Feliz Navidad :)

Let it Snow...

Well, we got 7 inches of snow here yesterday, which is better than the 12 inches that was predicted, but still a pain to get around in. I made it to work on time, but had to take the Explorer. Tomorrow is officially the first day of winter..seems like it's been winter for months now!
On the bright side, I think it's safe to say we will definitely have a white Christmas.
Things have been a bit hectic lately, as they always seem to be around this time of year, but we are in the spirit, and ready for some time with friends and family over the holidays. We have both been so extraordinarily lucky this year. Brian has been able to continue his education and pursue something that he has a great interest in, and he has excelled while doing so. I have been able to continue to grow with a company that I really enjoy working for. We've been healthy, and happy, and are both continuing to learn new things each day about each other, and count each day together as a blessing!
I hope that everyone that is travelling for the holidays does so safely. Take some time to reflect on what you have to be grateful for. In the spirit of the season, and the spirit of giving, take the time to do something for someone else, however small it may be, or insignificant it may seem. Hold a door open. Lend an ear. Give a hug. It could make a world of difference.

Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving

I haven't written in awhile, so I thought I'd update everyone. We had a great Thanksgiving. We spent the day with family, and had an excellent meal followed by a nap in front of the fireplace...does it get any better than that?
Brian has finals all week, and then he'll be on winter break. I know he's looking forward to that. After that, Christmas will be here. We are going to spend Christmas Eve with my parents, and Christmas Day with his family. Oh, and I HAVE to brag about the fact that I actually have all of my Christmas shopping DONE! That in itself is a Christmas miracle! haha!
Not sure what we're doing for New Years Eve yet. Brian starts baseball practice in January some time...not exactly sure when, but he's really excited about that. January 3rd-5th we'll be in Cedar Rapids celebrating Davids birthday. That's about as far as I've gotten with the plans. It always seems like December just flys by. All of the shopping and Christmas parties. I still need to put up our tree!
Well, back to work for me...I'll try to write again soon. :)
Happy shopping.....

He made it!

Brian is now officially on the roster with the Regents...WOOHOO!!

Formal Introductions

* Peyton Ellen LeMieux*

* Lily Patricia Haskell, my newest neice.*

Brrrr!

Well, it's about 9:00am, and a balmy 26 degrees here. It snowed Saturday and Sunday, but not enough to stick. It seems that winter has arrived, and I am in no way ready for it! I've got no wood for the fireplace, an air conditioner that's still in the window upstairs, and all of my winter clothes are still packed away. haha....true Mary style there.

We had a good weekend...overall it was pretty quiet. Brian had two of his wisdom teeth pulled on Friday, so I was TRYING to keep him still and get him to rest all weekend. Let's just say that didn't work, and he is one stubborn man. Ok, it could just be me, but should someone really be running on the treadmill a day after surgery? I don't think so!

I'm getting excited for Thanksgiving already. It's going to be so nice to see family and catch up. David and Danielle are coming this year, and my Uncle Doug will be here from England. It's Brians "turn" to come to our Thanksgiving so he'll get his usual dose of good humored ribbing from the guys in my family. Speaking of "turns"....I always feel like parents are silently keeping track of where you've been which year, and when it is their "turn" to have you at their gathering...or I guess that could just be me not wanting anyone to feel left out. Either way, NOT a big deal...his family is pretty stellar (yes, I said stellar), so it's not a big deal. :)

That's all for now....happy Monday!

Dear Abby...

My entire life I have been struggling with one question:
How long can I survive if I continue to attempt to facilitate this relationship and fail? And it ALWAYS ends in failure. And I ALWAYS find a reason to keep trying.

Lately I'm finding that the reasons I'm giving myself just don't justify enduring a painful and damaging relationship. I spend a lot of time imagining how it would be to just let go, and on the surface it would be an instantaneous sigh of relief, but internally......would I continue to wonder forever if I had made the right decision? I wonder how long I can continue to try to be the bigger person. Am I fooling myself into thinking that I would even be worth the same amount of thought to you? It's one thing to put time and effort and love and care into a relationship if the other party is just as committed to some sort of resolution as you are, but in any other circumstance I think it's safe to say it would just be wasted time.
As I sit and torture myself with the possibilities and attempt to work my way through this maze of a broken relationship......do I even cross your mind?

Is there a crack in the foundation of my life that I'm just going to have to build around? Most of the time I think that that's the case. If I keep trying to single-handedly hold up this structurally unsound relationship, inevitably it's all going to come crashing down.....on me. And maybe that's why you are always stepping away...to avoid the debris and rubble of this damaged thing falling down on you. Maybe distance is smart on your part, and maybe that's why you have maintained it so well for so many years.

I give you more credit than you deserve most of the time, and I can only conclude that I have been completely deluded about our relationship, as I think is common when it is as unhealthy as ours. That makes me think that the only thing...the only SANE thing to do is to sever my ties. Step back, and let go. Let the rubble fall and do it's damage, and then build something new on solid ground.

Election Day

Record breaking numbers of people went to the polls and voted yesterday. How amazing that people who have never before been inclined to take part in the process of choosing their president have been inspired to exercise their right to vote!!

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Yesterday we choose Barack Obama to lead us for the next 4 years. With no way of knowing what the future will bring, today I am optimistic about the possibilities.

Spooky

I couldn't resist posting this picture of Brians neice and nephew, Anna and Matthew. I can't say
that I've ever seen a cuter mickey mouse. :)
Halloween was slow for us this year. We got a bunch of big candy bars, and only had 2 trick-or-treaters. I think we gave 90% of our candy to Brians cousin Andrew and his girlfriend, so they made out pretty well. Other than a few visitors, we had a quiet night.

I'm SO glad it's Saturday. It's been a long and busy week at work, and I'm ready for some down time. My boss is getting married in Key West next Saturday, so we've been a little unfocused at the office. In fact, I was just telling my boss that it wouldn't be a stretch for her to add wedding planner to her resume. I think she's done about 90% of everything. Enough about work.

Brian is going to contact the coach at Rockford College on Monday to set up a time that he can try out for the baseball team. He's so excited! I think he's lost about 60 lbs., which is AMAZING!I'm really hoping that all of his hard work pays off.

No big plans for this weekend. I might do a little bit of Christmas shopping. I've already gotten a couple of things, which is good for me because I'm usually the one that waits until the 23rd of December to even start.

ALSO....the Chiefs play the Bucs this Sunday. It's kind of a big deal in our house because Brian is a Bucs fan, and of course I'm a Chiefs fan, so....it's ON! He'll never hear the end of it if the Chiefs win. :)

That's all for now...

New Nephew on the Way...

My youngest brother David and his girlfreind Danielle are going to be starting a family next year. Brodie John is due in March 2009. I have to admit that it was kinda weird at first to think that my younger brother was going to be having kids before I do, but I think I'm getting used to the idea now, and I'm starting to really look forward to meeting the little guy. :)

Pictures from Olathe

We had spaghetti one night, and I think Lauryn ended up wearing most of it :)

Pesky noodle.....

Kailey and Lauryn.

Olathe, KS

What's in Olathe, KS you might ask? Well, there's an outlet mall, a University, some over-priced real estate, but most importantly, MY SISTER is in Olathe, KS, and that's where I was this weekend. I had such a great time! This was the first time I had flown by myself, and let me tell you.....I was nervous. I managed to navigate through O'Hare just fine, and after being searched "randomly" because my sweatshirt was too baggy I made it to my gate. Got on the plane, and we took off. It was pretty windy that day and it was REALLY bumpy the whole way to Kansas City. The guy next to me was literally FREAKING OUT the entire time. Rocking back and forth saying we were going to die......talk about in-flight entertainment! haha Chris, Carly and the girls all came to the airport to get me. We had a great weekend. The weather was nice, and the trees there are beautiful colors right now. We did a little shopping, went to a fall festival with Kailey and Lauryn, AND (drumroll, please...................) I got my ears pierced! I know, I sound like an 11 year old, right? Pretty exciting stuff. :) But there's no way I would have done it with out Carly (and I know you're going to read this..so thanks again!...oh, and Brian noticed right away!). Kailey and Lauryn have gotten so big. I'm going to try to post some pictures. We'll see if I can figure our how to do it.....

One more thing to throw out there---It is so easy to let time pass you by, and it seems like weeks blend into months, and then become years in the blink of an eye. Everyone gets wrapped up in their own life, and we make excuses about how we don't have the time to do some of the things we'd like to do. There is ALWAYS time NOW. Life is short. Counting on tomorrow is assuming. Make time to see your family no matter the distance....there just isn't any excuse not to.

Why hello there

It's hard to keep up with friends and family, so we thought this would be a great way to keep everyone updated. Ah, technology. Isn't it great? Things have been going well with us. Brian is getting geared up to go back to school (only 2 semesters left!), and has decided to try out for the baseball team this year. It will be a challenge for him, but he's stepped up to it and has been practicing almost everyday, and we're staring to see some progress. Very exciting!
I have been working a lot lately, but am enjoying the summer when I can. Actually, we just went to the pool yeaterday for the first time this year. Needless to say, I am sporting the lobster look today. haha
We plan to go to General Dodge State Park in WI for some camping later this month. We're trying to pick a Brewers game to go to in September, and in October we are going to see Last Comic Standing at the Coronoado theatre here in town. Other than that, no major vacations planned for this year, although I'd love to make a trip to Kansas City to see my sister and her family. *AND* there is a little Temke due August 12th that we can't wait to meet!
That's all for now.