valentine's fun

Another year of hilarious Blackhawk Valentines!
















Thanks,Chicago Blackhawks!

highs and lows of 2014

Highs:
Went on a Besties trip with P and K to Nashville!
Toured the Grand Ole Opry
Was offered a new job and gladly accepted it
Took another road trip with my older sister J and her family---to the Outer Banks,North Carolina!
Captured the sunrise and sunset off the Atlantic Ocean.
Learned that Lovebug #6 is coming in 2015!!
Toured a Lighthouse
Saw dolphins swimming in the Ocean
Laughed a ton
Had weekly dinners with Bestie K...and P,E and B when they were able to make it.
Went on another road trip to Omaha
Continued to trust in God and His way
Made some new friends with my co-teachers
Learned to love my daily job. Working with students with Autism is eye opening and joyous.
Visited the Cristkindle Market,a favorite Christmas tradition of mine.
Started volunteering with Operation Support OurTroops
Walked for the sixth year in a row with March of Dimes during their March For Babies
Tried to savor my family,friends and all our memories we created.
Celebrated Bestie E and and her new husband!
Went to my first ever County Fair--Sugar Grove's Corn Boil
Oktoberfest in Chicago with Besties B and E
Paid off my student loan!!
Went to Lake Geneva for the first time (and hopefully not the last time,it is glorious there!)



Lows:
It was so darn cold and snowy for what seemed like forever here in Chicago...
and that is about all the "lows" I can think of because all my other "lows" are just gravy and not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

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Happy 2015 Eve!!!

Have a great New Year's Eve!!

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weekend

I had an extra long weekend because I took off thursday and friday (in honor of my birthday and Easter). It was magnificent!!!

thursday

I spent most of my birthday with this boy---we went to starbucks,a park,his library and then played outside. A beautiful day and a fun day with my long-lost buddy.

friday

relaxed,finished reading The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgans,took my car for an emissions test and painted my nails.

saturday

cleaning,a birthday lunch with Bestie P and to watch the Blackhawks lose  game. 

sunday

Easter celebrating!

Lovebug #4 took this picture!

Lovebug #1 took this picture! I couldn't get enough of Lovebug's bow tie!

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A great weekend celebrating my birthday,Spring weather and Jesus!!

st patty's day

:)

Have a good,green day!! I am not Irish but that doesn't stop me from eating corned beef,cabbage and drinking a Guinness!!

Happy Monday!

Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!











These are just too funny!

Christmas 2013

Scenes from Christmas Eve and Day:

Morning peppermint mocha with one of my favorite views!

 Baking for Christmas Morn brunch

 Christmas Eve dinner table

A view through my glass :)

 My parents have a lot of musical toys so the Lovebugs are always all over them

 Santa let his little trainee help pass out our presents that he left on Christmas Eve

 This just makes me smile

 Christmas Morning breakfast...

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I hope you had a lovely Christmas as well!

merry christmas

Merry Christmas!

He is born!!

And to add another smile to your face, watch this sweet video.



To all our soldiers who are or are not able to come for Christmas,God Bless you all and thank you for your work and dedication!!!

capture it:sisters by the tree

christmas questionnaire

because,why not?! I love a questionnaire and anything to do with Christmas is great in my book :)

one: What do you love most about Christmas time?
the lights and smells (Christmas trees,cookies,candy canes)
two: Do you celebrate the holiday in style or is it Bah-Humbug for you?
in style!! in fact,if I don't love/enjoy something about Christmas then my family/friends are worried about me :)
three: Are you leaving anything out for Santa Claus this year so he remembers to leave your presents?
no,but I would like to do that with my own kids whenever that happens.
four: What is the one gift you are most looking forward to giving? 
tough pick,i am excited about all of them but maybe my nephew's blackhawks jersey.
five: What is your all-time favorite Christmas movie?
home alone!!
six: What is your all-time favorite Christmas song?
away in a manger
seven: If given the opportunity would participate in an Ugly Sweater party and what sweater would you wear?
yes!! it sounds like fun! I saw a super hideous one the other week at target (it featured a cat face in a wreath with snowflakes around it and think some shiny other accents).
eight: Have you started any Christmas traditions this year that you plan on carrying forward?
just continuing to buy cute ornaments (I have always loved them and I like to buy a new one each year).
nine: It's Christmas morning, what does it look like outside where you live?
snow on the ground,party cloudy...we have about 6 inches on the ground already.
ten: You have just found yourself standing under the mistletoe...who comes up to give you a kiss first?
hopefully partick sharp :) but since he is married,let's go with kris versteeg or ryan gosling


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thanks,Lauren!

one week!

it is really only one week til Christmas,how did that happen?!

i am so ready for a few days off of work next week!

i am so ready to see my big brothers M and B and sis K!

i am so ready to soak up family time!

i am so ready to see my nieces and nephews open up their presents!

i am so ready to devour my big bro J and sis C's Christmas cookies!

i am so ready for the Christmas fun!

i am so ready to celebrate Jesus birth!

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are you ready?

one of the sweetest videos ever

 Merry Christmas! More holiday cheer!

holiday questions

Five of my favorite Holiday movies
Home Alone
Elf
The Holiday
Miracle on 34th Street
A Christmas Story

Four songs I could never get sick of hearing
Away in a Manger
Little Drummer Boy
Silent Night
A Baby Changes Everything (it is from Faith Hill's Christmas album a couple years ago,I still love it).

Three foods that I look forward to
Christmas cookies (especially the cornflake cookies and magic bars that my oldest brother,J, makes!)
Egg nog (goes along nicely while we decorate the tree)
Our family's cheesy egg souffle (a tradition on Christmas morning)

Two activities I love
Decorating the tree
Christmas morning (Mass.breakfast,cups of coffee and opening presents with the family)

One reason why the Holidays are so special
All the family traditions we have...even if some are not our favorites,they are still apart of our family and growing up years.

Thanks, Heather!!
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Happy Wednesday,all! 

weekend

Thursday
just ten of us around my parent's dinning room table this year. a small yet enjoyable crowd :)

Friday
I actually had to go work, sixteen pre-k kiddos showed up so teaching had to be done. I babysat at night,too. A long yet pleasant day.
Saturday
slept in,usual weekend cleaning,paid bills,coffee with Besties P and B,pizza night with my parents/sister R/bro J and sis C while we watched the Hawks (win!) and a couple Hallmark Christmas movies.
Sunday
church,put up Christmas light and decorations! dinner and another Hallmark  Christmas movie :) I also finished reading, Simple Genius

A nice weekend I had,how about you?
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Happy Monday!

Thankful for:

• God,without Him,I have nothing. As stubborn as I may be,I know this is true
• Family,they make me feel loved and special and always support me
• Friends,these ladies are my Besties and make my Saturdays that more special as we catch up and chat over our coffees. I love these girls!
• Coffee,makes my morning and is a treat
• My job,even if it isn't where I thought I would be/want to be, it allows me to be a teacher and the kiddos do have their funny and sweet moments
• Good books,nothing better
• Tv shows,they help me unwind and suck me into their stories and characters
• My health
• My car
• Traveling,I have been blessed this year to have gone on some wonderful trips
• My Home

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Enjoy this day with friends and family and eat some tasty food!

also thankful for

    splurging on a fancy coffee,once a week coffee with the Besties being able to buy clothes peppermint mochas Christmas music hawaii five-0,blue bloods,the mindy project,ncis,elementary,person of interest,arrow,castle,chicago fire photography klove Blackhawks hockey! the cubbies! sweaters,jeans and boots morning cups of coffee sleeping in days off/weekends dark nail polish colors ****** Thanks Heather & Katie! ****** Happy Thanksgiving Eve!!  

The Fourth:2013

My sister and her family hosted,like usual. It was a smaller sibling group this year but we still enjoyed our selves, and ate a lot....

Appetizers

 K&B

 (Lovebug #2 took this photo,actually!)

Lovebug #2 showing off her new cowgirl boots,they scream fourth of july,too!

Sparkler time!!

Fireworks time!

I can't remember the last time I went to an acutal fireworks display,we normally just see them from our backyard...

Even with a few mosquito bites,it was a nice day spent with family.