He's here...

Arrick arrived at my parents tonight...and he is adorable. He is the sweetest little baby and immeadiately took to us all...just wanting to be loved. i got to feed him his first bottle in his new home and Zach got to hold a baby for the first time...it was so cute. So excited for this new family member.

Today I got one of the best gifts...a set of china!

Awhile ago my dad had picked up this awesome set of china from Goodwill...and when I saw it I fell in love! The colors and pattern were the perfect style for me...but I knew dad was going to sell it on ebay. Every time I was over at the house I would look at it and admire it.

Well today, after having gone garage saling with mom and Sara, I was looking at it as always when dad told me as an anniversary gift they were going to give me a six piece set! Dad said I could take it now (my anniversary isn't August, but Mom couldn't keep it a secret anymore). So I have my own set of china!

6 dinner plates, 6 salad plates, 6 bowls, 6 saucers and cups, and a serving bowl and platter. And it matches all my other dishes...so exciting!

Thanks mom and dad for the great gift!

Goodbyes and New Beginnings

It's time for new beginnings and time to say goodbye. Yesterday, July 2, I turned in my two weeks notice at work. For quite awhile now I knew I would be starting a new job, but was waiting for the company to give me a start date...the call came on Friday and I spent my weekend typing up my resignation letter and a letter to the parents of my leaving. I was definitely scared to be turning in my letter and having to be asked about where I was going. I am going to a competitor and I didn't want to cause friction my last two weeks. The owner at my current job did beg me to stay and I think will continue to do so until I leave...for me though, leaving is the right decision. For too long I have been extremely unhappy and dissatisfied with the management at my job and this was greatly affecting my attitude. I generally enjoy working and don't struggle with getting up in the morning to go to work...but lately my attitude has been shitty. So on Friday, July 13 I say good-bye to my co-workers and the families...a day I am excited about but also brings sadness.
On Monday, July 16 I began a new chapter in my life. I will be working the early shift...at work at 6:30 am, but will actually have time in the evening for things which makes me happy. I will be again working with an old co-worker and friend who I have missed greatly and hopefully will be happy about work again!
For once I think I am ready to embrace CHANGE!

So Much To Share...

To start off...we are still waiting on the baby my parents are supposed to get. I will share pics and info as soon as they come.

Now for news...back in April I had one this scrapbook blog contest and I was to receive a package of scrapbook supplies as my prize...I waited and waited and nothing came...so I eventually emailed them to see what was up and after giving them my address the package was on its way. It came on Friday but I had already left for Kalla's so when I got home today there was a huge box and inside were the below goodies!

This is an awesome caddy tool that I have wanted since Christmas...and I got it free...not the color I would have chosen...but still great!

LETTERS--my favorite...stickers, chipboard, punch-outs...FABALOUS!

Paper...paper...paper...never enough!Embellishments of all kinds...new ideas and so excited!

Had a lot of fun spending time with Kalla and family at her party this weekend.

Zach, Sara, and I drove up on Friday night after I got off work...quite an adventure...one of the best parts was when Zach had to climb into the trunk through the backseat...Sara and I were dying laughing!


It was fun to see my cousins too...Spencer is now 18 and an adult...scary! Taylor is a gorgeous 14 year old.

It was fun to see Kalla and Chris and get to spend time with them before they become a Mom and Dad!

Update and more stuff!

So the car is fixed or almost fixed...a flat tire turned into a whole day mess...that took a few days to resolve but happy to be done with it!
So excited for this weekend...driving up to see Kalla on Friday night with Zach and Sara...have a party all day on Saturday...head home with Sara on Sunday...maybe make a pit stop at Ikea! This will be the last time I get to see Kalla until she has the baby...and even then I probably won't make it up until Labor Day Weekend! I am so excited for Kalla and Chris...and Baby Ronning. Can't wait to meet the little fellow. Will update with pics later!
Also...tomorrow I am probably getting a new brother. My parents will be taking in a three month old infant boy, named Arrick with the intention of adopting as soon as possible. All in all a lot going on, will update with pics when I have some!
More to come later!

Update and other stuff!

So the car is fixed or almost fixed...a flat tire turned into a whole day mess...that took a few days to resolve but happy to be done with it!

So excited for this weekend...driving up to see Kalla on Friday night with Zach and Sara...have a party all day on Saturday...head home with Sara on Sunday...maybe make a pit stop at Ikea! This will be the last time I get to see Kalla until she has the baby...and even then I probably won't make it up until Labor Day Weekend! I am so excited for Kalla and Chris...and Baby Ronning. Can't wait to meet the little fellow. Will update with pics later!

Also...tomorrow I am probably getting a new brother. My parents will be taking in a three month old infant boy, named Arrick with the intention of adopting as soon as possible. All in all a lot going on, will update with pics when I have some!

More to come later!

BE WARNED...THIS IS A VENTING SESSION

I HATE TIRES!
So my morning started off fairly well (except for waking up at 6:30 instead of 7:20 because my body decided--so I was a little tired), then it all breaks loose...I go to get in my car and drive away and I hear a thump-thump-thump noise and I think, "oh, shit, I have a flat!" Now since I have been driving, I have had my fair share of flats: the first Valentine's Day Keith and I were dating, leaving church one day, leaving work one day, and now this one. And those are only the ones where I was driving, Keith has had a few that I have been there for and Keith and my sisters and I had one on a trip once. So I am an expert at changing tires.
Today proved a little more interesting...once I realized I had a flat I had to park somewhere...I was still at home, but the spots in front of our house are on the street and I WAS NOT parallel parking with a flat tire...so I pulled into the alley which is a slight downhill...luckily catching Keith before he left for a morning breakfast meeting. So we start to change it...on the hill..forgetting we should be on a flat surface...and the jack slips...yikes!
So we drive to my parents to get the hydraulic jack...come home and try it...and it still is slipping!
So now we are waiting for our insurance company to send out a tow/tire change guy to fix this problem....and it is only 10:15 in the morning!

This Weekend...

...was super cool! Sara graduated high school on Saturday and it was weird to think that that was me four years ago. I was feeling very old! I am so proud of Sara and I know that college is going to be a great opportunity for her. She is going to be a great interior designer...and it just a few short years she will be done with school and make her way into the world! And with Sara graduating it got us to thinking that in four years it will be Zach graduating from high school...that thought makes me feel very old!
Kalla was also in town and it was so fun to see her for the weekend. On Saturday morning, Kalla and I went and got pedicure together...a very fun and relaxing time. We just got to talk and share things...having her here always makes me see how much I miss not having the opportunity to see her on a regular basis...but I also know she misses Chris a lot when she is here.
So the weekend was an overall hit...very busy but good times!

Sisters

In the past year I have seen my relationship with each of my sisters change drastically (for the good) and I am glad to say that they are my two best friends and I would be lost without them! We've faced trials together and apart...but have always been there. We have lived apart...probably one of the most difficult times...we have lost a huge part of our family and learned how to survive...we are adding to our family...we are learning to love each other even when we may not agree...and we do it all as sisters!

A New Car

WE BOUGHT A NEW CAR TONIGHT!!!!!!
I am super excited...I get to drive it the majority of the time!
Quick story:
Last Monday night on my way home from work, my 1998 Mitsubishi Galant decided to break down on the highway...we had to have it towed...they gave us a quote--super expensive, and so with the help of really cool people we were able to buy a new car. I was sad to say good bye to the Galant, but super stoked about the new one.
New one details:
2006 Kia Optima
Silver
AWESOME CAR!
Pictures to come soon!
Super-oober excited!
(Can you feel my excitement :)

So excited....

I am so excited about Baby Ronning! Kalla and Chris found out on Saturday the sex of the baby...all in a weird fluke--see Kalla's blog for more details www.kallagreen.blogspot.com! I know...but I'm not allowed to say yet! Am totally excited, because I now know what to shop for...clothes, toys, accessories!!!!! I can scrapbook and have the colors match...super excited!!!!!!!
More to come later!

This is how much I love scrapbooking....

http://www.simplescrapbooksmag.com/blog/

See where it says allgirl003---that's me!!!! Yes, just because I read another scrappers blog, I get a cool book and a package of scrapbooking stuff...I will post pics of my prizes when they come! So excited!!!!!!!

So much to update

So I got my new camera! YEAH!!!! Have been on a major picture taking adventure...from things at home to kids at work...to pictures of myself...and of course my adorable husband. See pics below!

Also Keith finally got his XBox 360...I am addicted to BurnOut....and am pretty good at it...this is what our big screen tv at home with all the game systems look like!

Kalla is now 17.5 weeks along and a new belly picture update! So soon and we find out if it's a boy or girl!

My Camera...

...I picked out the camera I am going to get once the money comes!With it being a camera-the same as our old one-I already know how to work a lot of the features and I can't wait to have it to play with!

Scrapbook Overload

So I have a long list of scrapbbok stuff planned for this year and even though it is only the beginning of the year I am already feeling the pressure! But it will be fabalous once they are all complete!

1. Baby Ronning's baby book (Kalla, thank you so much for letting me do this!)
2. Kids' lifebooks (these are albums that will go to KeAwn, K'Von, and K'Liyah...they have to be done by February 25 and I only have one done!)
3. Finish my 2006 scrapbook
4. Scrapbook my own album of the kids'
5. Work on an opposite attracts album (more details to come later)
6. Create Kalla's wedding pages for myself
7. Make mom's pages for her album
8. Once he/she arrives make Baby Ronnign album (one for myself and one for mom)
9. If Keith gets me pictures, an album for his mom
10. If Keith gets me pictures, an album for his grandparents

In case you can't tell my free time will be used scrapbooking...but I must say I love it! Also, reorganizing my scrapbook room all based on color...pics to come when I get my new camera...oh so soon!

Baby's blog debut

My niece or nephew makes his/her picture debut!

Kalla is due on Wednesday, August 8, 2007--can't wait for this baby to come!

A Wedding and a Baby

Last Thursday we took our trip to Illinois for Kalla and Chris's wedding! On Friday, Kalla, Sara, Mom, and I headed up to IKEA---love it!!!! We then had the rehersal that night and got to meet Chris's family--such a great group of people. Saturday started with wedding preperation and then the ceremony and then dinner for both families. The wedding was beautiful, I am so happy for both Kalla and Chris! I have another brother! Pictures below!

Also on Saturday, Don and Jill Dudley had their baby boy: Justice Shalom! On Wednesday night, Keith, Scott, Sarah, and I went to visit the Dudley family of three and he is so cute!!!!!

9 weeks along...

So I had been bugging Kalla to send me pics to see how much she is showing...and she finally sent them, so I am going to be making scrapbook pages to document baby Ronning's growth and to show everyone how cute Kalla is!

I am so excited to be able to keep track of the changes for Kalla/Chris and myself!

My brother and sister...

Zach now has a blog!
http://zway13.blogspot.com/
Sara has a blog too!
http://saragreen.blogspot.com/

To Highlight or Not To Highlight...

that is the question?

So my little bro wants to highlight his hair for Kalla's wedding and for just personal opinion, I am taking a poll.

Do you think it should be highlighted or left alone?

Leave a comment with your opinion.

Top Picture: non-highlighted hair

Bottom Picture: highlighted hair

AEzine Challenge 1.5.07

weekly challenge

This week your challenge is to create something, anything, that celebrates your chosen word for 2007. Maybe a layout. Maybe a blog posting or a journal entry or a simple post-it note that you put somewhere you can see it each day. Make sure to journal about why you chose your word and what it means for you - the more you let yourself explore the more benefit you will receive in the end.

So my word: express

I want to express my feelings, thoughts, and ideas more...I want others to feel those thoughts and ideas...I want to express who I am and what I am about...be ready for a lot of expressing!

Highlights of 2006

These are listed in no particular order!

• Took a vacation to Hilton Head Island, SC with Keith and Scott and Sarah Sulek
• Kalla moved to Houston for the summer...then to Illinois to live with Chris...she got engaged to Chris...her and Chris are expecting a baby!
• I will be an aunt and Keith an uncle
• Keith got to see where I came from...and he loved Plano, Illinois ;)
• My car broke down more times than I can remember...on the highway, in parking lots, at work, just outside work
• I spent most of my Sunday nights from summer on with two of the cutest boys ever...Mac and Te!
• God had a plan that I still don't understand when he let the kids go live with their grandpa
• We put our house up for sale

There are probably more things I am forgetting, but these were probably the most impactful!

Photoshop

So I am finally getting the hang of Photoshop...my proof...look at the the below layout I made about Kalla being pregnant and a mother to be and how that makes me feel!

I love you Kalla and am looking forward to seeing you (less than 4 weeks!)

Christmas Re-Caps

First off...I can't believe today is the last day of 2006...I will soon post on all the highlights of '06! Christmas was great...cool presents...some unexpected:

• Adobe Photoshops Elements 5.0 (I had wanted this for the last few months but wasn't expecting it for Christmas, thanks MeHun)
  
• Ali Edwards' book and calendar (my favorite scrapbooker!!!!!!)


• Lots of scrapbooking products: paper--I have way too much, but I love it; rubber stamps and inks; stickers--especially the ABC ones; and more!!!!!!!

I have been working with my Photoshop and am starting to get it--I am one of those people who just plays with it to figure it out! Below you will find two layouts I created with it!

It Broke!

My camera went kaput yesterday. So sad...I had taken it to work to take pictures of the last day of one of the kids, I took pics and it was working fine, I turned it off and later went to take more and the lens would not open and the camera screen was frozen on the opening picture. Nothing could be done, I tried to change batteries, I tried to pry the lens open....nothing, I got home and Keith tried...nothing. And to make matters worse...my pics from yesterday are on the memory card and because the camera is broken...I can't get them off!

Lucky for me my husband works at Best Buy...in the digital imaging area...and gets a great discount! So now we start saving and I get to shop! Keith agreed that since I take the majority of pics the new camera will be mine and I get to look for a midline camera, a slight upgrade from what we have now. So bad news...becomes good news!

Coming in August...

I will be an aunt, Keith an uncle, Sara an aunt, Zach an uncle, Mom and Dad grandparents, Mimi and Papa/Grandma and Grandpa great-grandparents, Grandma McLaughlin a great-great grandma!

It is true...Kalla and Chris are having a baby sometime in August...due date unknown until she goes to the doctor. Very excited to think that there will be a little baby in this family and excited to be an aunt. I am already thinking of all the things I want to buy and do with the baby!

Kalla and Chris congratulations on baby Ronning...Chris take care of Kalla and don't let her do too much...Kalla let Chris take care of you and spoil you!

Can't wait to see you in January!

Happy Birthday...

Happy 6th Birthday, K'Von!

I hope you had a great day with tons of special celebrating...just for you!

Moving on...

Tonight I did one of the toughest things I've had to do since knowing the kids were leaving...I unwrapped their Christmas gifts and sorted them by what can be given away now and what needs to be kept because I don't know what to do with it. One of things...a stuffed monkey that has the velcro arms and legs that was for KeAwn...I have hanging on my bed as a memory! It has been hard...it was hard to go over to my parents' house on Sunday and not have three screaming children running around.
And now my parents are fighting this...if not to get the kids back to at least fight the injustice that was done to our family. There are so many things about this situation that were done wrong to us and to the kids.

There isn't a minute that goes bye that I don't think about them...did they eat enough at dinner, since Grandpa didn't want to know preferences/dislikes; did they go to bed okay, again Grandpa doesn't know the ritual.

When does the pain and questioning stop---will it ever? I will for the rest of my life acknowledge that I have three siblings who were taken from me!

K'Von, K'Liyah, and KeAwn--I love you so much!

The world continues spinning

So life does go on...but it will never be the same. That part of me has been ripped out and I have no way to glue it back together. I miss them more than I could ever think...I said my good byes, but I admit they weren't ready for them and there was resistance which made it that much more difficult to walk away. Now the clean up phase begins...I some how try to piece my life back together to a resemblance of normality--still not sure what that is with me--and I live life. I live with joy, not that there won't be pain, but I live knowing that the good will always reveal.

The $1,000,000 question...why?

Why...after over two years can this be happening? How can love be ripped away like that and how can I be expected to survive? Why did I have to fall in love with them? Why, Why, Why? I want the $1,000,000 answer...why would He choose to take them away?

I got the call at work today...Sara said that the kids were going to live with their grandpa and they would be leaving tomorrow...yes, as in today is Thursday, December 7, 2006 and tomorrow is Friday, December 8, 2006 and the kids will no longer be part of our family. I have so many questions, I have so many things still to say.

I am at my mom and dad's right now...waiting until bedtime to say good-bye, but all they know is that they are spending the night at grandpa's tomorrow...but even that is not going over too well with any of them. There is not enough time tonight to say all the good-byes I NEED to say. Keith can;t be here to say good-bye or to hold me and tell me it's okay, Kalla isn't here to make the good-bye complete, I see Zach crumbling before my eyes...and I don't have the answers to make it ok. How can I comfort them, if I can't even tell my things to make it okay.

So now I say good-bye, even though the ones who need to hear it and understand think it is only until the next time I come to see them.

K'Von--you may have been wild, but you always had a soft side to cuddle with and I love you and will miss you more than I can ever say.

K'Liyah--you are such a girly girl, but was always a riot to be with...once you trusted someone you gave your love so greatly...I will truly miss you and the way you always asked me where Keith was.
KeAwn--you were spoiled, but you were the ham of the bunch...you would do most anything for a laugh!