Heading to Indiana again!

Yeah we are leaving for Indiana tomorrow to have the Handy Christmas on Saturday! We are so excited to see everyone! See you tomorrow family!

Fixing Up The House

Fixing up the house (Project #1 for winter)

Today Matt and I went to Home Depot and loaded up a Naturescape van full of blow in insulation. Yes we are going green and bought the Greenfiber brand that was 85 % recycled. It took us four hours to blow 25 bags into the attic. I had the job of filling the machine while Matt was in the attic blowing it in. We forgot to take a after picture but that is ok because it took a while to get it out of my eyes, nose, throut, eyelashes, and hair. Overall it was a fun project that we did together!!

Thanksgiving in Michigan

A Time to be Thankful

At 3:00 a.m Thanksgiving morning Matt and I left for a 6 hour drive to Michigan to visit his family for the Holidays. The drive really wasnt that bad considering it usually take us around 8 hours to get there but with my driving I cut it down to 6.

Day 1

On Thursday we went to New Baltimore, Michaigan to have Thanksgiving with his grandparents on his dads side. His grandpa is bed ridden and his grandmother just broke her arm so it was a Meyer bought dinner which Matt wasnt too keen on but it was still nice. Here is a picture of all the grand kids on this side of the family.

Day 2

* We went to YaYa's (means grandma in Greek) for Thanksgiving on Nancy's side. This was a fun filled day full of playing with children and eating realy Thanksgiving dinner. We had a great time. Here is a picture of YaYa and all her young great grandchildren and grandchildren. Doesnt she look like grandma Handy?

Day 3

* Matt and I drove up to Dana (his sisters) scrapbook store that she just sold to help her get the final boxes she needed and for me to do a little shopping before she handed the store over!! Hehe!! Here is a fun picture of Emerson with my sunglasses on! She loved playing in my purse with the perfume, chapstick, and sun glasses.

Day 4

* We all went up to Dana and Kevins and did Christmas with the kids early since Matt and I cant go back up for Christmas. The adults then had a Wii tournament which was so funny to see grown people fighting over who gets to play next. Here is a picture of Dana and Kevin boxing each other(they are husband and wife and Kevin really wanted to box her)

Day 5

* Matt and I went up to Dana and Kevins again and hung out all day with them and the girls. It was a fun and relaxing day!

Day 6

* Matt and I left to come back to Illinois in the blizzard.

I have been tagged!

My cousin Kelly tagged me so I guess I have to do this. So here it goes....

10 things that make me happy (in random order)
:1. Spending time with my family
2. Shopping
3. Reading a good book
4. Playing the Wii with Matt
5. Having girls night with the girls
6. Exercising
7. Renting a movie and curling up in a blanket
8. Scrapbooking
9. Cleaning the house
10. Trips to Indiana, Michigan, and Florida

Northern Illinois Univeristy

Yeah!!! On Black Friday, while in Michigan, I got an emial from the university of my choice. Northern Illinois University. I finally got in!!! I have been waiting for this for almost 2 years and I am finally going to be working toward my Bachelors Degree. By the end of December I should graduate with my Associates in Arts at Rock Valley College and starting in the spring I will be at NIU.

I cant wait!!!

Xango Distributor

Xango

http://www.xango.com/

Just wanted to let everyone know that I am now a Xango Distributor. Xango is an excellent company started by a guy named Joe Morton. Xango is the first company worldwide to market the mangosteen drink made from the Asian mangosteen fruit. This is a juice that has the most nutritional attributes that you will ever find from a single fruit.

Xango has been known to cure many ailments in many different people. For instance Matt's mother has horrible blood pressure and has been on medication for years. Since she has been drinking the Xango juice she is no longer on medicaiton. Matt's dad has had horrible acid reflex his whole life and took prilosec for years just to be able to eat. He now takes nothing. I have been drinking the juice for a few months now but not how im supposed to so havent had any luck but I am going to start drinking my two ounces everyday and see if it can cure my problems.

This company and this product is the most amazing thing I have seen in a long time and that company is still growing, providing healthy vitamins, juice, and skin care that is enviromentally friendly and great for your body. If anyone is interested I placed a link at the top of the page to the Xango website and you can give me a call if you have any questions or would like to sign up.

Halloween

Halloween Night

Kyra and I went to a Halloween party with Mom and Steve and then went to a bar for the rest of the night! Man was it a night to remember!!

Kyra and I before we went out! She was a pirate and I was a dumb cop(it was mom's outfit from last year)

Me and Nikki, she was the Nanny from Super Nanny but everyone thought she was Sara Palin.

Mom and Steve Before

Mom and Steve After! They were flashers and actually won a trip to Lake Geneva from the bar we were at! It was a very interesting night!

And here is my mother flashing cars when the light turned red. It was the funniest thing Ihave ever seen. The looks on peoples faces were great, It was like watching Americas Funniest Home Videos!

Fowler Trip

Man I Miss Home!!!

Two weekends ago I went home to Fowler, Indiana to see all of my family. It had been way too long and it felt so good to be with all the people I love. Here are just a few pictures from the trip, they all consist of Lucy cause she is just so cute that, that is the only person that everyone focused on!! She is so Cute!!

Me and Lucy Goosey!

Lucy and her mommy had some professional pictures takin out at Wanie's and here are a few cute ones! Miss you both already!

Getting Involved in our Church

Today I met with a lady named Betsy Frost at our church to talk about getting involved in the childrens program. I am now a sunday school teacher at Rockford First Assembly!! I am so excited, I love working with children of course and this is a chance to give me some more experience and get more involved with our church. I dont know what got into me the other day but I called to see if they needed anyone and baam!! I believe God was telling me that I needed to add more of him to my life and this is one way I can do that and pass my knowledge and love for God down to the children!!

Our New T.V

Today Matt and I went out and finally got the T.V. Matt has been wanting for the last 3 months. He was so excited and has been messing with it for the last 2 hours and Im guesing he will be all day!! As you can see from the pictures above he is happy!!

Week Three Complete

Friday I finished week three of my running pod cast.  I think it gets better and better every week.  I love it and not gonna stop.  i just have to get some new running shoes that support me better, which if anyone has any suggestions on which are the best let me know.  Right now im still using my Nike shocks and they suck!! 

As the days get colder i am finding that my lungs are getting used to the cold so I am able to run and breathe properly and no die!! haha!

Well thats all for this week, ill keep you updated on next week, maybe Brooke and I can run together next week when I am home!!

Edwards Apple Orchard

Mom, Johnathon and I went to Edwards Apple Orchard over the weekend to get some hot apple cider doughnuts and some wonderful apples. It was a lot of fun and was very neat. A while back we had a horrible tornado touch down about 20 minutes from here, it hit the apple orchard. They have now newly renovated and started to get the place back to the way it was and had amazing pictures of all the damage shown up on the walls. It is crazy what Mother Nature can do in just 4 minutes. Luckily everyone was safe and the Orchard is now back up and running.

Here is a picture of Mom, Johnathon, and I. I miss these kinds of times with my brother!!

After the Orchard we stopped by Demter to see dad and this is what we saw when we pulled up. This is Rick one of the employees at Demeter. One of the other employees made this replica of him next to the break building. I was dying with laughter because Rick doesnt have any teeth and if you look closly this pumpkin Rick only has 3!! Haha. To make it more Halloweenish they stuck a screwdriver and metal rod through his head with blood dripping down. What people do when they have too much time on their hands.

Caden's First Birthday

My Boy is growing up..... My godson Caden Bouslog turned one year old on September 25th and we had his birthday party for him on the 27th!! I cant believe he is one already. Its so neat to see all of the changes he has gone through during this first year and how much he has grown into a little man!!







His mother got him his own little birthday Blue's Clues Cake and then everyone else got this big cake!! The look on his face was priceless. He had no idea what to do with his cake so daddy Coley had to show him. He then got the hang of it and Godmomma Megan got the priveledge of giving him a bath before he opened his gifts!!! They always give me the fun jobs!

Fowler Town Fun

I have been about three weeks behind on my posts so i am putting them all up now. Sorry Everyone!! Anyway Matt and I went out to our friend Kaela and Tony's for a tractor race a few weekends ago. I was prepared for it well living in Fowler and all but Matt I dont think this is what he had in mind. It reminded me so much of home and was so much fun! After you see the pictures you will see why.

*This first picture is a picture of the track in thier back yard!!*This is my friend Brian, on his tractor(lawn mower).*You cant see all of the tractors but there were about 10 people racing. What they have to do is each time they go around the track twice they have to stop at the pit and down a beer, put their forehead on a baseball bat and go round and round, then get back on and do it again. I have never seen something so funny in my entire life. It really mad me miss home!!

Matts 25th Birthday

On September 22nd my hubby turned 25 years old. Can you believe that? I cant! But anyway we did a little celebrating a couple weekends before when his parents were out but on his real birthday we took a trip to Best Buy and got him his new ipod nano(even though we now have 3 ipods). For anyone who doesnt know Matt is upsessed with technology especially apple products, so this new Ipod was the highlight of his day! As you can see below!

Mom gave him a cake at work for his birthday too and this is what he did with it!

Week one Complete

Well I finished my first week of running and wow do I feel different.  I forgot how good running felt and just how relaxing it was.  Every time  I run I listen to my ipod and get lost in how beautiful the scenery around me is.  The leaves are starting turn into the wonderful shades of red, orange, and yellow as the trees slowly shed them.  I love fall except the cold weather going into my lungs.  I guess I should stop smoking too!! Cant wait to start week number two and get a little better and stronger so I can reach my goal!! Brooke I can see why you do it but I still think your crazy for how far you go!!

Running Again

Well tomorrow September 29th I am starting my couch to 5K podcast that is going to start me from the beginning with running. I am really excited to start back up but it will be a struggle to gain up the endurance I used to have. My goal is to do this 3 times a week and heopefully once I reach my 5K I would like to take it a step further. Im gonna need a lot of support and push because I have recently gotten to be really lazy with my working out but I hope to put that behind me and relax again while running! Wish me goodluck!!

Chrisopher O. Palmer (9-4-08)

Last wednesday my world crashed when my friend Chris died from a drug overdose. Not only was this a big shock but it struck me hard because of everything going on in my life. The services were sunday and monday and were the hardest days of my life. I still dont believe that it is actually real! Chris was the kind of friend who could always make you laugh no matter what was going on, on a bad day or a good one, he always was the life of the party, he was a horticulturist, a volunteer fireman and EMT, a brother, a son, a uncle, and over all a wonderful friend. I will always cherish our fun times together, and will always remember him. One fun memory I have was attending the Rockton Fireman's Ball with him. He made that night so fun and never was I bored. Chris I love you and will and miss you so much! Your legacy and memories will live forever through me and all of your loved ones! You are a great friend and we all will miss you dearly!

Andrea's 21st Birthday

For Andrea's 21st birthday, us girls went to the Wisconsin Dells for the night to go out to the bars and stay at the raintree resort. We had an awesome time, and it was a great little git away. For anyone who know him we got to meet and spend the night in V.I.P with Devin Harris an NBA basket ball player. Girls trips are always fun but its even cooler to tell people that you got to go bar hopping with a celebrity!!

Malie Graduated Doggie School

Yeah!!!! Last Sunday Malice graduated from her dog class. She has done so well over the past 8 weeks and has made a lot of progress. Here is our family picture that they took of us and her special certificate of graduation!

An Answer to My Prayers

Today I went to a new Headache/Migraine center to get a new opinion on what I could do for my headaches. Well for the past 7 years my current doctor just kept giving me new perscriptions to try and I am so tired of my body being run by drugs. But today God answered my prayers.....This new doctor gave me hope that he can get rid of these things, he even believes he knows exactly what my disease is that causes my headaces. I have never been so excited to go to a doctor in my entire life and Im so happy to see what lies in my future for my health!! God does answer prayers, it just may take longer than some people want but he does listen.

Dad's Surprise Birthday Gift

Today Matt and Johnathon worked hard for three hours to put dad's new b-day gift together. The directions said it would only take an hour but they beg to differ but had a fun time doing it. Over all it was a great day and we all hope dad likes his new gift.

12 Hour Day with my Brother

What An Awesome Day we Had!!

The day started out at 6:00 a.m. when I left the house to got pick Johnathon up in Woodridge. We then attended a Narcotics Anonamous meeting at 8:00 which was an experience in itself. Never have I attened something that could make me feel so proud, so sad, and so sorry all at the same time. There are so many people out there with an addiction that need help and its so nice to see that a group of addicts, all different ages, sizes, and nationalities can become a family and a support group. All you need is support from loved ones around you and you can do anything if you put your mind to it. After class Johnathon and I had an hour and a half trip home where we cooked out at my house and played some washoes(sp). We then played a little Wii and went to dads to put his birthday present together. Today was so much fun and it was awesome to have my brother back. He is back and is ready to take a stand, its more than obvious, he can do it, we all just need to keep him in our prayers. I love you Johnathon and always will. Your one of the most important people in my life and I will always be here for you!

New Haircut!

Last thursday i went and saw Chelsea to get my hair cut off. I had grown it out for so long for the wedding and it was time for a big change. So I told her to cut it all off before I could look and now I absoluetly love it! Its long in front and short in back, the only down side is I cant put it up in a pony tail any longer!

I got a fun new do..............................

New to the Iller Family

Kale Iller

Last sunday Matt and I went to Janesville, Wisconsin to visit my close friend Tayrn and her new baby boy "Kale". It had been quite a while since we had been able to get together but it was great catching up and getting to hold her new bundle of joy!! Kale was 8 pounds and 23 inches long! Plus he had mommy waiting a long time after her due date. She thought the wait was worth it though(haha)

*oh and a little side note for my mother and Wanie, just because there is a lot of babies going on in my life, that doesnt mean I have to have one! Im waiting!!

Caden's Sleepover #2

Caden's 2nd Sleepover

This was Bubba's second sleepover with Matt and I. As you can see he is starting to like Matt a little bit more. Caden is now 10 months old and is getting funner and funner everyday. We love having him come stay with us for the night! As for Malice she still doesn't know what to think of him. But Matt and I are learning, it only took 2 minutes opposed to 45 to put the pack and play together this time!!

How Something Little Can Be Something So Big!!

*My brother recently entered Woodrige Interventions which is a rehab center in Woodridge, IL. He entered treatment three days before my wedding which he was supposed to be in. That day while being one of the happiest days was also one of the sadest days of my life. I had to go on through the day like nothing was going on in my life and that I was as happy as can be while only some knew I was really dying inside!

*I was able to go and visit him for the first time on wednesday and I was amazed at what I saw. In just a few days by brother had accepted that he had an addiction, he had started to let God back into his life, and was finding the real person in himself who had been hidden in the dark for the last 4 years. This is his fourth time in a treatment center and this was the first time he actually admitted that he had a real problem and was going to finish out his full recovery.
I have never been so happy in my life then to see him last wednesday. He was my old brother again, and his will to fight this disease this time stole my heart! He still has a long way, but I believe he is on the right path and can fight this, he just needs our help. He can use all the thoughts and prayers he can get so im asking everyone, please pray for my brother! He is my life and means the absolute world to me! I want him to have a normal life, a life he can look forward to, a life without drugs!!

Renewal of Vows

Renewal of Our Vows

On June 15th of 2007 Matt and I got married in the Rockford Courthouse on one of his leaves from the military. None of our family was there and we wanted to include them in on our marriage so last weekend June 14th 2008 we renewed our vows in front of our families. It was a great weekend, that was full of lots of fun, visiting, and running around but mostly it was great to spend time with our families.

Here is a pic of Matt and I

Over the weekend I also got to meet someone very special, her name is Lucy Sky Mikolajczyk!

She is absolutely beautiful and looks exactly like her mother Kelly. Oh by the way Lucy is my new second cousin. She lives in Florida with John, Kelly, Kevin, and Pancake! I was so happy I got to meet her, I just wish I could have spent a little more time with her.

Here is a picture of Matt, Me, Lucy, and Kel. Isnt Lucy so beautiful! She even had on a little daisy dress!

*Here is a pic of a few other special people who attended the wedding. Grandma looked so cute, she really was a trooper. She even got out and danced with my dad and my cousin Matt!!

It was such a fast weekend, now when I look back there was a lot of people I didnt get to talk much to and get pictures with but I love you all and will be back to visit soon!

Bridal Shower #2

Fowler Bridal Shower

The weekend of March 15th I had my last bridal shower back home in Indiana. It was so great to see all of my family all at once and to actually get to spend time with them! Matt and I recieved a ton of great gifts for our new house and our first camping trip together! We are so excited!! Even Malice liked our gifts(well mostly just the tissue paper)! My family is really the best and went to a lot of trouble to put my shower together, and I am very thankful for what they had to do to make it such a wonderful time! Now we are just waiting for the day Matt and I can renew our vows, the day before our 1 year anniversary!! I cant beleive ive almost been married a year, back up, I cant beleive im married! Haha! I just wanted to let everyone know I had a wonderful time at my shower and I cant wait to see everyone at the wedding!!

My 21st B-Day!!

My 21st Birthday

For my 21st Birthday we went to the Wheel Inn in South Beloit, IL. My husband Matt, my dad and his girlfriend, my mom and her boyfriend, Colette, and some of the people dad works with all came. When I walked into the bar everyone in the bar sang me happy birthday!! It was neat but kinda embarrassing!!
1st drink- Yaeger Bomb(not so good, I gagged)
2nd drink- Miller Lite(the best choice of the night)
3rd drink-strawberry Cheesecake shot which you can see in the picture above
4th drink-Chocalate Cake shot-in the picture below
5th drink-Show of tequila rose(not one of my favorites)
6th drink-Miller Lite(by this time I had become a cheap date cause i was feeling pukish!!
Over all I had a pretty good time, but turning 21 isnt such a big deal! Drinking really isnt my thing, but im glad I got to experience the bar for the first time with my family, the ones that mean the most to me!



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