Saturday, December 12, 2009

tis the season

I love Christmas. It's not just the gifts I receive, its the time before. I absolutely love shopping for gifts. If I could afford it I would my hundreds of gifts for everyone. However, I do not enjoy all the people that are making driving so insane! But I guess that comes with the time of year. I really enjoy finding gifts for people that they don't expect. I understand that it is easier to just go out and buy the few things that someone has told you they want.. but where is the joy in that? If I only give you an option for one gift.. then I know what is coming... I always want to be surprised by whats underneath the wrapping paper. I remember one year, when I was little, Bethany and I really wanted those nano pets.. One day when mom was out, Bethany and I found gifts from one of our Aunts. We peeked... and where excited to see it was just what we asked for! But on Christmas morning when we opened them again for the second time.. it was hard to show that same excitement.. we already knew what we got. I guess that we are not good actors because mom knew that we had opened the gift before hand.. or she already knew because she is pretty amazing like that. Anyway I remember feeling so lame for not being able to wait for Christmas morning when I would really by surprised. From then on I have always not wanted to know what I am going to get for gifts. Andrew on the other had wants to know exactly what he is getting. I don't really understand why. I personally think it makes opening gifts up less fun... but that's just my opinion. Am I the strange one?? Who knows. We already have our tree up, well as of a few weeks ago. I really wanted something different this year so I headed out to target to find something new. The last two years I have used light blue and silver on my tree.. the balls where light blue, and I used silver ribbon around the tree, a silver bow at the top, as well as a silver skirt. This year I found red, maroon, and black balls, gold and red ribbon and a poinsettia covered ball. Its adorable. I even picked up an extra thing of lights just to make it oh so much better! I wish I had enough decorations to decorate the whole apartment, but we hardly have room as is so maybe in the next place. I would have decorated outside, but when I did for Halloween our pumpkins got smashed. I didn't want some lame person to come and steal or break something of mine.
Anyway..
This year I am doing Christmas cards.. home-made ones too.. again.. I think, next year, I will be doing the easy ones. I have had even more people added to my list.. and its kinda become overwhelming. sooo please just get used to the stupid purchased ones... okay?
AAAAND back to Christmas! I love this time of year. Call me lame, but I do. I love the lights, the snow, the gifts, the giving, the family traditions, and most of all I still love Santa. That jolly little fat man still makes me smile, and hope that I have been good enough this past year to still get something from him. And as silly as that sounds, get this.. I still want to stand in line, tell him what I want and get a candy cane after... :) I guess there still is a kid in me.. screaming and kicking her feet whenever I walk by and don't jump in line.
I really want to be able to make it to the holidazzle this year. As cold as it may be, I feel like it helps me get into the season.. and unfortunately I feel like I have hardly this year.. and Christmas is almost here. I need to get on that..

Sunday, November 15, 2009

well not much I can do about that..

HAHAHA oh gosh! I didn't realize that the post I have been working on would post as the day that I made them! Now you can tell how long they REALLY sat there. Dang. I thought I would just look amazing and spit out two whole posts in one day! OH well I guess! ENJOY!!!!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

This may be the largest blog ever




I know I know I know..




Yes these are old pictures




Yes I should have gotten them up sooner




Yes I am slow




And YES




here they finally are.




Back when Bethany graduated we went out for dinner. Nelyana was so funny! She had some obsession with ice, sucking it off the table was the highlight of the night! She had Mac N' Cheese and after eating it with her hands she rubbed them down her face, and then produced the cheesiest smile ever! Love it!




We stopped by to visit Grandma and Grandpa's grave. It was a beautiful day, and it was good to have all the Braman girls back together again.











The many faces of us! I love the one with mom and bethany, and well Nelyana is just funny! Adella is always all smiles!








Mall of America! SO much fun!! I think Bethany had more fun than Andrina did on the Blues Clues ride! It took them a while before they could figure out how to go up and down-BUT they had a blast!!







Big Truckin!! I just love how Andrina drives! head out the window.. and horn blaring... of course if she could blare it! Nelyana faces are of course.. CLASSIC!! She should live closer I think..

** HINT - HINT **!!






Nelyana LOVED the train ride! She loved it so much she REFUSED to get off.. temper tantrum and all! I of course HAD to get pictures of the tantrum! Sooo Dang Funny!








AAAAAANNNNDDD the carousel ride! I think we went on it twice?! Nelyana and Andrina love it! I think Bethany did too... or she just got really dizzy...






Wednesday, October 7, 2009



We stole Andrina and Adella from Emma while she went to a church function here in St. Cloud. I just love every moment I get to spend with them. Andrina makes each conversation so child-like and funny.. I roll with laughter everytime I am with her. Adella. Gosh she is getting big quick! I just adore that little bundle of chunk! I think we had them for like 5 JOYFUL hours. They really are amazinly good kids. I think the only time Adella cried was when Andrina tried to squeeze the life outta her...



All the many faces of Adella. That girl LOVES to stick out her tongue. The tird picture in on the top row.. I think she looks like Andrina when she was little. While Andrew and Andrina played at the park I sat with Adella trying to keep her from eating everything and ANYTHING. Really. That girl seems to have quick hands. A bug would be walking by, and she would grab it. I finally just let her eat her dress. I figured it was better than bugs.




That girl has GREAT FORM! She ran and ran and ran some more! I am sure it was based on the fact that Andrew was chasing her! She is such an adorable little girl and I just LOVE having her around! Everytime I see her.. if Andrew is not RIGHT next to me.. I get "where's Anew?" - Not a "hello Auye!" or even a "hi" she is always looking for him to play and to tease. Andrew wont admit it, but I think he secretly loves the fact that she asks for him before she asks for me! Oh well! At least she likes him!

ALSO...

These are the BEAUTIFUL fall flowers that Andrew got for me one day! We had run to the store to get some OJ.. we happened to walk by some fall flower arrangements and I casually mentioned how I would love some. After he picked me up from work I walked in to find these beautiful flowers sitting on the table! the rest of the flowers bloomed all around the same time, which made it even better! They have now lasted me for about two weeks! And are still looking beautiful!

Friday, October 2, 2009

7 years

(Andrew and I at Bethany's prom)
*Quick side note.. for those of you who don't know-when Bethany went to prom she was assisted by her date "walker". Well "walker" was not as fun as she thought and we decided that we would help her out. Andrew and I never went to our schools prom.. but when Bethany needed help.. we were right around the corner ready to help. I grabbed my bridesmaids dress from Kim's wedding and Andrew's suit.. and off we went. Andrew was like her body guard.. while I was the photographer.. each time she went down.. he scooped her back up again.. he was really wonderful and I am glad Bethany had such a fun time!
Almost 8 years ago I met Andrew... on the school bus! Never thought that's where I would meet my boyfriend.. but I guess when you are not looking.. they show up.
The past seven years have been amazing. I wouldn't change anything.. well except for me being such a pain.. but I guess life would be different if certain things played out differently. I can't believe how quickly time has flown by, and I wish I could slow it down. There was a time when I thought I would never turn 18, or 21.. and now.. at 22 I wish I was back in my teens.
Now I know how quickly life can fly by.. so I am trying to live each day -hour by hour... soaking in as much as I can so that it wont pass my by.
To celebrate the 7 years that we have spent enjoying each others company we are going to go to a TWINS game! I really cannot wait! I have been waiting almost a month for this! I was super sneaky this year and got the tickets early, and got twins t-shirts. I just KNEW that I was going to finally be able to surprise him. You see- every time I get a gift for Andrew he somehow figures it out! It drives me NUTS. This time though I had him... OR so I thought. His birthday is October 10th, 8 days from now.. so I have been bugging him to figure out something to do for his birthday. Well a few days ago Andrew picked me up from work. We stopped to get gas, and as the car was filling up he started talking about how he knew what he wanted to do for his birthday-the only thing was... we would have to do it today, on our anniversary. He said he wanted to go to a twins game. Well after he said that my mind was RACING to come up with some reason that we couldn't go. Before I could think of anything I blurted out that the tickets where sold out. He replied with "no they are not, I just checked". WONDERFUL. then I sat there trying to tell him that the plans I told him ( a little white lie) of going to the science museum and hanging out in the cities cannot be changed. He of course could tell I was lying and figured out that I had already purchased tickets. ARGH! I was only a few days away from the big surprise! The one thing that he didn't know was that I had already bought the shirts.. of which I surprised him with this morning. Maybe next year I will be able to surprise him.. maybe... just maybe...
Well I am off to clean the house a bit- then off to the TWINS game! Cannot wait! They better win!! But I hear the dome dogs are good.... so I guess we win no matter what - right?

Sunday, September 20, 2009

One step forward

Bethany's Graduation!!

Congrats Bethany on your graduation! (Finally I know!) I know it seemed like it took forever, but trust me. One day you will wish you were back in school when like was simple! Trust me! But I am very proud of you and you looked beautiful! Love you very much! (oh gosh! I just realized you are the last of the girls to graduate! that means Josh is next! And I am getting old.
(ugh.)

Nina!


Happy Birthday Andrina! I can't believe you are already four! It seems like those years have gone by in a blink of an eye! I think I have had the most fun and laughs in the last four years! You always keep us laughing with the funny phrases and faces. I feel so lucky to be your auntie and can't wait to see you again!


We love you very much!