Snow!

I guess after all the rain last night it got cold enough to surprise us with a lil white covering this morning! I didn't even know it was supposed to snow.

I was starting to think we would never get anything... Too bad it melted all away.. 

The holidays are wrapping up to an end and it makes me soo sad how fast everything is going by... Jeez!

My parents spoiled both me and Casey this Christmas and we couldn't have asked for a better time with our surrounding families and friends!

Cookies!

Tonight my mom and I made cookies like we do every year.  It is always fun hanging out baking with my mom this time of year.  My brothers even hung out with us in the kitchen......maybe annoying me more than they were helping..but hey, what are brothers for? 

While making Oreo Balls I told Cam to take a picture of me.....and got this instead..

Then I told him to really take a picture of me.. and got this...

finally he took a good one

then got picture happy and took a picture of Cale studying...because that can be a rare occasion.

Now I am going to start on the newest book on my nook by Nicholas Sparks...I am so excited I actually have time to myself for a lil while and I get to read!

Date Night

Last night C and I went out to St. Louis for a nice evening. We started by eating at the Cheesecake Factory then followed up with a lil shopping! I always enjoy a nice date night with the boyfriend. We don't do evenings like that very often so when we do it makes the time even more special.

Looking Back..

For the last 30 min. or so I have been sitting here looking back at all of my blog posts from the semester.  Just in August I thought I would never see this day.  I cant believe how long it has flown by! My friend Callie graudates today, Kelsey is married, Erica has a big time grown up job! I just cannot believe how old we are all getting! 

Father time you can slow down any day now!!

Chicago Pics

I just got around to uploading the pictures I took in Chicago.  So here they are!

Oh Marilyn.....

I just had to take a picture of the store....I didnt get to go in though...

Can I please be 8 again?? I loved going here!!!

Navy Pier...I still havent mastered how to take good 'light' pictures

I wanted to see a giant Christmas tree while we were there and here is one of them!

Breakfast with Santa

This morning i had to get up and go volunteer some of my time for an event with KDP. I worked the breakfast with Santa event I'n granite city at applebees. We had to get there at 6:15 in order to get set up and then begin working at 7.

The crowd came pretty steady but when it go slow Jessica and I payed Santa a lil visit ourselves :)

Coming to an End

I can't believe it's here.. I never thought it would go as fast as it has. The semester is coming to a close. I am beyond excited but yet scared to jump into student teaching. I have such a great group of kids they will be up for anything but I'm not 100% convinced that I'm ready..

I guess I'll have to be as ready as I'll ever be.

While sitting in class today i realized that the big world is just around the corner. I am no longer a student per say but a "student teacher" 4 months away from graduating with my teaching certificate! Ahh that is so crazy to me!

It's been a rough and rocky semester but at the same time very fun and eventful! I am looking very forward to the Christmas break I feel I so very much deserve! :)

Chi Town

This weekend the Lauchner family headed up to the Windy City for papa's 50th birthday! It was such a great time and just what i needed after a hectic week at school.. Too bad i have to go back tomorrow..

The city looked beautiful all lit up with Christmas lights and the decorated Xmas trees! I just love the time of year!

We started the trip by stopping in Flannigan, IL and staying at my aunt and uncles house. We had a good time reminiscing and playing games and even had a lil pictionary challenge that we dominated in!

Saturday morning we headed up to the city. We shopped and walked until we dropped. Ate at nice place for dinner and then went back out for more shopping. We came back to the hotel for a break then walked to Navy Pier. It was a really great lil getaway weekend. I wish we would've had one more day to see more things. But now it's time to go back to reality.

Black Friday Madness

Last night I attended my first black Friday outing.. And i must say that it was mad chaos but exhilarating at the same time!

Our first stop was Target, we got there before the doors had open and the line was lined up all the way to Schnucks! So crazy! Once we got in the store we gathered our goodies and then headed towards the massive line.. Two drinks and a box of cheddar chickadees later..We had stood in line for a lil over an hour..

Then we headed to Old Navy. This store was a lil less crazy so it made the time go by a lot faster. After singing a Christmas carol to get a coupon we headed to the checkout and then back home.

Although we only made it to two stores i think that was more than enough for me. I went out and tried it out and depending on the sales next year i will decide then if I want to go again...

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have a LOT to be thankful for this year! I couldn't ask for anything more!

This morning i finished my first 5k and i must say i am extremely proud of myself for running 2 1/2 miles! I think the Lauchner's are going to start making the Turkey Trot 5k a tradition!

I am very thankful for:

The best friends anyone could ask for!
My loving and supporting family
My caring and adoring boyfriend
Two lovable, sweet puppies
A great group of co-workers
Following my dream to becoming a teacher
And soo much more!

I hope everyone stuffs themselves full with delicious food! Have a great day!

Gobble! Gobble!

Burr it's cold outside

So today was a very cold and wet day.. Even though I love this time of year I am not 100% ready for this cold weather! On the other hand I am ready for some snow..

But to make me a lil warmer this year I found this cute hat! It is very cozy!

Wedding Bliss

Last night was the end of the wedding festivities. It was the last hurrah and I must say that we definitely went out with a BANG! Everything (including ourselves and Kels) looked beautiful! The abbey really trandsforms into a gorgeous place for weddings. 

Me and my groomsman partner

Bffe!

my lovely boyfriend sure cleans up nicely!

The Lauchner's

Friends

brotherly, sisterly love

CHEERS! To the happy couple!

Boyfriend

Ahh boys... Where do I even begin. Casey is a really great guy, I couldn't ask for anyone better! He is always making me laugh and knows when I'm having a bad day and just how to make it better!

With everything we have been through it has only made our relationship stronger.

I love you Casey Lee!

Christmas Came Early For Treo

 Last night was the Christmas holiday party for Treo.  As always they out did themselves with everything!  I had a great time with a great girl as my date :) 

a great team of girls

some of my favorite stylists! :)

Shout Out

This post is a shout out to my best friend Erica! I am so blessed to have a friend like her.

You are one ballsy, outgoing, adventurous girl and i envy you for that! I wish i could be as personable and kind as you are. When we are together i can do nothing but laugh from the quirky things that you say! And i thank you for that..

Don't let the world change you... You will change the world!

Copper Dock

This past weekend, C and I went to the Copper Dock winery in Pocahontas, Illinois with a few friends.  Although it was a little chilly and we didnt last long it was still a good afternoon at the winery.  I love going to wineries.  I think they are way better than bar hopping, but thats just me :)  Even though my friend Callie got mad at me for forgetting my id.....we all still had a good time! Next time the boys wont be invited since all they want to do is complain! haha

the girls

me and boo boo

again!

This place is sooo beautiful! I just love going there! Whenever I do get married, I would really like to consider this place as the venue!

Cardinal Nation Baby!

That same weekend of the bachelorette party, I went to the Rams game that Sunday, and the Cardinals had won the World Series that Friday.  So after the game we went to the Caridnal rally parade and along the walk over to the stadium, I snapped a few cool pictures!

Cardinal red water!

I just thought this was a really neat picture!

Bachelorette Partyy

I have been randomly posting but I have many more pictures on my camera from some of the things I have been doing. So here are a few from the bachelorette party I went on last weekend.  It turned out to be a really fun and good night.  Even though I felt a lil silly dressed as a "crayon" and when people mistakenly kept calling us "ballerinas" I still had a good time! Haha but from the looks at us I would totally agree that we did NOT look like crayons.

At dinner

ready to go out

the bride and all of her "crayon" bridesmaids

these were the only two pictures I took while out

It's the most wonderful time of the year..

Yup it's back!

That great red cup at Starbucks that let's us coffee lovers know that Christmas is right around the corner! I can't believe how close it is! I know I've been raving about how much I love fall, but Christmas is my favorite holiday! And i love how beautiful the snow is. I loveee christmas songs, decorations, smells, movies, and the love that surrounds my household at this time of year!

I just can't get enough!

St. Louis is on fire!!

Today I attended the Rams vs Saints game with my family. I hadn't been to a Rams game in a really long time so I was looking forward to it! And to top it off they ACTUALLY beat the Saints!! If i hadn't been so exhausted from last night I might've actually been more enthused to walk around the tailgating area beforehand. Walking around the tailgate really brought back some great memories from when we used to attend Illini games and tailgate with friends!

After the game we walked over to Busch stadium to watch the Cardinal celebration parade. It was a very exciting day in STL!

Oh how I hate Halloween

This picture just pretty much sums it up! I hate this holiday...

Favorite season

I wanted to post about my favorite season. I'm pretty sure i've mentioned it on here before but i just can't get enough!! I love the fall season and all that comes with it! The leaves are finally starting to transition from green to orange and red (my favorite leaf colors!).

At C's house they have this beautiful tree that changes to a gorgeous bright orange color every year and i always take a picture of it! Haha