Friday, October 31, 2008

Meet my new friend


This is my new friend, Alisha. Our small group volunteered last night at the Boys and Girls Club Halloween party. They had enough volunteers, so Jon and I were told to "mingle and hang out with the kids". I was immediately annoyed- what the heck am I going to do for two hours? Two minutes later, I was walking past the line for the haunted house and this cute, tiny little girl grabbed my hand and said, "I'm here by myself, will you hang out with me?". Absolutely.
So Alisha and I played the games, ate candy and chilled all night. She was in love with my baby belly and kept hugging it. She told me I should name the baby "john". When I explained that's what my husbands name was she responded with, "ewwwwww, NEVER MIND". hhahaha. We did go through the haunted house together and she FREAKED. I mean, seriously. She was crying so hard she couldn't breathe. I think it was a little much for a 1st grader. I tried to comfort her the best I could. But when we were waiting for her mom to come pick her up, she walked right up to one of the monsters for the haunted house and punched the guy right in the arm.

A woman after my own heart.
Hopefully I'll get to see her again soon and on a regular basis.
Welp, gotta run- HAPPY HALLOWEEN.
-Bristol

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Sheesh, so sorry it's been so long since an update! We got back from our vacation and that Monday I left for a company retreat up north. After the retreat I had a girls night with our marketing director whose up from Texas (and preggo, yeah!!), started our registry with Jon, met the lovely Erin, Westin and Mom A in GR for dinner, saw my friend Jonelle and her baby Kailee and went to our favorite Uncle John's Cider Mill with our neighbors. I've been holding off blogging until I could post photos, but it's now 10:00 on Tuesday morning and I'm at work, so no photos today, sorry!

Nothing crazy new or exciting to post. The biggest thing going on in my life today- I'm frustrated with my clothes. See, there ya have, we are an exciting crowd here. Though honestly, I'm at this weird stage where I still fit into my regular jeans, but they're getting tight and slightly uncomfortable. But my maternity jeans do not fit- they wont stay up! So, I feel kind of uncomfortable and nothing seems to fit right. Well, I'm done complaining about that. Halloween costume this year: Bristol Palin.

I'm outtie- I need to get some work done.

Maybe next time I'll have photos!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Were packing up to leave our NYC upper east side apartment. . . Tomorrow we fly out of DC and back home- so sad. It was really nice to be able to have one last trip just the two of us before la bebe.  I know we wont regret taking the time to make memories like this.  
Things I've learned this trip:
-Robert E. Lee was first asked to lead the Union army.  He was torn, holed himself up in his room for a night, and finally decided that he couldn't fight against his home state or family members and went on to lead the Confederate army. After the war, he help lead the restoration effort.
-I think that in our darkest times, we see the best in people.  The heroic stories that were told during our tour of the world trade center were so touching. Here's one of the stories we heard- a fireman heard about the attacks and was in Manhattan. He couldn't drive his truck to the site since every road/bridge was closed down. So he took 50 lbs of oxygen tanks and equipment and ran through the brooklyn bridge 3 miles to the site carrying this equipment on his back.  He died that day trying to save others.
-Make sure you truly know where your going in NYC (instead of listening to the hotel concierge). You may end up walking 15,000 extra blocks. 
-Jamba Juice is AWESOME.  
-The three story Motherhood Maternity store in NYC is amazing!  We hit up the sales rack!
-Jon does indeed have self control went confronted with Apple frenzy. :)
-Meg and Seth are hilarious on tandem bikes.
- I really want a bugaboo stroller!!!!  They are everywhere here and so cute! Too bad you have to mortgage your house to buy one!  Hmmmm. . .

Ok, I have much more to write, but we need to check out.  Jon is still daily adding photos to facebook, so check there.  

Monday, October 13, 2008

Were in DC right now- visiting my sister and brother in law and seeing the sights. It's been a blast so far- lots of walking and lots of fun. We've rented tandem bikes and saw the monuments, saw Arlington Cemetary, lunched in Georgetown, went to McLean Bible Church, visited the National History Smithsonian, and saw the National Archives. Tomorrow morning we leave for NYC for four days. Check out Facebook to see some photos Jon posted.

Be back soon with some pictures!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Thursday, October 9, 2008

We got tickets!!!

To the Letterman show!!!! Since were going to be in NYC next week, Jon applied online to see if we could get tickets- we just got the call, were in!! Look for us next Wednesday night on CBS!!

:)
Chaeli

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

So, I got a haircut yesterday

I personally feel like I look like an 80's rock star. . . but I really needed a change so I'm learning to embrace the look. I took these photos with my cell phone at my desk- they are so crappy, but I think you get the idea of the cut. . .
Oh, I hope nobody is looking right now- I am so stealth-like. . .



See- 80's rock star, rocking out at my desk. . .

We have our ultrasound this Friday! I'm curious what you think were having- let me know!! Everyone who guesses right will recieve one free
slobbery kiss from baby Ack.
P.S. Anyone had a chance to check out Mark Driscoll's videos yet?
God bless your day!
Chaeli

Monday, October 6, 2008

Crazy week! Jon got a call last Friday regarding a project that would need to be finished before we leave for our vacation. It's great, because it's side business work, but it means he will be working like a crazy man until we leave!! Luckily, we were able to celebrate his birthday before the craziness began! On Saturday, we headed to Portage to see my brother Steve's cross country meet. It was such a flash back of the past because I ran at the same invitational when I was in cross country. Steve kicked butt, I was so proud of him. Cross Country is a sport of pure guts. It doesn't take a lot of eye/hand coordination or a lot of strategy, it's pure guts. In a strange way, I don't miss it at all, but the adrenaline of it all I love! Kind of like when I watch the marathon during the Olympics, it always makes me cry. These runners are DYING and their courage to continue always moves me.

Then the family (including Jon's parents) headed to a Cider Mill and then out to Red Robin's for lunch. It is always such a blessing to Jon and I to see BOTH sides of our families get together- we are truly thakful for them. We also went putt putting (I got THREEEEEE hole in ones, can you just believe it?) and out to coffee with the Ackermans. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY BABES!

Well, I need to get to work. I'll wrap this up by saying a) Mark Driscoll is awesome and b) check out his blog at http://theresurgence.com/md_blog
Jon clued me into Mark and his ministry and I love it!! He did a series called, "Ask Anything" in which members of his congregation could text message questions into Mark during a sermon, and Mark would answer the questions on the spot. I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend watching his answers on You Tube- search Mark Driscoll- Ask Anything. He is one of the few pastors willing to talk about the questions people struggle with- real people, real questions, real struggles and real answers. You may not agree with everything, but that's okay. Do it- go now.

Adios!
Chaeli :)

P.S. We'll begin our series today called, "what not to say to a pregnant woman" that my friend Laine began.
Last night- Jon and I were watching TV and the man said to me, "you look like you have a beer belly!". Yes, honey, that would be one of the things NOT to say to me right now. OK?
:)