Friday, December 14, 2007

Changes in my life

Hey everyone, I don't really know who all reads this blog but I know some people do. I just thought I would give you an update on my life and what all has been happening. I just finished my fall semester of school at GVSU and only have one more semester until I graduate in April with my B.A. in English Language and Literature. I was going to get my teachers certification but I didn't really want to go to school for another year. Five years was enough for me.

I just recently (December 11) started a new job at Tutor Time here in Holland. I am considered full time but once school starts back up I will only work Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. I currently am 'floating' around to all the different rooms but today I was in with the preppers which are 2 1/2 - 3 years old. They are a handful but they are really fun. Some days I'm in with the school ages kids and one day I filled in with the twaddlers which are 1-2 years. So its really fun and I enjoy it a lot.

I also quit my job at the theater today (December 14) for multiple reasons, and its kind of sad because I've been there so long ( 6 years and 4 months) and I really enjoyed working with most of the people there but I got the feeling of not being appreciated by someone higher up and it was becoming quite stressful for me and I just couldn't deal with it anymore. I hope I can still remain close to a few really good friends that I made while working there who really cared about me and appreciated everything I did while I was there not only for the theater but also for them personally.

David and I are doing great. We are still in our apartment but we are hoping to buy a house this summer, which I can't wait for! We are starting up the holiday season already and have the big annual Smith Christmas party with my Grandpa Smiths family... there are about 150 of them all together. But its a lot of fun and we enjoy getting together and catching up with each others lives. Then tonight I had a work Christmas party with Tutor Time (even though I've only been there a week). It was a lot of fun getting to know everyone else a little better because when you start out there its crazy trying to learn everyones name and things about them. Then on Sunday I have a party with some friends from the theater which will be nice because I wont be seeing them to much any more unless I go in to see a movie. But thats just all this weekend there is so much more going on but I enjoy it a lot because I get to see a lot of people that I usually don't. The holiday season is so much fun.

Oh yeah another thing, My Grandpa Blaauw just turned 85 yesterday. He is doing good, walking a lot more everyday. My Grandpa Smith is now finished with is chemo treatments and is feeling better. But we wont know for a couple more months if the cancer is gone or not. But we hope and pray that it is.

Okay, so I was going to do a post with just blogging because.. duh... this is a blog. But then I realized that this is my blog and I want to do what I want to do. And that would be post pictures because thats what I love. So I hope you enjoy this wonderful blog of mine with all its pictures. Feel free to leave comments!

Nyla and Coltons Christmas picture that I took. Its so cute and they both are looking at the camera. This will be the first Christmas for both of them. It will be so much fun this Christmas at mom and dads with the little kids!
Here is Nyla acting so stinking cute. I had such a fun time setting up this "photo shoot" with her and Jen. Nyla did such a wonderful job smiling for all the pictures. This was Jens favorite picture.
This is Colton... He is getting SOOO big! And he is smiling a lot now. You can still kind of see his red hair on the side of his head but it is getting a little darker. He is such a cutie!
Ok so here is what you might be waiting for. This is mine and Davids Christmas tree. This picture was taken the night we finished decorating it. I love the big colored Christmas lights on it with all the traditional glass ornaments.
And last here is another picture of our tree with better lighting so you can actually see it. I decided to hang the stockings on the wall kind of behind the tree and I really like them there. Also can you see all the presents under the tree! YIKES! and thats not even all of them! I love getting everyone gifts especially our 5 nieces and nephews. They are so fun to shop for.


Thanks for taking the time to read all the way through my new post on my blog. I know its long but there has been a lot going on in my life right now that I wanted to share with everyone. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! I will try to gradually post pictures of the holiday happenings as they occur. And feel free to leave comments!


Wednesday, November 28, 2007

our christmas tree


Our Second Christmas Tree!

Colton and Nylas first trip tree hunting!

Every one looking for the right tree


Jen, Ben and Nyla and their Tree


Dad and Mom


David cutting down our tree


Me and David with our Tree


Tom, Katie and Colton


Me and David


Nick

Our Dr. Seuss tree before we unwrapped it!


Me decoration the tree


Hanging up our first Christmas ornament


David putting on some ornaments


Our finished Christmas Tree

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Christmas Lights

I am a firm believer in not turning on Christmas lights until after Thanksgiving. I am also a firm believer in not listening to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. However there is always an exceptions... say when you are putting up your Christmas lights and you have to make sure they look good. Right? But I didn't listen to Christmas music while I was doing it. Here are a handful of Christmas light pictures on our patio for this year. Let me know what you think in the comment section! Thanks

I love these large snowflakes I got on clearance from Menards.. actually I got all my lights on clearance from one place or another... got to love cheap lights!


This is the final product. What do you think? Let me know. They have a patio lights judging contest each year and i want to win!
There are lights on the ceiling that twinkle and give the illusion of snow falling.. pretty cool.

Friday, November 02, 2007

ITS A BOY!

ITS A BOY!
Colton Robert Stille

Proud Parents: Tom and Katie Stille
November 2, 2007 12:25pm
9lbs, 2oz, 21 inches long
Lots of red hair just like mommy and he has daddys eyes. He has big feet and big hands.

The happy new Family

look at all that hair!


Nyla and her new cousin Colton

Aunt Kristina and Colton

What a cutie pie

his big feet and hands

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
We wish everyone a happy and safe Halloween!





Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The Month of October


Hey everyone, October is almost over so I thought I would post some stuff since is has been a while.
Feel free to leave comments!

This month so far:


We visited out at the Blaauw Family farm and took some pictures. Me with the cows and David with the soy beans. We spent they day out there with Grandpa Blaauw, which was nice, and he especially enjoyed it because he was able to drive his golf cart and he was able to walk down the hallway at his house after his nap. For those of you how dont know, Grandpa was paralyzed on his left side after having a biopsy done in his brain. After lots of PT he is now walking!

This is my cousin Justines baby boy. Tyler Robert Martin. He is a little cutie pie!


This is Jess Crisp our music pastors wife and Katie at the church baby shower for Katie. Aren't they cute? Jess did a great job throwing Katie a shower.



This is a painting I did for Katies baby room. It matches her bedding set. I also made a couple of wall pegs to hang bags or coats on. The bedding set is called MOO MOO BABY by Lambs and Ivy. Its so cute.


the Next few pictures are from our annual girl trip. This year we went to Frankenmuth and Birch Run for some major shopping. I got almost all of mine done in one day! I think I spent around 240 dollars but I had about 420 in savings! wow thats a great deal. Any ways, it was a fun day. Grandma Smith, Aunt Pen, Justing, Brie, Tyler, Mom, Katie, Jenni, Nyla and I all went.
Jen and Nyla

Aunt Pen, Justine, Tyler, And Brie

Mom getting ornaments


This is Nyla eating her toes while i was babysitting her. She is such a cutie .

This is mine and davids nephew Xavior, he is 2 now! What a ham!
we were playing with blocks and cars.

Nyla is wearing aunt kristinas favorite... TURTLES!!!

These are some pretty flowers David got for me. He is so awesome!

And last, this is a really pretty sunset that we watched from our patio on our apartment.