Another Year Down!

I can't believe another year is almost over! It's been one of the quickest years of my life. So much has happened, yet I feel like I accomplished very little. There have been ups and there have been downs. Lives were lost. Lives were created. If I were to sit here and try to write it all out, I would be here for another year!

I am looking forward to this coming year! There are a lot of wonderful things, already on the calendar, in which I am looking forward! Here are some things already planned, for 2011:

1) I turn 28. I am actually looking forward to this. I know, I know... 28 isn't OLD... I know I am still a youngin'.... But no matter what, it's still hard to get older. To creek and crack every time I bend, and to not move as fast as my brain wants me to. But anyway- I am looking forward to 28. It's going to be a good year.

2) I graduate on May 8th. Mother's Day. The perfect Mother's Day gift to me, and to my mom! I am the first of her five children to graduate college, and I am so excited I am doing that ON Mother's Day! :)

3) Andy will have his Master's degree, the week before I graduate. What an accomplishment! I am very proud of him! :)

4) Matty will go to pre-school. Pending his health keeps improving, he will be allowed to go to school! He is very excited about it, and I am too!

5) Adam will be starting Kindergarten. I can't believe my baby boy will be in Kindergarten!

6) Chloe and I will be ALONE! How awesome will that be? We can do girl things, all day long. I am VERY excited about that.

7) I will get to continue my work, with the American Lung Association. For those of you who don't know, I am on the district O2 Society board, and I can't wait to work on fundraiser events and awareness events!

8) I look forward to seeing my babies grow and learn. They are so amazing. Everyday I am amazed by their intelligence and personalities. I've never known a love, like that for a child.

I am looking forward to 2011. It's going to be a great year! I hope you all have a wonderful coming year, as well!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours.... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

“When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” - Luke 2:16-20

Pretty, Pretty, Princess....Chloe turns ONE!

Dear Chloe-
One year ago, at this very moment, mommy was awake, in your room, rocking in the rocking chair. I was talking to you, while you were in my belly, hoping and praying that we would find out you could be born today. I slept very little that night, because I was so nervous. Mommy was very unsure of having a little girl! I was worried about how different you would be, from your brothers, and worried about having three kids.

Later in the day, we found out that your lungs were ready and we could have you. You made mommy very sick, while you were in her belly, and mommy was getting sicker as the days went on. So, we made the important decision to have you early.

Everyone was there, when you were born. They were all ready to see you, love you, cuddle you and be with you. And we were SO happy to have you with us. Finally a little girl!

Chloe, this past year has been amazing. When I thought about you, before you were born, I prayed that you would be a strong, healthy, blue eyed, beauty. God gave me everything I asked for, and SO much more. Chloe Danielle, YOU are the most amazing ray of sunshine, I have ever met in my life. You are beautiful. smart. adventurous. You love your brothers. You love your daddy. You snuggle. You cuddle. You hug. You kiss. You love mommy. You say so many words. You comprehend beyond your age. You have many people wrapped around your tiny fingers.

I thank God for you, Chloe. Everyday, I am reminded of God's love, because of the gift He gave me-- you.  

Happy First Birthday, Princess.

I love you, with all that I am-
Mommy

It's Been Awhile....

Since it's been awhile... I thought I would do a long(er) post....and of course I will add pictures to the end of the post! :) My friend Dawn did this Meme on her blog, and I decided to "borrow" it... I hope she doesn't mind! :) 

1.  What time did you get up this morning? Which time? I got up at 5:45 the first time, then 6:30, and then 7:15. 

2. How do you like your steak? rare- very rare. If I can hear it mooing, I am happy! :)

  3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Andy and I went and saw "Due Date," when we were fortunate enough to go away for the weekend, after Thanksgiving! It was the first movie I've seen, in the theater, in over a year! 

 4. What is your favorite TV show? This is a hard one. I think it's "House" right now!

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Not sure. I'm not even sure we're going to stay in Ohio forever. 

 6. What did you have for breakfast? coffee

 7. What is your favorite cuisine? Chinese

 8. What foods do you dislike? Not much. I am willing to try anything. I don't care for fish. 

 9. Favorite Place to Eat? Hmm... Japanese Steak House

 10. Favorite dressing? Zesty Italian or Ranch

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive? Jeep Cherokee 

 12. What are your favorite clothes? Comfy pants and hoodie (only if I am not leaving the house!)

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Somewhere over the ocean

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? 1/2 full! I try to be as optimistic as possible

15. Where would you want to retire? Anywhere where my family is

16. Favorite time of day? Kiddies' nap time! 

17. What is your favorite sport to watch? Football- OSU or Steelers of course!

21. Bird watcher? not really

22. Do you consider yourself attractive? Sometimes

 23. Pets? Franklin, the turtle; Sami, the cat

24. Any new and exciting news that you’d like to share? I get a WHOLE MONTH off of school, after this week! YAY!!!

 25. What did you want to be when you were little? a teacher or "baby" doctor

26. What is your best childhood memory? I have many. I remember having so much fun with my cousins. We played in my Uncle and Aunt's basement for hours and hours. I remember never wanting to leave their house. Many fun times!

 27. Are you a cat or dog person? cat

28. Are you married? yes

 29. Always wear your seat belt? yes

30. Been in a car accident? yes; but never while I was driving, and I pray I don't ever! 

 31. Any pet peeves? I have some. 

32. Favorite pizza toppings? mushrooms

 33. Favorite Flower? Not sure. The kind that smell good? :)

34. Favorite ice cream? I don't really like ice cream. shh.

35. Favorite fast food? Wendy's salads and baked potatoes

36. How many times did you fail your driver’s test? I didn't! I cried... seriously... and the guy felt sorry for me. So, he let me try the cones again; I did it and he passed me! haha. I probably shouldn't have passed.

37. From whom did you get your last email? ummm a classmate, about our final project!

38. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Target

39. Do anything spontaneous lately? Not at all. 

40. Like your job? yes

41. Broccoli? It is yummy! Makes me burp though

42. What was your favorite vacation? Toronto, for our 5-year anniversary. It was an amazing trip!

43. Last person you went out to dinner with? My family

44. What are you listening to right now? the television and Chloe yelling at her brothers

45. What is your favorite color? Teal and red

 46. How many tattoos do you have? none

47. Coffee drinker? OHHH yes. I drink far too much.

48. How many children do you have? 3

49. What is your favorite movie? Dirty Dancing. Always has been, always will be.

50. Are you a good cook? I'd like to think I am. 

 51. What is your favorite meal to cook? Hmm... Not sure what my favorite is. I like to cook anything! 

52. What is your favorite dessert? Nothing. I know. I am weird.

53. What is your favorite snack or junk food? Tortilla chips and salsa

54. Do you exercise? Yep!

55. If you have kids, what’s your favorite thing to do with them? Everything. I love baking with them and doing little crafts!

56. What state did you grow up in? Ohio, Illinois, Ohio again

57. Did you graduate from College or University? What degree? I graduate May 8, 2011; with a BS in Public Relations

58. Favorite shoes? Flip Flops!

59. How long have you been married? 9.5 years. whew. 

 60. Where did you have your wedding? Westerville, OH; we were married by my grandfather

61. What do you hate to do the most? Laundry.... Seriously. I despise it! 

62. What do you love to do the most? Read and cook

63. What do you think is your worst character trait? Hmm... I lack patience.... I don't have good patience with my kids (sometimes), with drivers, with Andy, and get annoyed too easily. I need to work on that!

64. What is your best character trait? I love unconditionally. 

65. Do you speak another language? I don't speak German as well as I once did... But I still know some of what I learned in High School! :)

And...as promised... Here are some pictures:

Adam played Joseph in his school's Nativity play. He did an amazing job and said his lines perfectly! :) 

Here we are, after the play! :) I love my boy. 

This little beauty will be ONE in just ONE WEEK! Can you believe it? I can't! 

Here's my little Matty... Making cookies... and trying to say Cheese... Ain't he a cutie?! :)

And here are some of our Christmas/Birthday pictures... :) I know I am their mommy, but man... my babies are CUTE! :)