Aaron started school, I'm sick, and lots of snow

Finally we got some snow! Pam must have brought it down from Iowa with her. Thanks Pam. I was beginning to worry we were going to get through the whole winter without a decent snow - that just wouldn't have been right now would it. So today Aaron let Mackenzie and Turner go outside and play, and I think tomorrow might bring about a little sledding time! Yippee!
Aaron started his first class on Monday night. He said it was interesting and seemed to like it. My class got cancelled for tonight, which actually kinda stinks because it means next week I have class on Tues AND Thurs.
And lastly, I'm sick. This cold is settled in my throat. So annoying, can't stop coughing, and especially at night, I'm beat down. Work has been super busy - sorry for the lack of updates and emails. Not too much else around here...thinking it is time for some R&R on the couch watching our fire we've got going and turning on a good show. Sleep tight everyone!

Surprise b-day party

Last night I had a surprise birthday party at the Jive and Wail. We had a good time. I didn't drink much, still fighting this cold, but I had a lot of entertainment and a GREAT time with great friends. Thanks to everyone who made the effort to come out for little old me!!

Me and my bro....he was RIdiculous by the end of the night!

Scott and Cheri, neighbors, friends, and long lost cousins (Cheri found lots of Livelys and Turner Livelys in her genealogy)

Nick, Will, (Aaron's 2 oldest/best friends) Dawn, Jenna (wife/fiance')

Stacy and Casey (Aaron's roommate from Columbia and his girlfriend)

Sam (neighbor), Kelly, Bill, Jennifer, Todd (friends from work)

My momma (drove all the way by herself) - thanks mom, meant a lot for you to be there!

Pam (H.S. friend) - drove ALL the way from DesMoines by herself and left 2 sick girls at home and now has to drive all the way back home today in the snow - so sorry sweetheart, but so glad you were here!!

Also had an old friend from College - Hatter and Mike - but didn't get a picture on my camera with them. They drove up all the way from Lake of the Ozarks and then drove all the way back last night too. I hadn't seen Hatter in about, gosh, maybe 2 years - it was SUCH a surprise.

Also another of Aaron's friends came up, Erich Mosanyi - the FUNNIEST person I've ever been around, truly entertaining. I'm trying to get him to start his own blog - so stay tuned, I'll give him a shout out if he does! lol

Thank you everyone for making my 30th such a special day. Thanks to my honey for setting it all up. Thank you for all the gifts - totally didn't need to do that! I love you guys, you're the BEST!!

(I am still going to enjoy this last week in my 20's though)

Ahhhhh

Yesterday I had a super busy day at work. Never got a chance to come up for air, or lunch, but it was a good day. Needless to say though, I was a little exhausted and hungry by the end of the day. I'm fighting off a cold too, so that plays in. Anyways, opened the door to come in and this is what I saw....

That's right...I have the best husband in the world. I must say, 100 tea lights lit up in my house looks gorgeous. These pictures don't do it a bit of justice. I rounded the corner to find dinner on the table, an open bottle of wine, and a single long stem red rose. Dinner was absolutely delicious, cannelloni and garlic bread. I know I know ladies...I don't know what I did to deserve him either...if I could clone him I would. Maybe we should set up a "Husbands 101" course for Aaron's first teaching class!! Sorry, I don't mean to brag...but I gotta brag! lol Now go back up to the pictures and try to figure out what is missing........................................................................did you figure it out?? It's the kids....yeap, Aaron arranged for them to go to Grandpy's to stay for the weekend. Ahhhhh, silence is such a beautiful sound. Now of course I miss them, but I'm not above enjoying some time having only myself to worry about. So what did we do last night? I'll spare you some details..hee hee..but by 6:30 I was chillin on the couch, watching TV and dozing in and out. I know, exciting huh, but us old people need our sleep. Woke up from about 11 to 2, did some school reading, went to bed. Got to sleep in till 7 - that 2 hours of sleeping in - and now get to work on my term paper for school. Hopefully with the time to focus on it directly I'll be able to get a pretty good chunk complete.

To Fran

Fran, I know that you don't have phone service, but you said today that you have the laptop, so maybe you are checking here and I can write more than a text. I am so sorry that you are having to deal with this. I haven't been in your shoes, but can only imagine in my nightmares what it might be like. I want you to know, I'm here for you no matter what. If you give me the call, I'll be there. I have a plane ticket in my safe here at home and all I have to do is book a flight. Yes I am busy, but family and friends come above all, so don't hesitate. It is so hard to be so far and so helpless in helping you, but I know you have your ring of sisters tight around you, so you are taken care of. I don't have many friends, I mean the true friends that I'd give anything to and know they would do the same in return, but you are one of few. Since I met you it is like we are fraternal twins, almost like we are exact opposites at times, but yet came from the same womb. I'm thinking about you and sending my thoughts your way. Love you girl, hang in there.

For anyone wondering, Fran's dad had surgery this week and is having complications; she is in NY.

Just wanted to post a few pictures. The other morning Austin started participating in our morning rituals around here....Lay on the couch, strawberry milk, and Dora....one of the biggest constants in our lives. Doesn't he just look so grown up.

Ahhh, don't you just love when kids start feeding themselves! Don't worry, tonight was bathtime, so he was properly cleaned afterwards, but hey, he's got to practice to get it down good!

"here mommy, you want some?"

"oh fine then, I'll eat it myself"

"hmmm this is much more effective"

Today some pans came in the mail for Mackenzie's Easy Bake (we got hers from a garage sale and the pans were missing) so of course we HAD to make cookies tonight. I just love that she has to put on full uniform ...like it is just a given that she has to have it on to bake!

My GOOFY kids!!!

I'm alive

Just figured I hadn't posted in so long so I'd better give a quick update to let everyone know I'm still here. Don't think that I posted Austin's stats from his 1 year check-up

Height: 29 3/4 inches - 50%
Weight: 24 lb 14 oz - 80%
Head: 18.75 inches - 88%

He is totally walking now. He also has pretty much all his front teeth and already has at least 2 of his molars coming in - might be all 4. And he is a talker!
Mackenzie is doing good. Loves being back in school from Christmas break. We had thought about pulling her from gymnastics for a few months because of the craziness with school and soccer will be starting soon, but she loves it so much I just can't bring myself to do it - so we are going to keep trying to make it. Last night she broke down on the phone to me while I was on my way to school that she wanted me to come home, Broke my heart, but finally got her calmed down and distracted. She ended up waiting up for me till I got home and we got a little one on one time last night. She is still getting more and more beautiful everyday.
Turner is still our little guy. The other night we had to go up to ToysRUs to return some things, and the kids were in pure amazement! Guess we haven't really ever taken them to the "Toy store"! He just kept on saying he wanted a train, then when he saw the train table they had set up, said he wanted it. When we replied with "But you have a train table at home" he replied with the "but not this one, I reeeeaaaallly want it". And then from there all the way around the store we just kept hearing I really want this, I really want this, I really want this. Ended up making it out of there with a little car - whew, crisis diverted! lol It was so cute though and just another instance that really made me see just how grown up they are. Reminds me of times I can remember being a kid. Yes, I'm almost 30, but I CAN still remember being a kid!lol

Work has been crazy, my boss is leaving so there is a transfer of activities and management. Some good, some need some more getting used to. School is good. I pretty much have my 10 pager done. I really enjoy my classes though and have gotten the "you bring up a really good point" a few times - once a teachers pet always a teachers pet! lol No really, not trying to be a kiss up, I'm actually just really interested and what I'm learning is very practical to my everyday situations. Anyways - gotta go, lots of work today and start meetings in 30 minutes to last all day. Take care!

Safe!

So we had our meeting today and luckily none of my group is affected....thank goodness. So it seems like I'm on the right life boat at this point. We are still on a small life boat out in the big vast ocean and could ram an iceberg at any moment, but for now, I'm on a lifeboat. And I'm hoping that school will kind of be like an extra life jacket that I'm trying to put on. Of course neither is fail safe, but both help. One day at a time, one day at a time....and today I have a job. It was nice to see the kids tonight, I hadn't seen them since Monday night. Seems that Austin decided in that short period that he is a true walker now. He didn't hardly crawl at all tonight...so weird! When i got home he was down the hall on the floor playing, and I went in the kitchen to put my stuff down and turned around and there he was walking up to me!!!
Started school last night. I was really in to it. I have a really good teacher who engages us in discussion more than just lecturing. Still have to get on these papers, that is my plan as soon as I get done typing this. Oh, and another thing I forgot to tell everyone....our house is off limits for the next year and a half! OK, it doesn't have to be totally off limits, but by gosh - NO DROP-INS! Lets just say my house doesn't exactly hold up my level of cleanliness right now. So please, unless you want to send me in to major panic mode and super stress, call ahead! lol