Adventures in Life

Monday, Gabe, Alex, my mom, and I went to Indianapolis to see my Grandma. We stayed for a few hours and had food from Taco Bell. My Grandma really likes Taco Bell, so when Gabe and I go up to see her we always have food from there. We made it back to my parent's house pretty late (around 11:00 p.m.). I managed to read about half of the new James Patterson book Cross Country. Gabe gave it to me for Christmas. So, I used the light function on the Itzbeen to read the first portion of the book. Maybe I will get a chance to finish it before we go back. I have quite a few books to read. I read The Tales of Beedle the Bard while driving from Peoria to my Parent's house. It makes me miss Harry Potter. After I catch up with the Twilight series, I might read the Harry Potter series again. Oh, it looks like they are going to make a movie out of New Moon, the second book in the Twilight series. I still haven't seen the first movie yet.

We were going to get our eyes examined yesterday, but my old eye doctor was off. So, we stayed home and relaxed. My brother and his wife came up for a little while.

Since my eye doctor was off yesterday, we decided to go today. Both Gabe and I had our eyes examined. Alex came along to watch. We wanted to get our hair cut, but we barely had time for our eye exams. We had an appointment with a photographer for my entire family to have a group picture and then everyone could have whatever combination of photographs that they wanted. However, even more people are sick, so it was canceled. No picture this year :(
There is always next year.

Our New Year's Eve plans were canceled since the picture was canceled. People were supposed to come over and eat/play cards/play games, but since everyone was sick it ended up being Gabe, my mom, my Dad, Alex, and me. I really hope that Alex doesn't catch whatever is going around. Luckily, my parents, Gabe, and I seem to be avoiding it so far...hopefully I did not just jinx us.

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Yesterday, Gabe, my parents, Alex, and I went to lunch at 17th Street Bar & Grill. My mom had a few things to pick up in a town about a half an hour from where they live. She had a baby shower for some of our family members and friends. So, today we saw quite a few of my family members and a lot of them met Alex for the first time. We had a really yummy cake and cookies.

Alex cookies

Diaper cake that Brandi made.

Gabe & Alex at the shower.

We came back to my parent's house and watched the Gridiron Gang. It is about a probation officer that decides to start a football team the inmates of the juvenile detention center. Some were in rival gangs. They all had to play together as a team. It was a great movie.

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On Christmas Eve we headed down to my parent's house. We celebrated my Dad's birthday at my brother's house. My sister and sister-in-law made dinner. Afterward we came back to my parent's house.

Christmas morning people came up for breakfast and we opened our ornament exchange gifts. My brother didn't come up for Christmas this year due to a severe illness that started after we left his house on Christmas Eve. I spoke with him today and he is still sick. We opened presents on Christmas Day and everyone went home. When people came back for dinner, Brandi's husband (Doug) did not come back up. He stayed home sick. While eating dinner Shane's son started throwing up. I am hoping that Alex does not get sick. It seems that everyone has whatever is currently going around. My Uncle Marty and his family also stopped by last night.

This morning my cousin, Kara Beth stopped by to see Alex. Gabe and I have been relaxing. The weather here is nicer than the weather was up north.

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Happy Birthday Daddy!

Graphic courtesy of Pat's Web Graphics.

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Alex's eye is much better. Unfortunately he does not like the eye drop in his eye every three hours.

We dropped the dogs off at the kennel on Friday and we flew out to St. Louis on Saturday. Alex ended up with half of my suit case and part of Gabe's suit case. So, when we arrived at the airport we had two large suit cases, a medium suit case (that Gabe emptied and packed into the other bags), a car seat, a diaper bag, two carry ons, and a baby. We could barely carry it all. It is a really good thing that Gabe left the medium suit case in the truck.

We flew Frontier Airlines and they were all very nice. The lady at the check in counter said we could check any baby items for free and to keep it in mind for our next trip. It is nice in thought, but I don't think that it is that practical to pack any more stuff around. Going through security was much easier than I had anticipated. The TSA worker was very helpful and came over to help me through security. I sort of think he saw me and thought "oh great, she is really going to slow things down." :)

Alex was great on the airplane. He slept the entire time we were flying. I hope that he is just as great on the trip home.

We stopped at Sam's to pick up some diapers before arriving at his parent's house. The weather here definitely reminds me of winter. There is snow on the ground and ice on the trees. The roads were basically fine though.

Ice and snow

On Sunday, Aaron came to Peoria. Originally we were going to go to Chicago to the German Village, but the weather was too bad to take Alex. Instead, Aaron came to see us. We went to Folepi's Village and saw the Festival of Lights floats. Luckily the village was inside and we were able to see the floats from the comfort of our heated car.

The cacti followed us to Illinois!

Aaron, Gabe, and I came back and we all had dinner. Aaron had to leave since he had a long drive back to Chicago and he had to work on Monday. Laura (Gabe's sister) and Nate (Laura's boyfriend) came over we opened our Christmas presents and watched old family videos. Gabe and I also wrapped all of the presents on Sunday morning. It was like a little Christmas for us too, since most of the packages had been shipped to his parent's house months ago.

On Monday, I watched while Gabe, Duane (Gabe's dad), Troy (Gabe's brother), and Shari (Gabe's sister-in-law) all played Settlers of Catan. The Gabe was put on hold around 5:00 p.m. Gabe, Duane, and I went to a military supply store to buy some MRE's for my brother for Christmas. We had ordered some from a site on the internet, but I was really disappointed in them. They were only the entrees and not the complete meal that I was expecting. It is all fixed now (I still need to wrap them though). We stopped by Laura and Nate's place on the way back and then we headed to Sam's to pick up some chickens for dinner. After dinner, the game playing resumed.

Today has been pretty laid back. Troy, Shari, and Sophie (Troy & Shari's daughter) headed back to their home. I think we are going to watch a movie tonight. The snow is much nicer when you can enjoy it from the comfort of a heated house. Gabe and I also need to pack. We are going to leave tomorrow and head south to Southern Illinois to see my family.

I think that we are crazy for coming here for Christmas. We should have had people come to sunny Arizona instead!

P.S. I will most likely add pictures in early January.

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Happy Birthday Elsa & Clara!

Graphic courtesy of Pat's Web Graphics.

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Alex has an eye infection.

P.S. Once I find my camera (it is MIA again) I will post a picture of his gooey eye.

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Happy Birthday Anna!

Graphic courtesy of Pat's Web Graphics.

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We had our Christmas in Arizona tonight.

Alex "talking" on his phone book.

Me and my collection of books from Gabe.

We have to take the dogs to the kennel tomorrow. Unfortunately, we can't bring them with us to Illinois. The weather there is too cold for the dogs to transported in the winter and the summers in Arizona are too warm for them to fly out of Tucson. So, it looks like they will primarily be staying in the sunny state of Arizona.

We still aren't packed. I guess we will do it tomorrow. Our flight leaves on Saturday morning.

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Last night, while Gabe and Alex were sleeping, I made the curtains for our bathroom. I have had the material for a couple of days, but I haven't found the time to make them. I decided that it really needed to be done so I could shower and bathe and definitely NOT flash the neighbors. Gabe was convinced that the windows were too tall for anyone to see anything while getting in and out of the shower or bath, but I just feel better with curtains.

All three bathroom windows with curtains

A closeup of a window. The curtain is hanging in an odd manner, so the bottom doesn't look even (it is even).

I doubled a sheer material to make the curtains since both Gabe and I like the natural light. A single layer of sheer didn't inhibit the view into the bathroom from the street as well as I wanted, so I doubled the material. Originally I was going to cover the entire window, but it made the bathroom feel smaller. So, I only covered the lower half of the window to keep open feeling of room.

I am copying this idea from Nicole's blog. I wanted to do a newborn picture and then take a picture every month with the 12 month outfit to monitor his growth. I was a little late taking the pictures and posting them.

Alex 1 Week

Alex 6 Weeks and 2 Days

1. Update Magazine Addresses...I am up to date!
2. Start packing. I have a feeling this will be a multiple day process. Umm...I tried and Alex kept waking up. Basically, I ordered him some more warm outfits. I am really going to start packing today! After I post this entry...and find my camera.
3. Work on room downstairs. If we ever get our house together I will post pictures. I am hoping Gabe and I can get started tomorrow. If I finish packing I will start this today too.

There are a lot of other things on my list that I don't post on the blog (ex. return Wal-Mart and Fry's items...I did both of these yesterday). So, even if I don't accomplish my blog goals I still do things during the day :)

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We had the 30 day walk through on our house last week. Technically we haven't lived here for 30 days, but they wanted to get it in before January. Basically, we have spent every free moment working on the house and it is looking much better. I wanted to have it completed by January, but that isn't going to happen. Maybe by March 1st.

Gabe and I watched The Dark Knight last night. Christian Bale was an okay Bruce Wayne (I like Michael Keaton better) but I did not like his Batman. Heath Ledger did a good job acting, but I think he was better in A Knight's Tale, The Brothers Grimm, and Casanova. While watching the movie I worked on finishing up Alex's quilt. I started it while we still lived in Illinois and I hadn't worked on it since living in our house. So, instead of checking my email or writing a blog entry while watching the movie, I finished his quilt. It is just in time to take it to Illinois.

Alex's dog quilt

Alex hanging out with the quilt

1. Catch up on email. Check!
2. Make a Menu Check! (I even made January's menu)
3. Grocery Shop Check!
4. Mail USPS Packages Check!
5. Update Magazine Addresses...umm I have a couple left. Darn time zone differences.
6. Send my mom her recipes Check!
7. Kohl's Cash (I apparently have $20) Check! Well sort of...it expired.
8. Order Wedding present for a friend Check!

My Goals for Tomorrow
1. Start packing. I have a feeling this will be a multiple day process
2. Work on room downstairs. If we ever get our house together I will post pictures.

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1. Finish the Christmas Cards Check! I even mailed them!
2. Mail the 6 packages (at least 3 of them). Three go to the post office and three are UPS. 1/2 Check...the post office was closed by the time I made it.
3. Pick up the entire house and laundry. Check!

My Goals for tomorrow.
1. Catch up on email.
2. Make a Menu
3. Grocery Shop
4. Mail USPS Packages

My Goals for Thursday
1. Update Magazine Addresses
2. Send my mom her recipes
3. Kohl's Cash (I apparently have $20)
4. Order Wedding present for a friend

I have always been a list maker, but now I am forced to accomplish my goals if I publish them on my website ;)

The dentist was okay. I still like my previous dentist better. It always feels weird to eat for the first time after a cleaning. It just seems wrong.

I meant to post this in my previous entry, but I didn't for some reason. So, I almost had to buy boxes to wrap Christmas presents, but I didn't. I became really creative. I used a Triscuit box, an Opti-Free box, a diced tomato box, and a corn box. These were in addition to some other boxes. Note to my family...just because your gift is in an Opti-Free box does not mean you are getting contact lens solution for Christmas.

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Alex did not have to get a shot on Wednesday. We decided to give it with the other shots at the 2 month appointment instead. Basically it is given with another shot, so if we had opted to have it at the 1 month appointment he would be getting and extra stick with the needle overall.

I managed to mail a couple of packages on Sunday. I believe the baby announcements were mailed on Sunday. I have been working on the Christmas cards and I believe I have around 7 left. Hopefully those will get mailed out today with the 6 packages that are hanging out in the family room.

So, my goals for today
1. Finish the Christmas Cards
2. Mail the 6 packages (at least 3 of them). Three go to the post office and three are UPS.
3. Pick up the entire house and Laundry.

My Goals for tomorrow.
1. Catch up on email.
2. Make a Menu
3. Grocery Shop

My Goals for Thursday
1. Update Magazine Addresses
2. Send my mom her recipes
3. Kohl's Cash (I apparently have $20)
4. Order Wedding present for a friend

We will see if I actually accomplish my goals. I will be really happy if I can get each day's goals completed. It is much harder to do things when Alex is awake.

I have to go to the dentist today...fun, fun, fun. That is going to be an adventure.

Oh, these packages that I am mailing require boxes and packing paper. The Christmas presents need boxes too. Well, when you move you have plenty of boxes and packing paper, right? Hmm...we threw ours out. The irony in the entire situation is we almost had to buy boxes and packing paper. I managed to scrounge some up from the packages that we have been receiving in the mail. I also started opening the boxes that managed to find their way into closest in search of packing paper. I found two sheets.

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Happy Birthday Troy!

Graphic courtesy of Pat's Web Graphics.

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Happy Birthday Esther!

Graphic courtesy of Pat's Web Graphics.

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I was a little overzealous in what I was going to accomplish yesterday. I did finish the baby announcements, but our bedroom is still a mess, the Christmas cards have yet to be touched, and the packages that need to be mailed and their contents are spread all over the floor. Maybe today I will get the packages done. I really need to get them mailed. Some of them are already going to be late. Basically, look for your baby announcement in the mail. They should be on their way today (a mere 5 weeks after his birth).

For anyone keeping track, the high today is in the 70's. Ahh, the benefits of living in the middle of the desert in December. Talk to me in August and I might not be so accepting of the desert climate.

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I should be picking up the bedroom, finishing up the birth announcements, working on Christmas cards, or one of the other million things I need to do since Alex is sleeping. Instead, I am writing an entry to update everyone...what dedication.

Friday my mom wanted to go shopping. Now, just in case you are wondering I am not the "get up and go out at 4:00 a.m. type" and I did manage to order my shower curtain at Kohl's online at 11:00 p.m. (actually Gabe did it for me because I kept falling asleep). We went to the mall around noon thinking the die-hard shoppers would have returned home or at least stopped for lunch. We were wrong. Cops were directing traffic at the mall. It was ridiculous and finding a parking space (note: just a space not necessarily a good space) was nearly impossible. We did however luck out and found a space at Dillard's. Little did we know Dillard's is located at the opposite end as Macy's, which just happens to be the store that my mom wanted to shop. Stores had cue lines set up and shoppers were only allowed in when another shopper had left the store...crazy!

I found Alex a couple of cute outfits and my mom purchased my birthday present, Gabe's birthday present and his Christmas present, and a few things for Alex. She also found Alex an ornament.

Alex's ornament

My Dad and I managed to get our tree up.

Alex helping us clean.

On the way home I stopped by Home Depot and picked up a ceiling fan that the Home Depot near us didn't have. Actually they had one, but it was a return item and it was missing the blades.

Gabe's parents arrived Friday evening. Saturday my parent's watched Alex while Anna, Duane, Gabe, and I went to his office. This time I was able to take the tour and see what Gabe works on. My mom also made spaghetti and meatballs while we were gone. Duane, Anna, Gabe, and my Dad all attempted to go to the pecan factory on Saturday, but they missed the store being open by 3 minutes.

Sunday was my birthday and we had our Thanksgiving dinner. We were supposed to have the meatballs on my birthday and the turkey on Saturday, but the turkey was still a little frozen. My mom made a very yummy carrot cake. I couldn't find the candles, so I had one taper candle in the middle of the cake to blow out. My Dad was also our "professional photographer". He took several pictures of us so we could pick one out for our Christmas card. Gabe and I decided it would just be easier to take our pictures at home instead of taking two dogs and a baby to a photo studio.

Alex in a Santa hat.

Very early Monday morning Gabe dropped my parents off at the airport. Their flight was delayed due to the weather in Chicago. Luckily, they had a four hour layover so they did not miss their connecting flight. Monday morning we applied for a passport for Alex. Monday afternoon we went to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum with Gabe's parents. Alex slept through the majority of the zoo.

Alex enjoying the Desert Museum.

Alex hanging out with the javelina.

The three of us with a cactus on an 80 degree day in December! Maybe I should throw this picture in our Christmas cards too.

We went to Sam's on the way home and received our Christmas present from his parents a little early. We picked out a mini-fridge for the upstairs of our house. This way we can store the pre-made bottles upstairs instead of having to go downstairs at 3 a.m. We put it to use for the first time last night and it was wonderful.

Mini-Fridge

Tuesday morning we had lunch at Agave and then went to the copper mine gift shop and museum. They offer a tour of the mine, but there just wasn't time (they had to catch a plane home). I came back with Alex and Gabe dropped his parents off at the airport. When he came back we worked on the house a little more.

Entrance gate to mine property.

Gabe is at work right now, but he will be coming home in a few hours. Alex has his one month appointment today and he is getting a shot. I am not looking forward to the shot.

I think that wraps up the update. I am going to pick up our bedroom and then get back to cards, packages, and wrapping Christmas presents.

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This is going to be a short post...I need to get to bed. The upside to the 115 degree weather we experience in the summer is the 80 degree weather on December 2. It was gorgeous!

I will try to post an update with pictures sometime this week (I am shooting for tomorrow).

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