Baby Lu Turns 1...

It is hard to believe that almost a whole year has past since Lucy was born. She was born the day after Christmas last year and we celebrated her 1st birthday today!  Baby Lu as we call her is mine & Justin's first Godchild and we are enjoying every minute of it!  She is such a beautiful little girl and we love her o-so-much!  She has a smirk that will melt almost anybody's heart and more energy and spunk than the energizer bunny!  She definitely holds her own against big brother Jack!

It is amazing how beautiful it was outside, 40 some odd degrees today only seven days before Christmas.  Last year we had a ton of snow at this time already.  I'm really hoping that we get just a dusting before next weekend to make it feel a little bit more like Christmas...the lights and decorations have been up for a couple of weeks, but it just doesn't feel like Christmas.  I am so excited to see so many family and friends in the next week or so, for some it's been way too long! Never forgetting Jesus is the real reason for the season...our golden diaper baby Jesus is coming...are you ready?

3rd Annual Ugly Sweater Party!!

This past weekend the 3rd Annual Ugly Sweater Party was held at the Kasper farm and it was a blast!! As you tell by the picture above we all sported some very "ugly" sweaters...one better than the next.  There is a traveling trophy and this year our friend Eric was the winner...his sweater was purchased at ragstock and was probably one of the ugliest to date! One of the biggest things I learned this weekend is that I'm getting old...since when can't I stay up until 4 in the morning and actually function the next day?  We drank, ate, played some fun new games and danced the night away just like we were still in college, but let me tell you...Sunday morning church came way too early and afternoon nap time couldn't come soon enough.  Now this wasn't because I had too much "fun in a bottle", but because apparently as we age our bodies need as much sleep as we can possibly get...I guess.  I'm pretty sure that I didn't catch up on sleep until today!  But truthfully I'd do it again next weekend because this group (above) is so much fun to be with!  Justin and I found our sweater vests at Savers and were very surprised at their selection...Justin's outfit was topped off with a golfing reindeer and santa tie...C-U-T-E!  We are  already looking forward to the 4th Annual Ugly Sweater Party! 

p.s. If anyone is looking for an "ugly" sweater we are building quite a collection so let us know!

Church...Holy Days of Obligation

Today was the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation for all of us Catholics and one of the most important ones in the church year and....WE MISSED IT!  Not for a lack of effort or thoughtfulness, but pure error on my part.  So it goes something like this.  I new that it was coming up and that it would be here before I knew it and that it always sneaks up on me this time of year.  So as I was talking to mom this morning about this that and the other thing she mentioned that Katie had gone to Church this morning because she was working until ten tonight and wouldn't be able to go tonight. The light bulb flickered and popped on....CHURCH TONIGHT! Immaculate conception! I quickly googled Our Lady of Lourdes church in Little Falls to get the mass times for the Tri Parish Faith Community...I read it, got in my head that there was mass at OLOL at 5:30 - a little tight on time with both of us rolling in from work a little after five and 6:30 at St. Mary's....sounds good!  So we got home, dillydallied around, ate some supper and out the door we went ot St. Mary's on the east side of town for 6:30 mass.  When rounding the corner by OLOL I was surprised that all of the cars were gone from 5:30 mass and in my head I thought two things, first I bet that Father Mark was doing both masses and had to hurry through 5:30 mass to get to St. Mary's by 6:30 and secondly and embarrassing to admit I thought...sweet mass is going to be short and we'll be home and toasty warm in less than an hour.  So we turn down 4th street and there are NO cars parked in front of the church there either!!! WTH  (What the Heck - when talking about church) I was so disgusted/frustrated I could have cried.  I processed it all out loud as Justin was saying...there is nothing we can do about it now, at least we made an effort.  He is always so positive!  We made a pit stop for milk and city trash bags on the way home and I rushed in the house to see how I possibly could have messed this one up...So here I sit after perusing the Tri Parish website again and it ends up that there WAS mass at St. Mary's at 6:30 LAST NIGHT! ARGHHH!!! and there WAS mass at OLOL at 5:30 TONIGHT!  How could could I possibly made such a stupid memory error (are the residents wearing off on me)?  Good thing I am not a transcriptionist.  So I'm still struggling with it and trying to figure out how I'm going to make this all ok mentally. Should I say the rosary? Maybe a few extra prayers when I go to bed tonight? OR Should I chalk it up as...we made an effort, missed church and there isn't a darn thing we can do about it?  WOW!! Does anyone else struggle with stuff like this or am I just crazy?  WOW! I feel better just typing it all out...Happy Holy Day of Obligation to all and to all a good night!

ps. I have a hot date with my husband tomorrow night :) and a busy weekend planned, so look forward to more stories and I'll try to keep my babbling to a minimum.

Maybe Silent Night would be more fitting?

This video was captured at St. Nick night at my Aunt and Uncle's this past weekend.  St. Nick had gathered all the kids around to sing Jingle Bells for their parents and Jack would hear nothing of it!  I only caught the last part of the song because I was laughing too hard to realize I should be recording this priceless occurrence! If you watch really close in the beginning you can see Jack growl at the kids too...

Welcome Back!

I'm BACK in the game!  A New Years resolution beginning today...Facebook out! Blogging in!  My goal is to head to blogland instead of Facebook, as I truly feel like it has consumed too much of my time and the only one that has control over that is yours truly...ME!  I'm not sure where to really start this game of catchyouup, but as I think of things I will post, so for a while there will be a mishmash of postings, with no real rhyme or reason.  I will try to post the timeframe just so you are able to follow.  Above is our Christmas picture for 2011.  This is our second Christmas season as husband and wife and it has been great!  Last Christmas Justin was in the heart of working full time and working to get his law enforcement certificate, he was BUSY!  I had put the lights on the house, put up the Christmas tree and decorated the house as though it was just something we did that time of year...this year has been so much different and so much fun!  WE put the lights on the house already in early November on a rather warm evening and pulled out all of our Christmas decorations the Friday after Turkey day.  WE put up the tree and decorated it TOGETHER and even got some pretty priceless home video of decorating the house for the holidays.  We have been able to just sit and enjoy one another's company in the glow of all the Christmas lights and we are already planning nights out under the stars, skating and skiing by the light of the moon.  We are reflecting on true meaning of CHRISTmas and counting all of our blessings.  I will fill you in on all of the other happenings as time permits because as I come off my facebook "high" I have a feeling I will be spending A LOT of time blogging!  TaTa For Now! Good Night and Sweet Dreams!