Penn State Baby!

WE GOT A JOB!!!!

*DISCLAIMER* (I can't promise I won't spaz during this post.) 

We are thrilled to be taking a job at Penn State-Abington.  It is located just north of Philadelphia, Pennsylavnia.  Jake starts his job this fall as an assistant professor.  We start our new life this summer!  It has been a long road to get through undergraduate then to graduate level and then to have to move onto a post doc...but after all that hard work and sacrifice our family is being blessed in the best possible way! 

We are totally excited to see what this cross country move will do for us.  We are optimistic and ecstatic at the prospect of the growth and learning our family will be able to take part in.  We are so thankful for our blessings and are so thankful that we got to spend so much time here in Fort Collins.  We have made eternal friendships (you can't get rid of us that quickly) and have had so much fun while being here.

Jake is so excited to start his career here and we look forward to laying down roots and buying a home eventually.  I won't lie and say I am not scared to death--but that is why I think it is the right choice.  Sometimes the scariest choice is the one that will lead to the most growth.  It is weird being so sad and reluctant to say good bye and so excited and ready to accept the future.

 So, thank you to the people who recognized what a brilliant and smart and wonderful man I married and decided to hire him!   Pennsylvania:  See ya soon!

YAF por vida!

Hi, my name is Cheramie and I am a bookaholic.  It is true people.  I have read 5 books in the last week.  (wow.)  Reading for me is pure pleasure.  It releases me from stress and anxiety of life and gives me an outlet.  One day I may be so inspired and end up writing my own book, but not fiction...I only tell true life.  Anyway, here are my latest finds in YA fiction (which I have been stuck on since Stephenie Meyer came into my life).  I promise to branch out soon...if you have any suggestions to help me I would love to hear them!

I waited forever to read Percy Jackson.  A kid series I said (not far away from the teen section that I can pull myself away from lol).  I really really liked this series.  The first movie comes out February 12th!  Can't wait to see it!  Overall the books were really entertaining!  Percy is a great character.

I was blessed with a ridiculous ammount of B&N gift card money this Christmas and I got crazy and bought a lot of books!  This is one I bought without knowing much about it.  First of all, this is not part of a series!  I know weird right?  Everything seems to be a series now. (I don't really mind)  Anyway, I really liked this book.  Some of it was a bit far fetched...even for a supernatural thriller...but I really liked the plot.  Overall, a great read.

Have I mentioned Wings before?  No?  Weird.  I loved it!  Another series (of course) but I am really excited about this one.  The author is Mormon and I read her blog...she is quite funny.  Anyway, this is a book about fairies.  Can't wait til the next book comes out!!!

I picked up Fallen because of the striking cover art!  Isn't it gorgeous?  Love it.  Anyway, the book itself was really good.  Yet. Another. Series.  I should go into publishing and make some cash!  This one is about angels...which apparently is a big trend now (finally taking the limelight away from vampires and werewolves).  I have to say I really loved this book.  They have a lot to explain in the next two books and I am really excited to see what happens next!  Great read.

I was really excited to buy this book.  I didn't know much about it and no one reccomended this book to me so sometimes that can turn out to be a bad thing...however, this was a really cute book.  I am sure that isn't probably how they wanted this book to be characterized as.  The book is set in the deep south and it is a character in and of itself.  Oh, I bet you could have guessed this was a series right?  Right.  I liked this book a whole lot. 

Just saw this book and was intriqued.  It was okay.  I liked the premise...really I did.  I just didn't fall in love with it.  It was an interesting read though.  I will read the sequel...I did get sucked in. 

Okay, time to break down and admit that I loved Hush, Hush so much I went to the author's book signing!  It was SO cool to meet an author of a book that you loved reading.  She was a really really nice lady, who happens to hail from Fort Collins no less!  (No I didn't fly off to an exotic location and stalk her!  I would totally never do anything like that....yet.)  I really adored her book, which is book one in the series.  Cannot wait to read the next book!

These are what I am going to read next.  I will let you all (5) of you know how it is.  I am excited about them.

Now you know my problem.  Maybe one day I will grow up and read adult books...but until then I will be the one you want to ask about Young Adult Fiction.

Gillian's 5th Birthday Party!

Gillian invited her friends via email this year...proving that mom is indeed lazy because she refused to by stamps.

Gillian's reaction to this cake was classic!  I was so happy to see that she loved it!  I had gotten all the decorations up and the cake out and she looked at me and said, "Wow Mom, you must really love me!"  to which I said, "Duh!"

She received such nice gifts...thank you so much for them!  She didn't want to go to school this morning because she was busy playing with them :)

Thank you to all that came and made this evening so much fun for us!  I was telling everyone Jake and I are gonna make more excuses to see everyone so we will be having lots of get togethers soon! 

Gillian June

Today is your birthday. I can't believe you are 5 now! I won't lie and tell you that I didn't cry dropping you off at school as you told me you could do everythng yourself. You are the best thing to ever happen to me that I never knew I needed so much. You challenge me and love me when I fail as a parent and teach me so many things. Being your parent is rewarding and scary and beautiful all at the same time. You are willful and assertive and demanding and that is just what Heavenly Father knew I needed. I know I am a better person because of you. Thank you so much for being in my family and wanting me for your mommy. I know I complain but I love you so much and I am so thankful to have you. You are my miracle...I never knew if I could ever have you. We tried for a long time to have you and you have been the best fruit of any labor. So with all that said, I can't wait to see what you become as you are older. What interests you have how much you will teach me and I hope that I can be a better mother to you. I hope I can live up to the standard that Heavenly Father has set of his mothers and fathers. I love you.

Christmas Wrap-up

We had a lovely Christmas. It was a time spent with family and friends. The kids made out like bandits and Jake and I received some really nice gifts as well. We ate well...especially me with no more gall bladder to give me pain. I was still in a little residual pain from the surgery and pretty tired but was so happy to have my family around me to make life easier. I am so thankful we were able to have this Christmas at Jake's dad's house because we might not be back for the holidays next year.

Poor Jake....this was him all morning trying to get everything put together and work.

So many presents!

One of the coolest presents Gillian got wasn't even from Santa. Her Grandpa gave her a Disney princess digital camera! It is seriously cool! Here are her picture chronicling her Christmas experience:

Aunt Bristol!

Uncle Brian looking so serene even after playing that video game;)

The infamous Uncle John!

Aunt Hillary.

So cute.


She got me!

Gillian's favorite princess :)

She always does this...I promise I have never let her watch America's Next Top Model...

oops....we got caught!

Uncle Summit!

Aunt Liz!

Grandma Benfield!

Grandpa!
I am sure he just loves to see that crown atop his head :)

"Look surprised Gillian!"

weird.

Got presents?

Thanks Uncle John

My sister Hillary was in town for Christmas with her fiance :) and they came up to see us before flying back up to Seattle. We are sort of out of a car (it is in the shop) so I needed her to take me to do some shopping and such. I wanted to leave Lincoln and put him down for a nap and take Gillian with Hillary and I so John wouldn't have to watch them both but the opposite happened. Lincoln pretty much wouldn't let go of Hillary so we took him and left Gillian with Uncle John and Uncle Summit to play the Wii. So Hillary and I took off and went to Walmart. I tried to hurry but I am still on the mend so I took a long time getting around plus I just couldn't concentrate and forgot what I was there for so it took forever. We finally got back and they left and Jake came home.

I was at that point dead on the bed, totally exhausted from the shopping trip and unable to watch what the kids were really doing in the living room...which obviously wasn't the best choice...I just couldn't move. Jake went in after checking on me to talk to the kids about there day and he walked in on Gillian and Lincoln chugging down a dr. pepper...each one of them had their own cans. Needless to say he was angry and asked why she would be doing that. She said it was hers and Uncle John had given it to her. She wasn't giving it back. We think Lincoln found one someone had been drinking from and didn't finish. A little while after that Hillary called to say sorry for Uncle John giving Gillian an entire can of soda and a marshmallow and caramel sandwich...along with other things I am sure. You could imagine my reaction...and it definitely explained her ridiculous behavior that night. So, Gillian had a great time with her family for Christmas and had her very first can of soda. Thanks to Uncle John :)

The best way to heal from surgery while having restrictions on pretty much everything you do is to play band hero! Me specifically on the guitar, Jake on the drums (which by the way he rocks at), Gillian on vocals (of course) and Lincoln as our groupie. Honestly though, even that wears me out eventually :) Thanks Uncle Brent for the early Christmas present!!!!!