Happy New Year

I have tried to think of some really “COOL” way to end 2011…. Some fun post of all the great things we did this year.  I can’t really come with anything.  So here is a little WHAT WE DID IN 2011…

This year was full of lots of changes… My hubby was gone for 5 weeks in Germany early in the year.  When he returned we got orders to Hawaii… as we prepared for that move and all it entailed, our orders were changed to MICHIGAN!  My hubby’s new “duty” would be InI in Battle Creek, MI.  No more military housing for us. No more commissary shopping for me. No safety of a military base. For the 1^st time we would be living “Out in town” in the “real world”. WEIRD!

We said good to 29 Palms and all our friends… including saying goodbye to our daddy (my hubby) in April… as me and the girls moved to my parents house to live, while my hubby left for Michigan to TRY to purchase a home for us.  That process took 4 months THANK YOU BofA (YOU STINK!) In August me and the girls packed up, with my brother (who was wonderful enough to drive back with us, thank goodness he was there!) and we hit the road to Michigan.  We drove through Utah (got stuck there for 3 days thanks to some necessary repairs to my expedition) and then onto Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and FINALLY Michigan.  The trip took longer than expected, but we finally made it to our new “home”.  And ever since the end of August we have encountered Hot HUMID weather, nasty rainstorms and WIND, our first snowstorm that knocked out power for 24 hours and FREEZING temperatures. We also had our 1^st visitors, my parents came in Oct. for Kelsee’s baptism.

The girls LOVE their schools and have met LOTS of friends.  Delaney & I love have LOTS of fun being home… watching tv shows, playing puzzles, coloring, playdough and more. My hubby is busy as always, LOTS of meetings and has started college classes this year.  He has taken 2 English classes and got B’s in both. (that is pretty good for someone that graduated 20 years ago LOL)

We are still TRYING to make this our HOME.  We have already has many repairs to this WONDERFUL home and still need to make some changes and get a bit more furniture (since we have doubled our sq. footage here.  I miss my family back in CA and UT and hope to be able to head back that way SOON for a visit.

We spent our 1st Thanksgiving (my birthday) and CHRISTmas without any family. We haven't done that for 4 years. It is taking some getting used to being out here... so far away from it all.

Well, that about sums up 2011…. All in all it was a crap year. I am so glad it is JUST ABOUT over!  Bring on 2012…. Sure hope you are better than 2011.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

It is hard to believe that CHRISTmas has come and gone…. I know I am a LITTLE behind on posting but I thought, better late than NEVER!

As is tradition in our family, my girlies get new CHRISTmas pjs every year. Then mom gets out the camera and goes crazy,,,,,,,,  as the girls say.

 (love this picture..... checking out her daddy)

 My girlies

They looked so cute in the jammies. And they even “posed” for pictures, except Haylee, because I guess taking pictures ISN’t cool!

I even got to get in a picture (thanks to my 3 year old)  this is the 1st shot.....

then the second (with a LITTLE help from daddy)

I even got a picture of my hubby BY HIMSELF! Shock of all shocks.  He NEVER lets me take a picture of him. NOTICE he is sitting by HIS fire... it only took him 5 times to get it started CHRISTmas eve.

We spent CHRISTmas eve baking yummy goodies and hanging out as a family.

OH! And the dog we got a few months ago… ya, my hubby took him out to the training area to run around and well…. He got LOST- OH DARN!  I was ECSTATIC when he called to tell me that the dog ran off and got lost.  Oh but I did put on the pitiful “oh I am so sad. “ bit. But inside I was JUMPING FOR JOY! Yes you might think I am mean. But this dog has caused nothing but PROBLEMS for me and issues that I don’t wanna deal with anymore!

But don’t ya’ll worry…. My hubby got a call 2 days after CHRISTmas that the DOG was found! DANG IT!  I mean, GREAT! LOL  He is back home safe and sound.

Merry CHRISTmas to all....

 I wanted to wish all my "followers" a very Merry CHRISTmas!  I love this time of year to sit back and reflect on all that I have and have been given.  I saw something on FB today....

I truly am RICH!  I have all that I NEED and more!  A family who loves me.... wonderful parents, great kids and a good husband.  Who could ask for more???

May this season bring you joy and peace..... Pray for all those who are serving our country STILL in harms way.

"trying" to take Christmas card pictures

This Christmas snuck up on my quick.... I had wanted to take our CHRISTmas picture in the SNOW since here in Michigan that is all we are supposed to have during the winter...... Well, not this year.  We have even been in the 40s and 50s here and there.  So taking a picture in the snow happened before it all melted.  Here are a few of the shots I got.

By the way, when you have 4 girls ranging in age of 13 to 3 it is REALLY hard to get EVERYONE happy and smiling at the same time.

Merry CHRISTmas to all our friends and family!  We miss you all and wish you all the best in 2012

Love our crazy bunch!

M & J

a few weeks ago my wonderful husband got up EARLY with the dog to take him "out".  It happened to have snowed the night before.  When he came back inside he called me to come outside... he wanted to show me something....

He had drawn this in the snow in our backyard and from the deck you could see it really good.

Oh... how sweet huh?  Ya I know, he does stuff like this every now and then.

My girls LOVED it too.  They all said "hey mommy daddy loves you huh?

YUP! It's a good thing!

Happy 236th Birthday Marines!

Happy 236th Birthday Marines!  

I am so proud to call one of The Few, The Proud, my Husband and HERO!
He had his Marine Corps on Nov. 5th. I didn't go this year.  being in a new area, not having anyone to watch our girls and with life in general, it was better that I stayed home.  My marine also had a Marine Corps League Birthday "ball" celebration tonite, the actual birthday of the Marine Corps.  I was planning on going with him to that until it started snowing today.  We were concerned that the power might go out with the winds and all and didn't want to leave the girls home. (Don't worry we have a ALMOST 14 year old daughter who can babysit) So I stayed home with them and missed out AGAIN!

We did take pictures with our Marine before he left in all his BLING..... man do I LOVE my man in UNIFORM!

sorry about the hair.... I look like BLAH but I couldn't pass up an opportunity to take a pic with him :)

 

 So HAPPY BIRTHDAY Marines... you truly are the BEST OF THE BEST!

 

Kelsee's Special Day

Well the OTHER special event that I have yet to blog about is my sweet 8 year old, Kelsee Nicol,  was baptized on October 30^th, 2011.  She turned 8 on aug 28^th but with moving and all we had to put it off a bit. PLUS we had to wait til Gramma and Papa could come out for the SPECIAL OCCASION. 

My parents flew into Detroit, MI Friday night.  We got to spend all day Saturday playing and just catching up.  Gramma and Papa were such troopers and were sleep deprived, I am sure. The girls had them going all day long and they LOVED it!  We went to Mickey D’s for lunch and to SuperWally World (they don’t have one in California where they live) We also went to our ward Trunk or Treat that night.  It was fun to have them here to see the girls dressed up. They haven’t been with them at all… only seen them dressed up in pictures.  Although it was FREEZING cold (40 degrees) outside we went from car to car “trunk or treating” and the girls LOVED it!

Sunday morning we all slept in til 8am (that is a HUGE feet for us Conrads. There is usually someone up at the crack of dawn!) we all got ready for Kelsee’s SPECIAL day!  Collecting all the clothes and odd’s and ends, making sure to not forget anything. We went to church and then shortly after church was Kelsee’s baptism.

 (the dress she wore today was the same dress that I wore, as well as my sisters and all my nieces and Kelsee's 2 big sisters; so far)

Haylee, her big sister gave the opening prayer. Gramma Lightbourn gave the talk on Baptism.  Sister Evans gave the talk on the Holy Ghost and gave Kelsee some fun “gifts” to remind her about the things that Holy Ghost will do for her. Then Papa Lightbourn preformed the baptism with her daddy as a witness.  Then when she was all dried off her daddy confirmed her a member of The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints. As well as Papa, Bishop Torrance, and the missionaries stood in the circle.

What a special day to have so many people there from our new ward to support us and make us feel welcomed.  We loved every minute having my parents here. Shortly after returning home from church we were loading the truck again to take my parents back to the airport.  The trips are NEVER long enough.  We wish we lived closer but such is life.

To find out more about our faith and what Baptism is, check out 

mormon.org 

Happy 3rd Birthday to my PRINCESS!

I am such a bad mom…. I will admit it. 

I have been slacking on posting on this here blog.  I am so behind, I haven’t even posted on 2 important events for our family….

This post is just a FEW days late…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET 3 Year Old PRINCESS---- 

DELANEY NICOL

 she said to me Mama... you made this for me???  Oh Thank you mommy.

 (love this face!)

We are so truly blessed to have her in our family.  She truly has Completed us.  She brings joy wherever she goes (as well as TONS of mischief!)

This sweet girl LOVES Bubble Guppies, Dora the explorer and her new found LOVE is Rapunzel from Tangled. She can count to 22 without missing a number. She LOVES purple and pink.  She can spell her name. She knows most of her colors. She LOVES to spend her days coloring, watching her “shows” and playing with her sisters. She loves to play “family” with her sisters and be the mommy of Juliana, her baby doll.

We just can’t get enough of this little girl.  She is sassy and gets into so much mischief. She has colored our WHITE carpet with markers, gotten in to more nailpolish than I would like to admit. Has emptied a bottle of baby powder on the livingroom floor plus much more. 

We had such a fun time celebrating her birthday. Although we haven’t met friends for her here YET… we celebrated as a family.  Here are a few of the fun pictures from her day.

 she had asked for a Rapunzel, Dora, Bubble Guppies cake... so this is what she got.  She picked out the cupcakes and we just added a little to hers :)

 I LOVE my baby girl.

 she LOVES her daddy.

 Of course the PRINCESS HAD to wear her crown 

WE LOVE YOU DELANEY NICOL.