I'm still here!

It’s been a while since my last post…  Okay, a long while. 

Maybe it was the lack of motivation?

Maybe it was because I did not want to write?

Maybe it was just me being lazy?

Excuses were everywhere.  I was reading the blogs on my usual Tuesday morning - from my phone of course because the site is blocked at work.  It’s always part of my morning routine to read but then I can never comment since I am reading from a 3 inch screen.

Thanks to Michelle, I found myself with a little inspiration!

What an exciting few weeks it has been.  I came home from a trip to the Dells with my girlfriend to find my now fiancé on the floor with a ring in his hand.  It took me a few seconds to realize what was going on.  I don’t remember what happened or what he even said after I finally realized he wasn’t on the floor playing with the cat.  I cried, celebrated and ran out the door for a manicure of course!

We have enjoyed the weeks since.  I finally got my ring sized so it fits properly.  It was a long few days without it.  I started my binder and excel spreadsheets and went on a mass search for the perfect reception hall.  Research...  Research...  Research...  We continue to bounce different ideas off each other and I continue to make a list if given the approved “yes”.

We found the perfect place last weekend.  It’s a little golf course not too far from home.  The place is just perfect – not too big, not too small.  Beautiful wood beams stretch across the vaulted ceilings.  There is even a little terrace out back overlooking a pond.  It makes for a wonderful place to be surrounded with your closest friends and family on such a special day.

A date has been set

 ∙ September 14, 2013 ∙

I will marry my best friend

(He gave up his NASCAR weekend for this – I will be sure to thank him)

Now the planning will continue.  We are right on track…  According to my timeline

We have to ask our bridesmaids, our groomsmen, our flower girls and our ushers.  Save the dates need to be made, photographers & DJ’s to be researched.  Until my timeline tells me the next task is due or Pinterest gets the best of me I will enjoy the moment…  The leaves are changing, the weather is crisp, my shows are starting back up and I want to eat pumpkin all the time. 

I can’t wait to see it all come together!  We are so blessed

Where did the time go?

Summer seems to be winding down.  I couldn’t believe I was watching preseason football already.  Parents are rushing to get their kids school supply lists completed.  Kids are gearing up for another school year.  Fall craft ideas are starting to take over Pinterest.  End of summer sales have begun to make room for fall/winter stuff.  Do I dare even mention the thought of snow?  We were even blessed with a few beautiful cool days over the weekend after a long, hot and dry summer.  The a/c sure loved the break!

Suddenly it hits me! 

My favorite season is just around the corner.  Soon fall will be here.  We can all finally run to Starbucks for a pumpkin spice latte.  I do love summer and while I don’t want to rush it, I am ready to bid farewell! 

I am looking forward to:

                                   brisk days 

                                                                                                           pumpkins 

                                                                normal routines

            sweet corn 

                                               sweaters 

                                                                                                                 jeans

                                                                       boots 

            falling leaves

                                                         mums

                                bonfires              

                                                                                     being outside                           

         crock pot meals                             

                                                                                                              easier comutes

                            good times with family & friends

                                                                                   pumpkin spice lattes               

Thanksgiving 

I will be sure to savor the last few weeks of summer.  When I post that I had the first latte of the season, you know I will have officially declared a season change. 

Surprise!

I did it!

I managed to pull it off!

I think I am still shocked I pulled it off!  There were moments for the last 2 months where I had to bite my tongue.  Stories I couldn't tell because he would catch on.  Such a relief I can just spill out whatever I want to say now...  No more think before I speak!

While he had his suspicions, there was no solid evidence to go off of.  He wondered, pondered and thought about it.  No one spilled the beans! (phew)

Party day was stressful.  I was frantically trying to pull everything together.  I am thankful for the good friends who pitched in and came to the rescue.  There was a storm that roared in and roared out.  We had a minor issue with a down power line.  We escaped the damage because it was across the street.  The rain passed and the party went on!

He showed up after a long hot day of golf and distractions not really sure what to expect.  Sure there was a party but he never expected his parents to show up all the way from Arkansas.  That was the best surprise of them all.  That and the finished scrapbook he got on his actual Birthday!  What a treat that has been looking through it.

Thank you to all the family and friends that were able to be apart of Scott's special day!  A big extra thank you to Len, Judy, Michelle, Jon, M, P, Mom and David.  Family is so important.  I am so glad you could all be there.  I also wouldn't have survived without Bart, Kerri, Pam, Greg, Stacy, Josh & Nikki.  What a support system!  Thank you all :)

Happy 40th Birthday Scott!  Love you

She's Back! - A little note from Rocky

Today started out as a normal day... 

Mom left for work,
Dad left for work,
I took a nap,
I ate my food,
I napped some more,
I watched the birds,
Dad came home,
I slept on his lap,
Mom came home

I was so excited everyone was home.  But before mom came in the door, I just knew something was off.  My mom wasn't alone.  She had that thing with her!  That big furry thing with four paws and a tail like me that loves to lick.  That big furry thing is much larger then me and doesn't meow.  She is defiantly not my kind.  She makes a woof woof noise.  They call her Rosie, and she usually comes over with some guy they call David.  David was no where to be found tonight.  It was just my mom and Rosie.

They both got the fierce stare down when they came in the door.  Rosie needed to know this is my house........  Not hers!  I don't scare easily and she had to know that.  Everyone always tells me she just wants to play, but I want nothing to do with her.  She went outside to play in the yard with my dad.  I made sure she was in my sight at all times.  My mom kept telling me it would be okay.  She was just here for a visit.  I hissed from the other side of the door just so she knew I was watching her every move.

Of course they didn't leave that thing outside when they came in for dinner.  She thought it would be fun to play with me.  Boy did I prove her wrong.  I had to hiss again and even pounce with my paws multiple times until she left me alone.  What a baby!  She didn't even fight back.  I must say that I am a pretty tough cat.  My mom finally took Rosie home shortly after dinner.  It seemed like she was here for eternity. 

I heard the garage door close.  And by the time they were pulling away, I was curled up on my Dad's lap for my evening nap.  All I have to say...  My mom was pretty lucky she returned home by herself!  I greeted her at the door and quickly forgave her.  Let's hope that Rosie doesn't come back anytime soon.

What an exhausting day!

A little tribute to my Grandma

I can’t believe so many years have come and gone since you left this world.  It seems like just yesterday we were awaiting your arrival home from your Amtrak trip back to the place you two shared so many memories…  Back to where it all began!  I hope you had a wonderful trip.  Grandpa said you did.  You must have if you were ready to go.  They tell us you went peacefully in your sleep.  It was time for God to take you in his hands.  You were ready to be reunited with Rosie.  I am just so happy you got to take that one last trip back to where it all began!  You left your heart in San Francisco.

Although it makes me sad the bag with the camera never made it home, I know you are up there watching over us.  Don’t worry Grandma…  We all have our moments.  We may not always get along, but we have a lot of love to give and that’s because of you.  We are family and that's always what we'll be.  I always try to bring my sense of adventure with me and root for the Cubbies no matter how bad they are.  I only ask 2 favors! 

1.      Please make sure I never mess up a batch of German Potato Salad

2.      Make me a winner next time I go play BINGO

July 14^th is and forever will be dedicated to you.  I love and miss you so much.  I hope you and Rosie are living large at the BINGO hall.  You truly were an inspiration to many and accomplished so much.  My head is spinning with memories that I will forever hold onto.  I am dedicating this song to you!

Tony Bennett – I Left My Heart In San Francisco

The loveliness of Paris seems somehow sadly gay
The glory that was Rome is of another day
I've been terribly alone and forgotten in Manhattan
I'm going home to my city by the Bay

I left my heart in San Francisco
High on a hill, it calls to me
To be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars
The morning fog may chill the air, I don't care

My love waits there in San Francisco
Above the blue and windy sea
When I come home to you, San Francisco
Your golden sun will shine for me

Welcome to the world Baby T!

Monday morning started as just another ordinary day.  It wasn’t until I went to grab my phone and head out the door that I realized this day would be better than I could have imagined (especially for a Monday).  I had a missed text & picture that had been sent to me at 3:17 AM from one of my best girlfriends.  It read “Baby T arrived at 1:13 AM right on her due date!  She is 8lb 3oz and 20 inches long”.  I think I screamed with excitement, texted her “congratulations”, ran and told Scott, and then I was out the door and on my way to the office.

I didn’t want to bother her by blowing up her phone with text messages.  I had to wait until at least today to do that!  So I sent her a nice email letting her know I was thinking about her and spent the rest of the day stalking her and her husband’s Facebook accounts waiting for updates and pictures!

We finally got to chat for a few minutes today via text message.  I was so excited!  I was beginning to miss our daily emails.  Mom and baby are both doing well.  Dad has been great.  With such little experience with infants, he sure does look like a natural!  The new family of three gets to come home tomorrow.  I can’t wait until they get all settled in so I can take a little road trip and meet this little beauty!  Since my girlfriend lives 4 hours away, the baby may have doubled in size by the time I get to finally meet her… But that’s okay. 

Thank you God for blessing my friends with a beautiful and healthy baby girl!

Oh boy does a year fly by!

It seems like just yesterday we were…

Putting an offer in on a house we both fell in love with

Having our home inspection

Getting last minute documents ready to close

Packing, packing, and packing some more

Watching Scott sign his name over and over and over again

Getting our keys and unlocking that door for the very first time

 

We celebrated over dinner and drinks that night with some of our closest friends. What a great night it was, but I couldn’t wait to get home to blow up the air mattress and sleep in the house for the very first time.  I can’t help but stop and smile when I reminisce about the last year.

 

Over the year, the house has become more than a house… The house became a home. We’ve been able to decorate and furnish most of it. I am constantly coming up with new and exciting decorating ideas (thank you Pinterest). But most importantly, we’ve been able to relax, enjoy ourselves and make lots of new memories. Our little family even grew by one last fall. We adopted a spoiled rotten little kitten named Rocky.

 

It’s hard to believe we have been there for almost a year already. I think this year we will kick back, relax and celebrate with a nice dinner on the grill and maybe a bottle of wine!

 

Can't wait to see what year number two in our home brings us!