Back to Work

That is right, you didn't miss read the title. I went back to work the beginning of November. Which is why I have been a little more busy and a bit behind on the blogging. We are still trying to get adjusted to the new life.

Now when I say go to work I don't really mean go. I actually work from home!! I started watching a little girl from my Moms Club. Her name is Presley and her mom, Jennifer, went back to work the beginning of November. She is now 5 1/2 months old and is a very good baby.

Grace is adjusting very well to having another baby around. She really does not seem to mind at all. The first week was a bit challenging but since then she has been great. She is a very big helper and loves just chatting with Presley. The two of them are always so cute in the car. They just stare at each other chatting away and holding hands. If only I could take a picture while driving a car, it would make for a very cute picture.

Cute story to tell you. Right now we are on break because Jennifer is a teacher. Earlier this week Grace and I were looking at all the Christmas cards we have gotten so far. We would look at them and then set them aside. We came to the card with Presley on it and then set it aside but instead of going onto the next card Grace picked that one back up. She had a look of concern on her face and started jabbering to me and showing me the picture. I'm not really sure what she was trying to say but I told her Presley was home with her mommy and would be back after Christmas. She seemed satisfied with this and then put the card down and went off to play. :) I guess she misses her new little friend!


Sorry, pictures are not the greatest but it is hard to get a good one of the two of them.

Merry Christmas!!

"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:10-12












I have 2 videos to post but I'm having troubles getting them to upload today. I will try again tomorrow but no promises. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Our hike in the nature

Mark and I use to go hiking every year, well a few times a year, and since moving to Texas we really have not gone. A couple reasons really but the main reason would be that we have no clue where to go for hiking. I know we could go west of here and find some hiking but I have yet to research hiking in our area or even an hours drive from here.

While we were back in Jersey we both knew we wanted to take Gracie hiking. We knew she would love it and it would also give us some time just the 3 of us. We figured we would go hiking somewhere along the Appalachian Trail, however we never made it at least to the spot we were going to go. The morning of the hike we had an accident, Mark fell down the stairs and he was holding Grace. Everyone was fine other than a few bumps and bruises. Mark really took the brunt of the fall by landing on his back and protecting Grace. With this sacrifice he hurt his back pretty bad. He was pretty stiff and sore so we didn't make it to our hike.

The next day we were in the Wyckoff area, I use to live in that area, and there is an environmental center there. I'm not sure of the actual name I always just called it the Wyckoff Environmental Center as did most people. Anyways since we were in the area and we had a couple free hours we went. It was so great to take Grace to a place that I use to go to all the time. I loved it so much that when I was a nanny I would take the kids there a few times a month. They always loved it too! So even though we never made our hike we were able to spend some time in the nature!!

Reunited and it feels so good....

While back in Jersey, Grace was able to meet up with some of her friends again. I'm sure she doesn't really remember making the friendships the last time we were there, she was 2 months, but she did. As I have said in the past or last year anyways, a few of our friends in Jersey all had babies the same year that we had Grace. I'm quite sure this year they all had a lot more fun with each other.

Carter & Grace 2008
Carter is about 4 months older than Grace.

Carter & Grace 2009
We had a hard time getting a picture of the two of them sitting there. Our time went by way to fast, it felt like only minutes had passed instead of hours. This picture was towards the end of our visit and both were tired and not wanting to take pictures at all. Below is a cute one of the two of them. :)




Gracie's 1st bagel!! She ate a whole 1/2 of a bagel! I think she liked it.


Micah & Grace 2008
Micah is about 2 months older.

Micah & Grace 2009
The girls had fun playing together along with Micah's big brother Eli. We could have stayed there for hours.

Right after we got there Micah crawled up into Mark's lap and just hung out for a bit. It was soo cute!


Logan & Grace 2008
Logan is about 1 1/2 months older.

Logan & Grace 2009


They had so much fun playing together that night. I'm sure if we still lived in Jersey these two would be great buds. We use to live 5 mins from each other, if that.

These were only 3 of the friends that had babies the same year. There are 2 more that Grace has yet to meet, along with us. It seems that every time we are back we always miss the other 2 families. One family lives out of state like us so that one is a bit hard but the other family lives in Jersey. Last year they were traveling and this year their kids had the flu. :( One day we will get them all together.


If you haven't checked the blog in awhile, I have been busy there are 2 other post below. Be sure to check back more often as I promise there will be lots more post to come. :):)

Rob & Jaimee's Wedding

Mark's best friend, Rob, was getting married the Saturday after Thanksgiving or got married the Saturday after. Mark was the bestman in the wedding so naturally we traveled out a week before so Mark could throw Rob a bachelor party. Those who know me well already know that this is one tradition that I find unnecessary but I also know it is one that happens with every wedding. By the time the trip came around I was helping Mark plan the event and was wishing I could even go. Not to be a spy but because it sounded like they were going to have a great time. I think for the most part everyone enjoyed themselves.



The wedding was a ton of fun. It was so awesome to see Rob up there getting married, yet strange at the same time. Even though Rob is Mark's best friend I have also known Rob for a very long time. I think we met shortly after he graduated High School, basically about a year after I moved to New Jersey. It is because of Rob actually that Mark and I met. He didn't set us up he just started inviting Mark to hang out with the same people that Rob and I hung out with and through all that we met, thanks Rob!!

I am so happy that Rob has found someone that he can grow old with. Jaimee is such a wonderful person. I could not be more happy for the two of them. They are such a perfect fit. It is as though they have always been together and honestly their lives have always crossed as they grew up. They went to the same elementary school, college and to some of the same events through their high school years.

I am so glad that Rob started dating her long before we ever moved to Texas. This way we were actually able to get to know her and I only wish now that we lived closer. Sometimes it can be scary when your husband's best friend starts dating someone and then it gets serious and then he decides to spend the rest of his life with her. There is always a chance it could be horrible and the wives don't mesh so well or at all for that matter. Thankfully this is not one of those situations. I get along with Jaimee so well. I know that if we lived back in Jersey we would be hanging out with them a ton. She is so much fun and I could not imagine anyone better for Rob.

So yeah the wedding itself. The day turned out to be a beautiful day, a bit chilly but nice. That morning the wind was blowing really bad but by the time the afternoon came it had calmed down. However, the temps did not come back up but it was an indoor wedding so it didn't really matter, at least to the guest. The wedding party probably would have liked it a little warmer since they took pictures outside. :)



Mark and I were able to enjoy the night as well. We left Grace with Mark's parents that day. She came to the ceremony but from there she went home with Grandma and Tante Liz. I think she had way more fun with them than she would have with us. Mark and I soaked up the time without her. Don't get me wrong we missed her but it was nice to have a day just the two of us and 100 of Rob and Jaimee's closest friends and family. :) hehe





I think as far as weddings go Mark and I are done for awhile. Pretty much all of our friends are married now, just one or two left. Of course there are still family weddings to attend one day but for now we can put our party shoes away and rest for a bit.

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Wenzel!!

Oh a traveling we will go....

Once again we were traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday. We took a little over a week and went back to Jersey. This year instead of getting in on Thanksgiving and then staying a week we arrived a week before and then came home the Tuesday after. We had a good 11 days or so there.

It was great and busy once again, not only did we have the holiday events to attend we also had a wedding to attend, Mark was in it. Naturally we did not get to see and spend much time with all of our friends back there. Some of the major things we did were Thanksgiving, the wedding, Devil's game and we took Grace on a nature trail. I will most likely have a post on some of those with lots of pictures but for now below are some random pictures of our trip.

Part of NYC Skyline from the plane

We went to Mom's school and Grace got to meet some of the kids that go there along with their siblings. The little boy above is 6 months(?) older than Grace. I could be wrong on that but they were close in age.

Learning to play the piano

Before I turned on the camera she was playing more. I guess she is a little camera shy when it comes to preforming for an audience.


Four Generations


Grandma left a pile of leaves for Gracie to play in. She loved it!!


Gracie with Great-Grandma


Grace and her cousin Ty at Thanksgiving


Gracie and cousin Jim at Thanksgiving


Aunt Erin


All bundled up for a cold windy day.


The Family


Tante Karin gave me a yummy cream puff!




Tante Liz is soo funny!!


Eating lunch with Aunt Noel


Hanging with Uncle Rob & Aunt Jaimee a day or two after their wedding!!