the little things

time changes things.

Saturday morning, something told me to IM her.

It’s about to be a new year.

We all need a fresh start.

God was with me & wanted me to wish her a Merry Christmas.

So, I did.

& soon after, she wrote back!

We responded to one another, but never at the same time.

Until last night.

I was sitting at my computer talking on the phone with Nate.

She asked if I was there.

I told her yes, but I was on the phone.

After my conversation with Nate ended I wrote back.

We talked just like we used to.

And for 2 hours!

She apologized, as did I.

We missed each other A LOT.

Things are getting better and in due time.

I simply cannot believe it.

And neither can she.

We’ve both grown up, and realized our mistakes.

We want to be friends again.

God is good.

Next Friday, we’re hanging out for the 1^st time in almost a year.

Me & Tricia & our other friend I lost touch with, Katie.

Praying that it repairs even more. I need those girls again.

TGIF everyone!  And yessss for a 3 day weekend!

very merry!

     We had SUCH a great 1st Christmas together, married!  God is so good! First, Craemer says HI! Gosh, I miss this dog! So terribly! It's insane! He looked like a little present with his red ribbon on! He actually liked having it on, what a goof!  We kept busy, busy..but it was a blast!  Friday morning, after Nate got off work, we headed out to WalMart for groceries to avoid the last minute crazies who would be out Saturday! LOL that was fun! Saturday, we slept in..until about 10:30!! My dad & Megan came over early.  Nate made an awesome lasagna [he's such a good cook!] and I made buttermilk pie! They were both hits!

A couple of weeks ago my dad surprised us with a new stainless steel grill, complete with all the accessories, cover & cleaning materials!  So exciting! Nate cannot wait to grill. Then, on Saturday dad also gave us a hefty gift card to Best Buy! love it! It's burning a hole in Nate's pocket BADDD! haha. We had a great time hanging out Saturday afternoon, eating, catching up & watching Home Alone. [love that movie!]  Saturday night, Nate & I went to the movies with our friends Heather & David. We saw Charlotte's Web. it was really cute!  Afterwards, we had dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise. love that restaurant!

Sunday was a great day, filled with church, grandma & grandpa's for our traditional Christmas Eve gathering, then back to church for Christmas Eve Service. We had a good time at the grandparents! ate wayyy too much! colored!! yes, I said colored...we love it! :)  Here's the girls. Megan, Tan, Steph & I. & then, there's all of us, with our siginifigant others! LOL. talk about crammed!! haha.  Megan got a Promise Ring from her BF..she was excited & he was excited to give it to her.  Even tho NONE of us know what it means! Oh well, she's happy! ;)

The sanctuary at church looks amazing with all the candles lit. it was such a sight!

Christmas day was so nice!  Nate was so anxious to open gifts!  He woke me up at 7:30..even tho he has since said he was up way earlier than that & thought about getting me up earlier--good thing he knows better! LOL  I got him a few dvd's, his Steve Smith, Panthers jersey, some candy,shave stuff,tickets to a christian outdoor event for 4 days in June!!, a beanie & his cell phone case for his Chocolate. I got my first pieces of Willowtree. The one I requested, as well as the angel of the kitchen! So exciting! 90210 Season 1 on dvd & a HUGE surprise..a beautiful diamond cross necklace!  We kept our gift giving simple this year..and it was fun!

Later in the day we went to my parents house to celebrate & exchange a few gifts.  We made out with gift cards this year!  Dinner was good & the conversation was even better! It was nice just being together. Really, really nice.  Christmas morning, I called my dad to wish a merry one, and he informed me his 4 wheeler had been stolen that morning!  So terrible.  Luckily, they found it, it was fine & as of today they have caught the 2 guys who took it. UGH., makes me sick.  if there's one thing I hate, it's stealing! Monday night, we headed to Findlay, where we were surprised by Nate's parents with this...a nights stay in a hotel room with a pool IN IT!!!  They had stayed the night before & decided to let us have Christmas night for ourselves!  The place was beautiful! It even had a private garage!  Whirlpool tub, double head shower, robes, a down comforter, gas fireplace..needless to say, I was in Heaven!  The pool was like bath water!  We swam for hours! Too bad we ate at nasty Waffle House [we were starved & it was the only place open!], and Nate had a little much spicey stuff & was sick from midnight until late morning.  He was up every single hour and didn't sleep! yuck!

Tues day morning, we checked out, and visited with his mom.  We opened our gifts..and I got the whole Willowtree nativity!  Here it is set up on our bar...until we get a library table for it next year!  I'm in love!  His grandma also got us gift cards to WalMart..so I picked up some picture frames for our hall in the apartment..I can't wait to get that all in order!  On our way home from Findlay late last night, we stopped at Olive Garden & had dinner.  It had been a while & it was so good.  On our drive home, we had a good conversation.  I don't know how he does it, but Nate makes me fall in love with him more & more everyday. [i know, how cheesy, right?! but, it's so true!]

So, that's our Christmas in a nut shell!  We also stopped at Hobby Lobby & I picked up some new papers & letter stickers. Now, I just need to get some ink for the printer so I can get these new photos done so I can SCRAP! oh, maybe one day!

I hope everyone has a great Christmas!  Now, I'm anxious for New Year's. we have no plans, but to stay in & veg & chill..and I am excited! 

Dec. 25th. O6

Happy Birthday to Jesus! :)

the latest.[full of randOm!]

here's the latest of something i've done/come across/experienced. just for something different!

dilemma: should I scrap our wedding photos in 12x12 or 8.5x11 format? i think i'm leaning towards 8.5x11, but we have so many photos, the 12x12 would be nice. eh. i dunno!

scrap page: this one. a 12x12. random wedding/kissy photo. it's not going into the wedding album mentioned above, so just b/c this is 12x12, think nothing of it! ;)  plus, the photo isn't top notch cuz my printer is running out of ink..and fast!

i ate: bacon. mmm.bacon! ;)  happy dinner. on 2 slices of bread, with some mayo & chips.  i barely had lunch, so i was starving!

i smelled: this new lip balm nate bought me today from B&BW. i'm still not sure about it. it smells [and tatses] kinda funky! but, it's healing my kips & my hubster picked it out, so i have to grow to like or else!

funny thing i heard: nate telling me over the phone about the cashier lady at walmart. had some "holiday cheer" buttons on her smock, about Christmas & Jesus.  After he checked out, he said, "Merry Christmas!" and she grumpily/quietly said, "ehhh yeah..have a nice day." not so much WHAT was said, but Nate's version of it had me cracking up at work!

best sleep in a while: last night.  ahhh i hope i have another one like that tonight! freshly washed sheets & pillow cases had me havin' sweet dreams, all night! even when Nate came home at 4 a.m.  I barely said 2 words to him..I was sleeping soo well!

guest over: my parents & Tana. just after I posted my entry last night, they surprised me with a visit!  it was really nice having them here, hanging out!

piece of mail we received: in today's mail, we got another Christmas card & or cable bill. Merry Christmas! :)

song I listened to: "The Ocean" by Mae. no clue who they even were until this song did a shuffle play on iTunes a few weeks ago.  Something Nate added & I'm glad he did. I love it. It's on shuffle again tonight!

worn: my favorite sweats. in them right now! yey for home comfort!

seen on tv: Donna Downey DVR'd on QVC today!  I adore that woman..she's so fun! and now, I really want those heidi swapp letters. I never got the other font. I bet by the time I do, all her new stuff will ahve come out & I'll want all that instead!

want: the CriCut. that things is neato-wow! I've never been for die cuts or machines, but that thing is too cool for school! oh, and a new digital camera.  Nate wants one too, so hopefully one day! ;)

myspace friend add: Santa! yeah. for serious!  it's a Pea..I just don't know who yet!

phone call: Nate. the usual 3:15 call on his way to work. One of 2 I get in a day. The 2nd one will be coming tonight at around 8:15. and i can't wait. I miss him like terrible!

okie..that's enough silliness for a night! Happy Thursday [almost!] tomorrow!

Christmas: 6 days!

I can’t believe how soon Christmas will be here! How exciting!  I know Nate & I are anxiously awaiting our 4 days off.. it’s going to be so nice to just chill. Eat. And spend quality time with family. I'm really looking forward to celebrating.  candlelight service at church is going to be amazing! We’ve been busy around here lately, cleaning, watching movies [haha!], cooking good dinners [my shrimp fettuccini on Sunday was scrumptious if I do say so myself!;)]  We had date night last Thursday night.  Nate had a relief night, so we started some Christmas shopping for Megan..which we ended up with nothing! And ourselves, thanks to his dad & step mom for getting us a gift card to Target!  We purchased Talladega Nights,

World

 

Trade

 

Center

[both of which we had seen in the theatres & loved], Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 [Nate’s seriously addicted!], some cat food [LOL] & I bought these cuuute envelope seals for scrapping..see, I used them on this page this weekend!

We still have money left on the thing..so exciting!

Yesterday’s shopping trip was much more successful on the Megan front!  After some dinner at Chipotle, we bought the book she requested [just about the only thing she even asked for this year!], called Post Secret.  Nate & I looked thru the entire thing last night & I have to say, it’s amazing!  I want my own copy! So, I’ll be heading back to Barnes & Noble & getting a copy after Christmas! Post Cards. Secrets. Art. Words. It’s beautiful!  We also picked her a shirt & socks at Old Navy, along with a GC so she can pick out some jeans or shirts for herself, a really cool engraved frame from B&N, too that says, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” It inspired me, so I hope it inspires her too. & a small sketch book since she’s always doodling.  She’s amazing.  My sister has talent! J

After shopping, mom & Megan picked us up at our house to check our new Starbucks my town FINALLY got!  We had a blast!  I even brought my camera along, but my battery died! Ack! Go figure! Ha. We also made a trip to WalMart & Kmart with them.  I’ve found that my mom simply cannot drive. Sad. Even scary! LOL  Nate managed to weasel his way into getting 4 Hotwheels cars [he’s collecting again? Yeah. Don’t ask. LOL], A Christmas Story, and Home Alone 2. [We each opened a gift Sunday, and I got him Home Alone 1, and he got me The Wizard of Oz!]  All this…right before Christmas! Goodness! It’s fun tho.

Anywhoo…even tho I don’t do the POD, I sure feel like I do, lately! LOL here’s a couple recent shots from around here..

Last Wednesday night when I felt like I was dying [ok, slight exaggeration, but not much! LOL], I wrapped all of Nate's gifts.  Tho, not many, it was still a task & I apologize often for one of the crappiest wrap jobs I've ever done! ha. The 2nd photo..well, that's a photo of my gift. Nate decided to be "cool" & wrap all my gifts separately and place them all in one box.  When I asked why he hadn't placed a bow on it, he said he didn't have any.  The next night, I came home from work to find this. LOTS of bows, covered the whole perimeter of the stinkin' box! smarty pants! The last photo is of my newest Christmas decoration; a light-up snowman from HallMark! love that little guy!  Right now he's on the end of our bar.  We need end tables! haha.

I'm off to finish my new Scrapbooks, Etc. & hopefully scrap! Here's to a good week & hUmP dAy tomorrow! :)

 

survey & a share!

A-Available or single: neither.  I'm a married girl now! J
B - Best Friend: Nate. then, Heather & Jana. those are my girls!
C - Cake or Pie: neither, really. Unless it's red velvet cake. That's one cake I'll eat!  But, I'm more of a cookie kind of girl!
D - Drink of choice: lemonade or hot chocolate from the Bucks.
E - Essential item you use everyday:  cell phone. gum. lip gloss.
F - Favorite color: pink.
G - Gummy Bears or worms: both. Mmm.
H - Hometown: smithville, ohio
I - Indulgence: cadbury, hard shell candies. Oh my!
J - January or February: oh boy, honestly, neither.  I'm not a fan of winter months at all.
K - Kids & Names: kids? We want 4, but realistically it will probably be 2..maybe 3. we have our names, but won't release those anymore, after having one "stolen" by a family member! LOL
L - Life is Incomplete Without? Nate. Love. Family. a day OFF. J
M - Marriage Date: October 14^th, 2006!!
N - Number of Siblings: 3. 1 original, 2 step. Heee.
O - Oranges or Apples: oranges. Yum.
P - Phobias or Fears: mice. Rats. Ok, rodents, in general. Snakes. Falling off something. not being able to have kids.
Q - Fave Quote: "if you don't have anything nice to say, come sit by me!" LOL-steel magnolia's.
R - Reason to Smile: nate & Christmas is coming!
S - Season: summer & fall. Flip flops. Tshirts. Sparkly lippy. Fun purses. Football. Leaves. Color. The beach...and NO COATS!!
T - Tag 3 or 4 people: hm...les' go with Nadine, Darcy, Amanda [preggo girl! *wink*] & Alex! U - Unknown Fact about Me: i am overly-sensitive. and have little confidence. wow.
V- Vegetable You Don't Like: celery.

W - Worst Habit: saying a few choice bad words at time. yawning at the worst time! talking too much & too loud. forgetting to call people back. oops.
X - Xrays: i've had one on my finger & 2 on my head. the joys.

Y - Your Fave Food: i love chicken. and seafood. & chipotle. and BBQ. and wings. and potatoes. oh. and sugar cookies. and noodles. and chinese. and broccoli. and strawberries..and, well. i just love food! ha.
Z - Zodiac Sign: leo. but, i don't follow that stuff.

thanks, caroline! that was a good time!

here's my wedding share for the day: my feet! [AGAIN!!]LOL my french pedicure [which i had a blast getting the day before the wedding!] and my most fave wedding shoes from Catan Bridal in upper Ohio [i spent a bit much on these babies, but i loved them & it was my day, afterall, right?! LOL] oh, and my toe ring. i treasure that thing.  i've had it 6 years & have only taken it off to clean it! it stays on night & day/365! for serious! just ask Nate, he's not a HUGE fan of it! LOL.

oh, and thanks for the better wishes..i think they worked, cuz aside from sneezing & a runny nose, i'm 100%!  oh, and it turns out I had the FLU!! ack! who knew?!  it's going around big time right now, so disinfect!

here's to a great weekend! and i have photos of our new home in all it's "glory" to share in a few days!

[your guess is as good as mine with this font color. so much for having just ONE color!]

today...

                                                                                                                                                                                           today I'm lounging in my new fleece pj's, wearing my glasses, nate's COLLEGE tshirt..and am beyond exhausted. Thanks to a grand, ol' cold, that has kept me home today. BLAH. and that is truly how I feel! Judging from this photo..can ya feel my misery?! LOL

Who knew that a COLD, could make someone feel so crappy?  I'm feeling the "best" I've felt in 2 days, and that's with a 100* fever, lots of meds, and body aches like WHOA.

My mom made a trip to see me just now. This is what she brought me:

OJ,Strawberry kiwi juice,Johnson's vapor bath stuff, IBProfen,Tylenol Cold & Sinus, Benadryl, cough drops & penicillin! And she even brought baked fish & a side for Nate when he gets home, since I couldn't cook!

Oh, what a blessing she is! Even tho I'm all married & moved out, she still takes the BEST care of me![oh, and the white container holds my dinner: chicken noodle soup from the restaurant where she works! YUM.]

I plan on taking a warm, Vapor Rub bath, and heading back to the couch where I've been most of the day. Oh, and wrap Nate's Christmas presents...and I'm praying I'll have enough OOOMF to stay up watch The Biggest Loser finale & One Tree Hill. But, if I don't, that's ok..thank goodness for DVR!

*oh, and I did get some really cool scrapping news today!! You'll find out, exactly what in a few days! :) [it's been a LONG time since I've had anything scrap-related to report! haha.]

i have an hour to spare

 

Nate's at work.  I don't have plans for another hour.[care group meeting for church-ornament exchange!] The veggie pizza is all made. So, I thought I'd post some randomness around the house/about me lately! [although, I should be putting my makeup on & straightening my hair..ahh but who cares?! LOL]

First, I must say, WalMart makes me a grumpy person. Some people make me a grumpy person. I don't like who I am when I'm even NEAR WalMart! LOL anyways,

1st photo: Nate's Bday cake! Choc Chip cookie dough from Coldstone. He loved it!  It was delightful, except it took up 1/4 of our freezer! LOL.

2nd Photo: my catch-all, messy book shelf beside my scrap table in our 2nd bedroom. That poor thing houses my ribbons, old layouts,some books, albums, photos,Christmas light stickies!, Pottery Barn ads, mail,candles...it basically equals a mess!

3rd photo: Our living room! well, part of it! The whole right side is missing. i was trying to get a photo of something else earlier today & managed to miss THAT all together & got this! LOL. our [unlit] tree. TEENY television.and even some of the kitchen sink area..mainly the bar! i love this space! it would be perfect if we had a bigger tv! haha.

4th photo: my latest addiction. smiley fries! they seriously are just too cute! and they are so good! crunch outside, mashed potato inside! mmm! LOL Nate thinks I'm weird! ;)

5th photo: some Christmas decorations and candles on the ledge in the kitchen.  Love this area!  You can almost see our stockings down there! ;)  I'm ready for Christmas!!!

6th photo: my favorite starbucks mug. my computer [2p's]. some dale jr. peaking in there. and a blurry shot of my new wedding band. makes me SO happy!

whelp, I've done run myself over time, here! off to get ready in 15 minutes! Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

 

another favorite

I hope everyone's week is going great! TGIF tomorrow!  Nate thanks you for the birthday wishes! :)

This has been a semi-busy/chill week. ODD. ha. Ready for the weekend & counting the days until Christmas!

Nate & I have decided to buy for a child [or possibly children if it's a family] who won't be able to have a lot for Christmas.  I am SO excited!  I was going to get a name off of a tree, but a co-worker said she knew of a FEW families that would really appreciate some gifts under the tree for their children. So, she's hopefully coming to work tomorrow with some ages & gift ideas!  Yeyyy!

Anywhoo, this is another favorite photo from the wedding.  I love candids. I was afraid the bubbles wouldn't work after we went to a wedding this past June where her bubbles flat out stunk! LOL But, we were fortunate & had no problems!  Shortly after this shot was taken, one of the GM & my best friend's husband, David decided to be "funny" & threw an entire bottle of the bubbles onto Nate & I [mostly ME!]  he drenched my right shoulder & back...UGH!  It was all in good fun tho & it didn't stain or anything, so that's good!

Short post today..Nate's supposed to call any minute & as soon as I get off the phone with him..it's bed time!! I have been so tired lately!

happy birthday!!

to my husband!!  he turned the big 23 today !                                                                                                                                                                                      We had a GREAT weekend, spending ALL day yesterday together [yey for a day off!]..I took Nate to Red Lobster, and surprised him with a Cookie Dough Icrecream  cake from Coldstone. He loooved it & his gifts [dvd, cd,U2 coffee table book,etc] & i loved spending time with him.  And get this; he even let me go to Archiver's on HIS birthday! Now, is that a rockin' husband or what??! Love this man & am so, so blessed!

Here's to a great Monday & a very happy birthday, baby! :)