Happy Thanksgiving!

It's Thanksgiving! I have been watching the Macy's Thanksgiving parade - which I enjoy - and having a nice relaxing morning at home with Brandon and Maddie. We will be leaving soon for my mom and dad's for dinner and then off to Brandon's mom's house for more family time. As I reflect on this day, I am more and more in awe of our Father and how much He has blessed me with. I am so thankful for this life He has given me. I'm thankful for a loving husband who longs to serve God first and foremost, a beautiful, healthy, fun-loving one year old, a baby growing inside my womb that will soon be added to our family, and all of the loving, supportive family and friends around me. I am blessed - immeasurably more than I could ever ask or imagine. Thank you Father! I pray you all have lots to be thanking God for today. Have lots of fun and enjoy your dinners with family and friends! God bless!

Madeline Turns ONE!

Yesterday was Maddie's first birthday. She had a lot of fun - and we had a blast celebrating with her. She had some friends over in the afternoon and then all of our family came over in the evening for dinner, cake, and gift opening. Here she is - enjoying her fabulous day!

Our Baby & Our Growing Girl

We had our first doctor's appointment last Friday with the nurse practitioner. She did an ultrasound and everything looks good! We did find out though that our estimations about the due date were a little off. We are now expecting an Independence Day baby - he/she is due on July 4th. Here are our baby's first
pictures!!





Tomorrow is Maddie's first birthday! We are so excited to celebrate with her - and with lots of family and friends. I can hardly believe it has already been one year! She is growing up too fast. I keep praying that she would slow down a little bit. :) Here she is before her one-year old pictures. She looks so grown up.

A Fun Weekend

So, if you read the last post, you heard our big news that we are expecting again! The approximate due date is June 25th or so....I haven't been to the doctor yet, but that is what I have calculated for myself, so it could change by a day or two. I have been feeling just fine. I'm praying this pregnancy is a good as the last one! I never really got sick - so far it's going just great! I am only 6 weeks along. I think this is going to be a much longer pregnancy, just because we don't have anything to prepare really. We have the essentials and there won't be showers this time around. So there aren't going to be as many milestones along the way. But that is just fine! We are thrilled to be adding a new addition to the family. (Though we will soon outgrow this house we are living in!)

We had a fun weekend - we stayed at my parent's house, Halloween night, so we could bring Maddie around to her grandparent's houses in her costume. It wasn't too successful with the costume. She hated it and was extremely tired. So that cut everything short. These photos below will give you a taste ow how she was feeling. Poor thing - mean old parents, making her dress up in that ladybug costume!








On Saturday, Brandon went out hunting on my parent's land, and he got a deer! It's a nice doe - and he is pretty happy about it. He spent most of the day tracking it, gutting it, and skinning it, so we could bring it to the butcher. It will be nice to have some venison meat - it has been a few years. (Though I'm not a huge fan....but am determined to find some recipes that make me like it!) Here are some pictures of him with his deer, his dad, and Maddie of course. It has been a great weekend!

Maddie Has BIG NEWS to share!

Maddie wanted us to pass along this news to everyone....so here it is!

Just some things.....

Life has been a little up and down lately - nothing too serious or anything. About a week ago, my car was parked at the Munger trail, while my friend Danielle and I were jogging. I came back to find my car window smashed in - and my purse stolen, with all of my valuables - including my camera, credit cards, some cash, checks, social security card, ID, planner, and more. It was an awful feeling - I felt so violated, and continue to deal with it every once in awhile. I am learning to just trust God and remember that HE IS IN CONTROL! Thankfully, so far, nothing serious has occurred....no charges on our cards or no strange people lurking around my yard. (Believe me - I had some awful dreams!) But God is good and I'm really learning to get past it.

This weekend - I ran my first 5K! It was for St. Mary's Children's Clinic. My friend Danielle and I ran it....it was so fun! It didn't feel that way in the middle of it, but afterwards, it felt like such a great accomplishment. We finished in 30 minutes. We were pretty happy with that! Here is a photo from the big race.



Brandon went fishing up north with my mom and her cousin and his dad, on Saturday morning. They caught some fish - and we had a fish fry on Saturday night! Yum! And what really made the weekend - was having Kelly and Brian with us Saturday night and Sunday morning. We stayed overnight at my parents - just so we could enjoy every minute with them. It is their anniversary tomorrow - so they were on their way to Bluefin Bay for tonight. Seeing them really reminded me how much I miss having them close - yet during our time together, it felt like they had never left. It was great to have them! And I get to see them tomorrow afternoon too! YES!

Hope you all have a great week! Just think....only a month until Maddie is one year old!!!

Bafield Apple Festival

Brandon is gone this weekend - on his annual hunting trip with friends from high school. I miss him! Maddie does too....whenever we are upstairs, she has to crawl into our bedroom, to see if daddy is there. I just know she is looking for him! She misses her daddy....So Brandon, hope you come home soon tomorrow!

Though I have been missing my hubby this weekend, I have been keeping busy. Danielle and I had girl's night last night - with good food and lots of scrapbooking! I'm getting lots done! I love that feeling. Today, Maddie and Danielle traveled with me to the Bayfield Apple Festival, in Bayfield, WI. I have always wanted to go - we met my parents and their friends there. It was a beautiful, crisp, fall day. There were a few too many people there I must say...but I was glad to go and eat some delicious food! :) Here are some pictures of our time there today. Bayfield is a beautiful town!