More Makenzie!

What a beauty!
Cousin Zeke!

Makenzie loves her Grandpa!
Emmy's happy not to be the only girl anymore!

Welcome to the World Makenzie JoAnn!

On Friday, April 11th, 2008, at 8:00am on the nose, Makenzie JoAnn Gorenflo finally made her entrance into this world. It was by far the most amazing thing I've ever experience and I'm so grateful to my sister and brother-in-law for allowing me to be with them during her delivery. I got the "this MIGHT be it" call at 10:00pm. I got the "This IS it!" call at 11:50. I was on the road by midnight. I arrived at the hospital at 3:00am and got to be with Andrea through the night. She was fully ready by 4:10am, but had to wait because the nurse said the bad storms mess with the barimetric pressure and had caused a flood of births. Her dr's were at another hospital delivering. So, water was broken at 7:40 and 20 min. later, she was here. Makenzie weighs 6lb 15oz and is 19.5 inches long. She is absolutely breathtaking. (Maybe I'm biased, but I don't think so.) She has a head full of dark brown hair just like her Momma did. Andrea is doing great and will come home Sunday morning. Enjoy the pics!

I know, I know, I know! I'm sorry! I actually started working on this post last week and then my internet was down over the weekend. Just got off the phone with tech support and discovered all I needed to do was shut down and reboot the computer. AURRRGH!! So, here we go!



Back on March 15th, we traveled to Michigan for Miss Emmy Rae's 7th birthday! She is quite the little diva. She loves Hannah Montana and is sporting a Hannah Montana original in these pics. She also got a Hannah Montant wig from Aunt Kelley. She saw this the day after Christmas as we were shopping and has remained faithful in her desire to have this from me for her birthday. Pretty funny. Looks like her daddy enjoyed the wig as much as her. Oh Baby! What a looker! Emmy is growing up and is quite the lovely young lady. She sang us all a song that was so beautiful. I taped it and will try to attach it to the bottom of the post, but in case it doesn't work, trust me it was precious. I was successful at attaching her cousin, Zoe, singing "Tomorrow" from Annie. It is so cute!









The last week of March was spring break! Sue and I took off for sunny shores! We went to Navarre Beach, Florida, which is known as Florida's best kept secret. That is the absolute truth. It was absolutely glorious! We had a wonderful, quiet, relaxing week on a nearly empty beach. Just the way I like it! The giant yellow house, is not where we stayed, but where we would like to stay. It's a party pad to be sure. There were some fellow buckeyes staying there. Not sure if they attended Ohio State but they saw my Ohio State shirt one morning as we were walking and gave me a shout out! It was pretty funny. I felt so cool. It only cost a measly $10,000 to rent for a week. Anyone interested? It'll house about 20 people, so start saving your pennies! Our little one bedroom townhouse was a little more modest and only cost us $600 for the week. What a steal!

My next post will hopefully be soon and it will be introducing the newest member of our family, Baby Girl Gorenflo as I call her. Andrea's due Wed. and we're all more than ready to meet this little one. Please say a prayer for Andrea as she gets ready to deliver. Well, I've tried unsuccessfully, twice I might add, to upload Zeke and Emmy's videos, but it's not working. So, enjoy little Zoe! She is quite the little entertainer.

Diet Update

I decided that it was time to update my diet journey. As of this morning, I have lost 14lbs. This was weigh in number 7 which means, I've averaged 2lbs. a week and that is exactly my goal. I set down this morning and in my journal that I'm keeping, I charted out my "small" goals throughout this next year. Breaking it into 20 and 30 lb chunks sure seems alot more manageable than 125lbs. which is my ultimate goal. I'm excited to see where I can potentially be at each milestone such as Spring Break, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and then ending with next Spring Break.

I have re-joined Curves and am loving it! It is the perfect workout for me at this point in my journey. I can do it, and I feel great after I do it! I definitly know that I've exercised, but I'm not so miserable that I come away hating exercise, which has been a problem in the past. As I lose, I may want to add more, but for now, it's perfect.

Most importantly, I'm feeling great. My clothes are getting loose and people are starting to notice, which always makes you feel good. As always, I appreciate any prayers you can send up on my behalf. It is definitly a spiritual battle. I know Satan is hitting me full force when I start thinking things like, "I'll never make it." "What's the point?" "Who cares, just eat it." Etc. But, God has really been with me and I've been able to fight through those moments for the most part. I've had bad days and I've shed a few tears, but I've always gone right back to my plan, which is success in itself.

Snow Fun!!!

Last weekend I got to have my 3 kiddos for an extended weekend! The storm of the century was supposed to come in Thursday night so I was just sure that we would be cancelled on Friday. Sadly, this was the storm with more bark than bite as the weather man put it. I had to use a personal day and the kids had to play in a dusting of icy snow. But they enjoyed it just the same. Elijah wasn't so nice to Emmy. Having her face shoved into the icy snow, didn't sit well with her. Her sad pitiful face was too cute not to take a picture of.

Zeke had a ball! He's one tough little guy! Elijah couldn't upset him. He was all smiles in his new Cars coat and matching snow pants!

Awe...Hot chocolate to warm us up! Yum!

What a ham!

Happy New Year and Other Business...

I was just looking at the calendar and realized that I hadn't posted in almost a month. That's terrible! I have gotten so lax in my blogging. Maybe it's the winter blues? Well, the month of January has been a big one for me. Lots of activities and changes. First let me say a belated "Happy New Year!" I spent the evening alone scrapbooking. It was actually enjoyable. I bought myself a bottle of sparkling grape juice, scrapbooked and watched all the Christmas Movies I didn't get to see over the holidays. It was a fabulous night.

On New Year's Day I worked around the house, taking down Christmas and watching a marathon of an old Biggest Loser season. I have never watched that show, but I must say I was inspired that day and a plan was hatched. This season, the show is focused on couples or partners. For those of you not watching, they have teams of married people, best friends, mothers and daughters, etc. So, I got to thinking that maybe a challenge like that might motivate me. I talked with Sue, Lynn and Missy to see if they would be interested in a little weight loss challenge. They were and the Biggest Loser, Marion was born. Missy's sister and her husband have also joined our challenge so we have 3 teams competing. Each team contributed $50 for prize money to be awarded to the couple with the highest percentage lost in the end. The weight is combined between partners and we do it as a team. I've never had my cheating, I mean dieting directly impact someone else's success before. It has been quite the motivator. For those of you who know Sue, you know that she's a little on the competitive side, so losing is not an option. Monday will be our 3rd weigh-in. In two weeks I lost 7lbs. and I'm anxious to see what the scales say this week. I have not really cheated at all and I've exercised almost every day. I take Sunday's off, but try to get 5-6 days in each week. At this point, I feel great, still motivated and I'm loving the connection with friends who are having the same struggles I am. Each week as we gather to watch the show and give our weekly updates, it motivates me for another week. I have a vision of 4 sun goddesses lounging by Sue's pool this summer. I hope there aren't any accidents on St Rd 9 as drivers do a double take. :)

The month of January has been a rough one for me in the area of sports. One week in particular. On January 7th, my Buckeyes lost the National Championship (again). On Sat. of that week the IWU women experienced their first loss in 57 games. They had won 56 straight games. UNBELIEVABLE! We have been so proud of them. On Sunday, the Colt's lost in the playoffs, ending our hopes of a Superbowl repeat. I was one depressed cookie! But, as they say, "There's always next year!"

On the 19th, we all headed for Michigan to celebrate Zeke's 4th birthday! I can't believe he's 4!! Where does the time go? He is such a funny little guy. I just love him to pieces. The trip there for me was a little stressful. I drove into a blizzard about 30 miles from Grand Rapids and had a little melt down. The stress of hypnotic, twilight zone, style snow blinding me, no visible lane markers, some idiots doing 80 while others are crawling at 20 was just a little overwhelming. Jason called to see where I was and if I was okay, only to catch me crying. He offered to come get me, but I said no. I could do it. I would just go slow. Well, I made it safe and sound, but headed for home right after the party on Sat. to avoid the second wave expected to hit that evening. It was well worth the trip though. The kids were so fun and it was great to spend even a few hours with them. Below are some pictures of our birthday boy! Enjoy!

Let it Be Christmas!

Well, here we are at the close of another year. It's hard to believe. I just wanted to post a few of my favorite pics from Christmas. Our family had a wonderful holiday and I personally enjoyed every minute. The kids were so much fun! Zeke is at that perfect age...everything is exciting and magical to him. He brought us all many laughs. Elijah is at that independant age. I don't like it so much. He disappears to play video games of watch movies on his new DVD player. Wish we could keep him small forever. Emmy...well, she's just hillarious and sweet and ornery all rolled into one. She's my pal, and I just love her to pieces! Below are pictures taken at our 3 Christmases. Enjoy!

We're a Buckeye Family!

Andrea and Jon on Christmas Eve.

Mom and Dad on Christmas Eve.

Zeke with his new Ohio State hat!

Elijah is a Buckeye from head to toe!

One pretty little Buckeye!

Sandy and I were in the Christmas spirit!
Dad and his sisters, Marla and Margo sang at our annual Grate Christmas.
Not much I can say here except, "Oh my goodness! Cutest kids on earth! "
Jason's family on Christmas Eve.
The 3 kiddos with Uncle Ed and Aunt Linda on Christmas Eve.

December Birthdays!

Well, our big family weekend came and went, but it sure was a good one. I have to say, it ranks up there as one of my favorite. It was just a good time! We started off on Friday night with just Jon and Andrea and the kids. J and Holly stayed in Ft. Wayne with friends to celebrate Christmas while mom and dad couldn't come till Sat. Friday night we had pizza and a movie night. It was a fun, relaxing evening. (As you can see)

Zeke was in an extra, loving mood and I wasn't complaining.

Time for Bed. Jon uncovered a sleepingEmmy to take her to the bed and this is how we found her under the covers. It was too funny not to take a picture.

Sat. Jason and Holly joined us at 1:00 for the IWU lady Wildcat basketball game. It was a special one as they announced the championship team of last year and revealed the National Championship banner.

After the game it was home to party and celebrate the December birthdays of Sue, Holly and Elijah! Mom and Dad arrived around 4:00 as well as Bob and Janet, Sue's partents. We celebrated those we love.
Below you have Mom and Dad with Andrea. Mom can't seem to keep her hands off Andrea's growing belly.

This is Bob and Janet Jackson, Sue's parents.
After eating, we opened the presents before cake and ice cream. We made Elijah read all his cards out loud before he could open the present. (Good practice, you know.)
Since Elijah's party (cake) was an Ohio State theme, Grandma Grate thought his present should follow suit. These are just a few of the treasures in his goody bag.
Jason liked them too. Elijah may have trouble holding on to his belongings on game day!

Elijah, 9 years old, with his Ohio State Cake!
All 3 birthdays blow their candles out together!
Sorry, these pictures are backward. Before they blew the candles.
Holly opens one of her gifts....
AS does Sue...

The weekend was so great. Sat. evening, the "siblings" stayed up late talking which was really nice. We don't get the opportunity to do that much anymore. We're all spread out and quiet talk time is at a premium with all the kids. I enjoyed it immensely.

I hope all the Dec. birthdays enjoyed their special day and know that we love you!

Just a side note, today is Sat. the 15th and we are expecting up to 10 inches of snow in the next 24 hours. I am hunkered down in my house (in my pajamas which is how I plan to stay the rest of the day) for a day of wrapping presents, reading, watching Christmas movies, basically whatever hits me. But it doesn't involve me getting gussied up and going anywhere!
How sweet is that?!