Grocery Shower!

My sister-in-law Bethany and Angie threw a triple grocery shower for myself, Pam, and Beth. It was a very fun night, they did a great job. We played the Price-is-Right with groceries, and had amazing food! I received some great gifts, recipes, and groceries that I am very excited to put into our cupboards. I am excited to try some of the new recipes- but a bit nervous! I may be calling some of you for advice! :)

This was a hilarious gift. It was a huge bag of groceries, and we had to see who between the three of us, could put them in alphabetical order first! We all immediately rushed to get started, then we were told- if we would have read the card first, all of the answers were listed! hahah that will teach us!

YUM!! I can't wait to make this Oreo recipe!

More goodies to put in the cupboards!
Adorable chip and salsa bowl from dear friend Evy!

This was a fun game that we played. (As you can see we all read the Standard Bearer as we waited!! haha jk)

The true way to Todd's heart........................FUNFETTI CAKE!!

The truth is- that Todd will do anything for Funfetti cake! His mom always spoils him with his own funfetti cake on his birthday! I was very thankful that he doesn't expect an elaborate cake each year, because I think that EVEN I can carry on this tradition!!! :)

His only wedding request was that we either have a Pecan Pie wedding cake.. or a Funfetti wedding cake!!!

Happy Birthday, Todd!!!!

Happy Birthday to Todd!!!!!
We all wanted to wish Todd the most happy of birthdays! Todd will be 26 on Saturday, January 24! On the back of each of their letters that they are holding, they wrote Todd a little birthday letter. (To accompany our letter-writing unit! Now all of the sudden they became very motivated to learn how to correctly write a letter!!)
The 4th graders love Todd, even though he has only come to visit them a few times. They ask about him all of the time. Last year was hilarious- my class developed a "Todd fan club." Seriously- it was all they could talk about, they elected a Todd Fan Club president, secretary, vice president, etc. At recess they would hold meetings trying to decide how they could get Todd to visit more etc. It made me laugh!!!

Miss Te Slaa and her 4th graders
NO class picture can ever be done without a "SILLY one!!!!"

Quick-trip to Chicago!

This past week on Wednesday night, I decided that I really wanted to go to Chicago on Friday. So I did!! I had Monday off of school, so I decided it would be perfect. I had never driven before, so that made me very nervous- but I left on Friday at about 2:30pm, and arrived safely by midnight. We had a great weekend together. I went to his work Christmas party with him, and we enjoyed each other's company again! We spend time with family- and visiting my brand new cousin John Edward! I left Monday at about 11:30am to come home. It was the most miserable trip!!!! My GPS took me on a two lane road for about 200 miles (yes, a bit of a short cut) but the weather was NOT good, and it was a dark, hardly- traveled road. The wind was so great, that it blew the snow from the fields/ditches right up across the road. It looked like solid clouds- I couldn't see the road, lines, signs, it was practically white-out conditions even though it wasn't snowing. It was a long, tense trip home- but I made it!!!! Never so glad to be home!! :)

Todd and I with baby John, and proud sisters Julie and Bekah!!! (I guess they just said something funny!)

Todd and John!!

God's Handiwork!

I am sorry that this has nothing to do with our wedding- but I had to share these beautiful pictures with everyone! Each morning I get to school and look out my window, and within 10 minutes I see the sky completely fill with "fire" and the snow all around reflects the beautiful glow. The sunrises are absolutely breath-taking- I cannot imagine starting my day any other way! And I wanted to share them with you all to enjoy God's handiwork as much as I do every morning! (disclaimer- these pictures don't do them justice!)

Honeymoon here we come!!!!!

We booked our honeymoon this week! Wahoo, we are so excited! We are going to Puerto Vallarta Mexico, and staying in a RIU resort. We will be flying out of Omaha at 6 am on May 30. WHOA! We will have to leave Sioux Falls by 2 am after our wedding! :)
The resort looks amazing, it has several pools, 5 restaurants that Todd said wont know what hit them after we've been through, beaches, what more could you ask for!!

Bridal Shower

Todd's mom graciously threw my first bridal shower. She and my future sister-in-laws put a TON of work into this shower. It was December 29, 2008 at Village Woods. The menu was MEXICAN!!! yay. We had the most amazing enchiladas, as well as a delicious Mexican soup! For dessert we had a sea of delicious truffles, YUM!!! Todd and I were given a lot of very very generous gifts, it was very humbling! It was a great shower.
My mom and dad drove down from Sioux Falls for the weekend to meet everyone in Todd's family, as well as attend the shower!

The sign at Village Woods

Todd's sisters, mom and I.
Michelle, Christy, Karen, Mom, Karla, Tiffany.

A Large assortment of "Little Critter" books
for Todd from Julie and Bekah!

We were soo excited to see our Extremely hard
to find dishes!! Thank you!!

Flower girl Kayla, and I!

Mom TS, Karla, Mom VB

My mom and I

We bought Todd's wedding ring!

It's official! We bought Todd's wedding ring :) It was very fun to pick it out together, he said is very excited to finally get to wear it... aww!!

Christmas night at the Van Barens

Christmas with the Van Barens was soo fun! We had lots of fun get-togethers etc. On Christmas night we came home from Eric and Tif's and played lots of Yahtzee!!! It was a blast- I also got serenaded by Todd Michael Van Baren!! Whoo Hoo

Paiting the living room!!

The BEFORE!!!!!!!!

DURING!!!!

Special secret message in the wall! It will forever be the foundation of our living room!!

AFTER!!!!!!!

The final product!!


We are very pleased with the color! Although it looks much better in person, you will all have to come over and check it out!!!

This was a photo op! Todd was trying to re-assemble all of his cords etc! I couldn't NOT snap the photo!!!!!

Our first Christmas together!

This was our gift exchange! Todd got a drill, and tool set, and he got me a massage chair!!! It was funny, becuase that is exactly what I told him I thought it was!

In front of Todd's tree! I can just picture him putting that ribbon on the tree all by himself! How cute!!

This is Todd cutting the chicken for our Tending to the stir fry!!

stir fry!!! YUM!

We had our first Christmas together! On Christmas eve we had an exchange with just the two of us, and made a special dinner at Todd's house! On Christmas day we went to Eric and Tif for a wonderful Christmas dinner, and festivities! And on the day after Christmas we had the whole family get together at Phil and Karen's house! It was a very fun and exciting first Christmas together!!!

Our bedroom set!

Here is our new bedroom set for those of you who asked to see it! I love the colors- and I feel it is not too feminine for Todd!!!

We bought our new bed! :)

We are just having a blast finding the latest bargins, and planning out our future home together! Here is our newest addition!! :) Merry Christmas to us! :)

Thanksgiving!!!

YAY! fun to click a fuzzy blanket!!

Todd is very excited about our new rug!!!

Yup!- TWO times on this ride!!! It was a BLAST!! :)

The amusement park in the Mall of America!

HAHA my mom was so intent on getting the log boat behind us, she forgot to get our heads!!!!!!! hahaha

Todd came to Sioux Falls for Thanksgiving this year. It was a blast! He came out Tuesday, November 25 and stayed until Sunday night!
On Wednesday we went to the Mall of America! And had a blast riding amazing roller coasters!!!! It was such a fun day!

Thursday was family time- and marathon eating!! YUM!! Todd went out shooting with my cousins and uncles after dinner. (He still cannot hear me!! haha)

Friday we went shopping (8:30am) not crazy!! Then we worked out, and went to the AMAZING Sioux Falls Parade of Lights! A tradition that I have been doing since I could walk! (Well probably even before!) It was cold, but so fun! Then we went to Jeff and Bethany's house with a bunch of people to play games!!

Saturday was had our first session with Rev. Brummel, then lunch at the Brummels- and then we REGISTERED!!!! It was very fun- a bit stressful:) We ended up going to Target, and Bed Bath and Beyond! It was great trying to plan our future home together!!!

Sunday was normal- church, lunch, church, SAYING GOOD-BYE:( We are so excited for the time when we no longer have to say good-bye to each other!!!!!)