Goodbye 2011

Tonight we bid farewell to 2011 and welcome 2012! This past year has been quite eventful for us! At the start of the year Nick was looking for work and we were worried that something wouldn't fall into place and that we would be without an income. After much looking and interviewing, he finally was offered a position with Oriental Trading Company and started his new job March 16th. In July Emma and I went to south Missouri with Mom, Dad and Ethan for vacation in Branson and Eureka Springs, Arkansas. On August 6th our baby girl turned a year old, and we had her party at our house!

In August I decided that I really needed to spend some time outside of the home and doing some adult activities, so I interviewed with Oriental Trading and was hired as a Customer Service Agent and trained to take orders and do other menial tasks. I started my job on August 29th. In September I turned 26, and in October Nick turned 31. I also began RCIA classes to convert to Catholocism. Emma was a Giraffe for Halloween, and we took her to the Amazing Pizza Maching where she got some candy and rode some rides :) We spend Thanksgiving with the Spotanski's in Grand Island, where Nick and I got a 40" Emerson TV on Black Friday!

December came and the 17th was my last day at my job with Oriental, as it was a seasonal position. We knew that there was the possibility of being called back for full time permanent employment, but both Nick and I were unsure if that was a path I wished to pursue. A few days after my last day of the job, they called back to offer me permanent employment, and I graciously declined so that I can stay home and spend more time with Emma, which we hope will result in her being happier! December 17th we also had our Christmas with the Spotanski's, and the following Wednesday I went back to Missouri so I could spend a little extra time with my family because i hadn't gotten to spend much time with them since I started working. Emma had a wonderful Christmas, as did the rest of us! I purchased a Sony Vaio laptop with my Christmas money (which I am still waiting on to arrive), and Nick bought a pistol with his :)

Now tonight, on New Year's Eve, Dad is here with us! We went to the zoo this afternoon, ordered a pizza for supper, and are now watching a movie called "Wrecked." 2011 was a pretty good year, all in all, and I have resolved not to make a resolution, but rather just to try and be a better wife and Mom in the year to come. Happy 2012 everyone!!!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Well Christmas is right around the corner and I can hardly wait! For the past week or two we have been decorating the house, and this year we have a new, white tree that we decorated with bright colored garland, lights, and ornaments! Emma really seems to like it, especially pulling all of the ornaments she can reach off of the tree :P I have gotten most of our shopping done, and really only need to do Dad's, Nick's, and Greg and Wendy's! On the 17th we are headed back to Grand Island for our Christmas with Nick's folks, which will be fun! Emma really likes playing with Jayden and Jordyn, and they keep her busy and entertained, so it works out good for all of us :)

Then, two weeks from today I'm heading back to Missouri to spend some extra time with everyone before Christmas since I haven't gotten to see them much since I started working. I think one day Ethan and I are going to go down to the city so I can see his new place and so we can go to a new store called H & M. It's a clothing store that is really good priced with really cool things, and I think the closest one other than the new one in KC is Chicago! Anyhow, I'm really looking forward to that, and I think everyone down there is too :) The 17th is supposed to be my last day of work, and I'm not sure if I will go back if called back at the beginning of the year. I kind of want to so that I don't feel stuck at home with Emma all day, but I know that she doesn't take both naps at daycare, which makes for a super grouchy kid in the evening, and one of the things we really don't want to listen to after a long day at work. All in all, I think both has their pros and cons, but I am leaning towards staying here with her. I think Nick and I are going to decide on that tonight because I have to talk to Emma's babysitter soon about what we are going to do.

Also, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving with the Spotanski's! I will let the Thanksgiving and decoration pictures tell the rest :)

Fall Is Here!!!!!!

Ever since Emma has come home from my folk's house she's been having a rough time.....teething is to blame, I think. However, even though we have had some absolutely crappy evenings, can I tell you how much I love my baby girl, especially when she's not screaming bloody murder or biting my arm! Yes that's right....Emma bit me the other day for the first time. She was super pissed about something (not sure what because she's got a short fuse lately), and I was hugging her and trying to calm her down, when I feel this little pinch on my arm, and the little shit was biting me! Needless to say she learned real quick that "WE DO NOT BITE" and I learned to stay out of her way when she's pissed like she was.

Anyhow, yesterday I got off of work early so we decided to go to Vala's Pumpkin Patch. Just as we were heading out the door, it began to sprinkle, and continued to do so for the duration of our pumpkin patch trip. However, we still had a great time and I have included some pics at the end of this post of our trip there! Then today Nick and I took Emma to Bass Pro for a Halloween picture at their Charlie Brown pumpkin patch, and the photo turned out great! Will try and put one up here after I get it scanned into my computer. Next weekend will be a nice one also, as Mike and Mollie are coming down either Friday or Saturday to spend a few days, and Nick's 31st bday is Sunday :) Then Monday is Halloween, so I'm sure we'll be taking Emma somewhere this weekend for trick or treating in her Giraffe costume!

If you can't tell, Fall is my favorite time of year because we get to spend so much time with family and such! Nick's birthday is like the Kickoff to all sorts of greatness ahead :)

The Great Outdoors

Nick and I got back from Grand Island around 2:30 this afternoon, after a weekend full of hunting and spending time with the family. Unfortunately, we didn't see any deer, so I didn't get a chance to get my first one. However, just getting to spend the time with Nick out in nature was worth walking miles, blisters on my feet, an aching back, and frostbitten (not really!) body parts! We still may get the chance to go bowhunting again before the year's up, so I'm crossing my fingers that this year will be my lucky one!

On a side note, I'm getting ready to head down to Missouri and get Emma tomorrow, and boy I can't wait!!!! We sure have missed her, and already have plans to take her to Vala's Pumpkin Patch next weekend, which I'm sure she'll love just as much as we do :)

The Mighty Deerhunters

For this past week Emma has been staying with my folks in Missouri so that Nick and I can attempt to go deerhunting. After driving around a ton and looking at several "potential" spots to hunt, we determined that Eastern Nebraska has next to nothing to offer in the way of deerhunting spots. Therefore, tomorrow after work we're heading back to Grand Island to hunt a place around there. Tonight we went out and shot our bows one last time, and have gathered almost everything up. We were originally planning on hunting from treestands, but after talking, determined that hunting in a ground blind might be our best option this time.

So needless to say, I can't wait to get out there in the woods, and hopefully, get my first deer!!!! There's no telling if we'll even see anything, but if we do, and it comes within 20 yards of the blind, he's MINE :) Will update you on our (hopefull) success Sunday when we get home! Fingers crossed!

Perspective

Well, Emma is down in Missouri right now having fun with Gma and Gpa Osborn :) She'll be staying with this this next week and I'll go get her next Monday. Mom's been wanting to watch her for a while and Nick and I have been wanting to go bowhunting, so we decided to kill 2 birds with 1 stone and let them watch her so we can go bowhunting :) However, I reallllllly miss her right now and wish I could love on her. There are a few blogs I read that are written by mothers who have lost their babies, and it really just puts everything into perspective for me. It's not that I don't think the world of Emma, because she's my life, but I think sometimes we all just need a reminder of how precious life is and how quickly it can be taken away. Even though she can be clingy and whiny sometimes, I wouldn't change our lives for the world, because she is our world. Man I miss this girl!

Happier Time are Coming

Lately I know I've been a little grouchier and and easier to get mad, and I hate show snappy I've been toward Nick. I am going to try and be happier and more upbeat and not so touchy because I think my mood affects Nick just as his does mine. Anyhow, I had been feeling sick for the past few days but am feeling better now, however, Emma's been running a fever since yesterday and I think she's getting an ear infection, so she's got a doctor's appt tomorrow at 5:45. Hopefully she'll get some medicine so she can get to feeling better. Friday after work I'm meeting Mom and Dad in Rock Port because Emma's going to stay with them for a week so Nick and I can have a chance to go bowhunting on the weekends. I'm hoping we both have great weather and that I get a deer (unlikely!). I will leave you with a picture of my girl enjoying some of her favorite food....spaghetti!!!!!!