I'm back!

Alright, I'll admit it. My attempt at being a better blogger and picture sharer by moving from Blogger to Shutterfly was a flop. I'm going to pull the pregnancy card on this one - I made the "switch" in July, and one month later I'm on my ass from "morning" sickness and all the other physical joys that come with early pregnancy. The first trimester grossness lasted almost 4+ months for me, not 3, so I'd say I've been back on my feet for about one month since getting our wonderful news in August. And when I say "back on my feet", I mean, I don't feel like I may barf at any moment, and my headaches have faded away (Thank the good Lord). However, now I'm just big, uncomfortable, and TIRED as hell.

In any event, I've been thinking about the blog and how much satisfaction it brought me in my final months of pregnancy with Layla. It was therapeutic to write about everything I was experiencing and anticipating during that time, and I think it'll be the same this time around. Plus, I owe it to fam and friends to keep them updated on our day-to-day adventures (or lack thereof) and photos (eh hem, this means I need to get the camera out and actually start using it again).


I've also decided to come back to Blogger because my "fan base" (insert sarcastic tone and chuckle here) has notified me that they're not as happy with my Shuttefly site as they were with my blog. I owe my fame to my fans, so I'm coming back - by popular demand (insert louder chuckle).


For now, since I haven't touched the camera in months (oh my poor Layla), I'll just give you a quick write-up on the happenings for the Sherman's over the past six months:
- Got pregnant
- Layla started pre-K at a new school (the Dream Center) and LOVES it. She's so happy that when I come to pick her up at night she pouts and asks me to go home and make dinner and then come back for her - such a night and day switch from the way things were at her old school.
- Got sick and felt like shit for 4 months
- Keeping busy with Layla while Jake works his face off at school prepping for the tech department's open house in February
- Had an MRI (two weeks ago) that showed no regrowth of my tumor and gave me a good bill of health and permission not to come back until June!
- Attended one too many gatherings with friends who could drink and get loud while I watched and slept with my eyes open
- Layla had her first "high profile" dance recital in December


Layla is continuing to grow into the shining diva I know she'll be. Some days I'm shocked at the things she says... Not necessarily in a bad way, but more so in a "Holy shit, this isn't supposed to be happening for at least 8-9 years." Man, are we in for some excitement when we've got that second little girl in the house - especially when the two of them are 17 and 13. Ohhhhh mamacita. ;)


That's about it - nothing earth shattering or overly exciting. But I'm fine with that. I've learned to appreciate the greatness that comes out of a low key, non-event filled life. We are definitely due for a big event soon though. Obviously, the birth of baby girl #2 comes in first on that list, but we're praying for the house of our dreams to fall from the sky and be a good fit for us because I cannot go through another school year living in Hartford with all that comes with Jake's schedule / commute to and from Plymouth. Ohhhh no (said in the voice and tone of Clark Griswold from Christmas Vacation when he's on the brink of his nervous breakdown after finding out he's been enrolled in the jelly of the month club instead of getting his usual Christmas bonus)! If we need to take a few steps back and rent a house, that's what we'll do, but we're not staying here. Not gonna happen. I believe good things come to those who wait - but I also believe if you want something done, you do it your damn self. I'm not waiting around for the universe to shift in my favor people.


More to come. Happy New Year to all!

Visit our new Shutterfly site!

I'm pulling the trigger (or, in Blogspot's case, the plug) and moving our site to Shutterfly. I'll keep a link to our blog on our shutterfly site as an archive and will be adding new updates and albums to the new site over the next few weeks.

The new site will make it about 2902 easier for me to add albums quickly, and will motiviate me to create photo books for my "baby". Yes, I'm aware I have 4 years of books and such to catch up on. One thing at a time people, one thing at a time.

Click here to view our new site!

How fast they grow

Layla at last year's 4th of July parade. That's craziness if you ask me!!

Camera snaps 2011

I'm constantly snapping pics of Layla w/ my camera phone, and am not constantly sharing the pictures. I've got to get better at sharing the moments that we're so lucky to have with her. Here are just a few, to get you started.

Divalicious - showing off one of her favorite summer dresses.

So innocent when she sleeps.

Floor picnic!

She LOVES Pick n' Save's, because they have "kid carts". This is her shopping for food for Gabe and Della's house.

Layla and Della havin' some grub.

Our Summer House

Over Memorial Day weekend, we made our first trip of many to our summer home, "The Roemer Ranch." We also have a summer home in Northwestern Wisconsin that we don't get to frequent as often, but love just as much, "The Meyer Ranch" (see you in July, Meyer Ranch).

It was a great time, and we were able to share it with some of our closest friends - Bob, Jan and Coach, and, coincidentally, the Roemer's (yes, I swear, the last name is just a coincidence... they have nothing to do with our summer home). ;) Before our bonfire, the grown ups got to go out to dinner to celebrate Paul and Jenny's 10 year anniversary. Jenny's parents watched ALL of the kids (Layla too). Thank you Frank and Wendy!!

The kids had a blast at the bonfire. As usual, Layla and Ryan found an opportunity to "cozy up". Unfortunatly, when the camera came out, they got "shy".

Thanks for the awesome time, Roemers! You're welcome at our summer home anytime (either of them)!! :)

Oh really?? All of a sudden you're both shy?!

Look at Ryan... "Dude, I've got not one, but TWO, gigantic sticks!"
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Summer fun!!

Tybee Island 2011

Okee dokee friends and fam... some VERY long overdue pictures from our trip to Tybee Island, GA back in April. Blogspot is being a jerk this a.m., so instead of posting captions under each photo, I'll provide a quick summary:

-Pool at the condo.
-Beach photos with shots of the studly boys having a blast in the water!
-Celebration dinner at Sundae Cafe (celebrating Meyer Anniversary, Roemer --Anniversary and The Sherman's surviving a very tought end to 2010 / start to 2011)!!
-The Pier!!
-Authentic southern ribs at a Tybee Island rib shack.
-The light house (LOTS of stairs people, lots of stairs) - gorgous view of the island.
-Drinks at the Rock House (one of our favorite places) before tattoo time.
-Dinner at AJ's Dockside (where there was some fabulous live music).
-Darts (boys against girls, sorry for the vulgar team names) at Doc's!
-Pic of "Chap" and I at the Rock house (Chap was my tattoo artist. He was kind enough to ask if he could flip the bird in the picture, cuz that's his "thing"... I wasn't about to say, "Please don't")!
-Cards at the condo on our last night... We just didn't want to stop the fun!!

The Meyer's have some shots that I don't, so take a look here to see more.

Thank you soooo much Uncle Bill and Aunt Merile for sharing your Tybee home with us! The trip was wonderful and we miss Tybee every day!!

Calling all renters / buyers!

I know, I'm overdue on posts here... I've got a lot of awesome pictures from the last month or so (vacation in Tybee Island, wedding in Chicago, Easter with Layla and grandparents, and tons of other random Layla shots) but for now, I have to take a few minutes to beg and plead w/ you all to PLEASE spread the word about our house that's for sale. Of course, we'd prefer to sell the house and move on to the next stage of our lives (which we've been ready for, for some time now, but the market has other plans for us I guess) but we realize the market is not in our favor. So, we're considering renting our place to a VERY trustworthy person / couple / family.

We're not advertising this on FB, Craigslist, or anywhere else, because the aspect of renting can be very scary. The last thing we want is to open our home to someone who wouldn't care for it and love it the way we have. Or, to have renters split on us and leave us up a crick in terms of the rent payment / mortgage payment.

We're undecided on how much we'd be asking for monthly rent, but I'll post that as soon as we've decided and / or I've heard as to whether there are any potention renters out there. In the mean time, please share this information with anyone you know who might be potential buyers / renters. Jake and I have had a very tough year (for more reasons than one), and it exhausts us to think that next year we might have to endure another year of Jake's crazy schedule due to his commute. We're ready to move on, to be together as a family and, eventually, to expand the family. Something we'd prefer to do w/ a little more space and a little more time (currently, because of Jake's commute, he's up before Layla and sometimes not home until after she's in bed, so obviously, we're challenged as far as family time and dynamics go).

For potential buyers: We're including ALL window treatments and ALL appliances, including washer dryer, fridge, and chest freezer.

http://www.coldwellbankeronline.com/property/details/2048613/MLS-1195019/1580-Foxtail-Dr-Hartford-WI-53027.aspx