hip hip hooray for Christmas Vacation

Well we are on our way back from what was an awesome time in FL for Christmas! We left last week after a what actually felt like a really fast week. I guess I was so busy packing, and finishing up Christmas shopping and doing so many fun things that the days just flew by, but that was ok, because we were so ready to get to FL.

Last week on Monday night we went to the Festival of Lights at the zoo. Brian and Haley bought us all tickets for Christmas so we all found a good time to go together. The lights were pretty and there were some pretty cool animals. We had a good time and luckily it wasnt freezing. Its been surprisingly warm in Cincinnati for this time of year. After the zoo we came back to our house and opened up presents and had some dessert. I love those friends! Thursday was our ugly sweater/white elephant Christmas party with our small group. it was so fun and i just loved everyones ridiculous sweaters. Justin went and bought ours that day at some random thrift store he found. his was quite hideous but mine was pretty normal looking, people thought it was actually mine. Anyway, there are some funny pics of the sweater in the Christmas Pictures link. Friday came and I got off around 12 and spent the day finishing all my shopping and wrapping up presents. It was of course fROYday and so we had some roy rogers and then went home to pack up the car. We woke up saturday sooooo early and got on the road. We took the cat with us because we didnt want anyone to have to take care of her. She was actually so good. She slept the whole way down and is not sleeping on the my lap now as im typing. While we were there she had a lot of fun with Aftons puppy Lucy. They are BFF now. They were so cute.

Ok, on to Christmas events! Sunday we went to church that morning and then came home and got ready for the Jag game. That was part of our Christmas present. It was just me and Justin and Floyd. It was rainy and we lost, but it was sooooo fun! After the game we came home and got ready for the Christmas Eve service. The whole fam went and it was awesome. I just love being with all those Manny’s. Afterwards we went to their friends house. The go every year, they are the same friends that were at the Manny’s house on Thanksgiving, the Huseins. We had a good time opening presents and being really silly. We left there around midnight and went home to sleep because santa was coming!

Christmas morning we woke up and opened presents. Being the domesticated woman I am, I acquired many household toys. I got an 8 pound oreck for vacuuming, that should help out with the two sets of stairs in our house. I also got lots of Pampered Chef stuff and some DVD’s. Justin bought me a new camera because I needed a better one that was more mobile for throwing in my purse and whatnot, i really love it! My mom and dad gave us an iPod clock radio, and now I get to wake up to any song i’d like, its so cool! After opening presents we had breakfast and Justin of course had to pray to the Christmas Jesus due to the fact that we had watched Talladega Nights 3 times the night before. It was hilarious, we all had the hardest time being sincere with Justin being so ridiculous. Later that day some of the family friends came over and we opened more presents and had dinner. It was such a nice relaxing day, we didnt leave the house at all, and some of us didnt even change out of our pj’s, it was so nice. the rest of the week we just ate out, shopped, napped, sat outside in the awesome weather, watched some of the movies we all got for Christmas, and just spent time with the family. i loved how long our trip was and that we were able to spend really good quality time with everyone. Thursday we actually made it over to Tallahassee and met up with my parents. We had a meal and opened some presents and then went and saw our friend RJ’s new coffee house that is sooo awesome. It was such a good trip but I really missed everyone in Pensacola and am so sad that we had to come back to Ohio. Its good to be back in our own home too though and see all of our good friends here. Well, I posted all the pictures from Christmas in the Christmas Pictures link so have fun looking at all those while you are all bored at work!

XOXO

A Winter Wonderland

Last weekend was pretty much the first time we got out in the cold weather and decided to do some festive things. Friday night we went to Roy Rogers because we do it every Friday now, its a new tradition. I call it “fROYday.” after that we sat on the couch at the Regans doing what we do many nights at their house, absolutely nothing, and i love it! i like just sitting around and talking and being giggly, its fun =)

Saturday Justin had to work on some guys yard and then that afternoon, we cleaned up the house and then had Brian and Haley and Jimmy and Julie over for dinner. After dinner we all went iceskating. It was pretty chilly, but bearable. We had to stand in line for a long time to only skate for 20 minutes, but it was worth it, and to be honest, im not sure i could have skated for much longer. Funny thing is, Justin was seriously the best skater, and when everyone else is from the north and my little Jax boy can skate better, thats strange. After we all went back to our house and watched some My Name is Earl.

It was a late night and I was so super tired and a little sick still, so the next day I slept until 1130 while my husband was at church. Im such a backslider. Anyway, after church I met justin at BW3's for some wings and Jaguars vs. Colts. Go Jaguars! Anyway, after that he played some football and I ran some errands and then headed home. Justin spent the rest of the night doing homework. Im so glad that is all over with. I was so stressed out just because he was so stressed out and it seemed that no matter how much HW he did he was never finished. Grad school is so time consuming. I say that like i didnt know, but its just more time consuming. He is constantly reading, and just when I think he is done he starts another 500 page book. Its nuts.

Well this week has been full of Christmastime events. Monday night I spent a lot of time making my cookies for the cookie party that was on Tuesday. Needless to tell all of you who know me, Im not the most domestic person, and not the best cook. What I made actually turned out to be inedible. But I won prize form most original. The picture is below. Its a bunch of stars that I cut out of some dough and stacked up to make a tree. However the ingrediants, though all food products, are not meant to be eaten once mixed together and baked. haha, oh well.

Wednesday night was our party with our High school group we lead. It was at house and we ordered some pizza and played White Elephant after watching The Office episode from last years christmas of Yankee Swap. So funny. Justin actually wrapped up an iPod just like Michael did, and I wrapped up and oven mitt. It was awesome. The kids had a great time and so did we. Its always fun with them!

Thursdaay night we went caroling with our small group at a nursing home. Now some of our husbands werent too keen on the idea. They would like to serve God in other ways, however once we got there, some sweet old ladies were thanking the guys, and they realized that this was awesome and meant so much to them. It was so sweet, I just love doing that for that community. So its finally the weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im so pumped. I just love the weekends! last night justin and his friends who are going to be playing football together, had a meeting about the team. Apparently he is on the "board" whatev. Haley and I sat around the house talking about many random topics until our husbands were done. Justin and I came home and played in the bed with Zoe and talked and whatnot until we finally fell asleep. This morning we woke up and went to the mall to finish Christmas shopping. I was glad he wanted to go with me. i just really like him. he just got back from playing some football and we are about to go out again to buy just a couple more gifts. Tonight we have a ballet to go to. Its like a retold Nutcracker, its similar but has a slightly different story line. Jenny is in it so we are all going to watch her. Im excited, i get to look pretty, so that should be fun.

Also, congrats Rhett and Heather! Im so excited for you two to finally be tying that knot! Its going to be so great! Well, everyone have a great rest of the weekend!

the leaves are falling

It seems like everytime I get on here to blog I say that Im going to get better at this and keep up with it, and well, I never do. Sorry bout that. So since I have skipped yet another entire month I will once again hit the high points of whats been going on. In the middle of November Justin and I went on a trip with our High School kids in the youth group to Gatlinburg. It was sooo fun. I just love staying in the mountains. We were only there for a weekend but were able to spend so much time getting to know them all better and grow in our relationships with them. I loved it because i think that since we are leading them, it will be so much better for them to get stuff if they know us well and understand us and where we come from. We ate lots of yummy food, did some bull ridin’, went on a hike, played games in the cabin all night long, and probably stayed up way too late. It was so great. here is a picture one of our kids took of us standing in the middle of the river that we found on our hike.

The next week after we got back from our trip we were able to go to the David Crowder Third Day concert with our small group. It was sooo fun, I just wished David would have played longer. I dont have a whole lot of pictures from that, Shannon has all the good ones, so Ill post them later.

The next week we headed to FL for Thanksgiving. It was sooooooooo fun! I love going to Jacksonville and hanging out with those Manny’s, they are so fun. My parents actually came to Jax for a couple days to spend the holiday with all of us. We got in so late on Wednesday and then the next day we had our Thanksgiving meal and then played the neighbors in a game of touch football. We won, you know how we do. Friday we went shopping and had lots of leftovers and Saturday we lounged around and then went out for a yummy dinner that night. It was so sad to leave on Sunday, but we will back in just two weeks!

Well when we came back to Ohio we had to go get our Christmas tree! I love getting the tree! I decorated all week and then finally on Friday we got to get the Griswold, I mean Manny Family Christmas Tree! kinda full, lotta sap. Anyway, Zoe loves the tree and always plays with the balls and presents under it. She is spaz.

And lastly, we had our first snow this past week. Seriously, cold. Anyway, the snow was very pretty, but Im over it
and want some warmth! I took a picture for ya’ll though since you have none down there and so you can enjoy our snow via the picture. haha, well I WILL post again soon about our fun weekend so check back this week for that! Ill be in FL soon!!!!!!!

Fun Fall Times

oh wow, I have been out of this for a long time. i promise i will try and be better from now on. I really dont want my friends who are bored at work to have one less thing to read and thus the time passes by even slower. well, i figured since so much has happened since the last time I posted I would write quick little notes of the high points of the past month.

**My best friend Ashley got married! She was soooo beautiful and the wedding was absolutely gorgeous. I loved being home and seeing everyone as well as the wedding weekend events. We were supposed to leave on Sunday but ended up leaving on Monday and taking sunday to recoop and hang out with my parents. When we came back we brought back a new little member of the family...ZOE! i love her!

Ok well there are some of my favorite wedding pictures, the rest are on the updated photos page. Here are some of my little girl Zoe. And by the way, Justin learned in greek class that Zoe in greek means Life. i thought that was neat.

She is cute I know! ok so after we got back from FL, our schedule got back to its regular self. Guys over on Monday for Monday Night Football, Tuesday are dinner at home nights, wednesday small group with our JR and SR high kids, which i love! Thursday’s is our small group and dinner, which i also love, but because we have the best friends ever! Then the weekend is full of eating out, hanging with friends, and of course Sundays are church, bw3’s for football, then justin plays flag football while i take a three hour nap. hooray! this weekend we did do some festive stuff. We carved our pumpkins! I went with a traditional pumpkin while Justin went with a difficult but saweet Jaguars Logo. here are some pictures of that!

well, im going to continue watching some monday night football and watch these boys carve more pumpkins. i hope everyone has a great halloween tomorrow night and an awesome week!

ill be home sooooo soon!

well i havnt blogged anything in a really long time so i figured i would write about the tiny details of my life tonight while i wait on my husband to come home to me. i had a lot of free time last week, which was nice. I had a five day weekend and spent a lot of time with Justin since the restaurant wasnt really booming and he kept getting cut really early. i love just being at home with him and sitting on the couch and talking about nothing, making lunch, painting our dining room table, and most fun of all, sleeping in! also i spent a lot of time cleaning out my closet, not in the slim shady way, but in the “its friggin cold here and i need to get out winter clothes” way.

also, can i just say i love the fall! i love the weather right now. Let me stress the right now, i know soon it will be so cold i will dread running to the store to grab some eggs, but for now i love it! i love that football is on all the time. i loooooove that i get to watch Grey’s Anatomy and the Office every thursday, and House! i love House! Im actually watching the Office right now, the second season on DVD that is. And i am wearing a mask, and so its really funny because Im laughing so hard but i cant really move my face. weird huh? oh dwight. one thing i dont like about the fall is that I become one pale girl. im so sad that in one week I have to put on a bridesmaids dress, pastier white than ever! i am so excited about going home and seeing my Ash get married! i cant even believe it.

so this week, Justin and I had our first small group with the JR and SR kids at church. We are their small group leaders for the fall and i think its going to be so awesome. They are really great kids and just sitting there with them reminded me of sitting at peoples house from my church doing small group, and all those memories and stuff came back. I just remembered how vulnerable i was then and how i was searching and how retarded i could be and how i loved learning from all the people that were in my life discipling me. I really hope that Justin and I can just be there for these guys out with whatever it may be. i just want them to get a better grasp of what it looks like to follow Him. They really are so great and just seem to have such a hunger, im super pumped!

well i suppose im gonna try and go to sleep even though justin isnt home yet. a guy and his wife in our other small group are moving and he has been there since like 3 this afternoon. my poor little boytoy, i need him to come home so i can go to sleep.

well everybody have a great weekend! and ill be home so soooooon to see a lot of you! especially you Pops!

Ciao

i love rollercoastering =)

First, let me state that I am watching Florida State, and might randomly type hostile words into this blog because our offense makes me wanna cry. Ok, so on to the fun weekend we have had so far. I had Friday off, which was of course awesome, I love getting days off when they leave town, and still getting paid! I spent the day running errands and met some friends at Joe’s to have lunch and see Justin. That night I went to the ladies retreat to sing and help lead worship. It was pretty fun, and after our sessions some of us girls went to Wal Mart and acted a fool, havnt done that in a while. This morning we had some more sessions and then Justin picked me up and we went to Kings Island to ride some rollercoasters! Our friend Brian works for Proctor and Gamble and had two free tickets because it was PNG day and the park was closed for the PNG employees, but his coworker gave him his two tickets so we got to go! It was super fun and sooooo beautiful and sunny with a cool breeze. We loved it! Anyway, afterward we went by the mall to get some food and look at the Apple store and then came home and i took a nice long nap! I woke up to a win by auburn, yay, and 10 minutes to kick off for FSU! Woo woo! So thats what’s happening now. We are watching the FSU game and the UT game because well you all know I love those VOLS too! and pretty much hate UF. Anyway, Im talking on the phone to my mom and brother and my mom loves that we can conference call! haha, she is funny. tomorrow Church, NFL, napping, and running...i love sundays! have a good rest of the weekend everyone!

My Husband was on ESPN last night

Well, I know its been a while since I updated and for that, I am just so sorry those of you sitting at work have had one less thing to look at to pass the time. Anyway, We are just sitting on the couch waiting for some college football to start so I figured I would recap the past few days. Well I loved the long weekend. It was nice to be home for a day off. Every time I have a day or two off I go somewhere and it was nice to be home this time. Justin had a softball tournament on Saturday and so Haley and I, being the amazing wives we are, went with our husbands to watch and support them in the cold mist, in the middle of no where. We took a break after their first win and went to BW3’s to get some wings. Now this was a good day for me, because I get this bad wrap for being a blonde FL girl thats a nanny, and apparently appear unintelligent to the majority of my men friends here. Well I decided to woop up on them. We all got a trivia thing to play the game at the restaurant and I was the only girl playing. When we started the game justin had gone to get his own game board, because he had been helping me and said that no he was going to win because he was doing it on his own, however by games end, this was not the case. I beat all 6 of those boys with high educations and good paying jobs that are much older than I. Now who’s stupid. Anyway, I just thought my woman folk would appreciate me representing. So later that day the guys lost the next two games and so we were out of there since it was double elimination. They played in the hardest division and basically got torn up. Well, Monday felt like it took forever to get here. I was just so excited about the FSU game. We had a lot of our friends over to the house and grilled out and had lots of other awesome food, and we watched FSU beat Miami, always a fun thing. I slept good that night with a 1-0 record. So the rest of the week wasnt all that bad. Not too much to do really, things have slowed down for a little while, which I am so happy about. It’s nice to come home from work and not have to immediately be somewhere else. Things will probably get a little crazy all too soon, but I am really enjoying this down time right now.

Ok, so onto my title of the blog. Last night we all went out to this german restaurant which was amazing and then over to Tropicana to hang out. The german place was so fun and had a live band playing german style songs, and at one point you had to stand on your bench and dance. Every other song they sang was about beer, since this place is also a brewery. They have the biggest beer mugs ever. I couldnt even drink a glass of that much sweat tea, but my friends managed it. Well justin didnt go with all of us because Lou asked him to go to the UC game. While at Tropicana, Kyle and I found some empty couches surrounding a TV and the game was on. There were about 3 minutes left so we were just watching and all of a sudden Im like there’s Justin. There is like no one in the stands but my husband and Lou’s brother in law standing in the stands behind the uprights waving a shirt in the air and I totally see him. Haha, it was hilarious. Needless to say, Justins shirt waving was not enough distraction for the Kicker to miss the extra point, but his effort was recorded on ESPN television. Oh yea, also yesterday Drew Lachey was in Joe’s when justin was working and he called to tell me, because he thought it was cool. Now if Nick were there, ida been there in a heart beat, he is my boyfriend, he just isnt aware of it.

Ok, well Im gonna go take a HOT shower, because Im so sick and runny nosed and all, blah!!!! have a good weekend everyone! and GO NOLES!

My Golden Birthday!

Well, yesterday was my one and only golden birthday, I turned 23 on the 23rd. I really had such a good birthday this year. It sorta started before the actual day though. I went home to throw Ashley a bridal shower with my two lovely girls christi and my tori. I got into town on Wednesday afternoon and was soooo happy to see my mom and dad. I pretty much just stayed around the house that night and later that night Tori Kristin and I went swimming! I love night time swimming. Anyway, the next day i woke up and went to get my hair done and then met Kristi Emily and Heather for lunch. This was the only time I got to see Emily and Heather and i was glad we got have lunch at one of my favorite Pensacola places, bagelheads, yummy! after lunch I went to the gym and then back to my pool to lay out. It lasted about an hour before I was dying of the heat. It really is so much hotter in FL. That night I went shopping with my mom and to dinner. I love spending time with my mom away from everything else, she is a fun girl. After shopping I got to hang out with Mr. James Coleman and we had a good time talking and I made him go see a really dumb movie with me. The next day I was heading to the beach and James called and wanted to go with me so we headed out to Merry Beth’s families Penthouse on the beach and laid on the beach. It was so nice, I just kept thinking, this is where I belong. I miss it so so much. After the swimming and sun bathing and playing with MB’s adorable niece Emma Rae, we headed back. That night my dear friend Katie was coming over to play with me. I havnt seen her since...well I cant remember even, it had to have been over a year ago. She got out of her car and i walked out and she said, “I brought my spend the night bag Jill,” in her little country voice. I was so exciting, she asked if that was alright and I said of course! We stayed up til about 2 just talking and catching up. I thought it was so weird that 20 years later and married, we are still spending the night together. i love her so dearly. The next morning, we had sooooo much to do. Kristi and Christi came over and we left for Target and the grocer. We still all the food to get, the presents, the flowers, and pick up the cake. Then we had to come home and clean up, and make all the food. Ah, we were nuts! We managed to get it all done though and it was a nice shower and Ashley loved it. After the shower it was time for some birthday celebrating. im probably not going to be home much on birthdays so we decided to have a little party. We went over to Kristi and Ruco’s house and cooked out. It was really fun and i got some cute presents. I really have such great friends. Oh, and we watched Kristi’s wedding video, and yea, Im not dancing at weddings anymore, so try and get me out there.

Well I finally got back to Ohio the next night and was soooo happy to see my Jus. I had missed him so much! Well I got back to working and all, the usual you know, and the wednesday came and justin made it so special. That day he came to where i work and took me and alex to lunch. That day when I got off, he opened the door and was holding the most beautiful roses and had the funniest card for me. He also built me with his own two hands, cornhole boards that are garnet and gold with the FSU logo on it. If you dont know what that is, ill let you know later, its a northern game apparently. then we went to Buca de Beppo and had dinner with our friends. It was really yummy and I always have a good time with those guys. Afterwards we went back to our house for some cake and iee cream, and the guys of course wanted to play XBOX since justin got the new Madden 07, whatever. I received so many sweet cards, phone calls, and messages, and i just felt like the luckiest girl because you friends are awesome. You care so much about your friends and i am so lucky to be one. You are funny, caring, forgiving (thank God), crazy, and always supportive. i love you all. well, alex is tearing down the house so i have to go. But thank you all for making my birthday extra special, you are the coolest. Tata!

FOOTBALL TIME IS AROUND THE CORNER!!!

this blog is basically a bunch of non sense. Just some things I have appreciated, enjoyed doing, or just love recently in my life.

My new cell phone that has an end button that works! and its pink
v for vendetta, i love that movie
weekends in the woods
preseason football games
hot wings
coke zero
tiger woods golf
walks with alex, watching his feet dangle in his stroller, so cute
calls from my friends over seas
PTI
intimate conversations
sitting in the sun
when justin calls and my phone sings, “aint no other man but you”
krispy kreme, yummy!!!!
fantasy football
texas hold ‘em
Friends season 3
swiffer wetjet
scrapbooking my wedding pictures, finally
swinging on my front porch with justin
Panic! at the Disco
chik fil a sweet tea
and finally...packing to go home tomorrow! i was going to leave today, however i didnt get off work til later than i thought and so im just gonna leave early tomorrow morning. ill see you all when you get off work. i should be home by 2 or 3. have a good week everyone! im so excited about going to the beach

Our FIRST Anniversary

Today is our one year anniversary and I just cant believe it. We are headed back now from TN where we stayed in a cabin all weekend. Justin had planned a surprise trip for me and it was soooo much fun. It started Friday when we got off work. We both came home a little early and got on the road and I was still unaware of where we were going. Then justin needed me to navigate so I got out the directions and saw that we were going to Pigeon Forge. It was just the type of vacation I wanted. We stopped half way and ate at Sonny’s, of course, we have to stop at them when we see them since we have none. I think he should open one in Cincinnati. Anyway, we got to Pigeon Forge and drove up to our cabin. It was so beautiful, which you can see all the pictures if you click on the Anniversary link. It was just like a little house, but with a hot tub on the back porch just for us, and a jacuzzi in the bedroom, which justin thought was weird, because why not just put it in the bathroom, to which I replied, you can’t watch Sportscenter in the tub if its in the bathroom. he liked that. we also had our own little old school pac man game in the living room. It really was so cool. We spent Friday night in the hot tub or watching the Xgames and a movie we rented and just relaxing in the cabin. Saturday we woke up and drove into gatlinburg and parked and walked around, its just so beautiful. I forgot how touristy this place was. I guess I just think of other places to go when i think of big vacation spots. Well, after we got back to our cabin from gatlinburg, we got ready and went to the Dixie Stampede dinner and show. I had never been to this before but Justin had. It was a really big awesomely good meal with a fun show to watch with livestock and all. If you havnt seen or heard of it before, its just little competitions of the North versus South. Sorta like a civil war thing. It was a good time. We left there and went to the outlet mall and shopped for a little while before going goofy golf, which justin makes fun of me for calling it goofy golf, but thats what its called!!! he beat me, by two strokes, however i was ahead until hole 17 and then blew it. oh well, i cant always beat him in goofy golf. we then walked over to Atlanta bread company and got some yummy food and there was a really good guitar playing man there and i just loved him. he played all my favorite stuff; johnny cash, james taylor, jimmy buffet, he was really good. We went back to the cabin and made a big ole bubble bath in the jacuzzi and watched some tv. I really loved everything about our anniversary trip. Everything was so fun and relaxing and I just loved spending time with Justin outside of our busy lives. I loved sitting on the back porch every morning and eating my cereal in the rocking chair and looking at the mountains and just thinking about how cool God is. This morning I woke up and Justin was right in my face with a big smile and just said, happy anniversary, and i wanted to cry. I love this boy so much and i am so thankful I have him as my best friend forever. i just cant help but think that Im going to turn around and it will be our 50th anniversary, that would be such a blessing to be there with justin in 49 years. It all goes by so fast.

Well we are headed home and are about to stop for yet some more sonny’s bar b que. I knows its not amazing food people, but justin loves it, and when you dont have one, you have to take advantage of the times when you can get it. anyway, we are going to see Taladega Nights tonight to wrap up our Anniversary Extravaganza and i cant wait!!! Well, have a good week everyone.

New web site/blog

hello everyone! jus and i have a new website so if you wanna visit it its web.mac.com/justinmanny. no www, so dont type that in or it wont work. ok thats all! byeeeeeeee

ashley's visit

so my little bride to be Ash was here this past weekend. We had such a blast, but mainly it was just so good to have my friend here. I picked her up at the airport friday night and i was so so happy to see her!!! we got back to the house and i gave her the little tour of the house and she was so sweet and kept telling me how cute it was, i liked that, thanks ash! then we went to sleep for it was late. we woke up the next morning and me and her went to the pool and my friend jenny met us there. it was a nice day and i always love getting sun. we stayed there for a few hours and then ash and i took an adventure. We were trying to get to the animal shelter place and got a little lost. its always interesting with us. anyway, we finally found it and went and looked at all the kitties and pups. none of the kittens made me fall in love with them, and this is a committment, so not cat for us. There were some cute puppies but they arent ready to go home yet. Anyway we left there empty handed, sad, i know, ill get a little pet someday. we ran some errands, the mall again, wal mart, the usual and then headed home. we got ready and me and justin and ash headed for the mall to go to the MAC store, justins heaven on earth. we looked around for a while and i got a little preturbed because justin is psycho about our debt and saving money yet he was trying so hard to get me to buy a macbook. we already have one apple laptop, why i need my own for over 1000 bucks is beyond me. i made him leave before he took the plunge. we went to get some burgers at Red Robin before our movie, Pirates 2. It was a pretty good movie, just a little disappointing, you know its the second one so its in the middle of the fun exciting beginning and the final chapter so it sorta ended like, bluh. Sunday came all too quickly and my jus had to leave me for KY. We went to church and lunch, where ash had to try Skyline Chili, justin makes everyone do it. She actually really liked it. That has yet to happen with me. Well we dropped justin off. I was cool, i didnt cry until we drove off. I had no idea i would miss him so much. its only 2 weeks. I think it was just the initial goodbye, i really am fine now. sorta like the time to myself. Not that i dont want you back jus! so ashley and I went antiquing at some cute shops in Milford that afternoon. That night we came home and painted my bathroom, its super cute now, i didnt so much like it before. We watched the Family Stone in between paint coats, and made some yummy lasagna too. I just love girl time. We woke up the next day and I had to go to work so ash came with me. She loves my little alex, as i knew she would, who wouldn't. We played all day and went and had lunch with jenny and her nannying girl emma. It was jenny's birfday! After alex's afternoon nap we went for a walk in the square and ashley did some shopping. I was just really glad to share what i do here, and all the cute places we have with a friend from back home. She really just thought everything was so cute and quaint, not something you would assume about cincy, i know, but it can be cute. anyway, we went to olive garden that night and had lots of fun over dinner and some good wine. I just love times and conversation with ashley, she is so dear to me. i was so sad to think that the next day she was gonna leave me. we got home that night and watched one of my favorite girl movies, The Sweetest Thing, and then hit the sack for work the next day was almost here. We had some late nights and getting through work was difficult. Anyway, we left my work early the next day because her flight was at 3. I dropped her off and was just so sad to see her go. I loved having her here so much. There is nothing like a good friend who knows your heart and loves you sincerely. I miss her already. Well Im gonna get in bed, im going to KY tomorrow to see Justin, hooray! have a good weekend everyone!

goodbye FL

We have been back in ohio for a couple weeks now and I never finished my vacation story. We pretty much spent the next couple days laying in the pool or beside it and grilling out. I wont eat that good again for quite some time Im sure. It was just so nice to take a break from everything and relax and be with family and feel taken care of. Justin's mom is seriously the best mother in law ever. I really could not have asked for someone as amazing as she. She just let us chill out and took care of us and fed us soooo much. I appreciate her and his dad so much, they are so good to us. Well I got on the plane with a starbucks in my hand, a nice tan, and a few tears. Its hard leaving. I love the way I feel when we are there, or with any friends and family. I love being in florida. This picture is of justin and his parents friend's son, silas, oh and aftons dog Lucy. I just thought it was super cute. Anyway, we got home, and we flew into Indy so we hung out with a bunch of Justins friends who were in indy for a little while and then came home. We didnt get in til around 2 so waking up the next morning for work was torture, but we made it through the day. I was just so sad because they day before I woke up at 10, layed out and had no plans. And now I had to go back to work. Ugh. So now Justin is in KY for Summer in the Son, running all the lights and sound and media stuff for the next couple weeks. Im oh so lonely but it was sorta nice to have the bed all to myself. Ashley did come to see me on Friday and I took her back yesterday. Ill tell you all about that visit in a later blog. I must go have a slumber party with Jenny and Kyle! Peace =)

drafting, pit road, and 3 wide, i love NASCAR

ok so even though the weekend itsnt over i have to write about my first NASCAR experience. We got off the plane in Jacksonville on Friday around 11, got some lunch, came home and layed out and then started making dinner. We were sitting around eating and Floyd's friend called him and said they had another extra ticket to the race the next the day and wanted to know if him and justin had anyone else to go with them. Then, Floyd looked at me and i just knew all my dreams were going to come true! haha, they said I could go!

The next day I woke up and swam for a little while and then started getting ready. We left around 1 and headed to Daytona Beach for the Pepsi 400. It was soooo cool! We tailgated for a little while and then rode a shuttle over to the track. It was HUGE! We walked around and looked at all the merchandise trailers. The funniest thing...that movie with Will Ferrell that is coming out, Taladega Nights, had its on trailer for the character that Will is playing, Ricky Bobby. I almost peed my pants when i saw it, Hilarious!!! Justin loved it! By the way, im making all the pics really small since I have so many, but you can click on them to make them bigger. Ok, so we got ready for the race to start, they introduced all the drivers, the VP Chaney was there and said some stuff. then, the guy playing superman was there to say start your engines. I was so excited. They did a couple warm up laps and then they had the green flag. It was so beautiful, I wanted to cry. They were so shiny!!!! And sooooooo LOUD! i loved it! It was so cool. We had such a good time. Tony Stewart won that race, not my favorite guy but it was still fun. My two favorite drivers Harvick and JR. finised in the top 15 so that was still really good! Afterwards there was a firework show that no kidding went on for like an hour. I couldnt believe it. you would think there was the finale and then it would be 15 more minutes and nother finale and then 15 more minutes, it was crazy. So the race was over at like 1100 but we didnt get to our cars til like 1 and didnt get home til 3:30 when Daytona is only an hour away. It was nuts, and it was a long day, but so worth it!

Another funny thing is that last night we went to see Cars. I really just had a race weekend type thing going on. Anyway it was sooooooo good. I laughed so hard, you really should all go see it. Well, ill post again later about our trip when we get back. Have a good Fourth everyone!

a Fun weekend!

This weekend me and Justin had a lot of plans. Sometimes we have those weekends where we have nothing to do and im bad at that, so i love weekends when we have a lot of fun plans. Friday I got off work at like 330, which was awesome. I came home and waited for him to get here and then we got ready for a date night. We went to eat at this new restaurant here called Quaker Steak. Its not new to others just to Cincinnati. anyway, it was such a neat place. Its like a racecar type place. They had cars hanging from the ceiling and the door handles were gas pumps, it was neat. The food was so good as well. After that we headed over to the theater to see Lady in the Water, which was a really good movie. you might not like it, but i appreciated the genius of M. Night Shamaylan. He does the greatest movies, and i like how he always acts in his movies. Anyway, after the movie, we did a bad thing. I just dont know what came over me but i was like Justin, lets go see Me, You and Dupree, it started 5 minutes ago. So we just went in the theatre and sat down. it was a good movie as well, and i enjoyed it, even though we were pirating. We got home that night a little after 2 so Saturday we slept in. Then we went to the mall, and this is where the story gets sad. justin took in his iPod to get it looked at at the Apple store and they told him there was no hope, it was dead. TOD 1:03 pm July 29th. Sad i know, he was so heartbroken because he has had it for three years now. i had to console my poor little husband.
Anyway, we then left for the other side of town and ran some errands before going to the Anderson Days Festival. Justin’s office is down the road from the festival and so the people there are from around the area. Justin’s boss, Lou, thought it would be good to go out and hand out some stuff for business. We blew up soooooo many balloons, it was hilarious walking down the street with them. the kids loved it and all of them wanted one. Lou handed out little bags of info about his business and then we ran out of everything and headed back to the office. We cooled off for a while and then headed to Adis’. our friend Brian’s brother is the bartender at this place and no one comes til later in the night so we got there around 830 and had the bar all to our selves, just us, the Regan’s and haleys sisters. It was so fun. We played pool, cornhole, shuffle puck, and listened to whatever music we wanted. We left there finally at midnight and came home to go to bed. We just got back from church and justin has immediately ran into the yard to use his new weedeater. He is such a nerd, i love him. he just loves making the yard pretty.
Well I have to go get ready for our afternoon. our church started a new ministry for 20 somethings and we are helping out. not so much this time but next time i have to sing at it and i think justin has to preach, but we are going out for the first big shin dig. I might get to play some volleyball, im so excited! have a good sunday everybody!

I cant wait to be all leathery!

sometime last week, justin's mom called me and suggested that for the fourth instead of them coming to see us maybe, they would fly us home to see them! let me just tell you that that plan rocked my face off!!! i dont think you know the withdrawals that occur when you are used to having a beach and a swimming pool at your disposal anytime you'd like, but they are pretty devastating. I am going to sit by the pool and go the beach everyday until i have leather for skin. i just cant wait! we leave on thursday and come back next tuesday and im just praising the lord for this opportunity to relax and be with family. then when i get back, three days later my little bride to be ashley will be here and we will love each other and play and it will be lovely.

as for other news, nothing has really been happening. we spent the weekend being pretty dull. i was sick though so i had an excuse. friday night i actually slept for three hours and then woke up at 10 and we watched american chopper and a jesse james special and then didnt go back to sleep til like 2. i felt disgusting for just sitting around all day. the next day i tried to go out and do stuff but just didnt feel well enough to do anything. so we cleaned the yard up and the house and then went to dinner at Longhorn with Jenny. She was our daughter for the night. We had a crazy waiter who talked about his dog, Sir Guiness, all night long to us. then we came home and watched The Ringer. Sunday we woke up really late for church and scurried over there and then after walked around Lowe's for like an hour just looking at stuff. i told you we were pretty dull.

anyway, the week has gotten off to a good start. we just got back from a run and dinner at the subway. last night we had a softball game and i hit a triple! i was so excited however i was so sick so i just ran real slow around them bases, i might have had a homer! justin's team lost real bad, but thats ok! to me anyway, those boys get a little competetive. well, im gonna start packing so i dont have to do it all tomorrow! have a great week everyone! and Manny's, we'll see you on Friday mornin'!

lightening bugs are just so cool

I have to say that I am glad that this week has come to a close. We had VBS at our church this week so everyday after work I had to head straight to church and help out with the kiddos. It was a lot of fun and i love being with all those kids but im glad i have no where to be for a few days. Justin and I helped out in random ways. He did some acting, which he is really good at, I did some too, just on one night though, i was a cheerleader, and let me just say, putting on that old uniform was depressing. it just doesnt fit like it used to. anyway, when I wasnt acting i was singing, songs i didnt know mind you. well, the first night i sang i didnt know the songs, but neither did anyone else really, so i suppose it was no big deal. i finally learned them by the time i had to sing again though. last night was the last night, and afterwards we had a little ice cream at our friends house and then headed the pub with kyle and jenny for a friends birthday. Oh also, I had yesterday off because allison took alex with her on a weekend trip! i love days off. I went shopping, got to have lunch with my husband, i even mowed our yard. that was fun, especially when i tried like 62 times to get the mower to start. i just love when my bosses surprise with days off.

So today we woke up and drove to Grayson KY to hang out with all the guys who Justin usually works with at this 'Summer and the Son' deal here at Kentucky Christian College. He is really sad he doesnt get to do all the weeks this year, but im kind of ok with it because then he wont be away from me for so long. He just loves setting up all the video and sound stuff and being here with all his friends. So we had to bring them so VGA-DVI connectors and splitters, i know this means nothing to you, but basically in this city there is nothing, just the school, a truck stop, and some fast food places connected to gas stations. So the chance that there was and Apple Store or even a Comp store at all was slim to none. So this morning me and justin had to go to the store and find this stuff and bring it here so they can run video properly. Now we are watching World cup on a 13" tv and listening to Simon and Garfunkel. there really isnt much to do here, part of the reason I am writing.

well, have a good weekend everyone.

justins birthday bash and more

justins birthday was a couple weeks ago and we had a really good time having a party with our friend adam whose birthday is two days before justins. we grilled out and played some corn hole and spent the night just being with great friends. we didnt do any huge birthday celebration for justin really because this weekend we have been to two cubs games and therefore dedicated all the birthday events to the games since justin loves the cubs. friday we went with jenny and kyle and brian, our little haley was out of town. anyway, it was sooo fun and the cubs won! it was a little close there but they held 'em. yesterday justin and I ran a bunch of errands and spent the day together just doing random stuff. we also went and saw The Break-Up last night, which i thought was sorta good, but justin thought it was stupid to pay to go see people argue about the same stuff we do but in a funnier more glamorous way. couples can easily relate to it. anyway, im making lunch and then we are off to the cubs game so i have to keep this short. i do wanna post a song that i love that makes me think about my hubby and since it was his birthday i feel the need to dedicate this to him. it isnt as good as an xbox 360 justin, but i hope you know i love you anyway!

PUSH

Every time I look at you the world just melts away
All my troubles all my fears dissolve in your affections
You've seen me at my weakest but you take me as I am
And when I fall you offer me a softer place to land

You stay the course you hold the line you keep it all together
You're the one true thing I know I can believe in
You're all the things that I desire, you save me, you complete me
You're the one true thing I know I can believe

I get mad so easy but you give me room to breathe
No matter what I say or do 'cause you're to good to fight about it
Even when I have to push just to see how far you'll go
You wont stoop down to battle but you never turn to go

You stay the course you hold the line you keep it all together
You're the one true thing I know I can believe in
You're all the things that I desire, you save me, you complete me
You're the one true thing I know I can believe

Your love is just the antidote when nothing else will cure me
There are times I cant decide when I cant tell up from down
You make me feel less crazy when otherwise I'd drown
But you pick me up and brush me off and tell me I'm OK
Sometimes thats just what we need to get us through the day

hellllooo, im a car. back seat, trunk space

im not really in the blogging mood, but the guys are playing halo and so there is really no point in trying to go to sleep when its this loud in our house, so i guess ill just write. nothing big has really been happening, thats why i say im not in the blogging mood, since most the stuff in my head is pretty boring.

last weekend we did go to indy to see justins family and some friends who were in town. our friend morgan was up from florida to go to her cousins graduation so we were able to see her. i love her! she is so fun and so sweet. our friend julie also lives in indiana and she was with us too a lot of the weekend. another coincidence was that justins dad and uncle and granddad come to the indy 500 every year and it was this past weekend so we saw them too! i love floyd! he is the coolest father in law. he makes me laugh so hard that i cry! i love doing that. he got me a really cool shell too in san francisco that is now on display in our house. thanks daddy flo! anyway, the way that man tells a story makes a simple nothing story become a huge hilarious event.

ok so, continuing on. we stayed with justins uncle and cousins the first two nights and then his grandma the next night. when we got there we actually went straight to the movie theater to see X Men, which was soooo good. i really liked it. the rest of the weekend was pretty low key, just spending some good quality time with those we dont get to see too often. Green Castle is the actual town that justins grandma lives in and its such a small town. all the small town stuff you know. we ate at pizza king saturday night, which basically holds about 15 people and the pizza is sorta weird, but really good. the next morning we went to eat breakfast at the Monon, which I thought evveryone was saying the Mornin' and it was a breakfast place. anyway, we got out of there pretty early and headed back home to get some stuff done and then have memorial day events with our friends here. we spent the night at brian and haleys eating way to much and playing some Corn hole.

tonight i had to go up to church to practice for VBS/KidsStuf. I am playing a cheerleader in a role. I was typecasted, can you believe it. haha. well i have to get in that old uniform! im a little nervous about that. justins excited though, he said to me in a very strange voice, i never dated a cheerleader before. haha. he is a silly man. anyway, i have to memorize lines and act and all and im pretty sure i stink as an actress. i spent the rest of the night at barnes and noble with jenny escaping the craziness that is my home right now. but now im am tired and am going to try and sleep anyway. have a good rest of the week everyone!

oh yea, justins birthday is on saturday! so if you want make him feel special that'll be cool.

oh, and the title, Dane Cook, comedian, funny

ruco and kristi are married!

i am going to try to put into the words how awesome last weekend was. it was the most fun i have had in quite some time. we stopped in chattanooga to pick up my little danielle, then the next morning continued to pcola. the weekend was so jam packed with awesome times. first of all it was sooo good to see tara. i havnt seen her since christmas and i love her so much. she is a one of a kind friend and i love getting to hang out with her, i cherish her so much. i of course was able to see everyone else as well but i was home two weeks before this so i was slightly more psychotic when i saw those that i had forgotten what they looked like cuz it had been so long! anyway, thursday night was toris bachelorette party. We ate at Zea's and then headed to her hotel room on the beach to hang out in the hot tub and talk about the sex that was to be had in a couple days! haha! yea! well, the next day was the bridal luncheon at my parents house. we ate, swam, and layed out. i just really enjoy my girl time when im home. i dont get a lot of just girls time with a bunch of awesome ladies up here so i just love it! well after the pool party, me and justin ran some wedding errands for kristi and then we got ready for the rehearsal. we practiced for the little wedding and then all went to dinner. ruco and kristi are two of the greatest people, with the greatest families. it was so sweet hearing all the good things people had to say about them. well that night a few of us stayed with kristi at the hotel. all the groomsman went out for the bachelor party so my little husband was busy. the next morning i woke up a little early. the sun was rising over the beach and it was hot pink. it was so beautiful. i forgot how breathtaking the beach can be. i fell back asleep for a little while and then woke up to kristi's excitement. she was standing on the balcony watching all the dolphins swim. there were so many of them and they were so close to the shore. it was awesome. me and kristi headed to our houses to get everything together for the day. we later all met at kristi and ruco's new apartment and got our hair done, put our makeup on, and were picked up by the lemo to go to skopelos. it was just the most awesome day. kristi was the happiest i have ever seen her and so beautiful. we all had so much fun and were so excited for what was about to happen. kristi and ruco truly were made for one another. they are the cutest sweetest couple and i am so happy for them! the wedding was sooooo beautiful and the reception was such a blast! we sent them away for the honeymoon and then the night was over. i was so sad because i went from having so much fun with so many people i love to having to say goodbye to everyone because the next day i was coming back to ohio. here is a pic of me and kristi, isnt she beautiful!
so, once again the drive back seemed like it took forever. we are now back in the swing of things, it took a few days to get the house cleaned up and actually unpack but things are back to normal. dont get me wrong, i do enjoy and appreciate all that i am able to do, i just look so forward to those moments when i am back in the presence of those that love and know me so well. i always miss you all, and always love you. you're my heart.

going home is fun

this time last week i was driving back from my incredible trip to pensacola. it was sooo fun to be home again and just play and hang out with everyone. I left last wednesday because my bosses went out of town and so i had three days off so i got in the jane fonda honda and headed south! i stopped in bham and stayed with merry beth. that was sooo much fun, i just love that girl! the next morning i left and kept going south til i hit PCOLA! yay! i got there and my dad had been keeping my new little neice claire and so i played with her for a little while. we took a walk in the stroller down to Mrs. Tuckers garage sale and talked to her for a little bit. I just love that lady. I love going home and knowing that everywhere i go i will see someone i know and love. we went back to the house and my little Tori Kristi got off work early and came and played with us. it was soooo stinking good to see her. there are just some friends in your life that you always feel safe with, and love as if they were your own blood and this girl is one of them. i just love her so much and was so glad to see her again. we got to talk about her wedding and all that is in one week! i was so happy to be able to just see everything going on with her. its so exciting! we went and ate at the fish house that night, which is oooo so yummy. there is nothing like FRESH fish. not so much of that up in ohio. anyway, that night i stayed with emily because she was leaving town and so i had to get some loving from her and harley! that crazy dog! he is so cute though! haha, anyway, friday i layed out by the pool and chilled with dad until tori got off again. then we went shopping and to moe's. that night us girls stayed at the ole wilson estate because the next day tor had a bridal shower! we woke up that saturday and went to her shower with mostly her family. it was like a breakfast shower and i love breakfast! those ladies can cook. kristi got some goooood stuff and we had fun just talking with all the ladies. my teacher from high school was there and i just love that Mrs. Krostag! i had so much fun talking to her again. that day was also the draft day, and well since my new obsession is with the NFL i had to watch. My friend Kamerion Wimbley went number12 to Clevland and i was soooo excited! FSU had some good players get picked, and fairly high too. after that i pretty much relaxed the rest of the afternoon and took a nice little nap. i just loved not having anything to do but rest and have fun with all my girlfriends.

that night i was telling kristi that i didnt want to leave the next day but i couldnt take it any longer being away from justin. i didnt know how long i could go but i realized four days was enough! i was ready to see him! that night kristi spent the night again and the next morning i woke up and headed back to ohio for what was the longest drive ever! or at least it felt that way. getting down to FL was nothing, but getting back was torture. it just felt like an eternity. well i got back at like 11 that night and was so glad to see my hubby again.

last week was a beautiful week. everyday was sunny and warm. i was able to take lots of walks with alex, which i always enjoy. this past week however, my boss scott was out of town, so their dog boomer was a little nuts. i decided to strap on the baby bjorne and carry alex in the little pack thingy so boomer could come with us. i am so sore from that dumb baby carrier. having a big baby on your belly and a huge dog pulling at you is not fun, and im pretty sure i looked like an idiot. oh yea, also, tuesday was our big volleyball night and well, we won! we are the champs, thats right!

well the weekend was pretty low key. nothing too exciting. did some shopping, played with jenny, and wathced movies. now justin has just left to play halo with all the guys so im home alone to clean and work out and prolly nap, so im off to do that. ill be in pcola in just four days for RUCO AND KRISTIS WEDDING!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO EXCITED!

i have an irrational fear of bees

Last weekend my parents were in from Florida and I couldnt believe my excitement when I saw them. I mean i knew i was really pumped about them coming but when i saw them coming up the escalator i was ecstatic. It had been four months. We basically spent the weekend going to every good restaurant in town and shopping a little. Sunday was of course easter, so we went to church and then to lunch. i loved having them here and cant wait to go home in a month and see all the fam and friends!!!!
this is a picture of dad and justin on dad's birthday at the Montgomery Inn, the best ribs ANYWHERE!
Anyway, the weekend wrapped up and the parents left and it was sad to see them go, but it only makes it sweeter when i see them again. Monday came all too quickly and i went off to work. Alex has been having some good days here lately and taking great naps and being so funny. I love watching that little man try and roll around and i love on our walks when he just looks at me and laughs. I love pushing him the stroller too since it has been so awesome outside lately. yesterday we had our last volleyball game of the regular season, playoffs are next week. We are the number one team, oh yea! basically we just have to beat everyone we have already beat and we win! woo hoo! hopefully we can do that. Softball starts in like two weeks and im probably gonna be pretty rusty at that.

ill post again soon! i will try really hard, i promise

i love flowers

i know i know, its about time you are all saying. I have received threatening emails and what not from not posting in a while so i figured before i lose friends or body parts i should update. this will be pretty difficult since I have gone so long. Well the highlights of the past couple of weeks were as follows:

Justin's parents and sister afton came to visit. It was such an awesome time to be able to just sit around the house with them and eat out and laugh and be around people who just love you and that you always have fun with. We didnt do anything eventful but it was just nice to be around them. they are the greatest people. they did get us some cool stuff while up here and that was nice. They always spoil us beyond what we deserve, they are too good to us. We do now have a beautiful porch swing and an awesome grill that justin loves to cook on. Sorry if any of these thoughts are random and dumb, im trying to concentrate over all the Halo2 noise and the guys all in my house. Wednesdays are always nuts for me. Anyway, they left, and we were sad, real sad. however i began to look forward when my parents were going to be here. Which will be in two days!!!! they havnt got to see the new homefront yet so im excited about them being our little guests since its usually the other way around. i like to take care of them.

Ok so the week after that was a blur. however last weekend was a blast!!!! usually justin and i go out with someone or meet up later after we have dinner together or have something to go to, blah blah, but last weekened we had nothing to be at and our friends were out of town so we decided to make the most of it and have lots of dates and fun times. Friday night we went to Lowe's for two hours, it really is fun people, im not retarded. We just like to play and justin likes to plan out home remodeling for the future. afterwards we went to Roadhouse and this was AMAZING! so let me explain something to you about the north. no one has sweet tea, and those that do, dont do it right. However, roadhouse made me smile!!!!! they have such good sweet tea, and amazing fattening rolls! yummmmmmm. good times. when we got home that night we played games and watched some tv shows we have DVRed to catch up. which reminds me, LOST is on and dumb boys have control of my tv, son of a. oh well. So the next day we did take a little break from one another, and i met up with Jen and we went flower shopping. i know, im an old woman. i got some pretty flowers though and then i came home and planted them and they are starting to bloom!!!!!! exciting, i know! anyway, that night Justin and took it easy and watched some king kong, its a long movie, we never watch the whole thing, just parts. its SUCH a good movie. i really liked it. afterward we headed to sleep and woke up the next morning for some church. We left church and I FINALLY got justin to cut his raggedy hair, it was amazing. it looks good, hot, as usual. We headed from the hair cut place to the Reds game to watch some baseball, all while getting a farmers tan, which is no fun and i look stupid. I have been walking with alex in his stroller everyday with a noodle strap shirt on to get rid of the dumb burn, but all its doing is burning that part more and tanning the other. pretty much stinks.

on another note, volleyball has been really fun! i like it more and more each week, which could be because i get better and so now i dont feel like im the girl on the court that's just filling a space but pretty much messes up. I love when we leave and justins all, "you did so good baby, awesome serves." he is the cutest, he tries so hard to make sure i know he's proud of me. i like that. last night jenny had the play of the game!!! she blocked this spike from a big guy when i would have cowered and let him slam it on me! it was awesome! we won, and that always makes it a little better too =)

so that brings me to now, i just got home from dance class. me and jenny take hip hop on wednesdays, its oh so fun and i like to shake the rump you know. i just get sick of running everyday so its nice to get moving in another way =) but im stinky so to the shower i go, maybe a bath with candles, i think i need one of those maybe. however it would be hard to relax the KILLING SPREE yells.

well I hope you enjoyed my updating and emily, dont kill me because im a slacker! please!!! love you all

gay man at pottery barn=evil

so last weekend was basically a weekend of movies and shopping, two of which I havnt actually done in a while. I mean I go to look at stuff or run to target but me and Jenny drove to the outlet mall a little north of here and walked around all day looking at stuff, it was a blast. Anyway, on Saturday I woke up after a good sleeping in to get ready. The night before we had went and seen V for Vendetta and it was awful late when we got in therefore resulting in my good sleeping in. Anyway, we headed to the outlet mall and went to the Pottery Barn store first. I saw the most beautiful buffet ever there! It was the buffet I have been wanting ever since I got my first magazine, I mean I would just stare at it. Well, at this store since its an outlet you must purchase it and immediately take it home. So therefore I could not purchase this $300 buffet that retails at 1100 dollars! The nest morning I drive back in a car it would fit in. I walk in the store and its gone!!!!!! I walk around and then...I see it! On a cart! and some gay man is pulling it around and about to buy it! I mean it was just emotionally horrifying. Going in and it being gone is one thing, but it still being there and this man with perfect hair and perfect skin was taking it from me! It was a big mind game the buffet was playing and in the end i lost and my heart was broken! oh and for you that dont know what a buffet is, since some of you have asked, its sorta like a cabinet without the hutch on top. Just a little table with cabinets and drawers that goes against the wall like in a dining room, and you can put food on top of it when you are serving people, or just decorate it.

Ok so i know that you are probably sad by my story, or just shaking your head with the thought of, "this girl is retarded." The weekend was pretty good overall even with that set back. I finally saw Failure to Launch and it was such a good movie! A must see for everyone.

Well I cant write a lot more because I have to heaad to work. Justins parents and sister Afton are here and I am soooo happy about that! We are having a blast and there is still a few more days to be had with them so Im super excited to get to hang out with them all week! Well have a good rest of the week everyone!

birthdays, tina, babies

so last weekend was kyles 25th birthday so we all decided to go out to Dave and Busters and play arcade games and be silly. It was super fun and we had a blast just goofing off and shooting basketball and driving race cars and getting tickets and buying meaningless junk. it was nice to be able to play with all of our friends and especially my husband who was in class alllll weekend. Justin got a new job working for an insurance salesman as his office manager. He however, has to take 40 hours of a class to be certified and so went all last weekend and will go all this weekend. I feel bad for my little man because it is reeeallll boring and plus I just wanna have fun on the weekends. I really do feel the need to treat weekends as mini vacations because basically all week I just sit on the couch and watch TV so I dont so much feel the need to do so on the weekends. I do however enjoy my daily naps and really love when little Alex takes real long naps =) anyway, saturday justin went to class, of course, and i met him for lunch and then did a little shopping. I really should just stay away from the mall, you know how glutonous I am. i didnt do too much damage, dont worry. that night when justin got home we were just hanging around the house trying to figure out what we should do for the night and we were thinking of going to see a movie. Well, Kyle calls me and asks if I had any real set plans for the night because he and Jenny were going to go to a concert, however, kyle had heard that the concert he was going to attend happened to be my favorite country artist and thought I should go in his place since I would enjoy if more fully! Well of course I said yes and I got ready real fast and me and Jenny headed to see Martina McBride, known to me as Tina. you know...
anyway, the night was amazing, she has the most amazing beautiful powerful voice and enjoyed every minute of it. She really has been my favorite since I can even remember listening to country music! I was so excited to be there! Not to mention Jenny got the tickets for free and we parked for free and didnt pay one dime to enjoy that night!

In other news our friends Darrell and Lydia had their baby girl yesterday!!! I cant wait to see her little self. she is just 5 pounds, thats so little. Jenny and I spent forever last night trying to find her good baby presents at Target and we got her some cute little outfits, I love little girls! well im headed out to small group. Have a good weekend everyone! ill be lonely in the nati since Justin has class so if anyone wants to plan a spontaneous trip, feel free =) on saturday Im going to the outlet mall, come on, you know you wanna come. do it, do it

kisses, haha

im always behind

well i just realized that this weekend has already been full of fun and i have yet to even touch on the adventures of last weekend and all that is held. Last Friday night we all decided to go Salsa dancing!!! it was soooo stinkin fun. Justin's ankle was still hurting him a bit and therefore it was a little hard for him, but he is the sweetest boy and tried so hard to dance and learn all the salsa there was to learn. After the little lesson of the basic moves of salsa dancing we all got into our little pairs and tried dancing together. They sorta just let you go and you just do whatever you can. Justin and me tried and then basically spent the rest of the night just dancing, not neccisarily salsa dancing. Me and jenny were getting it good though! She led, she is really good at it, I just follow her feet! it was really so fun tho, we all had such a good time. Saturday we helped Darrell and Lydia move into their new apartment because the baby is almost here!!! i cant believe it, it all happened so fast. I am so excited about this little baby in our group to pass around and just love on! plus she will be just gorgeous because she is mixed and all mixed little girls are just the prettiest things! that night we all went back to darrells and he made burgers for all of us to thank him for moving and then we tried to go bowling, but bowling alleys are nuts on Saturdays so we ended up going back to Brian and Haleys and the guys played poker while the girls just watched SNL and whatnot. sunday was the usual, a little churchin it up, then a nap, then sunday night super club at our house, fried chicken style, and we watched the Oscars. Let me just say that Reese Witherspoon is the cutest girl, I have a heterosexual crush on her! The rest of the week wasnt so bad, just working and doing our usual things. Monday night was Justins last basketball game, it was intense and I do not wish to go into the drama that happened on the court, it made me feel very inadequate. Tuesday night was our first volleyball game though, and it was so fun. I havnt played in FOREVER, but I didnt stink all that bad. We did win so that was fun. We are the purple team so I have named us Color that ends in urple Team. Thursday was small group night and it was soooo awesome. Brian discussed "life" and what the Lord has for us in this life. It was spurred sorta from the book Waking the Dead. We just talked about what makes us feel alive and what God meant when he said abundant life, more than we can imagine. I did find it true that a lot of people, christians and non christians, maybe arent living for what the were created for because its somewhat frightening. I mean what God has for you can maybe be just so out there amazing that its just easier and more comfortable for you to just stay the way you are and not reach for that. But the truth is that its time to stop simply talking about God and discussing Him and its time to experience Him. Its like we believe in this promise God has for us and in who He is as our Heavenly father, but do we really receive the life that He created for us, or are we too afraid to see what that might be. I dont know if any of this is even making sense, I am basically just typing as it all enters into my head and I have no organization to my thoughts at all, as you all know. Basically I am just saying to not only believe it all but to actually take hold of it. The satisfaction you have in the LIFE He has for you, will have such a huge effect on others, maybe moreso than you just telling them about Christ. People will see how satisfied we are and be so attracted to it.

ok, well on another note, jo I hope you had the best birthday ever. I love you dearly and hope it was grrrreat!
linsey mari, congrats my dear on getting engaged, it is soooo exciting and I know what you mean about being too little. However if you are anything like me you will forever feel young, thats what makes everything fun! i love you!

have a good one everybody and I promise I will try and update more =)

hello everybody

So I have realized that as I get older I seriously cant remember a thing. Last week was Im sure filled with many thoughts and fun times, however, it is soo stinkin hard for me to remember them. I sorta remember some fun stuff though so I suppose I will try to recap for ya.
At the beginning of last week my sister B and her husband drove through. She bought a sweet car in chicago because it was such a good deal and so they flew there and drove the car back. I was so excited to be able to see someone from home. I just love that feeling that something familiar is here with me. We had a really good time with them. We sat around and just talked about fun stuff and went to eat at BW3's and then I made B a big birthday cookie! And we drove around in her car with the top down even though it was freezing! us wilson girls, we are so crazy!
anyway, they left the next morning while i was at work and i was just so sad to come home and them be gone. oh well, i suppose they couldnt just live here, but it would be cooool =). So basically the rest of the week was the same. Work, work, small group on thursday, more work. But then the weekend came, hoorah!

Friday when I got off work I came home and our friends Adam, Rhett, and Emily were all here from out of town. We got ready and headed out to a concert to watch a band play. I ended up not actually attending the concert and had an oh so awesome conversation with my friend tori, but headed back later to play with all of them. Later that night Justins sister came in from Milligan and it was so awesome to have her here. We woke up the next morning and I made some breakfast and then we just went around town. I seriously havent laughed that hard in quite some time. Rhett maketh me laugheth with his odd happenings. Anyway, we came home and took a nap and watched Waynes World 2. That night we went bowling with Darrell and Lydia and then to hang out with Brian and Haley to meet her parents and play for a little while. Sunday we woke up late again, go figure, ran to church, and then out to lunch before Sara left. It was oh so sad to see her go, but we had a really awesome time with her.
ill post pics of that later
anyway, a big shout out to my emily who is 23 today! I love you em!

have a good week everyone!

valentines, painting, olympics, and family

So this past week was pretty good you might say. I didnt have to work Thursday or Friday, I got off at 3 on Wednesday, got to hang out with Justins mom since she was up here, and it was Valentines day on tuesday and well I always love days where you show an extra amount of love and affection. I really had just a fun fun week. Tuesday I went to work and then when I got off ran some errands to finish up Justins vday gift and then came home and waited for him to get out of class. We exchanged gifts and then I went to Jennys to take a shower cuz we didnt have hot water yet. anyway, Justin was really really sweet and gave me an awesome card with something in it to the effect of "you make my time on earth just like heaven," and then gave me that movie Just Like Heaven. Also he made me a DVD with a sweet letter on it scrolling the screen like star wars and it made me shed a few tears. it also had a fun song with pictures of us flashing on the screen. I gave him a bouquet of candy with a cd and some boxers and a home made card. I really do like the cheap from the heart gifts, they mean so much! Plus justin bought a massive TV so big gifts were out of the question.

Wednesday, Justins mom came over from Indy where she was visiting her brother. It was soooo good to see her again. I just love having our friends and family up here, its so fun! Anyway, she took us to eat and loved on us and I had a great time. She also was able to come back on Friday with Justins grandma and uncle and we had yet again some more fun with the fam.

thursday night was small group. we focused on prayer and discussed times when we feel inadequate praying. Someone mentioned how quickly we go into prayer without really realizing who we are talking to. The Lords prayer begins, Our Father, who is in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. It begins with us recognizing who God is and His holiness. I really have been trying to take more time to meditate before I just start speaking prayers at certain times of the day out of habit. Anyway, I just wanted to share that with you.

Last night was girls night, which I love. I love just laughing and eating bad and hanging out with fun fun girls. It was spa night and Jenny gave me a pedicure because she is so sweet. It was awesome. Then we played some fun games and watched Elizabethtown.

Well the house is almost done. A lot of people have asked for pictures so I will post them shortly. Still decorating some so Im gonna hold off for a bit. The painting is all done so thats a load off. Now we just have to get some organizing done and it should all be done, yay!!! Its quite a journey moving and all, it takes a while to get everything in order, but i feel a little better every day as I progress in my putting away of things. well Im gonna get back to the olympics now. Have a great weekend and an awesome next week!

PICTURE TIME!

this entire post is basically just pictures i wanted to put up with previous posts but couldnt find my camera cord in the move and now i have it! so here are some pictures of alex and other random stuff. that first one is of me giving blood. WAH! enjoy!

move in day

well its move in day here with the Manny fam. Its a little stressful you might say. I just keep staring at everything thinking what should i do. There is just too much stuff and I feel as if it will never come together. All of the boxes and chaos will defeat me. It was supposed to snow today so Im very glad that the Lord allowed it to be a gorgeous sunny day with NO snow! yay! My little Justin is driving to the house now with a car load of stuff however I really worry about that boy carrying all this stuff on his broken ankle. He is either going to hurt something else because he'll fall or something, or he will only hurt his ankle worse and the thing will never heal. I just need him back in perfect health, its been hard doing all this stuff by myself or worrying about him because he wants to try and do everything by himself.

Well, not only has the moving been crazy but its seems as if everything else going on has just been extraordinarily weird. Odd things have happened of which I shall not elaborate via the internet and I have just had and I have had a very odd feeling in my spirit. I dont really know how to explain it, its just strange. It could be the stress and the urgency to get everything done. Im always soo tired. These past few days have been sooo long and I come at night just exhausted. I do sleep well however because i am just so tired. I know Im gonna stress myself out next week too because Justins mom is coming and so is my sister, so Im gonna want to set everything up before they get here. Im nutty like that. I really feel as though I should sit back for a minute and just be still. Im not good at that, I always wanna go go go but I know I should just relax and be quiet and listen.

Also this week I have found myself really missing all of my friends back home. I was just thinking about the normal things that all of you do everyday and think nothing of but when you arent able to run get some lunch or hop on over to their house to borrow a shirt, you will realize how awesome it was and cherish those moments. Like for emily, tori and ash, i hate that i cant be there and do more and support you more or just run errands with you for all your wedding stuff. I love you all soooo much and wish that I could show that instead of just telling you it from five states away. i know all of you understand the depths of my love and that i count you all so precious, even if I dont get to hit up Target with you or help you make any decisions about your wedding or come fix your hair because you just LOVE having someone else straighten it for you.

Anyway, off that now. Valentines day is coming up and well, justin and i have been so wrapped up in all the painting and moving I havnt had time to do or even think of something. I dont know if he has or not Im just needed to begin some sort of thought process as to what I should do. any ideas, let me know.

yep, its broken

Well, thanks to all of you who have been praying for Justin. Please continue to pray that his foot heals quickly. he is heartbroken that he cant play basketball tomorrow night, but he should be better by volleyball time, so thats good! anyway, his ankle is indeed broken and he is wearing an air cast right now and has to go back later this week to get it looked at again. hopefully it all goes well. And by the way...that aircast is the second worst smell I have ever smelt in my life! I honestly almost ralfed when he took it off.

The week went pretty well. I love my nanny job and Alex is the sweetest little baby boy. I love the family i work for, they are adorable and sweet and fun so thats always good. I basically just get there while he is napping, when he wakes up I feed him, play with him, change him, and then put him back to sleep. Its quite fun you could say. I get paid pretty well for what I do. Which I suppose is because you cant have any other job so this is your income, so they pay well. Also tomorrow Justin and I have to finalize some stuff with the house situation. i am also excited about that!

this weekend we spent time finishing the rest of the first season of LOST, which Im obsessed with. I didnt see all the episodes in the first season so this is helping put some pieces together of things that have happened in the second season. its just so good people. Friday night we got to go out with our friend adam, whom I love, and his fun girlfriend Becca. We went to Fridays and stuffed ourselves with their 3 course meal thing they got going on. It was quite yummy. Saturday me and Jenny went and did Yoga, which by they way did actually kick my butt. I had no clue i would be so sore. anyway, the rest of the afternoon me and jenny chilled in my bedroom while justin and kyle played tiger woods for a while. That night we went to Brian and Haleys and acted a little nuts and played some mad gab, thats always a good laugh. We also went to Brian and haleys again tonight for the Sunday Night Supper Club. We had tacos and then once again acted like fools and laughed til we cried. Its really a good time with all those kids.

Anyway, we have a very very early morning tomorrow so I will leave you with all of this nonsense. Have a good week everyone! and please do continue that justin pain is not so unbearable and that he heals soon. I love him and to be frank, im sick of taking care of that winey boy! ok ok, just kidding, i dont mind, I just know that he would love to be able to do some stuff for himself. love you all =)