The Best of 2012

Craig and I have been so blessed this past year and we have so much to be grateful for.  Here are the top ten things we have been blessed with in 2012!

The Best of 2012

1. Being able to spend time with our family and friends--(there are too many pictures to even begin to put for this one--so here is one of us on one of our getaways with family and friends!)

2. My Dad running his first 5k!

3. The Admirals winning the Calder Cup. (That one's for Craig!)

4. Celebrating our 2nd Anniversary as Mr. and Mrs!

5. Disney World with my family for the first time!

6. Celebrating our nephew's 2nd Birthday!

7. Celebrating our friends weddings!

8. The arrival of our God Daughter -- McKinley!

9. Slumber parties with our nephew!

AND....

10.  Finding out we will be welcoming a precious baby boy into our family in March of 2013!

We cannot wait to meet our bundle of joy--Liam Aaron!

2012 has been beyond amazing and we can only imagine how wonderful 2013 will be! 

Happy New Year's--May your 2013 be filled with happiness!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you!  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas holiday and it's hard to believe we are all preparing for the new year!  It is hard to keep up with blogging because the Christmas season keeps us going non-stop with traveling, holiday parties, shopping, and an endless to-do list.  We spend so much time preparing and always need to take that step back and enjoy the holiday season and the real reason for the season.  Christmas is such a special time of year and we prepare for it for so long and it seems to go by a little quicker each year.  Christmas is such a happy holiday and Craig and I have been able to enjoy this Christmas knowing our special baby boy will be arriving in just a few short months. Nsync's song says it best-

"Bells are ringing

It's time to scream and shout

And everybody's playing cause school's out

Celebrating this special time we share

Happiness cause love is in the air."

Being able to spend a little over a week at home also makes for a great holiday vacation!  Catching up on sleep, getting things done around the house, and just relaxing is such a nice treat at the end of a busy year.  Poor Craig has still be slaving away at work but we are excited for his four day weekend and getting ready for the new year!

Craig and I had a wonderful Christmas together.  We were able to spend Christmas with both of our families and we are so blessed to be able to share such a special time with our families.  We were spoiled as always with baby things for Liam (yes, Craig has already put them up so you would think he was coming tomorrow by the way our house looks), a new camera, clothes, and a bunch of other goodies.  Even Liam received a few items this Christmas!  We are so excited for next Christmas with our little bundle of joy!  

It's hard to believe it will soon be time to take down the beautiful Christmas decorations and settle back into our normal routine.  We have a lot to prepare for in the next few months so I am sure they will fly by!

2013 is quickly approaching and Craig and I have a big year ahead of us!  We can not wait for all of the exciting events coming our way in 2013!  

I hope you all were as blessed as we were and had a wonderful Christmas 

with your family and friends!

It's A Boy!

Well..the news is out and has been for a few weeks now but we found out we are having a BOY!  We are so excited and cannot wait to meet Liam Aaron in just a few short months!  It has been non-stop since the big day so I apologize for just now blogging!  Things are still going well with Liam!  I am slowly getting larger and trying to adjust to all of the movements I am feeling--all the time!  He's an active one--just like his father!  Time is flying and we can't believe we're almost to twenty-four weeks!  Where has the time gone?

Since the big reveal we have been busy with Thanksgiving, Craig's snowboarding trips, VT football games, and weekend getaways!  We've been going 130243408 directions and most of the time in separate directions.  We are excited for a weekend at home together!

Thanksgiving was wonderful!  We were able to spend Thanksgiving at my grandparents house and then went to Craig's parents house for the evening!  It was a great time and we loved being able to see our family.  We sure did have a lot to be thankful for this year and we can't wait for next Thanksgiving already!

After Thanksgiving we both went our separate ways!  Craig went snowboarding (he's not the best with pictures so I have none to share) with some of his friends and I went to the VT football game with my family!  We both had a blast but what a busy weekend that was!  I think we both needed a day off from work to rest up from our Thanksgiving break!

Last weekend Craig was at home but I traveled to Richmond to go on the Tacky Lights Tour with my ADPi sisters!  It was great to see everyone!  We had a blast and I am already looking forward to next years adventures! 

Needless to say, things have been hectic for us and we're hoping they slow down soon!  I will update again when we have more baby updates but for now we will continue to rest up--or try to!  Craig's already been hard at work with the nursery furniture so we'll see how much resting we get done!  

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!

Chugging Along..

We are chugging along!  Things have been going great.  Baby Carlton is growing fast and the time is sure chugging by!  We cannot believe we are already 18 weeks along and only two weeks away from being half way through the pregnancy!   Time flies!  Looking back--40 weeks seemed so long but wow--it's coming much faster than I ever expected!  My stomach is beginning to poke out and it's easy to see we are expecting! 

Our 16 Week Photo

Only a few more weeks until we get to find out if we are having a little boy or girl!  I can't wait to find out what we are having so we can really begin to plan and get everything together and prepared for his/her arrival!  Craig and I will be excited with either a boy or girl so we are just anxious to know!  We're just hoping for a healthy baby!  We will share the news on November 15th!

As for everything else--all is going well! We're trying to enjoy all our time together and get as much rest as we can!  School is going great--it's been a crazy few weeks with trainings and conferences so i'm excited to get back into the regular swing of things next week!  Craig is still enjoying work and staying busy--even working some Saturdays!  We've been enjoying the Admiral's Hockey Games as we got season tickets this year!  It sure does keep our weekends busy!

We will continue to keep you all updated and thanks for all th prayers and well wishes!

And Baby Makes Three

Fall has finally arrived and Craig and I are so excited to share our exciting news!  We cannot wait to become a family of three around March 29th!  We found out at the end of July and have been itching to get the word out ever since.  Needless to say we cannot wait for our big ultrasound in November! 

School and work have been keeping Craig and I busy. Surprise Surprise! I keep wondering why school is more stressful this year..but I take it day by day and hope I get the paperwork I need turned in to the correct person at the correct time.  I do have a good group of kinderbabies this year and can't complain about the little ones I'm there to teach!  Craig is always working at his day time job or he has some job around the house--I tend to keep him busy--especially with a baby on the way!

We were able to go to Jacksonville and meet our God Daughter a few weekends ago and what a treat it was!  We had a blast holding and loving on such a miracle and bundle of joy!  McKinley is a very sweet and precious young lady!  We also had a good time hanging out with our family too!

As for another exciting thing going on in life:

 My BFF moved so much closer to Craig and I and I get to see her a lot!  It's been so awesome going over her new apartment and hanging out!  I love having her close!

Happy Fall Y'all!  Everyone--enjoy this cool fall weather!

Goodbye Summer--Hello School Year and VT Football

Wow--it's been quite a while since I last blogged so I guess we can say it's been a busy end to our summer and it's easy to say it went by rather quickly!  Summer 2012 is one we will never forget.  We are so blessed to have been able to have such a wonderful summer together and that we were able to travel as much as we could.

We've had a lot of exciting events this summer that I am so glad I get to share the top ten exciting events this summer!

1. Craig and I celebrated our 2nd Wedding Anniverary.

2. My sorority sister, Tara, tied the knot!

3. Brayden turned 2 Years Old!

4. We went to Disney World and got to visit with family in Florida!

5. My BFF, Rachel, got engaged!

6.  My little Caitlin was able to come visist for a few days!

7.  I got to enjoy beach days with my nephew, Brayden!

8. We went to Nags Head and enjoyed a weekend on the beach relaxing!

9.  My classroom is ready for my third year of teaching.

10. ANDDDDD....our cousin in Florida and her husband had a sweet baby girl!

(We cannot wait to go visit in just a few weeks!)



Needless to say we have had an AMAZING summer and I know that this winter is going to be just as amaizng!  We are looking forward to getting back into the swing of both of us working, family visits, weddings, and some HOKIE FOOTBALL!  

 Happy Labor Day To You All!

Magical Memories

We are back from Disney World and we are all settled back into the regular routine!  Disney World was amazing; even with sweat running down our backs--what an amazing vacation we had with our family!  It's taken almost all week to get laundry done, our things put away, and getting used to our alarms going off before the sun comes up!

Disney World was everything I imagined and more.  Twenty-five years old and my first time at Disney--I may have pushed a few people out of line to get my picture with the characters and an autograph of course!  Craig and I are so blessed to have been able to partake in such a wonderful vacation. 

Our week started off with a day at Sea World!  Shamu's show was the highlight of our Monday. I'm still not sure how they train those large beasts--but wow! They are amazing! We were able to ride a neat roller coaster; pretending we were Sting Rays.  Seeing flamingos, petting sting rays, rides, shows, and many aquariums--we LOVED Sea World!



Tuesday we spent the day at the resort's water park.  This consisted of lounging in the lazy river, staying cool, and preparing for our big day at Magic Kingdom!  We went to Magic Kingdom on Wednesday!  WOW! I was in awe when I walked through the gates.  It really is a magical place!  We had lunch with the characters, rode all of the classic rides, saw wonderful shows, and saw an AMAZING 4th of July firework show!  Yes, I got my pictures with the characters and had an autograph book--it's part of the first time experience I hear!  We had such a great time despite the 75,000 people and the mono-rail breaking!  It definitely makes for some Magical Memories!

Craig and I in front of the Castle 

The Carlton's and Tigger 

Mickey Mouse!

On Thursday, we went to Animal Kingdom!  After 14 hours at Magic Kingdom and it being extremely hot--everyone was exhausted!  Needless to say--we didn't stay all day but we did see some amazing animals and the Parade!  We had breakfast with the characters and went on the Animal Kingdom Safari which is amazing--we were up close and personal with the animals--especially the giraffes!  They had an amazing Lion King show and lots of really neat animals to see!  Once again, Disney did a great job--we had a BLAST!

Us with Goofy

Up close and personal. 

We ended the week with Craig's family from Jacksonville!  We spent our time with them by going to the Sea World Water Park, spending time at the pool, Downtown Disney, and playing cards!  It was really relaxing and we had a blast with them!



We had a wonderful vacation and have been playing catch-up this week! I could blog forever about our vacation but it was nice to get home and get back into the swing of things!  We keep asking each other "What are we doing this weekend?"--I still don't know and I am excited for a week without any plans and without waiting in any long lines!

Disney was full of Magical Memories and really made our Dreams Come True!

Our 2nd Anniversary And The Summertime Living's Easy

Sweet summertime--Oh how I love you!  You can tell by the heat outside that summer is in full force!  I love it.  Summer has been such a joy already and we're only two weeks into it!  I was able to enjoy one week off which consisted of laundry, grocery shopping, and well...cleaning up the house followed by a wedding weekend!  I felt so productive last weekend and it was nice having time to get these things done.  For some reason, during the school year I don't find time for well..a lot of things!  Poor Craig has been working long days in the heat but has enjoyed coming home to a clean house and having a planned and somewhat prepared dinner! 

Craig and I just celebrated our 2nd Anniversary on Tuesday, June 19th!  I am still not sure of where the time went but it sure has been a great two years!  We are so blessed to have each other, wonderful families, and a loving home and Bobo!  We went to a nice dinner at River Stone Chophouse.  If you live in Hampton Roads, I definetely reccomend it!  We are also going to Disney World to get away and to help celebrate our two years as Mr. and Mrs. a little more!

Happy 2nd Anniversary! 

Last weekend TARA GOT MARRIED!  What a wonderful wedding weekend we had. Craig and I drove up to Richmond and stayed with my little sister, Cait, and my big, Stefanie!  We had such a great time!  We went to Farmville on Saturday for the day for the big event.  Needless to say, we could not go to Farmville and not stop at Macado's.  What a delicious lunch we had.  The wedding was perfect and Tara was a beautiful bride!  It was so great to get to celebrate such a wonderful event with such a wonderful friend!  Congrats Tara and Matt!  We are soooo happy for you both!

Beautiful Bride! 

Love my ADPi Ladies. 

Rotunda <3 Cute Fam 

Hubs and Me <3

 

Summer school started Monday.  I'll be honest and come Sunday night I was DREADING it! I told Craig I had no idea why I had signed up. I had enjyoed my week off.  Well, I LOVE it!  I have twelve four year olds that are preparing for their first year of school.  They are precious and so excited to be at school.  It's such a good medium.  It gets me up and going in the morning but allows me to have the afternoons to do what I want to do.  No planning is involved--WoooHooo! AND...it's only Monday-Thursday so I have Friday's off!  It's a wonderful program--and a little extra cash! 

As for the next week, our nephew is turning TWO and Craig and I only have two days left until we depart for Disney World!  We cannot wait!  Craig seems to be most excited to watch me and my face since I've never been!  Our whole family is going (my parents, my sister and her family, and my grandparents).  It's going to be a BLAST!  We are planning on going to Sea World, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom!  Craig and I are staying an extra few days to spend time with his family down in Florida and we cannot wait to see them!  What a wonderful week away we are going to have!

Cannot wait to be spending my afternoon at this castle and

hanging out with these characters!

 

I hope you all are enjoying summer and we will have some exciting blogs coming up within the next few weeks!  Happy Summer and STAY COOL!