2007 recap: Laura and Jeff are pregnant!!

One of the most exciting things to happen to Team Welch was Laura and Jeff announcing their pregnancy. Please link to my blog for baby Dylan.

http://dylansaunts.blogspot.com/

2007 recap: Our first anniversary

October 14th, Mark and I were married one year, and marriage is wonderful! It’s hard to believe how fast that year has gone. I can’t wait to see another 50+ years fly by with him!

2007 recap: Jobs

Mark started a new job this summer with First Energy. He’s a Real Time Systems IT Administrator. The system controls and monitors the transmission of power on the grid for OH, PA, MD, and NJ. He’s really enjoying it, but it is a challenge compared to his last job. He got a huge pay increase, but with that comes longer hours and a lot more stress. It’s also a further drive than he’s used too. The other downside is he’s on call once every 8 days for 24 hours, but technically he can be called any time he’s needed. We’ve been lucky though, and so far he’s only gotten a few phone calls-but one was at 3 am!

I'm still with Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and I really love my job. I do have occasional stressful periods, but they are usually short lived. I also am fortunate to work with my best friend Marie, and Denise, a friend I've had for almost 10 years. They were both in my wedding. I also work with two girls that I've grown very close to over the past 3 years: Crystal and Karin. Neeley is another girl that we worked with for a few years, but she's since moved onto bigger and better things. We still get together all the time and do all sorts of fun stuff. Here's a picture of us at my house making bark for Christmas. Mark wasn't home, so Crystal put her camera in my fridge (see the jelly jar) to do a self timer picture.

2007 Recap: Marie's bday & Vegas

In May, my friend Denise and I threw a surprise 30th birthday party at my house for my very best friend in the world – Marie. She was really surprised and it was great having everyone together. Denise decorated her lawn!

To get ready for the party, Mark and I did a ton of landscaping. Unfortunately, it was so cold that day that no one could go outside.

Over Labor Day weekend, we went to Vegas with two other couples to celebrate. We had a great time, but it’s too crazy of a place for Mark and my liking, and neither of us feel the need to go back. We’d much rather go to Europe again and see real architecture instead of fabricated hotel lobbies and malls. Here's a picture of us at The Flamingo where we stayed. Boy oh boy was it hot outside!!

Mark and I gambled about $80-90 and I almost doubled my money. I hit a few machines that really paid out, and Mark was quick to hit the "cash out" button.

2007 recap: I got a new car

I also got a new car this summer - Ford Edge SEL plus I needed a cargo area to cart the doggie around town.

My parents just love Blarney and we have a standing play date every Monday while Mark has his guy friends over to play games. The car I got rid of was the very first brand new car I got, my 1997 Grand Am GT. I loved that car and still miss her. However, as I’m driving the Edge longer, I’m missing her less and less. It’s nice to be up higher off the ground. It’s also AWD, so that’s nice since we live on a dead end and they never plow our streets. We got a trailer package so if Mark gets stuck, I can tow him out of our driveway. Here's a picture of Mark snowblowing in our driveway apron from a storm we had this past February.

2007 recap: We got a puppy!

He’s a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. Wheaten’s are an Irish breed, so my mom suggested naming him Blarney. We loved the name and it fits with him. He was born in April, and was all black. The breeder showed us a picture, but I don't have a copy. We got him in June and he was darker brown.

Now, he weighs 36 pounds and hopefully done growing. He's also into his adult ivory color. We started puppy classes to try to get him to stop jumping up on everyone, he’s very excitable!

2007 Recap: First birthday parties

Mark and I got to go to two first birthday parties this year and I got to make their cakes. Their parties were great and tons of fun. It was great spending time with family and friends.

My nephew, Aidan, (Mark's brother Mike and his wife Melissa's son) turned one in April. He was feeling a bit under the weather and would not smash his baseball cake.

Uncle Mark got him his very first workbench so he'll grow up and do lots of projects with him. Here's Aidan eating a block of "wood" and his cousin (Melissa's brother's daughter). If I can say so, the workbench is one of the cutest things I ever saw. It has a Cookie monster drill press and a Bert and Ernie circular saw. It also sings songs.

My friend Crystal's son, Peyton, turned one in September and had a John Deere theme. It was perfect weather day. Lil P had blast smashing up his cake-he had it everywhere!