Happy Birthday

Very Happy Birthday indeed.  My birthday fell on a Friday and I extended to 2 weekends, ha ha just cause I could.  We all headed out for diner and while we waited for Nolan and Troy to return to the table to eat our desert Gracie and I took the time for a few selfies to commemorate the occasion.

present fun.

I once heard someone say that a rock or a flower was a wonderful gift from a child.  To them they are beautiful no matter how muddy and to them that is what their heart wanted to give.  My hat AKA a guacamole hat, from Despicable Me 2 movie, was wonderful and taste marvelous.

MOP's

This will be one big FAT MOP's post.

This was the first year I did MOPs and I hesitated ALOT.  Even the first time sitting at my table I thought what am I doing here...it turned out to be the best thing I did.  I am so glad I took all those steps and stayed.  I have the best table and have meet the best ladies.  One thing you may or may not know about me is that if you ask me pointed questions I am pretty open and will talk about most anything but I don't do this with just anyone.  You have to have a special gift which is either know how to read me and ask the right questions or be what I call a word vomit person.  A wvp is someone that anytime you are around stuff just flies out of your mouth before you can think about it, this can be good and bad depending on who that person is...This group of ladies happen to be both of these.  They are always checking on each other, reaching out, and you can tell them anything.  All of us are familiar with moving around and living in places without any help or family.  This is the thing that is key which took me a while to figure out.  We all need each other, we are each other's family.  This is new to me to have so many people that are all in the same place in life.  Now I have plenty of people from all of our past locations that I love don't take that wrong.  But all the cities I have lived in most friends have lived their whole life and they have lots of family and parents to be their at all times.  For me I have not lived near my parents in a long time.  And even I am guilty at not doing for others what these girls have done for me and I feel like I have been revamped to the girl/friend that I use to be that I want to be.  All that to say I love my ladies and sadly 2 of them are already moving, usually I am doing the moving.  I am very sad about this move.

 I made the cupcakes for our sprinkle.  

This should have said lots of precious cargo. 

We sprinkled 4 ladies at this shower.

 Gracie playing big sister to little Jonathan

this is my table ladies 

Adrianne(just had her baby on Sunday), Kate(has a 5 month old), 

Courtney our table mom(she has 5 kids), Kelly(due in August), me, 

Izzy(due in October), Lauren(due in June), not shown Lauren W(has a 4 month old)

a bunch of the mom's went to see Mom's Night Out

I had no expectations since it was christian based I also assumed it would be boring sorry but I did. 

It was hilarious I laugh the whole time and end cried it was actually very good and would see it again.  GO see it with another mom! 

 My friend Lauren has 2 kids Elenor and Griffin.  Are kids love playing with each other.  Lauren is just the definition of southern charm.  Sadly she is moving in a quick 3 weeks and we are all so very sad.  The morning before this last MOP's I decided to tell Gracie about them moving to give her a little heads-up.  She started balling and once we got to MOPs they were inseparable and now only refer to each other as sister, they no longer use each others names.  They will so be missed!

 Look theres Ana and Elsa oh wait...

Another Baby Shower

Another Baby Shower under my belt.  I threw a work shower for my friend Christina who has exactly 31 days to go.  With the theme being Cravings the shower was all about the food.  Who wouldn't love a good excuse to indulge in there Sweet & Salty favorites for the day.  A "comfort food buffet" featuring a chocolate fountain with all the must haves, pretzels, strawberries, marshmallows, peeps, pineapple and wafers.  The food table includes such items as ice cream with an array of toppings, chips & dip, sweet and dill pickle, mini deli sandwiches and sugar cookies cut into "M" for the baby's name.  The guest had a blast with the chocolate items, one even tried the idea of chocolate covered pickles which she then advised no one to follow in.  It was a great time.

The Baby Shower Sign

"M" sugar cookies

Mimosa's for the guests

the food table

Christina & baby Matthew

Gracie spent the day chasing the cats

A Shower for LG

As most of you know in prior post I have talked about the Baby Shower I was going to be throwing for my sister-in-law Kristen. I am very happy to say that once everything was set up and I went over my list I had not forgotten anything, not a thing. I was so happy. I was afraid of the idea I would have to scrabble for things once in the middle of Kansas with no Walmart insight as a back up.  Needless to say it went very well and I think everyone had a great time.  Enjoy the pictures.

The Invitations

were in book form

 

 

 

 

The Decorations

The Cake Table & Mrs. Kristen

The Present Table

The Cake

Kristen loves the number idea so I had numbers cut out in her

colors, orange, tan and blue.  And the numbers were 0, 1

& 2.  For he due date 1/22/2010.  There were also empty

baby food jars that we put little tea lights in.

The sign I made, and I love it not too, brag but I think it is so cute.

The Guests

to be: Grandma Schenk, Great Grandma Schenk,

the Mommy, Grandma Rush, Great Grandma Tache

The Schenk's & The Lambert's/Fish's

Me with my little cutie Gracie

Mommy to Be with a very tired Gracie

The Schenk Girls

Candace, Kristen & Audra

Oh, LG stands for Little Guy.

And if you want to see cute pregnant pictures of Kristen, click on the link Candace Lynn Photography, enjoy.

My Creative Gears are Turning & Burning

Ok so the next couple a month’s lead up to some exciting events of which I am the planner. Ok, ok honestly I totally do not mind, I love this stuff. I love my lists and my note book full of little pictures of ideas of what everything should look like. Yes, I know all these events do not take place until November but if I am making stuff it will take time especially with a little one who wants me to play with her instead of crafting.

The first BIG event is Gracie’s Birthday. My baby will be 1 and you only have one First Birthday so I am trying to make it extra special. I have a whole section dedicated to her big day, from her little outfit, to invitations, decorations and the invite list. All I have to do is make all of it. Seriously, I have started some of it and I thought I would show you just a little, not too much to give it away, but just enough.

This picture was too cute to pass up.

Last but not least Kristen’s Baby Shower in Kansas. Yes that is right I am planning a shower in Ohio to be given in Kansas. This does make for an interesting situation but I am up for the challenge. Since I can’t get together with the people who are helping I have just been bouncing ideas off people at work, just to make sure things aren’t too cheesy. I actually sent Sheila a huge envelope of stuff so she could at least see some of my thoughts and ideas. I am excited about this, we have the location, games, decorations, food and invite list already to go. I just have to make all the invitations, the decorations and make sure everything is sent out before I leave Ohio. Flying with all this stuff plus Gracie would be just a little to crazy. Plus I do not want anything smashed. I have limited resoures in Smith Center, the Dollar Store, and I just do not think they have then kind of stuff that I would be looking for. I thought I would give you a sneak peak at the envelope of the invitations. I drew it up on the computer the scan was horrible. The colors and strips are a mimic of the bedding Kristen wants for Baby Schenks nursery. And the address in this picture is completely fake just to protect all parties involved :) I always wanted to say that.
No worries I will post pictures of the real events so you can see how everything turns out. Pray for me, seriously my brain is all over the place.

Remembering 2008

What was our 2008 filled with:

1. In February I found out I was pregnant.
2. May I had surgery to have a cyst removed.
3. Spent June at home recovering.
4. Flew to Kansas for a Baby Shower.
5. August thru October was filled with football
6. November was blessed with a beautiful baby girl, Gracie Lynn Schenk.
7. Spent Thanksgiving in Cincinnati and was able to see lots of family & friends.
8. Flying to Kansas for Christmas.

We have had a busy last year. 2009 will bring us lots of new and exciting moments as first time parents and watching Gracie Grow. It has been such a blessing and I am excited to see how she progress each day. And enjoying each day at a time with her. It is amazing!

July Update

Things here have been extremely busy. For the first part of July my family was in town trying to help us finish some projects around the house. One of which was pulling up the floor in the bathroom, and taking out the toilet & sink, which was green and must have been here since the 50's or 60's. Of course I was not allowed near the bathroom but I checked in on the progress often just to see what was taking place. We also got the baby bed put up and in place. You might think it is early but for those football wives out there I am sure you understand. Once August hits Troy will the MIA and when he is a round his mind will be football filled. So, I wanted to get the big stuff done before he had millions of things to do. I also had the pleasure of staying at my brother-in-law Cliff's apartment. Which, by the way had no air, while our floors were being worked on. If you are regnant do not try this it is horrible, I found myself taking cold showers just to cool down at night before bed. But I was thankful not to have to be paying for a hotel so it worked out. Needless to say we got many things done around the house and it looks great. All ready for Baby Schenk to come in and take over.

Troy and I also made the Trip back to Smith Center, Kansas. Troy got there about 4 days before I did to

spend a little QT with his family and I flew in on Thursday and drove from KC with his Aunt for a baby shower. The week was so busy but so much fun to be able to see so many people. It was nice to be able to connect with friends that I do not always get to see when I go SC. The Gillen side of the family had a little reunion as well, since for some of them it had been a couple of years. As for the shower, it was great. I was so blessed by the gifts and generosity. It was wonderful to see everyone there.

Troy and I also celebrated our 5-year anniversary. It is so fun to look back and think how neat it is where we are, how much we have learned and how much has changed. I always love the reflection time at this time each year.

As for the pregnancy it is going really good. I am now 25 weeks which means I am in the third trimester of the pregnancy. I am almost done. We are

excited and trying to get the big stuff done before football comes. The idea that I will be a mom in just 3 months or less is crazy the feeling is just surreal that in a few second I become a mom, it is just mind boggling. Oh, in case I have not told you I am having a girl! Yes, most of you voted this way so many of you are not surprised. I am planning on a girl now so hopefully when Baby Schenk comes out that is what we get : )

The month of July has been full and it is not even over yet. I plan not to do much more until August. Thank you for all your encouragement.