3 Decades and A Smile

I guess I should give myself a post of my own to pin point my celebration of existence for 30 years.

On April 4th, 1983 a little Greek baby girl named Cassandra Marie was born :)
(in case you were wondering...that's me)

On April 4th, 2013, now a wife and a mother, that respectively still young woman is now 30 years old.  I'm sure this makes my parents feel much older than I do (Sorry mom and dad!).  But yes, it's true.  I'm officially 30.

I never had any reserves about aging.  When I first met my husband, he had indirectly taught me how to look at things differently and more positively.  With his help, I've graciously accepted the simple truth that "it's-better-to-grow-older-than-to-die-younger" mindset.  Plus it's Only 30! 

Since we had discovered that we were expecting another baby on April 2, and we had plans to go out to dinner with family on April 6, or so I thought...Justin and I had talked about making an announcement to our close friends and family while we were out to eat.  Well unbeknownst  to me, the actual plan for Saturday April 6, was for me to go out to lunch with my girlfriends and come home to a Surprise Party with my close friends and family there waiting to celebrate with me!

After my girlfriends picked me up at home, we headed out to one of my favorite restaurants, Olive Garden, for lunch!  (No one knew the baby news yet)

Well...since it was my 30th birthday and I usually have at least a glass of wine when we get together and I only ordered water, I figured they would get suspicious.  Finally after everyone ordered and received their drinks, we did a group "Cheers!" to friendship and birthdays and in the midst of all that, I also blurted out "to New Additions!".  Everyone gasped in surprise and cheered as most of them got the insinuation right away.  :)

We headed back to my house (I drove since I have a vehicle that fits all 6 of us) and when I got to my road about 1/4 mile from my house, I saw a lot of people standing outside on the sidewalk on either side of the street.  I thought maybe someone was having a yard sale at first.  Then I saw people were holding signs!  Then I saw the signs all said something about me!!  It was the coolest thing ever to see a bunch of people I know and love holding up a sign that said something about me having a birthday or turning 30!

All of these pretty happy faces were lined up and down the street for me, along with many others!

A huge THANK YOU to my cousin-in-laws, Paige and Sasha, for doing all of these signs that I love so much!

 I was so excited seeing all of these signs as I passed that I probably honked the horn about 50 times within 100 yards!  I pulled in the driveway and just started hugging anyone I could grab! :)  My whole front lawn was filled with people I knew and loved!  It felt as wonderful and special as my wedding day; having so many people in one place because they love me.  Such a great feeling!  Thank You All!

 I walk into my house and it's filled with balloons with ribbon!  Everywhere!  I loved it!

I go into the dining room where I find a yummy looking cake!  (with purple trimmings of course)

Then I'm told there is one more surprise...

And my dad and step mom from New Jersey pop out of our basement door!  Hugs are flying again!

Crazy enough my daughter had slept through all of that commotion (and horn honking), so we woke her up from her nap and put her in her "announcement shirt" and let her walk around to get some reactions out of people.  :)

That day was so much fun, I didn't want it to end!  :)  It was a great way to bring in my 30's and I'm so blessed and lucky to have these people in my life!  A special big "thank you" to my hubby for planning all of this for me, even though we said we wouldn't do something big for my birthday because of funds, but he managed to find a way to make it happen for me anyway because he said I "deserved it".  Thank you, baby!

Love to you all!

Dusting Off The Keyboard For A Big Announcement

It's been way too long since I've blogged and I've missed it.
I miss catching up with blogging friends through reading others' posts and writing comments that are well deserved.  I miss the "me time" that I used to give myself after putting the little one to bed, and typing non stop on the keyboard until I could hardly hold my head up.  I miss putting my thoughts and my family experiences with pictures out on the world wide web (aside from Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

It seems as though I lost my "blogging self" for awhile.  I have still written random thoughts into a journal that I have been keeping.  To catch you up a little on what has been going on with me, well that would take more than one post...which it's going to, so bear with me.

Here's the main thing that have been going on with me in the last few months.

Most importantly that definitely needs to be mentioned here on this blog is the biggest change yet that our family of three is going to experience.

We're going to become a family of 4!

Most of you probably have already heard the news in some form of social media or another.  As you may recall on this post and this photo in March, we were just beginning to announce that we were "officially trying" to grow our family.  Well, little did we know at that time...we had already conceived #2.  We definitely didn't expect it to happen so quickly, since Annaliese took 5 months to conceive and even that was fast for us.
So there you have it Blog, we're gonna have a baby! 

2 days before my 30th birthday(April 4th), I took my first pregnancy test

Annaliese is excited to become a Big Sister!  We announced the news to our close friends and family at my Surprise 30th Birthday Party on April 6th.

On April 23rd, we made the grand Facebook announcement.

Tomorrow on June 21, I will be 17 weeks along already.  We are officially due on November 29, which is the day after Thanksgiving.  However, since I delivered almost 2 weeks early with Annaliese ...and on a full moon, I am going to make an educated guess and say that I will probably deliver early with this baby and for kicks, lets just say around the full moon on November 17.  Justin and I are waiting to find out the sex this time and I couldn't be more excited!

Already this pregnancy differs much from my first.  Pretty much ever since I found out I was pregnant...I was sick...all day for over month.  Luckily in mid-May, I found the culprit and switched prenatal vitamins and have been fine ever since!  :)  Also a few weeks ago, I had some really bad dizziness to where I passed out.  Thank God that Justin was here working from home that day because I don't want to know what would've happened in any other case.  I have also had really had sciatica pain very early this time around whereas with my first pregnancy, I didn't get bad back pain until I was over 30 weeks pregnant.  Hoping some physical therapy or chiropractic assistance will help!

So because this has been the main thing going on with us, I figured I would get back on the blogging radar with this announcement, and will be filling in the timeline within the next few posts.  I promise it won't be a month until they happen.  I need to spit them out soon so I can get back onto track with actual current events :)

For those of you who are still around to read this blog, thanks for your patience and support!

XOXOXO,

Hello...Is It Me You're Looking For?

**This was written almost 2 months ago on 3/25/13...apparently I was asleep when I hit the SAVE button instead of the PUBLISH button...so here's a slight recap before I get to the actual newest post.**

Ever have that feeling that you're so far behind that you shouldn't even bother to try to catch up?  Well that's me with blogging...except, I DO want to catch up!  In the last month...technically two...almost three, I've been TERRIBLY bad at making blogging a priority as I have in the past.  Which also means I've totally NOT kept up with that part of my New Years Resolutions either....well here's why.

Life.

I won't say that I've been busy every day all day for the last month, but my priorities have changed a little.

Toddler.  Geesh, can this girl run!  Annaliese is very active, always on the go!  She is also very exploratory and independent.  It's hard to get everything that needs done in a day, especially with a husband that still gets daily headaches (sleep test is scheduled in May) and sometimes comes home from work and goes straight to bed.  Annaliese keeps me on my toes!  And boy is she headstrong!  If she can't figure something out the first time around, she throws herself down into a fit.  Wonder where she gets that from???  For those of you wondering, she actually gets that from both of her parents.  Poor kid!
Also on that note, Justin and I have decided that we are officially "TTC" again!  So stay tuned for an update on that when we're finally successful!

Money.  Since joining Scentsy in December, I am (to my surprise) doing really well with my Scentsy Business, and I am bringing in extra money (Shout out to my awesome customers and recruits!), but until I become even more established, I have been applying my tush off for other part time jobs.  I've had one interview so far and it seems pretty promising.  I have a few other prospects and Justin possibly has another job opportunity that will mean him traveling 2 hours each way Monday - Friday for at least a year until we would relocate closer to his job.  So we'll see what happens with that!  *Just thought I would put this out there - I am able to do an online party for you if you are interested.  A blogger friend is already making it happen!*  It's just hard to picture myself going back into the working field after being out of it for 2 1/2 wonderful years!  My goal for this year is to make Scentsy my primary income and be able to take my family on a vacation this summer/fall!

Parties.  My sweet maternal grandmother's 80th birthday happened, (February 18th, to be exact)!  My mom had been inviting family and friends from all over the country for months and the total head count as of now is about 120 people!  My grandma is one of eleven kids (HOLY MOLY...could you imagine???) and all of her siblings who don't reside in Heaven came up celebrate!  All of her daughters were there and all of her grand kids, and of course her only great grandchild, Annaliese!  Many of her cousins were there as well as many of her life long friends she has made over 80 years of life.  I cannot tell you how excited and happy I was/am for my grandma to have this day, this celebration of life!  We all had a blast at the party!

Birthdays.  Well more recently, there are more recent birthdays coming up.  My big 30th is April 4th and Justin's (a couple years graduated from 30) is April 18th.  For the last year, Like I mentioned before, I wanted to throw myself a big 30th birthday bash with an 80's theme!  Well unfortunately it looks like that won't be the case.  Trying to keep afloat on our bills (including the expensive cold season we're still in) we have not been able to save and extra money to make this happen.  I won't lie...I'm disappointed, but I've accepted it.  I know that my birthday will still be special in it's own way.  My girl friends have a nice lunch at Olive Garden planned for me on April 6th, and we have a family dinner planned for that evening at Dave and Jane's Crab Shack where I will be indulging in all-you-can-eat crabs!  *Please note: I will be in a complete food coma on this day*

Books.  I have made an attempt to read more like I wanted to this year and I have.  Going from zero reading to some reading is actually a feat, but it's happening at least!  Plus, just recently I have found an awesome website and app called GoodReads!  I'm sure most of you consistent readers out there already know of this site, but I found it to be my missing reader's link!  It's a place where you can make lists of what you have already read, what you want to read and what you are currently reading as well as have "friends" and read their reviews and get suggestions of books!  Go find me so we can be reading buddies! :)

So that has been my last few months in a nut shell.  I'm sorry it's taken me forever to write this post and that I haven't read many of your blog posts that I have missed.  It sometimes doesn't take a high rank on the priority list and I have somehow managed to not even make it appear on the list!  I'll try to keep on top of things!

I have lots of pictures to post and lots of other news to share, so I will be doing that here soon!  As always you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.  *please take note that I have changed my user names to CreatingCassie*

Love to you all...if you're still out there!

Getting More In The Christmas Spirit

Happy Tuesday everyone!  I hope you had a great weekend!  I meant to post this yesterday, but was just too tired.  

Our weekend was filled with lots of cookies and lots of Santa!

Annaliese and I went to spend time with Aunt Jenn on Friday and made some cookies!  I made some Heath bar cookies and Jenn made Andes Peppermint cookies.  Mine came out a little harder than I expected, but they still tasted yummy!  Jenn's cookies were delicious!

Jenn's yummy cookies

My yummy cookies

Annaliese had fun looking out the glass door into the backyard.  We don't have that luxury at our house ;)

Then on Sunday, Justin and I took Annaliese to see Santa for the first time.  She did very well waiting in line for about a half hour, then when Justin put her on Santa's lap, she looked up at him and wondered why she was sitting on him.  She only fussed a little bit and we were able to get some really good pictures of them together before she wasn't having it anymore!  Haha!  Here's our favorite!

T minus 2 weeks until Christmas!!

Something Is Missing...

I can't help but have this feeling that something is missing.

Someone is missing.

This Thanksgiving will be hard for our family because it is the first Thanksgiving without my father in law, Ron.  For the past 6 years of my life, he was there...

It already doesn't feel like it's been almost a year since we have not had his jokes, his words, his presence around us.  I remember a year ago on Thanksgiving, we had dinner over at Justin's aunt and uncle's house.  Ron was very weak and didn't feel well.  We, of course, had Annaliese with us and because she was still pretty new, everyone in the family wanted to hold her.  Ron was nervous to hold his granddaughter, but Justin's cousin Angie, placed her in his arms as if almost forcing him to hold her.  He stared down at her for about a minute as she slept peacefully, despite being passed around between family members.

That was the last time he was able to hold his one and only grandchild.

I wish this wasn't the case.  I wish we could have him back here, on earth to join us for Thanksgiving dinner once again.  I know he's in the best place there is to be, heaven.  He will be missed, as he is every single day.

We are thankful for the years that we had with him, and the few precious moments that we were able to see him enjoy his grand baby.  Those moments are the ones we will tell Annaliese about.  About how Ron was so weak and frail that he didn't want to hold her in fear of hurting her by not supporting her body well enough with the little strength he had.  But he was brave and welcomed her with opened arms to take in the few small moments he had with her.  She was his peace.

This Thanksgiving we are all so thankful of so much.  Especially the little things...the small precious moments.  The moments of pure joy and love.  That is what Thanksgiving is all about.  Being thankful for the love of family and of friends and the enormous strength you have when you come together and bond.

Being thankful comes easy to those who realize their blessings everyday.

Be thankful.

Be blessed.

Picture taken and edited by my sister in law, Jenn

Thanksgiving Dinner

It's official!

This year Thanksgiving dinner will be at our house!  I am excited to have our family gather here to enjoy a home cooked meal, filled with lots of love, laughs and football! :)  This will be the 3rd time we've hosted dinner here since we've lived in this house (in 4 1/2 years)

This year my mother in law will be making the turkey at her house and bringing it over.  One less thing for us to make.  On the even brighter side, she is a great cook, with respectively much more experience than I so it's guaranteed to be tasty!  Unfortunately our sister in law, Jenn, will not be joining us this year because she is in the middle of helping her parents move here, to Pennsylvania, from Texas.  Although she will be missed, we will still have a full house!  It will be Justin, me, Annaliese, my mother in law, my mom, my grandma, my brother and Justin's brother.  Technically that's 7 1/2 people ;)

The Menu -

12 lb whole turkey
6 lb bone in ham
mashed potatoes
gravy
sweet potato casserole - a recipe I got off of the daytime TV show, Kelly and Michael Live!
stuffing
cranberry sauce
broccoli casserole
green beans
rolls with butter

I think that about covers it!  Oh and of course, some beverages including a bit of wine.  My dad and step mom will be arriving on Friday to stay with us the rest of the weekend, so it will be much time with family.  Then on Monday, since Justin has off work, we plan to go pick up our Christmas tree and decorate it.  It will be a challenge warding Annaliese off of the tree for a few weeks, but I am more excited about Christmas this year with her because last year she was only 2 months old.  Now she is able to smile, laugh and enjoy the lights.  I can't wait! :)

Happy Holidays!

Annaliese and Her Pumpkin Party

I know many of you have been wondering where the heck I have been and where the heck are the party pictures from 3 weeks ago.  Oooops!

Well truth be told, the three of us have pretty much just passed around being sick.  Justin came home from work on Friday (Oct 12- before the party), saying that he was going to urgent care because he was pretty sure he had an ear infection.  Well he was right.  They sent him home with an ear drop antibiotic.  He was in bad pain the whole weekend, but was a trooper and still put on a happy face for his little girl's birthday party.  Then it was Annaliese who wasn't feeling well on the day of her own party.  Insert collective "awww" here.  She was teething (when are they NOT teething?!) and very congested.  No fever, just slightly miserable.  She was also a trooper and loved her party (and her cake!).  Then most recently I've not been feeling well.  I thought it was just really had allergies, which isn't uncommon at all for me, but when I started feeling worse, I went to the doctor and confirmed I had a sinus infection.  I've been on antibiotics since Monday and have been living on soup and hot tea.  Only since Thursday have I started to feel better enough to do dishes, laundry and actually put on make up (yeah it's been that bad).  

So that brings me to now.  I have missed blogging!  I have missed reading blogs, commenting on blogs, linking up with bloggers! ...I feel like I've missed SO MUCH lately.

I'm still working on getting some more pictures from the party from our guests, since Justin and I were pretty busy, needless to say.

So without further ado, here's some party pics!

Loved these invitations from Tiny Prints

Uncle Ashley and Aunt Jenn

 These kids did a really great job on painting their pumpkins!!  Justin and I were impressed!

My dad and step mom catered for us!  THANK YOU!

Yummy food!  Happy guests! :)

She was chasing me in the kitchen!  Having so much fun!

Ready to enjoy her pumpkin cake

Mommy helped her get past the icing

Yummy!!!

Being proper and using an eating utensil

Cake aftermath

Birthday girl with mom and dad

Awesome shoes made by Aunt Jenn!

Balloon Basketball

Evan, Emily and Adrian painting their pumpkins

A happy Baya

Baya painting her pumpkin

Sam helping Baya with her pumpkin

Emily and standing proud next to her pumpkin

Fawn helping Connor with his pumpkin

The gift table

1 Year Polka Dot Pumpkin T-Shirt made by Sweet Pea Ala Mode

Reading one of her many new books!

Showing Grandma her new book

Sorry these are a little out of order...I just want to get this post up!  :)

Annaliese had a great time at her party with all of her friends and most of her family! :)  She was able to get in a morning nap prior to the party which helped, but after her long day...she crashed in her MaMaw's arms.

Annaliese cuddling with MaMaw Elaine

Justin and I can't believe we have a one year old!

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!