OK, finally!!

(A fair warning-blogger is having a hiatus and won't let me post photos, so those will come soon!) It's clearly been awhile since I last posted...I'm back on the wagon now. Things have been a little crazy around here. M hosted a Prom Fashion and Expo Show at school with over 40 vendors and 500 in attendance, G is busy at work trying to see where this economy is going to take him, and K has been developing her speech and personality by leaps and bounds. That nursery rhyme "No more monkeys jumping on the bed" is coming back to haunt us as she likes to shake her little finger and say "no, no, no!" It's cute though...she hasn't done it maliciously yet, maybe that's why it is still cute! G turned 29 on the 16th and we found out that a cousin in CA gave birth to a beautiful baby boy! M is still working on plans for prom this year along with her Juni0r class. It has been far more work than our wedding. It's only about a month away- then all the hours will pay off.
For Easter weekend we went up to spend some time with grandpa
L and nana on Saturday. We went out for a delicious dinner and then went to church on Sunday and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast. Then we headed up to great grandmas for a Easter dinner. It was so good to see her and she looked great! K showed off her pretty dress and played until she tuckered herself out! You would think then that she might zonk in the car...oh no! No sleepy, sleepy! We stopped at grandma and grandpa W's too on the way back from WI and there she was wound up again playing with her cousins. She slept really well that night!
This was M's spring break so Mon-Tuesday we went down to Indy to see some friends. K was reunited with her first love- Jakob!
Wed M and her niece and nephews went to Medieval Times! SO MUCH FUN!
Th-Fri Cousin Courtney came over and Saturday and Sunday we all tried to get some R&R!
K had her pictures taken...you'll be getting them soon!
That's all for now!! Hopefully I'll keep you posted more often! :)

We ARE Special

We are so glad that we broke the bank to go to Farve's last home game! We saw the legend have a great game, his receivers catch incredibly tense passes and best of all, we saw the greatest man who walked on the field in Lambeau (in my opinion) high five the ref as he exited for the last time with a huge grin and frozen face! They defeated a conference rival and held their heads high as they finished a strong season. It was amazing- even more so now that we know what we know. HE IS A LEGEND! Go Pack Go!

Couple weeks in Pictures...

I'm not in the mood to write a whole lot. Still really sore from the surgery. But here are some pictures from a couple birthday parties, 18 month doctor appointment, hanging around the house and what-not! Enjoy!

Me and Daddy...
Grandpa L and K were cooking up a storm!

Foil is fun!
Chillin' on stairs with my valentine's shirt from Grandma W.
I've discovered with my little stool I can see what mom and dad are up to in the kitchen!
My 18 month appointment with Dr Miller... K was playing doctor when he came in! She was above the 95th percentile in height, and just below the 50th percentile in weight.
K, Keirsten and Jacob were eating a frosted cookie for dessert!
Cousin Clay doesn't normally have red eyes, but here are some Bionicles he got for his birthday. He had a great party and received some awesome gifts! Happy Birthday!


K and Carter will talking about the good ol' days...really I think they were scheming up an idea to take over the adults!

Picutres!

Taking one block at a time.... This was me after my first day at my new daycare! Love the hat- thank cousin Courtney!

I'm soooooooooo bbbbiiigggg on my 1 1/2 birthday!
Daddy and I play on the floor and make silly faces!
Mommy got this bowl and spatula out and we were mixin' up a treat!
It was VERY cold outside, so K thought she'd get Molly dressed as well!
K LOVES books...here she is learning her colors...and picking out her future car...obviosuly she's got a little influence from Aunt Heidi

Be My Valentine Brett Favre!
This is how I roll in my "crib"!
Grandma W played with me and nursed me back to health when I was home sick for a week! Grandma W even taught me to wipe Elmo's nose just like mine! Grandpa W gave me lots of lovins' when I was sick! I love you!

Check out these two! Ahh...the influences of a Godparent!

Babies and a CAT

Where do I start:
Well, K is doing much better now that her antibiotics have taken course. She started a new daycare last week and so far so good. She loves the fact the daycare has animals...including two love birds. She is growing so fast. In two days she will be One and a Half! So exciting! She is definitely signing more and trying to talk to us in her language :) We were SO LUCKY to have grandma W come and take care of K for a week while she was in transition between day cares and while she was ill with a double ear infection and bronchiolitis. I think K missed grandma W and playing all day long in her own domain!
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Thursday, cousin Mikey tried his hand at building his own fort. Like the Egyptians building pyramids, he darn near killed himself doing so. In a quirky five year old's mind, there seems to be a need for a 4x4 on top of the swing set to make a great fort. So as any other crazy five year old would do, he pushed a 4x4 up the slide and onto the top of the swing set. Apparently when he himself reached the top, there was just too much temptation- "I must slide with this enormous hunk of dangerous wood"- not so sure those were his famous last thoughts, however, knowing Mike it can't be too far off. Well the 4x4 was longer than Mike was tall. So the 4x4 touched ground before Mike and the hunk of wood stopped Mike in his tracks by striking his cranium. That's right folks, the 4x4 slammed into his head. Needless to say, Mike wasn't quite the same. So off the ER they went and one CAT scan and Cars coloring page later, they found that he in fact 1. has a brain that developed that great idea and 2. the fore-said brain was not bleeding. Hooray! Aunt Heidi and I are sitting together talking about this on Sunday waiting for Michelle and the kids to arrive and in comes Mikey. No battle wound- just a bad haircut!
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This past weekend Cousin Brian came down from WI and hung out with us. Friday night was quite eventful with K's tirades to go to sleep and Saturday they went over to Uncle Gary's house to play some Wii. G and Brian had a great time and they were all able to catch up with one another. While the boys were out to play, M and K stayed at home and had a great time themselves! This would be the first time ever that K got a diaper and laid down for me to change it on her very own! I thought I was going to crap myself when I saw her do that- not once, but twice! Sunday when we went to grandma and grandpa's there was no displaying of this talent. I must keep it in my precious memories I guess.
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As most of you know, our family has been blessed with a new baby last August, a brand new bambino a couple of weeks ago, Gary and Erica are expecting in June and now just yesterday we found out that my beloved sister Heidi is expecting in September!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited! The last baby on my side of the family besides K is wonder Mike! So it's been a while for me to have a new niece or nephew on my side! I'm thrilled to be a new aunt TWICE this year! I can't wait to shower them with love! Congrats Heidi and Bryan! K is going to just love having a cousin her age on our side! (Heidi asked wonder Mike what he thought they should name the baby and he said "mike" that was turned down faster than you can spit it out and then his second suggestion was "grandpa"- the kid would definitely be the only "grandpa" in kindergarten!)
Please keep all these babies and mommies in your prayers!
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I will post pictures soon! :) Love all of you!

Beautiful Bouncing Baby Boy!

I was excited to hear last week (Thursday) that our cousins had their baby! Congrats Anne and Grant! Andrew Grant is perfect! Welcome to the family big guy!

Ramblings of a teacher...

This week has been crazy to say the least. We had several inches of snow melt in less than 2 days with 60 degree weather. On top of that, we got rain dumped on us and many of the roads around here were closed due to flooding. On Monday, a very interesting turn of events occurred. First, one of my students came to tell me all about her break and the fact that she got a new car for Christmas. I was excited for her...she's a great girl! Then, during my 3rd Mod class a student was crying telling me that her community was flooded and that the fire department had to bring boats out to their trailers just to get them to safety. It amazes me- the diversity at my school. There are students that come from multi-million dollar homes in "OD" and ones that don't have a home, or ones whose homes are a wreck. I just gave a presentation to our faculty on Povertyin Decemeber. The most interesting thing is that everyone in every economical class can be in poverty if you consider all resources- financial, emotional, support systems, spiritual, etc. And truly to make a complete assessment you'll have to consider all resources. This makes teaching complex- their resources or lack there of, makes teaching the various levels compounded. However, there is nothing like being greeted back to work by tons of students telling me they missed me and couldn't wait to talk again. Sure does make it all worth it! I'm going to miss them as well after this semester- which ends next week after their finals. :(

All GOOD must come to an END

(SORRY ABOUT THE PICTURE LAYOUT...didn't turn out quite how I had hoped!)
Ugh...break is over. Back to the grind tomorrow. It was a gratifying break with all of us home hanging out together, getting each other sicker than sick and of course playing and sharing LOTS of laughs together!
This past weekend we went to Uncle Gary's house. G helped him, his dad, Aunt Erica's brother-in-law and her dad put up some drywall down in their basement. Uncle G created two bedrooms down there for the boys and it looks great! They seemed to move a little slower today, but they got about 95% of it put up. Of course Aunt E had some incredible food to share with everyone there- thanks again! M and K visited upstairs with Aunt E, her mom, sister, niece and Miss Diane while the boys were hard at work!








It was so nice to visit with all of them again because we hadn't seen them for a couple of months and M was so grateful to pick Aunt E's sister's brain about little girls. (She has one that will be turning 4 soon!) Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your advice :) Saturday night grandpa and Miss Diane were able to stay over, although it was straight to bed for us as we were all done in! We went out for a yummy breakfast (thank you again for your generosity:) ) and then back to work! M was quite impressed at what they were able to get done this weekend considering just about every piece of drywall had cuts!
K was running around, looking at fish and being goofy. She thought that was just so funny to get everyone to laugh! She was quite the character today from the moment she woke up :)


She enjoyed a few books with Miss Diane...Sesame Street, of course!

























Tonight after her bath she was still in a kooky mood so we couldn't pass up a few good pics!



Uhhh...my hair isn't camera ready! Give me a freakin' shirt at least people!


Check out these set of chompers! I CAN destroy things with one bite...i.e. fingers and Molly!

My new popular face! I can get anyone to laugh at this great new trick! :)

Pictures! Pictures! Pictures!

There is so much to talk about from the past 2 weeks... lots of family and friends, parties, visits, CHRISTMAS and of course the PACKERS GAME!

Here are some pictures to recap...

Here my students are working on their own Gingerbread houses...

Our Beautiful Christmas Tree

K running through her new tunnel/tent from Santa

Uncle Gary and Aunt Erica's kids working on their Gingerbread houses! "One piece for the house, three for me..."

K mingling with guests at the "L" family Christmas party

"Lemme' check out this camera of yours Ms. Diane!"

Cute coin purse Uncle Roy! I could work this comb in that hair of yours...just hold still!

What could be in here? I'll have this open in 2 seconds!

GO PACK GO! PACKERS WIN!!! 34-13 over the Detroit Lions!

Here we are all bundled up! Not too bad for a self-snap shot of us at the game!

We had an awesome time there! It was incredible and the team played great!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Three WISE Men

The story of the Three Wise Men, Magi, is so inspirational. They heard the good news that Christ, the King of Jews, was born and followed the Star of Bethlehem. They came bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They came bearing gifts because unto us a child was born and this child would be the King of Jews. The gifts were fitting for a king: myrrh being commonly used as an anointing oil, frankincense as a perfume, and gold as a valuable.
This weekend we will be gathering and exchanging gifts with family and friends near and far. We may not have gifts fit for a king, but all were selected with love. We are looking forward to seeing everyone and will anxiously await watching them open their individual gifts. For our little family, giving gifts means so much! To have everyone at our house makes it that much more special. THIS IS CHRISTMAS! Nothing is better. We pray for safe travels and a good time!
The Three WISE men came bearing gifts for a very special reason- celebrate the season!

HOW SAD

I had a wonderful job in high school as a waitress at Schoop's in M'ville. My assistant manager, who was the most amazing, caring and thoughtful co-worker, was murdered yesterday morning. So sad. Her grandson is in one of my classes and until this tragic event, we didn't know of eachother's connection to her. I pray that her family and friends find peace and that the killer be rightfully tried and held accountable for this brutal crime.

Bah Humbug!

Purdue’s football team “earned” the chance to play at a bowl this season. However, don’t get too excited. Location: DETROIT! Seriously. Sad.
Just about every other bowl game is in a warm destination, with the exception of Boise, ID and the International Bowl, which takes place in Toronto. There’s San Diego, New Mexico, Las Vegas, Charlotte, etc…not to mention that these incredible vacation destinations are NO WHERE to be found on the most dangerous cities in America list whereas Detroit always represents at the TOP! Although this bowl game is close (if you call a four hour drive close) we’ve already seen Purdue play Central Michigan – nothing new to be seen. And the $45 ticket price isn’t enticing enough to take our family into a crime-ridden area. Instead we will watch it in the comfort of our home, warm and cozy. Hot cocoa and bon bons. Why expose K to a society that lives in fear, has police stationed around and little respect for authority and others? Besides, even sporting events in Detroit aren't known for nice family gatherings either- need I remind you the the wicked brawl at the NBA game Pistons vs. the Pacers...us Indiana folks aren't favorites up in that area! No thank you, I would much rather stay at home.
IU have fun in AZ! WI rock it in Tampa! MI- Orlando is calling your name! U of I represent at the Rose Bowl! OHIO STATE bring the big one home to the BIG TEN!!! And Purdue- do whatever it is you plan to do in the beautiful City of Crime! Buckle up and lock up!

Pearly Whites...

G and I have been working with K on brushing her teeth. Well the other day she just took charge...SHE BRUSHED HER OWN TEETH! Like literally put the toothbrush in and scrubbed those little "toofers"! I was impressed as she did just about as good as we could have done ourselves! The fun and adoration came to a screaming halt when she then tried to brush our teeth! YUCK!

OOPS!

I forgot to mention my beautiful sister's anniversary on Saturday! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY HEIDI AND BRYAN!!! I love you! But remember Heidi, my purpose was to play and entertain you as a child...not to be a calendar keeper :) I played hard and entertained willfully too I must say!

Happy Happy Day!!

Happy Anniversary Aunt Erica and Uncle Gary!
AND
Happy Birthday Aunt Erica!

We hope your day was special for both of you!

We love you LOTS!

HaPpY TUrKeY DaY!!!