Oma

I knew this would happen eventually. Children become parents, parents become Grandparents and grandparents eventually go to be with the Lord. I am getting close to my 30's which means my grandparents are getting into their 80's. We just found out my mom's mother has a brain tumor and a blood clot in her lung. The neurologist told my aunt today at the hospital that it would be wise for her to call all immediate family to come and see her as soon as possible. People have been noticing she was acting weird and was super lethargic.

We always called her Oma because Oma is the German word for Grandma. She has always lived in Arizona so we only see her once or twice a year. Time has flown by and I just didn't realize they were getting so old (or that I was getting so old). The past year or two my mom has been visiting them more often on her own and has started to make the comment " Well, we don't know how much longer they will be with us". It caught be off guard when she said that, I just forgot that they were so old. They have always been my Oma and Opa but they were YOUNG Grandparents when I was born and now they are Addy's GREAT Grandparents. That is hard to believe. I am so glad they visited us after Addy was born and was able to meet her.

I know I'm talking about her like she's already gone and she' isn't yet. But I just know I probably won't have the chance to see her again. It's weird to think of my parents being that old. They are so much apart of Addy's life right now. Watching her so much and loving on her and being her second parents. I can't imagine them frail and elderly. I know I have a while to go before I have to worry about that. I guess I am just so thankful they are both close and Addy will grow up having a close relationship with them both. Addy has two amazing grandmothers and I am so excited about the future memories they will make together. (she also has an awesome granddad too..)

These are Addy's amazing Grandmothers...

Gigi


Nana


This is my sweet Grandmother...along with my mom (being weird), aunt and sister. This picture was taken exactly a year ago.


I want to send a prayer out there especially for my Opa (granddad) because they have been together for 60+ years and I'm not sure he even knows how to boil water. How do you begin to live without someone who you've been with for that long? The only thing he knows how to make in the kitchen is homemade carmel corn. haha. He taught me how and I'm going to teach my kids....as soon as they get sealant put on their teeth at the dentist office.

I also pray for my mom as she travels to Arizona. Give her peace as she learns how to say goodbye to her mother.

Is it already mid November?

Ok so ever since I graduated from college (and got a job and got married and had a kid) life has seemed to FLY by. I can't believe it's almost 2011. In 2011 I will have been out of high school for10 years! I will have been married 5 years and I will have a toddler! I don't feel old enough to have done all those things.

Courtney (my sister) is feverishly planning her wedding. When you have a two month engagement at a destination location and a very small budget it makes for an interesting time. She finally decided to get a wedding coordinator to help her since she has all these things that need to be done in Tennessee and she's here in Texas. She found her dress which is of course, one of the most important things. I would post a picture of it on here but I should ask her first. THere is almost no chance that Ted reads my blog so Im sure it would be fine but I want to check haha.

I found some pictures that are really beautiful to show you what theme she was thinking about for her wedding. I love the idea!

Here are some pictures to portray what theme she is going for; Small, Rustic, White, Winter Wedding in Tennessee









Addy has been so cute lately. She's starting to really become a toddler! I can't wait till she can communicate better!


So Matt and I have been doing pretty good in general with this Couch to 5K running plan. We have also really cut out most carbs. This last time that I grocery shopped I didn't buy any sandwich bread or Eggo Waffles or cereal. We aren't cutting out carbs all together because some simple carbs are ok. The only carbs we are eating are oatmeal maybe some rice with dinner and the occasion wheat bun when we go to Chickfila on Tuesdays. The workout thing is only 3-4 times a week and now that we are really adding in lean healthy foods and LOTS of salad I think the scale will start to drop slightly.
Here's what I'd like to look like running....

Instead of this....

All I need is a spray tan and a boob job. And to loose about 15 lbs. Oh don't be fooled. I may have chicken legs but my loose shirt hides a lot. ( I have been called "chicken legs" by my husband for many years...)

Fall Photo Shoot

I love the art of capturing emotion that can be treasured forever. Thats why photography is so important to me and why I have over 200 albums on Facebook! So you can imagine how excited I was to get with Julie for the second time since we had Addy and do a family fall photo session for Christmas cards and gifts. Of course Addy is teething miserably and is in the worst moods I have ever seen from this girl! She hardly ever cries but that day she cried big time and right in the middle of our shoot. I want to throw a special shout out to Julie for being awesome even with a crying baby! She managed to get a couple great pics out of LOTS of unusable pics. Check julie out at http://jbellephotography.com/

Here is a teaser she sent me: At least we got ONE good picture! haha!

Layered Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cake

This is my new FAVORITE holiday dessert. I made it last year and fell in love with it. I found it on kraft.com. It's pretty easy to make if you like layering cakes! I LOVE layering cake and icing them! The filling is to die for! I could eat it alone...

What you need:

1 pkg. (2-layer size) yellow cake mix
1 can (14 fl oz/398 mL) pumpkin, divided
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup oil
4 eggs
1-1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice, divided
1 pkg. (250 g) Philadelphia Brick Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup icing sugar
3 cups thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping
1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping
1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans

Mountain Vacationing

My sister is thinking about getting married in Tennessee in January. (two month engagement...no fair, ours was almost two years!). So I've been thinking about how gorgeous Tennessee would be in the winter time! (and freezing!!!) There just so happens to be this Log Cabin Resort in Tennessee that I've always wanted to stay at.
Go TO: www.thepreserveresort.com

I LOVE the mountains and trees changing color and all the beautiful views! I can't believe I live in Texas! This resort has amazing luxury cabins with granite counter tops, jacuzzi's, flat screens and large fireplaces. If I had only known about them when I got married! I would soooo have skipped the Bahamas in January (freezing water!!!!) and would have loved to go to this resort. Can you imagine! Snuggling by a roaring fire, sipping hot chocolate and playing in the snow!

Here are some of the amazing pictures from the website:

How romantic is this!!!!!!