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

Has it been since June since I blogged???

Oh my goodness! I looked at my blog and noticed I hadn't updated in over 2 months!!! I have no idea where the summer went! The kids are all back in school...I'm sick of watering my flowers (that's a sure sign the summer is over for me!)...and I'm looking forward to Fall! It has been a really hot last few weeks here in Indiana and I'm officially ready for Fall! I LOVE Fall (I think I got that from my Grandma!). I love decorating for Halloween and Thanksgiving. I'm already thinking of what Marissa will be for Halloween this year and even farther down the road, what she might want for Christmas (it's only 4 months away folks!).

Marissa is really into movies now and I think we have watched "Enchanted" (a Disney movie) about 100 times. It's such a cute movie, but you know we have watched it too many times if Marissa not only knows the songs, but the dialogue through the whole movie! In saying that, she is doing extremely well in her speech. She is still "dutchy" on a lot of words, but she is communicating in sentences and amazes us daily with the words she knows. Last week before Daddy took her to bed, she told me to "stay out in the family room and watch American Idol!" haha She was confusing America's Got Talent with that, but in her mind it was American Idol! So cute!

She is all set to begin pre-school the Tuesday after Labor Day. We go for her open house at the beginning of September. I'm excited for her, but wondering if she is truly ready and if I'm rushing her. This 3 year old preschool. She will go again next year and then kindergarten in 2011 due to the way her birthday falls. Since when did they have "babies" go to preschool at 3? Back when (hundred years ago) I was kid, they didn't even have preschool and when my brother was a kid, they only offered preschool for kids the year before kindergarten. What's next, putting them in school when they are 2? Enough is enough! (Can you tell I'm not ready for her to go?).

Work is going so much better. It was extremely hectic a few months ago when my co-worker was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had to hold down the fort while she was gone for her surgery, but she is back with me now and cancer-free and that's what is important. I'm so thankful for God's grace on her in allowing her to get through the surgery well AND not have to have chemo after the surgery.

I'm getting back into scrapbooking again and have actually done a few pages lately. I cleaned out my scrapbooking room/office and it motivated me to get going again on things!

Phillip is busy at his job, thankfully, and really enjoying what he does. I still cannot believe a year and a half ago we were so scared because he got laid off from this job and NOW he is at a better job that he LOVES. Why do we ever question God's plans for us? He is so faithful!

The summer has been filled with lots of fun things...

The County Fair
Train rides
VBS
Playing outside
Trips to the park
Grilling out
Fun times with friends and family

We are extremely blessed!

Until next time,
Kristi

It's June already!

I wonder if anyone is still reading this blog after almost 2 months of no activity? :)

We don't have a ton of exciting news, but we are doing great! We have been so busy with house related things and just haven't had a lot of time to update this blog!

We've accomplished some things...

1. Phillip successfuly built Marissa's new swingset!

2. Flowers are planted!

3. New pool liner installed and now we are ready to swim (when it gets warm enough!)

4. Marissa is fully potty trained. I just kept hesitating to say it, thinking I'd jinx myself.

5. Marissa is talking non-stop...oh my goodness...she can talk! She will start pre-school in the fall at Town and Country. *sniffle*

We are just anxiously awaiting summer and consistent nice weather. It seems like it keeps going back and forth!

This week (9th), Phillip and I celebrate our 19th anniversary. We are planning on going out today a little early because it's extremely hard for Phillip to do anything on a week night since he goes to bed early to be able to get up by 4:00 a.m. We'll probably see a movie and eat a nice meal. Looking so forward to it!

I think that is all for now--I'll put a few pictures up to show you how much Marissa is growing!

Love to all--

Kristi

Easter has come and gone!

I have really been bad about updating our blog, but it seems that I catch myself coming and going most days! Having a child is the most wonderful thing, but my life has been in a whirlwind since February 26, 2006! I find myself doing things that I would have never done before, such as forgetting birthdays and doing things at the very last minute.

Hope everyone had a blessed Easter! It was wonderful and busy for us! Marissa really got into the whole Easter bunny this year and loved hunting for the hidden goodies that the Easter bunny left for her! He brought her a kite, a Dora doll and Playdoh! We even had a windy day yesterday and were able to fly her kite at Mamaw's house while we were there to visit!

Marissa had her 3 year old check-up on Good Friday and the pediatrician was very pleased with everything. She was mostly pleased that this was not the same Marissa that was there the year before! This Marissa was calm (no tears!) and just so willing to do everything she asked. Amazing what one year will do! She was 30 pounds even and 35 inches tall. She is about in the 50th percentile in weight and under the 10th for height. Not surprising since her birth parents were 4'2 and 4'9! I'm sure she'll be taller than them, but I doubt she'll be playing in the WNBA! Ha! Marissa is really into Dora the Explorer, painting and Playdoh right now!

We have all been so sick (so many times!) during the past two months and we are looking so forward to spring and summer! It is officially spring, but it certainly doesn't feel like it!

That's our update for now and we appreciate everyone checking in on us!

Love,
Kristi, Phillip and Marissa

From the Easter Bunny!


Her binoculars from the Easter bunny!


Pictures before church


During church
After church
Playing in her new sandbox a few weekends ago

Happy 3rd Birthday Princess!!

I cannot believe it--our girl is *3* today! Where does time go?! About this exact time 3 years ago, we got the best news in the world! Our girl was born that very morning! Wow, it's just so hard to believe!

We had a great birthday party for her last Saturday! Despite a lot of things that happened that put a damper on things temporarily, we had a great party! The first thing that happened was that the cake was a smaller size than we anticipated. My Mom immediately went into high gear making another "backup" cake for the party...just in case! Problem solved. We arrived at the place that we rented for the party and put the big bouncer up that we rented (the only reason we rented the place was so that we had room for the kids to bounce!) and the bouncer was filthy beyond belief. We just couldn't get it cleaned up and sanitized enough for the kids. We deflated the bouncer and *felt* deflated too! Disappointed, but yet determined to not ruin the party, we began getting on the phone to everyone that was coming to the party and asked them to bring some toys to play with. My Mom and Dad made a toy run too. Crisis averted...the guests arrived and the kids were satisfied with trampolines, balls, scooters and cars. The party went on and then we ran out of drinks! You can never know how many 2 liters to buy, but we now know that 8 isn't enough for 30 people! ha! Marissa got wonderful gifts and loved them all and it was such a wonderful party!

The next day arrived...Sunday...and someone whose name will not be revealed (ahem, I'll just say, it wasn't me!) accidentally backed in the garage crooked and broke the mirror off of my car.
After getting over that, we decided with all of the bad luck happening we better go ahead and get ready for church! I was ready in good time (a miracle) and had time to run out to get the Sunday paper. On my way back to the house, I slipped and fell on the ice and cut and bruised my leg terribly. In case you didn't know, when you fall on an ice puddle, it breaks into many small pieces and acts just as if you fell on glass. What a mess. No church for us that day.

Monday arrived -- the new car we were supposed to get didn't come in. That's no big deal, but I had to find something for Monday because Tuesday and Wednesday were bad too.

Tuesday-furnace went out
Wednesday-garage door broke completely

As I'm writing this today, everything is going well ! (crossing fingers). The old saying, "when it rains, it pours" is definitely true. Another thing is true too...God is good! I'm extremely thankful that everything that has happened is nothing more than an inconvenience and a financial set-back and not something worse. We celebrate our little girl's birthday today and pray for her birthparents especially today. We know that not a day that goes by, especially a birthday, that they don't think of her and most likely worry if she is happy and healthy. We lift them up in prayer today as we remember the sacrifice they made for their daughter to have a good life. We also thank them for letting us parent this beautiful girl. She is a sheer joy and so full of happiness. We love her so much!

Thanks for checking in with us and we'll hopefully have another update soon!

Love,
Kristi