Around here

Sorry lovely friends.

The week of Thanksgiving and most 

of this week just flew right by me.

It was quite the lovely long weekend around here.

A grown-up date with Katelyn to Noodles and Company.

Of course, we ate Wisconsin Mac and Cheese.

My sister-in-law and I escaped to Chili's. Best part?

Look in the right corner. Yep, molten choclate cake calling my name for sure.

Sweet Jane turned one.

We bought her and her sister Lilly matching Christmas dresses,
my new thing is to not buy loud noisy toys.

And since it was a busy Saturday, morning worked best for a party.

Instead of cake, why not chocolate waffles!?!

Kevin and I ran a 10K on Thanksgiving.

I was so sore and tired.

Even after all that, it made us both want to get ready to run another race!

There's one check off of my 12 by 2012!

On a good note, it made me realize how much Kevin and I are a team.

Yep, we hit a very large bump and are making our way through it.

My dad's famous pumpkin and chocolate pecan pie.

It's literally to DIE for.

Kevin took me Black Friday shopping. I was impressed that he

waited in the hour long line to checkout at Target. Brownie points to him!

What I'm listening to around here.

Festival of Trees is this week through Saturday!

More details to come about this tree.

And now finals of my final semester are approaching.
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I'M THANKFUL FOR YOU.

Six Words

The question on everyone's mind recently is how I've been able to handle the birth of two nieces and another sister-in-law has announced that she's pregnant with her third.

I'm actually happy because right now we have 16 nieces and nephews, 17 will be even more fun. It won't end there either because I have one brother who still isn't married and so does Kevin. :)

Kevin and I kept a baby box of treasures and things, we gave Jane several of those gifts.

We gave Madeline the crib that our baby would have slept in.

How did I feel about that you might ask?

It felt like these six words in the story below by Ernest Hemingway.

It may be a legend but it goes somewhat like this. Ernest Hemingway was in a pub with some friends one night. Hemingway bragged that he could write a captivating story-- with a beginning, middle, and end--in only six words. 

Many doubted that he could do it and they each bet $10 against Hemingway.

He quickly scribbled six words on a napkin and passed it around. Everyone who read the napkin knew  he had won the bet.

The six words:

For sale.

Baby shoes.

Never worn.

That's how I feel. I decided to give my favorite baby things up because it was too painful to look at. Now I look at them with JOY because a living baby gets to use them. My nieces and nephews are very special to Kevin and I, we can't help but spoil them.

It really puts my heart at ease to see cute baby sheets on the crib.

It'll do me even more good in a few months when Madeline starts sleeping in it.
I'm so happy that I don't have to look at an empty crib.

The harsh memory is erased and replaced by a beautiful one.

I'll have to get a picture of it soon.

We love these baby girls.
They bring me JOY!

Little girls are made of sugar and spice, and everything nice.

The Simple Things-Jane's Blessing

We're so excited to be joining up with Rebecca in this little project.

It's not too hard and pretty easy to do. All you need to do, is take a picture of a simple moment.

The post it on your blog and link it up here.

Last Sunday, Jane was blessed. I decided to sneak a few pictures right after church of this new baby in her blessing dress.

When I took this picture, her dad was laughing so hard because this little baby is such a worrier. I'll have to try and get a picture of her smiling in another month. I can't believe that she'll already have grown so much by then.

"Sleep my Child and peace protect thee, All Through the Night"

Congrats Christina and Dave!

Also, her big sister Lilly is a good helper. 

Jane, we're so happy to have you.

I think it's awesome that you're number 15 (of nieces and nephews) for Kevin and I. But not for long. We love you!