Wow! It's been more than a year!

I can't believe it's been more than a year since I posted something on my blog! I really want to try to do better at posting, but with being able to catch up and keep up on Facebook, I will have to make it a priority!

Here's a picture of my nephew, L, who was born 9 weeks early on 3/19/09. He's now almost 17 months old and is just adorable!

I need to get some recent pictures of all my nieces and nephews. They're growing up too fast.

Here's a picture of my nephew, B, who turned 8 on 7/23. The family celebration was on 7/25. My Dad is also in the picture. He's had some health issues (first stage of COPD), but is doing well, for which I'm thankful! B's cake was chocolate, as you can tell from his shirt! LOL

Babies!

So, it's been over three months since I posted. Just haven't been in the mood. But I did want to share some baby news!

My younger sister gave birth to her second son, 9 weeks early, on March 19th. Baby L spent a month in the NICU. He was never seriously sick, but as a preemie, he just needed to be monitored. He was delivered by emergency C-section on Thursday, March 19th at 7:13 AM. He weighed 4 pounds, 2 ounces, and was 17 inches long. He's now 7 pounds, 2 ounces.

Here's L in the NICU

4 Generations - Maim (Dad's mom), Corie, Dad, and L

Then, my best friend's daughter gave birth to a baby girl, K, on May 23rd at 12:57 PM. She weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces and 20.25 inches. She was 10 days late. LOL

Look at all that hair! She's so cute!

Here's me holding K a few hours after she was born. I haven't had a baby girl in my life since K's mommy and she's 19. So I 'imagine' K will be a little spoiled.

Sleeping. She looks like her mommy. =)

Friday's Fave Five

Time for another edition of Susanne's Friday's Fave 5. I'm writing this on Thursday evening because I'm leaving tomorrow morning to go scrapbooking all weekend!

Here are my favorites from this week:

1. Dinner at Friendly's with two friends on Monday evening. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing and it worked out well. We shared the Loaded Waffle Fries and a Munchie Mania. We drank 3 carafes of coffee! An enjoyable time for sure.

2. A productive week at work, even though I only worked 3 days. I took off today to get ready to go scrapbooking and also took off tomorrow for scrapbooking.

3. Shopping! I did some shopping for baby stuff for my sister and best friend's daughter. Both are expecting in May. A boy and a girl, respectively. I also did some shopping for supplies for our Sunday School ministry at church.

4. Lunch today with my best friend. It was leisurely and relaxing. After lunch, we went to Starbucks for one of these:

Well, two of these, because we each got one!

5. Spending the weekend scrapbooking and being with friends! I leave tomorrow morning (Friday) and return Sunday afternoon. We're staying at a hotel and will scrap the time away!

For more FFF participants, visit Susanne's blog!

Friday's Fave Five

Time for another edition of Susanne's Friday's Fave Five! It's a great opportunity to reflect on your week.

Here are my favorite five:

1. Sunday dinner with the family. Mom made a turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, peas, cranberry sauce, and I made baked corn. My two brothers-in-law and oldest niece weren't able to join us, so we missed have them with us.

2. Lunch and shopping! I typically work on President's Day, but when my preggo (pregnant) sister said she was going to be in town and wanted to go baby shopping, I took Monday off! She, my mom, two nieces, and I went to lunch first at Mikado's, a Japanese-style restaurant. I always order the sesame chicken. It is sooo good! From there, we headed to a consignment shop full of baby stuff. I spent $40 there! But I did get some good bargains on baby boy clothes (for my nephew, L, who is due to arrive on 5/18) and baby girl clothes (for my best friend's daughter's baby, K, who is due to arrive on 5/12.) Then we went to Kmart where I bought a pair of slippers and a comfy pair of shoes.

3. Lunch out at work on Tuesday to celebrate two co-worker's work anniversaries. I had a chicken cordon bleu pretzel sandwich. Yummy!

4. Unplanned dinner last night with my friend, Patti. We just went to the food court at a local grocery store. I had salisbury steak (not chicken!), mashed potatoes, and mac 'n cheese from their hot food bar. Then I went home and did some scrapbooking!

5. I'm loooking forward to scrapbooking with friends tonight! And I must get organized for next weekend's Sweet Retreat, a whole weekend (Friday afternoon - Sunday afternoon) of scrapbooking at a hotel!

For more FFF participants, visit Susanne's website!

Friday's Favorite Five

Time for another edition of Susanne's Friday's Favorite Five!

Here are mine for this week, in no particular order:



1. Having friends over for dinner on Tuesday, and taking this picture:



ETA: This isn't a picture of me! It's of my best friend's daughter.

2. Enjoying flavored coffee and homemade pecan pie with friends last night! My friend, Patti, makes delicious pecan pies. She even gave me a whole one last night as a belated birthday present. I need to have friends over to help me eat it so I don't eat the whole thing!


3. Finally putting away all my snowmen decorations from the kitchen, living room, dining room and powder room. My table went from this:


to this!


I also put away all my Winterberry dishes and accessories.


4. Taking a day off work today to just rest. I have been feeling tired and run down all week, so I am listening to my body and taking it easy today.


5. Playing Bunko with friends on Monday evening, even though I lost!



For more FFF participants, head over to Susanne's!

Friday's Favorite Five

Time for another edition of Fridays Fave 5, hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.

Here are my 5 favorite things from this week:

1. 3-D sonogram pictures of my best friend's (Vickie) daughter's (Ashley) baby, Kaylee. A-mazing! She's due 5/13 and I can't wait to meet her!

2. Dinner at Vickie's. We just had leftovers, but it's always nice to get together. We had coffee and dessert, too!

3. The launch of my organization's new website! Love it.

4. Lunch out twice this week with friends.

5. Getting together with friends to scrapbook. That will be tonight. It's always fun!

Head over to Susanne's to see the other participants!

Friday's Fave Five

5 Favorite things from this week:

1. Dinner at Panera with CM team. We had a fun time and the food is always yummy there!

2. Being able to help Mom out with laundry while she recupes from knee surgery. And then having dinner with Mom, Dad, Maim, and Tommy when I deliver the laundry! Mom made chicken stir fry.

3. Getting all warm and cozy under the covers. It's been cold here this week. And even though it's tough to get out of the warmness in the morning, I'm grateful to have enough blankets to keep warm and to have a job to go to each day.

4. Spur-of-the-moment plans to go out to lunch with a colleague. We enjoyed delicious chicken salad wraps and good conversation.

5. Love sipping hot coffee in the morning! I'm doing that now, but I need a refill!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

For more Friday's Fave Five participants, visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

I've seen several blogging women participate in this over the weeks and thought I'd give it a try

today!

FOR TODAY - January 12, 2009

Outside my window...The sun is trying to peek through

I am thinking...I hope it doesn't cost a lot when I take my car in this afternoon for the ' service engine soon' light that came on this weekend.

I am thankful for...my job. I started there as a secretary at age 19 and almost 24 years later, I am now VP.

From the kitchen...just coffee and a bagel for breakfast; packing my lunch; and dinner out this evening.

I am wearing...my pajamas. Need to get showered and dressed soon!

I am creating...an organized home. It is a process!

I am going...to work, then taking my car to the shop, grabbing something for dinner, followed by a Stewardship Committee meeting.

I am reading...The Redemption of Sarah Cain

I am hoping...this week isn't too busy.

I am hearing...the radio

Around the house...the organizing process!

One of my favorite things...hot coffee in the morning

A few plans for the rest of the week: working all week. Tuesday - dinner at Panera with Creative Memories team; Wednesday - small group; Thursday - nothing planned! Friday - scrapbooking with friends.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

My almost 95-year-old grandmother with my Dad (her son) on New Year's Day. She had a very mild stroke a couple months ago and has been living with my parents. My Mom takes very good care of her - Mom didn't want to put her in a nursing home. She can't live by herself anymore so this is an adjustment for everyone, but it's working out!

For more participants, visit Peggy's blog!

Christmas Tour

It's BooMama's Christmas Tour of Homes! Here's mine! I took a lot of close-up pictures rather than room-wide pictures.


Here's what you see when you come in the front door:




My banister. The santa is from Vickie and Scott. He's sitting on my aunt's childhood chair.

This is the back of the front door.

Snowmen on the secretary inside the front door.

This snow couple is sitting under the secretary. My Dad made these and I love them!

My Boyds Christmas tree.

Boyds NOEL from Linda and some snowmen.

The top of my entertainment center. And this is my Christmas tree for this year. It was easy to set up!

CD/DVD rack

End table

The other end table

Snowmen trio

Dining room table

Fabric Christmas wreath on powder room door. Jo's daughter, Carole, made it. I hang it up every year in Carol's memory.

Snowmen in the powder room.

Powder room

On the back of the door to the deck.

On the pantry door

Snowmen in the kitchen

I love my Pfaltzgraff Winterberry pattern! This is on top of the microwave.

The stove

The kitchen sink

Winterberry dishes, mugs, and butter dish on the kitchen counter

Thanks for taking the tour!

M is 4!

My youngest nephew turned 4 on November 15th! The family celebration was held on Saturday.

The Transformer birthday cake

Making a wish!

Opening presents! He received a lot of Hot Wheels stuff!

And when he opened the Scooby-Doo DVD, he said, "It's what I always wanted!" Too cute!

Brotherly love!

Even though it was his birthday, he w.o.u.l.d. NOT smile much! But he was very cute when he thanked everyone for their gift and gave lots of hugs and kisses!

Happy Birthday, M! I love you!