Hug those ones that you love.

We often times get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives and forget to let those around us know just how much we care about them. Unfortunately it can take a tragic event to remind us to tell our loved ones just how much they mean to us.

This past weekend my Aunt Bev passed away unexpectedly while watching a movie at home with her husband. She feel asleep during the movie and didn't wake up. This hit really close to home because she was the age of my parents. Her kids are my sister and my ages.

Each moment that we have on this earth is a gift and we can sometimes take that for granted. I just wanted to tell my family and friends how much you mean to me. I know that many of us are separated by miles and don't get to see each other often. There are those of us that live 10 miles apart but our lives are so busy that it makes it hard to connect at times. What I want to tell each and everyone of you is that I love you and am so blessed to have you in my life.

Getting to know you......I mean me!

Here is the latest getting to know me. The last one was Christmas style. This one is just your average how well do you know me. Thanks again to Diane for sending this one along.

1. What is your occupation right now? Elementary Music Teacher

2. What color are your socks right now? Not wearing any......just slippers

3. What are you listening to right now? Marshall McPeck on NBC4 telling me about the weather

4. What was the last thing that you ate? A grapefruit, bagel and a glass of chocolate milk

5. Can you drive a stick shift? Only in an emergancy situation!!

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Mike

7. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Sure do!!

8. How old are you today? 27

9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? Basketball
10. What is your favorite drink? Used to be Mountain Dew.....but no caffeine for me anymore. :(

11. Have you ever dyed your hair? Yes

12. Favourite food? It changes will the week lately. Last week it was chicken.

13. What is the last movie you watched? Madagascar 2

14. Favourite holiday of the year? Christmas

15. How do you vent anger? Cry

16. What was your favorite toy as a child? My cabbage patch kids or my barbies

17. What is your favorite season? Summer and fall.

18. Cherries or Blueberries? Blueberries

19. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back? Yes

20. Who is the most likely to respond? This doesn't really apply to this one now.

21. Who is least likely to respond? See above.

22. Living arrangements? Husband and some buns in the oven!!!
23. When was the last time you cried? All of the time.....most recently last evening!!!

24.What is on the floor of your closet? Shoes....bags...shoes...shoes.....shoes....shoes!!!

25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending to? Janna

26. What did you do last night? Ate Chinese, watched OSU basketball, slept on the couch.

27. What are you most afraid of? Not being in control of things.

28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? Cheeseburg

29. Favourite dog breed? Not really a dog person.

30. Favourite day of the week? Saturday......it's the day that is the least likely to have something on it that we have to do.

31. How many states have you lived in? 1

32. Diamonds or pearls? MOST DEFINITELY DIAMONDS – NOT A PEARL GIRL!

33. What is your favorite flower? Purple Tulips

Reconnecting with Friends

This Friday Mike and I got to to hang out with the old OC crowd. Although we didn't go to Applebee's for half price appetizers like we did in college, we had a great time just catching up and spending time together.

It is amazing to see where our lives have taken us. We have had relationships some that have lasted some that have not. We've had jobs that have come and gone. Some of us have traveled and seen sights around the world that we thought that we never would. But what amazes me every time that we get together is that we will always have each other. Time may pass, seasons may change, lives may change, but we will always have our friendships.

Thanks girls for being our friends. There are so many new things in store for us all in the coming months and years. Our lives are changing so quickly around us. One thing I know we will always have though is each other.....................(and our love of half price appetizers!)

Baby on Board!

Well it is official. Our close family and friends know, but we wanted to make it public knowledge that we are expecting!!! Our first official doctor's appointment isn't until the 21st but we are guessing that our due date is going to be around the first part of September.

Not a real bump yet, but a little one!!

Both of us are very excited about the new little Porretta that is on the way, but like most new parents are a little nervous too! The past few weeks has been a roller coaster ride. We have spent time telling family and co-workers, trying to detail as much information as we can, but at this point don't have a whole lot.

A few things that I have realized in the last few weeks.
1. You can always have something to worry about. So instead of spending your time worrying about things to come and what could be, it's better to live in the moment and enjoy the time that you have.

2. I LOVE TO SLEEP. Getting back into the swing of things after the holiday break was tricky. I was sleeping in and taking naps in the afternoon and as a teacher, you can't do that once you go back to work. I've found myself getting pretty tired. Many nights I will come home from work, lay down on the couch and take a nap. Wake up and eat dinner, lay back on the couch. Mike usually wakes me up before he goes up to bed and then we go upstairs, I go back to sleep and wake up in the morning.

3. Relax and let things be what they will be. I realized that however much I want to, I can't control other people's actions. What I can control is my reaction to them. If I let myself get stressed out or upset then they have won. Plus stress isn't good for mommy or the new little one.

I know that there will be so much more that I will learn over the next few months. Mike and I will learn a lot about ourselves, our family and our new life to come. We can't wait to share the latest updates with you and will try to keep you posted as much as possible.

Movie Reviews

Mike and I have enjoyed having the last few days to do absolutely nothing. We have spent the day sleeping in a little, enjoying making and eating breakfast together and watching the Today Show in the morning. The rest of our days have been spent at the gym......getting back into shape was one of our new year's resolutions, doing shopping (both real and window) as well as catching up on some of the new movies out.

Over the last 4 days we have seen 3 movies! While our reviews might not be as accurate as Ebert and Ropert, we hope that you will enjoy them.

1. Quantum of Solice. The latest of the James Bond movies. While I must say that this James is quite an attractive Bond, this wasn't our favorite Bond movie. The plot was a little lacking of substance and a little long to get off of the ground. While there was the fair share of action, things being blown up and amazing cars the movie lacked in the 'bond girl' area. (This was Mike's observation). Over all a 3 out of 5. A good movie to watch when it comes out on video, but don't feel like you have to rush to the theater to see it.

2. Doubt- This drama details the real life story of a nun who tries to uncover and 'out' a catholic priest in her church that she suspects of inappropriate actions with some of the young boys at the catholic school. While this is not a 'feel good' movie it is one that really makes you think. There has been Oscar buzz about this film for the screen play as well as some of the actors uncluding Phillip Seymor Hoffman and Meryl Streep. Overall we give this a 4 out of 5. I would recommend going to see this movie.....if you have an interest in the subject. If not, I would pass.

3. Madagascar 2- Out of all the movies that we saw this week this one was probably our favorite. We are both suckers for the cute animated movies and often get teased by our friends for it. But, what can we say? Maybe we are both kids at heart. This movie builds on the first one, revealing how Alex the lion got to the zoo in New York. On their way back to the zoo from their last adventure through a series of events the animals find themselves on the wildness reserve in Africa where Alex is from. A series of life lessons are learned by the animals and Alex ends up saving the day in the end. The plot isn't complex, but cute. The laughs are their and the 'adult' jokes that are slipped into the plot made it an enjoyable movie for both the 40 plus 3-10 years olds that were in the theater as well as their parents......and Mike and I (the only people there without a small child in tow). This movie gets a 4 out of 5. If you are looking for a fun feel good movie and you don't mind being the only adult in a movie theater, then this one is for you.