Happy Turkey Day!

It's official...I'm stuffed! We had lunch w/ Nick's side & then had dinner w/ my side. All the food was super good but dang am I feeling the consequences!! I felt like a pregnant women getting up from the chair earlier!! We had a great time w/ everyone & I have SO MUCH to be thankful for!! Although I have been sort of down lately I defiantly have not lost sight of this! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving as well!!

I really don't have much to report on & surprisingly I don't have many pictures either!

Last weekend was busy but low key. We have a suspicion that our cats might have fleas...that's right...fleas. We've been passing them around. My mom had them a couple months ago & then Nick's mom had them & now we think we have them. Oh joy! Nick gave the cats baths on Fri night. It was interesting! Ninja seemed kind of ticked but Sassy was a good girl!

I got my hair did on Sat morning. I loved it as usual! (My cousin is the best!) I then stopped by Hobby Lobby. Their Christmas stuff was 50% off so I got some new Christmas tree decorations. We've been using some hand-me-down decor but we were in need for something different so I got black & silver! Black...big surprise huh!?! I'm excited to get the tree on Sat so that we can see how everything looks! Anyway, on Sat night we had a double date w/ Nicole & Grant. We saw The Dark Knight in Grundy. I'm still undecided on whether I like it or not. I love Heath Ledger but I didn't really like the ending & it was kind of confusing. I'm sure Nick & I will rent it when it comes out because he loved it so I suppose I can decide then.

On Sun we went to church & stopped by Carlos O Kelly's for some lunch. (Good stuff!) We then saw Twilight! OMG! I'm pretty sure I'm in love w/ Edward! TEAM EDWARD!! Hee Hee! I know I'm a loser! I do like the book better but it was still awesome to watch everything play out. I have to say that those are some good looking vampires! I wouldn't mind living forever if I could look at them all day! ;) Anna saw the movie last night & she loved it too so we are going again this Sun! Like I said...I'm a loser!

P.S. We went to the Black Hawks game tonight but we left after the 2nd period since Nick still had to load for work tomorrow & he isn't feeling very well. Cedar Rapids was ahead by 1 when we left but I haven't heard how the game ended. Here are a couple pics of the Teddy Bear Toss tonight!



UPDATE! I just found out from Anna that the Black Hawks WON!! YES!! Take that Rough Riders! :D

IT'S A BOY!!

I got word today that Little G is going to get a little brother next year!! Yippy!! This means that they are going to have to try for a third one to see if they can get their girl!! (Hee Hee!) Bring on the babies!! :D

Twilight Zone

I really haven't had much going on lately. The past week has been strange. I'm generally a happy person but, for some unknown reason, I woke up Sat morning feeling depressed. Depression runs in my family so it's scary to think of what might be going on w/ me. My dad, both my brothers, & a few of my aunts have dealt with it in the past & I've seen all that they've been through. I know I'm not nearly as bad as they've been but I just know I don't feel "normal". I haven't had much of an appetite & I can cry on cue. I really hope whatever it is passes quickly so that I can enjoy the holidays which, as one of my previous posts noted, is my favorite time of year. Today I'm doing all right though so I guess we'll see.....

I did manage to get out of the house on Sun. Nick & I went to church at Orchard Hill for the first time. Erica, Chad, & my coworker/friend Crystal go there. Nick & I have been looking for a church that has people who are around our age. The church that I've gone to all my life is quite small & there isn't really anyone in my age group. I have to say that Orchard Hill is defiantly not what I'm use to! It's SO BIG! My church is lucky to have 50 people show up where as Orchard Hill has 1400 people!! They even have people directing traffic in the parking lot!! I really like the contemporary service though! They have a band which is AWESOME! There is this one particular singer who just amazes me! Another thing I like about Orchard Hill is that they have later services. One reason I would never go to church was because I didn't want to get up early on a day off. They have two services at 9:45 & 11:10 so I can sleep in! AND...they have FREE coffee & cappuccino!

Sun afternoon Nick & I stopped by Katie & Brad's to help celebrate Hailey's 1st b-day! They got her the cutest little cake...that didn't stay cute for long! They sat Hailey in her highchair & put her itty-bitty cake in front of her & lit the candle. Everyone then began the traditional Happy Birthday song...Hailey didn't like that to well. She soon started crying & not long after the tray to her highchair came crashing to the floor!! Cake & all!! I guess she doesn't like to be serenaded. The best part is, is that they got it all on tape! Oh the memories!

(She wasn't to happy about all the people.)

(Poor cake!)

(One word...spoiled!)

(Diggin in!)

(All the cuties at the kiddy table!)

On Mon night I went to a Grundy movie w/ Teresa. We saw Fireproof. It was a cute movie & it had a good message but the acting was horrible. Oh well, it's a good thing they only charge $1 a movie!

The rest of the week I was in my own personal "Twilight Zone", dealing w/ whatever it is I'm dealing with...but I'm also in another kind of Twilight Zone...as in the book/movie Twilight! I wondered what all the hype was about so I snatched up the first book of the series a couple weeks ago. I was done w/ it in about 3 days! I thought it was super! It's part love story, part thriller, part horror! LOVE IT! Now...I'm not going to profess my undying love for Robert Pattinson anytime soon or scratch my neck until it bleeds to see if he would like to feed off me...you heard that right, someone actually did that...but I have to say that I defiantly fall in the "fanpire" group! ;) Nick & I are going to see the movie on Sun after church so that's something to look forward to. Plus, I'm hoping to get the other three books of the series for Christmas! (Fingers crossed!)



Anyways, I have plenty going on this weekend so hopefully everything will help in lifting my spirit! And if all else fails...then I guess I can just daydream about Edward Cullen... ;)

Gangsta To The Max!!

So, I'm to stupid to figure out how to take a video from YouTube & add it to my blog so I'll just give ya'll the address so that you can check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqXi8WmQ_WM

It is flipping hilarious!! WARNING: It's not an "appropriate" video for wee ones or work!

ENJOY!! :D

P.S. This will explain our "Show Me Your Genitals" dance from the last post! Good times!!

Quarter Of A Century! Wow!

I had a SUPER 25th birthday!! My family, friends, & fiance are the best!!

I had my b-day off from work which was great!! I slept in & then met my mom & great-aunt Anne for lunch at Applebee's! (Their garlic mashed potatoes are amazing!!) I even got a FREE sundae since I was the birthday girl!! After lunch I did my duty as an American & voted. I went at the right time cuz I was in & out. Didn't have to wait or anything. The rest of the afternoon I just lounged around until about 5:30 when I attempted to find something to wear for dinner. I have to say that I HATE my current wardrobe!! I haven't been clothes shopping forever cuz I'm sort of broke. (Hopefully, I can find a good sale somewhere or something!) Anyway, after fussing around w/ different outfits I finally found one that was ok so Anna & I left to go to Hu Hot. I had never been there before but I thought it sounded good so I decided on it for my b-day dinner. Almost everyone was there! Unfortunately, Joe had to work so he couldn't make it. I thought the food was really good but I did a no no & filled my bowl the first go around so I was to full to try anymore combinations. I'll just have to go back now that I have a game plan!! :)

(Nana's B/F Gene, Nana, Auntie - Joe :(, Mom, & Darwin)

(Brandon aka Ruzz & Anna)

(Brandon, Jerod, & Ally...They really get sick of me taking pictures!)

(Little G making his silly face!)

(The Fab 4!! We even have the roman numeral 4 tattooed on us! Awwww...sibling LOVE!)

(Dad eating the mini corns! Weirdo!!)

(Amy, Gary, & Teresa)

(Nicole & Grant)

(Dad & Diane)

I took Wed off as well so that Nick & I could spend the day together. We slept in (love it) & then got up so that we could watch a couple movies. We rented Deja Vu & Cloverfield. I thought they were both pretty good. Cloverfield was creepy to me but Nick thought it was stupid! (I'm kind of a wussy so I can see how most people would think it is stupid while I get all spooked!) The day went by to fast & then it was off to bed so that I could get up for "the real world" the next day. (Blah!)

There was another hockey game Fri night & I had the honor of taking my brother Brandon as my date! We had a really good time! It's not very often that I get to spend one on one time w/ either of my brothers. And the BH's win was just the cherry on top!!

(They just made a GOAL!!)

(We're CHEESEIN since the BHs WON!!)

(LOOK who I found!! DORA!)

On Sat I got to babysit Caleb! Such a cute little guy! Plus, he's very well behaved. He slept for most of the time I was there but once he woke up & came out of his nap daze he was ready for some fun! He liked hiding behind the chair & then I would say, "Where's Caleb? Where did he go?" & then he would run out from behind it & I would say, "There he is!!". He would laugh & then we would do it again & again!! I gave him some raisins for a snack so he was sitting on the floor w/ his box of raisins just munchin away. He soon scooted closer to me & started feeding me his raisins! So CUTE!!

(Mouth full of raisins!! Hee hee!)

(LOVE the hat!! Little pumpkin!)

My b-day celebration continued on Sat night! We invited everyone to Cornerstone for ribs & FREE beer!! Their ribs are way yummy!! Nothing like BBQ ribs & a baked potato to get your stomach ready for some Budweiser!! ;) The beer was gone before midnight so we started on the shots!! I think I had about 5 total that night!! The Duck Fart shot was the best!! (Not sure how that one got it's name?!?) It was a fun packed night & I'm glad that so many people were able to stop by!!

(Beginning of the night.....)

(Auntie, Joe, Darwin, & mom were the first to start on the "keg".)

(Caleb, Erica, & Chad stopped by to wish me a happy b-day!)

(Amber & Chad)

(Nick's cuz Brian! He's a groomsman in our wedding!)

(Joe & Auntie. FYI: They are the host & hostess of our wedding!)

(Jessica, Anna, Ruzz, Mike, & Chelsie)

(We're doin the "Show Me Your Genitals" dance!)

(Shot #1)

(G$$, Ryan, Lucas, Autumn, & Nie)

(My soon to be mom-in-law & sister-in-law...w/ the adorable belly!!)

(LOVE this pic! Anna is telling mom not to dance while Brandon & dad just stand there cluelessly!)

(My mama & papa! They're BFFs! I'm very lucky!)

(Shot #2! The Duck Fart!!)

(The boys!)

(What you lookin @ Brandon!?!)

(Katie & Steph! Katie is my bridal attendant & Steph is a bridesmaid!)

(Like my "hat"?? I heart my mommy!)

(Shot #3!)

(Very nice! Dee & Dan being goofballs!)

(Katie & her hubby Brad!)

(Awwwww...Booter & Steph!)

(Lovely Lady Bethany!)

(.....end of the night! ;)

On Sun Nick & I decided to hit up Texas Roadhouse for lunch & then stop by the Pipac for a bridal show. I had already spoke w/ most of the vendors at other bridal shows so there wasn't much to look at but the Pipac defiantly had some extra perks @ their show! They had free wine & a chocolate fountain. I also liked how they had the models walking around in the dresses instead of having a fashion show. At 3:00 they had some couples ballroom dancing. We knew one of the couples, Chris & Mandy. We know Chris from Nick's softball team. They decided to take dance lessons as a way of spending time together. They did a great job!!

(Chris & Mandy)

I must say a farewell to the warm fall weather we were having! :( Look what I woke up to on Mon morning.....


Oh well...what do ya do...it's Iowa!!