It's been forever, I know...

It seems like it's been forever since I last have updated, even though its only been about a month. =) So much has gone on, but will not share pictures nor give details on most things.

This June, I celebrated my 25th birthday and when I think about it all, I cant believe how much time has flown by so quickly. I have begun to realize just how precious time is and how important it is to make the most of it.

This was a gift from Auntie and Uncle that I absolutely fell in love with. It's a lighthouse candle warmer that I plan to get lots of use out of=)

I'm always looking to do things that I have either never done before or things that have not been done for several years. Plans were made to go the the Herkimer Diamond Mine for the day. My first experience was about 2nd or 3rd grade, which didnt turn out that great... sparing some details. Returning to this place, brought back some memories and also some new ones.. The place had changed a great deal with more deveolpments and much to offer. Much to my suprise.. the place was very populated with people eagerly pounding away to find their treasures. It was always interesting to look across the place and see people that had just come across something amazing. When times get discouraging and you arent finding a lot, seeing someone with success just reminds you that they are out there. It takes work and time... and in the end, even if you dont find anything real great, you know you've created another memory.

Most years growing up, we would peer out our back windows due to having such a good view of the Albany area to watch the yearly fireworks. All the while, I still had longed to see them for myself at launch off. My very first experience was a night during camp that Becky, Kevin, Leah, Tim and myself left for the evening years ago and enjoyed a wonderful presentation. Im sure I was in awww the whole time. =) Anyways, it wasnt until this year that I was able to go to Albany again, and this time was litterly under them. The place was crowded, so much that you could hardly move through people. Absolutely AWESOME! What a way to end a July 4th celebration.

I love theme parks.. especially their roller coasters and any new rides. Dad had been given coupons for the theme parks, some of which were buy one get one free, and others for $7.00 off per person. Leaving things up to me, I brought the buy one get one free ones, thinking this would be the best deal for the day... and about the time we pulled into park, I happened to pull out those coupons and read them, only to find out that the coupons were for the NJ park. We still attempted to use them.. without success though=) and at the last moment was given a $5.00 off coupon from the people in front of us. Anything off is better than nothing, but a buy one get one free coupon far exceeds $7.00 off. All in all, much fun was had. Several days later, I happened to look at the other coupons only to find that the $7.00 ones were actually for Great Escape.

And, for the final pictures for the night.. we have Ange's 23rd birthday.

Happy Birthday Ange!

Sibling shots...

Im really going to miss her....

Now, most of my gift hadnt been delivered yet, so in place of it.. I put together this to represent the gifts that were on their way. Ange and I have always rotated MY scrub tops and since she wont be able to do this anymore, she was in need of her own.. The picture shows 4 of them that should be in the mail for her. Without embarrassing her too much, she had a favorite scrub top of mine.. so I decided to wrap it up and give it to her. I placed a little note stating, " So you dont ever forget the many times I've shared, I though I'd give you one to forever keep." At this point, I knew just how much it meant as we ended up all being overcome in tears.

I am truly going to miss doing everything with Ange... but as life unfolds, we need to do what is felt best for ourselves.

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Underneath the scrub tops are stickers of road signs to represent a GPS that she has been wanting for some time now.

What a wonderful time we all had in celebration of either a boy or girl, niece or nephew, granddaughter or grandson, cousin. This shower was planned a bit different, as men were included for the party. One guy said, "I've never been to a shower before. I don't know what to do." Another one said, " I hear these parties get a bit intense." In the end, I believe all had a good time.

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Here's some very random shots, without editing of any kind. Again, when using smilebox, your pictures automatically get cut off when fitting them into the space they provide. Enjoy!

Congrats to Brad & Melissa.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Random photo shots...

A little bit of family fun... It's so hard to do anything as a family anymore due to schedules, so unfortunately Ange was unable to be with us. I truly missed having her along.

The landscaping was gorgous with so many options for fun poses, but some people feel that taking pictures while playing, wastes/slows the process of the game. Yes, that might be true.. but I still love pictures. Holding a camera, the case and then also managing to swing was becoming an issue pretty quick too. Last but not least, I can't forget to mention that we had 2 seperate couples behind us, that seemed to be speedy in their plays so we were actually feeling a bit of pressure to keep moving. Here's a few to represent the evening.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

My work week.... and a whole holiday weekend to go!

Glad today is friday...

Hoping to take in some sun and get some things done!

Days off just can't come frequent enough.

A Road Trip to Buffalo... where Jon, Leah and myself met up with "The soon to be Graduate" and headed to Niagra Falls for several hours. What a breathtaking view to capture. Last time I went to Niagra Falls, somehow I forgot my camera.. and decided this time, that wasn't going to happen... so decided to post some of the pictures taken a couple days ago!! =) If you go to JON & LEAH'S, you will see a few more.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Afterwards, we headed back to Buffalo for a very delicious dinner...

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Now, mind you.. I have a slew of pictures, but when using this program... sometimes one is limited in how many you can use/and also, it will cut off part of the picture, which Im not overly fond of. All in all though...it helps put some extra flavor to the event. On the first page, I was unable to get a cap & gown photo...and then was also focused on the wrong individual waiting to cross the stage, leaving me to miss that whole part.=/ My cousin Jon has some good pictures of what I missed, so all in all... I'll at least get copies.

Make a Smilebox photobook

Randomness & Tires

We rely on vehicles so much to get us around, but when something goes wrong...we're in a pickle. Recently, tires have been the issue with the vehicles we have. The beginning of last week, I believe, we come out to use my car and find my front driver tire litterly down to the rim. I couldn't believe it, seeing for three years that Ive had the car, I hadn't any trouble. 3 years is a decent amount of time, but that is besides the point. We get the compresser out from my trunk and as mom connects it to the lighter, the fuse to the radio, cd player and clock blows. Perfect, I thought - sarcastically. If it's not one thing, its another... I know mom felt horrible, but a little peace and quiet does anyone good sometimes. =) Tire gets pumped with another vehicle's help, and off to walmart it goes to have the valve stem replaced.

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Thursday, Ange and I come out at 2330 from work (suprisingly on time, refering to me- that is) to find Ange's front driver tire now flat to the rim. I thought, you got to be kidding me- not again, this time with her vehicle. I just happened to have my AAA card with me, but the silly thing about it was.. I felt horrible calling at midnight to have someone come to help. I tried to convince Ange just to wait until morning before calling, when it'd be much brighter, people around versus an empty parking lot, and have mom just come pick us up... but she wouldnt go for that, so I actually made her call and pretend it was me. I know, Im horrible. =-/

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Then, last Saturday, there was a get together up at Bowmans for the afternoon, and because it just happened to land on my weekend off, I decided to venture back on those windy roads with my GPS. Let me just say that if it werent for the GPS, I wouldnt have gotten there, Im sure. Trish said that it was about 3 roads etc.. and it seemed more like 25 roads the way GPS took me.

So, I pull up to the house, park and as I shut the door and walk back towards the rear driver tire, all I could hear was "SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS", bent down low to see exactly where it was coming from, and sure enough, another tire's valve stem had gone bad. My trip back home was even more adventuresome. I, along with some others, had concluded that my tire should stay up enough to get home, so I set the GPS and headed off... About half way home, somehow my finger happened to touch the GPS and randomly change my destination. When I got to what was said the destination, I pulled off and was like, "um, WHAT???" Trying to reset it, was even more of a battle.. for it kept telling me to get back on the road to recalculate, and when I did, nothing would change. I pulled off probably 4-5 times in random spots, one being a random driveway for about 5 min.. until I heard all this honking/beeping behind me. As I looked, there were people waitng to get in THAT very driveway for who knows how long. Needless, to say.. I was lost with the GPS and without it too. All the while thinking.. this was not a time to have tire issues.

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So, after some handy superglue and a rock keeping the valve stem in place for a time.. I finally went back to walmart and chose to have 4 brand new tires put on. Now, there better not be anymore tire issues for a LONG time.

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So, after being cut today.. I had hoped to finally get a chance to stain my new closet doors, since I just recently, with the help of mom, moved all the boxes back into my room, where I couldnt in the slightest bit see them fitting. Mothers just have that organizational touch and pieced everthing in my closet nicely. THANK YOU MOM. Due to the cold, windy weather.. this project will once again be put on hold... til tomorrow (as it's my day off) and hoping that it brings nice warm weather.

And then, here's a little peak at something I bought recently. I love these!

If you can imagine shells at the base of the candles.. thats how they are now.
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And as I was going through my SD card, I thought I mine as well post a few of these from one of our recent CDCF meetings.

Yes, Jon.. this is what you get when you dont cooperate with pictures.

Your wife didnt train you right...hahah!

Gottcha !

It was so nice to have Ange with us, as she can't be with us that

often due to work schedules.

Liz, we miss you too.. come back soon & bring the little one along.

My very first...

As much as there are lighthouses all over the country, it wasn't until this week that I had an opportunity to see my VERY first lighthouse in real life=) Looking out across the water, I had wanted to just freeze that moment in life. What a gorgous day to take in such a time.

Truly special.

Friendly visits..

This week has been a bit different, if only I could have actually planned for it this way. As of late, my place of employment has a low census and has for the past 3 weeks been cutting people. In 2 weeks, I have been cut 3 times versus my sister 5 times. Tuesday I was cut, and then they attempted to cut me for wednesday in which I refused the cut, and then they DID cut me for thursday. Today happens to be my day off, so all in all.... I haven't had to work all that much this week. With this being said, I was able to get together with a few friends of mine.

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Tina, Im so glad we got caught up last weekend on the phone, and then were able to meet at Friendly's for lunch on thursday. It was nice having Jeff & Jordan along too for the visit. It's not all that often that we are able to meet up/ chat with our busy schedules it seems, but always know regardless of this, we will always share a friendship that will pick up just where it left off.

I had a very nice time... and looking forward to whenever next time may be.

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Who's this little cutie with his sparkling blue eyes???

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Liz & I

Since FINALLY getting over a wicked cold... I felt there was a need to visit another dear friend and meet little Linora.
I think I look like I have everything under control =)

SOOO happy for you, Liz ( & Mike).

Will be looking forward to holding her again soon hopefully.

One of God's most precious gifts...

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A random... sister picture...

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AND as for room pictures... it's all still in the making=)

Finally

Since the delivery this morning at 9:20am... I have been spending hours weeding things out as I unpack, condensing and setting up my humble abode. It's been soo much fun having the opportunity to place things just the way you want them, just because everything is finally YOURS. My own styles can finally be seen.

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I want my parents to know just how much I've appreciated the use of their furniture over the many years living here. It's been great to say the least, but I guess there always comes a time when you want furniture to call your own =)

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I'll stop with this for now because there is yet so much that needs done....

This whole process has been truly exciting for me.. and moreso now that I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. It seems like a long time coming.....