The most wonderful time of the year

It's almost midnight here and I'm wide awake and very happy. We just found out that Jeff's family can come for Christmas and I'm so excited. We'll spend our first Christmas in our first house with lots of family around. That's how I like to spend Christmases. So, I plan on having a nice big crock pot full of Amish soup ready for everyone with some homemade bread to warm their bellies. That Amish cookook has come in so handy. I'm not as good at making my mom's sugar cookies yet, it's a very touchy recipe, so I'm going to bake Amish cookies and goodies and start my own tradtitions. I just want everyone to have a great time here. Jeff and I sure will have a wonderful time!! I wish we all lived closer so we could do stuff together all the time, my brother an his family included. Well, I need to go dry my hair. I just wanted to share my good news with everyone! Goodnight!
P.S. I had to add Maggie's pic again b/c she is so stinkin cute in her sweater!

Maggie, Thanksgiving and Amish Country

A Happy Anniversary!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Thursday we went to my uncle's house. It was so nice to see family that we don't get to see that often. I wish we could spend more time over there b/c we always have so much fun. Grandpa kept us entertained the whole time. He's not our Grandpa though. He's the father of my uncle's wife, but everyone calls him Grandpa. He's so cute and tells the funniest stories. We just had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
On Fri Jeff and I left for Amish Country to get away for our anniversary. Our room was beautiful! IT was even better in person than it was in the pictures. So, we checked in there and then we went to eat at Der Dutchman. They have fabulous food! Then we went back to the room just to relax and enjoy peace and quiet. At like 6pm we were ready to fall asleep and then at 7:30 I got hungry for ice cream....forgetting that everything there closes at 7. We did find an ice cream shop/bakery that was open and I got the best strawberry ice cream I've ever had. The next day we had a free breakfast at Dutch Harvest and it was to die for. Then we were off to do some shopping. I found a beautiful antique picture for $28! I couldn't believe we got it for that price and the picture is from 1897 I think. I got a couple berry swags to go over doorways. We got cheese, fudge, cookies, a couple Christmas presents for people. It was a grand time! It was the perfect getaway.
Today was our anniversary. We made it! One year. It's been the best year of my life! Or, should I say our life :) If the first year is the hardest year then the rest of our life together should be awesome b/c we had a pretty great year!
I must run for now. Nighty-night everyone!

There's no place like home for the holidays!

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone has a wonderful day with those that they love, and for those we can't be with on Thanksgiving....We love you and our hearts are with you.
I would also like to wish my mom a Happy Birthday. She is the most amazing, strong woman, and has been such a good example to me. I love her so much!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone !

I love the Christmas season!

The Ultimate Doo-Wop Concert

Charlie Thomas and The Drifters were the finale and
they sang "On Broadway", "Spanish Harlem" and
many other hits!

The Fleetwooods sang "Mr. Blue"

"Diamond" Dave Somerville sang "Little Darling"


Gene Chandler sang "The Duke of Earl"

I could give myself a smack, but I can't remember
their name. They sang, "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby"

Randy and the Rainbows sang "Densie"

The Doves sang "Could this be Magic"

The Bobettes sang " Mr. Lee "

A Wonderful Weekend!

This weekend was a great weekend. Saturday was Maggie's first birthday. I know it's cheesy, but we bought her a cup cake as you can see. I feel like she's my bab, and I love spoiling her. If I'm this ga-ga over my dog I can't imagine how I'll be when I have a baby! Anyway, she loved eating the cupcake after we took her picture with it :) My mom and dad bought her a toy that talks and barks and she's deathly afraid of it! I guess that when you're only 8 pounds you have to be on guard all the time.
Saturday night, Jeff and I went with my mom and dad and Ken and Marie to The Ultimate Doo-Wop show in Toledo. It was awesome! I grew up listening to only that music, and it was so fun!
It was nice just having some time to spend with family and friends and my husband (most importantly). With our schedules, I don't always get to see him as much as I'd like. I'm really looking forward to this weekend b/c we will be celebrating our 1st wedding anniversary. We'll be going down to Amish country just to have a slower pace where we can relax and enjoy peace and quiet and eat some good food. I don't think anything beats Amish cooking. I would like to go through the antique malls too and see if I can find any little things to put out around our new house :)
I must go now, I'm making some spaghetti for dinner. It feels good to be settled and cooking again. It makes me feel normal. Nighty-night everyone!

Hey, boys and girls! I'm sorry it has been so long since I've made an entry. Jeff and I have been so busy! We're finally all moved into our house and now we are just putting things where we want. We have a little bit of painting to do. Mom is coming over tomorrow and finishing up the woodwork in the living room and I need to paint the kitchen and we just need to do the trim and ceiling in our hallway then put wallpaper below the chair rail we have down the hall and we'll be done. I love this house. Jeff and I have been very fortunate to have the opportunity to get this house. When we first moved in, it was very surreal. Jeff and I were talking one night and I told him that it was almost scary to be in the house because it was such a grown up move. It's kinda scary when you get to this age when you and your friends are getting married and having babies and getting houses. It's very fun and rewarding though. Everyday I see how blessed Jeff and I are, and I also see how blessed I am to have Jeff. I know some girls in horrible messes and it makes me so thankful that Jeff is such a great man. He's so hard working and loving and respectful. I could hav every easily ended up in a bad situation, so I thank God everyday for parents who raised me to have a good head on my shoulders, for leading Jeff to me, and for Jeff's parents raising him so well. Pray for me because I have hug decisions to make concerning school and work. The way it look right now, I think I'm going to have to get a job with an assisted living place because they will pay for me to get my nurse's aid certification that I need and they'll also help with tuition. So, today or tomorrow I'm going to call and make an appointment to go in and speak with whoever does the hiring and see if I can get some answers to help me make big decisions. I know that working for a place like that would be a good move for me for school, but it's scary because I've worked in the hair industry for 4 years, and this is going to be such a huge change. I know it'll be a good change, but change is always a little frightening. Well, I must head on out for now. I need to get ready for work. Have a wonderful day! (Sorry the pic is a little crooked)