still here!

So...I have realized after the past few days that it is almost impossible to be a good blogger if you do not have a functioning camera! So, like any wife would do I have been begging Patrick to "just buy one for me!" Of course, I don't want just any camera! I want a good camera! Which takes money. And then Patrick kindly reminds me I really really really want a house and that also takes money. So then I pick my bottom lip up off of the 70's shag carpet we currently have and save my whimpering for another day.

Last night, I was finally able to meet the most beautiful baby girl, Avary Magdalene Buhr. She is the daughter of Aimee and Jeff Buhr, born on Christmas Day. Aimee has a great blog with tons of photos (she has a good camera) of sweet, sweet Ava. As soon as we found out Aimee was having a girl we knew Matthew and Ava were going to be together forever. It really works out quite well because Aimee is Matthews Godmother, and well we simply do not need any other reason than that, do we?! She is so beautiful. I instantly fell in love with my future daughter-in-law! ;)

Yesterday morning, I was babysitting for another family of beautiful children and I noticed my elbows were really itching. At first I thought it was because of the dry weather, but when I went into the bathroom and pulled up my sleeve to check it out in the mirror, I had hives all over. In fact, I had so many hives you couldn't see where one began and the next one started. When I was a child I had hives every time I turned around but I cannot tell you the last time I have had them since I was an adult. To top it off of course Benadryl wasn't working. When I woke up this morning my fingers were stiff with hives. Thank goodness I took my wedding ring off (which I never do) before I went to bed because that would have been painful! First thing we did this morning we picked up a 5 day prescription to rid me off these awful itching, red annoying things!

One final note, I was blog stalking earlier and found an article, by Tim Suttle, about Christians dealing with tragedy, specifically the shooting in Tucson, and the very last sentence was very powerful to me.

It is a deeply Christian act to use words that heal, and healing needs all the words it can get.

You can read the article here.

I really need to apply these words to my life. I need to use healing words with my husband and my son. The two who are the most important to me, but the ones that hear my healing words the least.

In case you hadn't heard...

About two weeks ago my mom fell on some ice and broke her ankle. She had to have surgery on Tuesday, but seems to be doing quite well. She has 8 weeks of casts, crutches and loved ones (servants) to meet her every need! After the 8 weeks, she will start PT and be put in an air boot. Just in time to celebrate Patrick's graduation from nursing school and summertime!

Speaking of summertime, can you believe the weather we have had the past few days!? AMAZING! I wish it would stay, but I have a feeling we haven't seen the end of winter. :(

Yep, thats right, middle of February in the midwest and someone has their convertable top down with snow in the background! Too funny!

Hope everyone is doing wonderfully!

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

So, not a very exciting Valentine's day for us as we (Patrick and I) think love should be celebrated everyday (Gag me!) However, I did find something to love, on this special love day, honey mustard! I love honey mustard and I am constantly looking EVERYWHERE for a GREAT honey mustard and today, February 14, 2011 it was accomplished! I have tried so many different kinds and they are always too mustard-y or honey-y. Not the kind I bought today though! I probably spent 15-20 minutes in the condiment aisle at Wally World trying to figure out which one I was going to waste my money on today but it wasn't a waste at all! It was delicious! So, you are probably wondering what this amazing stuff is and it is just Sweet Baby Ray's, honey mustard!

It is the perfect combination of honey and mustard and high fructose corn syrup (you know the good stuff!). Anywho, I thought I would share about my new found love!

Oooops!

So much for becoming a better blogger!

But, here is a little update:

Patrick has begun his final semester of RN classes! Hallelujah! We are so anxious for him to be done! Where he/we will go after that is a great question. He has voiced interest in a childrens hospital or the ER. I think he would be great at both!

So now the question remains...what am I going to go back to school for...I once thought I had it all figured out...

A small recap of the last year goes a little like this...

Matthew turned 2 in April and we celebrated at Walnut Point Park with family and some awesome Thomas cookies (pictured below!) made by GREAT Aunt Sara.

We had a pretty busy summer going on various trips and working our tails off to become debt free and saving to purchase a house (hopefully) this summer! There are some pictures below from some of our trips. Patrick went on a trip to Kentucky to visit with some fellow swimmers. Hopefully, Matthew and I will be able to join in on the yearly Valpo Swimming Reunions. I think this summer it will be in Wisconsin near the Dells. :)

We also went to St. Germain, WI to have a little family vaca with my dad and stepmom. It was such a great time but went by way too fast! We already have a wish list of things we want to do when we go back!

My grandpa Jimmy passed away this summer. It was a really sad time but I know I will see him again very soon. In the mean time I have a great picture of him from my wedding. This is one of my favorites!

My brother, Matthew and I went on an awesome trip to Ely, MN. to visit another set of grandparents in September. It was so much fun and it was great sharing it with my little (big) brother!

We spent Christmas in Phoenix, AZ! It was so much fun and the first time I have ever had Christmas dinner outside with a beautiful 70 degree sunset and mountains in the background! We spent the time in Arizona at Katie (Patricks sister) and Jacobs (Patricks nephew) house.

Here is a picture of the 3 Amigos!

And then to end 2010, I went on my first ski trip EVER! I had so much fun and have been dreaming of another ski trip ever since. I hope I am able to go next winter. It was once of the most fun things I have done in a long time and double plus it is good exercise!

Well, that is 2010 in a nutshell! I hope I am able to update on a more regular basis. Until then...happy blogging!