Where have the last few months gone?

A brief overview of our lives the past few months:
- I learned how to make my first apple pie from scratch! Thanks Ann :)
-Discovered the pain of losing co-workers and dear friends to layoffs at work (3 in my department), yes, I've been living at work.
-Attended a great seminar at the Hyatt on aging and elder care services in November.
-Isaac went to NY for a Climbing for Christ board of director meeting.
-Went to the new W hotel for a fun benefit and a much needed GNO with Anna L.
-We had our membership interview at Grace and became members at our new church. We love our new pastor and our excited to get plugged in!
-Isaac, Molly and Jamie and I spent Molly's birthday at dinner downtown and seeing Wicked! Yes, it does live up to the hype :)
-Eliana turned 2! We spent the weekend with both families and went downtown to the Macy's display- she was so cute, enjoyed every moment...I think she was on sensory overload. Gramma and Grandpa took lots of fun pics
-We checked out the new CSI exhibit at the Science Museum- so much fun, if you haven't been- go!
-Salsa dancing anyone? We taught a group of couples salsa dance! It was for their Christmas party- next time, I think Isaac and I will chat a bit more before the lesson- that way we'll be on the same dancing page!! Right honey??
-Date night to celebrate Christmas: Isaac and I went to Pazzaluna for a wonderful dinner and then off to the Ordway to see White Christmas. It was fantastic- the music, colors, and dancing. And we managed to NOT talk about Eliana, money or work :) (thanks to our couples group for the great advice!!!)
-My honey just got home from ice climbing in Sandstone- yes, he just missed the big storm.

Now we are just gearing up for the holidays!! Given my busy work schedule the past couple months I did all my Christmas shopping online- I'm hooked! No busy stores, parking, etc.
Just me in bed with my laptop :)

Merry Christmas- sorry we are not on the ball of mailing out Christmas cards this year. Next year!

Dimples is ready to road trip

Hi and great evening (well, technically morning but who is splitting hairs when you don't have much hair to split?)

After much trial and error, Dimples (my Subaru Outback) is running right as rain!

Ever since September 14 I have been having problems with Dimples. He was just not running right and it led to many hours in the garage trying to troubleshoot the problem with out spending large sums amounts of money.

I didn't get to buy any new tools as most projects wort working on allow but I did learn a lot about Subaru engines, how cool they really are, and how to use a voltage multimeter.

I am excited. I am elated. I have a car Nicole will ride in again!

Here is a sample of what I did...

I've been tagged!

My girlie Rach tagged me on her blog- I love doing these questions

1. At what age do/did you (wish to) have children?
-I didn't really have a plan on what age I'd have children, I just wanted to see where we were at in life. It ended up being 27 was the age we had Eliana.

2. What color do you like most?
-Is Black a color?? That's my fav

3. If you can have a superpower, what would it be?
-To be able to travel anywhere for free!!

4. If you can travel anywhere in the world, where would you want to go?
-Greece!!

5. Which part of you do you hate the most?
-My need for being in control

6. When you get sad, what do you do?
-Get quiet and distance myself

7. What book are you reading now?
-Sex god by Rob Bell...it's a good read, we are reading it in our couple's group

8. If you win $1 million, what would you do with the money?
-Travel, missions work, college for E, buy some horses

9. What did you love the most about last year (2007)?
-Having a happy and healthy family

10. How did you get your name?
-My parents had a name book and liked the name Nicole

11. What is the moment you regret most?
-hmmm....luckily I REALLY have to think about this one...probably not traveling abroad in college.

12. What type of person do you hate the most?
-I would say Hate is a strong word. I get bugged when people are late, inconsistent and not dependable

13. What is your greatest asset?
-My caring heart

14. If you had one wish, what would you wish for?
-For my dad's movie to be #1 at the box office :)

15. How did you celebrate the New Year?
-I don't remember! I need to go back and look at my calendar...so sad

16. Name the one body part your hubby or significant other tells you (s)he adores.
-My little nose

17. It’s 2008. What are you looking forward to this year?
-Spending more time with people I love

18. Anything in your life that you wish weren’t so awful?
-Nope! God is good :)

19. What’s the shallowest thing you intend to do this year?
-I have to agree with Rach, I'm a sucker for celebrity gossip and I'll be reading my US Weekly, yup, I know...it's pretty shallow

20. What’s the meaning of life?
-For me? It's to serve the Lord and bring his message of life and hope to others. Life is about loving others well.

I would love to hear what you guys think...copy and paste this in a message and send it out. Sorry, I don't know how to tag people yet on my blog! Cheers!

Halloween 2008

So, who does Frankenstein take to the prom?

His ghoul friend!

This was Eliana's first time trick or treating! She was running from house to house yelling "trick or treat!!" at the top of her lungs. We spent the night at my gramma Maxyne's house- their neighborhood goes all out for Halloween, lot's of decorations and festivities. Grandma Ann, Grandpa Tim, Lexi,Tiffany, Michael, Ingrid and Milo all joined in the for the party!

Eliana's First Ascent

The Eliana Wall

October 30th, 2008 Newswire

Eliana Will made the first ascent of her new line she called "Eliana" on the Eliana Wall at the WonderWill bouldering cave in Chanhassen. She was hanging out in the garage with her dad when she walked up to the wall and started climbing- and she didn't stop until she got to the top! There are no pictures of this first ascent as her dad was too busy spotting her to get a camera out. Proportionately, it would be like an adult free climbing a 20' tall wall (the Eliana Wall is 7' tall and 4' wide.)

Since there are no photos of the first ascent, a second ascent is planned for the near future with a full photo and video crew to document the ascent.

Eliana's dad has had a permanent smile since his daughters first ascent. He said in a recent interview "I knew she could always do it, I just didn't think she would on-site the route as quickly as she did! My little girl has got skills, mad skills! I am so proud of her!"

Shortly after helping his daughter return to flat ground, Eliana's dad smiled and shed a single tear.

Stay tuned as more photos and videos are posted from the next historic ascent.

Constructing the WonderWill Bouldering Cave

Who says power tools and toddlers don't mix? Eliana removing old holds so the panel can be painted.

Foliage- just a fun word to say

The first annual C4C MN Chapter Fall Foliage Family Fun Hike was a great success. Six people participated in the pleasant 3.5 mile hike through the rolling St. Croix River valley in Afton State Park. It was also the first C4C event for the newly married Eckers family. Congratulations to Gabe and Michelle! They have a great story about their relationship- I encourage everyone to ask them about it some time.

The prior evening's weather check called for clear skies but my windshield wipers were intermittently oscillating across my windshield during most of my drive to Afton due to a light drizzle that followed the newly arrived cold front.

Just as we have hope in things unseen, I knew the drizzle would fizzle as the sun got higher and we would have a great hike.

The hiking path was well maintained and allowed us to enjoy the conversation and sights along the way. We spent most of our time getting to know each other, telling stories and enjoying the excitement of a toddler in the woods. The trees were not quite in full color yet but you could tell they were on the verge of a color explosion. Eliana (22 months old) hiked up the biggest hill of her life, all while singing parts of the ABCs, "happy birthday", and "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart".

At the peak height of the trail, the park service had cut and burned about 10 acres of prairie grass that surrounded the hiking path, leaving the ground blackened and barren. Sporadic trees were left standing. They looked lonely. It reminded me about the photos I have seen from Haiti and we talked about life in Gentilhomme, what it is like, how God brought C4C there, and what is happening now (read about it here).

We stopped for lunch when we reached the banks of the St. Croix River. There was a large log laying high on the bank that served as both our chairs and table. It was an especially great experience for me; eating lunch with my daughter while sitting on a massive log next to a river that will ultimately flow it's waters into the Gulf of Mexico- thousands of miles away.

We took time to smell the leaves, touch pine needles, skip rocks in the river and watch leaves float down a creek to the St. Croix. I would say we are all better friends and that the MN Chapter has started a great annual tradition with the Fall Foliage Family Fun hike!

Hunting Widow...

Do you feel sorry for me?? :) I'll be a hunting widow 4 weekends this fall. Isaac decided to join the Mahoney boys in WI for some good old fashion deer hunting with a bow and arrow. Last weekend was the first adventure...needless to say it was unsuccessful. I secretly think Isaac just likes the excuse to sit in the woods all weekend!
I was blessed with some good mommy/daughter time. We hung out all weekend together, running errands, visiting friends and seeing family. I miss Isaac though when he is gone :( We got so excited for him to come back.
This weekend I'm heading to Denver with the fam to see my beautiful cousin get married to the man of her dreams. I can't wait!! It's funny because when Isaac and I vacationed in Denver last summer we met her for lunch and she talked about how she met this guy the other day and "there's something different and so great" about him. Yup! He's the one she was talking about!!!