of blogs... you will really enjoy having it!)


so anyways... still feeling cruddy, but i've actually managed to cook 2 nights in a row... (something i don't think has happened in the past 2 months...)

here is the recipe to last night's meal... courtesy of Martha :)

Spaghetti Carbonara

very tasty. very simple. and it seemed better for you than fettucine alfredo (another one of my favorites...)

tonight i made Reuben's... our way (which really isnt 'our' way, but the way of a lady i used to teach with...) here's how you stack it up.

*rye bread (buttered on one side)
*corned beef
*swiss cheese
*coleslaw (that's the sneaky part... instead of sauerkraut...EWWWW)
*thousand island dressing
*rye bread (buttered on one side)

Grilled in a big pan on the stove... delicious!! I could eat this once a week!

alright, so there you go... another boring post by me :)
so those of you who enjoy food, may have something to reply about :)

happy week everyone :)


oh, and forgot to say... our almost FREE dale and thomas popcorn came the other day. now we are on popcorn overload... and that is a good thing :)