Christmas is Here!

Well, Christmas is just one day away! While I will have many pictures after the holidays (I am going to Wisconsin on Friday!), I have been informed that I need to update my blog : ) So, here are some pictures of Tom and I when we went to the city a couple weeks ago to see the tree! Stay tuned for more pictures and lots of family updates at the start of the new year! 




"That's what she said"

Turkey Day Pictures!!!

We had a GREAT Thanksgiving! Here are a few Pictures!

Me and Tom relaxin' on the sofa

Nick in his Turkey apron!

Denise with little Anthony
Angelo, Anthony, and Tommy
Me and Christopher


Tom and Anthony!

The kids relaxing after all the Turkey!

Hello??

Hmm...I guess LacyCat is the only one thankful for anything....either that or nobody reads my blog anymore. Come on people! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I know, bad Sarah, I am getting horrible at updating my blog. I'm just not doing anything fun so I have no pictures. Without pictures, I have nothing to write but stuff I would rather keep to myself. Tom and I are both just working hard.

I just got a new calling at church...2nd counselor in Young Womens...I've never worked with YW before so this should be fun. I went to YW today and it was quite different then what I grew up with in New Mexico. There were only 2 girls...14 and 15! Fun stuff. This is the first time I've had a calling other than something related to music. Although, I am still the assistant music coordinator for the ward. Two Callings...whoohoo!

We are excited for Thanksgiving coming up. We are going to my brother and sister-in laws home for the holidays. I'm making pumpkin and apple pie, and my favorite green bean casserole. They have the cutest little boys...3 of them...all 2 and younger! We are happy to spend some time with them. My brother Andrew and his wife and little boy were supposed to come too...but plans changed. I am going to Green Bay, WI to visit them right after Christmas. I haven't seen my nephew, Allen, since he was 6 weeks old so I am EXCITED to say the least!!

Best of all about THANKSGIVING, it's a great time to think and reflect on what I am thankful for. First of all, I am thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am grateful that because of Him, we all have the opportunity to live with our Heavenly parents again and be with our families forever. I can't even imagine my life without Him.
Next, I am thankful for FAMILY. All of them...on both sides! But most of all I am thankful for my husband. He is such a wonderful and unique person. I am constantly amazed by his amazing ideas and his knowledge. I've never been treated so kindly and loved so deeply by anyone. I just look at him and he makes me want to smile. He's always trying to make me and everyone around him laugh. I love that about him...he brings laughter and happiness to my life when sometimes I think I don't have anything to be happy about. Thank you Tom for all you do.
I can't leave out my mother...even though she is gone, I am so thankful for all she taught me and left me with. She is the reason I am who I am and I love her.
I am also so grateful for my dad and his new wife Cathie. My dads very quiet, just like me, so it was hard for me to know how he was doing after mom died. But, I KNOW that Cathie makes him happy. I can see that. I am grateful for the sweet cards and packages she sends letting me know that they both love and care about me.
I am thankful for the laughter and sweet spirits of children. Maybe it's because I was the youngest in my family, so I didn't have any annoying younger siblings...but I just LOVE children. I can never have a job that doesn't involve children. They just make my day! Yes, it's hard at times...but they are so innocent and sweet...all of them. They just need someone to love and teach them.
Last, I am thankful for my life. This year was a close call, but I am grateful that Heavenly Father let me stick around a little longer. I hope I can still accomplish many great things in my (hopefully) long life!

So...this is what I am most thankful for. What are you thankful for this holiday season?

one last thing

I was hoping that everyone could take my last name off their blogs?? Some of you have it listed in the links and some have mentioned it in a post. I don't like that when someone googles my name it can lead to my blog. Thank you so much! If you could do that as soon as possible I would appreciate it! : ) I don't want to have to set my blog to private.

My Brother Andrew has a Twin!

I just have to post this! EVERY time I see this guy I have to do a double take because I think it's my brother Andrew. They look EXACTLY the same! No joke! This guy, whose name is Barret, is in my stake here in NY (I think I stole the pic. from Jen's facebook, sorry). For those of you who know my brother...can  you guess which one is him? : ) 

WHO IS WHO?????

And...I just want to say that I love my brother! He's the best and I miss him! I haven't seen him in FOREVER. I'm so excited because Andrew, his wife Sarah, and their little boy Allen are coming to visit for Thanksgiving. HIP HIP HOORAY! Now, if only Kim could come too, life would be grand! : )

This is Andrew and I the day I graduated college!

Finally an Update!

Sorry for the lack of blogging lately. We've been so busy. Nothing too exciting. Just the boring day to day stuff. Seems like there is always something to do and no down time for us. We recently moved...again. I'm thinking I won't take pictures this time. It's getting kind of old that we move so much. Our apartment in Glen Cove had a few problems...mold being one of them. We just thought that we would take the chance to get out of it while we could. We now live in Queens and are MUCH happier to live in a newer and cleaner apartment. Tom only has a 20 min. ride on the train to get to work which makes him a happy camper. My commute to work is not so hot...but I have found a closer job which is MUCH better for me.
Anyway, on to the pictures! Our good friends Brooke and Frank came to visit NY! They have been living in Hawaii for the past little while. We got together for dinner with them, Dave and Julie, and Deanna and Bryant...all friends from our days in the singles branch. Frankie was leaving the next week to fight the war in Afghanistan so Julie made him a REALLY cool and yummy tank cake!
Enjoy the pictures!

Deanna and Bryant

Me, Brooke, Deanna, and Julie

Julies AWSOME cake!

Brooke, Deanna, and half of Bryant

Julie, Dave, Frankie, and Brooke!

There has got to be a record for 5 posts in 1 day!

Jacque and Tigh are visiting in NYC this week! We went to Olive Garden Friday night, the broadway show Spamalot, and bowling at Dave & Busters on Saturday! It was super fun! I'm so glad I got to see them while they were here. It's nice seeing a familiar face when I am so far away from home!

Times Square


Jacque and Tigh at Dave and Busters


Me and Jacque

Random #2

This was a HUGE accomplishment for me to FINALLY get this little girl to smile! She spent the first 3 weeks crying EVERY DAY, ALL DAY and not easting a thing!! I am happy to say she has finally adjusted!!


Another little girl in my class that is just the CUTEST thing EVER!!!

My Third of Five Posts for Today!

As requested by Jacque...here are pictures of our current dwelling! BIG thanks to Dad and to Toms Mama for helping us get it put together when I was so sick!!

Master Bedroom


Master


Closet--This was pretty much what sold me on the apartment...I NEED at LEAST this size closet!!


Bathroom


The Loft


Living Room--smallest living room you will probably EVER see!!!


Kitchen

Random

This is me after I woke up...I felt equally as awful as I look...but at least I had Morphine! 

This is just one of the many bruises I had for a couple weeks after I got out of the hospital. I had a total of 6 IV's!! Luckily I was unconscious when most of them were put in!

This is me about 2 days before I lost the baby. Mostly it is so big because of swelling :0 I have lost 18 lbs since this picture! Whoohoo 

This is my dad at the beach when he came out to help me

And this is dad by the lighthouse!

Labor Day Weekend in Upstate NY

So, I know these pictures are seriously very late, but at least I got them on here. I'm sure most of you already saw them on facebook. If not, enjoy!
Tom and I wanted/needed to just get away for a little weekend. We went to upstate NY where his uncle has been building a cabin over the last 15 years. It was AMAZING! We had so much fun and can't wait to go back! Hopefully in the next few weeks we can take another trip to see all the leaves changing--my favorite thing about fall. :)

The Cabin


Authentic sign from Greece (Tom found it on his mission). It says "Gounaris Street"


Tom and I on the quads


These spider webs were EVERYWHERE when we woke up in the morning!


Nothing runs like a Deere!
 

The inside kitchen and stairs


I can't believe his uncle built all this--it's so amazing!


The view


The teepee!!!


Roasting marshmallows!




See the little house over there--that belongs to Yoko Ono!


Tom and Theo Thanasi cutting fire wood!


4-Wheelers are awesome!

To Block or Not to Block...to NOT!

Ok people, I think you should unblock your blogs :) You see, there is this nice new feature where you can see when your friends update their blogs without actually having to go to it...only it doesn't work if your blog is blocked. So...maybe you should come up with code names or something like my friend Wonder Woman and her husband Superman. Just a thought. :) 

My Thoughts....

Thought #1: Today is 9/11 and I have been worried about Tom all day. I know it happened 7 years ago and all...but I still worry about his safety since he works right in Manhattan. At least he works right by the temple. That's where I would go for safety. But, I'm sure since nothing has happened on the past 6 9/11's that today will hopefully be no different...

Thought #2: On Sunday in Relief Society they started something new. Each of us had to pick a name out of a basket and that week we were supposed to call and talk to them, take them out, send a note...just something to get to know them better. Well, this 60 year old woman got my name. She called me today, which was very nice of her (I didn't actually call my person...bad Sarah...especially since I got the RS president)...anyway, she calls and starts talking to me about none other than pregnancy. She wasn't so much asking me questions about it...she was just saying "Oh that would be hard to work and be pregnant" or "When I was pregnant...." kind of stories. The woman still thinks I'm pregnant and I could not bare to say otherwise!!!!! I know I need to tell people at church...but I just can't do it! What am I supposed to say? How do I let everyone know without having to talk too much about it?? It makes me not want to go to church, but I know that is exactly where I need to be right now. What do I do? People are going to notice...

Thought # 3: I've always had a hard time liking my personality...it's hard to get what I REALLY want because I'm always trying to make everyone happy. My mom always said that it is a blessing to be this way...but, wow, it's so hard sometimes! It seems like I am always getting hurt. I just LOVE too much! Bet you didn't know that was possible? I feel for everyone...even the people who do awful things. You could be so mean and wicked to me and I would still love you. Why is this a bad thing you might ask? Because, it leaves me crying all the time and never doing what's best for myself. It's a bitter-sweet blessing/curse I guess? I think it just goes with being a women. I think we ALL have at least a little bit of this in us. We love and love to be loved...

Tagged by Elizabeth!

How to play this game: Post these rules on your blog: List 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself. Tag 5-6 people at the end of your post by leaving their names.

Joys:

1. Watching the sunset with Tom

2. Watching the leaves change colors in the fall

3. Watching a child play and learn and grow

Fears:

1. Never getting pregnant again

2. Lossing Tom

3. Being alone

Obsessions/Collections:

1. Reading great books

2. Having a clean house that smells good. 

3. Music...listening to it and playing

Goals:

1. Be a better person

2. Read my scriptures and pray more

3. Learn to play every musical instrument

Random Surprise Things:

1. I like silk...I know this may nor be a surprise to some of my closest friends, but I sleep with a "silky" every night :) 

2. I love cheese...just chedder, colby, pepper jack, mozerella, and string cheese :) Also may not be a surprise to some

3. I used to want to have at least 10 kids...now I'm just hoping for 6...but would be happy with whatever Heavenly Father gives me.

I tag: Bonnie, Stevie, Wonder Woman, Kristen Compton, and Jacque

Update

Hi everyone! I just wanted to give you an update since I haven't been on here in a while. 

I've almost got my body back to normal. I went back to work on Tuesday. It's probably a bit soon...but I just can't stand sitting at home anymore since I have been doing that ALL summer. Fortunately, I work with some awesome people who help me out a lot with the things I can't quite do yet.  I'm working as a preschool teacher at the same place I worked when we lived here before. I love it! It's such a great place to work.

I had my post-op checkup today. Everything is looking pretty good after the surgery.  I am still a little anemic after the blood transfusions and all, but nothing to worry about. 

I have two GREAT doctors now...not like the other ones I have had. One of them specializes in high risk pregnancy and is the chairman of the OBGYN section of the hospital. I am very pleased with him. The other is a fertility specialist who will hopefully help to get us on track for trying again whenever we are ready for that.  She is very nice and I met with her a few times when I was staying at the hospital. 

My dad came for a week and he was such a great help! He helped me clean up my house and spent time with me. I love you dad! 

This past weekend I started getting out and having a little fun. I'm too tired to put the pictures on now, but I will do it later. The emotional part of all this is very difficult...but I will make it through with God's help. The hardest part is having to tell people who don't already know. 

Thank you for all your prayers and support and loving messages. I am so grateful to have good friends and family!