a recap of the last couple of months

So, some of you are probably thinking it's about time for a blog. Did I drop off the face of the earth? Some days I wished I had :) It's been an absolutely crazy couple of months. I spent most of the end of October through the first 2 weeks of November, packing, purging a bunch of stuff and painting the new house before we moved in. We moved in just the nick of time. It snowed the day after we moved. Not really the best time of the year to move in Northern Indiana.

But we are all in our cozy little house. We are still trying to get used to all the quirks that come with being in a new house. (the house isn't new, it's just a new house for us) So the last two weeks of November have been spent unpacking and decorating for Christmas. I actually had a lot of fun decorating a new place. Christmas is one of my most favorite holidays and if I had enough money I would decorate every room in my house. We love to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our Saviour and we also get to celebrate my birthday and my oldest son's birthday (7 yrs old). December is a really busy month for us but we have a lot of fun!!

Below are some pictures from Kaleb's birthday:

The theme for this year was Spy. I didn't go all out like a did this year, but we did do a few fun spy games and everyone got something in there goody bags that a spy would use.















We actually had a lot planned around Christmas, but Zarek got really sick. So all our plans were postponed til after the New Year. We actually opened all our presents Christmas Eve because we were suppose to be out on Christmas. So Zarek was feeling his best then, but Christmas was spent on the couch watching lots of movies. It was actually really nice to relax and not be be traveling all over the place. After a visit to the doctor, we were told Zarek had strep (which is what I thought), but he also had scarlet fever. So he had to stay in the house for a week. He was back to himself the next day after getting some antibiotics. This year the boys got a ton of Legos and scooters. They will be very busy for a long time. Maeci got a toy kitchen and puzzles. I got a new digital camera and cell phone. I will be better at remembering to bring the camera and be able to take much better pictures.

Jerimae got a beard trimmer and new cell phone.

Kaleb lost a tooth on Christmas day and then a few days later lost the other.

New Years was not to exciting. We just spent it at home together watching Kung Fu Panda with the kids. Again, a nice relaxing holiday for the Yoders. We finally finished celebrating Christmas with all the grandparents Sunday, Jan. 4th. Christmas was really long for us this year.

So now were are trying to get all back to normal. Back to school and all the decorations are put away. We are still unpacking. We will probably be doing that for awhile. God had blessed us tremendously during 2008 and we are looking forward to what He will do in 2009. I know that no matter what circumstances that my come our way this year, we can be at peace because our hope is in Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

Happy Birthday My Love!!!

Well, actually Jerimae's birthday was 2 days ago. I just don't have a lot of time right now to post anything. We are moving just one town over in 5 weeks and I have a lot of packing and purging. Also we are painting the other house...not easy to do with 3 kids.


Anyway, we did take a break on Tuesday to celebrate Jerimae's birthday. We went out as a family for dinner....Sushi. It's are new favorite food. Then we came back home for some cake and presents. I made him a Tiramisu cake (thanks for the recipe Marcie). It was soooooo good.













Then for his birthday I framed an 8x10 close up picture of Maeci and an 8x10 picture of the
boys with their hair all punked out and looking like rockers. Jerimae loved them.


















Jerimae is an incredible husband and father. He was chosen perfectly for me. Thank you Lord. I have grown more and more in love with him as the years have gone by and I look forward to growing old with him.

10 Incredible Years!!!

Friday, Jerimae and I celebrated our 10th anniversary. Ten years.....I really can't believe it's been 10 years. Being married is the longest thing I have ever done. (I've never been in one job for 10 years or lived in the same house for 10 years, or even lived in the same town for 10 years) Actually, I wouldn't mind living in the same town and house for 10 years, but I'm not sure that will ever happen living with Jerimae.

Ten years ago, we got married in Indy and headed to Gatlinburg for our honeymoon. After the honeymoon, we returned to Fishers to a small apartment to start our lives together. A year later, we moved to an old farm house in Fishers where we stayed for a little over 3 years and had our first child, Kaleb. Then we moved to a newer house in Fishers and had our second child, Zarek. We stayed there for about 2 years. Then we purchased our first home in Westfield. There we lived only 2 years and had our third child, Maeci. Finally that brings us where we are today...South Bend. We've been here for almost 1 1/2 yrs. We will be moving again I'm sure (we're just in a rental house right now). We were living in a different house when each one of our children were born. I will have to say that I'm a little tired of moving. I'm ready for the next house, to be it!! But like I said earlier, it may never happen as long as I'm with Jerimae...type A personality...big plans...changing all the time...but I do love it. Being married to Jerimae has never been boring. I look forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for us in the future.

So for our 10th anniversary, we got to go away for the night. Before we left we exchanged gifts. He got me a MP3 player that I've been wanting for awhile and downloaded a bunch of music that we both love. For him, I made an abstract painting of the waterfall where he proposed to me (Burrells Fords, SC). This was the first painting I've ever done. I tried to find an abstract painting, but I couldn't find one I liked. So I decided that I would try to paint one myself. I've wanted to paint something for a long time now. I had so much fun doing it. I've found something new I like to do now. (I'll post a picture of it soon)

We stayed at this beautiful Inn tucked away into the woods in Michgan City. The name of the place is Creekwood Inn.



Attached to it is an incredible restaurant called Kelly's Table. The food was spectacular. After dinner we went to Washington Park to walk along the beach, relax and get connected again. Jerimae had surprised me with the video of our wedding downloaded onto his laptop. (I was wondering why he brought the laptop) It was so much fun reminiscing. Saturday we had breakfast at Kelly's Table, went shopping at the Outlet Shops and grabbed some lunch before we headed back home. It was great finally spending some time with Jerimae. I was reminded of how much fun we have together. I've truly been blessed with the best husband that is so patient with me and loves me unconditionally. I LOVE YOU J!!!!

The BIG 2!!

Saturday was Maeci's 2nd birthday. It's very hard for me to believe that 2 years has past. She has brought so much joy to our family. She is so loving. There is nothing better than a huge bear hug on your leg while cooking in the kitchen and she likes to give out a lot of those.

That evening we had my mom, Jerimae's mom and dad, Keith & Melissa and Drew & Trever over to celebrate Maeci's birthday. The theme for this year was Hello Kitty. Maeci loves cats so I thought that Hello Kitty would be a big hit for her, and it was.

Here's a few decorations:

I looked around for a Hello Kitty t-shirt for her to wear, but I never could find one, so I decided to just make one myself. So I bought her a white t-shirt and some puffy paint and here it is below:

"I'm two" (she's trying to hold up 2 fingers)

We grilled out for dinner first. Here is a picture of Grandpa and Grandma Yoder eating with all their grand kids...how sweet!!

Then we had cake and ice cream. I made her a Hello Kitty face cake.

YUM! YUM!

And finally the unveiling of the presents. Many, many presents. She made out.

Even Kaleb liked playing with her new toys!!

I think she was a little overwhelmed at first with all the new toys. She got a doll with a bunch of accessories, stroller, highchair, baby bed, baby car seat carrier, glittery purse with accessories, dress up doll, vacuum, broom, mop, new bathing suit w/cover-up, and a cute capri outfit.

The Lord has blessed us with an incredible daughter. She gets lots of love from all of us, especially her brothers. They are so good with her. I have so enjoyed watching her grow. She makes me laugh all the time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PUNKIN!!!!

(I hope to add a video clip if I can get it downloaded)

Weekend with the Girls

Refreshed!!! I went away this weekend to my old stopping grounds, Clemson, SC. I flew into Atlanta, where my very good friend, Sharon, picked me up and we traveled then to SC. This weekend we celebrated her upcoming wedding. She got her bridal portraits taken... absolutely breath taking. And we went out to dinner and had a bridal shower with some more of her friends from college. We went to this incredible restaurant downtown Greenville, Pomegranate on Main. It's Persian cuisine was spectacular.

Earlier that day we had a day at the spa. I've never had a massage before and now I'm hooked. It was awesome. We had a pedicure, a facial, a 30 minute message and lunch. It was so relaxing. I will definitely be doing it again.

Celebration Picnic

Today is a gorgeous day. Spring has finally arrived. Hopefully we will not see anymore snow, but you never know around here. I was gone this past weekend visiting South Carolina with my girlfriends from college. (I will post a blog with pictures later) I got home last night and my son Kaleb came up with a great idea to go to the park and have a celebration picnic. So I asked him, what are we celebrating and he said "mama coming home". He is the best!! So that's what we did. We went to the park and had a picnic and played on the playground. And I forgot the camera...Again!! I am horrible at remembering to bring my camera. Anyway, it was wonderful. And it was great to be home with my incredible family that God has so graciously blessed me with.

Birthday Boy

This week we celebrated Zarek's 5th birthday. It blows my mind how fast my kids are growing up. On Sunday we got together with grandparents, uncle, aunt, and nephews to celebrate. Just a quaint party. Then on Tuesday, March 11th, (his birthday) we celebrated with a breakfast of his choice..pancakes, eggs and turkey bacon. Then we went to Soccer Zone (an indoor facility with a bunch of those inflatable bouncers and slides). It was a blast and forgetful me forgot to bring the camera to capture the memories. Then we went out for lunch, his choice...Chick-Fil-A. Then we came home, where he then got his present from daddy and mama. A brand new bicycle. He was ecstatic. He rode his bike for a very long time. I thank God for every moment and every year that He gives me with my kids. I'm so blessed!!!