this is what you get...

when you don't cooperate! he was making me laugh so hard, we seriously had to do 20 takes.

this is better...



We had lots of fun at Heather & Tony's wedding today... even though AJ and I had to work hard to keep those boys under control!

"Let's pray with our eyes open so Beckett doesn't eat the hotdogs..."

Ryan and I were lucky enough to be able to spend the day on Sunday with AJ and JK at Amy's aunt & uncle's cottage on Silver Lake! We had so much fun, even though I need A LOT of practice in the art of Settlers. Oh, to win just once, especially while playing with John! We ate yummy food and relaxed with the Kellers and the Beckster... love that dog. Here are some pics I stole from Amy, since I was smart enough to forget my camera (among other items)!






My favorite is definitely the second one, with Beckett's nose peeking out the side... too funny. Oh, and guys... I hope you took the duck away at least for a little while!

my best friend's belly take 2

Kerry, Rob, and I had a little (maternity) photo shoot last weekend... I had to post a few of my faves!

knock, knock

So Ryan informed me last night that a guy might stop at the house today to look at the trees next to our house that are tearing up our driveway and give us an estimate for removal. He said he would come around 10:30 this morning. Ryan said that he told the guy not to bother to knock, since Ryan wouldn't be home and for me to just hide if he did come to the door. So I tore myself out of bed at 10 this morning (BAD) and forced myself to get to work. I kept an eye out for the guy, tying to get stuff done in the meantime. 10:30 passed and I figured I was safe. Around 11, I was standing at the kitchen table, folding clothes and chatting on the phone with my mom when I hear a HUGE rap on the door, which is no more than 4 feet away from me. I instantly flattened myself onto the kitchen floor and army crawled under the kitchen table, all the while whispering to my mom on the phone, "Oh crap! Someone's here!" I'm sure she thought I was getting robbed or something. Now, normally I wouldn't be so shy in answering the door at my own house, but I had just gotten up, was in sweatpants and a tank top, hair disheveled, didn't even have my contacts OR glasses on so I couldn't see much of anything, and my toothbrush was simply a memory from last night. I was NOT going to show my face. So as I crouched under the table, he proceeded to wait like 2 minutes and knock loudly AGAIN. I waited another few minutes, then poked my head out from under the table and peeked out the window, all the while my mom is laughing hysterically on the other end of the phone. He was right there outside the window! AHHH!!!! I popped back under the table and waited again. I could see out the door from the hiding spot, and I finally saw him walk back up the driveway to his car. I cautiously stood up and checked out the front window and HE WAS STILL THERE! I'm positive he saw me at least once through this whole ordeal. Moral of the story is PUT SOME CLOTHES ON in the morning especially if there is even a tiny chance someone might be stopping by. That, or just stay in bed all day!

reasons to smile

Krystle, one of my new blogger friends, tagged me for this one! Swing by her blog, she is an awesome woman of God and a huge example to me! Thanks girl. :)


Things that are making me smile lately!
(And I must say, I seem to have a lot of reasons NOT to smile lately, so it's nice to get back to my senses and get a better perspective on things!)
1. Spring evening walks with Ryan. We love to walk and look at houses and talk about the house we will one day build.
2. Frozen coffee drinks.
3. Best friends that I can complain to about the same things everyday and they still listen like they are hearing it for the first time. Oh, you all are so patient with me!
4. My baby lilac bush surviving the winter and BLOOMING!
5. Waking up in the morning to kitties nuzzling at your face (however there is a fine line between delightful and annoying, ha).
6. The completion of putting up drywall in the basement by my hubs... pics to come!
7. Unexpected notes in the mail from dear friends.
8. Nice clean windows.
9. Naptime (which is anything but naptime for ME, but at least I can rest my brain a bit).
10. Finally being able to run outside again!

Let me know if you care to play... trust me, it feels good!

one year ago

I was just talking to Ryan the other day about how I can't believe how much our lives change in even just one year. So of course I went rooting through pictures from last year at this time. April-May of last year was one definitely of the most pivotal times for us, ever. I started this blog in April, hoping to chronicle the our progress in ripping our house apart and basically rebuilding it. Here we are now, still a bit to do, but looking back I am still blown away at how different everything is.

And how could I not mention...


I'm such a sap. I just love looking back... we are just so blessed.

guitars & stars

Wednesday night, Ryan and I were able to attend the bi-annual (I think) "Guitars & Stars" show here in the Roch! I won tickets by calling in to WBEE (the big country station here) and I was so excited! I sounded like a loser on the radio, but that's beside the point. What I didn't realize until I went to the station to pick up the tickets was that I actually won VIP tickets! So we got VIP parking, dinner beforehand, tickets to the show, and VIP seats! We got little neck tags to wear, too, hee hee. It was so fun. I don't know how many readers that like country I have out there (because I have sooo many readers *insert a sarcastic face*), but I was/am pretty excited and I couldn't wait to share pics! I finally have a free minute to sit down and type! Anyway, the concert was so cool. They had all five artists stay on the stage the whole show, sitting on stools with their guitars. One artist would play and the rest would listen, and so on. Honestly though, I think Ryan's and my favorite part was actually seeing Newman in real life! The show featured Blake Shelton (the "host"), Jake Owen, James Otto, Phil Stacey, and Heidi Newfield. I got to meet Phil Stacey too, I liked him on American Idol.
Please don't mind my dumb face.
Blake Shelton
the stage
us during the show (total nerds)

Fun fun!

tag... just a tad overdue

Well, Spammon tagged me for this like a MONTH ago and I've been a very bad and busy friend and not posted. I apologize, Spam, and I also feel really bad about the whole making you cry thing... Linds told me, it's okay!


10 Years Ago - May 1998. I actually dug around in my basement and unearthed one of my old journals for this one. Wow. At 14, I was constantly "in love" with different boys, though they never knew it. I was absorbed in the drama of my church youth group and dreamed of becoming a singer. Two of my best friends moved away during this time and my crush brought his NEW GIRLFRIEND to youth group one fateful Wednesday night! Oh the TRAUMA! hee hee.


5 Things On My To Do List (all stuff that I wanted to do this weekend... but is NOT happening!)-

1. wash all of the windows
2. re-paint the chairs and bench on the patio
3. work on the front flowerbeds
4. organize the office, spare room, and basement (I want to cry just thinking about this)
5. laundry, clean, change the bed
How will I ever choose which fun activity to do first?! Hmm maybe if I got to work and quit writing posts and stalking blogs I would get stuff done...


5 Snacks I Enjoy -

1. string cheese
2. ice cream
3. any blended caramel coffee drink
4. goldfish (regular & pretzel)
5. grapefruit


5 Foods I Love -

1. pizza
2. pasta
3. chicken
4. mexican
5. Amy's burritos... I could eat them every day!


WHAT WOULD I DO IF I WERE SUDDENLY A BILLIONAIRE -

pay off debt, build a house, have like 7 kids!


5 PLACES I HAVE LIVED -

1. Alden, NY
2. North Chili, NY
3. Churchville, NY
4. Brighton, NY
5. A bit sheltered are we??!! (ps 2-4 are all within a 20 min stretch)


Favorite Quote -

"One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar."
-Helen Keller
*I know it's kinda cheesy, but it's always been my favorite quote!*


And I'll leave you with a shot of my current source of pride & joy...