Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all, and a Happy New year to come.

Getting Ready...

As we all are getting ready for Christmas it reminds me of how fast Korbin has grown into a little man. See below Pictures of last Christmas and soon to follow this Christmas, which will not be the same with out My sister Laura here to share with us. I am thinking this is the first time in 27 years she has not been home for Christmas and now will be spending her first Christmas as Mrs. Laura Handy - Sullivan.

Remember its not about the gifts its the time spent with Friends and Family.

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year.

Korbin 6 months old, Christmas 2007


Aunt Laura and Korbin

Happy Halloween...

Korbin's Second Halloween and as always we had a blast. Haloween is one of Bill and I's favorite holiday and its so exciting to us to have our little man to enjoy with us. We took Korbin to the pumpkin patch, Carved pumpkins with family and friends and then of course had our night of fun trick or treating.



PUMPKIN PATCH


CARVING PUMPKINS


THE CUTEST ELMO EVER!!


MOMMY, KORBIN AND DADDY


KORBIN, DADDY, UNCLE JR and COUSIN KYLER

Phase... whining, crying and clingy.

My Little Boogie is about 18 months now and has now started a new phase. Whining and Crying, is this how he is letting us know what he wants? Today was the first time ever I took him to day care and he was running after me crying when it was time for me to leave... I know this is a normal phase but it was almost like taking him to day care for the first time again.

In addition to that this was our first HARD weekend away, Korbin was whining, crying and being clingy all weekend, I know he is teething but my god this kid gets more attention and has more fun, from day care with all his friends, to swim class, to playing with Harley, to going to the park, what more could you ask for at 18 months.

I know its a phase, but its a hard phase. This makes me think... do I want another?

Happy Anniversery

4 years Today... I love you BILL.

Happy Friday - Last Cabin Weekend

Love this place: Can't wait til next summer.

On the Road again

Hello to all my fellow readers, which I think is my Sister. But thats OK.

I am getting ready for the next step of my internship at the VA, I will meet my 1year Oct 26 and of course I get a really nice Raise. I have some great co-workers and an amazing boss and I am off to new travels. October comes my first travel for the new intern year. I have been so lucky to be home sense June and see Korbin start walking, spend wonderful weekends at the cabin, do my spinning class at the YMCA and of course start Korbin in Swim leasons. But now its time to see more of the US and get more and more training to meet my goal of a GS-12 (for those of you who do not know, that is the pay scale for federal).

Anyway, I am off to Pittsburg, I have never been and I am so very excited. December I am off to Florida, Jan I go to Arizona and then many more exciting places until Aug. where I host the graduation for 2008 interns and roll into my permanent appointment at the VA. As you all know I found a fun way to enjoy my travels, talking about Korbin and my wonderful hubby Bill. I did follow through with collecting small snow globes for Korbin in every City I get to visit. He now has a wonderful collection and will have many more to come.

I am off to more travels, missing my family.
I know I am making a solid future for Bill, Korbin and myself for many years to come. And who knows maybe another baby someday soon :)

Loves to all.

Ohhh How we love Bucks Lake

We went to Bucks Lake very little this year with all the Yucky Smoke, and we are so sad to say that the summer is almost over. But we just had the most fabulous weekend at the lake, quite, perfect weather and family, what more could you ask for. Except, we missed Aunt Laura and Uncle Chris for sure. I am not sure if Harley stopped pouting all weekend.

Swimming Lessons

Korbins first time at Swim Lessons!!!

SO IN LOVE

Bill and I had the opportunity to go to a beautiful wedding in Squaw Valley yesterday in celebration of the New Mr. and Mrs. Kyle McCann, its funny how when you go to a wedding you remember and talk about your special day as if it was yesterday. Bill and I are getting ready to celebrate our 4 year anniversary in about 1 month and we are still so in love. We enjoy seeing my sister and Chris and how in love they are as well, we are so excited to join them at there wedding soon, in New Orleans. The best to all the new couples that have and will start there journey's together, and to my hubby, I LOVE YOU...

FAT OHHHH FAT

Fat ohhh fat, could you please roll off. Don't we wish it was that easy.

I have currently been on a strict diet for a few months now in competition with a co-worker. Who ever hits our goal weight first, the looser has to buy the winner a 50.00outfit. When I started this competition, I thought ohhh ya, I can do it the weight will just ROLL OFF. But it seems as though its coming off slower and slower then ever before. Tips Tips and more tips, is all I am asking for. I am currently, eating healthier, no fast food, no chocolate, I am down to 1 soda a day or so, and of course I am exercising, Yep folks, I started Spinning class for the first time and I am committing to 2 days a week, every Tues and Thurs spinning here I come. On my off days, I do some other cardo for 30-60min. What else could I possible do.

Please ohhh Please, Fat ohhh fat, could you please roll off.

WOW 15 years!!

Please read, My sister sure says it all, I can not believe its been 15 years.



http://laurastravelblog.blogspot.com/

First Trip Away!!

Bill and I are so lucky to have family so close. A few weekends ago we were able to take our first trip away, Korbin is now 1 and we said hey... Why not.

We went to Yosimite for 4 days, road the bike from Reno to Livermore on HWY 88, then Livermore to yosimite thru the wine country with 20 other bikes, then stayed at a wonderful hotel in the beautiful mountians, had LOTS of cocktails, then took a ride in Yosimite National Forest with 20 bikers for the day, and then went from Yosimite to Reno on HWY 108.

fun with Friends...

Growing so fast

Our Trip to New Orleans... To Laura and Chris and the Sullivans:

Thank you we had a BLAST...




Man does our little man have a mind of his own...

BIRTHDAY!!

We can not believe our little mans first Birthday is alreay gone by...

Such a Busy Year...UPDATE

So many things have happened in this year of change.

May 23rd is a Big day, Korbins first Birthday!!We can not believe its already been a Year. Korbin is crawling like a mad man, deciding what he likes and does not like, and he is standing on his own, we know it will be just a matter of weeks before he starts walking.

We will be in New Orleans visiting my sister and Chris, for a fun adventure seeing their new home and taking Korbin to the Zoo for his big Day!! This again will be a new adventure for my Mom, Bill and Korbin, Korbins first time on a plane and meeting Mommy in New Orleans (I am there all week for training) GOOD LUCK MOM AND BILL!!


I have now been in my wonderful Job here at the VA Medical center for 6 months, with lots of travel and lots of learning.

Our house if finally done, yard is done, painting is done.
We of course could not go one year without buying something, so we bought a new car, more gas savy and yes more environmentally friendly.

We have welcomed Kyler Matthew DePaepe into this world, Korbin's Cousin. We are so excited to watch the two boys grow big and strong together.

PICTURES TO FOLLOW!!

Fun In the Sun...

These days are the best... fun in the sun, happy baby and a good walk with the family. Korbin is getting so big, he is just about 18 pounds, and has a mind of his own already. Who would of thought a baby at a 11 months old would know what he wanted. He has just learned to push food away, throw his bottle when finished and ohhh yes, I believe he threw his first temper tantrum today, right in front of me, honestly I think it was over Harley not wanting to play ball. To funny how our little minds think at at such a young age.

I have also managed to make my house baby proof to the best of my knowledge, Korbin indeed is crawling and is all over the place. I was just telling my mom and sister about his journey today... From the front room in the house, to the back door slider, he then was playing with Harley's dog door, got board and went down the hall threw all the bed rooms, back down the hall and too the sliding glass door again, OHHH Man what are we going to do when he is walking. After his little journey around the house, he had worked up an appetite, ate lunch and was ready for a nap. Such a wonderful life, and more of the world to see. Until next time... Lets keep the good/warm weather coming.

On my way again... new pictures

Ohhh Yes as I am off to another training class, The VA Way. As most of you know, I Have been traveling traveling traveling. First Philly, then Palo Alto, and now off to Portland, Oregon. I am then off to Baltimore in April, then Back to Palo Alto and off to New Orleans for training and yes to see my Sister and Chris in May, Bill, My Mom and Korbin will both meet me there, and I must say I think Bill is a little nervous to fly with Korbin for the first time on his first birthday I must add. I am then off to Washington DC in June and then possibly NY in July. This is all for a wonderful career for me and my family and I must add... as hard as it is to be away from my family, I do get to see some beauitul and historical places of the world. New pictures of Korbin, 9 months 4 weeks and yes teething!!
( I am up at almost 3AM on Satday night, did I say teething, get ready my friends with all these new babies or babies on the way)

CABIN TIME

As most of you know, Laura and I grew up at our wonderful family cabin at Bucks Lake. We have memories that will last a life time, some happy and some sad. Ones that help up remember the good times we had with our Dad.

Bill and I on a daily basis talk about doing the same for our son Korbin. We want him to enjoy fun times, Catching Frogs and Tad pools, spending hot days chasing lizards and then going to the beach to swim or ride on the boat. Learning how to wake board (our son just might be the next pro wakeboarder ya know) Enjoying the walks along the damn and down to lower Bucks, catching his first fish, meeting some of the other girls on the road, and being able to have late night camp fires making smores.

Bucks Lake is a place we want to keep in our family forever. This year Korbin will turn 1, he will be walking and running up and down the beach. He will have his first swim lesson and a chance to enjoy his new floaty toy, we are so excited to be able to share all these wonderful memories with Korbin.

Summer time is almost here...

Korbin we love you and can not wait to see you grow!!

Brianna Denison

Our Hearts and Prayers go out to the Family and Friends of Brianna Denison.

Love the DePaepe Family.

BOUNCING!!!

First off I must apologize to my readers. I know I have been very bad about writing every week. And I am back on track, well at least I hope I am. I am a very busy Mommy.

This is a great memory of mine. My sister and I use to be the Bouncers of all Bouncers. I remember my Mom getting us all dressed up for an outing on the town. Maybe just a simple trip to Grandma's house or maybe somewhere very important all dressed up. Well it never failed. Laura and I would start bouncing (its what we called it) pretty much we would sit in the back seat and start bouncing our heads against the seat back and forth and our hair would get so static and we would have so much fun. So the point of my story is, we took Korbin on an outing last night to a Pizza Parlor with some of our wonderful friends, David and Amber and their kids.

Korbin was sitting in his portable high chair, eating Cheerios (yess he is eating Cheerios) and he started it. He started Bouncing!! The first thing that came to mind is, I have to call my Mom. I am laughing the entire time.

Always so good to remember good memories.

MORE UPDATE PICTURES OF KORBIN TO FOLLOW IN A COUPLE OF DAYS!!

Good People

Well, As everyone knows, I started a new job... New Jobs are always hard, you never want to be late, and always want to be on your best behavior, but Most of all you never want to call in sick or miss work. Last week, Korbin came down with RSV - RSV is a Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) commonly causes infection in childhood, is very contagious and almost all babies get it before the age of 2. Everyone at work must of saw it on my face.  I was worried about my little man, but felt I needed to be at work. All the woman in my office have such big hearts and I can not thank them enough.We have this donate leave program at the VA Hospital and they donated me leave. yes and I have only been at my job 3 mnonths (Can you believe it) Enough leave in fact to stay home and get my little man well. When leaving my work last week, I left in tears, not tears of sadness, but thankful tears, of how lucky I am to work with such wonderful people.

Thank you Wonderful Co-workers, I owe you one!!! I am so excited to be part of your team.

Bath Time!!

Do you remember Bath time... When it was the best time of the day.

The other day, My Mom, Laura and I were all watching Korbin take a bath. My mom said, Jamie just wait, There will be a day when Korbin will want to be in the bath for hours, turning into a prune and saying ~time me time me time me, see how long I can hold my breath under water. Laura and I started cracking up, as if we remember those days, when Bath time was so fun, time to have bubbles up our noses and time to slide back in forth in the bath like we were fish.

So... when you ever need a minute to relax, think about a fun story, and take a Bath =)