2011- A Review

Blessings

There were too many blessings to count this year.  Including the birth of our son, (who we kind of like), our family welcomed 3 more babies. Aaron and I have a new god-daughter, who is so dainty and perfect.   It is amazing to see how large our immediate brothers/sisters/nieces/nephews are.  The house is total chaos when we are all together, and I love it!  Another huge blessing was Aaron working out our plan so that I could go part time and just be in charge of high school ministry (see work).  We paid off over 20,000 in debt, including one of our cars.  Aaron (the husband) is doing an excellent job planning for our future.  We got to take the baby on his first vacation and Aaron and I got to get away for our own weekend of Romance.  All and all, a pretty incredible year. And, of course, another little one on the way, is pretty much fantastic.

Challenges

With change, comes challenge.  Trying to balance being a wife, a mom, a youth minister, a daughter, a sibling and a friend has been way more difficult than I expected.  Some areas I have been intentional about, some I have let go.  We see these challenges as opportunities to grow and be patient with ourselves.  I wish I could be so many things that I am not, wish I could have a few more hours in each day, wish I had my thank you cards done from my baby shower…but alas, I take a deep breath and look towards next year.

Baby

Our kid is literally the love of our life.  I knew being a mother would change everything. I didn’t fully anticipate how much loving such an amazing little person would radically effect everything I know.  We laugh off when people tell us how cute he is, but let me take this opportunity to say, our kid is really cute.  His cheeks are so squeezable.  His giggle is infectious.  I call him, ‘inspector monchichi’ because he studies things.  He studies faces, people, toys, etc…he makes little goals in his mind of things he wants to grab, etc..and makes it happen.  He screams in a talking voice that I am trying to quiet and just love.  He is not perfect, he gives us a run for our money in terms of fussiness when he is not happy.  He is already SUPER stubborn and quick to anger (wonder where he got that from?), but I swear, he gives me his ear –to-ear  smile and I am like putty in his hands.  Watching him learn to crawl, play on his own, babble, and repeat has been wonderful. Watching him watch his daddy is amazing.  He is a ball of joy that has changed every aspect of our lives and we dig it.

Marriage

Marriage is HARD work, but we are getting better at it.  Selfless love is a foreign concept in our world and not celebrated by many, so in some ways, we have to learn this behavior.  I figure for 29 years I was alone, for 11 of those years I pretty much did what I want, when I wanted…so this has been QUITE the experience for me.  I married a patient good man though, and I feel like we get better at it every day.  Our fights will always be there (Bickersons anyone?), but we are getting better at not giving in to radical anger and day-long fights.  We are getting better at forgiveness and active love. We are getting better at marriage, and I think our kid helps.  I married the man that most makes me laugh, and most drives me crazy- and it is obvious in every aspect of our relationship.  We got to go away for a weekend and are pretty committed to doing that at least once a year.  I truly believe that being in love is the best gift we can give our kids, and so, we work at it!

Work

Work was the biggest surprise of 2011.  Turns out, being a CYM is like the most difficult job ever (not really, but kind of) for having young children.  I though the flexibility, hours, nights, weekends, lack of daycare, would make it so easy. I was VERY.WRONG.  Going to wyd, was the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life.  Being away from my child for 2 weeks is something I will NEVER do again.  I am learning to ask for help, relying on good adults and good teen leaders.  I am going to try in 2012 to figure out how to ‘turn off’ work when I am not at work, stick to 30 hours a week and not to sweat the small stuff.  Having a babysitter come to the house for 1 of the work days should make a huge difference.  We will continue to evaluate  how to balance work and family. 

Community /Fellowship

Most of our friendships this year have changed and evolved.  We find that the time that we have to give to our friends is precious and we need to use it wisely.  We are getting better at picking and choosing what things to be involved in and when we just need a night in.  As we go from one child to two, I am sure there will be even further settling of our friendships.  We find that those that can be patient with us continue to stay in our lives, but also, that we need to make a better effort to show those that our in our lives how much they mean to us.

Faith

This one has been a challenge. With the craziness of the past couple of years, I find that the discipline I once had in my prayer life has slacked a bit, (a bit being a huge under-exaggeration).  I find we do the bare minimum, prayers with the child every night, occasional prayers as a couple, Mass once a week, confession every four months, that is about it.  In 2012, one of my major goals is to be discipline about my faith life, but more on that in a future post.

All and all 2011 was good to us!  Hope it was fantastic for youJ

Christmas in pictures

We had such a great Christmas, enjoy!

Michigan State Penny Bank from Mom's boss:)

Love hangin' with auntie Theresa

My cousin Rocky cracks me up!

IT'S SANTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love this guy!

He is awesome!

Stocking Stuffer

Mr. and Mrs. Clause

Lighting the candle for the Christ Child

The Polish Wigilia Queen

Putting baby Jesus in His cradle. Right before Har-Har broke off his arm:)

Christmas morning note from Santa

Hey, he wrote me a note!

I get presents!  I love wrapping paper

oh my gosh, there is more!!!

opening presents is fantastic fun

best.Christmas.ever

Look dad, it is an elephant

I am worn out, but I get a stocking too!!!

Oh my goodness this is fun!

I love my grammy!

This morning.

"Aaron, were you nervous when you asked my dad to marry me"- Me
"Um, a little Bit"- Aaron
"Did your voice crack?"- Me
"Once or twice"- Aaron
"What did you say?"- Me
"Can I take this burden off your hands"- Aaron

Well done wilkerson, well done!

AND I HAVE A NEW FAVORITE BLOG

PREACH SISTER!
GO HERE RIGHT NOW

Dear Jesus

Please help me to remember every time I throw up, that I am growing a healthy child within.


Please help me to remember as insomnia hits due to hormonal changes,  that those are the same hormonal changes creating my baby's smile


Please help me to remember when I am so tired I could fall asleep at the table,  that baby's giggles are perhaps the most lovely thing to hear.


Please help me to remember as I get up five times during one single night to pee, that there are many women who would like to have a child but are currently being told no.


Please help me to remember as I complain day in and day out about not handling pregnancy well, that the miracle of cooking a child is a deep and special mystery.


Please help to remember when my energy is too zapped to care for Baby number 1, that having them so close together will provide for each a best friend.


Please help to remember when I want to kill my husband because he doesn't fully get how difficult this can be, that many men don't lift a finger to help their wives and many women have to go through pregnancy alone.


Please help me to remember when I feel sorry for myself because of how sick I am feeling, how tired I am, etc..., that having a child is actually the coolest gift possible.


Lord, help me to walk more gracefully with this pregnancy.


AMEN

OH MY...

Friday was a bad day.  I mean a real no good, very bad day!  The job was stressful, the pregnancy was making me sick, the baby was whiney, it was a bad, bad day.  I needed a good weekend and a good weekend I got.  Would you like to know why it was good?  Great! I shall tell you.

First
There was VERY little housecleaning done this weekend.  Although the messes are piling up, I decided this weekend very little housecleaning would get done.  Dishes got done, a couple of loads of laundry, but other than that…nothing!  Right now, I am looking at a family room full of mess (I mean baby toys, ALL.OVER) but that is okay, it was worth it.

Second
There was TONS of snuggling this weekend.  When we weren’t doing something (we had a lot of ‘commitments’ this weekend), we were pretty much snuggling.  Love snuggles on the couch, baby snuggles at night, it was perfect.

Third
There was LOTS of pajama wearing.  Though this weekend cannot count as an official ‘pajama weekend’ because we did a lot of stuff, when we weren’t doing stuff, we were in pajamas.

Fourth
There was very little cooking.  And that, is lovely.

Fifth
We watched ‘Jack Frost’, one of my favorite holiday movies (don’t get nervous, I said ‘holiday’ because to call it a Christmas movie would not be a fact, for it is not about Christmas or Jesus).

Sixth
The baby really just keeps getting cuter.  He plays by himself, makes the cutest sounds, smiles in a way that pretty much takes your heart and melts it down, and he is doing this head cock thing that is SO adorable.  Pretty much, he is the best.  And we are blessed

And Finally…
...We took time to just slow down.  We didn’t shop (though there is shopping to do), we didn’t clean (though the house is a mess), we didn’t go anywhere we didn’t have to (though there are things we could have done).  Life gets SO busy this time a year, but what makes this time of year special is snuggles on the couch under the light of the Christmas tree.

We all have a crud ton of stuff to do.  I remember a youth speaker talking about how it seems to be the ‘Litany of the Busy’ nowadays.  We all try to prove to one another how busy we are.  I do that ALL.THE.TIME.  And gosh, we are busy.  BUT, if we don’t slow down, what is the freaking point of staying so darn busy?  So, I encourage you to take an hour, a day, a weekend to purposefully try to do nothing but enjoy those around you.  If those around you means your best friends, hang out with them without worrying about what you should be doing.  If those around you means your spouse or significant other, spend time just talking.  If those around you means your extended family, share giggles with them.  And if those around you means your spouse and children, take some time to just to be present with them.

Those are my words of wisdom for you.

LAST NIGHT 11:00 pm

"Hey it's really snowing outside, it looks so pretty"-  Aaron, after getting home

"Wanna go outside and kiss"-  Mary, being kind of funny

"Sure, put on your shoes"-   Aaron

I did, we did, it was lovely.

I LOVE MY LIFE:)

ANOTHER MAGICAL WEEKEND...

ANOTHER MAGICAL WEEKEND…

Aaron knows that I love to go away. I love hotels, I love road trips, I love plane rides, I love anything associated with travel. I LOVE me some adventures.  SO, for the past 8 months he has been planning a mini-get away for him and I.  We were set to go to Grand Rapids to celebrate our first anniversary, the birth of our first son, my 31^st birthday, 2 years of non-smoking and a bunch of other really neat things along the way.  Whenever I would give him a hard time about not celebrating something, he’d say, ‘just wait until Grand Rapids’. Well, ladies and gentleman, Grand Rapids was FINALLY here this weekend.  And it lived up to every promise he made.

The trip started with a fight (no, the Wilkersons fighting…I don’t believe it).  We were running late leaving and I wanted Aaron to switch our reservation from 7:00 to 8:00 pm.  At first, he resisted.  This done made me so mad.  I have a time obsession…so, this was not the way to start of the weekend.  ‘FINE!’ I shouted, ‘ILL JUST GO TO THE RESTAURANT IN FREAKING SWEATPANTS’ (insert choice words where you’d like).  But things only went up from there.

When we got to the hotel, I immediately started to tear up.  The hotel is so super fancy, and in one of the several lobbies, there were Christmas trees and a band playing Christmas music.  It was like a movie!!!  After we checked in, Aaron led us upstairs.  The hotel that we were staying at was the ‘Amway Grand’ which is SUPER fancy.  As we searched for our room, we ended up at the end of the hall, a suite.  “That can’t be right” said my love, and then put in the key and opened the door.  Aaron had booked us a suite.  A two room, two bath, fancy bathrobe SUITE!  For a girl that loves her some fancy hotels, it was too much to handle.  Of course, I started sobbing like a baby.  You see, I gave Aaron a hard time about rolling all celebrations into one, so I kept telling him that Grand Rapids better be freaking amazing.  I told him I expected surprises and too many great moments to count.  When we walked in the hotel room, I felt like such a brat.  I kept crying and saying, ‘you didn’t have to do this’.  To which he responded, ‘just wait’.  Then we got dressed up to go to a fancy restaurant called Cygnus 27 at the top of the hotel (note to self- If you know your husband hates turtle necks, do not ‘surprise’ him with an outfit of a long skirt and turtle neck, or you will be forced to change). 

Dinner at Cygnus 27 was delicious (after I christened their bathroom with a little bit of ‘morning, afternoon and evening’ sickness- I am SO sick of puking btw).  Aaron ordered the filet minion and lobster cakes to start.  I ordered amish chicken and tempura battered sea scallops to start.  The food was so good. I swear it was the best chicken I have ever had in my LIFE!  Aaron kept checking his watch and said we had to leave by 9:30.  At around 9:20 pm we began to leave.  

We took an elevator downstairs and Aaron led us to the REALLY fancy lobby and out the door to Monroe street.  As soon as we walked out the door I saw it, a snow white HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had always, always, always wanted to ride in one.  It was fantastic.  I, of course, was crying hysterically, but we got in and covered ourselves with a super warm blanket.  We then proceeded to see the sites of downtown Grand Rapids in an exceptional way.  Aaron told me about his college experience and I tried so very hard to be VERY present in this truly wonderful moment.

After, we went back to our hotel and ordered room service for dessert (because that is what fancy people do). I had crème brule and Aaron had a fancy brownie.  It was awesome. 

 We went to bed so very thankful for each other and for not having to wake up to get bottles ready.  We do so love our munch, but it was a nice break.

In the morning, we woke up and ordered super fancy Bed and Breakfast.  The  pictures speak for themselves.  

We then spent the morning lounging around, checking out the view, snuggling under covers and relaxing.  For lunch, Aaron took me to his favorite Yesterdog and we got ourselves some cheese dogs (yum).

  Then, we ended up at Wealthy Street Bakery, one of Aaron’s favorites. He got himself a Danish and I got myself a super delicious Pain Au Chocolat.  We brought it back to the hotel and relaxed for the whole afternoon (well, except for when Aaron locked me out of the hotel room on accident and I threw a fit and went and sat in one of the lobbies till he found me).  Lol.

That night, we went to Leo’s Seafood for dinner.  Oh my gosh was it tasty. Aaron had Lobster Tail and I had something called Seafood Newburg.  It was so freaking delicious.  Like, so so so good. 

 I wanted to take home the extras but alas, the purpose of the trip was about to happen, we went and saw Les Miserable.  It was BREATHTAKING.  This is my favorite show and I have seen it a handful of times.  By far, this was the best Jean Val Jean (sp).  His voice brought chills.  And at the end, the final song, tears ran down my face.  I could not applaud louder for such an exceptional cast.  One of the best parts?  The arena was connected to our hotel, so we got to walk straight back without putting our coats on or going out into the cold.  We got home and watched the rest of the MSU/Wisconsin game.  Because MSU fans have been working my last nerve with their hate-orade this football season, it was a little gift from baby Jesus to see them lose before bed!  A bit of pregnancy induced throwing up (the story wouldn’t be complete without it) and we were off to bed.  Our last night in our own Christmas paradise and although it was sad, I was itching to see my baby (I HATE leaving him).

The next morning, we woke up and had a delicious brunch at a place called Charlie’s Crab.  It was super fancy and crazy delicious.  I wasn’t feeling well, so the nourishment was MUCH needed. 

We headed home from there and both raced into my parent’s house to see who would be the first to get to hold the baby.

When we got married, so many older couples told us the importance of going away with your spouse at least once a year for an overnight.  Ours won’t probably be THIS fancy for a really long time, but we have committed to re-energizing our marriage though trips like this (even if that means camping, which Mr. Ramsey might have us do next time).  I truly do believe the best thing you can give your children is to be a loving help-mate to your spouse.  Staying in love is going to take hard work, (1.5 years in with 1 kid and one on the way, this becomes increasingly clear to us)- but we are committed to it and trips like this help!  I have said it before I will say it again, I married a prince.

PS- If you are one of my teenage girls reading this…THIS IS WHY YOU DON’T SETTLE!  Every girl deserves a princess weekendJ

PPS- And we got to come home to this!  Awesome.  

I LIKE THIS A LOT

...but was afraid of causing controversy on Facebook so decided to post it here :)
http://www.getreligion.org/2011/11/do-they-think-catholics-are-stupid/

THIS YEAR...

Thanksgiving this year was INCREDIBLE.  I have SO.MUCH. to be thankful for.  A few weeks ago, it became obvious that we were going to be able to celebrate thanksgiving meal with our very best friends Paul and Ann Coakley.  Paul and I have been friends since our freshmen year of college.  As life has continued on, some friends fade away, some I barely keep in contact with.  Some friends I have hurt and some have hurt me.  Spouses have been added who either bring us closer, or who divide.  With Paul and Ann, our bonds have only grown tighter.  Our families have meshed together and I feel so blessed to have them in our lives.  As our babies played together and I heard their son instructed to call us, ‘Aunt Mary and Uncle Aaron and Grandpa Buckley’, (referring to my dad, which I just thought was SO wonderful)…I was overwhelmed with the plan God has for each of our lives.  That was a highlight of our weekend, here were some others…

The Coakleys and the Buckleys

Wednesday Night
This was the night Paul and Ann arrived.  We had invited a few people over and it ended up being several friends from college and a couple of new people J  We just talked and laughed. It was so lovely and a few times I said, ‘there are so many people I love in this room’.  It is amazing that God has protected and strengthened our friendships through the years, we now have spouses and babies, significant others and seminarians!  Laughter was contagious.

Gross Turkey

Thursday- Thanksgiving
I cooked my very first thanksgiving meal (but cheated and did Turkey breasts instead of a whole turkey).  We had Aaron’s parents, my parents, Aaron’s brothers and nephews and the Coakleys over.  Ann helped to encourage and instruct me as we made turkey breasts, wild rice stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, Cheesy broccoli, green bean casserole, homemade gravy and rolls.  MAN was it delicious.  Being that I am a ‘new’ cook, I have a lot of kitchen insecurities.  Hearing everyone say they enjoyed what we created made me SO happy.

A lot of food 

Friday- Frankenmuth
The day started with Tony’s, a restaurant near Frankenmuth Michigan that brags of it’s huge portions (a pound of bacon as a side--- yes, I said a pound of bacon).  As one review said, ‘The food is disgusting, so if it is large portions, it is just large portions of disgusting’.  LOL.  BUT, so disgustingly good!  Aaron and our friend Mario were a bit skeptical, but they ended up eating and love it.  We then went to Bronners, a huge store of Christmas Merriment.  We shopped and stared and stared and shopped.  It was quite wonderful.  After, we enjoyed a late afternoon in Frankenmuth.  This is where Aaron and I got engaged, so it was super special being back with our son.  If you have never gone, make this one of your destinations to check out during the Christmas season.  After, Mario, Aarons and I left a big early because I was quite tired and needed some sleep.

loving him some Bronners

Covered Wagon

The dude and I

So blessed

I love my tight little family!

Saturday-
We said goodbye to our dear friends after breakfast, Paul and Ann were Wisconsin bound.  Aaron and I got ready for our next visit, his very good friends from college.  We had fun hanging out with them and sharing in life updates.  They left around seven and with the exception of Mass, I have been in pajamas ever since!

A few reflections…

My husband is a prince.  He helped me host Thanksgiving so well, forgave me when I snapped at him, cleaned the kitchen and did the laundry.  He is playing a video game right now, it is much deserved and I just love him so darn much! 

The friendships that are like family must be guarded, cared for and nourished, and NEVER taken for granted.

God giggles at our plans sometimes but usually has something MUCH better in store!

I LOVE ME...

…SOME SOCIAL MEDIA.

I mean I really love it. I eat up all the Vatican documents that explain it’s awesomeness (while cautioning against the dangers), I dig the transparency offered, I enjoy the permanent record that ‘putting something out there’ in the social media world provides.  I enjoy the ways it keeps me accountable for the things I post, the words I write, etc…Heck, I love it all so much I give workshops on it.  I LOVE me some social media.

Until yesterday.

I have finally found a flaw in the system.  The dear husband got home from a hard day of work, and I had a lot to report to him.  It wasn’t a good day.  He said, ‘Can I please eat my dinner first?’.  I then did what comes naturally, I went on a tirade about how he doesn’t support me, he doesn’t listen to me, and I don’t feel that he has my back.  

To which, he lovingly responded, ‘then how come your facebook status said you were thankful for your supportive husband’. 

Mary Wilkerson

Today I am thankful for social media, my boss, my dearest supportive husband and the AWESOME teens I get to work with:)

 ·  · 19 hours ago

BOOM ROASTED!

Well played Wilkerson, shaking my fist at you facebook!!!

Have a Wonderful Wednesday blogosphereJ

THE FIRST TIME...

...I TOLD AARON I LOVED HIM
When we were dating, every Monday morning Aaron would fly to Boston for work.  It was horrible, I would have to take him to the airport SO early and then he would be gone until Thursday night (I really began to love me some Thursday nights).
Anyway, like every other Monday morning I took him to the airport. I got out of the car to give him a hug and a kiss goodbye and to give him his weekly 'love note' from me.  As he started to walk away I said, 'I'll see you on Thursday, I love you!'.  I couldn't believe the words had come out of my mouth so soon.  I was totally embarrassed.  But, at airports, that is what you do- you say goodbye, and I love you!  Anyway, to cover up, I paused for a moment and we both kind of looked at each other and I said, 'um...like a brother'.  Then got in the car. When he got to Boston that morning, he sent me a text message that said 'like a brother?'.  Probably one of my favorite moments of all time (though totally mortifying when it happened).
I adore that there is one man that I have said, 'I love you' to.  Just one. And that is the father of my children and the man I married.  I love him so much more than I did that day, even more than I did yesterday and I hope to love him better tomorrow.  And I DEFINITELY don't love him like a brother.  Curiosity?  When was the first time you told your spouse or significant other that you loved them?  Comment below or post about it~

OH THE PLACES...

WE HAVE GONE...

One of my  original reasons for starting this blog was to begin a diary of sorts for our family.  So that one day our kids could look back on it.  And so, this morning, I was thinking about all the wonderful travels my husband and I were blessed to do in our courting, engagement, early marriage and now.  A priority in our lives forever will be travel. We will skimp on other things to be able to go places as a family.  The memories you make, the things you learn, are priceless.  And so, here are the travels we have taken and the joy we were able to experience.

GRAND RAPIDS
We went on this trip a few months after dating.  We stayed at Aunt Donna’s House.  Aaron walked me through campus at GVSU, we kissed in the rain, we went to the Frederik Meijer Gardens and played chest and walked through the children’s play land.  We hung out with his friends and had a wonderful game night.  It was so wonderful and helped define who we were to each other.

The Hot Dog Place in Grand Rapids ( I forget what it is called)

On the Freedom Trail

BOSTON
Going to Boston together was probably, up until that point, one of the best moments of my life.  Aaron was working there and I flew out to meet him. I thought I was going to have to get to the hotel alone, but he surprised me at the airport.  We stayed at a super fancy hotel with a balcony overlooking the city.  We ate a super fancy dinner.  We walked the freedom trail the next day and lounged around at Harvard.  We eat New England Clam Chowder and  delicious bagels.  After, we took a train to Regis’s house and hung out with my family nieces/nephews.  I got sick with a flu bug and Aaron rubbed my head between spouts of throwing up (that is love). This weekend I was trying to get him to say he loved me (because I accidently did at the airport when dropping him off, which is an AWESOME story for another day) so he would ask for something, ‘Mary can you pass the milk?’, I would respond, ‘it depends, do you love me?’

Cute Lil' B & B

Frankenmuth
We stayed at a wonderful bed and breakfast, all the way up on the 3^rd level.  We stayed in this wonderfully cute room that had little nooks and a slanted ceiling.  The place was a mansion, and you were transformed into a winter wonderland.  We enjoyed the day looking in wonderful shops, checking out rings, eating delicious food and drinking warm coffee.  We went to Confession and then Mass, then Aaron asked me to be his wife.  We met our friends for dinner and walked through the city filled with Christmas life and joy.  That night, Aaron fell asleep, tired from the days activities.  I stayed up all night in the hall of the B and B reading bridal magazines.  So happy, so in love.

Arizona
Aaron and I took our first flight together to go visit our matchmaker Bree in Arizona.  It was so fun to fly with him and to feel so grown up.  That weekend, bree was the best host.  She made us little care packages, we ate so much delicious food.  We went to Mesa and Scottsdale (I think).  We ate at the cheesecake factory and worshipped at St. Timothy.  It was so fun to be so in love with him and with one of my best friends.

First Airplane Ride

Toronto 

Toronto was awesome. We went together just for a weekend get away.  Again, we got to stay in a super fancy hotel in downtown Toronto.  We went to museums, the CN Tower, ate sushi, walked a lot in uncomfortable boots, watched a movie in our hotel room, ate a delicious breakfast at a fancy place.  Plus, the second night we were there, there was a snow storm with the biggest flakes I had ever seen. I am talking snow ball sized snow flakes.  It was awesome and so fun.  We were so very in love:)

Kentucky
Aaron and I traveled to Kentucky for Easter to visit with my sisters.  We stayed at Theresa’s apartment.  WE got all did for a siblings date night which was AWESOME! We went to Mass together and drove home Easter Sunday

Jamaica
Aaron and I got to go to Jamaica for our honeymoon.  The honeymoon consisted of a few main things. There was eating (2 breakfasts, lunch, snack, fancy dinner, evening snack), there was drinking (swim up bar, bar outside our room, fully stocked refrigerator), there were massages, naps, swimming in the sea and other things that one might do on a honeymoonJ 

North Carolina
We traveled to North Carolina for a family vacation with our New Jersey relatives, who are AWESOME. I flew out first because I had vacation left and aaron joined me for a long weekend.  We did a lot of hanging out, a lot of ocean and pool swimming.  One of us did their fair share of drinking.  The last 2 nights we got to stay in a spectacular room with a balcony view the ocean.  It was simply wonderful.

Us loving N. Carolina

Chicago
Right after I found out I was with child Aaron and I went to Chicago for the weekend.  We stayed in the fanciest hotel in downtown Chicago (this super fancy Marriot).  We got to take a train to  see the counting crows with a picnic lunch. We also had lunch with Theresa Metcalf, my best childhood friend and her husband Nathan.   We walked through the city and did some shopping.  We ate delicious breakfast.  The only issue is morning sickness was kickin it in full gear.  It was kind of terrible, I threw up the whole time. Lol.  The counting crows were great though.

Shipshewana
We had a weekend free to do something together, just us, and so Aaron took me to a bed and breakfast in Amish land.  The B and B was perfect.  We enjoyed the sparkling wine and chocolate treats they left us with our initials on them.  There was a lovely claw foot tub I got to take a soaker in.  We enjoyed a dinner and walking through the old shops.  It was a nice, much needed, get away for just usJ

The lovely spread at the B & B

Then came the baby…and now we begin our life of family vacations.  BUT, we are still blessed and committed to getting away, just the two of us every once and again.  We are three weeks away from our first trip away since the baby came, with just us two.  Can’t wait to write all about it!

This was really good

...I wish I knew how to fancy 'link' it, but I don't...and so, just give it a read. You WON'T regret it!
Oh, I can be fancy! Click this! :)

HEALTHY LIVING...

OR LACK THERE OF…

A couple of years ago, my cousin explained to me that he is going to be a smoker forever.  At this point, him and his wife had been smokers for three decades.  He said the issue is that both of them smoke, so whenever one would choose to quit, the other wouldn’t be ready.  Then, in moments of weakness, they would give in, because the other was still smoking.  Anyway, I was so thankful when I heard that story, because I realized if it wasn’t for Aaron being a non-smoker, I would probably still be smoking.  But alas, the story now applies to Aaron and I.

Aaron and I have been talking about ‘getting healthy’ for the past couple of years.  When we met, I weighed about fifty pounds less than I do now.  How horrible is that?  And I need to make something clear.  I do not need to be ‘skinny’. I don’t strive for that ideal.  My ideal weight is about 160, a nice comfortable size 12.  BUT, alas, I am VERY far away from a size 12 right now. And, for the first time in my life, I feel fat.  I feel unhealthy.  For the first time in my life, I am embarrassed when I leave the house because I am trying to squeeze into clothes that no longer fit (though, thankfully, dave ramesy just allowed me to get a few items that fit). 

There are a lot or reasons for my weight gain.  Some of it is right after I had the baby I was SO HUNGRY, all the time (I think the nine months of not being able to eat without puking added to that).  In addition, I know I will probably be pregnant again soon, so sometimes it makes it hard to want to get my ‘banging body back’ (I always refer to my old ‘banging body’ when Aaron and I talk about healthy living, which is hilarious, because most wouldn’t consider a size 12 to be banging!  Ha- it is all relative).  But one of the hardest reasons is that Aaron and I enable each other. 

We talk about healthy living, we make promises to each other, we acknowledge that we need to be healthy for our kids…and then, one of us is weak.  Last night it was Aaron, saying ‘hey, how about an asiago cheese fry snack at 9:00 pm?’.   And even though we KNOW we shouldn’t, the idea is in our heads and we have no hope.  So, at 9:00 at night we are eating asiago fries and watching the Real Housewives of HOTlanta.  ARGH. It is so problematic.

At some point it has to stop- but I fear with our mutual enabling, it will be so hard to live this healthy life we are striving for.  The plan right now is to get me the XBOX Kinect (I HATE exercise for the sake of exercise, and my schedule just sucks for having the energy to work out) and for me to buy healthier things to eat for our household (our grocery bill is up by quite a bit because of it). 

Any tips as we shoot for healthy living? Or, to get us past this rut of unhealthy living?

I told you the awesome was coming...

So here it is:)

Oh I sure do love me some pumpkins:)

A Lot a Lot!  This is fun!!!

But a little weird as well:)

PARTY!!!!!!!!!

Best. Smile. Ever

I'm so handsome, I could be a part time model!

I love to eat ANYTHING in sight:)

Best. Busie. Ever

Thanks for making my super cool Woody Costume Busi!

I just love to stare at Har Har

Family- mommy looks like she has a baby in her tummy!  But she doesn't, it is just the left over, from me:)

Hanging with Grammy is the best.  SO MUCH LOVE

Happy Halloween:)