So it's been 7 months?!

I AM BACK!! It’s been about seven months since you heard from me last. I was approaching the one year anniversary of losing Joey and I was still working on healing. Woah, what a difference seven months makes. I have so much to share with you, it will take a few weeks to catch up.

In a nutshell, Joey’s anniversary came and went. It was Christmas and I did a great job of putting on my brave face but I was aching inside. Rik and I would get into the car to leave one happy ocassion and head to another and I would break down and sob. I have said this a thousand times, God Bless this man.

 I did it, I survived the loss of Joey and am now in the best place in life that I have ever been. I would have never imagined I would be this happy again. I was certain that I would carry that pain/anger with me forever. I still think of Joey and his sweet face probably once a minute but those thoughts are no longer accompanied by tears and anger. We talk about him often and will keep him with us forever. He will always be our first baby, our first born.

What else has happened in the past seven months, you ask?

 Rik and I became God Parents to my nephew:

I helped my sisters prepare for their formals:

Rudi turned 7:

My niece turned 1:

My sister (in-law) and her bf got ENGAGED:

 

OH, AND......

RIK AND I ARE EXPECTIING OUR RAINBOW BABY!!!!!!!!!!

There will be much, much more on this last topic over the next few weeks/months.

Motivation Monday

I have decided to start Motivation Monday! Monday is always a day that I dread and it always seems to drag on. This makes it a great day to give myself (and you) a little boost to start off the week.

 

Here is what motivates me today:

 

Source: losing30lbsincollege.tumblr.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

 

Source: prana.com via Kristen on Pinterest

Source: iheartgifs.blogspot.de via Kristen on Pinterest

 

 

 

Source: babaloud.com via Ruthie on Pinterest

Happy Monday!

Happy Halloween and Anniversary!!

Dear Richard-

Today is the third anniversary of the best day of my life, the day we promised to love each other forever! Aren’t you lucky?!

 

I have known that what we have is special since the first night we walked across campus in the rain.

I now know that what we have is more than special, it’s unbreakable. 2012 tried to destroy us, but it didn’t. We are stronger and happier than ever.

You make me giggle with your silliness. You give me strength and courage when I struggle to find it. You help me find peace when I am certain it doesn’t exist.

We aren’t perfect, we make mistakes. More importantly, we forgive. That’s what we do.

You are my best friend and I can’t imagine walking this journey without you.

I Love You! Happy Anniversary!!

You read that right, we got married on Halloween. Here are a few shots from our big day:

 

 

Pinterest

Pinterest has motivated me lately. I love to cook but I am really bad about finding recipes that I like and making them over and over. I need to spice things up every once in a while! I have used two recipes this week and I must admit they turned out to be keepers!!

 

The first was a bacon chicken ranch mac-n-cheese. This was the bomb! It was a little more involved than I expected but totally worth it. The recipe sort of fools you into thinking it is a quick fix when it actually took about an hour. It is a pleasure for the taste buds and it’s a cooking light recipe! Boom!

Source: firstlookthencook.com via Kristen on Pinterest

 

 

 The second recipe was mini pot-pies. This recipe is GENIUS and super easy. Basically you pick a filling and add some bisquick baking mix. We decided while eating our Turkey and Veggie pot-pies last night that a variation of this would be on the weekly menu. You could literally use this recipe with any filling. You could do pizza pot-pies, cheeseburger, veggie, chicken. The possibilities are endless!

 

Source: bettycrocker.com via Kristen on Pinterest

 

Pinterest also motivated me to make this:

It took a looong time to make but I am so happy with how it turned out. I little fabric, a wreath wire, really tired fingers and Voila, a Bengals wreath!

All Things Halloween

Halloween around our house is kind of a big deal! It happens to be our anniversary. It is also one of my favorite holidays to decorate for. But, geez, decorations are expensive!! We are slowing expanding our collection. Chances are you will see me browsing the clearance decor the day after!! 

 

I thought I would share with you a few of my favorite decorations around the house (with the help of Instagram!):

Living Room Mantel

Wall stickers in our entrance.

Countdown to the big day! (A good way for Rik to never forget our anniversary!!)

The skeleton that Rik puts into awkward positions.

See above caption.

I love this pumpkin! It changes colors!

Idea stolen from Pinterest for my table centerpiece.

Front door

Candleholder!

 

 You can’t have Halloween without a few carved pumpkins. It is one of my favorite things to do this time of year.  Rik and I’s tradition is to turn on scary music, have a few fall flavored beverages, do a little trash talk and carve away!

It's serious business!

This is how they turned out this year:

 

Happy Monday!

Nine Years!

Two weeks ago Rik and I celebrated nine years together! Talk about crazy?! We were a mere 19 years old when we started dating. Babies, I tell ya!

 

I remember the night he asked me to be his girlfriend, like it was yesterday. Saying like makes me feel like a teenager again.

What a crazy nine years it has been?! We have both graduated with our bachelor’s and master’s degrees. We adopted Rudi, bought a house, bought a car and had an angel baby. We have been buuussssyyyyy.

 

This time next week we will be celebrating our third wedding anniversary. 

We exchanged gifts on our dating anniversary and this girl got a new iPhone! I have to admit, I have never bought into the hype, but it is pretty awesome. I kind of love it. There will be more on this later.

I look forward to everything the next nine years (and beyond) brings with this man!

Because I love sharing pics with you, here are a few from our early days.

The first picture we ever had taken.

80's party!

 

Fall Photo Shoot

Have I ever mentioned that my wonderful sister (in law) is a photographer?! At least once a year I try to have her do a mini shoot for Rik and I, to update our wall photos.

 

Well, if you remember a few posts back, I spoke of a family cabin trip. We do this every year with my husband’s family and it’s so much fun.

This year, it was the site of our mini shoot! Here are a few of our serious shots…

 

Now here are a few of our funny shots. Outtakes, if you will.

Imitating his 5th grade school picture

I know. She’s awesome, right?!