20 Weeks!

I'm 20 weeks. Wow!

Here's what has been going on in pregnant land:

• I felt the baby move for the first time a few weeks ago and seconds later, Mark felt a jab/kick. so neat!
• My hair and nails are growing, growing, growing.
• Maternity pants are comfortable.
• Marternity clothes are expensive. Especially the cute clothes. There is a store in Columbus that sells "used" maternity clothes on the CHEAP and the women that work there are very friendly and helpful. I have been blessed by friends and neighbors who have loaned me their fall maternity-wear.
• I haven't had many cravings, just food that I prefer over others...hehe.
• Last Wednesday, we met a doctor that we feel 100% comfortable with. She also happens to be a red-head and left-handed. She made us feel completely at ease and much more like first-time parents and less like a number. Such a blessing!
• Everything is measured in weeks, i.e., "sweetie, do you remember when I made that cucumber salad?" "hmm. yeah, that was around week 12."
• The doctors have all said how active the baby is every time we go in for a visit. This has lead us to believe it was a boy. WRONG... 

IT'S A GIRL!!! 

We saw our little cutie today and all of her growing and developing body parts. Wow, it is amazing how my body is growing another human being. She also has something she likes to do already, check out the video below:

We're really excited to meet our little girl. Yes, we have a name picked out. No, we're not telling anyone. P.S. That is not her middle finger.

Thank you for all of your love and encouragement!

find the time

find the time

The time to read,

to smell the flowers, 

to paint your dream, 

to have coffee with a friend, 

to learn a new craft, 

to write a letter, 

to bake a surprise cake, 

to go somewhere special, 

to REALLY be with the person you love, 

or even do nothing for a
while...

I like this and thought I would share - hope everyone is well!

internet

woohoo.
we finally have [our own] internet!
posts are due!

movie night

JILL:
Blustery winds throughout the night combined with a house without a basement = sleepless night with thoughts of this:

♫ da-da-da-da-da-dan  ♫

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦•♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

MARK:

Blustery winds throughout the night combined with a house without a basement = restful night with thoughts of this:

 

"Hooray! Up and away!"

...zzzZZzz

Thankful to report no damage occurred in our area last night.
Hope everyone is safe wherever you are!

Dining Room: reveal

Here are some pictures of our recently (ahem...October) finished dining room.

A man named Sherwin helped me pick out the paint color: Jonquil

I'm pretty tight with Sherwin.

I made centerpieces out of our "wedding buckets" and artificial boxwood from Michaels.

 I also re-did the frame below. It is a beautiful hunky-chunky frame and I spray painted it Ivory then painted the inside cardboard with a chalkboard spray paint. I am working on a few more chalkboard projects right now - so fun and really easy!

 

Happy Spring!

I think this is my new favorite room in the house.

    I love entertaining in here!

Whirlwind Weekend

The weekend flew by!
Mark and I arrived in Chicago Friday night and made it in time to catch the end of the rehearsal.
The rehearsal dinner was great! It was held at a cute little mexican restaurant only 3 blocks from the church.
Steve (the groom) is a huge prankster so that made the evening all the more entertaining. (sadly, I have no pictures from this event - ugh)

Saturday morning was swell. Mark and I took a walk around their lake - cold, but very peaceful and relaxing for us subdivisioners.

We were able to hang out; all the grandkids at Grampa and Gramma's house!

I love that Mark and my little brother get along (really well). They make fun of each other (a lot) but they also bond over things, weird things.
My Gramma told Mark and Jonathan that if they shot a gray squirrel, she would pay them $10 per squirrel.
...She says they eat all of the bird seed.

1 = $10.00

Mark - $5.00    Jonathan - $5.00

We all got ready and headed off to the wedding. The squirrel stayed home.

bulky camera = no other pictures :(

I will post pictures when I get some from other people. The wedding was absolutley gorgeous.

My Aunt was stunning in her dress and the reception was over-the-top! We really enjoyed seeing family and friends from far away.

We had to take off early on Sunday but we did get to see the newlyweds!

Mark, me, Denise, Steve, and their dog, Mazy.

We left around 10:30 and made it to Youth Group at 5:15 (phew!)

We had a scavenger hunt around town - so much fun!

The groups had to go to as many schools in one hour.

Here are some pictures from my group:

Smith School Bears - whoop whoop!

 (above) this one pretty much somes up these 5 girls, so silly!

HA!

Working with the youth group has been amazing. It's incredible how much I have learned about them and from them.

These pictures don't include all of my girls, but they all have touched my heart and I love them!

my aunt, the bride!

My Aunt is getting married tomorrow!

 The beautiful bride-to-be at her shower in February.

our new garden

This past weekend was B-E-A-utiful.
The sun was shining and the temperature was very spring-like.
Saturday started off early with the first yard sales of the season. HOORAY!
The first yard sale was a dud but the hosts were friendly.
The second yard sale was...interesting. Listen:
Moving Sale.
His stuff in the garage.
Her stuff inside the house.
If you buy something from her, pay her.
If you buy something from him, pay him.
Definitely the most awkward sale EVER, but we got some really good stuff!

After the sale, we built our raised garden bed. We were pretty excited because two things we still needed, we got at the awkward sale.  

Here are some pictures on that.

Yep, one buck for all of that!

Ready for soil.

many more pictures when we plant!

Pudding Top

Pudding Top (adjective): a result from clothing being.....just kidding, this is totally unrelated.

I was eating my lunch today and as I was opening my yogurt I did the unthinkable: I licked the top. 

All good and fine except as I was enjoying my yogurt lid, my coworker walked by and I was caught.in.the.act. 

Oh Cripes.

Well, she stopped and she did the tilt of the head. You know, the tilt of the head that silently asks, "what the heck are you doing?". 

Amidst enjoying my lid, I looked back at her like "Uh, I'm enjoying my yogurt lid...what does it look like?" 

Then I started to think, who doesn't lick their pudding/yogurt/jello lid? 

Maybe my coworker. I should ask her.

There should probably be a study done to see how many people would lick the lid if given a free pudding/yogurt/jello. 

Obviously, I would be with those who licked their lid. 

Nursing Homes & Pot Pies

Pi Day today!

We celebrated Saturday with a chicken pot pie:

This was my first pot pie.

Mark said it was good and that he thought it smelled like a nursing home.

I don't know when he ate pot pie in a nursing home?

Either way, definitely a comfort food and really easy to make!

Happy March!

It's finally March!

(hydrangeas from last year)

Today was beautiful. The sun was shining. 
I love it when the sun shares her beauty with us.


March makes me excited for flowers to bloom, working in the yard, planting a garden, cleaning out the garage (yep), and sitting on the front porch. 


So, in like a lamb and out like a lion?
I'm predicting a post on April 1st with pictures of snow.

Thank you, Grandma Haller!

Grandma Haller graciously gave us her guest room furniture when she moved last July.

Here are some pictures of our 'new and improved' guest room:

The walls are a little nekkked so I'm on the lookout for a craft or wall art.

Ideas welcome! 

 I love this dresser.

  Holy Moley are those drawers heavy!

See that cuuute little chair in the corner? Goodwill: $3.00

Thank You Grandma Haller for the beautiful furniture, we love it!

Happy Birthday, my love

Happy Birthday to my love, my best friend, my hubby!

After working over 90 hours, 

I think you have some super-powers. 

Last years birthday was the same, 

baggy eyes and a crazy mane. 

 I know you would like to hit the hay,
but today's the 8th and today's your day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

not just for grandmas

I'm a 60 year old trapped in a 23rd year old body. Whatev.

$1.50/yard for fabric.
Um... yes, please.

I made these curtains for our 'new' guest room. 

What do you think?

LOVE crafts!

Here's a quick and easy Valentine craft. Great for all ages!

(and cheap too!)

Find some scrapbook paper you like; construction paper or fabric would work too.

Find a small frame. 

(don't you love the heirloom frame I recently picked up at goodwill for $.50?!)

Dump your extra/old scrabble pieces out. Brainstorm a small cross-word.

(my example will be below)

Cut your paper to fit the frame.

I took the glass from the frame and traced around it. If kids are helping, you could trace around the glass and let them do the cutting.

Then, hot glue your letters to the paper. 

I used a straight-edge, it was the perfectionist in me...

Voila!

A cute, inexpensive craft that could also make a great gift!