Birthday Swing!

My cool new swing is finally up! Thanks Oliver, Aunt Kath, and Uncle Gordon!

Fish face + man capris

My shorts are a little long Mom.  But here's a kiss for you anyway :)

Trivial Pursuit, anyone?

gray getting a one-up on future classmates.... Studying "The 80s" via TP at Fire.

Sunday Mornin' goodness

Today's breakfast was whole wheat blueberry pancakes and fresh kiwi. Someone liked it... A lot. :)

I'm cute.

Sometimes my mom watches me sleep. And takes pictures. Is that weird?!? ;)

P.S. I love my monkey.

ONE.

Birthday Boy!

our little peanut grew into a big peanut :) Grayson is ONE! i am so PROUD to be his mama for so, so many reasons. he is such a funny boy, makes me laugh so many times throughout the day. he 'hams it up' with just about everyone (anyone!)...us, friends, family, strangers at the grocery store... it is hilarious! he is so smart too, i feel like he is the smartest one year old in town! :) he has several words that he 'says' ... now i know what other parents meant by understanding their child's nonsense! he also understands so much, which is really, really cool. future genius?! we are still waiting for the day he takes his first step(s)... and are secretly glad that day has not come yet.  i can only imagine my heart racing everytime he lunges forward or topples over!  i am SO not ready for that!!! the last year has flown by, and i fear that in a flash, we will be at his kindergarten/high school/college (MSU) graduation!! does life really happen that quickly? most parents would say YES i think. 

we had a fun celebration on july 4... a backyard BBQ ... it seemed appropriate as that is how the life of G started (meaning me going into labor at our 2010 party on july 3). grayson's first birthday party was complete with friends (big and small!), balloons, kiddie pool fun, lots of food, an ELMO cake to smash, and perfect weather.  later in the night, after an exhausted one year old boy went to sleep, we watched fireworks with friends from our yard (all the while G slept the entire night through all the noise! good boy!). a wonderful day!

opening gifts with Mom

happy first birthday my little one. you are the best thing i've done and i love you so, so much. love, your mama






check out our pics :) picasaweb.google.com/pdxarmingtons

the 10th month of G

true portland kid

hello! it's been awhile since i've posted anything. but i just uploaded a bunch of photos to facebook this AM (and our picture page last night) so i am motivated.  let's see, what's going on in the life of G? he is so much fun at this age, such a little ham. he smiles and laughs at everyone! when we are out and about, he literally stares smiling and laughing at people until they smile back at him... it is so funny and cute! he's like "HELLO!!! LOOK AT ME!!!"

he pulls himself up on everything and has finally learned how to get back down to the floor. still crawling all over (first started the night we returned from our michigan trip, ha! wanted to wait for daddy!) and not ready to walk yet, or even stand alone, which chad and i are both very ok with.  he is talking a lot, mostly babble, but he does have a few words and knows just about everything in our house by word recognition. he is very smart!!! chase the cat is getting used to this other "thing" at his level, and usually is ok with the subtle tormenting grayson gives.

as much as we can, we spend time outside. spring in portland usually graces us with several nice days mixed in with the rainy, grey ones.  we even had a few days in the high 60s and 70s.... lovely! we take him on walks around the neighborhoods, hikes at mt. tabor, swinging at the parks, and just recently now bike rides! his new bike seat is super cool and he seems to love it! a future biker ... makes daddy very proud! we all can't wait for summer and more chances to ride around this bike-friendly city.

enjoying some adult time in mexico!

chad and i got a chance to get away for alex's wedding in mexico, it was amazing. of course being surrounded by family in the sunshiney warm weather and beauty of a gorgeous resort helped :) we enjoyed relaxing by the pool or on the beach sipping adult beverages and enjoying being a married couple again (instead of parents). grayson had a wonderful time at home with gramma jo and grampa dick, and only missed us 23 hours of the day! we got to spend some quality time with the Armington's - all of them - and look forward to this fall when amanda and ben tie the knot in georgia.

as we quickly approach the dreaded day of june 6, i am reminded how lucky we really are in the grand scheme of things. every single day i wish that my mom was here to experience our lives with grayson; i am hoping that she is experiencing it somehow. i guess we just keep moving forward and keep sharing stories with him. she will be remembered through us. 

it's been a busy few months, but that's just how i like it.  this past year has flown... in about 6 weeks our little guy will be a year old. wow!  until next time.........

oops....

SHOOT! the last post from earlier today never got posted when i wrote it!!! darn it!!!!! (obviously i am not blog saavy just yet.)

crazy Sheldon's at Dad's 60th shindig

so, i originally wrote that last one in january. we just returned from our surprise trip and it was awesome. my dad was absolutely shocked and even shed a few tears when we came walking up to greet him. i am so glad we went and the only thing i would have changed was to have chad come with me. darn spendy flights!

i am still wishing we lived closer. being far from family is so hard. on the way back last week, i was wondering why we even live out here. when i returned home (here) i remembered how much i love living in oregon...but it makes me wonder...what is more important??? obviously our jobs are here. but still makes me ponder... 

grayson and oliver playing together again!

G+G :)

gray and gramps swinging...a daily activity!

grayson with grandpa and grandma on our last morning there

 

sadness turns to excitement

june, 2010

as usual, i am missing my people :) i do LOVE living in oregon, geographically not-so-much but the actual city/state is fabulous.  there isn't a day that i don't wish we lived in michigan... only because a majority of my family and friends are there, actually moving there w/o jobs and everything is not ideal. (my solution: everyone just needs to move to oregon, it's way more fun and awesome here! hee hee)  i am sad when i miss out on family get togethers, friend's dinners, playdates, etc.  last weekend alex and dayna had their official wedding ceremony...  if it were not for skype i would not have been a part of it!  yes, we will be in mexico standing up in their "real" (non-legal) wedding.  BUT it would have been nice to have been able to actually hug my brother and now sis-in-law on their (first) wedding day... wait, which day will be their anniversary?!? :) anyway..... after saturday's family event, it made me sad to be far away, and more and more adamant about planning another trip to michigan, and soon.  i'm itching to go.......

well, my itch has been scratched! i booked a flight home for mister G and i to fly in, and even more exciting is that we are surprising my dad for his 60th birthday in march! i cannot believe he is not going to know we're coming! luckily, at least for this, he does not EVER use a computer, much less know how or where to read my blog :) he is going to be so happy, i cannot WAIT to see his face when we walk in the door.  (for any of you that might happen to see my dad, talk to him, or whatever.... SHHHHHHHH!!!!)

so... i'm excited! yay!

Snoozin' baby

Picture from our walk this afternoon. G was cashed out from 2 not-so-great naps, lots of errands, and swingin' in the sunshine! Mama walked around the neighborhood for almost an hour while the little one was snuggled up in the baby carrier and my sweater :)

Testing......

7 months!

sunny days in portland

our baby is 7 months old! every single day is a blessing with my little carrot top! he is so much fun these days... laughing, making us laugh, talking (everything is "da da da"), drooling through several shirts a day (teeth soon!?), and putting every single thing in sight into his mouth.  we have been taking gray to the park almost every single day, as he has demonstrated great joy in being pushed in the baby swing! it is so, so cute.  (if you are friends with me on facebook, you have seen the pictures! i have about a gazillion! sidenote: you can see our photos at  http://picasaweb.google.com/pdxarmingtons)

the past two nights our little angel has slept through until the morning... i know, i know, just by saying that he will not do it again for months. (yet i am still exhausted when i get up? WTH?)  i am amazed at how quickly things change in baby-world.  one day he's barely pushing up onto his hands, and now he is trying SO hard to crawl! chad and i are secretly hoping for a couple more months before he is mobile... lots of baby proofing to do! he is up on his hands and knees, rocking back and forth... we turn our heads and somehow (although not by crawling) he has made it off the blanket onto the wood floor turned in a different way, smiling up at us like, "What? I'm sneaky!"

our good friends here had their little son 3 1/2 weeks ago, grayson's future bestie miles :)  hearing their stories of his behavior at 3 weeks old brings me back to last summer and honestly i cannot believe how quickly time flies.  what a blur, now G is so big his legs hang off me as i rock him to sleep, seems like not long ago he could fit in the bend of my elbow and snuggle in to my chest so easily. 

this month brings lots of fun planned in P-town: super bowl sunday tomorrow with friends, a visit to seattle to see "auntie" meg and hopefully other friends up there, and of course the long awaited return of gramma jo! (it has been since new year's eve that we have seen her, a long time for her to be away!)  plus of course lots of trips to the park and hikes (we're hoping for more of this sunny, dry weather!), hopefully a tooth or two, and a couple date nights for mama and daddy!

GO PACKERS! (did you know aaron rogers moved to oregon as a kid so his dad could go to western states chiropractic college?!? my alma mater!)

my ABCs of 2011

since i have a kid now, a lot of my mind and focus lately has been about his development, future schooling, etc... so instead of posting my new year's resolution(s) i thought it might be more fun and appropriate to my life to add a little twist to this year's resolutions.  it might be hard but i think i can come up with 26 things i want to do better or focus on a little more in 2011.  here we go!!!

A-Appreciate. i have so much to be thankful for. sit back and appreciate all that we have every day. this should be a given for everyone.
B-Balance. really work on finding the balance between being a mom, a doctor, a wife.
C-Challenges...in practice, in relationships, in life...not just getting through life's challenges but to actually challenge myself in all of the above
D-Dinner. make more dinners!
E-Exercise. as nike says, just do it. it feels good and i DO have time to fit it in.
F-Family. staying connected in any way possible...skype, email, phone, family trips, date nights...
G-Grayson, this one was obvious :) i am so excited for what this year will bring for the little guy!
H-Heal/Hope. one in the same for me right now. hoping to heal a little more each day.
I-Ice cube trays! fill them with homemade baby food :)
J-Jammies. spend more time relaxing in our PJs! get comfortable and be lazy sometimes. it's ok to do that.
K-Kindness. be kind. kill 'em with kindness. be nice to everyone even if their views are a little different than mine.
L-Love. plan more date nights even if they are at home!
M-Mom...Continue to grieve. Continue to miss her. Continue to share her stories with Grayson. Continue to reflect on what she taught me and use those things in my mothering. Continue to love her. Continue to wonder where she is and what she's doing.  Continue to ask her for help with life's challenges. Continue to remember. Visit her at least once.
N-No. say NO!!!! i have the hardest time saying no and often get myself so stressed trying to fit everything in. it's not good for me or for my life! see item B.
O-Oliver :) i am so excited for grayson and oliver to start recognizing each other on skype. even if we are not close in miles, the cousins can become the best of friends.
P-Phone calls. i need to get better about actually calling people and less reliant on texts :)
Q-Quinoa. eat more of it... it is so good and so good for you! high in protein, heart healthy, and delicious. i love it in a cold salad with veggies, fresh herbs, and a little balsamic.
R-Relax. Relax. Relax. Relax. (hello, Mexico in April!)
S-Sewing! try for 1 project a month with my new sewing machine. And take a class.
T-Travel....already have 3 trips for weddings (alex/dayna, maya/JL, amanda/ben), but plan a trip that is not wedding related and that chad, grayson and i can enjoy as a family... maybe the coast or crater lake?
U-Used. used books (go to the library more). used baby clothes (shop consignment and share old clothes). used bags (don't forget re-usable bags when i go to the grocery store)!
V-Veggies. enjoy more vegetables. pretty easy one since we get a box of fruits and veggies delivered to our house every week. BUT still, there are weeks when we don't use all of them.
W-Work. work harder AND smarter. continue to grow in practice. and sign up for an interesting seminar for CE.
X-"x"pectations... ok X is hard.  this year i will raise my expectations of myself as a practitioner. aim higher=better doctor.
Y-Yesterday. forget it. begin each day as a fresh new one. don't dwell on what didn't get done yesterday.
Z-zzzzzzzzzz 2011 will be better in the sleep department, i hope....

yummy recipe: southwestern pork and sweet potatoes

thought i'd share this recipe, i have made it several times and it is always super delish.  i love to use my dutch oven pot, this recipe is perfect for it.  and i especially love recipes that require braising/simmering/cooking, i.e. not needing any attention, for several hours :-) i originally found the recipe in jan/feb 08 cooking light magazine (bonus! it's healthy too!). if you are hosting a dinner over the holidays this is perfect because it makes a lot. i think it's best with a side of jalapeno cornbread (add finely chopped fresh jalapeno to your regular cornbread batter before baking. even better: substitute equal parts coconut milk for the milk in the batter too, SO GOOD!)!! (hmmm.... if your guests or you don't enjoy spicy food, these recipes might not be for you!)

"sweet potatoes mitigate this braise's spicy heat, brought on by the combo of pickled jalapeno's sour spiciness and the more complex heat of ancho chile powder." 

2 T ancho chile powder
1 t salt
1 t ground cumin
2 garlic cloves
1 small onion, peeled and quartered
1 pickled jalepeno, stemmed (i typically put 2 in there)
cooking spray
2 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder (boston butt), trimmed (i have used pork tenderloin too)
1 12-ounce dark beer (calls for dark mexican beer such as dos equis amber)...i use whatever dark beer we have
1 (4 inch) cinnamon stick
3 cups (1 inch) cubed peeled sweet potato (about 1 pound)
chopped fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)

1--place first 6 ingredients in a food processor; process 1 minute or until a think paste forms. (note to self: baby does not enjoy sound made by food processor!)
2--heat a large dutch oven over medium-high heat.  coat pan with cooking spray.  add pork to pan; cook 4 minutes, browning on all sides.  remove pork from pan.
3--add chile mixture to pan; cook 2 minutes or until fragrant, stirring occasionally.  stir in beer, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.  add pork and cinnamon stick; bring to a simmer.  cover, reduce heat, and simmer 2 hours or until pork is tender.
4--remove pork from pan; shred into large pieces with 2 forks. (i usually just do this in the pan)  stir shredded pork and sweet potatoes into the pan; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.  discard cinnamon stick. garnish with cilantro if desired (yum!). 

enjoy!!! let me know if you make it!

in the spirit

merry christmas from portland!

i will start by saying: i cannot even believe it is december 13! where did 2010 go? seriously, it has been a whirlwind... pretty much since june 6.  the last six months have been difficult, sad, and horrible, but also wonderfully filled with giggles and special moments with grayson (thank God for those moments, they have gotten me through some rough patches).

we got our tree about a week and a half ago... it is absolutely beautiful! the new house has a little bit higher ceilings than our last so we got taller tree this year. it looks great.  and the little dude loves to stare at the lights, it's so cute.  ever since we decorated it, i've been in the Christmas spirit.  grayson and i have been shopping a lot and i am almost done with all the gift-buying (and wrapping!!) that i need to do before christmas. we have been playing holiday music and a lot of times i grab grayson and dance with him while singing the songs... he thinks it is hilarious :) anyone that might walk by our front windows MIGHT think i'm a huge dork.  but i don't care, it makes me think of my mom, and G loves it! i've been itching to take him to macy's to get his picture on santa's lap... i secretly (ok not so secretly) want him to cry because i think those pictures are way cuter than the posed ones...  a screaming baby on a creepy old guy's lap with a slightly yellowish beard surrounded by a perfect backdrop? sounds amazing.

chad's family will all be in portland for christmas this year, and we are also carrying on the armington-"dokzales" Christmas tradition (where we spend the holiday with maya and JL)... it will be a great gathering between family and friends. i can't wait. next on my "spirited" list: baking Christmas cookies! happy holidays everyone!!

grayson, 5 months

i am thankful

organic free range turkey a la kath 2009

as thanksgiving quickly approaches, not only am i excited about the food (!) but also the holiday... it has been a favorite of mine for a long time.  the past few years we have been able to travel home to michigan and spend time with my family (and at least 1 dinner w/ friends). this year we have decided not to travel for the holidays. it is bittersweet; although i enjoy being a home-body and am excited to start new family traditions, i will miss so many things about home this year, most obviously, my mom.  she was the best cook, and spent so much time preparing a wonderful (not always completely traditional) menu. for days we'd hear about what part of the meal she was preparing, she always started (super) early. and she loved to do it. rarely did she ask for help! and i have to note: i always did the dishes after (oddly i will even miss that). we'd sit around, finally get around to dessert (or a hot turkey sandwich), play games, go on a walk, or watch seinfeld re-runs :) good quality family time. it will be a hard holiday season without her, and even harder not being close to my family for our first without mom.

BUT this is supposed to be what i am thankful for.  there are so many good things about my life, and i feel very lucky.  i am thankful for everyone in my life, whether you are a friend near or far away, a family member that we miss terribly, a co-worker that i absolutely love working with (all of them!), or one of the many, many people that support and love us (all of the above).  i am very, very thankful for our healthy, lovely grayson... everyday he never ceases to amaze me. learning a new thing, smiling a bigger smile, laughing out loud at something i do to make him giggle, the loudest screeching sound he makes when i walk in the room, his quiet admiration for daddy, sleeping an extra hour at naptime, or more recently at night!! grayson you are the best!  i am absolutely thankful for my husband... he makes me a better person in every way.  he is a wonderful father and cannot wait to get G on the mountain or on a bike... it is so cute to hear his plans for them. long story short, there are so many PEOPLE i am thankful for, every day!

ok, i am also thankful for THINGS... the little things in life that make it easier or more fun! facebook, skype, snapfish, and picasa. fantasy football and the Spartans. airplanes and cell phones.  good coffee and a good breakfast. an expensive bottle of pinot from our collection, or a good find on a $10 bottle of wine! the exersaucer! our weekly veggie and fruit box, thank you Organics to You! our camera and pictures.  my breastpump, oh what would i do without you!?! my hair dryer and variety of aveda products :) a good movie on a rainy portland day. sunbreaks on those rainy days! an interesting book and time to relax and read. sitting down at the end of a workday with chad and a couple beers, catching up on the day's events. a warm, cozy home... just to name a few.

as i said before, i feel very lucky to be livin' the good life.  it is so short and precious...  if you are reading this, i love you! we don't say it enough, but you are loved. thank you for being in my life. and oh, come visit us in portland!

happy thanksgiving to all! gobble gobble!

dear grayson...

there are so many things i want you to know about these precious moments we are experiencing in your life... i wish i could have the video camera running all the time. you are becoming such the little man, it is truly amazing to me.  your giggles and laughter make me so happy, no matter how exhausted i am!  you absolutely love to be bounced... in your bouncy seat or especially on our knees, it makes you crack up laughing and is so adorable.  you are definitely my son in that you get bored with one activity quite fast... always wanting to try something new. you love it when i lay you down on the floor on a blanket and let you kick, kick, kick! it makes you giggle, which of course makes me laugh.  you are about 3/4 of the way to rolling over from your back to belly... i bet within a week or two you'll get it!  you like to be on your tummy too, and you move your little arms and legs like you are going to swim away... it is so cute.  we just got you an exersaucer which you like to sit in and play with all the toys that are attached, you are so interested in figuring out how to get your chubby little hands up to that fish (the tallest one), it's amazing to watch. you have discovered your hands and fingers, and a lot of times you would much rather suck on those than a paci.  inside your little mouth two teeth are trying to push their way to the surface... they don't bother you just yet but i can feel them and i know what is to come very shortly.  you sleep pretty sporadically throughout the day... mama has a hard time getting you down for a nap (daddy is much better at it, with gramma's trick of the burp cloth over the eyes!), instead we just rock and relax in your room (sometime it's not that "relaxing" when you are so tired and crying!)... at night you sleep wonderfully, getting up a couple times to nurse but going right back down (that makes mama very happy)!  i love our days together, even if they are long and sometimes crabby...  i prefer them much more than the days that i work and you stay here with daddy.  all day that i'm gone, i wonder "what are they doing" and "how is he sleeping" and "am i missing something"?!?  when i get home from work it is the absolute best feeling as you look up at me and grin with the biggest smile... like you really did miss me! (sidenote: daddy usually keeps you in your jammies all day long because you are 'comfortable' and 'always ready for a nap' which you probably are, but i just have to laugh!)

you are 17 weeks, 1 day old today... i cannot believe how fast time has flown since july 4. it is november already and before we know it, christmas will be here!  how fun this year will be! i am so glad you are in my life, my little buddy. i love you!

grayson visits the midwest, twice.

after my dad and anne left portland, the past few weeks have been a whirlwind... now it's mid october and thankfully (sadly) we are home for good until our next travels (nothing planned, although a trip to mexico is in the works for alex and dayna's wedding next spring!)... it is so nice to know we're home now for awhile, but also sad in a way. we were lucky enough to spend lots of the past couple weeks with family, both mine and chad's, and it was fabulous.  definitely makes me want to live closer...

mid/late september grayson and i flew to michigan to stay with (aunt) kath for a week! it was a great trip mixed in with a bit of stress... had some loose ends to tie up for Mom, that was really hard, and we still need to order a headstone. alex is thinking about designing one, how cool.  we visited her grave and it was really difficult, having the babies there, oh how i miss my mom.  it is so weird and crappy and sad and frustrating still... wishing she could be here for all of the "stuff", well life i guess, that we're going through and experiencing.  big sad face. 

anyhoo, G did amazing on the flights but to be honest did not sleep great almost the entire trip...  makes for a tired mama who's in charge 24-7!  now i can appreciate those single moms and thank the lord i'm not one of them!  we got back home and had a fun, quick trip from gramma jo, she came into town for a whole 2 1/2 days! it was nice to have her here again (again....wishing she lived here!!!), and we got to see amanda & ben too, LOVE that they are now an hour and a half away.  now if we can just get the rest of the fam to move here... hmmm... does anyone sense a pattern?

our last trip took us through chicago and driving to iowa... it was fabulous!  grayson got to meet all of his living great grandparents, as well as some great aunts, uncles, and 2nd cousins. he attended his 2nd wedding since birth, man that kid is well traveled and so ahead of the game!! a fun armington family trip overall, and of course makes me look forward to the next, when they all get to come for christmas in portland. yay!

fall is here, and what a gorgeous time of year it has been here in portland. it is definitely my favorite season where ever i am... and in oregon it has been sunny and warm, with some chilly nights/mornings, perfect weather really.  why do i love fall? well, between football (go MSU! ranked #7 in the BCS as of yesterday!), fantasy football (SO fun!), pumpkins, sipping hot coffee on a chilly morning, making chili, baking, evening strolls wearing a sweatshirt, celebrating our anniversary (#4 this year!), eating the best fresh veggies and fruits, especially apples and pears, squash, and kale... gosh i could go on and on! but i'll stop because if you are reading this you are probably bored. :) and if you are reading, thanks :)

more pics for you to enjoy. someday i'll figure out how to link my picasa albums... but for now here's a few favorites from grayson's 3rd month!

cousins grayson & oliver!!!

4 generations

great grandpa eddie and great grandma dody

armington family photo

chad, grayson, and me

great grandma ('bisnonna') Santina

great uncle sal, bisnonna, oliver and gray

my last days of freedom...

grandpa clayton & grandma anne visit!

all summer i had been looking forward to my dad and anne's trip out here... but knew once it came and went it would almost be time to get back to work.  well they just left last night after a great week-long visit, and now i'm looking at my calendar wondering where september went? ahh!!! this week gray and i will fly to michigan (thanks gramma jo!) to spend time with my family... meeting cousins oliver and grady, along with many friends, celebrating anne's 60th, and toasting newly engaged alex and dayna! it will be a great trip... but the second we return reality sets in and i'm back to work for good! yikes! am i ready for this? things are starting to easier in our lives with an infant... easier and more fun! G is all smiles during the day and starting to sleep better at night.  but do i really want to add the stress of work into the mix? not to mention all the "firsts" i might miss? it's making me sad just to think about leaving him all day! i guess it's a good thing i like my job and that daddy chad will be his day care while i'm gone :-)  well... here's to another week and a half of (non-working) freedom! i am going to enjoy every second of it! G is growing by the minute and i'm trying to capture lots of it on film. here are a couple pics of him meeting more of his loving family!!!

aunt amanda moved to oregon!

grandpa with grayson

let the games begin!

Gray had his 2 month appointment yesterday, and I am proud to say that he weighs in at 11 pounds, 14.9 ounces which is the 83rd percentile for 2 month-ers.  Good job G and good job me! :-)  He is also 23.5 inches long which is the 94th percentile.  Our little meatball is growing!

Thanks for my cool football onesie Auntie Meg!

Today is one of my favorite days, the start of NFL football season! This year I am in 2 fantasy leagues which makes it so much more fun! Chad is doing his first year of fantasy as well (2 teams for him too!)... the little G man will be a football lover for sure! I'm excited for this year's college season as well, although I don't get to see many MSU games on TV (stupid west coast channels!).  We're hoping to visit Amanda & Ben down in Corvallis and go to at least one Oregon State football game.  Grayson is ready with his OSU onesie! I miss going to college games, I have so many fun memories of the years at State tailgating with friends and going to games.  Football season is the best (almost as good as college basketball!), it means fall is here, my favorite season. 

Today is also the 8 year anniversary of Chad & me... awwww.  I can't believe it's been 8 years! So much has happened since then :-) I can't wait for the many, many more to come.  I never could have imagined how amazing we would become as a couple.  Ok... I will stop the mushy stuff. Until next time!!!!