More pictures

Here are some more pictures that I promised you. These are from our Christmas in Hutchison and our morning with Aiden at the zoo...ENJOY!!!

Aiden and I share a cookie; he had it all over by the time we were done!

The Gittinger family.
My grandparents! Grandma is doing fantastic and grandpa is feeling better, too! I'm so thankful they have ended the year on a happy note. They are looking forward to 2010 and hoping there will be less doctor visits!!

The race is on! Every year we have Hot Wheel races. Grandma did surprisingly well; she even surprised herself! We thought she might end up winning, but she was edged out by Abbie, Grandpa, and Dakota.

The championship came down to Grandpa and Dakota. Dakota is trying to defend his title!

1st place:Grandpa; 2nd place: Dakota; 3rd place: Abbie!

On to the Zoo. This was Aiden's first time, and he had a great time! He got to see a turkey, fox, raccoon, llama, pig, badger, snakes, iguana, monkeys, and spiders among other things. Aiden also fed a goose and got to pet a mini horse.

Tim taught Aiden how much fun it is to chase geese! You should have heard them giggling! I couldn't tell who was having more fun.

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We sure had a wonderful time. Have I mentioned I love being an aunt? Christmas was extra fun this year at the Gittinger house. Aiden is a year and a half, so he loved opening his gifts and playing with all of them. I loved playing with Aiden, too! Here are a couple pics and a video, also. I may post more later. Correction, I have to post more later, I have to share pics of our Christmas in Hutch a couple weeks ago, too.

OOOO Baby It's Cold Out Side

It is very cold here. The weather man gave me a good laugh tonight...he says "Later this week we'll finally be back near freezing!" That is the high temp my friends! Have I mentioned that I HATE winter? I sure am glad I have heat again. If you don't know, my heater broke Thursday night. Of all the weekends to break it has to be the one when my mom was coming. I called my regular heater repair man, well he had no idea what he was doing and of course the heater started working again and he reassured me it was nothing. Well I spent a second night without heat then called another repair man on Saturday morning. He came right over and it was a major deal...something electrical related. My heater is now fixed and it is toasty warm in my little home!

Needless to say my streak of bad luck has come to an end, I think. They say it comes in threes. I think this is my list of threes 1) I hit a critter on the way back to Hays. 2) My toilet overflowed...again, but I fixed myself (go me!!). 3) My furnace quit working for 2 nights.

Now a quick diddy about the rest of my weekend. My mom came up for Girls weekend. We have had a blast! We went shopping...tons of shopping. I can't divulge what we shopped for due to who reads my blogs...sorry everyone! Then we went to the Holiday Pops Concert tonight. It was super good. The Hays Orchastra, Choir, and men's group participated with Christmas songs. It sure put us in the Christmas spirit!

I have a little more Christmas shopping and I have to get all my gifts wrapped. That's on my to do list for this week. Have a wonderful week and stay warm. Soon we will be back to freezing temps!!!

This past weekend I went home. Dad has started on his annual light display, complete with music. Once it got dark enough, dad turned on the light show and took Aiden out to take in all the lights. Aiden was facinated with everything....he just looked around at everything. Then he heard the music playing, and he began to wiggle and dance to the music...he loved it! The next addition to the display will be the icecream truck (complete with animals inside), and more lights. I bet Aiden will really enjoy things after that.

Aiden and I stacked blocks and knocked them down over and over and over! What fun!! Then he played with the rings and stacked them and stacked them and stacked them.


Dad's light display...complete with a pond and deer!

Aiden and dad dancing to the Christmas music! This kid sure can move!!! I've included a little video clip of Aiden.

A little diddy

I realize I haven't posted in a while. It's mostly due to the fact that my computer is a really big piece of junk! It is as old as the hills and runs like an 80 ton dinosaur. All analogies aside, Christmas came to me today. I got my new computer today. I'm super excited about this. It runs faster than a cheetah; compared to my dinosaur!

I also just wanted to tell you all grandma finished her radiation today! Yea!!!! I'm so thankful she has done so well. I'll probably call her this weekend so I may have more news to share with everyone.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I'm super excited about the holidays this year. I may give in and put up my Christmas tree early this year. "Early" is defined as before I have my plate of turkey! I know, I'm breaking tradition this year.

Better go for now. Love to everyone!

WOW

Have I mentioned I love fall? Today is a beautiful fall day. This morning I got ready to step out my front door and saw this......

All I could say was "wow"!! The picture doesn't do it justice, of course. The sun was shining right on the tree...it was so beautiful.

When I got to work the sun was shining through the trees and the leaves on the ground looked like little flakes of gold! It was just a great way to start the day.

This picture is the tree in my yard.

When it gets bigger it is really going to be pretty in the fall.

Free Falling

What a beautiful day to go skydiving! It was warm and sunny...perfect for jumping out of a plane 2 miles above earth!!


All suited up and ready to go!


My jump was fantastic!!!!!!!!!!

In the plane before jumping. Ready, set, go!

Will he like jumping?

He LOVED jumping!!! Dad and I after jumping


I of course loved my jump experience. This time there was a lot more movement involved, which made the experience way more fun! I'd say I'm officially a skydive junkie! No plans on jumping by myself, though! There is nothing like falling out of a plane. I cannot adequately explain it in words.

Dad LOVED skydiving, too!! I think I've found a jumping buddy, now. Dad could only use one word to describe his experience, and that word was "awsome"!! Mom wants us to promise we won't jump again, but we cannot make this promise. We are making plans to jump in Topeka in the late spring or early summer.

Just a smidge Stressed

My week hasn't even begun yet and the "S" word has arrived! I talked to my parents tonight and they informed me grandma has to have radiation every day for 6 weeks. I thought the whole point of her going through her surgery was to avoid this step. I now have so many questions about this whole cancer process. I guess grandma has an appointment with her surgeon tomorrow then the other cancer doctor Tuesday. We'll wait and see what they say. Then dad said grandpa's blood pressure is still low! Grandma is taking grandpa in to the doctor tomorrow to have this checked out. No more VA for grandpa...if grandma has her way! Oh, then my cousin, Chad wrecked his motorcycle yesterday and broke his collar bone...his surgery is Tuesday. Our family could certainly use some prayers.

What else has been going on, you may ask? Well, see for your self....


My family and I spent Labor Day weekend moving and rearranging and sorting grandpa's "Mierda" on his lot. I've tried to describe it, but I just can't...you just have to see the pictures. We stacked stuff, moved cars and engine parts and more wood than you can shake a sick at!! We also sorted pipe and who knows what else. We did manage to get rid of 10-12 trailer loads of trash/metal/junk, though.


Grandpa and Grandma were Grand Marshals of the Labor Day parade...here's a couple pics from that. Grandpa sure was suprised/excited to have this honor!


I've been cleaning my office...now I can see my desks!! I managed to get rid of 4 sacks of trash and magazines. The middle desk is for scrapbooking...now I can start my project!! I'm super excited about this!

I have a new stove, and I'm in love! No more cleaning the grate holder thingy! This is a flat top...super easy to clean, and I love it. One down fall I've found... my favorite skillet is curved on the bottom and doesn't work so well with this stove. I suppose I'll have to get a new skillet.

That's it for me. Here's to a great week!

A new family

My brother is married! He made one handsome groom.

I now have a sister-in-law, Jessica. She was such a beautiful bride. I'm so glad I got to be a part of Tim and Jessica's wedding.

And a little nephew, Aiden. This little guy can dance the night away! You should have seen him at the dance.

Mr. & Mrs. Gittinger!

a little of everything

I haven't posted in a while, so I feel a post is warrented! Here are a few happenings around the "house of Man"!
1) Grandma is doing really well. I talked to her tonight and she sounds great. She's going back to the doctor tomorrow for another check up. She's hoping to get her drains pulled....I'm rooting for that too; I know how much those bother her. Grandma has been such a champ through all of this, and she has an amazing spirit!!
2) My friend, Mandy is coming to Goodland for a visit next week. I get to meet her new addition, Sophia. I'm looking foward to that.
3)Mom's birthday is tomorrow (10th). Dad is planning a BBQ or something to celebrate next weekend.
4)Tim gets married the 22nd. I still can't believe this is happening! I'm gaining a sister-in-law and nephew out of the deal, though.
5) Mom and Dad, and Grandma and Grandpa have anniversaries this month, as well!
Then after this...who knows! Perhaps sky diving! I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

To Market

I love summer! I went to the farmers market tonight. I brought home a couple cucumbers, a tomato, some zucchini bread, and bierocs. I then stopped over at our garden (planted by my neighbor and I), and picked some onions and a few carrots. I cut up the onions and put them in with the cucs. There's nothing like bread,butter,and cuc. sandwiches! I can't wait to try out my carrots tomorrow.

Onions from the garden My bounty

I'm off to bed early tonight. We are super busy at work tomorrow...we stopped counting patients at #32! And the doctors were still adding patients at 5:00 this evening. It will be good that I will be busy, though. It will keep me occupied and my mind off of grandma's surgery, a little. She goes in at 6:45 to check in and have a couple more tests...then they will start surgery. Grandma is confident, and at peace with her decision to have a mastectomy, rather than going through chemo and radiation. If it were me with cancer, I think I would make the same decision. I'll be saying lots of prayers tonight, as I place things in God's hands. I'm so thankful we have a Great Physician to care for us!

skydiveKansas

So, I've started researching my next jump site. They call it skydiveKansas. I've got the "jump bug" real bad! A co-worker of mine just went to Osage City, outside of Topeka and did her first jump. She absolutely loved it! I think I about have dad talked into jumping this time. He said the only way he would go is if I went with him...I'm definitely up for that!

I'm kind of thinking of jumping in all 50 states! I think that would be kind of a fun goal to set for myself. Many of you may think I've absolutely lost my mind. I think of it as therapy!! It's very exciting and definitely a great way to relieve stress.

Stay tuned for a date and time of my next jump!

Happy 4th of July

I got to go home for the 4th. We had a BBQ with grandma and grandpa, and Tim, Aiden, Jessica and her parents. Then we watched the fireworks from our backyard. It was definately another good weekend. I definately cherrish the time I have with my family! Here are some pictures of my weekend.

One drinched little boy. He insisted on drinking out of the cup by himself, though!

Mom and Aiden. He was enjoying the poppers that you throw on the ground. He would just laugh and giggle!!

Aiden just hanging out!

Mom and dad grilling up some hamburgers and brauts.

A couple pictures I took of the fireworks. I thought they turned out pretty well.

I have to share this funny story that would only happen to me. I went back to Hays early so I could watch my little buddy Ethan, for Ben and Lac. Lac was going over the routine for the evening and showing me where things were in the house. Ethan was playing on the floor and he rolled over on his tummy. Lac and I were in the kitchen talking while she was making up a couple bottles. The little guy got fussy so I went and picked him up (I put his tummy against mine...important info for the story!). He got a little more fussy so I turned him around, thinking he wasn't comfy in the current position. I thought I had smelled something not so plesent and I looked down to discover Ethan had pooped AND leaked through his diaper, through his onsie, onto the front of my shirt!!! Not just a little leak, but a large leak!!! Momma Lac had disclosed this vital bit of info just as I arrived for my babysitting duty: "Ethan has not pooped yet today." Note to self: When a mom tells me, the babysitter that the baby has not pooped....RUN!!!!! Ha! Ha! Ha! Note to momma Lac: please don't feel bad. I think it's funny Ethan pooped on "Auntie Man". Now you have a great story for his baby book! I'm glad it was me and not you. I can't wait to see what adventure Ethan and I have next time!