New Kids on the Blog

This is a self-taken portrait of Ellie and I giddy because all of our families' dreams came true in one day at one very special mall.

The story starts last Friday in the morning hours. Dave took a long lunch break so he could see his all-time idol Magic Johnson.


The girls and I met Dave there, and we listened to Magic give a motivational speech in conjunction with the Grand opening of a huge Best Buy at Mall of America.

Our second trip to the mall later that day was for a grander purpose....


We witnessed the "New Kids on the Block" singing, dancing, and grooving like it was 1989! They were surely "hangin' tough."


I was impressed that those old guys could still dance! My favorite moment of the concert was watching the lady in front of me (probably 5-10 years older than me) screaming her head off, jumping up and down, and crying! Woa!


Aubrie was also screaming and waving her hands with the rest of the 3o-somethings around us. Later on, Daddy asked if she likes the "New Kids." Her response, "New Kids? Those guys weren't kids!

The following morning Aubrie piped up with another question that had been troubling her overnight, "Daddy, what blog are the new kids on?" Well, Danny, Donnie, Jordan, and the other "New Kids," welcome to 2008. You are now on "the blog."

Tag, I'm it...

•I'm happiest when...I am with my family doing something fun.
•Someday I'm going to...lose all my baby weight (I'm close!)
•When I'm really down, what I want to do is...talk to my hubby.

•A person really should....travel. You learn so much about yourself and make wonderful memories. Plus, you don't have distractions so you become closer as a family.

•I feel anxious when...I prepare to travel and have to remember a million details
•It would really be wonderful if....all my goals and dreams came true.
•I like people who....are laid back, accepting, good listeners, honest, and follow through on their promises.
•I'm afraid that....my bad habits might wear off on my children.
•All it takes to make me happy is...feed me some ice cream.
•I just hate it that...I never feel caught up with my housework, and I let it define my feelings of "success". (I stole this from my sis, but it is exactly how I feel too).
•What I really want to do is....play all day.
•I wish that... I lived closer to retail and the girls' activities.
•I don't like people who... lie.
•I'm really hoping to... raise confident, loving, smart, honest, and compassionate children.
•I have everything I need, however....a maid and/or a professional organizer would be very helpful.
•If I could do whatever I wanted, I would...go out to eat every night of the week! I love eating yummy food, not having to cook or clean, or wait on everyone else.

I tag whomever reads this and wants to do it too!

Just because

I have the best husband in the world!!! I'm so lucky that he is better than any vampire out there. Thank you! Love you!

I hate Vampires!

...Any other husbands out there, a little lonely over the past few days?...

Teyah's first steps

This video is probably a month old and becoming quickly outdated as our cutie is becoming a pro walker. There's just something so magical about watching a baby learn to walk. I am amazed at how she can fall and fall and fall (sometimes horrible tumbles), but she will always hop right up again without being discouraged in the least bit. What a lesson to us all! Can you believe how much babies learn and accomplish in just a year of life! Wow!