Congrats Melanie and Brian!

They found out last night that they are pregnant with their first baby - exactly one week after their 5 year anniversary. Congrats to them!! Here is a pic from Saturday (their anniversary party). Funny that she was pregnant and she didn't even know it yet!

Hello Long Lost Blog!

So I haven’t written in a while but I need to do an update! Things have just been pretty busy since we got back from the 4th of July! First up was Nick and Lydia’s wedding on July 11th. It was a really beautiful wedding and I’m so happy for the two of them. After a beautiful honeymoon at Sandals, they are now in Michigan and enjoying it up there! Nick's job is based out of there and Lydia is working on getting a teaching job there since she just graduated with her Masters.

The next day we had Ben’s grandma’s surprise 70th birthday party (July 12th). His grandma thought she was going to Olive Garden and then someone was going to pick her up and bring her down to Ben’s Aunt the lives two houses up from us to “pick her up to go” and then we would surprise her. Ben’s aunts were supposed to be the ones to pick Ben’s grandma up but Ben ended up being the one to pick her up. It still went off and she had really no idea even after seeing the balloons and everything in the front of the house. She was mad though because she wanted her Olive Garden. But it was a good time with almost the whole family there. I have lots of pictures to post from that day! I’m going to make a slide show of the whole day and I took some video so that will be really nice to have.

Next up was our friend Kyle’s birthday the next weekend (July 18th). We went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse and then we went back to Liz and Kyle’s house. We decided we were going to stay the night there at the last minute so we could drink and not have to drive home. I got really wasted, probably worse than I’ve ever been except for once or twice. Some interesting pictures came out of the night but I will stick to the good ones when I post them! We went to breakfast the next morning at Bob Evan’s…I just had fruit. It’s all my stomach could handle.

The following weekend we really didn’t do a whole lot because I was tired of running around. We did go to our friend Rob and Rachelle’s house Friday night to swim and hang out. It was ok until Rachelle started yelling at Rob in front of everyone. Long story but it was still a pretty good time. I think other than that we pretty much hung out at home all weekend and relaxed.

This past weekend on Friday night, we had game night at our house. Melanie, Brian, Kyle and Liz came over and we played board games with them. My mom found a bunch of my old games from my old house (it’s being rented right now so the games were still in the basement). So I have like 3 different Monopoly versions, 2 Clue’s and a bunch of older games. My favorite has to now be Outburst which my mom actually gave me – she got it as a wedding gift a few years back and never had opened it! Then on Saturday was Melanie and Brian’s 5th wedding anniversary party. They just did something small at their house with family and friends. It was a good time. Mel picked me up at 1 pm so I could help her get set up for the party. I brought my laptop and did some music for us to listen to. We just had rigatoni, salad and rolls to eat but it was still good. We hung out there pretty much all night and had a good time but I was tired from being there all day.

So I think that’s about all the catching up on events. Now as far as work goes, it’s not too bad. We are just still going crazy with orders because of swine flu and with the fall coming up which is always a bigger season for us. I started my four 10 hour days this week which have been ok so far. It was really nice having Monday off but it’s been a struggle getting up earlier and staying later. But I am adjusting already so I think it will work out!

I am down to a total weight loss of 14.5 pounds! I’m so excited but none of my clothes fit. I did just buy two new shirts for my trip to San Antonio (Aug 18 I leave for work!) which are dressy shirts but I need to get more pants for work! Most of my shirt fit still but my pants are getting too big! I am still trying to hit 20 pounds before I leave but I don’t think that will happen. But that’s ok! I’m happy with where it’s going and I just need to crack back down on my eating because I’ve been a little lax lately about it. I am still walking every day and I’m trying to walk the neighborhood at night if I have the energy and it’s nice out. So wish me luck!!

I’ve also started a huge project to back up my pictures on CD’s and on to Shutterfly and remove them from my computer. It ran out of space last weekend for me to add more pictures so I need to do it! It’s been a not so fun process but I have this need to double back them up just in case. I would hate if anything happened to some of my pictures. So that’s pretty much what I’ve been working on at night right now until I get through them all. They are on CDs but it’s just backing them up to the website that’s taking a while.

I think that’s all of my updating for now. I will be back to post pictures later!

July 4th

So this year we decided to go out of town for the4th of July which we never do! It was fun to get away for the weekend while my parents stayed with the puppies. We went to Salt Fork to Ben's Grandpa's Farm. Ben helped mow most of the time while I sat around and read my books (had to read the 6th Harry Potter again to get ready for the movie to come out next week!). There was tons food and it was a great and peaceful time down there! We literally were in the middle of nowhere...it was about 4 miles on a gravel road to get to the farm. I've been there only 2 times before but I'm so happy we went. And I even got Ben to take me to the fireworks in Cambridge since we weren't getting to go to Akron's! They were really neat for such a small town.

It is really the middle of no where- view off the front porch

Sitting on the swing in the yard while Ben was off mowing

Us...not the best picture

Me :)

Fireworks!

Slideshow of the fireworks

So in other news...I'm back to watching my food a little better. It wasn't easy while I was gone over the weekend and at the beginning of this week with cake at work for a co-worker. And for some reason all last week I was craving ice cream. So needless to say I went back up slighty. I'm still down 5.5 lbs but I am going to get back on track from here on out!

Work is going well, kind of busy right now. I am worried that some people may be leaving my department but it's ok. It's good for them we will just miss them. I just hope some people that have the power to do so, will make the decisions that need to be made to keep them around instead! Also, I'm excited to be going to San Antonio in August for another tradeshow. I will be going with one of my co-workers, Corey, who I absolutely love. We will have such a good time there!

Also, I have a wedding to go to this weekend. I was supposed to be in it but Ben had just gone back to work at the time and I couldn't afford the dress for another month and she was anxious to get them order. I'm pretty sad that she didn't wait for me to get mine because I would have liked to been in her wedding since she was in mine. But it is what is it. I'm excited for her and her fiancee. She will also be moving to Michigan so I will miss her even more! Hopefully, she will come home once in a while and I will be able to keep up with her over the internet. So I will have pictures to post from that i'm sure after this weekend! Her bachelorette party is tomorrow night so I will be going to that but we are just doing dinner. But I might have pictures from there too!

Well I think that's all for now...

Job and A Kind of New Me

Just wanted to write a quick update on life. Ben is finally back to work. It is not an ideal job, and way different from anything he has done in the past. But I think he is enjoying it thus far and we are just glad he is back to work. He is glad to be back into a routine of going to work and not sitting at home all day with nothing to do. We are pretty sure he will make his way into management pretty quick so that is the day we are waiting for. He isn’t making much money but at least he is making something!

I have decided that it is time for me to get into better shape. I have started walking about 1.5 to 2 miles every day at work and I kind of doing Weight Watcher’s. My co-worker brought in her stuff and I am doing the point system.I don’t really have the money to join but I am not sure that I really need to go to the meeting sanyways. You can find a lot of stuff out online and with the stuff I got from my co-worker I am doing good. I weighed my self this past Saturday and I was at 178.5 (God that’s bad!!!) and when I weighed myself yesterday morning I was already down to 174. So weight lost so far – 4.5 lbs. Some of that may have been bloating but I’m still VERY excited that this is working for me. And the best part is I really can eat what I want, I just have to stay within my points. And since pop is so many points, I have started to drink water with Crystal Light mixes in them, which is also very good for me. In case I have never mentioned this, I don’t drink water. Yes, this is true. I don’t’ know, it just makes me gag. So at least I am getting my water now : ) So wish me luck!

That’s about all the updating I have for now. I’m just working now and trying to keep busy. I think we have a cookout this weekend at our friend’s, Mel and Brian. Not sure what our July 4th plans are yet.

Happy Father's Day

I just want to say a quick "Happy Father's Day" to all the father's out there! And especially to these ones....

My dad, Don, on the left and my step-dad, Eric, on the right

Grandpa Blankenship, Ben's maternal grandpa

Grandpa Boyd, Ben's paternal grandpa

My maternal Grandpa, Grandpa Evans

I love you all! You mean the world to both of us!!

Raejean's Baby Shower

This past Saturday, we (mom and me that is!) made a trek a baby shower in Ashland. It was about an hour drive for us but it was for my old baby sitter Raejean so we gladly made the drive. They have been long time family friends! It was good to see her, haven't seen her since my wedding last year. Time just flys I'm telling you! So here it is...she is having a little boy. They aren't sure of the name yet. Her and her boyfriend Cory are super excited and she has a son who can't wait to be a big brother. It was hosted by her friend Melissa. Very good turn out and she got some wonderful gifts that will definitely add to the baby's room!

Present table - there was a picture frame for everyone to sign

Everyone eating cake - The people on the actually couch are her boyfriends mom Joan, Raejeans younger half sister Cara (who was just a baby last year I swear!) and her mom Ruth

Other guests

Beautiful mom to be!

Opening gifts

Mom and me

Strike!

So I remembered what I was going to post about! Bowling with my parents last weekend. It's something that we haven't done in a while, and never with my parents, but it was a good time. And free courtesy of a few gift cards that my mom had. Plus there's enough left to go back again! Even better...I won the second game :)

Ben Bowling

Eric and Momma

Ben and me - always bein silly

Me bowling

Mom being too cute bowling

Night out and Memorial Day '09

I'm so behind on this! I keep tellin' myself I will keep it caught up and then I keep being lazy!

So here it is...Saturday before Memorial Day me and Liz went out. It was one of the first warm nights so we finally decided to start our summer bar routine :) It's just so much more fun when it's nice out! We had many some drinks and a good girl night out. It started to get humid towards the end of the night but we loved every minute of it. It was our first official night out!

Towards the end of the night - don't know what her face is about! LOL!

For Memorial Day, Liz and Kyle had everyone over to their house for the first time together. His parents and her's came over also. It was a fun and late night! Lots of food and fun...

Baby Trent and Ben

Me and Liz

Mel and Trent

He's too cute

The little family :)

Ben and me

The girls - me, Mel and Liz

The boys - Rob, Brian, Ben and Kyle

I'm not sure what else I'm forgetting but I'm sure there is! So I will be back with another post as soon as Iremember can.

Mother's Day 09

So last Saturday I cooked dinner for my parents - it was my step dads birthday. I made lasagna and they loved it! Then, we went out with our friends Kyle and Liz. As you will see we had WAYYY more fun then the boys did. They simply tolerate it for us and we love them for it :)

Don't they look like they are havin' fun!

We were :)

There's a smile at least

Love her <3

Then on Sunday was Mother's Day. My mom wanted to go to a restaurant in Richfield called Memories. They were having a buffet. It was a good time and I love my momma so much for everything so does for us!

Me and sis

Ben, Momma and Eric

Matt, Amy and Matt's son, Josh

Overall, it was a good weekend last weekend! I have been really lazy this weekend and haven't gotten much accomplished. Mostly due to weather - rain yesterday and cold today. Things are still kind of hectic at work right now. But it keeps life interesting. Things are really rough at home right now due to Ben being out of a job. I keep hoping for the best but I'm mostly in a permanent depression stage about a lot of things right now. I try not to be but sometimes I just can't help it. Oh well - he's to hoping something comes a long soon....

IMCO 2009

So I went on my business trip last week and it was a blast (mostly!). I left Sunday with Milena, my co-worker, and flew to Daytona Beach (via Charlotte) . We were cutting it really close for the opening ceremony that my company was sponsoring and so we had to put our butts in high gear to get there. We were a bit late but it was a real relaxed environment so no one noticed. We had a cocktail reception with appetizers but the rest of our crew (Mike, Greg and Teri) decided they were hungry for some real food so we headed down to a little place called Ocean Deck. Wait was too long upstairs at the restuarant so we went down to the bar that served food. It was crazy trying to get me in there (hello fake ID even though I'm 23 and just wanted to eat) but we finally did and had some good food. And a wonderful toast to me done by Greg (love that man!).

Monday morning I got up and went to breakfast with Teri while Milena worked away (she really should have given it a rest but I understand she had a few things going on). Then we went for a walk on the beach which was quite lovely...and I got a bit of redness but of course it just faded away once I got home. No tanning for me in the natural sun. Fake and bake here I come in a few weeks! So then I worked for a bit in my room and then tried to track down a few things for the show at the hotel. Then it was time to get ready to head over to the Daytona International Speedway. That was a really neat time! It was so cool to be down on the track and see how huge those stands are and how steep that track really is. Pretty awesome if I do say so myself. So then after dinner and a few drinks at the track we headed back to the hotel. We decided to head back down to the Ocean Deck since they had some decent live music. Good times again down there!

Tuesday was the show. Pretty much stood in a booth and gave people stuff all day. Answered a few questions but it was nice to meet some of the people I have been talking to the last 7-8 months through email and phone calls. I was pretty darn proud of myself for staying in that booth almost all day. I only took about a 20 minute break! We also did lunch at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Co. which was really neat - and since I despise sea food - I got fried chicken which was delicious! Tuesday night we had an awesome closing dinner reception that was a bike week theme - complete with airbrush tattoos. I recieved a wonderful blue japense symbol for peace and balance :) I had just a few drinks and headed back to my room.

Wednesday - Came home. Nothing exciting there. Oh well besides the massive and horrible thunderstorms that kept us grounded for about 45 minutes on the plane in Atlanta. Have I ever mentioned how afraid I am to fly?...terrified might just be a more accurate description but you say tomato, i say tomatoe. Luckily I had a very funny and distracting kid sitting next to me to keep me preoccupied from the happenings. Finally got home safe and sound though and glad to be back. Although work is still crazy as ever and busy I kinda missed it.

And I will be back later...or tomorrow...with a Mother's Day post!

Beautiful beach...I miss you!

Our massive hotel...literally a mile walk to get to the other side...yes it's the WHOLE thing.

Me and Milena out exploring on Monday

Feet on the beach

Run Forrest Run! Neat signs to stop the waitress (Stop Forrest Stop!) if need be

Booth we spent 8 hours in on Tuesday

Me and the beach

And again...

Daytona International Speedway

Last night...after just a few

Leavin'

Well I'm am leaving here in about an hour to go to the airport - off to Florida until Thursday for work. I'm excited but i know I won't get to enjoy all the weather that much since it's for work. But I will try my hardest - lots of pictures when I come back hopefully!!

Not much else going on - Ben still hasn't found a job. At this point it doesn't surprise me but it's getting really hard financially and I'm starting to worry.

Work for me this week was crazy busy - swine flu outbreak has people buying our products up like mad! Oh well - I have plenty of OT now which I can't wait to have!!

That's all for now...short and sweet. See ya Thursday!

Quick Update

Not a whole lot new going on here. Ben is still out of a job which remains a constant frustration around here. I am working away though! Which is hard when it's getting nice outside again :)

Other then this the only other thing we are accomplishing is some yard work. We did a few things in the back yard which I will have to come back and post later due to Ben being out of town and having my camera! And I was proud of myself - I mulched around the tree in the front yard today! I have been wanting to do that for a few weeks now. Other then this a whole lotta nothin going on around here!