three decades

Three decades...30 years old. It didn't feel like I thought it would? I didn't feel any different then I did when I was 22? But what a milestone...what a turning point in life! I can remember when I was little and my mom was in her 30's...I thought she was sooo old. Oh, and don't worry I got to turn 30 and be 7 months pregnant at the same time...LOVE IT!

However, my sweet husband made the moment so fun and special. He planned a surprise party for me and did such a great job. I think that even more then the party itself, I loved that for weeks he was planning and organizing something special just for me. I love when he spends time on me or with me...it just makes me feel so special.

Thank you to everyone who came and made the occasion so special. I had such a great time.

Here are so pic's from the festivities...

Me, Amber, Natalie, Shawna



Seriously, we had so much food! Great job babe!

Shalice, Jessica, and Justin Taylor

Eating and more eating...

My sister Shalice and Steven

Robby Wilson, Brian Adair, The Menke's and Brad Broska

Mindy and Monica

Thanks for the gift basket of fun things you need once you are 30!

Don't worry that we totally had a DJ system complete with lights and a fog machine.

(Thanks Brian)

The two "bellies" Natalie is having a baby a few weeks after me!

Thanks again babe for such a fun night! Thanks for the surprise and for making my 30th special.

fairytale ballet

So Lyza has found a new love...it comes arounds once a week and she loves every minute of it. Her new love is called "Fairytale Ballet." It is a little ballet class that she goes to where they learn about and dress up like a different "Fairytale" character each week. Lyza basically has died and gone to heaven. Here is a picture of her new little dance studio. She loves her teacher Ms. Bethany and is so excited to talk to her each week.

Here is their first week in class where they read about and dressed up like Mulan! Lyza had no clue who Mulan was at this time...but she didn't care! And you know we had to go home and watch the Mulan movie as soon as class was over.

The next week they added a few accessories to the Mulan costume.

Here they all are dressed up like the 7 Dwarf. I asked Lyza which Dwarf she was and she said "I don't know, but I know I wasn't Dopey." They all looked so darn cute!

This week had to be a highlight for Lyza. She was so excited to dress up like Snow White.

Lyza with one of her friends Maddy from class.

This week they dressed up like the Wicked Queen from Snow White, but Lyza wouldn't keep her costume on for pictures.

Here is the final week of this session of the class. They got to dress up like Snow White one more time. All of the little girls in the class are so darling and get so excited to see each other.

I have been very impressed with the things Lyza has learned from this ballet class. She learned some ballet terminology and has mastered her pose'. Lyza's favorite move is making "bunny ears" with her feet.

She is excited for the next session to start...we will have to see who they get to dress up like this time?

oh trouble

As a parent, you know that feeling you get when it is too quiet? We experienced this uneasy feeling a couple of Sunday's ago at my parents house. We were all sitting around eating dinner when we realized that Lyza and Braden (Lyza's 2 year old cousin) were being way to quiet. They had gone downstairs to play in the play room. I went down the stairs to check on them. As I got downstairs I heard both of the giggling and playing so well together. I was so excited that they were having so much fun. I peaked around the corner to find this...

And this...

What??? They were each taking turns coloring each other's faces with markers. I wish I had a camera to take a picture of the looks on their faces when I came in. It was a total "deer in the headlights moment." I tried so hard to keep a straight face and tell them how "naughty" they had been. But inside I was laughing hysterically.

Two year old's are so much trouble...but good thing they are so dang cute as well.

oh boy!!

So don't worry that I am only about a month late posting this to my blog! But hey I can blame the Christmas Season for that right?

So it has happened...we are having a BOY! We are so excited and a bit on the nervous side.

Lyza took a bit of convincing about the whole thing. She was in the ultrasound room with us and when the Dr. said that it looks like a boy Lyza shouted "No it's a GIRL!" The Dr. politely reaffirmed that indeed it was going to be a brother.

For the rest of the day she kept telling Steven and I that she wanted a girl. And we kept telling her that she was going to love this baby brother.

After she went to bed Steven and I thought "man this could be tricky with her..she was so set on a girl."

Lucky the next morning when I opened the door to her room the first thing out of her mouth was..."I am going to have a baby brother!!!" "I am so excited." And from that point on we haven't heard another thing except excitement from her.


So here is our first picture of our little man. We are so excited to be having him. I can see the many thoughts going through my husbands head of the soccer games, trips to the cabin, and coaching his "little man" that he is dreaming up.

So here is to thinking up names??? And trying to figure out how to raise a boy?

merry christmas to all....

"He Came! He Came" Santa found our house last night and left some fun presents for the Bull Family. Okay mostly just Lyza...but she was probably the best of all of us last year! Santa filled Lyza's stocking will a bunch of fun things and left her some new and exciting presents under the tree. Don't worry that we finally had to wake Lyza up at 9:00 on Christmas morning to open her gifts. What???

Lyza had such a great time opening presents. After she opened one she didn't want anymore and just wanted to play with the one she had. And some points we were literally forcing her to open another gift.

The Karaoke Machine from Santa Claus was the hit of the morning. All Lyza wants to do is sing into a microphone...so now she was ready to shine.

We had a crazy, but fun, Christmas Day. We visited both sides of our family and opened presents all day long. Here is a picture at my mom and dad's house on Christmas Night!

What a great day...but man were we tired!

See you next year Christmas!

santa's on his way

Christmas Eve is here...Santa is on his way.

Oh what a busy Christmas Eve it has been. I think that even though you prepare and prepare...you always think of something you have forgotten on Christmas Eve.

This Christmas Eve we were with the Bull Family. We started off the night with a full on turkey dinner presented by Grandma Bull!


Here is Lyza and Steven watching as the Turkey was taken straight out of the oven.

We love Christmas because fun family comes into town. Here is Steven's brother Scott and his darling wife Larissa.

Larissa had a captivated audience when she pulled out the Christmas stories.

Here is our dinner with the nice fancy glasses that Lyza absolutely loved...I was a bit nervous about the whole thing.

What is Christmas Eve with out a fun family dinner.

And what do we do when we are all stuffed after dinner??? We start making the treats we are going to eat later! Way to go Lariss.

Lyza and her cousin Kelli both got a pair of brand new Christmas PJ's.

Snuggling by Aunt Larissa waiting for the Christmas Eve program to begin.

Papa Bull reading the Christmas story with 2 excited little girls glued to his lap.

Lyza making her Christmas letter to leave for Santa.

Oh Mom...Rudolph likes carrots?

Here is the plate of goodies Lyza left for Santa and his reindeer.

Night Night everyone...I am going to go to sleep so Santa can come to my house. Oh wait just kidding I am going to stay awake until midnight because there is just too much excitement going on.

christmas sunday

I love the Sunday before Christmas. I love going to Church and hearing the Christmas program and listening to all of the Christmas songs. It is one of my favorite things about Christmas. And I loved that this year it kind of kicked off our week full of family get together's, parties, and Christmas Day!


Here is Lyza in her Christmas dress right before Church.


A little family Christmas pic before Church. Don' t you just love taking pictures when you are pregnant?

Here is our little "toe head" Christmas girl playing with her little nativity scene.

Merry Christmas Sunday!!!