Matthew and Kiley's Christmas

This shot is off of our 18th floor balcony. If you look to the east when the sky is clear, you can see downtown Chicago. It's pretty sweet.

I finally figured out how to write between pictures. Silly me! Anyway, this is me kissing the turkey. :)

(We got each other matching "Northwestern" shirts from Steve and Barry's (going out of business) for like 2.50 each!)

This year's Christmas season is especially sentimental because it's our first year as a married couple. :) So, Matt and I decided to have our own Christmas meal and celebration last night. I made my very first turkey!! (12 pounds... I'm using the remaining 11 1/2 pounds to make soup). Anyway, it was a fun evening. We had dinner, then Matt found this great fireplace background we could play on our way-too-big TV. So, we had a "fireside" reading of the Christmas story from Luke. My favorite part of the Christmas story is when is says that Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. I have a feeling she didn't take the task of carrying God's son lightly. I've never thought of this before until right now, but I would love someday to meet Mary! I think the Catholic church does a good job of like remembering her, but the only time I think of Mary ever is Christmas, and it's just a passing thought, like, oh, you carried Jesus for nine months. No--she was engaged and got pregnant--a huge, huge no-no in that society I'm sure!! (yes, I did get my MA from Wheaton College) :) Then she had to convince her husband that GOD of all people made her pregnant (but thanks to the angel who stepped in). Then, she carried him nine months (I wonder when during the time they actually got married), gave birth NOT in a five star hospital, and had to raise baby, child, and teenage Jesus! What a task. Anyway, back to our Christmas. So after the fireside reading, we opened a few gifts. Then we went to Express to exchange some of Matt's gifts, then we came back for dessert. We were going to watch Elf, but instead ended up watching one of our favorite TV shows, John and Kate Plus Eight (yes, and I said one of "our" favorite shows... Matt likes it, too. :) It was a fun evening, and I'm glad we took some time to celebrate just the two of us.

Last Day!

My last day for fall semester at Harper College was Tuesday. I taught Writing IV (high-intermediate writing) and Reading II (high beginning/low intermediate reading). I had great students this semester! The last day is always a fun celebration (because I have to give my final the class before the last one)... this year we had doughnuts and just hung out. Another semestser done! Hard to believe. The next semester begins January 20th.

Christmas Party

Last night was our World Relief Christmas party for the families that Wheaton Bible Church has sponsored. Each of the families brought a native dish, and the Americans brought sides, salads, and breads. It was a lot of fun to see the families open their gifts. And Aseel, one of the moms, made a delicious Iraqui-rice-potatoes-chicken-beef-vegetable dish that I will have to get the recipe for.

Fun in the Snow

This weekend was the first real snowfall. I always love the first pretty white snowfalls of the year--it seems so pretty, light, and romantic. We had some fun in the snow with Matt's family in Cedar Rapids. Maddie, Mary Ellen and I made a (tilting) snowman. :)

Nealy's Baby Shower

Last weekend was Nealy's baby shower! She is due January 23rd is is having a girl! I am SO excited to be an aunt (on my side of the family).

Potato and Ham Casserole

I'm not much of a casserole-maker, but I like this one because it's very easy, very yummy, and can be breakfast, brunch, lunch, snack, or dinner. You can use light ingredients to make it a little more healthy. I made it for Natalie's baby shower and had a few requests for the recipe, so here ya go! :)

Potato and Ham Casserole

1 onion, chopped and sauteed

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 16-oz container sour cream

1 8-oz tub cream cheese

1 packet italian dressing mix (Good Seasons)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (can be mixed in or sprinkled on top)

2 cups cooked diced ham

1 2-lb package frozen hash brown potateos

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Put into a large casserole dish (a 13 by 9 inch pan works, too) and bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

29

My husband is turning 29.

This weekend, I pulled off a huge surprise. For weeks, I have been planning for Matt's family to come visit us for the weekend... Friday night, Matthew and I went wine tasting just the two of us, and then we met his parents at Gino's (once again) for pizza. Matt got there and said, "We have reservations for 'Waite'" and then the hostess pointed us to where they were sitting. He was super surprised. Saturday morning, his sister and her family showed up (I may have lied to Matt a little and told them they couldn't come...) Once again, he was surprised! We went downtown Chicago for the day (Art museum, Grand Lux Cafe, the American Girl store, etc). This morning (Sunday) we spent at the hotel swimming and hot tubbing. It was a very fun weekend.

I really can't believe Matt is turning 29 (on Wednesay, Nov 12 by the way). It kinda makes me feel old! But I don't know--the older I get, the more I really realize how life is SO short and how eternity in heaven is SO unimaginably long (good long)... and how I want to live THIS life like I realize what's important. This has been on my mind a ton lately--just with Matt looking for a job, with us deciding where to live, etc--I just don't want to live my life for the American dream. I want to live it for the Lord and serve and love him fully.

One Word Answers

Okay Nealy, you "tagged" me. :) Here we go.
So I guess I have to write one word answers only.

1.Where is your cell phone? Drawer
2. Your significant other? Cuddler
3. Your hair? Cuuuuurly
4. Your mother? Thoughtful
5. Your favorite thing? Dates
6. Your dream last night? Lots
7. Your favorite drink? Coffee. Or wine.
8. Your dream/goal? children
9. What room are you in? living
10. Your fear? ??
11. Where do you want to be in 6 years? MN!
12. Where were you last night? home
13. Something that you aren’t? runner
14. Muffins? Cupcakes!
15. Wish list item? house
16. Last thing you did? tv! (Biggest Loser)
17. What are you wearing? PJs
18. Your TV? 17 Kids and Counting (I know it's more than 1 word... but it's my new fav show!)
19. Your pets? nope
20. Friends? Fun!
21. Your life? Good
22. Your mood? Mellow
23. Missing someone? Many
24. Your car? Jeep
25. Something you’re not wearing? makeup
26. Your favorite store? Any
27. Your favorite color? Pink
28. When is the last time you laughed? Class
29. Last time you cried? Tonight
(I recoreded Oprah and watched it tonight and there was a piece on baby Elliot... if you have children or every dream someday of having children, watch this video... it will make you cry! The dad wrote letters to his baby.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0

PS Is there a way of officially "tag" people on blogs?

Weekend in Ames

This weekend, Matthew and I went to Ames for the weekend. It's the first time we've been there since January 13 (the day after our wedding!) Most of the time was spent relaxing with family. We also went to see Sarah Palin speak in Des Moines on Saturday.

I also got together with Sarah, Jen, Emily, and Kelly at Cafe Diem for coffee and catching up. Jen and I did some wedding stuff together which was super fun!

We went to El Azteca for Mexican food and awesome margaritas. Brady's new girlfriend, Lena, came too.

Family

I miss my family.

This weekend was the first weekend in forEVER that Matt and I really didn't have anything to do or anywhere to go. Saturday morning I woke up and thought, "Maybe my mom and dad or Brady, Wes, and J will drive to Chicago! They could get here by 4pm, we could go out to eat together, hang out, and Sunday we could chill till they had to leave around 4!" So, I call my mom. No answer. I call my dad. No answer. I call Wesley. No answer. I leave him a ridiculous message about how he should come to Chi-town. I call Brady. No answer. Leave same message as Wes. Call Jasey. Finally! I tell her to call me as soon as we talk to the boys so we can get these plans going! My dad calls back. Unfortunately, he and my mom are on their way to Clear Lake. I get the sinking feeling like my plans are not going to work. "But Pops, you can just turn around! You're not that far!" At this point, Matt is (internally) laughing at my silliness, but he's playing along. I hang up the phone with my dad and Matt and I decide to go for a walk. I take my cell phone, though, because I am just certain that Brady, Wes, and J are going to call and tell me they're on their way. No call. Brady finally calls Matt at 2 in the afternoon. After they hang up, I ask Matt, "Did it sound like he was in the car?" I thought that maybe they were all surprising me and coming to Wheaton! Nope. :)

Turns out Matt and I had a very relaxing weekend to ourselves, which was nice. Sometimes when I get an idea stuck in my head (like how I wanted my fam to come to Wheaton), I can't get it out. Anyway, how's that for a random blog post.