Fun Friday!

On Friday, Rick went to work and Jinnae and I played. We started the day by visiting Chloe. Chloe's mom, Trish, and I met while we were both waiting for our daughters. We encouraged each other during the long adoption process. We chatted about how last year at this time neither of us knew exactly when we would pick up our girls. What a difference a year makes! Trish also has a beautiful daughter, Lia. Jinnae had fun playing with Chloe and Lia. Chloe is 12 months.

After visiting Chloe, we went to my sister's for lunch. Then, we went to Naked Plates. Jinnae received a Christmas gift to get her hand prints done on a plate. This was an adventure! Jinnae did great, but I had trouble writing Jinnae's name and date on the plate with paint. My sister and I were cracking up laughing. Neither of us are very artistic. I kept clogging up the paint pen. I think the workers were getting annoyed with me. Oh well! They need some better pens. :)

Next, we went shopping at the mall. After that we came home, and Jinnae went to a babysitter's while Rick and I went out with our good friends, John and Carole. It was a fun Friday!!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Sundress and Short Sleeve Christmas

We spent Christmas Eve, Christmas Day (and the days following) in North Carolina with Rick's parents. It was wonderful. Jinnae travelled very well. We left on Tuesday, Dec. 23 about

3:00 pm. At 10:30 pm, we had not got as far as we would have liked due to the weather. It was a crazy winter storm that never let up. We literally saw about 100 cars in the ditch. At 10:00 pm the expressway we were on in Ohio was shut down due to an accident. We decided to call it a night and stayed in a hotel. The next day was much better for driving. Maybe too good, since Rick was driving 81 through the mountains of Virginia. Jinnae got car sick on this roller coaster ride and threw up twice. We cleaned her up both times and found out from Rick's mom that ginger snaps help with car sickness. On the way home, Jinnae didn't have any problems.

When we arrived in North Carolina, Rick's parents had a hot meal and delicious chocolate fudge dessert waiting for us. This was the first Christmas that we could wear short sleeves, sundresses and shorts. I even could lay out for a tan.

Grandma Pulaski made Jinnae a cute poncho and stocking. We also visited her work one day and Jinnae helped out with the typing.

We were able to visit aunts, uncles and cousins as well.

We had a great visit, shopped, played games and ate way too much. Thanks mom and dad for all the delicious meals and fun. We love and miss you.

Gerst Family Christmas

We all had a wonderful Christmas with Vicki's family. We laughed a lot and were very appreciative of the gifts. Vicki's mom has made her and her siblings gifts look like something since Vicki was eight. This year their gift looked like a gas tank. Mom is so creative, she never runs out of ideas, even though Vicki is now 37!

Daycare Christmas Party

Jinnae goes to Miss Ella's daycare each day of the work week. Miss Ella is awesome. Jinnae is taken very well care of and loved very much.

Jinnae had her first Christmas party with her daycare friends. She was supposed to bring a dollar gift for a girl and did. I was expecting that she would have a small dollar gift when I picked her up.

Instead, she had a bucket of gifts! She had a gift from a friend and many gifts from Miss Ella. There was even a blanket with our name stitched on it. I was overwhelmed by the generousity. Thank you Miss Ella for being so wonderful.

As a mom, I feel so much more relaxed at work knowing Jinnae is in good hands.

Blessings

Jinnae is blessed with a great dad and I am blessed with a great husband.

We came home to this note and beautiful flowers.

What a good life we have.

The Bad and the Good

The Bad News:

• My throat has killed for the last week and teaching has been difficult. This morning, I decided to go to a med stop. I have strep throat.


• I had to miss Chloe's baptism today.

The Good News:

• I have medicine now to help my very, sore throat.



• I had a Christmas staff party at my house on Saturday and it was a great time. I am fortunate to work with such wonderful people.



• Jinnae had her first sleep over at Grandma and Grandpa Gerst's. She was spoiled like crazy and loved every minute of it.



• It is almost Christmas!



• I have a wonderful husband, beautiful daughter, and super friends.



• Jesus is my best friend.