Where is my baby? She is 4 now!!

We had a fabulous 4th birthday party at our house for Marissa. It was a Strawberry Shortcake theme (can't believe that I grew up with Strawberry Shortcake and she's back for this new generation! Marissa really wanted to have it our house this year, rather than at the Parks Dept. So...Mommy spent the whole month getting ready to have about 30 people at our house. I loved every minute of it though. Next year I'm sure we'll do it at Kidzone or Chuck E. Cheese with her little friends, but it was really special having it at home. She gots lots of neat gifts and we had a great time with her. I just cannot believe how 4 years ago our lives totally changed in such a wonderful day. Everyone told me that time would fly, but I now believe it. We have cherished every moment with her and we just thank God for her every day!!

Love,

Kristi

February - First Trip to Dentist and Lots O' Snow

February was an eventful month! Marissa went to the dentist for the first time and had NO cavities (was so proud of her for taking care of her teeth!). Also, Marissa and I have been having lots of fun in the kitchen. We made Valentine's Day cookies for all of the kids in the church nursery and had a blast! We had tons of snow in February!! Phillip and I are huge fans of snow, but by the end of February, we were SICK of it!! I'm not sure how many times Phillip had to plow our driveway, but we made it through!

Love,

Kristi

January - 2010 Tubing!!

January just flew by! We went to Perfect Slopes North with our church group and it was a blast! Marissa wanted to go down the slopes a million times, but Mommy and Daddy grew very tired after awhile! :) A great memory!

Kristi

Christmas - the best yet!

Wow, I am just so far behind again. Where does the time go? Here are some pictures from Christmas!! It was the best yet with Marissa-she was sooo into it!!

Some of the highlights...

1. Riding the Polar Express!

2. Making a cake for Jesus!

3. Santa Claus coming to our house!

Until next time...

Kristi

Halloween is over...Thanksgiving is coming up quickly!

Well, I'm a little behind again. Marissa had a wonderful Halloween! She really got into it this year and was just so cute saying "Trick or Treat!!". She was Snow White this year!

October was a busy month and now I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is next week!

We put up our Christmas tree last weekend and need to finish with the decorating this weekend. We are looking forward to having some friends over this weekend and Thanksgiving dinner at our church on Sunday. The church is also having an auction for baked goodies and I'm going to be making peanut butter balls and fudge.

I started Weight Watchers towards the end of October and so far I've lost about 11 pounds. It's going to be a long road, but I think I finally found something I can live with for the rest of my life. I don't feel like I'm on a diet--just eating what I usually eat (but, naturally, less of it!), but accounting for everything that goes into my mouth. I could use some prayers while I go through this journey. Any of you that have been on a diet know how hard can be.

This year Thanksgiving will be at my Aunt Kathy's house and I'm looking forward to that wonderful meal. Also, my brother and I have developed a tradition of going shopping on Black Friday. It is completely crazy, but we really enjoy it. It really gets you into the Christmas spirit! We always have a story to tell after we go!

In December we are planning to take Marissa on the Polar Express train in Noblesville. We purchased the tickets a few weeks ago, and it's a good thing because it's sold out now! Marissa talks about riding the train almost every day.

Well, I'll close for now and hopefully will update during the Christmas season!

Love to all-
Kristi (and Phillip and Marissa too)

Brrr...it's cold here in Indiana!

Hi all !

It's been so cold here in Indiana lately and we've had the furnace up and running!

We've been busy like everyone else--just doesn't seem like there are enough hours in the day!

Marissa is doing GREAT in preschool! We love hearing what she did each day and love seeing her little papers! I was reluctant to send her at 3, but am so glad we did! She has matured so much in just a month! She will have her first school party in a couple weeks and I'm so excited to go. I always dreamed about making treats for her school parties -- I can't believe I'm doing it when she is 3!

Marissa talks non-stop and it's so cute. (Remember, I worried day and night about her not talking!) And this is such a fun age because the things she talks about are so cute! Let's see, this week she is obsessed with Pillow Pets. If you have a small child and watch Sprout/PBS, you'll get sucked into the Pillow Pets. She got so obsessed with them that she convinced her Pa Pa to get on the computer and order her one. Now, she wants about all of them! Ha!

She is really looking forward (for the first time really) for Halloween AND of course, Christmas. Everything she sees on TV she wants Ho Ho to bring!

We have a big weekend this weekend -- My brother Chad and I are going with the Church Youth Group on Friday evening to a haunted house attraction. Sounds kind of weird saying that we are going with the CHURCH to a haunted house, but fortunately we have a minister now that lets the children enjoy Halloween. I've never viewed it as something "evil" and feel that is something that has been taken too far. As Christians, we don't celebrate evil, but we do enjoy Halloween for the children. Getting dressed up and getting candy is just fun for them.

Next, on Saturday we will celebrate my Grandma's 96th birthday in the evening. Finally, on Sunday we will go to the March for the Cure (for breast cancer) that a friend of ours puts on at Southwestern High School. I know so many people (including her) that have been touched by breast cancer and I'm just hoping by the time Marissa grows into a woman that there will be a cure and we won't have to worry about it anymore!

We really enjoy being busy (but not TOO busy) and doing things as a family! I cannot believe that Christmas is just around the bend and hoping my blog will be updated before Christmas ... ha!

Blessings to everyone!

Kristi

P.S. Here is a picture of her with Pillow Pet! (Snuggly Puppy)

My preschooler !

Well, my baby has officially started preschool! I cannot get over the fact that Marissa is now in preschool! We had orientation two weeks ago and Marissa was the only child that didn't cry when their parent left the room. I didn't think she would, but neither did the other parents! That made me feel pretty good about her starting the next week. Phillip and I both took a vacation day to make sure we got to take her and pick her up on her first day. We pulled up to the dropoff spot, took her out of her carseat, put her backpack on and she was gone like a shot! She ran in so fast that Phillip wasn't even able to get a picture of her going in. So that was wonderful and hard all at the same time. She was ready... but were we? Phillip and I both got teary eyed leaving her and realizing that this was a new and exciting phase in her life. We picked her up and she was so excited to see us. We got the cutest little papers in her backpack from what she had done that day and she got a surprise from us on her first day (a little something from Walmart). Phillip and I almost didn't know what to do with ourselves while she was gone--we went to breakfast, went to Walmart, got the oil changed, went to the bank and came home to just sit and wait to go get her! haha. It was a neat experience and one we won't forget.

This will be week two and I'm anxious to see how that goes.

My Mom and Dad are in Branson, Missouri in celebration of their 40th anniversary on Monday (14th). My brother and I gave them this trip as a present. They are having an awesome time and will return soon.

We closed our pool this weekend and are anxiously awaiting Harvest season. Phillip and I love this season. We love seeing the farmers around us harvest their crops, the cooler temperatures, decorating for Halloween and Thanksgiving, and, of course, the anticipation of Christmas and SNOW!

Hope everyone is doing well, and, as always, thanks for checking our blog! Here are some pictures of my precious preschooler !!

Love,

Kristi