Happy Thanksgiving!

gratitude

I am thankful for so much. This is has been the BEST year of my life and I can not want for more. I give thanks...

For Norelle and the daily joy she brings to my life and for Jake, my BFF and husbo. For my family, our parents, grandparents, brothers & sister, aunts & uncles, cousins, and this year, the new birth family in our lives. My dog, Dororthy. For friends, old and new and their little ones, too. One last Thanksgiving with Grandma Audrey. Good health and sound minds (more or less). Our jobs, may we keep them! A warm home, enough food to eat and clothes to wear. Freedom and hope for the future. God's blessings and His abiding love & comfort.

Tip!

Unless you actually want to bleed to death, never buy generic razors.

weekend update

3 amigos go for a run ( not pictured, amigo number dos)

Here is what I did this weekend, if you care. You must care, you are reading this. (BTB I miss you, why don't you call?)

Friday
killer workout at YMCA with Mendota moms
nap
cleaned all three bathrooms
baked penne & cheese pasta dish
watch DVR shows

Saturday
Bruberry's with N, J & Hol
Christmas shopping at Target
cleaned room and organized clothes
more errands & laundry
Papa Murphy's pizza party, Casey joined us
Famous Jake's warm cookies
Dexter, ep 1

Sunday
oversleep for church
fireside coffee
blog
chillax
workout
pack for Winona

MTV Cribs: Tot Editition " And here is my sweet toy closet"

I am really focusing on all my blessings and feeling so thankful for all the wonderful people in my life! This will be a very special Thanksgiving as I am so grateful for my life with with my baby girl.

Nori & Dorothy standing on the wall

The bad news is that getting the basement insulated does not seem to have helped the heat loss problems but the good news is that my feet are going through menopause so they love walking barefoot on the ice rink floor.

Her new hangout

New Year's Resolutions

I had to start mine early this year so I can get good at it by Jan 1. In 2009, I resolute to moisturize! I usually skip the lotions because I hate that gooey feeling and dislike perfumed things. But I also hate cracked, scaly, dry, sore, red skin. So I bought some quality scent-free Eucerin cream to apply daily after every shower, added a humidifier in my bedroom, stocked up on Carmex for my lips and now use Aquaphor for elbows and feet. I am already feeling better. Usually at this time of the year all my skin hurts but not now.

My other resolution is to be more fun. Not to have more fun because the things I think are fun (going to bed early, staying home cleaning, reading, etc.) do not make me fun. My husband has been coaching me on how to make people think I am fun (specifically my family who thinks I am dull as a whistle). He says I should say things like "Hey, who want to go bowling after a card tournament?" or "Let's go out for dessert on me after the late late movie" or " Wii Marathon!". I should just think of what I would really hate to do and then do that. Probably the moisturizing thing will go better.

Emergency!

Help! I just realized that Nori does not have a Christmas stocking! Where can you get a cool one with her name on it? We need it shortly!

10 months old!

I can not believe how much this little girl has grown and changed in such a short time! It seems like just yesterday I was pushing and pushing her into the world (emotionally). Norelle is all personality and she has an amazing sense of humor. I bet she spends 25 minutes a day just laughing her head off. She loves to get tickled, play jail (you know, peek-a-boo behind the stair spindles) and even get yelled at. I'm not kidding, nothing makes her chuckle more than us saying "Excuse me, Ma'am? You are in BIG BIG trouble".

On her first attempt she scaled the stairs up to the second floor so I am wondering if I have been accidentally using GNC protein powder instead of Similac in her bottles? Pulling up and standing are her favorite things but she she cuddles lots so that is sweet.


She is amazing, beautiful, silly, smart and just a joy to have in our lives. A true blessing from God and we are so thankful He brought us together the way that He did. We would not have wanted to create a family any other way! We love our Nori!