Easter

Steve and I had a very nice Easter this year. We were able to spend time with both of our families and ate way too much! We had brunch with my Mom and Mike at a nice country club- ate way too much and didn't eat again until around 8pm that night... Then we went and spent a few hours with Steve's family. I actually brought my camera with me and was able to catch a few pictures.

Our Niece (and flower girl in the wedding) Kelsey- What a cutie!

Kelsey and Steve's Mom Linda

Kelsey took this picture of Uncle Steve! (Love those dimples)

Aunt Carrie & Kelsey (self-portrait)

Grandma's House

This picture is the view that you see from my Grandma's house down in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Steve and I took a long weekend last weekend and flew down there to spend some quality time with my Grandma and my Dad. We flew in on Friday and flew back home on Monday afternoon. We had a great time hanging out together and showing Steve the sights of Las Cruces. It was so windy down there on Sunday that you couldn't see the mountains in the picture above when you looked outside- I took video, but can't figure out how to get the computer to read the DVD so that I can post it too. Other than that the weather was great (almost 80 when we got off the plane on Friday!!)

This weekend- Sunday to be exact is Steve's 32nd Birthday! He has to work on Saturday morning, but then we're going to go out to DC's Country Junction so that I can break in my new cowgirl boots that I got last weekend. Not sure what our plans are for Sunday yet, but I'm thinking that we'll head downtown Chicago for dinner or something! Happy Birthday honey! I just know that you're gonna love your presents! :)

For Mandy :)

Ha! How's that for a title to a post AMANDA!!! So, it's been a month since my last post- thanks for reminding me that I'm a slacker!

Anyways... What have I been up to? Well, here's a quick run down...

• Broke my middle toe on my left foot by tripping over/landing in the tool box when Steve and I were trying to hang a picture in the apartment- I think that was on Jan7th... So I was all gimpy for a couple of weeks (it's almost healed- still sore if I bend it)
• Went downtown for the day on Jan 21st to register!! We hit up Bed Bath & Beyond and Crate & Barrel. How much fun is it wandering around stores and picking out things you want people to give you!!
• Got to spend a couple of days in FREAKING COLD Minneapolis on Jan 23rd-25th for work- Woo Hoo! What fun...
• Got sick when I got home from Minneapolis and am still getting over it- I finally broke down and went to the doctor on Tuesday and got me some antibiotics to clear up the sinus infection.
• Went with my mom, Kristen, and Amanda to a Bridal Expo on Jan 27th- fun, but I didn't win anything :(

Well, I think that's about it- really not that exciting huh? I'm just looking forward to not being sick and having a good toe so that I can get my butt in shape for the wedding... SIX MONTHS TO GO FROM THIS COMING MONDAY!!!!! Yeah!

My Niece

The results are in (well they were the week before Christmas)- Kristen and Keathen are having a little girl!!!!! Here are some pictures from the ultrasound....

Here in picture #1 you can see her sucking her thumb!

In this picture I think that you can see one of her feet sticking up in the air...

I can't remember what this one is showing, but isn't she cute?

They also have a short video clip that I will post if I can get my hands on it! I've already begun shopping for her- Old Navy had a bunch of their winter stuff 50% off so I got her some outfits that she can wear next year!

Fun New Things...

Just wanted to share three fun new things in my life... :)

#1: Fleece Lined Jeans- seriously these are the most comfortable (and warm) jeans that I have ever owned. Now they are not really for the fashion conscious, unless you like the old 80's style jeans that are relaxed in the hip and thigh and actually taper at the ankle. BUT, they are nice to have when the temperatures have been below zero for the past few days. If you would like some for yourself, you can order them online at http://www.cabelas.com/ - I ordered men's since I am on the taller side :) They do make women's with cute pink fleece inside with white snowflakes!

#2: My bike trainer (Steve's Christmas present to me). I finally used it for the first time last night and it was quite a workout! In my quest to have my wedding dress fit (and still be able to breathe when it is zipped up) it will definitely play a big part until the weather gets nicer and we can ride outside. I also got Steve one for him for Christmas so we can ride inside together!

#3: My wedding invitations!!! I just got the proofs emailed to me yesterday and I love them! I won't post a picture of them here- I'll leave you in suspense until I mail them out in a few months, but they're perfect! :) One week and 7 months until the big day! Steve and I have to get out and get the tuxedo's picked out and start working on our registries- how fun!!!

Christmas Eve

My Mom and Mike (aka Bijou Sparkly-Toes and Tinker Bubba-Louie)

Kristen, Keathen, Izzy, and their Baby GIRL!!! (aka The Smicklefigus's- I can't remember their first names)

Steve and I (aka Sparky Spirit-Fingers and Pinky Sparkly-Toes)

Since I finally downloaded the pictures off of my camera to email my mom, I just thought that I would share some pictures from our Christmas Eve at my mom's house and our annual matching pajama tradition complete with elf names compliments of some website I found. Thanks to Steve we officially named the tradition the "Retarded Christmas Pajama Cult". He's not a big fan of the tradition :) Kristen and Keathen announced too on Christmas Eve that they're having a girl!!! They wrapped up a pink bear that they made at Build-A-Bear Workshop and gave it to my mom as a gift- they even had the baby's heartbeat recorded inside the bear so that when you push it's paw you can hear it. Yes, my mom cried!

Well, I'd better go now so that I can enjoy New Year's Eve with Steve and his mom!

Rules to Live By...

THE RULES OF CHOCOLATE
1. If you've got melted chocolate all over your hand, you're eating it too slowly.

2. Chocolate covered raisins, cherries, orange slices & strawberries all count as fruit, so eat as many as you want.

3. The problem: How to get 2 lbs. of chocolate home from the store in a hot car. The solution: Eat it in the parking lot.

4. Diet tip: Eat a chocolate bar before each meal. It'll take the edge of your appetite and you'll eat less.

5. A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in one place. Isn't that handy?

6. If you can't eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer. But if you can't eat all your chocolate, what's wrong with you?

7. If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights, and they will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves.

8. If I eat equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate, is that a balanced diet? Don't they actually counteract each other?

9. Money talks. Chocolate sings!

10. Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger.

11. Q. Why is there no such organization as Chocoholics Anonymous?A. Because no one wants to quit.

12. If not for chocolate, there would be no need for control-top pantyhose. An entire garment industry would be devastated.

13. Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you'll get one thing done!

Now, I think that I may just go get one of the yummy looking chocolate covered strawberries that are in our break room here at work today!