She keeps growing!

First Picture together @ 6 weeks
Most recent at 5 1/2 months
Profiles
Sweet Face!

We hope you all had an awesome Christmas...we had one Christmas already and two more are coming up this weekend! wahoo!!

True meaning of Christmas

A quotation in our church’s Advent devotional guide caused me to rethink my approach to Christmas:
“Let us at all costs avoid the temptation to make our Christmas worship a withdrawal from the stress and sorrow of life into a realm of unreal beauty. It was into the real world that Christ came, into the city where there was no room for Him, and into a country where Herod, the murderer of innocents, was king.
“He comes to us, not to shield us from the harshness of the world but to give us the courage and strength to bear it; not to snatch us away by some miracle from the conflict of life, but to give us peace—His peace—in our hearts, by which we may be calmly steadfast while the conflict rages, and be able to bring to the torn world the healing that is peace.”
When Mary and Joseph presented the infant Jesus to the Lord, Simeon said to them: “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35).
Christmas is not a retreat from reality but an advance into it alongside the Prince of Peace. —David C. McCasland

She's home...

Some of you may or may not know that Gisele was recently spayed. We had taken her in two weeks ago and they were concerned about her bloodwork. Yesterday morning, we met with her vet and we agreed to recheck labs and go from there. Her labs were right within the reference range this time and able to have her procedure. They called Kit after surgery to say she did great and they also had to remove a cyst from her ovary. She is home now and doing well! She was weighed two weeks ago at 60 pounds....two weeks later 65! She is definately going through a "continual" growth spurt ;)

Enjoying the Winter Wonderland

Since church services were closed today we have enjoyed hanging around the house doing some extra relaxin and playin outside together!

Oh, How I love dates!

We had just finished Skating Well, at least you can see the building where we ice skated



I absolutely love spending time with my husband. Today was a productive day for me. I was able to play with the dogs outside this morning while we were getting flurries, send out a few more Christmas cards of people I had missed, wrapped all the christmas presents and just "relaxed". Kit had practice this morning for the christmas program at church and brought home a couple items that we might need if we get "snowed in". Oh how I would love to get snowed in! How fun is it to be with your best friend in your house!
Anyway, back to the story. I was planning on being "in" tonight when Kit spoke up and said, "let's go ice skating!". Now, we haven't been ice skating since the day we got engaged 4 years ago. It was so much fun outside with Christmas music playing as big snowflakes fell gently on your eyelashes ...if that won't get you in the spirit of Christmas! Come to think of it...neither of us fell even once! By the end I was able to skate without squeezing Kit's hand to balance myself;).

Next stop....Starbucks! When Kit ran in to get me my FAVORITE---white chocolate mocha (decaf, please!) I looked up and what else would be there but the IGLOO! Oh how fun to surprise him with a dish of cookie dough....his favorite!

Last stop of the night...the Purdue Christmas tree at the Union. Believe it or not, I had never been so we just had to go. I think more impressive to me was the gingerbread house!

What a great night but driving home the roads definately had gotten worse--maybe we will get "snowed in" after all!! ;)

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh ginormous Christmas Tree!

Lots of work...

The Cute Dog House

Meet Maggie or Marley or...

First of all let me start off by saying this is not our puppy! A friend from Avon got this black lab from Rossville today and stopped in to meet Gisele and Grover. This puppy has not been named yet as it is a surprise for her husband! She has decided though she likes "M" names and Maggie and Marley are at the top of the list....I just love puppy breath!

Pretty Dane...

24...

It's my birthday today! I can't believe I am 24...thanks to everyone who helped to make my birthday extra special!

Christmas is coming...

Getting in the Christmas Spirit.....that's right I said CHRISTmas not holiday ;)

25 years today!

Kit Ryan Cadwallader is 25 today! I love you!

Happy Birthday!

Here are 25 things I love about my husband... (it's hard to stop @ 25!!)

1. That he loves the Lord and has a personal relationship with Him.
2. His laugh. I like his traditional laugh but when he laughes so hard you can't see his eyes anymore and his ears turn red, it gets me going, too!
3. His respect for other people.
4. His love for the outdoors.
5. How handy he is around the house.
6. His patience.
7. His strength.
8. His Kindness.
9. His never ending search for the "perfect" mashed potatoes.
10. His selflessness.
11. His smile and his incredible "never had a cavity" teeth!
12. His work ethic
13. His unconditional love for me!
14. His love and patience with Grover and Gisele.
15. His hugs
16. He enjoys the ribs that I make.
17. His joy that he always brings home, no matter what kind of day it was.
18. His love for Culver's!
19. His love for family and friends.
20. He is an awesome friend.
21. His spending of money and financial planning (yes! even this ;)
22. He married me!!!!
23. His kisses
24. He'll eat anything.
25. He tucks his shirts in ;).

Final Fall Days

As the end of fall is approaching, the dogs and I took advantage of the awesome weather and went to one of our favorite walking trails to enjoy the morning! Things got even more exciting when I let them play in the water...

The dogs love to play hide 'n go seek in the tall grass

They blend in a little too well at times

Gisele's first water experience

Grover right at home in the water!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!

We Can See!

Blurry Pic but remember the before?

Now!
The dogs are glad to have "their" sun room back!
The Front door even got a new coat
The curtains look much better!

New picture collage

Yeah! Kit spent a long week working on overhead lighting but we can see now! Every room has overhead ligthing--it's so nice to just "flip a switch!" Also, my mom helped me on Friday with the Front Living Room "makeover". It got a new coat of paint and flows nicely from the hallway to the front room. It's amazing what a little paint will do.

Lighting

Before

First Hole being cut

Finished product


So yesterday was the day to put recessed lighting in the back family room. Kit had checked everything off his "supply" list, measured, went up in the attic and called friends who were willing to help at a moment's notice. I'm not sure why but it ended up that no one was available to help Kit install the lights. So when the time came to measure, cut, wire and install who else but me was by his side! It was a long day for Kit as it was a one man show pretty much but we enjoyed the time together and the process. Now we have an awesome room with great lighting and can't wait until our HOME Groups and family get to see the change! Way to go, Honey!

Say What?!
Getting bigger....
Me and my two fawn dogs
Who's on the couch?!

New Recipes

Well, I have been really interested in trying some new recipes lately and this one Kit said I need to make again! Don't you ever feel like you are in a rut making the same thing again and again? I got this recipe from Everyday Italian by Giada De Laurentiis and it was pretty tasty. I have to say that Argula is not my favorite....Romaine is. So, after some "tweaking" of my own, I think this is a recipe we will continue to use!

Giada's

Mine

D-O-G-S