favorite card

Love Peace Cheer Christmas 5x7 folded card

Make a statement with Shutterfly Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Holiday Cards from Shutterfly!

With the upcoming holiday season I have decided to continue sending out holiday cards to the people in my address book. Part of it stems from my love for mail... the other from my love of pictures. Each time I upload my photos to my computer, I also upload my photos to Shutterfly.com. I feel good about having my photos on a website in the awful incident that my computer crashes or something goes wrong with my camera. I love their products too! I have recently made books for family members and myself with pictures of Ry-Guy over his first year. Shutterfly has GREAT customer service and is reasonably priced.

www.shutterfly.com

We haven't taken our photo yet this year, but when we do, I will upload it to Shutterfly and order my cards! Click here for a link to some of my favorite cards! There are so many cute ones, it takes me forever to decide on the one I will select for the season.

Sometimes we have people on our list that are difficult to find gifts for... here are some ideas for gifts you might be able to make for the loved ones in your family needing the perfect gift...

Mugs from Shutterfly can be found here and would be perfect with a coffee gift card inside!

You might also fall in love with the stationary and cards found on their website or by clicking here.

I have been able to write this post and earn 50 FREE holiday cards this year by clicking on the link I previously posted in my blog. If you missed it, here is the link again: http://bit.ly/sfly2010

Will you be sending out holiday cards this year?

Have a blessed Thanksgiving all! I hope to be blogging more and more with the upcoming year!

Long Time No Read!

I haven't blogged in forever. I love to read blogs, but never take the time to sit down and write up my own. I know I should, maybe I will get better now that Ry-guy is getting older.

Here is the most recent picture of my little love (and his side kick Gracie Lu) from Halloween...

It's WOODY from Toy Story!

I am really looking forward to the holidays this year. Ry-guy is a fun age and reignites the spark in the magic of the holidays. I am so lucky to have an incredible family to share this memorable time of year with me.

Why did I start blogging again? I found a special offer from Shutterfly to blog about them and get 50 free holiday cards... I know... REALLY! I love Shutterfly- I upload all of my photos to their website and have made several photo books for myself and family. If you haven't checked out their website, you should! www.shutterfly.com

Oh yeah, here is the information about the blogging for holiday cards too...

It's so easy. Just click here and enter the information requested.

More updates to come... I have missed hearing from everyone!

Anything new with all of you???

NEW iPHONE!

I am so excited!!! My birthday was wonderful this year for so many reasons. JLo and I went to Monterey and stayed over night (in our favorite hotel with dinner at our favorite restaurant) while Ry-guy stayed the night with Gramz and Pops. We had a great time, but I missed my little mister!

The hotel we love to stay at...

My favorite restaurant

One of my most exciting gifts was my new iPHONE!!!! I have wanted one for a long time, but kept telling myself that I didn't need one... and I still don't... BUT... I love it! I was GIDDY all day!

photo here

It's official, I am 30 minus 1. I decided to say my age this way so that when I turn 30 next year, it won't be so hard to say!

I am a lucky girl with so many blessings.

Thanks to my friends and family for making my birthday so wonderful! I am ready for another exciting year!

Happy Birthday to KACIE!!

Kacie and I have been best friends since high school (really it seems like forever!!). We stayed in close touch through college and now I talk to her almost everyday on the phone. We each served as the other's M.O.H. for our big days and our friendship continues to grow with all of life's changes. She is more than a friend, another sister.

Kacie has a caring heart and a kind word. She is usually a "mom" to everyone in her life, caring and watching out for us. She is a very special person to me and I hope TODAY she feels the love and friendship from all of her friends and family!!

Kace- here is to incredible memories and good times to come! Love ya!

I am BACK!

My Computer is BAAAACK!!!

My poor Macbook Pro was sick. Thank goodness my dad added the Applecare warranty to the computers when he bought them- YOU R

OCK DAD! The Rx for my computer didn't cost anything under this special deal. I will definitely make sure any future computer purchases have the extra warranty.

image from here

Now I am back... just need to make a little more time for blogging!

I love my Apple... do you love your computer or what?!

Have a great week! (Maybe I will do Thankful Thursday this week)

2009... Good Memories!

As we finish up the last day of 2009, I wanted to glance back and the INCREDIBLE memories from this year.

The Zehnder/Olson family had some exciting times and wonderful blessings...

Ry-Guy made his entrance on April 29, 2009...

Our Family

First ride home in the car

and now... TA- DAH! Our happy little "Mister"

Tracy and Tim TIE THE KNOT!

a special shower for a special sister... read about that here...

and then the BIG day- with a beautiful bride, handsome groom and INCREDIBLE memories! I am so excited to have Tim as a brother-in-law... he makes my sis SO happy! They are not only in love, but absolutely PERFECT for each other.

Family picture time

Mr. and Mrs. Lesher

(for more pictures see Tracy-girl's page here)

We finished out the year with (drum roll here)

dun dun dun dun dun dun dun......

DAD'S RETIREMENT PARTY!

We had a photo booth, fun decorations, an incredible slideshow, good food and best of all... GREAT COMPANY to celebrate "Fireman Mike's" 36 (yes, that's right, 36) years of service for the Elk Grove Fire Department. I am so proud to have him as my dad... I beamed all evening with the comments people made about his time with the department. Although he is happy to be retired (and enjoys spending time with his sidekick Ry-Guy) I think he will always have a piece of him that misses being a part of the firefighter family. It wouldn't be fair to mention Dad with out special recognition for Mom and her hard work to support Dad, our family and run the house. God smiled the day he gave me Mike and Kathy for my parents!

Don't worry, you're not seeing double... we had a life size cut out of "Fireman Mike"

So many "artifacts" helped with decorations

As I remember back on the good memories, I must pause for a moment and remember those who have had their world turned upside down this year... diseases discovered, loss of a loved one, financial struggles... the list goes on an on. I pray for each of my friends, family and ANYONE with painful memories from this past year- may you find many blessings and peace in your hearts during the NEW year, 2010.

What will 2010 have in store for us???

I don't know, but definitely have my HOPES and WISHES!

wink, wink~fingers crossed....

What are your hopes for 2010??

Merry Christmas to YOU and your family!

(and Happy Birthday to Jesus!)

May today bring you exciting moments and happy memories.

A picture of Ry-guy with Santa (his GREAT GRANDPA!)

I have the same photo of me with Santa (Grandpa). I will try and dig it up so I can post it!

I got lost, but now I am found!

After several months I have decided to catch up! Maybe I will try a few shorter blogs and see if I can get a little more information up. We are very excited for our first Christmas with Ry-guy. He won't remember anything we get for him, but we will take lots of pictures. He loves ribbon, wrapping paper and lights.

More than anything, I feel so incredibly blessed to spend these holidays with my family- my healthy family. My heart aches for all those who have lost someone close to them- this is an empty time. May memories comfort those of you remembering lost loved ones these next few days and weeks.

This photo of Ry-guy and Gracie makes me laugh every time... after many attempts to have them look the same way at the same time... we get them to do it... but with their eyes closed!

He LOVES ribbon and wrapping paper!

One word... BLESSED.

What are you most excited about this holiday season?

Thankful Thursday!

Has it really been a month since my last post?  YES IT HAS!

I started back to work on July 29th and between being a wife, mom and counselor, I have managed to keep VERY busy!  

Good timing today because I can do THANKFUL THURSDAYS!  Here are the things I am thankful for this week...

1.  My healthy and beautiful Ry-guy (I think this is always going to be #1)

He LOVES bath time!

2.  My hubby J-Lo... he takes such good care of me!

3.  My job and

4. the people I work with- I know I have said it before, but I am so blessed!

5.  My dad- he really is the best ever... he watches Ry-guy for us when Jason and I are both working... he is the best "Pops" ever!  

6. My beautiful Bride sis Tracy... just a few more days!! Can't wait to stand beside her!

7.  Juju... she motivated me to run last night even though I wasn't feeling like it :-)

8. My health and the health of my family

9.  White Chocolate Mochas- it is a splurge, but I enjoy them SO MUCH

(I am bummed that this is all underlined, but can't figure out how to take it off!!!!) OH well!