Thursday, June 25, 2009

Trip to the Midwest

So if anyone has been following me on Twitter you know that Mom, Aliya, and I just got back from a 2 week, 3400 mile car trip around the world! (well at least the midwest)

We ended up Leaving a day early on June 9th, b/c I was able to get everything done I needed to after finishing up my first year of teaching. Yep I made it through my First FULL year of Teaching, and NO I have not heard ANYTHING about next year :( Anyway we left early and traveled to my Grandparents in Ohio which took about 3-4 hrs off the drive the next day.
As soon as we left the house Aliya started waving at all the cars saying Bye-Bye, I told her it would be a long trip if she did that to all the cars!! hehe Wednesday, June 10, we were going to have about a 12-14 hour trip to Appleton, Wisconsin, but b/c of the leaving early it was only about 8 maybe 9 hours. We were able to get in early enough to be able to see Grandma Bev, she was the Prayer Warrior from Grand Rapids, Minnesota when we lived there, she know lives closer to her Daughter in Wisconsin, So we were able to have dinner with her and her Daughter. She was able to meet Aliya which is very fitting b/c Grandma Bev is Aliya's Spiritual Name-Sake (if you don't know the story email me it's pretty cool) - So We spent about three hours sitting at Perkins talking and catching up. Aliya of course sat there and was content as could be for the whole conversation. Thursday, June 11, we left early and traveled through Wisconsin into Northern Minnesota! One thing we reallized was the only time Aliya fussed was when she had to poop b/c she didn't want to do it sitting in her carseat, so we had to pull over let her walk around and then change her and she was good to go! We arrived in Grand Rapids about 6 pm and went straight to the church they were having a work night, so we interrupted for a while, Till Elizabeth (Fultz), her Husband (Jeremy), and Son Tommie showed up and we had dinner with them.

Friday, June 12, was the reason for the WHOLE trip - for those that don't know, Fultz, Sophia, and I when we were 17 right before I moved signed a contract, stating that when we were 25, in the summer of 2009 we would get together to reunite, only opt out of it was 9mo pregnancy or death, our contract actually stated that we take a vacation to New Zealand, Australia, NEw Orleans, or the Bahamas - Well now that we are adults and realize what the 'real world' costs, Fultz and I left GR in the morning to travel to the fun and exciting city of DULUTH! We did some shopping and Soph met us there (she lives in the Cities, Minneapolis) We did some shopping then went to check into the Hotel to get ready for our Dinner Cruise. We took a Cruise around Lake Superior, it was AMAZING - the food was really good too! We then went back to hotel, hopped in the Hot Tub, and then went back to the room to talk till 2 or 3 am, it's been a LONG time since we've been able to sit around talking like that it was AWESOME to reconnect!
Saturday, June 13, well we didn't have to check-out from the hotel till noon, and that's when we checked-out, It was nice to sleep in till 10am, especially since 2 of us have children and that is a RARE thing. We then headed into Superior and toured a Mansion that was used as a Children's Home from 1920-1960's, Ate Chinese, did some more Shopping, then went to stay at Fult's parents house like we did back in the day, another night of staying up late. eating pizza, watching, movies, and them trying to set me up....lol.
Sunday, June 14, we went to Solid Rock COG - IT was great to be able to reconnect with people but the best part was that there was a Church Picnic afterwards and that made it nice to be able to sit around and just reconnect and talk to people! We then Headed over to Josh's Grad Party which is Soph's little brother - Now that was WEIRD! Monday, June 15, we went over to a friend's Sharalee's house and hung out with her and her kids, besides the fact that my daughter was teething and kept trying to bite the kids it was a nice relaxed day and a great time to catch up. That night I was able to go to their Youth Group service which they have on Monday Nights -I have really missed Mary's teachings, then some of us headed over to Applebee's for some fellowship - ended up being a 2 hr discussion on Organic Food, lol it was interesting! Tuesday, June 16, Mom and I took the van and drove ALL around the northern part of Minnesota looking at all the different cabins that we had lived in while we were there, yes we lived in 3 cabins that spanned 1/3 of our time in Grand Rapids. That night Mary made an amazing dinner for us, and of course that meant we were leaving in the morning, it was good but way to short :( Wednesday, June 17, Leaving early we drove through Minnesota, following a house for awhile toward Sioux Falls, SD, to have a late lunch with a friend of Moms that was the first place my parents Pastored when they were 20! As a 25 yr old I can't IMAGINE pastoring a church at the age of 20 or 21. Then we went on into Norfolk, Ne were we lived from the time I was 7 till almost 13, on our way there we started hearing about storms, and of course aout 9:30pm, the TOrnado warnings started going off and we couldn't be in NE without having a tornado warning so Aliya had her first TOrnado! THursday, June 18, Mom and I drove around Norfolk, looked at what had changed, ate at SONIC, and just went down memory lane. That Night, Carla Schaffer, had contatcted a few of the people that use to go to our church and we had a BBQ, once again it was good to be able to sit around and just Catch up. Friday, June 19, Now remember Aliya has been a PERFECT little ANGEL the WHOLE time, except she had been teething a little bit, we left early in the morning toward Omaha to have lunch with our old Associate Pastors, about 15 minutes down the road, Aliya starts puking chunks ALL over her carseat and herself! White, curddled milk, chuncks, we pulled over to the side of the road, looked at it and had no idea where to start, mom handed Aliya to me to clean up while she tried cleaning up the car seat, we did our best but WOW did it smell. Got to Chilli's to eat, and I look down at Aliya's highchair, and there is a puddle under it, soon to realize that she has peed all threw her diaper, highchair cover, and enough to make a puddle :( So this is change of clothes #2, we get on the road about 6 hrs trying to get to St. Louis to my Aunt's House, and all of a sudden, my mom realizes that my daughter has pooped and it's inbetween her legs, and everywhere. So we pull over and once again, I'm cleaning up Aliya and mom's cleaning up the carseat! So that was clothes #3, I told mom unless it's going to start coming out her bellybutton I'm pretty sure we've got every cavity covered! But we finally made it! Saturday, June 20, we got up and went to my 2nd Cousins little baseball game it was 8:30 in the morning and felt like 100 degrees- Remind me to NEVER move to St. Louis! IT's too HOT! My aunt and cousin were then have a debate about which donuts were better a local place or Krispy Kreme, so of course we had to find out ;) - Mom and her sister then went and hung out without any children or grand children, Aliya and I went swimming with all my other cousins kids it was a lot of fun but like I said HOT - Then me and my two cousins were able to go out after all the kids were in bed and See the movie "The Proposal" which was really cute. Sunday, June 21, was of course Father's Day but since we had celebrated before we left it was kind weird. WE went to church with My Aunt and COusnins and since there church has 4 services we went to early service which ran from 8:45 - 9:45 and we were home by 10, which it's really weird to be home from church by 10am! We had a cook-out, then we went to do some Shopping! Came back watched some movies, and got ready to pack.

MOnday, June 22, we started driving back to Ohio to Grandmothers - uneventful

Tuesday, June 23, WE RETURNED HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3400 miles and it was an amazing trip!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Spring Break / Birthday / Easter

So this week has kinda been a little busy. I think it should have been named Fat week because of all the food I've ate this week. This past week I've had off from School for Spring Break. Monday & Tuesday were spent Scrapbooking!!! Actually got about 12 pages done in that time. Monday was Emily's Birthday so we went to Chinese. Tuesday was Dad's 50th Birthday so we went to Chinese.
Wednesday we met Mandi, the kids, and her friend Alicia (my old roommate) and her daughter Emma Lea (sorry if that's spelled wrong) at the Children's Museum in Cleveland. The kids had ALOT of fun, there were over 100 kids there with schools, parties, and parents.
Aliya thought that her cousin Elijah was like her baby dolls and could just be grapped, She LOVES giving kisses now!
There was a little room for the little babies through 4 yrs olds. Aliya just sat behind this little car the whole time we were in the room, Maddelyn was very bored b/c there was nothing for her to do....oops can't please them all.
Aliya was playing dress up!!!
Mommie I can change a diaper too!!
Nana, Played with Elijah getting him to Giggle!
Aliya was ordering Mommie an airline ticket to Hawaii using the keyboard!!
SHOPPING!!!!
Found a Friend took his money!!!
Maddelyn is going to be a Wal-Mart Cashier One day!
WATER, WATER, WATER
Alicia and Her Daughter Emma Lea (the only pic I Have of them...oops)
Climbing, Mommie!
Happy BIRTHDAY to Mommie!!! The big 25!
Easter Morning Aliya was being a really big pill and would not let me get a good picture of her and us.
So we came home from church went down for a nap and then got up and did pictures and Easter baskets.
Look Mom, I found it!
Don't know what's in it!
So many to choose from!

Here Mom!!

Papa is my FAVORITE!!!
And at one point she layed down and rolled over and decided that she had had enough!

Monday, April 6, 2009

snow

It's snowing in april. Does that make anyone else as sad as it does me??
Or maybe just fits my mood!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Long Overdue

So it's been awhile since I've up loaded my pictures! SO here is the last couple of months in pictures.
The girls came up, in February during a big snow storm so one of the afternoons we got them ALL bundled up and took them outside, it was Aliya's first outside snow experience, and she really could have cared less.


Making snow angel's! !

Aliya absolutely loves when her cousins come and visit, she plays right along side of them like she is a big girl, and she grows up so much when they are around.
Her favorite thing is chairs her size and cousin Caroline took a seat right beside her.
Aliya's hair is so long in the back, and when wet has cute little curls, so a couple of times we have been able to put it up in pig tails in the back. I think it's adorable.

Nana went to Florida for a week and a half in february and brought Aliya back a pink and black butterfly shirt, found out Mom had one too, so mom and daughter matched. (I can do this now, won't be able to match my daughter when she's 12 b/c that wouldn't be cool, but at 1 it's cute ;) )
So The girls came up again this past week and thankfully there was no snow on the ground!!! It was actually even nice enough to inflate there big jumper outside on the back porch, All 4 of the girls had a LOT of fun!


So Aliya LOVES music has since she was born, you start singing to her and she'll sing back, Well sh got this little stool from a friend for her birthday and it's her perfect height right now, well one of the girls put it by Aliya's leapfrog table which has a piano keys on it, and Aliya decided to sit on it and start playing the piano, it's so cute!!! She is going to be my little Worshipper!
So that's our picture as of late. School is going good in the middle of our PSSA testing right now, two weeks till spring break, and it's so nice to know i'm getting paid for getting a week vacation!!! We are calling it, ScrapBooking Ectraveganza Week!!!! It's also Em's Birthday, Dad's 50th Birthday, and MY BIRTHDAY week too, but it's still a few weeks away, looking forward to it thought ALOT!!!!!!!
Also we found out that Aliya does have Anemia, it's actually getting worse since the last time blood was taken in November. So we have to take her in and get more blood taken for a more specific test. Also we had to go make sure we had plenty of Iron Rich foods. She's been on Iron Drops since November, so it's scary that it's got worse, while she was on extra Iron! So just keep us in your prayers and I'll keep you posted.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

For Fun

So here is something for everyone to fill out about me....please?!
Do BOTH!!!!

http://kevan.org/johari?name=Hana%20Jo

http://kevan.org/nohari?name=Hana+Jo

Friday, February 27, 2009

NEWS

- Aliya has been cranky all week. Found out today she cut THREE molar teeth. OUCH!!!


- I received a contract until the end of the year. Received Teacher Salary, and retro active pay TODAY. PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!

Sunday, February 22, 2009

U P D A T E

So this past week has seen Me and Aliya battle being sick! It's so hard when Mom feels bad, b/c I know how she feels and it makes me feel worse. Tuesday night we were getting ready for bed and Aliya threw up, all over me, the floor, the couch, and finally got her to the sink. So we knew she wasn't feeling well. Wednesday Morning I woke up feeling very bad, and ALiya ran about 104 dep all day, this has just clung to me all week, Aliya was better on Thursday and is perfectly fine now, I feel like I could sleep for days, but that could have more to do with all the wheat I've been eating then being sick...oops.
Aliya had her 1 year old check up...drum roll.....
she weighs in at a healthy 21.5lbs and
measures a 29 inches long!!!!
She is doing great, she has to get her blood drawn again b/c of her insurance wanting to check her iron. So I don't know what will be worse holding down a 9 month old (which was horrid) or going to be trying to hold down a 13 month old!!!!! :(
So not much more to update at least for now, School is going good, still waiting to hear back on any kind of contract but God has a plan.