Hello my friends and lovely blog readers. I just wanted to say...I love you all! *grin* Knowing that people (regardless if they comment or not) are reading my blog and expressing some sort of interest in my life, is a very touching thing. So thank you, and I hope you continue reading my blog for many years to come.
That all being said, I have nothing super interesting to write. However, I have found, most blog pages aren't incrediably interesting for every post.
Any how, if you read my previous posts you will see that I just recently got to visit one of my sisters for a day and a half. We had a wonderful, lovely, very short visit and it totally made my month. The sad thing about living so far away from family is rarely getting to see them, I love living where I live and I don't really care to move, but I miss my old friends and family SO much!
This week we three are headed down south to Arizona. I'm very excited about this trip. It will be my first tirp to AZ and I'm looking forward to being in a state where the temps are considered "low" at 80 degrees in the dead of fall. lol. I'm packing up my flip flops and tank tops and secretly hoping to return with a slight tan:)
My life is going really fabulous right now. We live in a fabulous house, we have wonderful friends and I've found myself to be so busy with social engagements my house keeping has been wanting. But I like that. I like being so busy with "stuff" that I have to rush to clean my bathroom. I want to have a clean and organized home, but not so clean and organzied I don't have a life! I love having people over, I love feeding people too. I have decided I will most likely be one of those grandmothers who makes all her grandkids fat cause she always has to feed them whenever they are with her. There is a part of me that feels so jolly and so content when I know people are enjoying themselves and eating something very yummy at the same time.
The fall and cold weather brings this baking and feeding side out of me. When it's cold and chilly out the best thing is a steaming piece of fresh baked bread with butter or a nice hot cup of coffee or chocolate. *sigh*
Church life is really good too. I haven't always enjoyed going to church. I know that sounds awful, but it is true. People can really make or break a church. I am of the mindset where I think it is good and right to attend church as much as you are able, but finding the right church and church family is important. I didn't have much of a say on the church we are attending now, as my husband was already going when I married him. However, God has really bless me (us) with a wonderful church home and family. The people are friendly, the sermons are good and I feel like if I were ever in need I could come to someone, or anyone, in the church and be shown the love of God that all Christians should have for one another.
I think it helps too that I stay out of the politics of church. I think if I knew all the nitty gritty details I may not enjoy church as much as I do. But who knows, maybe we really do attend a "perfect" church. ahahaha! Not likely. In fact, I am glad there is not such thing as a perfect church body, we (as humans) aren't perfect and I like knowning I am surrounded by people who do love God but also make just as many mistakes as the next person.
In mommy news, Jades is SO much fun right now! She is 9mons and as happy as ever. She is on the petite side, I guess, so she may not be as big as her other 9mon old baby friends, but she has a short momma, so what can you expect? That may change, so we'll have to see.
Potty training her over the past month has been an interesting experience. She likes to sit on her baby potty looking at baby books and chewing on toys. She sits there with her little budda belly resting on her baby fat thighs and giggles and laughs at me as I make noises trying to encourage her to go potty. She go too! It's kind of funny, she'll go poo or pee and happily watch me flush her accomplishment down the toilet. lol! It doesn't happen all the time, but a few times a day, so that's cool. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping by the time she is a year and half (or maybe two years) she'll start making the connection and all this silly effort I'm putting in will pay off. And if not, oh well. At least I can write in her baby journal that she went potty on a potty at 8mons old. lol!
JB has been doing pretty good too, for those of you who only read this blog because you know him;) lol! He is doing well at work and I think having lots of fun at home with his crazy wife (me) and adorable daughter (Jade). We had a big windstorm last week that took out our power for a few hours. It knocked down many trees and plenty of branches around town. One of which was in our front yard! A tree limb that is. I was a bit worried about the branch that broke, it was large and precariously hanging from another limb and leaning up against our roof. My big superman grabbed a rope and a saw and hanked that big sucker down. He cut it up and dragged it in our backyard. It's nice having a big, tough man to protect you from scary tree limbs. lol!
In fashion news. I miss H&M and other fabulous cheap, trendy stores. I visited H&M while with my sister and that was so much fun! My nails are painted a deep purple red and I'm feeling like a stylish mom:) I also found the cutest pair of earrings at walmart for $2.50! I love fab deals like that on cute little items.
If I don't blog for a week or so, it's because we are gone or I am busy with my wonderful social life. lol! Lata friends!
Anyway, we got Jade a little tikes walker the other day. She really loves it. While walking is the point, she tends to just like to opening the compartments to take stuff out and then put things back in.
Today she is here with her cheerios, not sure if you can tell in this pic, but she decided to put her cheerios in her walker.
"What Ma? Don't the cheerios go in the walker? Aren't I an angel, doesn't everything go for me?
Here I am near the end of the big meal. I really loved the twice-baked potatoes. Can you see the food left on my nose? Hee, hee.
All Thanksgiving Day we spent with good friends. We ate lots of food, played games, hung out, ate more food, talked, laughed and had an over all good time. Later that evening Dad took me home and said it was time for bed:( and Mom got to go out and see a movie (Enchanted) with her friends. I was a bit jealous, but at least I got to spend some quality time with Dad.
It was cold, getting dark, and SO boring. The Christmas Tree Farm was not that cool. Plus, Mom couldn't decide which tree she wanted and finally, when she did decide, she picked the biggest, toughest tree of them all to cut down. Poor Dad, he had to work really hard. Good thing he is super strong.
Mom made him pose for this picture, I don't think he wanted to. hee, hee. When we drove up to pay for the tree we realized we didn't bring enough cash, we dug around and found enough pennies and dimes to pay our bill, but the kind people at the farm told us to keep the pennies and enjoy our tree. Mom thought that was really sweet, Dad thought they just didn't really care to keep all our pennies.
So here is our tree, Mom says she may need a few more ornaments. It's a big tree, probably 8 or 9 feet tall! It's also REALLY fat. Mom likes the tree, I like the tree...I think Dad likes it too.
We even have a few presents under it already. How was everyone else's Thanksgiving weekend?
Now I'm off to the dentist. Hee, hee.
Frustrated, but slightly tickled at this odd morning disturbance, I ran for my camera. One quick picture and flash scared the bird off.
That'll teach ya! lol What do you think? Bird experts out that, is it a woodpecker? Or just a bird looking for a place to nest? There is some red on the throat, not sure if you can tell that from this shot.
This is Jade and I after our hike eating yummy fishy crackers. Yum!
Jade had her first swing with some friends we met at a park. I didn't get any shots of her laughing but she did enjoy the swing.
All of the family stayed at Aunt Susie' for the week. She is a fabulous hostess!
Among many gifts that Susie gave to Jade, one was this adorable bath robe. Isn't she to cute?!
Jonathan hates me taking pictures of him, but I was able to get this one, he even has a nice big smile!
We ate out a lot while in AZ (yes, I did get some fabulous mexican food while there, be very jealous!) This is baby Jade with Grandma...and a spoon:)
Aunt Autumn had never met Jade before, they got a long great! In fact, Autumn did a lot of babysitting while we were there. Thanks Autumn!
Here is the whole family, except for Joe (Autumn's husband), someone had to stay home and watch all the doggies:)
This was Jade's first hike...er...the first hike where JB carried Jade, perhaps I should say. He did a great job;) Here we are at the bottom getting all ready
This is us at the very beginning of the trail where our group was still all together.
Can you see Jade's pink hat in this pic?
Almost to the top!!
Jade was hanging on to her hat, in case it blew away. I like JB's face in this pic...he had it the worst since he had to carry the backpack:)
Here we are over looking the city.
This is our whole group, Bechtles, Bechtles and more Bechtles;) lol
JB, Jade and I headed back down first, since Jade wasn't to keen on just sitting at the top and enjoying the view. Here we are chilling in the shade til everyone else joins us.
It was a fun climb!
Two, very long plane rides later, I realized why mom said it was going to be a crazy trip. Around Mid-night we arrived at our destination. We were greeted by my Aunt Nic. She was cool, crazy, fun, pretty, and liked to hold me. I like Aunt Nic. She drove us home and found me a place to sleep in her house. I was SOOO tired.
Later that day Mom and Auntie took us to the mall. I wasn't to sure about the mall trip, but then Mom and Auntie bought us some yummy french fries at the food court and that made me happy. I LOVE fries!
CJ and I shopped with our moms ALL day long. Then we spent the rest of the afternoon playing down stairs and eating and play. Aunt Nic and cousin CJ have cool toys to play with. Before I knew it we had to go to bed. CJ and I are good babies though and we went to bed right away.
Mommy and Aunt Nic were really sad to say goodbye. They only got to see each other for a day and half and really wished they could hang out with each other longer. I told mom she was a big girl and remember she'll get to see her sister and all of her siblings in early January.
Granted, deep down, I'm bummed that we had to leave so soon too. CJ and I had a great time playing together. "See you next year CJ!"
Jade and CJ are good buddies already, isn't this the cutest pic of them?
Here Jade is playing in a part of a "boat" jumping up and down on soft foam.
There was a construction worker section, so I figured I'd put a hat on Jade. Most of these pictures she isn't smiling because she kept getting distracted by other things happening while I tried to take her picture.
Jade wasn't to sure about this ride. So to make her feel safe I gave her some safety goggles to wear. Hee, hee.
The mirrors were her favorite. I think I have ten pictures just of Jade trying to kiss herself or touch the mirror with her face:) This one showed her cute little face the best though.
This "sandbox" was filled with lentils. Jade LOVED to play with the lentils.
Me too! I had fun with the lentils, digging my fingers in the tiny lentils and dump them out.
Another room had all sorts of stuffed animals, costumes and a pretend tree house. Jade kept trying to eat the "dogs" nose. Here she is with two of her friends we went with.
The last room we went to was the "eye doctors" chair. After giving Jade a thorough eye exam, I (the doctor) determined she needed a pair of glasses. What do you think? Pretty nice, huh?
