Better Together...

time keeps moving

2013-01-28T12:48:00.002-06:00

As I get older, time seems to go by faster. Now that we have Minden in our lives I find that especially true.

I have today off from work, as Minden's daycare provider is sick with the flu. I thought I would use Minden's nap time for a quick update.

Last weekend my family visited us.We enjoyed each others company and played some games. Cards for the adults, and huckle-buckle-beanstock for the kids plus Grandpa. Minden loves watching her cousins, Meagen and Zander, move around the room. Someday she will be tearing about the house with them.

Last Monday, was an University holiday. So I spent my day with the little princess working on tummy time. She really isn't a huge fan, but has made lots of progress in the last week. Go Minden!

The rest of the week was a little up and down. Sweet little Minden had her first fever. A little breast milk in the ear and two adjustments later she was a completely different baby. She has a little cough left, but she seems to be in much better spirits.

We had a relaxing family weekend reading books, taking naps and spending time together.

Gah! Isn't she just beautiful?

Minden also took her first nap in the crib this weekend. She looked like such a big girl in there. She is definitely growing up way too fast. The little lady is 16 weeks today and weighs a little over 15 pounds.

That's all for now, but we will (hopefully) be back soon!

broken record

2011-05-10T12:53:00.002-05:00

New blog.Go now!

EARTH!

2011-04-30T18:08:00.000-05:00

Click to read this post at the new blog. And remember to become a fan there as this blog will soon be disappearing into the deep abyss.

What to (hair) do?!

2011-04-29T08:37:00.002-05:00

Click to help me!

Cooper is getting a..........

2011-04-21T19:17:00.000-05:00

After waiting weeks and weeks we are ready announce.... so click here to go to the new blog and find out, already!

Tissue Paper Bouquet

2011-04-19T18:06:00.002-05:00

Click here and head to the new blog to see what this post is all about!

I've been thinking...

2011-04-08T08:51:00.000-05:00

Yet, another post this week. Yay me for making time to post! Now, to bombard you with a couple of my thoughts.

1.) A new blogsite. I believe I am about to move this blog. Infact, I know I am. I have been contemplating it for awhile, just because I am not to fond of the fact that our name is listed in the title this one.

So, click here to be taken to the new blog, and pretty puh-lease follow us there. I will be deleting this one soon, so I don't want you to miss out on anything. Also, you can enter your email address to recieve updates of when I publish. Plus Nate and I have a pretty awesome announcement and ya-ain't-gonna-wanna-miss-it!

2.) Information is power. Hopefully our friends and family are reading these posts, even if they aren't publically following. Therefore, I have asked Nate to do an occasional post about Chiropractic. I love it. He loves it. We both love all of you, so we feel it's important to give you the facts about Chiropractic healthcare and the awesomeness it has brought to our lives. I can honestly say I have never felt better!

So, please if you have any questions for him about Chiropractic ask away! Nate is ready for it.

3.) Just wanted to let you all know how excited I am for Easter. It's only the best holiday ever! Now only if all the candy wasn't so good.

4.) Writer's workshop. Not sure if you read my post on the rule I broke yesterday, but more of these may be coming. I have joined a writer's workshop and the goal is to do a post every Thursday from a set of writing prompts that is sent out weekly. It sounds fun to me. So hopefully you won't mind.

Alright, enough random thoughts. Click here agian for the link to the new blog, and have a wonderful blessed day!

The Rule I Broke

2011-04-07T09:46:00.000-05:00

I was a pretty darn well-behaved child. Well, at least the way I remember it. Nate even laughs about it when he sees pictures and videos of me when I was younger. Always smiling, listening and quite the helper. Now as an adolescent and as an adult...well that's a different story for another day.

I have always had this innate instinct to please people and do what is right. I knew right from wrong. What I should have known however, is to never listen to a silly boy.

I was probably around five-years-old at the time. I was at my daycare providers house, whom I adored, playing with my two best friends Brett and Matt. Brett, the son of the daycare provider, was truly my best friend when we were young.

I grew up in a small Midwestern town. So, we knew neighbors and everyone trusts one another. A couple days or maybe a week earlier we had gone to a neighbors house to play while at daycare. Totally supervised and allowed.

Well, on this particular afternoon we decided we wanted to go back to her house to play. I remember we were standing outside looking towards the house and Brett said with ease, "Let's just go". I however hesitated and said maybe we should ask your mom first. The boys however reassured me that we could go and it would be just fine. After all who would notice three missing children, right?

So, we went, played and just had an overall great time. That was until we started heading home. Brett's Dad met us about halfway there, and boy could I tell we were in trouble. They explained how long they had been looking for us and the panic we had caused.

Our punishment? Time out on the couch. It doesn't sound harsh, but I do believe this is the first time I was ever really in trouble. I was so ashamed and embarrassed. After, we were released from the confinements of the couch I just sat there. Brett and Matt urged me to come back outside to play, but I just couldn't move.

I hated that feeling. The disappointment. I sat there beating myself up. I knew what was right and wrong. Oh, and what about when my parents find out? How will I face them? Now, I am not even sure if my Mom knows this story. They never said anything to me, and boy was that a relief.

That was how I learned to trust my instincts, follow the rules and to never listen to a silly boy again.

Follow By Email

2011-04-06T10:15:00.002-05:00

Happy Hump Day! We made it halfway through the work week. Yay us!

Please note the new addition to this blog on the left. You can now enter your email so that you will recieve an email whenever I publish a new post. I had some interest in this, so I thought I would go ahead and give it whirl!

Just couldn't do a post without adding a picture of my precious bubba. So go ahead, stay updated on the Lueth family happenings if you would like, AND give this little guy a scratch on the nose while you are here!

A Walk in the Park

2011-04-05T10:36:00.002-05:00

I always love when my niece and nephew come for a visit. Oh, and of coarse I love seeing my brother too. They came to see me on Saturday and we took a little trip to a local park.

Ahhh the life....After being pushed up a steep hill.

Even Cooper had a good time. It was a much needed walk for him. As I mentioned a while back in a post, when Nate is gone Coop and I get very little sleep. He turns into my protector at night and furiously barks to keep me safe. Unfortunately for him this goes unappreciated. This walk and time at the park was just what he need to be to worn out to play the part of guard dog extraordinaire.

...........

2011-03-31T19:03:00.019-05:00

It has been a heck of a day for the Lueth household. For all of us.

Okay, so maybe I should elaborate a little. Let's just say that I do not live to work, I work to live. Don't get me wrong I am so thankful and appreciative that I have my job. I love working where I do, it's just that my work does not define me. I dream of a day when I finally find what makes me happy. I guess I am looking for passion in what I do in my every day life. I keep thinking to myself, "what do I want to be when I grow up?". Sadly, I think I have missed my chance at being a famous pop star or actress.

I have to admit, sometimes I get a little jealous of Nate. He loves Chiropractic care, and it is/was his dream. I have also found a deep love for Chiropractic care, but I know it's not realistic for me to start at Palmer and relive all that comes with that again. It just isn't possible for us. Thankfully, because I work, I have always been able to feel like a major role in his dream. There is something to be said for that, right?

Enough with this pity party, I am truly thankful and happy for my job. Yesterday, was simply just a long day. We all have those, and they make us appreciate the normal days just a little bit more.

It will just be Coop and myself this weekend. I feel some spring cleaning, picture taking and crafting coming my way. How about a new spring wreath?

Feeling the love...

2011-03-28T12:26:00.002-05:00

Last night Nate and I sat down to watch our wedding video together. First, we watched the slide show that we played at our reception. I love seeing pictures of chubby little baby Nate. Makes me wonder what our kids will look like someday.

When we put the wedding video in, it took me right back to that day. Almost nine months ago now. Time has just flown since the wedding. I get all excited and giddy about it. I had thought and dreamt about the moment Nate would first see me all done up since the moment he put a ring on my finger (and probably long before if I am being honest here).

I wish I could relive that day over and over. Many people had different opinions about me getting married on my Birthday. I could not be happier that I did. Although, I will always give Nate a hard time about sharing my Birthday with our anniversary he knows that it is exactly what I wanted. It has always been my most favorite day of the year and now I get to share it with my most favorite man in the world!

As we sat there cuddled up watching, I just thought about everything that has all happened since that day. It warmed my heart. Sometimes I feel like we have already lost that "newlywed feeling" when we fight about some pretty pointless things, but I can definitely say that we have not. I am enjoying each and every minute of our first year together as husband and wife.

Projects

2011-03-27T15:22:00.001-05:00

I LOVE projects! Thankfully so does Nate. Well, man-projects that is. Although he occasionally helps me cut tulle for tutus I know it's not his cup of tea.

This weekend we did not have any major plans so we decided to finally start on a project we have been dreaming up for awhile...a headboard for our bed.

Here is the before picture.

And after! I LOVE it! We have some more ideas in store for our bedroom, so I cannot wait to see how everything comes together.

tick-tock..don't stop!

2011-03-24T20:01:00.000-05:00

We celebrated another year together! Turns out I still really like the kid (I never doubted for minute that it would be any other way)!

Today marks one month at my new job! It started out pretty stressful, but knock on wood I think I may just be getting the hang of it. I don't want to speak to soon.

Coop is happy to report that with the warmer weather he has been getting more walks. Mama and Papa are pretty happy about that as well.

Not much else is new, hopefully we will begin to get more exciting with the nicer weather!

Sam & Kevin

2011-03-20T10:05:00.000-05:00

My friend Sam was ever so kind as to let me take some pictures of her and her hubby-to-be. So, I wanted to share some of them with you!

Escaped!

2011-03-14T12:21:00.000-05:00

Lately, we have been trusting Cooper more. BIG mistake. When Nate can pick me up from work Cooper Usually rides along. When we get home we have been letting Coop walk the last 10 to 8 feet on his own, unleashed.

Well, last Thursday we decided to let him get out the car himself and follow us to the door. This didn't go over to well. Cooper made a mad dash toward a lady, stopped to say hello, and then spotted us coming a took off running the other way.

I was terrified. We live off a busy road and I was so scared he would run into the street. So here I am in my dress clothes, dress shoes, and work bag chasing after him. Nate tried coming from the other direction, but Cooper dodged both of us and continued to run.

Then he spotted another nice young lady and went to say hello, but the minute she reached to pick him up he was off!

He stopped to pee, but cut it short when Nate almost made it to him. He went to the end of the block and crossed the street to see a man walking. Thank God he wasn't hit! Just at the same time a police officer pulled up, turned on his lights, and began to help us with the pursuit of Cooper.

Luckily, with the help of four people, we were finally able to corner him. I could tell Nate was so upset with him the whole way back to the apartment. I was so scared for him, but all I could do was laugh. That little pup was having the time of his life running from us. He thought it was a game, and for awhile he was winning!

We are just so thankful he is ok, and now we know that he cannot be trusted to walk to the apartment unleased.

First Day!

2011-02-24T13:28:00.000-06:00

I feel like I'm in school all over again except this time I had no one to help me pick out my outfit for the BIG day.

Today was/is my first day in Biochemistry. I just wanted to let you all know quick that it is going great. Everyone has been super nice, AND I even have my own office. Which I do enjoy, but is also lonely. I am a talker and it just isn't as much fun talking to myself.

I would have filled you in at the end of the day, however Nate and I are heading to the women's last home game of the season tonight. Go Hawks!

Visitors!

2011-02-22T18:23:00.001-06:00

The weekend before Valentine's Day we were lucky enough to have visitors! My sister, Lisa, and her husband, Jake, came to see us! We were super excited for them to come and see where we live. As much as we love going home to see everyone it is also fun to show everyone where we live and what we enjoy doing here. What I am trying to say is... please come visit us soon!

Cooper really loved having uncle Jake here. Jake would offer to help take Cooper out, and then Cooper would end up getting exactly what he wants all of time...a "W" aka walk. He was definitely sad to see them go at the end of the weekend.

We went out to eat a local downtown favorite, and also to a local Japanese steakhouse. YUM!! Jake even successfully flipped and caught an egg on his third try. LOVED having them here. Hopefully they will visit more frequently in the future.

Before they left on Sunday the kids stopped by for some fun. Of course I just had to get some pictures.

Racing up and down the hallway.

True belly-laughter.

Look at that face.

Puppy kisses.

Silly face.

Hanging out upside down.

my BIG news is...

2011-02-16T09:41:00.002-06:00

My dear sweet husband may have just said it the best...

"Congratulations are in order for my amazing wife for getting a new (permanent) job at the greatest university of all. Like Lebron she is taking her talents elsewhere but instead of South Beach she's going to Biochemistry! Also Happy Valentine's Day dear I love you!"

I took a new position at the University. Don't worry I am not going to bore you with all of details of what I will be doing there in this post.

After Nate graduated I took a temporary position at the University. Luckily, now I can call it my home! I am very excited about my new position. BUT, I am going to miss the ladies that I currently work with. I worked in this office during my years at Iowa as a student, so I have known them for 4 years! It was nice coming back to a place that was so familiar and welcoming.

I know we won't lose touch, but I will however miss seeing their faces everyday! Although that's not completely out of the question since I am only moving to an office a floor below where I am now. It's crazy how it feels like that is a whole world away. Needless to say they will have a frequent visitor, and I would not be surprised at all if I show up to this office on accident a couple times out of habit.

Thanks to everyone who wished me luck and sent good thoughts my way! It was/is very much appreciated.

...this or that...

2011-02-11T14:54:00.001-06:00

Hello! Hello! I noticed it's been a little while since I have blogged. I know I only have few readers, but I still care about each and everyone of you.

I just can't stand posting a blog with a picture. So, here is one of Cooper from this morning. This is his way of helping me fold the laundry.

(It's from my phone so you will have to excuse the quality.)

Well, since the BIG storm we have been keeping pretty busy. Last weekend some friends visited, and we had a great time catching up with them and feeling "young" again. I know we aren't old, but things sure have changed a lot in a few short years.

I also got to go bridesmaids dress shopping with a close friend. I LOVE having friends getting married (don't worry I love all my single ones too, you keep me fun), it's fun to be the bridesmaid and offer advice to another bride about getting married. It gives me the fun feeling of planning all over again.

We have been two Iowa games! Go Hawks! I got two tickets to surprise Nate with, and then one of Nate's patients was nice enough to offer us two tickets this week. We got to see the Hawks beat Michigan State, and go into overtime against Wisconsin.

(Also from my phone.)

This week has been long one for me. It was full of choices. I have had a lot of thinking to do, and I didn't know if I should go with this or that. I have been impatient and stressed. Luckily, as always, everything seemed to work out and I would love to share my news with you soon. (I feel like I should add here that there are no babies on the way. I wish a puppy was, but Nate thinks Cooper is a big enough handful.)

We are extremely excited for this weekend, as my sister and her husband get into town tonight. We LOVE having visitors. Since we typically go home to see everyone it's fun to have them come and see where we live as well as what we like to do here.

Well, hopefully you enjoyed my little update. I hope eveyone has a wonderful weekend!

snow day!

2011-02-02T11:48:00.001-06:00

As soon as I woke up this morning and took a look outside I knew there would be a small delay with getting to work. The buses were no longer running, and with no shovel we decided that's as far as the car was going for now.

Here are some pictures of Coop enjoying the results from the blizzard.

He wasn't quite sure what to think.

Nate hanging out by a drift.

After a little bit Cooper really started to enjoy all of the snow.

But eventually we decided it was much better inside the warm apartment.

I think Coop will instead prefer to spend his day much like this picture...

I hope everyone is safe and warm!

em•brace

2011-01-28T16:09:00.002-06:00

I have heard about this really cute idea to pick a word to describe your upcoming year. After a couple days of thinking I have decided to go with embrace. I just think it is such a lovely word.

I am looking foward to embracing many things this year: friends, family, our marriage, our new home, our new jobs, new opportunities, and my faith. It is so exciting to have a growing appreciation for all of the above.

I love the various definitions embrace, but I think my most favorite is the first. I do love a good hug.

Now go on, think of a word for your new year. And please share! I would love to hear them.

unconditional love

2011-01-21T13:43:00.000-06:00

"Dogs truly are one of the greatest gifts that God ever gave us. They give us unconditional love just as God does and remind us daily that we too can love this way if we choose."

I know you have all heard it and maybe you have experienced this yourself, but I cannot help but love my little innocent looking furball.

Cooper has been sick the last couple of days and to this I say, "BOOOOO!". Hopefully he will be feeling better soon. In the meantime I cannot wait to get home and snuggle with my Buhba.

Do it anyway...

2011-01-19T09:02:00.008-06:00

I read this quote by Mother Theresa this morning and thought it was pretty special. I hope you don't mind me sharing it with you.

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

Meagen and Zander Sleepover!

2011-01-18T12:57:00.000-06:00

This past weekend Meagen and Zander came to stay with us. We had a lot of fun together. Saturday afternoon we went to the Children's Museum at the Coralridge Mall. Here are some pictures from our trip!

Meagen and I in a hot air balloon.

Meagen and Nate building rockets!

Meagen gets ready to launch the rocket.

Going shopping.

All worn out!

We had a great time with the kids. Luckily they are very well behaved. Although I wonder what people thought of Nate and I with a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old who kept referring to us as "you guys".