Days off and Feeling Productive

WOW! What a great day today! One of my favorite parts of being a teacher, great vacation time. Today I had the day off (Mark did not) and I was so productive! It's nice to have energy to be productive again! I finally got the title changed over from my lender (I NOW OWN A CAR!) got an oil change, went to the gym, organized all our papers, contact papered our final bathroom and got Christmas decorations out! Throughout the day I just kept thinking about how thankful I was for the energy I finally have to do these things again, and the resources to make our house look like a wonderland! Now granted, we still have a cheap tree from last year, that is too small for a real house (and too sparse) but we bought a small real one for outside, and I bought 2 poinsettias (A pink one!) so I'm happy.

Our real xmas tree

Card Wreath waiting for cards :)

Xmas pictures on Fridge

Front Yard

Pink Poinsetta

Red Poinsetta

Thanksgiving meets christmas, not quite done yet

Christmas tree and stockings

Today I was also going to make my foods to bring to Thanksgiving tomorrow. I'm bringing homemade rolls (gluten free and regular) spinach pear salad and fruit salad (Gerlach family tradition). I actually only ended up making brownies and dinner, grilled avocado, bacon and cheese sandwich with roasted winter vegis :) Yum! Between my cooking, Thanksgiving tomorrow, and my school's Thanksgiving buffet I am definitely gaining my baby weight :) I think I'm showing now, but when I tell fitness instructors in my classes at the gym why I am doing some moves differently are shocked when I tell them I'm 14 weeks pregnant. So maybe it's not as obvious as I think...

Baby Bump? 14 weeks

Grilled vegis and sandwhich :)

School Buffet.. yes I got 3 desserts

My contribution to school Thanksgiving

I'm excited for Thanksgiving tomorrow, we are headed to the Aronson household and there will be 17 of us! My brother and Susan included. It will be a fun affair! Even Cici is coming :) Look for pictures of Thanksgiving to come soon...

  

Roasted Vegi Recipe-Super Easy

-carrots, onions, brussel sprouts and squash

-olive oil, salt, pepper, parsley and white wine vinegar

 1. Chop vegis and put on baking sheet with oil and salt.

2. Bake in preheated oven 425* 30 minutes (mixing 2 x throughout baking)

3. Take out of oven and top with seasoning. EAT

 

Cici's life is going to Change!

Fall is underway! And we are enjoying a MN warm front :) It got up to 50 today! Mark and I used the nice day to enjoy another wonderful aspect of being a home owner.... raking. We have SO many leaves, we are slightly overwhelmed, and not sure what we will do with all the bags, and are afraid to know how many bags it will take, but it is definitely worth it to have this wonderful home!

The good news about the raking is I FINALLY feel like a human again... so for those who are confused, I have to explain what I felt like before. I'll let Cici say it

Come May, Cici will not be the cutest thing in our lives. Mark and I are expecting a baby! We are VERY excited (and of course a little nervous). I am just happy to be in my second trimester! First trimester was tough. If you didn't see me, or hear from me or I seemed to do nothing, I kind of did! I dropped all my fitness classes, haven't worked out, couldn't cook and went to bed every night around 8. Mark said I was my alter-ego. As opposed to my normal busy self I did a lot of sitting, laying and watching TV.

But NOW, I have more energy again! And I'm not nauseus! And the thought of eating my own food sounds GOOD! :) I still don't really want meat.... but I'm enjoying making other things that remind me of people I love like:

Omelettes, remind me of Wake

Salmon, cornbread and kale

My moms grilled vegetables subs

Cammie's sweet potato deliciousness

Now of course all these things have been a huge step up from the things like baked lays, doritos and icecream cake I was craving in the 1st trimester.... (yes 5/6 of the cake are still in our freezer! Anyone interested?)

So now that my energy is back, Mark and I are becoming more social beings again. I was able to go apple picking with my sister-in-law Susan (also pregnant :) We went to a wedding and hung out with Mark's parents, spent time with them at the cabin and have been spending time with my other sister-in-law Anne's newborn baby :)

Good Practice!

Pregnant Ladies

Wedding Fun

So second trimester here I come! I am excited for renewed energy and little baby Aronson to keep growing and start making his/her presence  :)