It's been forever...

If anyone is still reading this blog, I apologize for not posting in months. Things haven't changed much here. We still have both houses up for sale or for rent, and even with 49 showings and counting, we haven't had any offers. Blech! This weekend Jeff heads to Texas for a week to visit his family, and I will spend the week in my condo. Woohoo! No commute! I will be in Jackson for the weekend for a friend's baby shower. Should be fun...

Tamale Pie

This is a favorite at our house.

Tamale Pie

1 package Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 cup salsa
1 cup cheddar cheese

Prepare Jiffy mix per package instructions. Spread a thin layer of the prepared Jiffy mix in the bottom of a greased 8x8 pan. Brown ground beef. Drain grease, and saute ground beef with onion & green pepper (a few minutes until onion and green pepper are cooked). Add salsa to beef mixture. Spread meat mixture on top of Jiffy mix and top with the remaining Jiffy mix. Bake for 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees.Top with cheese for the last few minutes. Serve with salsa and sour cream.

Double recipe for 9x13 pan.

Recipe from Leona Horn - Jeff's grandma.

Happy Spring!

My favorite flowers...

W.P.O.T.D. - The End!

All good things must come to end and so this will be the last W.P.O.T.D. I hope that you have enjoyed the pictures. It was fun for me to document the wedding day through the pictures. I will be back to regular blogging soon -- although probably not every day!

W.P.O.T.D. - Thank you!

Special thanks to Casey for videotaping our ceremony & reception, and to his wife Carmen for giving up her husband for most of the evening. :-) We asked Casey to tape the wedding festivities at the last minute, and he did a wonderful job! Thank you so much!

W.P.O.T.D. - Breaking traditions

Jeff and I didn't do the bouquet or garter toss because as a thirty-something single, I really REALLY disliked that tradition! :-) But if we had followed the tradition, it is clear to me that one of the following couples would have caught the bouquet and/or garter. Ken and Suzanne were married on November 2, 2007, and Will and Cady Ruth will be married on February 23, 2008. Best wishes and congratulations to you all!

Ken and Suzanne

Will and Cady Ruth

W.P.O.T.D. - Dancing

Everyone had such a good time dancing at our reception!

W.P.O.T.D. - Anniversary Dance

With 43 years of marriage, Cheryl and Dennis had been married longer than any other couple who participated in the Anniversary Dance. Jeff and I left the dance floor first because we had only been married for 4 hours or so.

W.P.O.T.D. - We love our nieces to pieces!

Jeff and I had four nieces born within six months of each other in 2006. Olivia G. was born in January, Olivia H. was born in April, Hannah in May, and Isabella in July. Hannah and Isabella were at our wedding and reception. They looked so cute and had such a great time dancing!

Hannah Florence


Isabella Kay

W.P.O.T.D. - Arbor Research Coworkers (Past and Present!)

W.P.O.T.D. - Dancing queen

W.P.O.T.D. - Mother/son dance

Jeff and his mom danced to "What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong.

W.P.O.T.D. - Father/daughter dance

For the father/daughter dance, my dad and I danced to "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack.

W.P.O.T.D. - Father of the Bride speech

My dad also gave a very nice speech. I was a little concerned about embarrassing stories, but he did a wonderful job. I am glad that I have it recorded on video! These pictures show my dad giving his speech and Jeff and me listening to his speech.

W.P.O.T.D. - Our first dance

The song for our first dance was Faith Hill and Tim McGraw's duet "It's Your Love". Jeff said that several lines in the song made him think of me.

W.P.O.T.D. - Best Man and Matron of Honor Speeches

My sister Amy was my Matron of Honor. When she & Brian got married in October 2003, I was her Maid of Honor. At that time, I asked her if it would be okay with her if I didn't give a Maid of Honor speech at her reception. I felt too shy about speaking in front of everyone! She agreed, and I told her that she didn't have to give a speech at my future wedding reception. Well, since then I have regretted not giving a speech at her reception. I was so proud of her when she gave a Matron of Honor speech at our reception. She did a beautiful job! You can read her speech here (near the bottom of the post):

http://hannahdrew.blogspot.com/2007/10/mary-and-jeffs-wedding.html

Jeff's Best Man was his best friend Ken. Ken's speech was also very good. Jeff returned the favor five weeks later when he was Best Man in Ken and Suzanne's wedding!

Special Report

I interrupt the Wedding Pictures of the Day for a brief news flash...

Our recent article that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) was the topic of a New York Times weekly e-mail health round up. You can view the NY Times article here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/health/15disp.html?nl=8hlth&emc=hlth

The NY Times article includes a link to the abstract of our JAMA paper. I am excited!!

W.P.O.T.D. - Cutting the Wedding Cake

W.P.O.T.D. - And now, it is my great honor and privilege to introduce to you the new Mr. & Mrs....

W.P.O.T.D. - Wedding Cake

Our wedding cake was delicious. The design was Swirled Chaos, and the cake had three layers. The bottom layer was white cake with raspberry mousse filling, the middle layer was chocolate cake with chocolate filling, and the top layer was yellow cake with raspberry filling. So yummy! My favorite was the white cake with raspberry mousse filling. I wish that I had a piece right now!

W.P.O.T.D. - Twirling

I had a great time twirling in my wedding gown. I twirled and twirled and twirled! In fact, I may put on my wedding gown again just so I can twirl! Such fun!!!

W.P.O.T.D. - Another Picture at the Park

W.P.O.T.D. - Bride and Groom at the Park

W.P.O.T.D. - Wedding Party at the Park

We stopped at a park in downtown Plymouth to take pictures during the time between the ceremony and reception. Some of our favorite pictures were taken at the park... Here is the wedding party in front of a fountain at the park.

W.P.O.T.D. - Outside the church building

After the ceremony, we stepped outside the church building to take a few pictures. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day... I love Michigan in the fall!