Hi - sorry it's been a while again. Not feeling too bloggy lately. This is usually my absolute favorite time of year, but I'm not really feeling it this year. I have no lights up outside, not much up inside, didn't really enjoy shopping this year and have not baked a singe cookie - although I do have a cookie exchange tomorrow, so that is my plan for tonight on top of bidding a job due tomorrow morning. I think that living so far, yet trying to still please everyone all the time with seeing us (read: Justin) is catching up with me. It's one thing to do it, have fun and enjoy our time while we're away. Lately it just seems like no matter how hard we try we are not pleasing everyone. I guess I'm going to have to let go of that guilt feeling because it's really taking a toll.
Quick updates:
*Justin is good - he had fun in Michigan with G&G Brooks. Highlights include ice skating for the first time, playing in the snow, helping Grandpa plow, seeing Grandma Ellen & Grandpa Don. Lowlight include an incident with Taylor - their 15 year old crabby chocolate lab. It looks so bad and I had a picture appt scheduled for this week...scrap that idea. I got him Mederma today becuase I have heard that is supposed to be the best to avoid scars - $29.99 for a little tube! Seems like a rip off, but if it works it's worth it.
*He is loving his new hockey toys he found in the attic while in MI. They used to be Rob's and he loves them.
*He has 2 favorite movies - hockey monkey (which Katie/Josh & Evan/Sandy got to watch last night!) and the Grinch cartoon. He also loves Mickey Mouse and Little Einsteins.
*I'm sure there is more, but Rob just called and I forgot he doesn't have a car seat in his car so I have to go pick him up....and he'll probably be the last one. I feel like a terrible mom lately :(
Monday, December 15, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
The Hills 12-9-08
Hello! Sorry it's been a while again - that time of year! Work is busy, we have not all been healthy and we have had a full schedule :)
Friday night we went to a hockey game; the Rivermen beat Chicago twice in a week...that has never happened! Saturday I woke up and didn't feel very well so my wonderful husband let me sleep in!!! After we got ready we met the Gibson's at the planetarium for the Holiday Lights laser show and then we went to the knock-off build a bear place that is going out of business (see pics below!) and then we went to Longhorn Steakhouse....yummy! After dinner it was back to hockey...they won in a shoot out - what a great game! They are only one point out of first place! I am glad that we have something in town that all 3 of us enjoy and we have fun doing it!
Sunday we drove to Schaumburg and met Grandma Brooks & Godsie and they took Justin back to Michigan for the week. Rob and I then went to Oakbrook for my company Christmas party - a good time was had by all! They do gift baskets and this year I got an ipod nano. I already have one, but it can be returned and I have $150 to spend at Best Buy! We stayed at the Hyatt after that...super nice hotel for $72 - gotta love Hotwire! We came home Monday morning and we have been busy with work ever since!
Saturday we are going back to Michigan for Christmas at Rob's grandparents house - this is with Kent's extended family. We have gone the last 4 years and it's fun to see his uncles....we usually only see them once a year so there is always a lot to catch up on!
Rob is on his way to my office now - he's going to hang my bulletin board and then we are off to hopefully finish our Christmas shopping!
Oh, and what a proud day for Illinois - Blago gets arrested. What a class act.
Justin getting his elephant stuffed.
Putting his elephant through the "bath".
Luke getting his dog stuffed...he later named him "elephant" :)
Friday night we went to a hockey game; the Rivermen beat Chicago twice in a week...that has never happened! Saturday I woke up and didn't feel very well so my wonderful husband let me sleep in!!! After we got ready we met the Gibson's at the planetarium for the Holiday Lights laser show and then we went to the knock-off build a bear place that is going out of business (see pics below!) and then we went to Longhorn Steakhouse....yummy! After dinner it was back to hockey...they won in a shoot out - what a great game! They are only one point out of first place! I am glad that we have something in town that all 3 of us enjoy and we have fun doing it!
Sunday we drove to Schaumburg and met Grandma Brooks & Godsie and they took Justin back to Michigan for the week. Rob and I then went to Oakbrook for my company Christmas party - a good time was had by all! They do gift baskets and this year I got an ipod nano. I already have one, but it can be returned and I have $150 to spend at Best Buy! We stayed at the Hyatt after that...super nice hotel for $72 - gotta love Hotwire! We came home Monday morning and we have been busy with work ever since!
Saturday we are going back to Michigan for Christmas at Rob's grandparents house - this is with Kent's extended family. We have gone the last 4 years and it's fun to see his uncles....we usually only see them once a year so there is always a lot to catch up on!
Rob is on his way to my office now - he's going to hang my bulletin board and then we are off to hopefully finish our Christmas shopping!
Oh, and what a proud day for Illinois - Blago gets arrested. What a class act.
Justin getting his elephant stuffed.
Putting his elephant through the "bath".
Luke getting his dog stuffed...he later named him "elephant" :)
Monday, December 08, 2008
Justin decorating his tree.....after eating spaghetti.
We need to remember to clean his face before we use the good camera!
Thursday, December 04, 2008
On the mend....we hope?
As soon as we got home from Michigan, I started feeling sick. I got a really sore throat and finally went to the doctor to get a strep test - it was negative! I was so happy. She said I have tonsilitis, but I can live with that....I am feeling fine doped up on Motrin. Justin has been digging at his ear, so I made him an appointment for next week. He woke up in the middle of the night telling us his neck hurt and then that his tummy hurt. Rob and I kept him home from school, but then he seemed better mid-morning so we took him in. He had a bad diahrea but seemed a little better tonight. I really, really, really hope that his tubes are both still in. We have not even paid off the last bill yet :(
I have a few cute pictures of him putting up his Christmas tree tonight (his little 3' one in his room) with hockey player ornaments - I will try to get them up tomorrow!
Good night!
I have a few cute pictures of him putting up his Christmas tree tonight (his little 3' one in his room) with hockey player ornaments - I will try to get them up tomorrow!
Good night!
Thankful.....
Since I only had a day between Vegas and Michigan, I didn't get a chance to do my "Things I am Thankful For" list last week. Better late than never....and in no particular order :)
*Our son - I can't even put into words how much we love him. He is funny, smart, energetic and reminds us about the important things in life. He does not care if I have no make-up on, the house is a mess, the dishes are piled up, etc. He loves us unconditionally and teaches us to see life through the innocence of a child. I am so excited this Christmas that he actually understands some of what is going on. I have the best Christmas memories from growing up and I hope that Rob and I can create some that he will look back on and smile when he has his own kids someday.
*My husband - my best friend, my love, the best daddy in the world. I don't know what I would do without you. We share in eachothers joys and you are there for me when I need to cry/vent/be sad...and usually end up making me laugh :) I love you.
*My parents - you have shown me how marriage should be. Anyone can be happy when times are great and smooth sailing. You have shown the boys and I what unconditional love is....not something that most kids have the benefit of these day. You are the best Gramma Airplane and Papa in the world; Justin adores both of you. I wish the miles didn't keep us so far apart, but we'll make it through!
*My siblings - rarely does a week go by that I don't talk to my brothers and my now sister! I wish I would have listened to my parents 15-20 years ago when they told us that someday we would like eachother. We wasted a lot of time living in the same house and not wanting to be together...now we drive hours on end just to see eachother for a day (or a few hours!). Justin talks about you guys all of the time - he loves his un-kles :) I love you guys!
*My grandparents - all of you! I am very, very, very fortunate to still have all of my grandparents...and a great-grandma! Up until high school, I had 5 great grandparents living. Not many people have that treasure. I am so glad that Justin is growing up with so many loving grandparents too!
*My family - aunts, uncles, cousins, and everyone in between! Our family has stayed so close over the years and I know that we can count on eachother for anything. Even though we live in many different cities/states now, we still make an effort to all get together and that means the world to me!
*My in-laws - Kent, Sue, Kurt, Godsie, Buzzy, etc. You have welcomed me into your family with open arms since Rob and I met. If we are even in a pinch you guys are willing to drop anything and help us out...it is truly appreciated and not taken for granted! You are so good to Justin; he loves coming to the country :)
*My friends - make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold. I never really understood that when I was younger, but that is becuase there was not a difference between the two. Now it is perfectly clear. It goes back to childhood friends like Kristi. We don't talk as much as we used to, but we can still pick up on a conversation right where we left off. Then there are the college friends; nights we will never remember with friends we will never forget :) And now Rob and I are so lucky to have the friends we do; especially K&J - life here would not be the same without you.
*My job - I am so fortunate to have a job that I truly love. A job that allows me to do engineering, sales, golf, dining out and most importantly be a mommy with a flexible schedule...all the while paying a few bills along the way.
*Health - knock on wood here. Sure we have ear infections, colds, etc. but we have been VERY fortunate health-wise; especially for the size of our family. On Thanksgiving we lost my Uncle Bo to cancer. He will always be remembered as the barking uncle - he had a dog bark down to a pat and he would always scare the kids :) For my great-grandma having 11 kids, and most of them having kids and so on we have been very lucky as far as health and longevity!
*Home - Everynight we do prayers with Justin. After we read them from his book, we do "special prayer" where we let him bless anything he wants to. Not too long after we started doing this, he would of course do the whole family, the dogs, hockey, etc. and then one night he said "home". That made Rob and I smile. We really have found our home. We've moved a lot in the last few years, but finally it feels like we are home. We love our jobs, our house, our town, our friends and life in general in Central Illinois.
*PALS - Justin's daycare. I can't say enough good things about this place. Sure it's a beautiful building with a nice playground, great security and such but it's the people that make it so special. Ericka and Stephanie are so good with Justin. We know he's probably not the easiest child in class (read: bully), but they are so good with him and they really give us piece of mind when we are at work. I am glad that I have gotten to be friends with his teachers...they are truly special people!
*This blog! If it were not for this blog, I would have lost touch with a lot of friends from college. I am closer to some of you than I was at Tech, but it's the bond of going to a small school and knowing everyone that is really special. Sure college was fun - drink, taco bell, sleep, class, repeat - but now is when it's really nice to have friends like you to share thoughts, ideas, hard times, good times and everything between with!
Okay, so this got really long - but it really comes from the heart. I am going to be printing all of these blogs and the comments that follow and put them in a binder for Justin for when he is older. I want him to know the things that I am thankful for and how lucky he is to have such a loving family/friends.
*Our son - I can't even put into words how much we love him. He is funny, smart, energetic and reminds us about the important things in life. He does not care if I have no make-up on, the house is a mess, the dishes are piled up, etc. He loves us unconditionally and teaches us to see life through the innocence of a child. I am so excited this Christmas that he actually understands some of what is going on. I have the best Christmas memories from growing up and I hope that Rob and I can create some that he will look back on and smile when he has his own kids someday.
*My husband - my best friend, my love, the best daddy in the world. I don't know what I would do without you. We share in eachothers joys and you are there for me when I need to cry/vent/be sad...and usually end up making me laugh :) I love you.
*My parents - you have shown me how marriage should be. Anyone can be happy when times are great and smooth sailing. You have shown the boys and I what unconditional love is....not something that most kids have the benefit of these day. You are the best Gramma Airplane and Papa in the world; Justin adores both of you. I wish the miles didn't keep us so far apart, but we'll make it through!
*My siblings - rarely does a week go by that I don't talk to my brothers and my now sister! I wish I would have listened to my parents 15-20 years ago when they told us that someday we would like eachother. We wasted a lot of time living in the same house and not wanting to be together...now we drive hours on end just to see eachother for a day (or a few hours!). Justin talks about you guys all of the time - he loves his un-kles :) I love you guys!
*My grandparents - all of you! I am very, very, very fortunate to still have all of my grandparents...and a great-grandma! Up until high school, I had 5 great grandparents living. Not many people have that treasure. I am so glad that Justin is growing up with so many loving grandparents too!
*My family - aunts, uncles, cousins, and everyone in between! Our family has stayed so close over the years and I know that we can count on eachother for anything. Even though we live in many different cities/states now, we still make an effort to all get together and that means the world to me!
*My in-laws - Kent, Sue, Kurt, Godsie, Buzzy, etc. You have welcomed me into your family with open arms since Rob and I met. If we are even in a pinch you guys are willing to drop anything and help us out...it is truly appreciated and not taken for granted! You are so good to Justin; he loves coming to the country :)
*My friends - make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold. I never really understood that when I was younger, but that is becuase there was not a difference between the two. Now it is perfectly clear. It goes back to childhood friends like Kristi. We don't talk as much as we used to, but we can still pick up on a conversation right where we left off. Then there are the college friends; nights we will never remember with friends we will never forget :) And now Rob and I are so lucky to have the friends we do; especially K&J - life here would not be the same without you.
*My job - I am so fortunate to have a job that I truly love. A job that allows me to do engineering, sales, golf, dining out and most importantly be a mommy with a flexible schedule...all the while paying a few bills along the way.
*Health - knock on wood here. Sure we have ear infections, colds, etc. but we have been VERY fortunate health-wise; especially for the size of our family. On Thanksgiving we lost my Uncle Bo to cancer. He will always be remembered as the barking uncle - he had a dog bark down to a pat and he would always scare the kids :) For my great-grandma having 11 kids, and most of them having kids and so on we have been very lucky as far as health and longevity!
*Home - Everynight we do prayers with Justin. After we read them from his book, we do "special prayer" where we let him bless anything he wants to. Not too long after we started doing this, he would of course do the whole family, the dogs, hockey, etc. and then one night he said "home". That made Rob and I smile. We really have found our home. We've moved a lot in the last few years, but finally it feels like we are home. We love our jobs, our house, our town, our friends and life in general in Central Illinois.
*PALS - Justin's daycare. I can't say enough good things about this place. Sure it's a beautiful building with a nice playground, great security and such but it's the people that make it so special. Ericka and Stephanie are so good with Justin. We know he's probably not the easiest child in class (read: bully), but they are so good with him and they really give us piece of mind when we are at work. I am glad that I have gotten to be friends with his teachers...they are truly special people!
*This blog! If it were not for this blog, I would have lost touch with a lot of friends from college. I am closer to some of you than I was at Tech, but it's the bond of going to a small school and knowing everyone that is really special. Sure college was fun - drink, taco bell, sleep, class, repeat - but now is when it's really nice to have friends like you to share thoughts, ideas, hard times, good times and everything between with!
Okay, so this got really long - but it really comes from the heart. I am going to be printing all of these blogs and the comments that follow and put them in a binder for Justin for when he is older. I want him to know the things that I am thankful for and how lucky he is to have such a loving family/friends.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Thanksgiving - Part II
Here are some more pictures from Thanksgiving!
If you want to see the rest of them, here is the link (click on pic below of grandpa and justin):
Grandpa Kent trying the Wii fit (btw - thank you GG Brooks for sending one home with us!!!! We love it!)
He's lucky I didn't video tape his hula hoop skills :)
Godsie carving the turkey and Ashley supervising!
Godsie and Bob
Grandpa Kent and Justin on the four-wheeler. I wanted Justin to wear a helmet because I'm a chicken, but they only went a few mph :)
Grandpa, Justin and Ashley playing Kurt & Rob's old rod hockey game....Grandpa and Justin played this for HOURS this weekend!
Godsie, Sue and Rob planning our black friday attack!
Grandpa Kent, Bob and Justin (on the sled) walking over to Godsie & Bob's new polebarn / apartment
This is when we got home - Godsie sent our Christmas gifts and Rob put them under the tree. Before the car was unpacked we all knew what we got....Justin likes to open gifts!
Hockey - go figure.
The dogs....and you can see the snow we came home to! Yeah :) It finally felt like the holidays!
If you want to see the rest of them, here is the link (click on pic below of grandpa and justin):
 |
| Thanksgiving in MI |
Grandpa Kent trying the Wii fit (btw - thank you GG Brooks for sending one home with us!!!! We love it!)
He's lucky I didn't video tape his hula hoop skills :)
Godsie carving the turkey and Ashley supervising!
Godsie and Bob
Grandpa Kent and Justin on the four-wheeler. I wanted Justin to wear a helmet because I'm a chicken, but they only went a few mph :)
Grandpa, Justin and Ashley playing Kurt & Rob's old rod hockey game....Grandpa and Justin played this for HOURS this weekend!
Godsie, Sue and Rob planning our black friday attack!
Grandpa Kent, Bob and Justin (on the sled) walking over to Godsie & Bob's new polebarn / apartment
This is when we got home - Godsie sent our Christmas gifts and Rob put them under the tree. Before the car was unpacked we all knew what we got....Justin likes to open gifts!
Hockey - go figure.
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you.....
....Happy Birthday to Papa, Happy Birthday to you!!!!
We love you so much....hope you had a great day and enjoyed your steaks on the grill :)
Here are some pictures of your favorite little person to make you smile on your special day!
Thanksgiving Weekend - part 1
Okay, so it's really part 2 of the weekend, but the memory card from our new camera won't read in my computer so I will have to do those at home tonight!
We had a fun time in Big Rapids for Thanksgiving. It was nice to have more than a day to hang out! Our drive home got a little snowy and we had bad roads, but Daddy got us home safe! I started not feeling well on the way home and found out yesterday that I have tonsilitis, but I guess that is what I get for running myself ragged between Vegas and Michigan!
These pics are from Friday and Saturday. Friday Grandma Brooks got us tickets for the Griffins game in GR. Rob, Justin, Kent, Bob, Kurt & Ashley had tickets for the game and then at the last minute I decided to go, so I called Uncle Ry and Aunt Manda and they met me there. We were still able to get seats by everyone else so it worked out good! Saturday Rob has his alumni hockey game in BR and then we went out to the bar after - Ry and Manda met us up there to go out too...fun times :)
Justin at the Griffins game Friday night. Aunt Manda would put popcorn on the floor for him to hit with the hockey stick :)
Justin in the new Griffins shirt and new hockey stick that Aunt Manda and Uncle Ry got him. He loves his stick!
The mascot pointed at the glass at Justin and then threw a hockey puck over the glass for Ryan to catch for him. He has so many hockey pucks :)
View from Justin's seat....he took this one!
Bob, Justin and Grandpa Brooks after the game
Grandpa and Justin!
Me and my sister-in-law.... I love how that sounds :)
Playing air hockey between periods at daddy's game
Justin in his new "real" hockey stuff that he got from a guy Kent works with. His son is in HS now, so this stuff is a little small for him :)
Uncle Kurt and Ashley
Uncle Ry and Aunt Manda
Out at the Gate in BR
I heart her :)
The beer tower - that you have to put down a credit card for....so people like my brother don't walk out with them!
We had a fun time in Big Rapids for Thanksgiving. It was nice to have more than a day to hang out! Our drive home got a little snowy and we had bad roads, but Daddy got us home safe! I started not feeling well on the way home and found out yesterday that I have tonsilitis, but I guess that is what I get for running myself ragged between Vegas and Michigan!
These pics are from Friday and Saturday. Friday Grandma Brooks got us tickets for the Griffins game in GR. Rob, Justin, Kent, Bob, Kurt & Ashley had tickets for the game and then at the last minute I decided to go, so I called Uncle Ry and Aunt Manda and they met me there. We were still able to get seats by everyone else so it worked out good! Saturday Rob has his alumni hockey game in BR and then we went out to the bar after - Ry and Manda met us up there to go out too...fun times :)
Justin at the Griffins game Friday night. Aunt Manda would put popcorn on the floor for him to hit with the hockey stick :)
Justin in the new Griffins shirt and new hockey stick that Aunt Manda and Uncle Ry got him. He loves his stick!
The mascot pointed at the glass at Justin and then threw a hockey puck over the glass for Ryan to catch for him. He has so many hockey pucks :)
View from Justin's seat....he took this one!
Bob, Justin and Grandpa Brooks after the game
Grandpa and Justin!
Me and my sister-in-law.... I love how that sounds :)
Playing air hockey between periods at daddy's game
Justin in his new "real" hockey stuff that he got from a guy Kent works with. His son is in HS now, so this stuff is a little small for him :)
Uncle Kurt and Ashley
Uncle Ry and Aunt Manda
Out at the Gate in BR
I heart her :)
The beer tower - that you have to put down a credit card for....so people like my brother don't walk out with them!
Monday, December 01, 2008
We're back!
We made it back home safe and sound - and had to shovel our driveway! Yeah :)
I am sick with a sore throat, headache and earache - fun times.... I will update more when I feel better and catch up with work.
I am sick with a sore throat, headache and earache - fun times.... I will update more when I feel better and catch up with work.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)