Up and comings

I cannot believe next week is February. I see this year is continuing as last year did with going by extremely fast. There are a couple things coming up that I'm really excited about.

1) Our Valentines Day Party. We are getting a group of our close friends together and I have a few fun activities planned for the kids! The party is definitely more kid related, but I know a few of the adults are big kids at heart. I am one of them! This weekend I really need to buckle down and finalize everything. Especially the treats and meal!

2) Superbowl. Even though I really don't care for either team that made it, I will be enjoying some major awesome company! I am sure everyone will make the game a lot more fun and I'm already searching on Pinterest for some good recipes to bring up! I guess if I have to root for a team it will be the Patriots.

3) February 11th. Now, I am sorry if you are not a fan, but BD comes out that day. A few girlfriends and I are going first thing and will be watching it on repeat! Jana will need an intervention at some point. (You know it's true). I will say though, I am getting excited because the one movie, the main reason I love the books is Pt 2. From the first time I read book one in 2007, all I wanted was for her to become a vampire. It has been almost 5 years and it's about to happen. Far too much waiting. I'm an impatient person as is, making me hold out this long is beyond ridiculous.

4) New ink. I have my tattoo finally figured out and I'm getting a little excited to go back under. Ha. Although I did figure out how to finish my back tattoo (8 years later), I did come up with a great one for my wrist. I will say that I have decided to get a penguin the size of dime on my ankle at some point. I am super excited and everyone has signed off on it and loves it! Now, just need to figure out where to go.

5) Since February is approaching, that means spring time is right around the corner. Now, for Iowa we have really lucked out on the snow. I am an odd one and I love the snow but it has been nice not having to wash my car weekly, not worrying about my slip/fall ratio, and not having to deal with idiotic drivers. I love spring though. I am a spring and fall girl. Only downfall to spring...baseball. Yet that means tennis will kick off again!

6) Hunger. I am going to have to read The Hunger Games before the movie comes out. I feel like it's been forever since reading all those books, well, it's been about a year, but I really need to brush up on it. I am really excited for the flick and can't wait to see how it unfolds on the big screen.

7) Planning, planning, planning. I have a few things that I have to buckle down and plan. A few birthday parties (especially Beths), activities for our giant FR in June, a few trips, and just some evenings with friends. We are going to have some fun and do themed evenings. This should get interesting.

8) I guess I should mention my birthday, but I really don't care. Lol. Age is age. I've never been big on my birthday but my friends and family have always made it special. I think it's on Sunday this year. Monterrey is the #1 thing on the list.

Winter has finally hit. Although, I know a lot of people who are extremely upset about this, I welcome the cold, ice, and snow. I am fortunate to live in a state where we get to experience all four seasons. I will say having the colder weather makes for us to stay at home more. We have spent evenings dancing in the living room (this happens for about an hour a day thanks to XM radio), play games, read, do crafts, bake, and watch the occasional movie. Jax is into everything. I mean everything. He can get onto almost any type of furniture. He has even mastered moving chairs to climb on the higher ground. It's quit ridiculous. I am not super excited about it. Everything is "uh-oh" and anytime any music comes on, the boy will drop everything and dance. Jake usually joins in also. Jake has been very independent lately. He is off doing his old things and if you ask what he's doing you get the response: "It's top secret Mom, I cannot let you in on it." He's been super into puzzles lately and has mastered quite a few of them. Again, he wants to do them on his own with no help. He usually calls us up to see his masterpieces when he is done.

Sadness filled my house this week when my good friend, the treadmill kicked the bucket. He was about 6 years old, but he just left with out saying goodbye. Ugh. Michael of course is taking apart thinking he will be able to fix it. I guess I will have to start shopping for a new one.

We decided to throw a Valentines Day party with our friends this year. I have been having a blast putting things together for it! I have to narrow down everything down this week and try to figure out everything we are going to do and eat! Even though it is 4 months away, I have already been starting to plan Beth's 30th Birthday bash. I am super excited for this and it's going to be a great time for us ladies.

Any free time (which is hardly any) is being spent on Pinterest. It all started in November and since then, many of recipes have been tried, many DIY projects are completed, trial and errors, more creativity, and just good time with family and friends. It's addictive and I am there is a support goup out there I may have to join. Oye.
 

Movies and more

This past week Netflix sent us a few movies that I have been longing to see. Over the past 7 days, I have actually had some down time between 9pm-11pm to watch them. This is our 5th year with Netflix, and I am yet to be disappointed by them. I love that their "live streaming" is starting to boom again. It helps when two of our TV's are set up via internet. Especially when I am running.

First movie: One Day.

This movie had me captured in the first five minutes. It had moments of laughter, heart ache, wishing, lost moments, all that 'will they, won't they' scenarios. Anne Hathaway is amazing, as usual. I love her and she did a fantastic job in this movie. I am also in love with Jim Sturgess, a large part due to "Across the Universe". The ending....ugh, the ending of this movie. I won't ruin it for anyone but it tears at your heart strings. It is very realistic though because not all things end the way we want them to. We just learn from our past experiences and it makes us stronger.

Second Movie: Cowboys vs Aliens (this was NOT my choice!)

This movie did nothing for me. I love Daniel Craig and he is extremely good to look at, but I did not care for this movie at all. I am not a Harrison Ford fan and I should have known from just that, that I wouldn't enjoy this. There was very little action and for an "alien"movie, very little aliens. I felt that there was a ton of downtime and horrible humor. Definitely a "guys" movie.

Third Movie: The Art of Getting By

This movie did not disappoint to me. I have been a fan of Freddie Highmore since "Finding Neverland", "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", and of course, my favorite "August Rush". This movie had some great story lines and showed what a little drive and determination can really do. The acting was okay, but these kids are suppose to be in high school and kids in high school, well, they never really care. Lol. I had a few tear up moments and it was a total "feel good movie".

Fourth Movie: Crazy Stupid Love

Now, I saw this movie in theaters and LOVED it. I must buy this. First of all, I love Steve Carrell, Ryan Gosling and of course, the talented Emma Stone. This movie had me laughing all the way through and the twist, yeah, didn't see it coming in theaters and almost forgot about it when we watched it the other day. Emma Stone, is of course, utterly amazing as usual and Ryan Gosling, wow, that man has a super body and is actually pretty funny. Julianne Moore does an excellent job and Marisa Tomei is nothing but hilarious. I really need to go buy this movie. It is something I for sure need in my collection!

Other then the four movies I actually watched this week, nothing too exciting is going on. It's been so much fun watching the boys change though. They both enjoy playing together. It's so fun to watch them chase each other, laugh at the same things, sing together, and just be with one another. Jax feels like a 3 year old, not a 13 month old. He is so into everything Jake is and is just so ridiculously happy all the time. It is honestly insane how happy that boy is all the time. He loves to laugh and will always give a stranger a smile. Women love him when we shop. 

I will say one thing, I love our pastor. Mike has the ability to reach you to your core every Sunday. Every week I am brought to tears. I am shown that no matter what, we are all sinners. I am thankful, so very thankful, to have a pastor and a church that is alive and full of faith and grace. 

Tomorrow one of Jake's friends (one of our good friends daughter) has heart surgery. We hope nothing but the best for her and her parents. We pray for a good, thourough, easy surgery, and a quick recovery. I hope and pray that her parents are calm, up-lifted, and at peace. We want nothing but a speed recovery for her!

I love new music

I received a book and CD (what is a CD?), in the mail the other day. The album is just amazing. The music coincides with the book. I cannot stop listening to it on my iPod. There are for sure 3 songs that I cannot stop listening to. The one below has to take the award for my favorite. I listen to all genres of music and will at least listen to someone once before I judge if I like them or not. I do have a heart in love with worship music which is mostly what this album is. Below is the song lyrics to Chris Tomlin's "Your Heart". The message is so powerful and it really got me thinking. This song is sort of a game changer for me. It really leaves you thinking of the legacy you are leaving behind. I have a fear in a week it will knock out "A Thousand Years" as the top played song on my iPod. (Side note: that song has been played 311 times since I bought it on iTunes in November, sad.)

It never was about the oil dripping from my head
I never did dream beyond the pastures I could tend
It never was about the praise, not about the street parade
I didn’t really need a crowd when Goliath fell down

I never meant to woo a king with simple shepherd songs
Or hide away inside a cave, safe from danger’s arms
I never meant to wear a crown, or try to bring armies down
It never was about me and who I hoped to be

At the end of the day, I wanna hear people say
My heart looks like Your heart, my heart looks like Your heart
When the world looks at me, let them agree
That my heart looks like Your heart, my heart looks like Your heart

I never thought I would be much more than Jesse’s kin
Who would ever dream a king would come from Bethlehem?
I know that I’ve crashed and burned, lives have been overturned
But You redeem everything, yeah, even me

At the end of the day, I want to hear people say
That my heart looks like Your heart, my heart looks like Your heart
When the world looks at me, I pray all they see
Is my heart looks like Your heart, my heart looks like Your heart

Five little stones, or a royal robe
Shepherd or king doesn’t mean a thing
At the end of the day

At the end of the day, I wanna hear people say
That my heart looks like Your heart, my heart looks like Your heart
Unashamed I will dance, In Your name, lift my hands
‘Til my heart looks like Your heart, my heart looks like Your heart

Tis the Season

I have no idea where the last two weeks have gone, but wow, talk about total chaos and insanity and I loved every moment of it.

We kicked off Christmas celebrations a few days before hand with some friends. Good food, lots of laughter, and wonderful memories. We celebrated Christmas with my family on Friday evening. The boys had a blast chasing one another around. My parents started off the gift exchange on a funny note. They gave the boys their gifts. As they opened them, fake nails, princess pens, and other girly treasures came out of their bags. It was a great joke and their commentary was pretty hilarious. We did video tape it and it will be fun to show them when they are older! David also came into town that night and pretty much only went home one day. It has been amazing. Christmas Eve we spent time shopping, cooking, wrapping, playing games, singing, dancing around the house, and enjoyed spending time together. Chuck and Marilyn came over on Christmas Eve and we had another amazing meal and spent the evening laughing and enjoying our time together. Christmas Day we went to church with my parents and then ate lunch with the Janzens before they took off to Omaha for an overnight. We took a nice family nap and then our fantastic friends, The Chases, invited us over to spend the evening with them. It was a very relaxing day and we shared it with family and friends. I luckily did not have to return back to work until the new year so Monday we had a giant gathering at my sisters with my moms side of the family. We played games, once again ate amazing food, laughed, and just enjoyed each others companies. David returned that evening and we just crashed. The rest of this week involved, having a dear friend of ours over for lunch, having play dates during the day, spending time with friends, shopping, going to the mall, and just enjoying this time off work. My cousins from Missouri came up during the week and it was great to see them. Michael even crashed on our couch for the night and it was nice to have him around. Friday evening we had a girls night! It was for a sad reason, but Jana was up in Des Moines for basically 24 hours so we had to make the most of it! We had a surprise party for Ellen and Mary at Glazed Expressions. The evening was full of laughter and it is definitely an evening I will not forget. After leaving the party, Ellen and I met up with Bec and Jana for even more laughter at Monterrey. Oh how I love those 3 women. Their laughter is just amazing. New Years Eve we shopped, spent time with the Olsens. I met up with Beth and Ellen for pedicures, some shopping, a middle school experience (ear piercing at the mall lol), and Starbucks. Ellen and I then spent some time at Costco getting food and beverages for the evening. All I can say about New Years Eve was....amazing. We had a total blast and rang in the new year with a great crew of people, some amazing glowing gloves, super delish champagne, and a fantastic dance party. It was epic. Today.....oye. Morning came way too soon. We made it to church on time, had lunch and the Janzen apartment with the whole crew, we then took the Olsen kids to our house so that Andy and Laurel could shop in peace, and now we are awaiting the arrival of a freshly baked pizza and a night of doing...nothing. It has been a couple of crazy weeks and a little R & R is needed!

I am not one to make or believe in resolutions for the new year. If you have something to change, why wait for the start of a new year? Do it now. I also do no like making a resolution, only to burden myself with it. I have aspirations for the next few months but I'm not going to hold them over my head. We have had a very interesting year in 2011. We have had many highs, way too many lows, and it has brought not just us but our entire family together. Through mom's surgery, Michaels cancer, Dad's cancer, the passing of Grandma, it has just been a rough one. I wouldn't have been able to make it through with out Our Father Above, my wonder family, and my devoted friends. I am so blessed that I have quite a few amazing people in my life that always go above and beyond the call of duty. I am forever in your debt.

So, here is to a new year! I am super excited to see what it has in store!