The Biggest Best News Yet!

As most of you know, my cousin Jennifer is pregnant with her third baby...and we are all over the moon about it! So exciting!
Well, on Sunday, the whole famdamily, Jennifer, Big Daddy Mike, and their passel of kids, Kion, Kayla, Junior and Kiana, Aunt Nancy, Steven, Emily and I, went down to Jenna's ultra sound 4D appointment to find out the sex of our new baby.
And just as we thought, we have a little baby boy coming and we should be meeting him around August 30th! I cant wait!
Thank god this place was big enough to fit us all in there so we could share this amazing experience together. I think the cutest thing about the day (aside from toasting his impending arrival with yummy VG's donuts) was when Kayla saw him she said, "Oh he's so cute! Can I hold him?" and then later she asked me "Is that boy coming out yet?" She's so stinkin cute and seems to be very excited about the new baby.

So with out further ado, let me introduce you to the newest member of our family, "That Boy"...




Now, we just have to find him a name...

A new baby is like the beginning of all things-wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.
-- Eda J. Le Shan

The TLE

Three years ago today, we lost a very silly, loving, sarcastic, friend, brother, nephew and son.
I am so honored to have known him and so thankful that our paths crossed. He had this great sense of humor and this quiet gentleness about him...but by far my favorite memories of him will always be the ones in which I come from work and to find him just chillin on my couch, being a Schmeck, uninvited but always welcome.

Timothy Lannon Easton

I am sending extra love to my Easton Familia and hold them firmly in my heart today.

"Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy."

Good News Part Duex

As I said in the last post, we have had quiet a few changes in our lives lately and all of them good. Yea for us!
so, let's talk about good news number two...
Somewhere around January of last year, my cousin Mikey enlisted in the Navy. My mom was absolutely beaming with pride as well as everyone else in our family...especially my grandfather and our cousin Big Mike who were both Navy men themselves.
Well, Mikey left for boot camp in January and on March 5, 2010, he graduated as an E2! I act like I know what that means, but the truth is that I have no earthly idea...all I really know is that he graduated THIRD in a class of 700 something recruits!
We are so dang proud of our lil sailor!
Go Mikey!
Go Navy!




hugs xx

“When asked what I am most proud of, I stick out my chest, hold my head high and state proudly, 'I served in the United States Navy!'”
John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Its Official

I am the worst person on the planet. I havent updated this thing in about a thousand years. Generally, my excuse is that I havent anything to talk about...but, after three months of not posting, you better believe I have stuff to talk about...I mean, how lame would I be if I didnt?! ugh.

There have been some changes going on in our lives lately...but the best one, hands down is this:
My best friend, who also happens to be my cousin, Jennifer, is expecting a baby in August! We are so thrilled and absolutely overjoyed at the thought of a new baby to play with! And it goes without saying that my mom would have been out shopping THE second the news arrived...she loved her some babies! haha.

So, please, friends, rejoice with us and pray that we have a happy, healthy little baby...a boy baby! hahaha.

hugs forever.

“A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for”

Hiddy Ho There Neighbors!

Here we are, just a few short days before we take off and I am freaking thrilled! Agh!!!!! I just cant wait to get on outta here and kick my shoes off and run around barefoot in the New Zealand soil.
Which brings me to this....
I have decided to start a travel blog called "Anywhere But Here"
(click those cute pink letters above)


I figured that we could use this blog for the everyday magic and the other one for vacay magic, no? I also thought it would be really cool to not only document our travels, but the travels of our family and friends, too. So, if you have a big holiday coming up or just came back from one and wanna share, we would love to see them...just forward them onto my email and I will hook it up! Or....I will give you the secret codes and you can blog it up your self!

Or...if you have nothing going on, have a sit and give the travel blog a read and drop some love on it.

You guys are the best!
Hugs!
xx

“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

Here We Go!

I have officially booked my ticket to New Zealand! I'm so excited that I could barely sleep last night. The countdown has begun, friends,

3 8 D A Y S !!

My dad has a little less time on his countdown clock than that as he will arrive a few days before Michael and I do.
I'm so freakin excited!
and yes, true to my mom's form, I have already started my packing list...but my dad seems to have one upped me on this because he actually packed his ENTIRE suitcase, plus all of his other miscellaneous, extraneous nonsense known as his second piece of luggage.
We are pretty much ready to jump on that plane right now.
My mom has taught us well.


"Those who say you cant take it with you, never saw a car packed for a vacation trip."

.......or our luggage.

hugs
xx

You Say It's Your Birthday....

Today, is my cousin Jennifer's birthday. I am lucky enough to have her not only as my blood relative, but also my best friend. She is also an amazing mother, devoted wife, loving sister and daughter, crazy niece and awesome cousin.
Growing up, we got in all kinds of trouble together...double trouble as my mom referred to us. Oooo weee! Okay, I'm lying...she called us bitches! hahaha! Always the truth teller.
Anyway, I feel very very lucky to have Jenna in my life....she completes me and she is the other half of my brain...if I'm thinking of something, chances are, she is too.
Tonight we are going to the casino for some yummy buffet eating and gambling...so please wish her a happy birthday, but also, please send out positive vibes for us so that we all win big at the slots! Woo-Whooo!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNIFER DENISE!


Shes on the installment plan now...Uncle Nick is hooking her up with a cane and next year she will be on the walker. Shes an old woman now, so be gentle with her when you see her.

hugs
xx

Aotearoa

Ahhh...so the countdown has begun, my friends...a little less than two months until we touch down in The Land of The Long White Cloud, aka my mom's favorite place, aka New Zealand, aka Magic Land. I am so thankful because, boy, do I need a break...it will be nice to be in the place of my dads birth, where we have tons of family and friends...I can't wait to dig my feet into the soil and feel the Earth.
It's definitely not going to be all fun and games and ticky touring...we have loads and loads of work to do on the new house...and I have officially become my dad's slave.
Until next time my friends....

Hugs
xx


That was the big effect Lord of the Rings had on me. It was discovering New Zealand. And even more precious were the people- not at all like the Australians.
Ian McKellan

Today marks five months since my mom's passing. Not a second goes by that I don't think of her, wish that she was here, feel her presence, laugh at ourselves and the nonsense we used to get into...

She is always on my mind and the forefront of everything that I say and I do. I always think...well how would my mom do this, or handle this or what would she say? I find myself almost channeling her in a way.
I got the greatest compliment from my cousin, Jenna the other day, she said " You remind me so much of Aunt Karan." It made my day.

I love you and miss you so much...more than yesterday and only half as much as tomorrow. My light for you will shine always.
xoxo forever.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. ~Kahlil Gibran

Strength and Hope

I want to keep this simple because I would rather you spend your time reading this:

www.helpjessicaandsofia.com

Its a blog/website written by Greg Norris , husband of a girl, now woman, that I grew up with. Jessica recently delivered a baby girl, Sofia Grace, in her fifth month of pregnancy. Please read their story and send out all of the love, strength, hope, million claps, prayers and all of that other good ju-ju that you guys are so good at, to this family...they could really use our support.

www.helpjessicaandsofia.com

“Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark.”

George Iles