Where have we been???

Well, it's certainly been a whirlwind month for us...It's hard to belive that 2009 is almost here!

So, what have we been up to since our last post in November? Mainly it's been....

CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS!

There's been shopping, decorating, baking, wrapping, cleaning, cooking, driving, eating...oh yeah, and some working! The most fun part of the holidays is the time with friends and family, though. While I wasn't very good with the camera this holiday season, I do have a few cute pictures to share:

This past Saturday, we held our "Second Annual" Holiday party. This year (and all years forward) it is to be named the "St. Nichol's" Christmas Party. While I didn't take many pictures, here are some cute ones of the kids!

Here is Duncan with the vacuum we gave him for Christmas!

Henry is "all wrapped up" in opening his gift!

Victoria sports the Hair bow very nicely!

A week ago, Jeremy and I spend the day with Kim, Gary, Ian & Connor making Christmas cookies...the kids were so much fun, and Ian was quite helpful with the cookie making!

I think Connor is looking for his presents! :)

Ian is quite the Happy Elf!

And, of course, we made our year trek to West Allis for a drive through Candy Cane Lane to look at all of the decorated lights. If you've never been, I highly recommend it. Just remember to get there before 10pm (unlike us this year) so you can get the full affect, and also have a chance to meet Santa and donate to the MACC fund.

Of course, it is also tradition to stop at Mama Mia's for some of my favorite pizza and GARLIC BREAD...as you can see on my face, this was the highlight of the week for me!

We hope that you all have been able to enjoy the holidays this year! As times get tough for everyone, we realize more than ever how much we are blessed to have such wonderful Family and Friends and we wish everyone the Merriest Christmas, the Happiest Holidays, and only the best in 2009!

Holiday Decor

I absolutely love holiday decorations...especially at Christmas time. Here are some pictures from around our aparment this year.

Here are my Happy Tappers (from Hallmark). They are so cute, they can put a smile on the grumpiest face!

I particularly love our Christmas tree. Although not as pretty as my Mom's is, I am trying to get there someday...

This year is extra special because we have lots of wedding ornaments, but we also have all of my ornaments from growing up (no longer on my Mom's tree at home). Each year, we got to pick out our own ornament...something I still do to this day. Here are a few of my favorites from years past and years present:

This years "Jer & Steph" ornament

My ornament for 2008

Jeremy's 2008 ornament

A Snowflake Sweater ornament...so fitting!

The little drummer boy to remind me that love and family are more important than money

A merry-go-round from the 80's!

A mouse taking a bath in a nut-tub!

Jeremy's Poker ornament

My first ever ornement

A wooden school desk from my childhood

Jeremy's avocado!

Little did I know in 1991 how important ribbon would be to me!

Congratulations...at long last!

Congratulations

to our good friends Angie and J who were engaged on Saturday!

We are so excited for you both and look forward to your wedding!

An Oldie, but a Goodie!

On Nov. 9, Jeremy turned 34! We had a celebratory weekend full of Badger Hockey & Basketball games, Birthday Apple Pie, and Jeremy even got me to take him to a Brazilian Steakhouse!

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Happy Birthday Jeremy!

May each year get better and better!

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Robb, Luanne, & Duncan came over for lunch, pie, and to help celebrate! Duncan is growing up so fast--look at all of his teeth!

Trip to Michigan

This past weekend, Jeremy and I took a long weekend trip to Michigan to visit our friends Jeni & Ross. It was a nice weekend away and we had a great time!

Jeni & Ross took us to an apple orchard for a tractor ride and some delicious apple donuts, cider, and appple bread!

Thanks for a great weekend Jeni & Ross!

Jeni & I are "sweet as honey"! :)

We Hope You Had A SPOOKTACULAR Halloween!

Here are Some fun pictures of Ian & Connor from my

visit to Oshkosh the weekend before Halloween!

Ooh...what a scary pirate! I especially like the parrot!

This is the most Connor would stop to let me take a picture!

Even Connor is a fan of the cut-out cookies!

Who is behind those masks???

"Are you guys ready to go???"

Baby Shower!

On October 18, Marisa, Erin & I threw a Baby Shower for Jeni!

It was so much fun to plan and everyone had a great time!

From L to R: Erin McLaughlin, Kelley Willet, Jeni Hock (mom-to-be), Jan Streblow (grandma-to-be), me, Elyce Wos (w/ Ellyson Wos), & Marisa Hanson

There was so much yummy food...

Jeni & Ross are having a girl, so (as you can see) we went all out with the pink decor! :)

The baby's room is going to be done in ladybugs, so we even injected a bit of those into the decorations...on the napkin rings!

The table centerpiece was baby washclothes and booties made into roses.

Erin made some awesome diaper cakes! We also decorated with baby blocks around the room...Baby Girl Hock will be spelling with these soon enough!

Marisa made up some fun prize gift bags and a "fully loaded" basket of goodies for Jeni & the baby! Everyone had to guess how much it all came to, and we found out that Babies are EXPENSIVE! :)

We played an activity where everyone used stencils and fabric markers to create one-of-a-kind onesies for Baby Girl Hock! What creativity everyone had!

Desserts were cut-out cookies and cheesecakes...Yum!

Jeni received so many cute and useful gifts! How much fun it will be to fill her home with them!

Jeni's final gift was a quilt made up of patches that were designed by many of her & Ross' friends & family. It was truely a gift from everyone's heart! It was the first quilt that I have ever made, and I was really happy with how it turned out!

Congratulations Jeni & Ross!

We are so excited to meet

Baby Girl Hock!!!

Fall Foliage 2008

This year, our fall foliage trip made a bit of a detour! On October 11, we drove up through Sauk County & the Dells, all the way to Wisconsin Rapids.

Some of the prettiest colors were just 30 minutes from Madison. Here is a picture of Devil's Lake!

In Vesper, WI, we came across a town full of scarecrows! We found out that the school children made them to look like people in the community! What a fun find we came across!

Each scarecrow had a "description" pinned to it, so you knew who it was. Here is one about the principal!

Outside of Wisconsin Rapids, we picked apples at an orchard! Lots of yummy apples to eat!

We found some really beautiful roads to drive on...and even take pictures in the middle of! My obsession with Little House on the Prairie came full circle when I found a church just like the church/school house from the show!