In 2010...

Mike built a closet.

I became a Hipstamatic addict.

We had snow.

Despite the snow, we managed to survive the Great Loaf Massacre of 2010.

I got hooked on a comic book series.

We saw the most freakishly awesome storm cloud pass by our house.

We went to prom.

I picked blueberries a time or two.

We had several get-togethers with our awesome Knife and Fork group from church.

I collected lots of cameras.

I went to my first major league baseball game.

We got some amazing news!

Ashley and I found remnants of the Saved By the Bell era at Abercrombie.

I had my first Art Walk display.

We rediscovered bits of our childhoods.

Lola continued to look cute.

I finally got to meet my brother's girlfriend.

I had an amazing opportunity to attend the 2010 World Equestrian Games.

We caught our first glimpse of our son.

Mike ran the Bourbon Chase for the second year in a row.

My mom, sister, and some fantastic friends of my mom threw a really amazing baby shower.

We started Liam's room.

My waistline became all but a faint memory.

I have high hopes for 2011!  I hope it's a great year for all of you.  Have a safe and happy New Years Eve!

The quilt

Today I went to Hancock fabrics and picked out fabric for Liam's quilt.  I'm so excited to get started!  I drew out the plans on Google Sketchup last night.  After we put together his dresser and shelf tomorrow, I'm hoping to start cutting and sewing.

My goal is for this quilt project to not be like my other quilt project.  That quilt still sits unfinished in a box in the closet.  I started it in college.

Wish me luck.

Christmas break so far...

• We managed to make it to my house just before the snow hit!  
• I helped my mom cut out flannel for cute baby blankets.
• I had the most amazing cranberry and spinach salad from Bob Evans. 
• Mike and I were given a lot of our old baby items.  That deserves its own post.
• I was delighted to watch a video of Mike during Christmas 1987.  Cutie then...cutie now.  :)
• We thought about buying a crib mattress from Kmart, but found that a small tornado had torn through the store. (Not literally.)
• We did manage to find a chest and shelf at IKEA for his room.  
• I started plotting out Liam's quilt -- hoping to find fabric tomorrow.
• I made cheesy potato soup for the family.
• My brother's girlfriend's mom crocheted a beanie for me (and two for Liam). 
• My dad turned 59. 
• I turned 30 1/2.   
• I think I finally became tired of snow.
• We came home to find our freezer on it's last legs...but then somehow found the will to live.
• Lola tried to run away three separate times after we got home.
• Mike and I played this a lot:

• I got excited about this project.
• I bought a cute stuffed monkey for Liam.

And I still have four days left!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

It's my dad's birthday today!  I'm really happy that I got to be at home for his birthday (even if he did have to work). 

His one request today?  Turnips.  :)

I know he doesn't read my blog, but if mom or Brittany happen to see this, call him over to the computer for a second. 

I love you, Dad!  :)

Have you ever...

I found this on Andrea's blog, and decided to play along.  

Bold these if you’ve ever… (I'm going to take this a step further and italicize the ones I hope to do)...

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars 
3. Played in a band 
4. Visited Hawaii 
5. Watched a meteor shower 
6. Given more than you can afford to charity 
7. Been to Disney World 
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch 
 

15. Adopted a child    
16. Had food poisoning   
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty   

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France  
20. Slept on an overnight train   
21. Had a pillow fight   
22. Hitch hiked   
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill   
24. Built a snow fort   
25. Held a lamb  
26. Gone skinny dipping  
27. Run a Marathon   
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice  
29. Seen a total eclipse   
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset   
31. Hit a home run   
32. Been on a cruise   
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person   
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors   
35. Seen an Amish community   
36. Taught yourself a new language  
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied   
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person   
39. Gone rock climbing   
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David   
41. Sung karaoke   
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt   
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant   
44. Visited Africa   
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight   
46. Been transported in an ambulance  
47. Had your portrait painted  
48. Gone deep sea fishing  
49. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris   
50. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling   
51. Kissed in the rain  
52. Played in the mud   
53. Gone to a drive-in theater  
54. Been in a movie  
55. Visited the Great Wall of China  
56. Started a business   
57. Taken a martial arts class   
58. Visited Russia   
59. Served at a soup kitchen   
60. Sold Girl Scout Cookies   
61. Gone whale watching   
62. Got flowers for no reason   
63. Donated blood, platelets or plasma   
64. Gone sky diving   
65. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp    

66. Bounced a check  
67. Flown in a helicopter   
68. Saved a favorite childhood toy  

69. Visited the Lincoln Memorial   
70. Eaten Caviar   
71.Pieced a quilt   
72. Stood in Times Square   
73. Toured the Everglades   
74. Been fired from a job (pink-slipped due to budget cuts...it counts)  
75. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London  
76. Broken a bone    
77. Been a passenger on a motorcycle   
78. Seen the Grand Canyon in person   
79. Published a book  
80. Visited the Vatican  
81. Bought a brand new car   
82. Walked in Jerusalem   
83. Had your picture in the newspaper   
84. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve   
85. Visited the White House   
86. Killed and prepared an animal for eating   
87. Had chickenpox   
88. Saved someone’s life   
89. Sat on a jury   
90. Met someone famous   
91. Joined a book club  
92. Got a tattoo   
93. Had a baby    
94. Seen the Alamo in person  
95. Swam in the Great Salt Lake   
96. Been involved in a law suit   
97. Owned a cell phone  
98. Been stung by a bee

What about you?  Link your list up below if you decide to try this.

Winter fun!

We're dealing with a little cabin fever at the moment.  Three inches of snow on Christmas, plus an extra inch or so today.  Mike and my sister went sledding in the backyard (I didn't, for obvious reasons).  We didn't have a sled, but we did have pool toys. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Merry Christmas (from Liam)

Have a safe and happy Christmas!

More Joy and more Folk Angel

Joy 40: A glimpse into Mike's past.  Mike took me to see his old high school the other day.  He wanted to take some pictures before it's torn down.

Joy 41: Fun times at Bob Evans.  And I had the most amazing salad ever.  You can't go wrong with spinach, chicken, cranberries, apples, and pecans.  You just can't. 

Joy 42:  Liam's onesie.  His uncle Matt gave him this for Christmas. 

Joy 43:  Liam's monkey.  An impulse purchase on my part.  But I just couldn't resist those adorable eyes!

Joy 44:  Animals out of their natural habitat.  This was from my mother-in-law's yard.  I was amused. 

--------------------------------------------------

Another song I found from Folk Angel.  I'm really glad I found out about this group right before Christmas.  :)

Pinterest

Have you heard of this website?  I found out about it through Alli's blog, and it's pretty fantastic.  Lots of fun for those of use who like pretty things to look at.  You do have to request and invite, and that takes a few days, but having a place to organize all those pretty pictures from online browsing is totally worth it. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------

I also just wanted to share the song from last night's video.  This version of O Come, O Come Emmanuel is by Folk Angel.  It's beautiful.

Christmas break!

It's finally here!  I know I've been out of school a lot over the past two weeks, but I'm finally on Christmas break, which is totally different because I don't have to wonder if I'll be out of school.

So, I think it's time to relax.  And do laundry.  Enjoy tonight's video...it's a little different than what I've posted before, but I came across it in a friend's facebook post, and thought it was really neat.  And the version of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" is beautiful.  

Psssst...

I blogged twice today.  In case you missed it, there are cookies over here.  :)

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Joy 37:  The crib.  We've had Liam's crib for a couple of weeks, but finally got around to putting it together today. 

Joy 38:  My non-claustrophobic kitty.  While we were rearranging furniture to make room for the crib, Lola decided to climb in a cabinet.  She is not afraid of small spaces.  (I know the pic is a bit glared, but you can see her eye peeking out.)

 

Joy 39:  Why I scrapbook.  While we were rearranging, Mike went through my scrapbook albums.  Sometimes I forget why I do this, so it's always nice to have a reminder.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Tonight I would like to share video of a flash mob that took place at one of the bookstores in Lexington.  I really wish I could have seen it...it looks amazing, and I'm sure video doesn't do it justice.

Cookie recipes

Remember when I posted this photo the other day?

I think it would be best if I shared the recipes with you, as these are now my two favorite cookies recipes!

Here is the recipe for the cookies on the right.  Chocolate-covered cherry cookies.  Totally amazing, and pretty easy as well.  This coming from the gal who can't bake a cookie to save her life.  The icing is fantastic...chocolate with a hint of maraschino cherry juice!  Yum!

And here is the recipe for the cookies on the left.  Peanut butter munchies.  Imagine a peanut butter cookie inside a chocolate cookie.  Yes, it is that awesome!

A few joyful thing...and a song, of course.

Joy 34: Lola curled up in a pink coat.  I like this because it reminds me of a photo I took of her as a kitten. 

Joy 35: Pizza with Jenny.  Mike was visiting his brother today, so I decided to have pizza with my friend Jenny.  We haven't done this in a long time, and I had a great time catching up with her.

Joy 36: Handmade gift.  A little something I made tonight for my Secret Santa pal.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Revisiting another favorite song tonight...this time it's James Taylor's "Go Tell It On the Mountain".

Today's Joy and Song

Joy 31: Mike holds not one, but two babies.  If you know Mike, then you know he has a slight fear of children.  But yes, this weekend, he actually held two babies -- one at a Christmas party, and the other this morning in Sunday School. 

Joy 32: A sweet ornament from sweet friends.  From the Hunts this morning after church.

Joy 33: Baking.  I went on a baking blitz this evening.  Three batches.  A little happiness for the teachers lounge tomorrow.

-------------------------------------------------------

This is such a great song.  I love the idea of Mary singing both lullabys and praise to Jesus.