Back to the WU

Mom and Me

(Thanks for the cookies!)
Blayn opted for the rock wall instead of the game.
Luckily IWU has the best students ever, and this kid that was working at the wall freely volunteered to watch him until the game was over!

Mya and her cousin Kendra

Our cousin Sydney was cheering tonight

Not to be confused with a stadium..this is there new chapel people!

We had to go three times a week...every week for four years straight.

But looking back... it was good for us! : )

Walking into the Rec Center to watch the game.

Here is A.D. with his favs at Pizza Hut..yum!

A.D. and I headed back to our alma mater (IWU) Wednesday night for some basketball tourney action. It worked out perfectly to meet up with my family as well. After meeting up with A.D.'s old baseball coach, (he is now the athletic director and in charge of prayer before events); he asked A.D. to say the prayer before the game. I thought it was sweet, A.D. was pretty nervous, but he did great! We had a good time catching up with some old friends and seeing everything that has changed in just the last year. Of course now they get a new sonic drive thru!! Bummer..oh well...we have quite a few more years left of Alumni baseball and our cousins playing sports there. I'm sure we'll be back for more soon!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I woke up to a table full of goodies from my sweet hubby; the famous lighthouse doughnuts, thee roses for the number of v-days we've spent together as a married couple, and a sweet smelling lotion/body wash collection.

This year I got A.D. the Love Dare book from the movie Fireproof. I would highly reccomend this movie/book to anyone...dating, engaged, or married. It will definitely make you think about the way you treat others!

I couldn't skip a holiday without a favorite dessert for ya!

Strawberry Tapioca

Boil 6 cups water

Add 3/4 C small pearl tapioca

Add 1 C sugar

Turn to Medium heat and cook for 35-40 min or until pearls clear.

Remove from heat& add 1 small packet of dry strawberry jello

Add as many strawberries as your little heart desires.

Chill in fridge for 3 or more hours.

Add 1 tub cool whip and serve

one word...delish!

My Day At Preschool

Before preschool we played with baby Riley
He is getting so big

Mya showing me how she matches the brushes to the paint.

Blayn was probably not listening to the teacher at this point! :)

Playing in the sand or rice box..this used to be my favorite!

I thought this thing was a bit scary, but of course the kids loved it!

Mya helped mommy make a cake for A.D. for Valentine's Day.

This past week I got the chance to go to preschool with the kids for the day. They are going to the same preschool my parents sent us other kids to long long ago! It's funny how things really haven't changed all that much. And for a second or two, I really thought I could've been a teacher! After bathroom trips and snotty kids sitting on my lap all day, I've decided that we'll just leave that job to my husband after all!

Bark Park

She was not quite sure what to think at first...
She wouldn't run around because there were so many new smells.

A.D.'s attempt at making her run

She loves volleyball just like her momma!

So sad..time to leave! She was on cloud nine at this point!

Sunday was soooo beautiful out...no coats necessary! We decided to take our baby out to the bark park to get rid of some of that energy she's been storing all winter! And now she is out..for the rest of the day!

25 Random things about me...

1.) I'm married to a giant mexican, whom I adore!

2.) I dream of someday living in an big, old, victorian home out in the country with a big pond dug by my pops.

3.) I've wanted a baby ever since I was a baby, but for now I'm content with taking care of them at work!

4.) My mom is my hero!

5.) I grew up in the country and have had over 8 different (outside only) dogs growing up, most of which got hit on the road. I never imagined letting an animal live inside the house and now we have a dog that sleeps with us every night!

6.) My new years resolution was to swear less...you get in a bad habit working med surg for a year right out of nursing school :)

7.) My favorite drink is pinapple and malibu.

8.) When my brother and I were babies my sister shifted the car and it headed straight for our pond with me and my brother in the back seat. Thankfully God turned that wheel and we hit a big giant rock instead. Good thing my dad has a thing for large rocks all over our yard and pond!

9.) My biggest fear is drowning in all these crazy retention ponds that line the streets in carmel!

10.) I dislike my scrawny arms that my husband said he really thinks he could snap them in half. :)

11.) I think my dog is the cutest thing alive, but could for sure benefit from some Ativan once in a while!

12.) I miss my family like crazy living in this state for that past 6 years of my life!

13.) I could eat Don Pablos chips and salsa for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

14.) I can't stand when people are condesending...noone knows everything!15.) I love that my hubby and I are both laid back and relaxed about most things.

16.) The best advice I've gotten was to not sweat the small stuff, but eventually you'll realize that for the most part its all just a bunch of small stuff not worth getting sweaty over!

17.) I'm a born and raised good little Mennonite girl!

18.) I love to decorate my house with cute things from Kirklands.

19.) I think its imporant to treat yourself to whatever you want every once in a while, mine is going to be a vacation to Florida coming up in April and a huge piece of chocolate cake coming up tonight hopefully!

20.) I'm obsessed with moccasins, all colors, all kinds!

21.) I get asked on a weekly basis what nationality I am.

22.) I promise, I really did know what "my John Hancock" was. :)

23.) I love our cute ,clean, fresh smelling, new house full of bath and body work plug-ins in every outlet!

24.) I love that on our honeymoon we were the only english speaking people on the entire island, and as a bonus we had a group of security guards that sat outside our bedroom sliding glass doors in our patio furniture smoking cigars every single night! Apparently they wanted to see the show...haha.

25.) And lastly, I can't express how much I love that mexi of mine!

Cottage Fever

The outside view of our cottage
It was full of charm

We enjoyed a nice cozy fire

Loved all the victorian houses!

We stopped at this coffee shop

and sipped on sweet drinks with whip cream to the ceiling

We ate blueberry pie at this little cafe that had live music and a local group of artists doing crafts on the table beside us. I loved the painting on the wall.

It was full of antique lovelies

Macy approved too!

We decided to start the new year out right by treating ourselves to a little getaway to Brown County Indiana. We called at last minute and stayed in this cute little cottage right in downtown Nashville. It is such a quaint little town with hundreds of little trinket stores with homemade fudge and candy shops. It was so nice because we brought Macy along too....aww, our first family vacation!

A Merry Christmas It Was

Mya and Blayn got the Smart Cycle
How many men does it take?
She was so excited

Blayn couldn't quite wait until Christmas. He peeked at one gift every day!

Hannah with baby Riley

My brother

My sister and Scott

All ready to start!

A.D. and I

Next year we'll try to attempt a family picture before letting the kids swim for three days straight! They were so not in the mood for picture taking!

We traveled back home to Ohio for a week of fun with my family this year. Festivities included a Christmas Eve service in the new church, a yummy Christmas day meal by mom, a family movie "Marley and Me" (so good), and a weekend at a hotel for the Grieser Christmas. My favorite present this year was the Wii fit...you really do get quite the workout!