A couple of weeks ago we were able to celebrate Grandpa Mihalek's 90th Birthday. Here is our family picture, minus a few family members, at the celebration. What a fun group of Mihaleks! They are so full of joy and energy! I am so lucky to be part of this family!
This weekend Nate and I attended two wonderful birthday parties. On Saturday we celebrated our best friends Rich and Darcie's beautiful daughter's first birthday. Joy turned 1 on January 19. She is such a special little girl. Little sister to soon-to-be 3 years old Grace, Joy is a bundle of smiles and giggles and love. We love spending time with the Jackson girls (and Rich and Darice too!). There is never a dull moment! The cutest part of the birthday party was Grace thinking that it was her birthday. I was reminded, like I am every day at school, that little children have no concept of time. We had a great celebration with our friends and their family! I love kids' birthday parties because I am reminded of how special children's lives are and what a blessing they bring to our lives.
Jaime is going to be the next woman pro golfer so my parent's had to get her her very own putting green. I have to say, she is pretty good. Nate better watch out this summer. I think Jaime is going to give him a run for his money out on the greens!
Chad loves to spend time out doors hunting. Grandma got him a hard case for his bow and arrow. He just had to start to put everything together right away. He was just like that as a little kid too!
My mom and dad got me the cutest finger puppets for my classroom. I know as soon as I bring them to school the kids will want to play with them. I thought I would keep them home for awhile and read stories to Nate. I think he would like that!
Boys and their toys! Believe it or not, besides tech toys, Nate loves manly things for the house. My parents got him a wet/dry vac. He was pretty excited! I know he can't wait to use it!
This Christmas was also special because we got to go to Nebraska to visit Nate's side of the family. My father-in-law and mother-in-law were so nice to let us ride with them out to Nebraska after we had Christmas with them at our house. While we were at Craig and Anissa's house, Graham showed us how he blows his nose. How cute that was! He grabbed a kleenex and blew. He smiled after he did it. I've never laughed so hard.
Well actually we didn't spend Christmas in Hawaii this year, it was last year for our honeymoon. We've officially been married for one year and Nate and I thought we would look back at last year's Christmas. No Christmas tree or snow, but it was so exciting spending our first Christmas together as husband and wife in Hawaii. We had so much fun looking through pictures and watching our video of lovely Maui. I hope we're able to return there some day! It was so beautiful!
This was the view out of our hotel room every morning. It was so hard waking up to the sounds of the ocean and looking at the beautiful scenery. :) Oh to be able to return to that instead of this snow!
When we landed at the airport we went to go get our car that we would be driving for the week. Nate surprised me with a convertible. How fun! For one of our excursions we took the road to Hana. That was quite the experience. It was a beautiful, but treacherous drive through the Maui mountains, along winding roads. We both got very sick to our stomachs, but the views made it worth it! Poor Nate had to do all of the driving while I sat back and said, "Ooh, ahh, look at that!" His knuckles were a bit white after the drive.
For another one of our fun excursions, Nate talked me into going snorkeling. I was so nervous on the ride out to Molokini Crater. First, I had never snorkeled before and we were going out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in 40 feet deep water. Second, it was very choppy and they weren't sure that it was good enough weather to have us go in. Third, did I tell you I have a fear of lakes. Well this was the ocean! It was so beautiful, but cold and choppy. I got in the water and swallowed a bunch of salt water right away and had to return to the boat. Nate was in and new I was nervous and was trying to get back to me, but his wedding ring slipped off his finger and ventured to the bottom of the Pacific. He tried to dive down to get it. He was so upset. Important lesson learned...next time we go snorkeling in any water, take off the wedding rings. If you are out snorkeling at Molokini Crater any time soon, please feel free to look for his ring. It is silver and is on the north side of the crater. There is a reward! I love telling this story. I'll never let him forget it! :)
This is the view out of the restaurant of our hotel on our last morning in Maui. It was simply gorgeous and you could see some whales every now and then way out in the ocean. We had such an amazing time while we were there. Christmas was very special last year, but we missed our traditional Christmas with our family- waking up and running out to our own tree with presents under it and watching the snow fall. Every time Christmas comes around we will remember what our first Christmas was like together in Hawaii.
December 22, 2006...Our wedding day! What an exciting day that was! I can't believe that it was a year ago! I remember waking up so excited and nervous. It was rainy and cold, a different wintry day, but at least there wasn't a snow storm. The bridal party started the morning off bright and early with hair appointments in Coopersville and then hurried to the church to get ready and spend a lot of time taking pictures. (Lots and lots of pictures!) We had such a patient bridal party! The whole day was exciting and tiring and we loved every minute of it.
My little sister Jaime did a beautiful job with her maid of honor speech. The title, "Top 10 reasons why I'm glad Staci is now married." I'm so glad she made it funny because I would have cried through the whole speech. Here are a few of my favorites: Number 5..."I now get to sit back and watch Staci try to use her "homemaker skills." Nate, I hope you have some patience!" Number 4...I don't have to hear how "lucky I am" "and how easy" it is to be in high school and how hard it is to be a full-time teacher. (By the way Jaime...teaching is a hard job!) Number 1...Staci's extremely happy and I'm getting a great brother-in-law! (Very true!)
Our first dance together as husband and wife to Me and You. I loved looking into his eyes that night as we were finally able to just relax and enjoy our time together. 
The father/daughter dance...I loved dancing with my dad to I Loved Her First. I had heard that song on the radio the summer before we got married and I remember sitting in my car wiping the tears from my eyes before leaving my car. I just had to have that song played during our dance. I think my dad talked the whole time during our dance so he wouldn't cry. I'm glad he did because I would have cried through the dance. Thanks for the dance, dad!
I think Anissa, Craig, and Graham win the award for farthest drive to our wedding, driving all the way from Nebraska for our special day. Graham was only a month old. Boy did he look so adorable in his outfit. Craig and Anissa looked pretty nice too! :) It was so nice spending time with my new sister and brother-in-law and nephew.
I love this picture of Nate and his mom dancing. They danced to the song Mama. I am so blessed to have such wonderful in-laws. Since the first day I met them they made me feel like part of the family and I am so happy that I am part of their family now.
Our wedding day was so special. Getting married at Christmas was wonderful. Every time Christmas comes around we'll be reminded of our special day. 
