The Happiest Place on Earth!!!

"It's the most wonderful time of the year" and "the happiest place on earth"...what a perfect combination???


I am SO excited!!!

Mickey, here we come!!!

Congratulations!!!

Last night my best friend in the whole-wide-world got engaged!!! I am so excited! Kristina and I have been through everything together:

*went to Rogersville elementary, middle, and high school ( & scheduled as many classes together as possible)
* played on the same volleyball team for 10 years! (7th grade - college)
*college roommates
*lived about 5 minutes from each other
*took turns spending teh night at each others house as often as possible growing up
*church camps
*sports camps
* Special Ed. tutoring together (funniest memories of my life)
*laughed and laughed and laughed
*cried a little
* etc etc etc

She is the nicest person I know and one of the only people in my life have been able to trust with anything and everything. God blessed me beyond what I can even described when he gave her to me as a best friend! I honestly cannot remember fighting with her once over the past 15 or so years! I can't imagine what my life would have been without Kristina. (Not nearly as fun!)

We always joked that she would marry my brother Chad, just so we could be related, even though he was a little young for her. (And it would be totally weird because it would be like she was marrying her own brother...) Anyway she may not be marrying my Chad, but the Chad she is marrying is such a great guy and they are perfect for each other! I have never seen her so happy!

So...Congratulations guys!!! Two nicer people couldn't have been put together! I am SO excited for you!!!

Cooking Class

Sunday afternoon I had the BEST time learning new recipes and tricks in a small cooking "class." It was a few hours of delicious food and great friends! Who knew cooking could be so much fun?!

On the menu:
Sticky Beef
Chicken Pot Pie
Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Sauce
Super tacos
Potato Soup

And...now I have a freezer full of dinners!

Any other good cooks that want to teach?? Sign me up!

...YU-HUM!!!!

Griswolds of Springfield

2000 E. Cambridge Springfield, MO


You should check it out!!!

These people have two yards COMPLETELY covered in lights, Every blow up imaginable, and a radio station you turn to so you can hear music that the lights flash on and off too! A little over board, but fun to see!

(PS.... I looked up Griswold and yes, even though I think it looks funny, it has an O not A)

A New Favorite

Christmas time is full of traditions. We have our favorite foods, songs, places to go, etc. Well, I got this book for my birthday (Thanks Mandy and Brad!) and it is so fun! I had been wanting it for a while and I'm so excited to bring it out for many years to come!!!

Here's the story in a nutshell...

You see, Santa is far too busy to be every where during the holiday season checking if we are being "naughty or nice." So...he hires hundreds of little elves to help him. Hence the name The Elf on the Shelf, parents (secretly) bring the elf out each year on December 1st and place him on a shelf. He is Santa's eye's and ears until Christmas. He watches if you're good or bad and also takes your Christmas wishes back to Santa. He travels back to the North Pole each night and is found in a new place/shelf each morning! And...on Christmas morning he is gone! Back to the North Pole until next December 1st. Oh, and you can't touch him or he loses his magic! Anyway....the actual story is much cuter and more intriguing than the rendition I just gave, but you get the idea.

How fun?!

So long 22....

December 4th I will say goodbye to 22 and welcome the new age of 23.
Here are 22 things I have done/ experienced this year...in no particular order:

1. Graduated from Evangel.
2. Planned my wedding/ got married....and attended 8 more weddings!!!
3. Visited the Boschens in Sunny San Diego.
4. Honeymooned in Hawaii
5. Completed my student teaching
6. Coached 7th grade volleyball for Rog
7. Moved into our first home (and attempted to decorate it)
8. Missed my brother's high school graduation... :o( sorry Chad! (we were still in Hawaii)
9. Drove a convertible for the first time
10. Started teaching four year olds at church....quite an experience!
11. Saw John Mayer and Colbie Caillat (sp?) in concert
12. Rode in a Helicopter for the first time
13. Had my first flat tire...make that two flat tires and a muffler that fell off!
14. Got a Wii
15.Made my first Key Lime Pie
16. Learned how to play Rummikub
17. Met Max and Linus
18. Changed my last name :o)
19. Started a blog...
20. Been indescribably HAPPY.
21. Ate at Oceans Zen, 5 Spice, Cravin Pizza, Aris Pizza, Wannagetta Pizza, and a few others for the first time
22. Wondered and excited about what another year will bring!!!