Happy Everything

What a great couple of months! Man they flew out the window. Well November was my birthday trip to Jerome/Prescott. My parents surprised me with my brother for the weekend. He moved to LA this summer for school. Their amazing surprise was the cherry on top of birthday weekend trip. Here are a few moments from the weekend:

Back together and it feels so good!!

All Bundled Up

This year we hosted Thanksgiving. This meant that I would be in charge of the bird! I was up for the challenge. I received some great instruction from my boss, a self proclaimed foodie. Not to toot my own horn but TOOT TOOT. It turned out fan-freaking-tastic!

Looked & tasted out of this world.

Proudly we have come close to finishing our backyard. Brad shoveled 10 tons of rock with the help of our helpful neighbor. He planted winter seed, which has been coming in beautifully. To top it all off we found some great patio furniture to enjoy in the finished yard. I was thankful to be so blessed.

Missy claimed her spot

Now that December had rolled around it was time for Christmas!! Santa!!! I know him!!! I love getting a real tree so it was off to the tree lot for me. I usually do not bring Brad. I can see him now telling me, "It is too big." Too big and Christmas tree should never be in the same sentence, hence why I leave him at home. So it turns out my eyes were bigger than the room that the tree actually goes in. I will swear until the day I die, it did NOT look that big a the tree lot. It turns out that it is more along the lines of a Christmas Bush. Eh some say tomato, some say tomato. Needless to say I need  A LOT more ornaments as well as bigger tree skirt. This one is more along the lines of a tree thong. I still loved it!!

Fat trees need love too!!

This brings us to the 2nd Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. It is always a great time getting everyone together to see the creative ways to make an already ugly sweater even more ugly. It was a laid back night that turned out pretty great. My camera died so I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked to.

Mike brought Jake to the party so he wouldn't miss it.

Jamie, Miss, and I in an awkward family photo

Not sure which is better, the pants or the teddy bear on the sweater?!

Is that Mr. Magoo??

I would probably have to say the best part of this Christmas season was planning a secret trip to visit Jake and Jena in Winnemucca, Nevada. Our arrival would be a surprise to Jake. Jena and I have been planning these shenanigans since October. There were times we thought we wouldn't be able to pull it off. We did though and I think it will go down in history as the Best Christmas Present Ever. It was an adventure just getting there. Brad and I flew to Reno, NV Thursday morning. We were still about 3 hours away from Winnemucca. So after a few hours of exploring Reno we hopped on the Amtrak. What a great way to travel. There was so much room. Our seats even had recliners!! The best part is that you can move around the train as you please. Brad had never been on a train before so this was really neat to experience with him. Jake and Jena were at the local pizzeria in town. The train station was about a block from their house. We hoofed it, luggage and all to the house. We dropped off our stuff and hopped in Jena's car to the Pizzeria. I am pretty sure Jake could have used an adult diaper when we walked in the door. It took a couple seconds for him to realize it was us---there. It was great to see them. It was 4 days filled with baking, boy truck stuff, twilight marathon, apples-to-apples, bowling, drinking, and eating. We could not have asked for more.

Reno Train Station

Lots of room on the train!!

Jake & Jena

Goofy

Christmas was wonderful. I was truly blessed to have my family at such a special time of year. My brother is moved back to Arizona, which makes me happy. The best part of the holidays is spending time with the ones that you love. With all the busy hustle and bustle of life it is great to just relax and catch up with everyone. As 2011 comes to a close I am so grateful for all that I have. Health and Happiness.

xoxo Stefanie

It Came & Went

Wow! October has sure flew right out the window. We celebrated our 3 year anniversary and Brad's 27th birthday. It has not really felt like Fall or even Halloween for that matter. Probably since it has been in the nineties all month. Although the crisp fall nights have not arrived quite yet, we did have a fun filled October. We went to the fair for my good friend Jamie's birthday. It as such a great time! We spent way too much money on fair food, games, and photo booth pictures, as you should at the fair!

Mound-O-Chili Cheese Fries

Goofballs!

 

How many people can fit in a PhotoBooth?           

I think they should make Halloween on the last Saturday of October. Although it being on a Monday this year didn't seem to slow the kids down at all! We have been spending Halloween night at our friends, Lester & Sami's house for the past 4 years. It is about 10 households all sitting on the driveway with a bucket o candy from each household. A one stop shop for all the trick or treaters. There is always a Pot Luck so this year I made...

Spook-a-Mole

To top a great month off, to my surprise I received an unexpected package on Halloween. I was hoping it wasn't a trick. Indeed it was a TREAT of epic proportions. I am going to be pretty busy reading!! Thanks Jena!!

I can't believe I have not read these yet!!!

Everything Happens For A Reason

To think.  Two people are born.  Born on different days, in different years, in different towns.  Born to different parents, different families.  Two separate personalities.  Two separate experiences.   While the shy, quiet boy played soccer and skateboarded with his neighborhood pals. The outgoing and rambunctious girl loved doing good for everyone. They met in the beginning of their high school years. Went on a few dates, not knowing what they had, dated other people.  She dreamed of him her whole life.  He dreamed of her.  A faceless ideal, to an age old desire.  Is it fate to believe, when their lives would collide once again? After high school their worlds met once again. Coincidence, I think not. Like two atoms who have spent year after year circling the atmosphere, searching for their complete likeness.  Is it fate to believe that these two strangers happen to be at the exact same place, at the exact same time?  The once shy boy built up confidence to make her his. Destiny or not, these two people met. Their two hearts and their two souls spontaneously collided, completely unaware that their dreams just caught up to them.  And somewhere along their separate journeys, these two people became exactly who they needed to be for that one moment in time.  That one moment that fated the rest of their lives, to become one heart and one soul.  It's an interesting thing.  To think.   

3 years ago I married my best friend. The first year of marriage we decided we wanted to buy our first house. We had to move in with our great friend Jake. Not usually in the plans for the first year of marriage. It took the ENTIRE year to both agree on something we both loved. The second year we started to make that dream house a home.  The third year involved losing some of our closest family and friends. It was great to have him by my side. I wouldn't have it any other way.

What A Process

I know I have been on hiatus. Now more than ever it is important to update our friends and family that are not close to home about Life with the Willeseseses. Brad is my little busy bee. He can never just sit and BE. Me on the other hand... he would probably tell you that I just BE a little too much. This is one of the MANY reasons I believe we are made for each other. We balance one another in that sense. Even though I poke fun at Brad's ongoing "projects", I love that he takes so much pride in finishing everything he starts. The other night he asked if he could have a guest post updating the blog with the progress of the backyard. Since we all know Brad is a man of few, very few, words I put this together to share his hard work thus far. So I shared him starting the shed in my first post, here is the finished product. Take that Home Depot prefabricated sheds!!

Other things that were checked off the list for the backyard include:

Pavers under the Pergola, plants along the poles that will eventually grow up and around the pergola, and a BBQ. The BBQ was built over a weekend of bonding between Father and Son-In-Law. It was really great to watch!

We still have the landscaping to get done. Some tree planting is currently in the works. When they all get planted I will be sure to update! My apologies again for taking such a long break!! Hope you enjoy all of Brad's hard work as much as we do.



Where Does Time Go... Tick Tock

Tonight we attended Kindergarten Promotion for the graduating class of 2023! Wow does that make me feel old. I can't believe Paige is already graduating from Kindergarten. I feel like I was just in the hospital room meeting her yesterday! I am so proud to be able to watch her grow and become her own person. Let me tell you, her parents have another thing coming with her in a few years! Here is a couple pics with us and the beaming graduate!

I also wanted to show you my new wedges I was talking about in action. Of course I had to wear them to work on Monday! IN LOVE!!

Anticipation Almost Killed Me

For those of you who know me, you know I LOVE the summertime. Here are the things that make me fall in love with summer all over again every year:

1. Swimsuits!! I am going to confess that I own way too many swimsuits to disclose. 98% of them are from Victoria's Secret. I know I will never look like the Angels in the catalogue, but I think it is the allure of feeling like one of them. My hair tousled by the water, wind , and sand just right. My skin being kissed by the sun. Every swimsuit season they totally get me hook, line, and sinker. My 2011 batch of suits arrived yesterday. Here is a little preview:

2. The River with great family and friends. I would like to clear up when I talk about the "river" I am always referring to the Colorado River/ Lake Havasu. Please do not think I am talking about the Salt River. Just the thought of going in that river gives me the heebee jeebees. The whole weekend is about making great memories with the people most important to me in the summer sand and water. The first trip of the summer is next weekend, Memorial Day! I am so excited, I have been doing this weird excited hand thing that I have been doing since I was a kid. :)

3. Fridays Off. Since January through April is so busy at work, we get a chance to breathe May through December with every other Friday off. I feel so lucky to be able to have this. It makes keeping up on the housework so much easier.

4. Wedges, Wedges, Wedges!! I could run a marathon in wedges! Look at these fun wedges that just arrived in the mail. Here is a stock photo, I will post a pic with my outfit tomorrow. 

So as you can see the anticipation of summer coming has almost killed me. Now that it has arrived I will be more than fine, I will be FABULOUS!! 

Thanks A lot

 I was going through my camera and found these a-dor-able pictures of Thanks. Yes her name is Thanks. Her and Missy are a match made in heaven. She has the best personality and always and I mean ALWAYS is upbeat. She was helping me blog, I told her she could be a guest blogger. :) Don't tell her dad that I let her up there. But come on who could really say no to that face. I wish I could have not a care in the world like this girl.