All I want for Christmas are my ......teeth!!!!

Well Christmas has come and gone and 2007 is almost over. It's hard to believe isn't it? This year we spent Christmas Eve in down town Chicago. We had a good time. We spent the night at the Marriott hotel on the 31st floor with an excellent view of the city. We also went to the Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier which is a must see while visiting Chicago during the winter season. After Navy Pier we grabbed a bite to eat at the Grand Lux and then went for a dip in the hot tub and pool. Yes, some of us, OK just me, dipped my feet into the water because I'm not really supposed to go in the hot tub while I'm pregnant....sad times. But all in all the night was a success. Then it came time for a relaxing night's rest....hmmm, yes not so much. To be honest I felt like Tristen was a new born all over again. Our little girl did not want to sleep and was up countless times during the night. Daddy had to get up at 12:30am and walk the streets of Chicago looking for a Walgreen's to buy some medication for Tristen. Yep, TEETHING is horrible and it doesn't care what day or holiday it is before it strikes an innocent child. Ok, so maybe I'm making teething sound like a plague...but to be perfectly honest, when you get little to no sleep it starts becoming a little personal. Well we survived the night and the following night despite the fact that it was rough. We had a wonderful Christmas though, the weather was great considering the time of year and spending time with family is always a good thing. I did miss being up in Canada and visiting with my family, but maybe next year. On a side note: here are a couple pics of Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier. It is amazing!!! These pics do it no justice.

My Wish.....reflecting on 2007

Well, I'm almost another year older but I'm not sure about the wiser part, one can only hope they are the wiser. Since I will be turning the big 29 tomorrow and since Christmas is just around the corner,I guess I have been reflecting a lot about my life and about life in general. I guess you can say this past year has been full of changes for our little family. We have moved, new ward and callings, Jason has a new job and is still in school part time completing his masters, Tristen has been experiencing a lot of 'firsts' in life (crawling, walking, 1st b-day, her 1st words), and I am expecting baby #2. Needless to say, many of these changes were and still are very stressful (especially the moving part when the financing almost fell through for our buyer and we had already packed our entire home) But at the end of the year I can truly say that I am grateful for all the wonderful things that have happened to us over the past year. We have been very blessed and we and the first to say it and recognize it. I am grateful for a good husband that works hard, who treats his family with kindness and love, and who is always looking to improve upon his weaknesses. I am grateful for a little girl that keeps me on my toes and is full of personality. I am also grateful for family and friends. I think it is our family and friends that often make the stress and heartache of life worth it. I have learned a lot about cherishing friendships and people during this past year as well. You really have no idea what life will bring you, good or bad, that's why it is so important to live your life with no regrets. That is why I want to let my family and friends know that I apprecitate you and love you. I also want to wish all of you a wonderful Christmas season and a happy New Year!!!

I put together this slide show and music for all to watch. It just shows pics of my little family's life over the past couple of years.(double click on the image below to view and make sure your speakers are on :)
Enjoy!


My wish.....

Winter Wonderland in Chicagoland.

Yes, so the inevitable has happened in Chicagoland.....it snowed!!! Yes, we probably have at least 5 inches of that cold white fluffy stuff they call snow. I am not a fan of snow, but I guess it adds to the spirit of Christmas. Personally, I go into hibernation mode in the winter. I think if the future holds a "BIG MOVE" for our family, I suspect it will be somewhere warmer. I know everyone frequently reminds me that I am from Canada and that I should be used to the cold. I however remind them that there is a reason why I moved and that I have never had any intention of moving back there. Yes, I think the older I get, I'm going to be the ripe old age of 29 in a week, the more I feel the cold and the I realize that I have no desire to spend 5 months out of 12 freezing cold. Life is too short to be cold and be stuck inside because of the bad roads. But I must admit, I do enjoy seeing snowed covered homes with Christmas lights on them. It is beautiful and it does remind me of home, Canada.

On a side note, before it snowed a lot here, our little family braved the cold and went to our community parade during the Thanksgiving weekend (see the pic above). It was a fun cold night despite the lack of feeling I had in my feet by the end of the night. Tristen wasn't sure what was going on because I think it was the first time she had ever been really aware of the cold, but she loved all the lights on the floats and the x-mas music. We had a great time and hope to make it a tradition each Thanksgiving.

On our way to the parade Tristen had a very unimpressed look on her face due to the layers of clothing we put on her. I was surprised she actually didn't try and take them off.

Jason and Tristen at the parade trying to stay warm

Wish me good luck!!!!

Well I have finally decided to start a blog for the Bodily family. Yep, why not everyone else is doing it, and to be completely honest, I prefer looking at peoples blog page with fun pictures and info rather than reading about it in a good old fashioned email. So wish me luck and hopefully I can figure this thing out. I am more of a facebook junkie so hopefully this won't be too difficult. Well as we all know Christmas is just around the corner. We have already put up our Christmas tree and decorations, and to be perfectly honest...we have already given Tristen some of her gifts. Yes, what can I say Jason and I are both guilty of being impulsive and enjoying her reaction to her new gifts. Also for those who are unaware, I am almost 12 weeks pregnant with our second child. Life has been good this pregnancy....no complaints. Yes, I am sooooo happy to report that I haven't had morning sickness and I have been able to keep my meals where they belong, IN ME. I guess because I haven't been sick this round, part of me is still in denial to the idea that I am pregnant. However, the one clear indicator that I am pregnant is the .....yes, you guessed it the inevitable weight gain for me. The things you do for kids. But Jason and I are really excited about the addition to our family, all going well he/she will be joining our family at the end of June 2008.