Back from Blog Holiday

Hola....
It has been a hectic few weeks since Paul returned home.
1. Trying to see everyone that Paul (it feels like) has ever met since his return.
2. Going to Iowa and getting snowed in while in BFE WITH A TODDLER.
3. Continued to unpack and clean--still not done.
4. Organized scrap area (one of the few fun things of this holiday season)
5. Gained some weight (struggling to breathe in my jeans as I type this.)
6. Played Sponge Bob Diner Dash A LOT.

SO glad to be hanging out at home and playing games for New Years.

I hope everyone has a Happy New Year. 2007 SUCKED a*%, so I am pretty excited to ring a brand spankin' new year.

Missouri Botanical Gardens

http://www.mobot.org/events/GardenlandExpress/glexpress.asp

Trains, Flowers, Model Beavers:

Me with my eyes closed AGAIN:

At "Rooster"...a wonderful breakfast/brunch place downtown:

I miss them!

I am happy to be home, but I miss seeing these guys on a regular basis...

Me and Catie: (my niece who is like my sister)

Mikey (my brother) and I trying to keep our eyes open for the camera. This one was after about a bazillion pics and we were getting slap happy.

Really...we aren't high.

Andy (my brother) and I in Chicago:

The Chin and Albert Family:
from left to right around the table: Andy, Catie, Uncle Dave, Mom, Dad and me.

December Fun!

Here is our creation...it is a Gingerbread Train. We had fun, though right before bed isn't the optimal time for a toddler's attention span. Paul wanted to use every piece of candy that they supplied with the kit. Oh, and this morning he walks into the bathroom talking to me eating a piece of the caboose. And I responded with a shriek-y "What are you doing?? You are eating our decoration!!"

Our elf.

This is Tate and me before we left Michigan. Sledding is VERY fun. We now have snow in St. Louis and I couldn't be more thrilled. Catie gave us a push down the hill.

Thank You Cards

For Tate's teachers in MI and for the best garbage man ever!!

Getting back to normal

This is when Paul flew in to MI to help bring us home...

How to entertain your toddler while you unpack the house. Of course, Paul wanted to send this picture out to his friends showing them what he got Tate for Christmas. The funny thing about that is that he will probably play with his "rocket/house creation" more than anything he actually gets from Santa.

A few decorations amidst the unpacking mess to make it feel like home.

HOME at last!!

OK, I knew it would feel good to return to our house in St. Louis after having spent the last 6 months in a temporary home in MI while Paul was deployed, but it feels AWESOME!!!

We are still unpacking and just got internet today, so I will post more blog entries and pictures once we have settled in a bit more.....

Hope you all are snuggled in on this cold night :)