WE ARE HAVING A BABY!!

Due 1st Weekin July! Stay posted for updates! I have been having trouble uploading pictures, but I will post the sonogram soon!

WORKING HARD

In addition to Anthony's job in the restaurant of our hotel, he is also selling merchandise with his (girl)friend Regan at the SunKings games. They are hustlers and have managed to sell more in 3 home games than they sold they whole 1st half of last season.


I am really enjoying being the parent of a teenager. There is so much enthusiasm and willingness to learn about the "adult" world. Anthony looks forward to the days he is working and is excited to calculate how much will go in his savings by the end of his shift. Work is freedom to him... (I'm sure the fact that he gets to work with Regan makes things even more fun!) I quickly learned the importance of explaining the "life skills" we have all learned along the way when Anthony came home with his first paycheck, extremely upset because the government took taxes out. There was practically tears in his eyes while he tried to plead to me that he was just a kid and it wasn't fair! He had worked hard for his money!! I had to break it down simple... the food we eat? The meats? Medicine? It is all regulated by the government for our safety. To keep us safe it takes employees to monitor things, testing to be done...etc. It didn't make it any easier. He still feels like he is being ripped off, but he is beginning to understand the concept. We both had so much pride when he was able to deposit his first paycheck in the bank. He has also learned responsibility and how to use his humor with co-workers and difficult customers. The only downfall? He has now become the biggest cheapskate, since seeing with his own eyes how quickly his funds can go down!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

"We can always find something to be thankful for, no matter what may be the burden of our wants, or the special subject of our petitions."

Traditionally this is a day when family and friends get together to enjoy each others company and a BIG delicious meal. For us this year it will be a little different. Kipp is in Texas and they have a game today, he had his Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. Anthony is working at the restaurant in the hotel where we live, and I will be hitting the buffet and getting a good laugh out of having Anthony wait on me!

I woke up today reminiscing about previous Thanksgivings and places that I've spent them. I remember the joy of cooking for 40 people as well as being the guest in Austria with a family that didn't (obviously) celebrate Thanksgiving, but was aware of our tradition and cooked up a big feast for the "crazy Americans." No matter where I've been, these things always remain consistent... Gratitude, reflection and lavish feasts. It's important to remember the people that are in our lives and how much they mean to us. Thanksgiving day also epitomizes the holiday mood of people.

THANKSGIVING FACTS:

**80% of the people where we are currently living are Native American, of the Yakima tribe. I have learned that until recently, people believed Thanksgiving Day to be a celebration of pilgrims, offering food to Indians. It however is a day marked as a gesture of thanks and gratitude to Lord almighty for his blessings. It is also a celebration to mark the respect towards Indians for teaching the pilgrims how to cook. Pilgrims could not have survived without the help of the native Indians.

** On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a fresh proclamation calling for the observance of the fourth Tuesday of November as a national holiday. Later, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday to the third Thursday of November (to extend the Christmas shopping season and boost the economy)in the year 1939. After a storm of protest, Roosevelt changed the holiday again in 1941 to the fourth Thursday in November, where it stands today.

THANKSGIVING JOKES: (Lauren, these are for you!)

Q: Why did the police arrest the turkey?
A: They suspected it of fowl play.

Q: Why did the Indian chief wear so many feathers?
A: To keep his wig warm.

Q: Why did they let the turkey join the band?
A: Because he had the drumsticks

Q: What happened to the Pilgrim who was shot at by an Indian?
A: He had an arrow escape.


HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!

YAKIMA SUN KINGS

Kipp's team holds the title of the past 5 championships. If they continue to play as well as they have for their first 4 games (all wins!) then they will be well on their way to a 6th. Here are some photos of Kipp's coaching debut!

GOLFING
The reason the pro tells you to keep your head down is so you can't see him laughing. ~Phyllis Diller

Anthony driving golf balls in Washington! Can you believe he is 10th grade now???? AND he has his permit!! So serious!

CAPRICE BIANCA
(American Idol- Katherine Mcphee with our purple fold- over clutch)

Our handbag line is doing well!!... Please check out our blog, you can click the link on the right
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Then... Kipp got a job with the Yakima Sun Kings... so we are in Washington state for the season!! It's beautiful where we live... much colder than Florida but lots of wineries! Here is Kipp and Anthony stomping grapes and one of the vineyards.

Kipp Moved out of his Wisconsin house... and we moved into our Tampa house

Hi Everyone!! I stopped writing on our blog because people that I have never met were viewing it... it kind of creeped me out! But after having some time to think about it, as well as needing a place to post what we have been up to for family and friends, I have decided to start it up again. I really enjoyed logging on and giving updates. It was fun to have a "diary" to look back on and remember certain days. Anyway! So I don't bore you... here are the major updates since I last posted!

We got Married!!

WE GOT ENGAGED!!!

Never did I believe there could be such utter happiness in this world, such a feeling of unity between two mortal beings. I love you, these three words have my life in them.

I am soooo excited to announce that we got engaged!!! We are planning a 07/07/07 wedding!

CHICAGO

Kipp and I spent the weekend in Chicago to celebrate Valentines day (early.) We stayed at the house of blues, had a few very nice dinners out, shopped and just enjoyed eachothers company.

GASPARILLA 2007

Well we had our annual Pirate invasion! A tradition in Tampa that has been going on for over 100 years. I spent the day with my really good friends, Kellie and Alan. I met Alan about 12 years ago at a house party and kellie, I met through Alan when they started dating over 3 years ago. I love kellie she is a mother to 2 adorable boys! She is an amazing parent juggling everything and still managing to find tome to keep her self beautiful, be involved with charities and church, as well as be an amazing friend. She is always the life of the party and makes everyone around feel good and have fun! This year we were able to tour the gasparilla festivities via a HUMMER 3 Golf cart hahha! A Christmas present to Alan fom Kellie. Kellie is a little younger than Alan (sorry AB) and when she suggested us having some music on the cart he instantly appeared with his "Boombox" I know you were thinking I was going to say IPOD haha. Either way, it doubled as a seat for kellie since she graciously let me take hers.

WE FOUND A HOUSE!

I am so bad about keeping up our blog! Anyway, we have had a busy week with Kipp being in town, and gone again. I ache when he leaves because its like having your best friend, and your boyfriend leave. We have alot of fun together and honestly he just "gets" me. I can be myself, a more honest version of myself, because I know that he will not judge me. This makes me want to be a better person so I do not diminish his trust or love for me.

We bid on a house this week...and they accepted!!! Keep posted for our closing date!! Kipp still need to sell his beautiful home (So if any of you out there know of someone looking to live in Wisconsin hah) It is really nice. It's funny to shop for a home, one that you plan on living in forever. Until now, I have always had the mentality of nothings permanent! (Good or bad..Thank God) and have never bought a place thinking "this is it." However, when we walked into this house (that Kipp found while looking online IN Wisconsin) We both knew this was the place where we wanted to start our future together...Him, because of the 14 ft ceilings and 12ft doors, and me because the layout will allow me to at least keep two rooms of the house clean while we live in the rest. The other reasons were the 18 ft ceiling in the master bed with skylight windows to stare out and dream... as well as a big kitchen, where everyone always seems to congregate. If I had to chose that house myself I would probably second guess being part of an "Urban Renewal" project, but with him it just all seems right.

Tates about to walk into their home for the first time!
















Paige

EXTREME HOME MAKEOVER!

Pilot's memorial














Tab and Anth














Tabatha and Tracy















Tates House Completed

Paige and Eduardo

Ty Pennington


Extreme Home makeover Cast
Getting ready to "Move That Bus!"
Jason, Ryan and Anthony

Tate Family
ONE DESERVING FAMILY!!!

Today was the Extreme Home Makeover reveal! I am exhausted!! But, are some photos!

MOVE THAT BUS!!

The boys with their backstage passes to Hootie and the blowfish (Tommy Tate is in the white t-shirt)

God truly does have a plan for all of us. He has an amazing way of bringing us out better after a crisis! When something bad happens, that's when we need to stop and say "thank you" because there will always be an great lesson to learn from it!

Today we found out that the Tate family was chosen for "Extreme Home Makeover!" This is exciting news for our family since Anthony is very close with Tommy Tate. Right after we found out, ironically...there was a RAINBOW in the sky! The Tate's are the family who's house Anthony practically lived at before a plane crashed into it, killing the pilot, severely injuring the co-pilot, and destroying their house. They left today in a limo to go on a cruise and will be back in Tampa, next Sunday to a brand new home!! The Tate family are our community... Their oldest son is in Iraq, they own the local pizza place where all of the kids hang out, and they all are very sweet Christian people. The show couldn't of chosen a more deserving family!!

(I know that my parents want me to marry TY haha, but they are just going to have to settle for some photo's of him from my camera phone...Since I'm in love with Kipp! haha)