You know what's not Smithtacular?

Getting your dryer fixed.

Our dryer went out last Saturday. Dennis had just washed a load of clothes and put them in the dryer only to find out it would run for just 10-15 seconds and then shut off. He and his dad spent hours taking the entire thing apart. While they couldn't get any confirmation, it seemed that the control panel had gone bad and needed to be replaced.

So, I called A&E factory services - the same company Maytag referred us to the last time our dryer went out 2-3 years ago. They sent someone out this morning explaining to me that it would be $129 for the service call and labor no matter what the problem was or how much time it took to fix plus the cost of whatever parts were needed. The $129 was charged the moment the serviceman walked in the door and that was that. Even if I decided not to fix it because the part was too costly, etc. it would still be $129.

So today, the serviceman came at 12:02pm (as I had the 8a-12p service window). He determined it was indeed the control panel and told me it would be $170+ for a new control panel. However, he said that once he put the control panel in there might indeed be ANOTHER part that needs replacing, but there was no way for him to know that without a working control panel.

I knew I was stuck with the $129 for the visit, but wasn't sure I wanted to pay over $300. My thoughts were:
1) Can I order this part for cheaper myself and try to put it in?
2) If they put in the control panel and it STILL doesn't work, can I return the control panel, just pay the $129 service call and just buy a new dryer?
3) Can I have a day to think about it?

OK so here is how I got totally screwed. #1, It would take me some time to determine where I could find and purchase this part and see if I could get it cheaper. The serviceman told me that I had to decide right then and there if I wanted him to order the part because he doesn't carry those parts and needs special authorization to order it. Even if I wanted just 1 hour to see if I could come up with a better solution or think about it, I would be charged ANOTHER $129 service call on top of this service call and then I'd still be stuck paying the part.

He then told me that if he put the control panel in and that didn't solve the problem I would not be able to return it. At that point I'd have already dumped over $300 into fixing the dryer, so I might as well just keep spending money to fix it so I am not throwing the $300 away - even though it would only cost $500 to replace the stupid dryer. In all reality I am not going to buy another $500 dryer that will probably cost me $500 in repairs over the next 5 years anyway. I would want to buy a better more expensive dryer and that just isn't in the budget right now.

I know that it is what it is, but I need to vent. When I called A&E services I asked how much a new control panel would cost because that is what I thought the problem was. The girl on the phone said she didn't have access to that information. If I had known ahead of time that I was looking at a $300+ repair, I might have said forget it. If they had also told me that I'd need to make the decision on the spot or I'd be charged for a 2nd repair visit, I would have definitely said forget it.

On top of this, I asked the dryer repairman how long dryers like this usually last. He said he didn't know. Seriously???? Your a freakin dryer repairman...you don't know? I mean come on! Dryers of the past lasted 25 years. Can you expect 25 years from today's dryers or is it more like 5 years? I mean, I was just looking for a ballpark number. I've had this dryer 5 years already. If the expected lifespan is only 6-8 years I'd probably just not repair this one and save up for a new one.

All in all, I am just irritated.

Sigh of relief

Last week I was getting worried that the terrible two's were starting at our house. Angelica wasn't sleeping well at night, was not taking her usual naps and was just as crabby as can be. When a fever broke on Easter night, I realized her problem was that she hadn't been feeling well. Three Dr's appointments, a bunch of lab tests, a shot and some antibiotics later, my little girl is finally feeling better and back to her normal self. She is taking 1 short nap in the morning, a long one in the afternoon and sleeping all night through again. Whew! I know it won't be like this forever, but she was REALLY giving me a run for my money last week. I was starting to have panic attacks about baby #2 arriving in less than 6 months! For now though, Angelica is better. We are back to our normal schedule and all is well. Hooray for modern medicine.

What a difference a year makes

It is so amazing to me to witness the rate at which a baby grows. To begin with, it is a complete miracle that a baby can start out as 2 cells inside a woman's body and grow into a perfect little baby in just 9 months. Then, after they are born, it gets even more amazing. You start with this small person that can't do anything for themselves and within a year they are walking, moving around, feeding themselves, communicating, etc. etc. etc. Here is a family picture from Easter 2010 - Angelica was just 4 months old. And then a picture of Easter 2011 - She is 16 months old. I am continuously amazed by the gift of life that God gives each of us.

2010

2011

Photo Shoot with Mama

Like any parent, I love taking pictures of my little girl. Angelica is now 16 months old and more lively and beautiful than ever. Whenever I am feeling kind of down, I just have to look at her and I feel better. She is always so happy and smiling. Here are a few of my favorite shots from this past month.

Just eating dinner in her high chair.

She got this dress for her birthday and really hasn't had a chance to wear it much, so I put her in at and did a little photo shoot. She had so much fun wearing her dress that day, that I let her wear dresses the rest of the week. It also inspired me to take out my DSLR camera and take some nice pictures instead of conveniently using the crappy old point and shoot.

Mmmm Pear...it's what's for breakfast.

The look on her face in this picture is priceless. Another reason I love the DSLR...I can capture moments like this. This is Angelica all dressed up before we headed to the Crete F-Men Easter Egg Hunt on the day before Easter.

And here's my little darling all dressed up before church on Easter. She looks so grown up in this picture. I cannot believe it!

SPRING FEVER!!!

I have to admit that I have a serious case of spring fever! Today is a bright beautiful sunny day! We are getting close to hitting 60 degrees. I have Angelica down for a nap now because after lunch I am packing her up in her wagon and hitting the road! We are going to take Rusty for a walk and break in our wagon outside. (I think it will make her a bit sad that she will no longer be able to ride the wagon IN the house, but I think she will really like it outside!)

As I stare out the window I see birds flying, ducks swimming on the pond, and lots and lots of brown grass and dead plants. However, I know that in a few more weeks the grass will start to turn green again and the plants will bloom! I can hardly wait! It has been a Looooooooong winter of being cooped up inside.

I am feeling so motivated right now, that I am thinking of taking out all of our bright and pretty Easter decorations! I know it's 4 more days until the official start of spring, but I don't think there is anything wrong with getting a jumpstart on celebrating! :)

Happy Spring Everyone!!!!

Lent

I was reading through our church bulletin this weekend and there is a quote in there regarding Lent that I would like to share. "Sometimes giving up chocolate or movies is easier than letting go of a grudge or tearing down a wall that is separating family or friends. The second will be more satisfying."

I wish more people would take this advice. There is a Bible verse (I cannot remember it exactly) but it says something to the tune of: God will treat you, as you have treated the least of your enemies. In other words if you act hateful or unforgiving towards someone, you will be treated the same way. If you judge someone or count their shortcomings instead of just loving them, you will be treated that way too.

I have struggled with this in the past. Why should I love someone who has hurt me? Why should I forgive someone who has done something considered to be "unforgivable?" Do I really want to be friendly with someone if I feel like everyone else is judging me for being friendly towards that person? What if it hurts my "reputation" or makes me "look bad?" I have certainly said some negative things about other people because I felt them at the time and because it was the "popular" opinion at the time. I have done and said negative things out of frustration, anger and impatience and definitely out of not being able to wrap my head around why someone is the way that they are.

But the thing that has helped me to really find peace in the past 6 months or so is fully understanding that above everything else....above being a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend....I am a Christian. As a Christian, it is not my place to judge anyone. I must admit that occassionaly a judgemental thought crosses my mind or comes out of my mouth. But I am more consience of that now and I try to remind myself when I say or think such things, "Every human life is a gift from God. If you judge someone, you have no time to love them."

It is true that there are people who could be considered "evil" in this world - drug abuses, gang bangers, people who hurt innocent children or abuse responsibility to the Nth degree. That just brings to mind though that the devil is real too and that people who are not concentrating on doing the right thing can be persuaded to act un-christianlike.

The past several weeks we have been reminded at church to let go of the things of this earth. Our purpose in life is to be a good Christian. God will take care of us if we honor Him and act in His likeness. God reminds us that above all the other commandments "Love each other as I have loved you." I think that Lent is a good time to reflect on this thought, to spend some time each day in prayer and asking God for help to be a better person. If there are people in your life that you look towards with disdain, think about them. Concentrate on them. Realize that God loves them just as much as He loves you. Realize that although they may have made unpopular choices, hurt their reputation, or done something that has caused a break in a personal relationship, it is not your job to judge them. It is your job to love them as God has loved you. Lent is a time to break down barriers, take down walls, clear your conscience. Listen to the little angel on your shoulder instead of the little devil. Do the right thing even if you feel like it is IMPOSSIBLE or difficult or heartwrenching. Concentrate on the good. Be thankful that you were made in God's likeness and that you have been given free will. See this as an opportunity to be more like God and show love towards others. A little love can really go a long way.

So this Lent, I plan to spend some time in prayer. I hope that I will become a better person. Giving up desserts or cheese may be "difficult" for me to do because it fills a craving I have, but in the end, those things do not make me a better person. I may lose a couple of pounds, but my soul will still be in the same shape it is in now. Although I strive to lose weight and be healthy, I know that I will NEVER be healthy if my soul is not healthy. I could weigh 125lbs or 325lbs. Neither matters if at my core I am not the best person that I can be with a clear conscience and a healthy soul.

Because I believe that my life is a gift from God and because I know that God made me, just as He made everyone else, in His likeness, it is time for me to continue and concentrate on my journey of being a better Christian. I hope that once Easter arrives, I will feel ready to celebrate.

Slowly but surely

I have been working on losing weight for quite a while now. Even before I was pregnant with Angelica, I had gained a lot of weight and I was pretty unhappy with myself. After she was born, I lost my baby weight immediately, but I knew I still had a long way to go. I have never had luck with diets and exervising would come in fads but never last. I longed for the day of my bikini body and not being afraid to put on my old Hooters uniform. Oh yes, I still have one stored away because one day...some day....I will be able to put it back on...just to say that I did it. This time though I decided to take baby steps. The weight didn't come on overnight and I know it won't go away overnight either.

I joined a running program and May and ran through November. I really started to enjoy it. I took a break during the colder months, but plan to return to it again this spring. I also started a weight loss program where I keep careful track of what I eat and how I cook. Not only have I lost weight, but my hubby has lost a few pounds too. It is pretty awesome to go into the closet where I stored away all of my cute jeans and take them back out and actually wear them. I am hoping to make much more progress over the coming years, but in losing just 1lb/week, I know I will be able to keep the weight off for good and permanently change my lifestyle. I am happier than I have been in a while, more confident and no longer hating being in front of a camera. I still have a long long way to go, but this has been a good start for me. I've lost 22lbs so far and the best part is that I am keeping it off. Hopefully by this time next year that number will be much more significant!

Here is me in January 2010 - One of my favorite pictures!

And here I am in January 2011. So far, so good!

Gymboree

I signed Angelica up for Gymboree a couple of months ago. At first I thought it was kind of a waste of money, but after going week after week I can see how much she enjoys it and how much she is learning. Some things are different each week, but some are the same. The kids always push this "air log" across the room together each week. The first week Angelica just stood there bewildered, but now each week it is one of her favorite things to do. The kids also have a time allotted for playing with small toys and afterwards they are suppose to clean up after themselves and put toys away. This week, Angelica actually carried her toy over to the box and put it away all by herself! I am proud of my little munchkin and as we move forward I can see that Gymboree, although a short class and a long drive, is definitely worth the money.

Here is a picture of Angelica and her buddy Lucy at Gymboree pushing the air log. Lucy was in visiting from NC so we brought her and her parents as guests to our class. It was lots of fun!

1 year old!

Our little girl is a whole year old. It is hard to believe an entire year has passed since she was born. It has been amazing for us to watch her grow from a teeny tiny baby into a bouncing toddler all over the course of just 1 year.

At Angelica's 1 year checkup, we learned that she is 20lbs 9oz and 29 3/4 inches tall. She is a petite little girl full of energy! We feel so lucky that she is ours.

Keep your Dog Safe on Thanksgiving!

Copied from this site: http://www.dogster.com/dog-food/thanksgiving-safety-tips-for-dog-owners

There's enough for people to worry about at Thanksgiving. "Oh no, not Aunt Edna's greasy gravy." "My brother's bragging is going to drive me to drink." "I can't believe I ate the whole thing." But we can't just think of ourselves over this food-focused holiday: We have to look after our best friends, too.

Dogs enjoy the revelry at least as much as humans, with bits of this and that dropping on the floor, and delectable smells wafting around the house. But Thanksgiving mustn't be a free-for-all. Just because we try to pack away all we can doesn't mean our dogs should. And there are certain items your dog really needs to avoid.

"Veterinarians experience an increased number of office calls due to digestive problems after the holidays because humans invite their animals to celebrate with high fat meals (ham, gravy, turkey skin), chocolates, bones, etc.," warns Casandria Smith, L.A. Animal Services Chief Veterinarian, in a PetFinder article.

Here are some tips that will help your dog get through Thanksgiving safely and with a smile on her snout.

Stuff Your Turkey, Not Your Dog
It's easy to want to give your dog a big fat bowl of turkey, mashed potatoes, and whatever else you think she might enjoy. But that's a bad idea. Overindulging in fatty foods can lead to an upset stomach, diarrhea, or a life-threatening condition called pancreatitis. A few strips of turkey on a dog's normal food is fine, but don't overdo it, no matter how she may plead with her "I'm STARVING" eyes. Keep in mind that turkey skin can wreak havoc with a dog's digestive system, so make sure she gets skinless, boneless turkey.

Stuff Your Dog's Kong, Not Your Dog
Here's a great way to keep your dog busy and happy during your meal. Put a bit of your dog's regular food in a Kong, and then stuff a little boneless turkey, sweet potatoes, gravy - just a tad, mind you - in the Kong. It's not much food, but it will keep him occupied for a long time.

Get Her Pooped
A dog who has been on a big walk or fetched the ball a zillion times will be much more likely to run out of energy during the feast than a dog who's been inside all day. A tired dog is a good dog on Thanksgiving. Make sure your pup gets plenty of exercise before the festivities begin.

Make no Bones About It
Cooked turkey bones can be a danger to your dog. They're sharp, and potentially very dangerous. You may not know a dog has a turkey bone lodged in your dog's digestive system for days. Don't leave plates with bones lying around. Ditto for the turkey carcass. Hungry dogs have been known to run off with the remains of a carved turkey. It can happen in the blink of an eye. You notice the turkey is gone. You notice the dog is gone. With luck, you find their hiding place before anything happens. Put plates in an unreachable area if you can't dispose of everything properly right away.

Know this Sage Wisdom
Sage and some other herbs have essential oils that can cause tummy upset and central nervous system depression if a dog eats them in large quantities. Most dogs aren't going to nosh on a fistful of sage, but keep herbs out of reach just in case.

Don't Cry Over Onions
Onions are toxic to dogs. They can lead to a dangerous form of anemia that may not be detected for days. Make sure your dog stays away from the pearly whites, and yellows, and reds.

Don't Give Her the Raw Deal
Unless your dog is already on a raw diet, we wouldn't recommend plopping a piece of raw turkey in her bowl (the change from her regular food might cause an upset stomach). But more importantly, keep your pup away from the uncooked dough for bread or rolls. What helps make dough rise? Heat. If a dog eats raw dough, what's it like for the dough in the dog's stomach? Warm. The dough rises in the dog's stomach, and if the dog has eaten enough, the swollen dough can cause pain, vomiting, and bloating -- conditions that can send you to the doggy ER on Thanksgiving.

Avoid Yappy Hour
Some dogs seem to enjoy alcoholic drinks. Walk away from your drink that's set on the coffee table, and Lulu may get lit. Dogs and booze are a bad mix. Your dog may not do anything embarrassing she'll regret in the morning, but she could become disoriented and quite ill. Too much alcohol can even lead to a coma, and death. Watch where you - and others - put their drinks, especially if you have a curious pup.

By following a few basic tips, your dog will enjoy a fun, safe Thanksgiving. Now if only you could avoid Aunt Edna's gravy...

Grateful

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreicate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final goodbye.

I recently attended a meeting at our church called "Focus on the Positive" and the topic we discussed was "Thank God." I ran across the above quote and it made me stop to think about the age old saying that "everything happens for a reason." I try to be a positive person as much as I can. When I get stopped at a red light when I had hoped to make it through, I pause and think that I am stuck at this red light because this is where God wants me to be right now. Maybe He is keeping me from harm by stopping me here. But, I am human, and I can get wrapped up in negativity from time to time. I try not to, but sometimes when I hear bad news or see something sad happen, I let it get to me and wonder why something bad would happen.

Just in the past 2 weeks there has been sad news in our area. A young woman, 33, was killed while driving when a truck driver accidentally ran a red light on 394. Another young woman, 25, was killed while being playful and joking with her friends at a fancy Halloween party downtown. A bank was robbed just a few towns away from us. We still have no suspect in custody from a murder that happened 1 mile from my house. The loss of life is something I have not personally dealt with often in my life.

There are other losses as well. One of my relatives had a brain tumor removed last week and has lost her ability to hear permanently. I have prayed for her over and over and wondered how it must have felt going into surgery, talking with her husband of several decades and knowing she will never again hear his voice. I can't imagine how that must feel. I have read about other "tragedies" where a family recently lost their entire home and everything in it in a fire. When I think about these things, my heart and prayers go out to these people. But, it also reminds me how precious life is and that we need to be grateful for every moment we have.

There are so many things that are taken for granted. I can hear. I can see. I am able to walk and run. I can drive myself anywhere I want to go. I have a job and while I seem to forever complain about paying taxes, I need to remember to be grateful that I have the ability to pay those taxes. I have a family - a very large family and while I occassionally feel worn out from running around and visiting and helping whenever I can, I need to remember to be grateful that we are surrounded by so much love and history in each other.

For years I complained about not being able to find a church closer to home to attend. We have gone back to our home parrish in Calumet City and while it is a 30 minute drive, it is also comforting to know that we are welcome there and that people enjoy spending time with us there.

I am learning more and more just how blessed I am. The picture at the top of this post is what I am most grateful for - my immediate family. I have a husband who loves and adores me and a daughter who is the best thing that has ever happened to us. He provides for us and takes care of us and loves us more than anyone else can. She smiles unconditionally and is in awe of the world around her. And as I watch her play and explore, I realize that I am also in awe of the world as God created it and I feel very lucky that I am here today to be a part of it. God is good and He has give us so much in ourselves, in our surroundings and in each other. Thank You God.

Happy Halloween From the Smiths

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

If the video doesn't appear above, here is the link: http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/ooCkqfcQCJGHwQ13

Perfection

A friend recommended this blog read tonight and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. I obviously know that I am not perfect. I have been criticized for being brutally honest in the past and I am sure I will continue to be that way even though that makes me less than perfect. I also tend to be long-winded, talk to much, wear my heart on my sleeve and over worry about "worst case scenarios" - just ask my husband. I can be nosy and I can be gossipy even thought I don't want to be. I feel like this year more than ever I have come to the realization that it is wonderful to not be perfect. Each challenge we come across in life - whether it is a challenge in our marriage, in friendships, in parenting, etc. gives us a chance to learn and grow. Not being "perfect" gives us an excuse for making mistakes. I think the most important thing for me is to realize when I have made a mistake and try to remember to do better next time. With that thought in mind, I have started living my life more in the here and now and enjoying each day just one day at a time. Some days I accomplish everything I set out to do. Some days I accomplish nothing. Some days I am proud of the decisions I have made and some days I feel full of regret over a stupid decision.

Here is the link for the article I am referring to. It was written by a single dad.

http://www.danoah.com/2010/09/disease-called-perfection.html

Summer 2010

I realize that I have not blogged in quite a while. Honestly, it is just so much faster and easier to share pictures on facebook, I have been posting most of my pictures there. I do want to keep up with my blog though for our family members that are not on facebook and live far away and don't get to see us that often. So here goes my attempt at catching you up on everything that has happened this Summer.

Summer 2010 was wonderful! We did so many fun things and have been able to experience summer in a new way with having a baby. In some ways it seems like the time has FLOWN by. In other ways, we did so many things that I feel like we definitely took advantage of each and every day.

The last time I blogged, Angelica had just turned 6 months old...so that is where I will start today. Here is Angelica on the morning she turned 6 months. She was standing up in her crib!

We spent a lot of time with our nephew Nathan this summer too. Here is a picture of Nathan and Angelica from June.


Our friends Tony and Wendy came in to town from North Carolina around Father's Day. I have been friends with Tony since high school. A group of us Marian Catholic Alumni friends got together with our kids at Tony's parents house to visit and catch up. Here is a picture of all of our kids. From left to right, Tony & Wendy's daughter Lucy, Jen & Nathan's daughter Gretchen, Angelica, Matt & Tracy's daughter Audrey, Rich & Cindy's son Will, Sarah & Jason's daughter Cheyenne.

And here are all of us, with our kids.

While Tony and Wendy were still in town, we had a little pool party with the babies as well. Afterwards the kids enjoyed some playtime. Here Lucy, Angelica and Cheyenne are having some "girl talk."

Towards the end of June, my Uncle Tom came in to town from Scottsdale, AZ. We hadn't seen him in almost 4 years. I brought Angelica over to meet him. Here is Uncle Tom, Grandma B and Angelica.

June 30th we celebrated Dennis's 33rd birthday - his first birthday as a dad! Angelica and I surprised him with balloons, presnts and breakfast on his birthday.

We enjoyed fireworks on both the 3rd and 4th of July in Manteno and Beecher. Here we are with our nephew Nate at the Manteno fireworks show.

Our 4th of July tradition is that we watch the Beecher fireworks with our friends Nic and Rachele.

Angelica has spent a lot of time with her grandparents this summer, which has given me some time to "go back to work" and make some money. Here Angelica is enjoying a nice bath in her Nana's kitchen sink!

Sadly, in July we lost our beloved little dog BamBam. I had rescued BamBam almost 6 years ago. He had several medical problems and we took care of him as best as we could. I always did my best to make sure BamBam knew he was loved and that he was happy. It was so hard to see him so sick during his last days, but I felt at peace knowing we had made his life significantly better from what it had been before he was with us. I still miss BamBam and think about him every day. Now Rusty is an "only" dog and while it has been hard on him at times, I think it has also been good for us to be able to give him enough attention and care as he is battling cancer. Here is a picture of BamBam before he got sick. He somehow had picked up a small styrofoam ball on his nose and wasn't able to get it off!

After BamBam died, we planted this flowering pear tree in memory of him to honor his life and always remind us of the good times we had with him.

In July, my Aunt Sue came up from Kentucky for a quick visit and to attend my cousin Amanda's bridal shower. Here is a picture of Grandma B with her 2 girls, Linda and Sue.

My cousin Amanda moved to Phoenix a few years ago. However, the rest of us are still here in IL/IN so she decided to have her wedding here. This is a picture of all of us girl cousins at Amanda's bridal shower which was held at my cousins Jim & Julie's house. From left to right is Lisa, me, Amanda, Traci, Julie and Anna. (Notice Amanda has a cast on her left foot. Her horse stepped on her foot and broke it!)

In July, we were also invited to our friends Doug & Amy's son Ahren's 4th birthday party. I think this is the first kid's birthday party Angelica has been to. There were a lot of kids there and we had a great time. Here is a picture of Ahren opening his gifts with mom and dad and brother Liam.

Not long after Angelica started crawling (right around 6 months), she started climbing. She made it up a couple of stairs before I noticed and she was quite happy about it!

We were lucky to have a very HOT summer which allowed us a lot of time to swim. Angelica loves the pool! Here she is right after a swimming playdate with cousins Jeff & Becca...so tired she fell asleep in her jumparoo!

This is the second year we attended "Groovin at Goodenow" at the Goodenow Grove Forest Preserve. This year our friend's Nic and Rachele came with us. It was a Groovy good time!

We also went to my Grandma Lannon's "Cousins Family Reunion." This was in Sandwich, IL at Martha & Stanley's house. We even got to go for a little boat ride on their Pontoon on Holiday Lake. This was Angelica's first boat ride. It was nice to be at the reunion because Angelica was able to meet a lot of family members from my mom's side that we don't see very often.

Here is a group picture of me, Dennis & Angelica with Grandma & Grandpa Lannon.

Martha had this swing on her deck for her great granddaughter and she let Angelica give it a try. This was Angelica's first time on a swing and she absolutely loved it, as you can see!

Here is our Brewer-Seeholzer family picture taken with my dad and his wife's side of the family. Dad and Diana are sitting in front. Then from left to right it is Matt, Liz, Mark, Emily, Doug, Me, Lisa, Angelica and Dennis. It is not often that we are ALL together. Emily lives in Denver. Liz lives further north. Lisa lives further south and Mark has a busy school/work schedule. So, this was a special thing for us to all be together at one time!

As I mentioned earlier, Rusty is suffering from cancer. The good news is that he is doing well working with our holistic vet, Dr. Becker. One thing that makes cancer worse is a weakened immune system and unfortunately losing BamBam caused a lot of stress for Rusty. He seems to be doing better now though. Here he is snuggling with BamBam's old pillow and blanket.

At the end of July we took a vacation to Canada! My stepmom's sister and brother-in-law and neices all live in Ontario Canada. Diana's sister and brother in law (Bryan and Jan) have a great summer house on Crowe Lake in Marmora Ontario. We drove up to spend a long weekend with them and had the most fantastic time. On the way there, we stopped in Detroit at Uncle Dan and Aunt Diane's house. They graciously offered us a wonderful meal and a much needed break from our long drive. Here is Angelica and Uncle Dan.

We continued on our journey into Canada, stopping first in London Ontario to stay with my step-cousin Andrea for the night. The next morning we drove the rest of the way to Crowe Lake. We arrived for our long weekend just in time for a fantastic supper made by my step-cousins Ben & Colleen. Here is a picture of the bunkhouse we got to stay in with Dad and Diana. Can you believe that Uncle Bryan built this bunkhouse himself??!?!! I was completely amazed by what a wonderful job he did. It was the perfect summer break for us and we enjoyed every minute of our time here.

Just a short walk across the street was the dock we used to get into the Lake. We spent each day in the water swimming, relaxing, boating, tubing, fishing and floating around. It was so so so beautiful!

A picture at sunset.

And another sunset shot at the lake.

Angelica had the most wonderful time. I was worried how she might do with traveling. It was a 12+ hour car ride and then she spent nights in the same room as us sleeping in her pack and play. She was off of her regular schedule. However she adjusted well and stayed in good spirits for the whole trip. Here she is with daddy on the dock.

Dennis is much more brave than I. Here he is launching Angelica in to the air. She actually loved it, although I was a little scared.

More fun on the lake. Here I am tubing with Peyton and Katie. Peyton and Katie are the daughter's of my stepcousins Ben and Colleen. They are such wonderful little girls. This is the first chance I really had to spend any time with them and we had a great time together. They are so smart and polite and such energetic happy young ladies. They had a lot of fun playing with Angelica as well.

Each night we took turns creating a dinner for everyone. This is the dinner from the night that me and Andrea cooked. We made Caribbean shrimp with Roasted Lemon Dill veggies and a garlic squash dish as well. Everyone loved it!

As a special treat, dad took out his accordian and serenaded us before bed. He has been playing the accordian since the age of 4. This year for their anniversary, my step-mom bought him new bellows. He got the accordian all fixed up and tried out some new tunes as well as some of our favorites.

Diana loves fishing. A couple years ago we bought her a pink fishing poll with a sparkling light up reel. Here they are with their catch of the day.

Marmor is a small town, but known for this old mine. It is not in use anymore, but is now filled up with water...since we were there we though, what the heck...we might as well see it!

When we came home from Canada, we celebrated our nephew Nate's 11th birthday!

Here is a picture I actually took with my phone of a beautiful sunny day right outside my back door. It sure is pretty out here.

Here is Angelica with her stand up and play music table from Aunt Bonnie. Once she learned to pull herself up to stand, this quickly became her favorite toy.

I love these big flower headbands and was very happy to find a big flower hat! Angelica was totally goofing around but it looks like she is posing for this picture. This is one of my favorite!

Here, Angelica and her Grandpa Brewer are going for a crawl.

At the beginning of August, Aunt Diane, Uncle Dan and Justin came in for a visit. We met up with Uncle Lee, Aunt Dorothy and Elise and went to Brookfield Zoo.

I really like this picture I took in the dragonfly swamp area at the zoo.

Here are the kids at the zoo. Nathan, Angelica, Justin and Elise.

Starting at the end of May, I joined a running group at Fleet Feet Sports in Schererville. I started out with the walk/run group as someone who had never run before and actually hated running. My goal was to run a 5K in 12 weeks. Here I am with my group. (I am way off to the left #1224) This is the morning of our 5K race.

I completed the 5K in 43 minutes and 45 seconds. My goal had been to complete it in less than 45 minutes, which I did. I am currently signed up in a new running class training for a 4 mile run in November. My goal for that race is to complete it and to improve my time.

Dennis and Angelica came to root me on at my first race. I truly hope this is the first of many races for me. We'll see.

After finishing my 5K, I headed out to my cousin Amanda's Bachelorette Party!!!! The party was at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL. We had a fantastic dinner, went to a comedy club and then out for drinks. Here are some group shots of us girls at the comedy club.

August was the time for meeting new babies! My friend Kristin and her husband Brandon came in from Alabama for a visit with their new son Preston Allen. Here he is 2 months old. Little Preston was so adorable. We are hoping to make a trip to AL to visit him again once he is a little bit older.

August was also Angelica's first White Sox game! The Sox ended up losing, but it was still a lot of fun. We went with Dad, Diana, Mark and Lisa. Angelica was really into the game and cheering with the crowd!

The three of us, cheering on the White Sox!

Angelica's hair has grown long enough now that she can wear a bow in her hair! I am VERY happy about this! I think she looks so cute with her little bows!

On August 18th, our friends Jen and Nathan welcomed their son (My Godson) Jackson David to the world. Jack was a health 10lbs 10ozs and 22 1/2 inches long! Here he is with me and Angelica at just one week old. He is such a cutie pie. I am so excited to watch him grow up!

In August we also took a day to go to Great America. It was just me and Dennis and my sister and her husband Doug. Angelica stayed home with Nana & Grandpa. Unfortunately I got sick to my stomach from some of the roller coasters so I decided to take it easy the rest of the day. I really did enjoy this high climbing activity though.

On August 15th, my stepsister Sonya and her husband Rick welcomed Olivia June to the world. Olivia was 8lbs 9oz and 21 inches long. Here we are visiting with them. Olivia is about 2 weeks old in this picture. She is such a sweet little girl and makes so many cute little sounds. I hope she and Angelica will have fun growing up to be cousins together.

Here is a picture of Angelica all wrapped up after bath time. She is so darn cute! I love those eyes and eyelashes!

In June my friend Tiffany and her husband Dave welcomed their baby girl Stella Monroe. We finally made it out for a visit here when Stella was about 2 months old. We had a hard time holding the girls and trying to take a picture, but this is what we got! Stella is such a cutie and so stylish! Her momma always has her looking so adorable! Tiffany and I are hoping to set up more playdates for the girls in the future.

I think Angelica looks adorable in this little blue dress. Dennis thinks it looks more like a Halloween costume. Either way, we had lots of fun this day and even got to visit with Grandma and Grandpa Smith.

Here is Angelica in her new outfit from Auntie Lizzie in Ohio. I even painted her toenails to match! Here she is getting ready to spend the day at Grandma Brewer's house.

Angelica is starting to walk while pushing around her little hippo toy now.

I bought this outfit a few years ago, hoping someday I would have a baby girl. It makes me so happy to see her wearing it now.

There is a park directly across the street from our house. After having such a good time on the swings at the family reunion I thought we would try these swings at the park. She had a great time on them as well.

My cousin Amanda got married on September 11th. Since we were all dressed up anyway, we decided to take a family picture in my mom's backyard with her beautiful flowers. I am really happy with how good these pictures turned out!

Here we are at Amanda and Matt's wedding - the cousins! Kara, Traci, Lisa and Julie

The beautiful Bride and Groom! Mr. & Mrs. Petkus! YAY!

So, I think I have covered everything now from June - September! We sure have been busy but it has been fun. We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family to share our lives with amd keep us busy. I truly cherish each and every one of the relationships I have and I hope each person in my life knows how much I appreciate them. We are so lucky and so grateful for these blessings.

It is hard to believe Angelica is going to be 9 months old next week. Hopefully I will be able to stay on top of my blogging a little bit more and keep you all updated with how things are going here. I am sure going to miss summer as it is my favorite time of year, but I am also looking forward to fall and taking Angelica to the pumpkin patch and going trick or treating. I am ready to wear warm sweaters and drink hot apple cider and tea. I will remember to cherish every moment because these moments keep coming and going and as wonderful as each moment is, each moment is somehow even more wonderful than the last. Life is good. After all of the ups and downs I have experienced in my life I think I can finally say that I am truly truly very happy and I am so grateful for this happiness. :)