News!

March is indeed proving to be very interesting! Aside from the babies being born (one still to come), Panasonic moving to Rolling Meadows (I started there on Wednesday and have been driving on the freeway!!), Jeremy moving here (first weekend in April - please continue to pray for a job for him!), spring time (not yet - we're forecasted to have 6-10" by the end of today), my birthday - I'm 26!, the trip to Tennessee (which was great fun!), Jeremy and I are now engaged. Whoo hoo! I still feel like I'm forgetting something that went on this month, but that's ok, I'll leave it with the best news of all. ;-) He proposed last Thursday between me getting home from work and having Sam and James over for dinner, haha. He was very sweet, even called my dad to ask him - I say he's a keeper! Now on to pictures! :-)

We took a picture to "capture the day" after our dinner guests left the night of the proposal. We both had a very busy week!


A view from one of the decks on the three-story, four bedroom cabin Jeremy's parents rented for all of us last weekend while visiting his sister and brother-in-law. It rained the day we arrived, and the mountains look like they are really "smokey"!


We tried taking a better picture of ourselves...


A view from a trail we went on on Saturday.


A waterfall at the top of the trail.


Jeremy's family (my soon-to-be new family)!


Jeremy playing pool - I won by default during the last play, but he creamed me at a game of fooseball to get back at me for winning Ticket to Ride, lol.


The rest of the folks playing Scrabble, Guitar Hero, and enjoying the fireplace - there was a hot tub on the deck too! It was wonderful despite the scare at the end of that night...


It's springtime in TN! I loved the sight of the dew-covered buds sparkling in the sunlight. :-)


The view down the road at the resort we rented our cabin.

He's here!

Jonathan Daniel was born yesterday at 12:20pm, 9lbs 13oz 22 inches long.

Marissa and I were able to visit them at the hospital tonight. I was excited to get to hold him as opposed to how nervous I usually am around newborns, haha. James had to work, but I plan on visiting again later this week to get more pictures of him with his son as well. :-)

Title

So... yeah... It's almost March and this winter season seems it's just bound and determined to stick around FOREVER. Why does it still snow 3-6 inches every week? Haven't we had enough already?! Sigh. I want to see flowers - and grass! I really do love it when it snows those huge, puffy flakes (I was thoroughly giddy the other afternoon while it was doing so!), but it feels like at this rate, we won't see the ground again until April. :-p See what you're coming to, Jeremy?

The move to Rolling Meadows has been pushed back a week, making our final day in the Elgin office March 14th. Unfortunately for me, my last day will be the 13th as I have accepted an invitation to go to Tennessee with the Knapps/Bowmans/Sullivans, and will not be back in town until the 18th. I'm excited! I hear we'll be staying in a cabin in the Smokie Mountains. :-) However, I will not be looking forward to returning home, alone, and to work at a new office the next day, only to have to unpack my desk and make sense of the work that was done while away for three work days. UGH!

I've been keeping busy helping Jeremy out lately - helping to create a resume, posting resumes, apartment/room hunting, making lists, and planning all the fun things we'll finally be able to do together! Hand bells have been cancelled the past two times because of snowy weather. The next practice will be March 10th - it will be interesting to see how we (by we, I mean I) do after being away from it for a month again! No word on new babies yet, but my friend Sam will be scheduled to give birth sometime next week. Anyone know how Amber's baby is coming along? Another friend is hoping to have one soon as well. 2008 will be another year of weddings and babies. I also have five friends getting married this year! 'tis the season!

More pictures from OH

This is the group of family and friends we usually hang with - don't they look like fun? :-)

Soon!

Well, to start off, I'd like to share a picture of one of the cutest parents-to-be. :-) I went to their second baby shower last Sunday because I was unable to attend the first for friends and family due to Brianna's birthday party. I'm glad I was able to go and be a part of it! Jonathan Daniel should be here in just a few short weeks!


As always, the visit to Ohio was wonderful. I was thrilled to see Jeremy again after seven weeks of being in his absence. Much too long! I am so blessed to have such a sweet, fun, handsome, God-fearing man in my life who has an amazing family to boot! Hehe. They always make me feel so welcomed and loved. Hopefully, that will be the last time I'll make the trip alone. :-) I'll be taking a look at a room for rent tomorrow after work to check it out and see what he thinks of it... if he likes it, he'll have a place to stay! Thankfully, I remembered the photographer at CNC who once offered me the room, and he still has it available. Jeremy graduates in three weeks! FINALLY! I'm very much looking forward to enjoying his company on a daily basis. :-)

We enjoyed a murder mystery dinner theater date night Saturday evening, and on Sunday celebrated his birthday with his family. Jeremy's mom used her amazing cake decorating skills to create a replica of the birthday boy (minus the beard). See how much alike they are? ;-)


Awww! This was taken at Tania's birthday party at Momo's, a slightly Japanese-inspired place of entertainment. Fun times.


Here I am watching and waiting for my ball to hit the pins... I play such an exciting game!

Birthday trip and a transition...

Well, I'm all moved in aside from the few remaining boxes. I had some help from a couple friends and a generous gal from Curves and her husbands (current and ex!). I also have the Internet up and running again, FINALLY! :-) What a relief to be connected again, haha. I hope you all received my new address in your e-mail earlier this week, if not, please let me know if you'd like it and I'll get it to you. Please forgive the position of some of the photographs, I'm not very savy when it comes to these things!

Old home - (the front of the building, my apartment was technically in the back)


New home - (it's right above the laundry room, hence all the steam!)


Painting the bedroom - (no more white walls, just a very light blue instead!)


Brianna's first birthday party! It was a Disney Princess theme. Wal-mart does nice cakes!


Aww, what a cutie :-)


Looks like they're going to carry her away!


She enjoyed playing with her friends.


And she opened LOTS of presents! (with mommy's help!)


The shopping cart seemed to be her immediate favorite.


Not a very good picture of me, but the best one of us we took together.


We took her sledding later on and she had quite a blast!


While up at Ferris State, I went to my very first hockey game! They played Western Michigan, my dad's alma mater. Of course Stacey was for FSU and my dad was for WMU, so I played it safe and just watched the game.


Hi dad!

News

Well, I guess it's been a while, hasn't it? ;-) The biggest news I have is that I'm moving this weekend to my new place - I'll be sending out e-mails to let you all know the new address soon. I picked up the keys for the apartment shortly after New Year's (which was quite memorable to say the least!), and have been slowly moving things in since. I will miss my current place though, my first apartment by myself, being so close to work - and I'll really miss my wonderful land lady too! Jason came to stay with me for a few days with hopes of finding a job here and he was able to help me paint my bedroom yesterday. I think I'll enjoy the color I finally decided on, haha. I know I was quite obsessive for a while! I took him back to the train station today and painted the dining room by myself this evening... but it will definitely need a lot of touch-ups! Dad is coming to visit this weekend and will help me move the big things in, and hopefully I can gain some help from friends with larger vehicles too. :-) Hand bells started again tonight. I think I did alright, especially after having a month-long break. I liked the few Easter hymns we played. Easter already! Jeremy is still in Ohio finishing up school - hopefully he'll be here the beginning of March! Panasonic is moving March 7th to the new location further into the Chicagoland mayhem... I have yet to attempt driving on the freeway out there. I managed to drive two miles on it in Elgin, though! Even that is nerve racking! How am I ever going to do it to work every day?! Heh. Well, I suppose I should be productive now and start packing some things... Take care, everyone!