Ice Fishing Time

Today we are off to the ice land up north called Escanaba for some ice fishing and New Year's relaxation! Of course I won't be ice fishing; didn't go last year either but I will make sure the house is safe and the dogs are happy! I've packed "The Host" to read while there...it's been on my to read for months now...

New Year's Resolutions...

Curt and I just made a list of New Year's Resolutions and posted them on the side bars. I decided on ones that I thought I could actually obtain...Curt giving up soda is one I would call unobtainable so he said do you really stick to them anyways? Only once can I remember sticking to a resolution for a whole year; I did give up soda about 8 years ago but on the next New Years I was back to drinking Mt. Dew! So that's what I'm wondering...do you make resolutions and stick to them or is it just a tradition that goes along with the holiday?

Wedding/Hannukah Present

Tonight Curt and I celebrated Hannukah with a close friend. We received our wedding gift from her too! She has been working on it since our wedding and had a little one for in the bag for Chiquita too! Our afghan is perfect for our bedroom's color scheme and yellow is perfect for Chiquita; just like a banana! Thanks for a great night Anita.

A Merry Christmas!

Curt and I had a busy Christmas; three different places in two days...including squeezing in our own. Sadly we don't have any pictures to share but it was a Christmas full of family! Hope yours was enjoyable too...

How Much Snow is Alot of Snow?

Curt and I laughed as this car drove by! Is it a car; no it's a traveling snow bank!

Winter Vacation Starts Early!!

I couldn't even open the front door all of the way without snow getting in the way!
Can you see the dogs admist the snow?

Curt working for hours to clean it all up...all shovel, no snowblower! That's a real man!

Yesterday school got cancelled and as a result our two week winter vacation started a day early! Curt stayed home on Friday as well; we were talking and besides being on vacation I don't know if there's ever been a day we've spent the whole day together without going to work or to our families or some other commitment. It was nice to be wholed up in the house with our pajamas; we watched Fever Pitch and Dark Night: The New Batman. Curt got antsy, I got comfy!

Scary Night = Practice Drive to St. Joe's

Curt, Baby Chiquita, and I had a scare last night. When I was out delivering cookies I slipped on some ice and fell. I landed on my knees and butt, however I still called the 24 hour triage nurse/on-call doctor for comfort and advice. About an hour later though when I went to the bathroom there was some blood, not a lot, but enough to freak me out (which really means nothing because I freak out quite easily these days). So Curt and I went down to St. Joe's to have it checked out. We were there about 3 to 4 hours; we heard the heartbeat strong and steady several times, felt her movement while there, had no contractions registered on the machine, and after a pelvic/cervical exam they found a little dark pool of blood (which means it's old) and no rips, tears, or sources of new blood. So how long the older blood was there not sure, I was having some light pains but the fall likely triggered more round ligament pains I'd been experiencing the day before. Today I am good, a little sore but I believe that's from taking a tumble. I've got no restrictions on me but I'm glad that today's a snow day and I'm laying low just because! That's our short story...please keep us in a prayer or two or hundred but it seems all has turned out fine but prayers are always a comfort. The silver lining to this all? We got to meet some great staff at St.Joe's where we'll deliver, Curt now knows how quick and easy it is to get to St. Joe for the real deal in April, we know to park on the 3rd floor of the parking structure to walk straight across to labor and delivery, and we have some paperwork filled out for when we deliver in April. As we left the nurses said see you in 17 weeks! That seems like a small number but yet an eternity away!

Cookie Exchange

A group (a small group) of us at school had a little cookie exchange Thursday. Here's a picture of all the other cookies; mine aren't in there...I didn't make enough for me on purpose because then I wouldn't eat them! Now I need to get these to my parents house for Christmas without them all disappearing! I may have to drop them off early...

St Nick's Photo

My mom is a holiday gift giver, Easter, 4th of July, Easter, Halloween...no holiday goes by without a little something for her grandkids. This past St. Nick, Chiquita (baby girl to be), also received a gift from Grandma. All of the grandgirls got matching Gap sweatshirts. So for now the Build A Bear teddy is sporting the Gap sweater...

My nieces are super excited for a baby to be coming to the family; espescially Makenzie who can't get enough of her dolls and babys. One afternoon, I showed her the outfits I'd collected over the past couple of weeks and later that night I found her showing Curt all of the outfits as she explained to him the ones that she had as a baby and wished she'd had too!

Karley is relieved it is a girl but is concerned with our choice of name; she wants to know if Curt approved of Chiquita as the "real" name. She also is very against me finding a babysitter and tells me she can be the babysitter. When I explain to her that both of us have to go to school; Karley always replies that she can take her with her...I'm sure her 4th grade teacher wouldn't mind that in the least!

Crazy Dreams...What Would Freud Say?

I have been having some really weird, just out there dreams lately...

I've dreamt of beings that were half monkey and person, of having hairballs come out of my body, of having fights with friends that I've never even raised my voice at, of me bleeding on a school bus with all my students around, Curt leaving, just a variety of things that seem to have no connection and these have only been in the past two weeks! I did have one normal one with a sweet, healthy baby girl in it; thank goodness for one I understand.

I have not been sleeping as soundly or deeply lately and I thought that's when you actually dream...not sure but another thing I can blame on the hormones?!?!?

Maternity Clothes

So for the first time since being pregnant, I went shopping for maternity clothes; hitting all of the sale items up to 50% off! I didn't have to buy too much as my great friend Melisa gave me a box of maternity clothes to borrow; so between her spring/summer wardrobe and the long-sleeve shirts I just bought, I should be set for the last 4 months. Let me say though... those full panel belly stretch things that go over the baby bump REALLY, REALLY make you look pregnant! Most of my students don't know as I'm waiting until after Christmas to tell them but they might figure it out sooner! Here's a pic of my favorite shirt Melisa gave me; I think it is so cute! I've started to feel movement daily now since about Thanksgiving so I can start wearing the shirt!

It All Started...

Two years today when Curt and I met for the 1st time in person at Applebee's in the Falls!

Sleepover!!

My nieces, Karley and Makenzie, spent the night on Saturday night. We went to Karley's basketball game, went to Applebee's for dinner, wrapped Christmas presents (which are all done and under the tree now!), watched Drake and Josh's Christmas, had my sister babysit so I could take Curt to urgent care, took our baths, played a round of Sorry, went to church, went to see Bolt the movie, and went shopping at the new JCPenny in the Falls with our friends and family coupon! This was all in 24 hours; needless to say Curt and I slept very well on Sunday night!!!

Happy St. Nick Day

St. Nick paid us a visit last night...we all got books! Curt's is book 2 in the Twilight series; since he saw the movie he didn't feel the need to read the 1st book but to jump in at the 2nd. I got a Carol&Mary Higgins Clark mystery called "Dashing Through the Snow" and Chiquita

(baby girl who's name is under constructionm but we are close to one-90% sure)

got "Ten Christmas Lights" for her listening pleasure!

I Hate To Be The One...

but I did not love Twilight the movie; now the books...phenomenal! Curt and I went and about 45 minutes into it I looked at him and said this is kind of "hokey" isn't it; he agreed. And then when Edward started to glisten and sparkle because he was in the sunlight; I was like if I hadn't read these books I wouldn't know what all the hub-bub was about! Towards the end though when James and his crew came around I enjoyed it a bit more; I thought the actress who played Bella was wonderful, and it made me like/appreciate Edward more than I did when reading the books. As we were leaving Curt said that it did make him want to read the books so maybe it was me coming in with too high expectations. I'm sorry to be the one; but I'd only give it *** stars.

Black Friday

Black Friday shopping is as much of a tradition as Thanksgiving dinner at my parents' house. My mother, sister, and I scour the ads at least 3 times; once for fun, once again to pick out the must-haves or must-gets, and then a last time to get serious and make a plan! We were out at 4:30 in the morning and had a great morning; not too crowded; not too pushy; just right! We got home around 1:45 and from there I took an almost three hour nap ;sleeping through the doorbell and the phone ringing for some catch-up sleep! I can't wait till next year's day after shopping!

Christmas Decorations

My nieces came over for a few hours this afternoon and helped us decorate for Christmas. Granted the decorating took an hour at most including the tree as we don't have a lot of decorations and we don't have a lot of space to even put decorations! So that's why the nativity scene is atop the microwave but for me it's a must to have the Nativity out during the Christmas season; goofy locale or not!

Curt and I with the doggies by the tree; our stockings hung from the window ledge with care.

Our Christmas tree in all it's shiny glory and the carefully placed Nativity Scene.

The girls had a lot of fun setting the nativity up and remebering the characters and parts they have played in our church's Christmas program.

Deer Update

So Curt got a deer right away on Saturday and then no other action for the rest of the weekend. He is home now and will leave again on Wednesday evening with his crew of family men again for a longer weekend. He stopped at the butcher and ordered deer sausage, hot sticks, jerky, and ground meat. I've only had the deer sausage and that was okay so we'll see about this other stuff and how it will taste! Don't worry I won't put up any pictures of his deer.

Seen a llama lately?

Or ever? Friday afternoon I went out to the Falls to visit my good friend Melisa and her new baby twins, Ari and Caden, as well as the best older sister Darby. On the way I was stopped at a red light and looked to my right and right there was a woman walking a llama down the street ready to cross the intersection. This I have never seen so I snapped a picture out the car window! I wonder who thought the other was stranger; me taking a photo of her out my car window or her because she was walking a llama down a busy street in Menomonee Falls?????

Happy Birthday Mom and Jodi

Both my mother and sister had a birthday this past week (Jodi's the big 20-10!) so we got together and celebrated on Friday night with the family. Eating, playing games, and cupcakes make for a great Friday night! I bought mom tickets to go to the Fireside Christmas show for the weekend of Thanksgiving; or so I thought! Low and behold when she opened the envelope and read the date it's for today, November 22nd...not November 29th! Thankfully none of us were busy today and could go a week early! What a duh, should've had a V-8 moment on my part!

Deer Widow -- that's me

Curt left Friday afternoon from work to go deer hunting with his family; in one cabin is his uncle, two cousins, close friend, and his father. Another house on the land has two other uncles, an aunt, and another cousin. I am home as a deer widow! So my sister and mother and myself are heading out to Johnson Creek Outlet Mall and then to the Fireside Theatre for their Christmas Revue show!

It's a ...

Girl!

We had our 2nd trimester ultrasound yesterday and saw a healthy baby. Being our first, neither of us realized how long this ultrasound would be; but it was a great 45 minutes of watching and smiling. The ultrasound tech said that we had a well-behaved baby because she kept positioning herself nicely for the shots and angles she needed. Right now she is about 8 inches and 9 ounces with a heartbeat of 143. Me; I'm up about 7 pounds so far so I'm happy with that considering we are halfway there but now I know let the gaining and growing begin!

Merry Christmas!?!?!?

I've tried to contain the holiday cheer but I can't do it any longer! I admit that I have been listening to Christmas music in the car and the only reason I don't have lights outside is that it's been so cold the past week or so! Curt is leaving to go hunting so I have my dad lined up to get a Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving! I am halfway done Christmas shopping too! Usually I do it all "Black Friday" and wrap it too but I'm on the ball a little more this year. However, I bet there's tons of you shopped and wrapped and waiting! (Melisa!!!) So here's to the Christmas spirit with a new blog background! Maybe I can have Christmas music playing; Rachel can I have more than one playlist?

Congratulations Trisha and Jeremy

Trisha with Jeremy after the ceremony

Trisha with her dad coming down the aisle

Saturday was one of my good friend's wedding! She was absolutely stunning and had a beautiful wedding. Here are a few pictures of her at the church but I didn't get many more than that. She was calm and collected and was having a blast the whole day. It makes me miss my wedding! (Yes I know Maria, I will always miss my wedding; I'll get over it one day!)

I SAW IT........

Gas for $1.99 a gallon on corner of Capital Dr. and Hwy 100!

Sleeping Beauty

Tonight Curt and I spent quality time together; I typed up a document to send into the state eucation department to help Mt. Mary get DPI approval and he napped on the big chair in the computer room. One of the things that I love about us is that we like to be a

round each other even if we aren't necessarily doing the same thing.

That's Mulligan curled up with him... Don't they look comfy?

Random Picture

Here is a picture of my sister Jodi and my brother's two girls. I don't know where this picture is from or when but I don't know if my sister has ever made it onto the blog so here she is...Jodi Ellen!

New Addition to the Family!!!

No not ours, Curt's parents. Curt's mom and dad got a new dog last weekend from the same breeder that Bogey and their current dog Max is from. That makes four miniature daschunds in the family! This one's name is Emmitt and it is the biggest out of all of them but seems to have a personality like Bogey, playful but snuggly and relaxed in attitude. They got another dog because their first dog Max would sit by itself all day and not interact with them alot but whenever our dogs came around he began to open up more and play more often. So Curt's parents decided to get another one! Here he is... Emmitt Mutz!

Cute Puppy

Our white dog Bogey is a character. Since we got the new couch we have not been allowing the dogs to come up like we did on the old couch. So we bought them a bed that they could share. Mulligan loves this bed and will lay in it for hours at night sleeping. Bogey on the other hand doesn't stay put too long; too much to explore in our teeny tiny house. In this photo he was inching his way out... cute to us but probably lame to all of you but we love these puppies!

Public Musuem

On Friday afternoon, my sister, my mother, and I all went to the public musuem to tour the Titanic exhibit. It was a nice exhibit but none of us were overly impressed. The Titanic and its story is interesting enough on its own for me and what I saw did not get me more interested. Tough critic I guess. While we were waiting for our time to enter the exhibit we went to visit the butterflies. One landed on my mom on its own and I of course was like one of the kids and picked one off of a tree; with my finger under its legs not by the wing though! It was another fun afternoon with just the girls!

Midnight Sun???

So there is a crew of teachers and parents at school that have gotten into the Twilight series; I am the only one that has completed the whole series and must keep my mouth shut so I don't become a "plot killer"; that is one of the worst things a book or movie addict could be! Anyways, one of the moms told me about Midnight Sun; Edward's version of the story being put on the internet... so I just went there to check it out and found the great countdown on my sidebar and to look at Midnight Sun. I downloaded it and it was 264 pages; it was one of her rough drafts that got leaked onto the internet so to trump them at their game she posted it for everyone to see and read and take away from the excitement of it being posted who knows where. I haven't read it and don't know if I could read 264 pages on the internet! Did anyone know there was another book coming out... I didn't!

Shout Out to my Brother in Law Paul!

I just wanted to tell everyone how much I enjoy Curt's brother Paul. ( He is the one in green) I've only spent a limited time with him as he lives in Florida but I enjoy it when I'm around for Curt's and Paul's phone conversations! He is a genuine person; super friendly, and upbeat. I can't wait for the next time he comes to town or we end up in Florida!

Wickedly Good

This weekend Curt and I went down to Chicago to see the musical Wicked! It was a great plot line that I was not familiar with so it was very interesting to watch it all develop; I loved, loved, loved how they humanized the wicked witches of the east and west. Back in high school I was on the stage crew for plays so it's still interesting to me to see how they build and move pieces around on the stage. We attended a matinee show and had a little time to drive up and down Michigan Avenue to look at the shops before the show. We didn't do any shopping on Michigan Avenue; instead we saved our money and looked for the bargains at Pleasant Prairie Outlet Mall on the way back home!! And one last thing; thank goodness for GPS; to me it's invaluable...both in the big cities and the boonies!

Oh and no photos because I didn't check to see if the camera battery was charged and of course; it wasn't!!!!

A Guessing Game

We put a poll on the side of the blog to let you guess the sex of the baby...we both are wondering and predicting! Neither Curt nor I are really hoping either way but it will be fun to find out next month! Curt would love a little one that loves to fish though; girl or boy!

P.S. If you go by the chinese calendar; it's a girl and if you go by the old wives tale of the heartrate; it's a girl again! So it's 50-50 odds on both of those; if you add it together does it make it 100% accurate? I don't think it works that way!

Announcement

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The Computer is Back!

We've got the computer back and have updated the major events of the past few weeks. Scroll down to read all the news! Oh and this weekend is our Wicked trip! I keep hearing great things from everyone so I can't wait for our trip to Chicago...

Household Projects

We've been busy the past couple of weeks making changes in the house; both the way it looks and cleaning and downsizing so that we can make room for a little one!


1.)I've sewn pillows to match our new to us couch! Love the couch and love these pillows!


2.)Jodi and I painted the bathroom; I've been wanting to do this for months. Granted it was a bit of a fiasco; we had the first coat on before we realized it was the wrong color. The whole time it looked a little off but we said it's wet, it's because we're comparing it to the blue that was there, because it's getting darker outside, blah, blah, blah. But an hour later it was NO WAY this is different. I ordered a taupe-ish color and we got adobe! Nasty; but I didn't feel like staring over so I exchanged the original shower curtain and am going to live with it for a while.





3.)Curt and I cleaned the two hall closests. Doesn't look like there's much in there because more went into the garbage or off to Goodwill then went back in! If you can believe it we had to shove these doors closed before doing this task!

We're going from 2 to 3!

Curt and I have been keeping a secret for over two months now; pretty well actually. There's more people who don't know in our lives than do know; of course that's if we go off of who we've told and not others sharing the news :) Curt and I are pregnant! We are starting our 15th week and have had ultrasounds and heard the heartbeat Monday at our doctor's appointment. This makes us due April 13th; the day after Easter.

**Not the greatest pictures but you get the idea.**

We actually found out on our 6 month wedding anniversary when we went up north for a weekend; just the two of us. That made that an extra special getaway and anniversary celebration. We go in 4 weeks for our big ultrasound and to hopefully find out what we are having! So that's our biggest news we've been waiting to share!

Curt's Big Fishing Trip

Curt went up to Escanaba with his parents and a good friend Pat. They booked a fishing charter with one of the local guides and spent 9 hours until 11 o'clock at night fishing! They reached their limit of fish and now we have a freezer full of walleye and we don't even eat fish!

No Computer!!!

So we've been without a computer at home for about two weeks now...so no blogs but lots of excitement that we will fill you in on hopefully this week. A friend of Curt's from work is helping to get his computer going again and I'm waiting for the X-mas sales to try to get a steal on electronics... We'll see... Off to teach.

Our New Couch!

This past weekend Curt and I got a new couch; or new to us anyways but I love it! I have been talking for a year now about getting a new couch because ours is pretty warn out and the dogs have done a number on it so my dad's friend was downsizing from a home to a condo and was trying to get rid of a couch for $250. I saw it and loved it and bought it all in 5 minutes and we could afford it! The couch was only about 1 year old and sat in their "formal" living room so it was only used at bigger family get togethers...it's cushy and great. So now I am going to make 2 jumbo pillows to match! My mom said if I could do a quilt, then pillows would be simple. The quilt by the way is almost done as Thursday is our last class! Pics coming soon!

My Girl Crush is Returning

I will admit I love Jennifer Love Hewwitt; I think she is just beautiful and seems like a sincere, friendly girl. Granted I've never met her and probably won't so I am basing this on ????? Anyways, the Ghost Whisperer is returning tomorrow night; I love this show...Curt can't stand it. For awhile he banned me from watching it because I was having dreams and starting to hear "things". This summer though we signed up for Netflix and I've been catching up on all the seasons...granted I am only halfway through season 3 so I will have to DVR the episodes until I am done and can start watching her live! Jennifer is my girl crush; who is yours?

Makenzie the Photographer

On Saturday I went to my older niece's soccer game. To keep Makenzie occupied I taught her how to use my camera and view the pictures. She caught on quickly but not so much to getting the picture in the view finder; she just liked to point and click! Here are some of her favorites; she was extremely proud of about 50 of them but I picked just a few here from hair, to grass, to the sky, and Karley running after the ball! We laughed a lot and had a lot of fun spending time with her.