Return of the Jedi...I mean blogging...

Jake and I decided I need more hobbies...thus, the return of the blogging! I know that everyone can only hear so much about our two dogs, so I am going to focus my blog on my explorations in cooking and our adventures in life. I love cooking blogs and have gotten so many great ideas from them - plus, it is a great hobby I can enjoy by myself while I wait for Jake to get home when he works late nights. More on this later...

In regards to our adventures in life...I have a great Christmas miracle story to share! It isn't exactly my story, but it has affected Jake and I very deeply, so I am sharing it here.



This is a picture of our family Christmas miracle. This summer, my brother and sister-in-law were happily surprised to learn they were having a little boy around Valentine's Day. Their daughter, Meyah (peeking in!) was excited for Baby Brother to arrive. Well, Maddox Nash Hermann came 11 weeks early at 2lbs 3 oz. He is now up to 2 lbs 12 oz, and he is such a miracle! He is doing so well, even though he doesn't get to come home yet.

Both Jake and I struggled so much in the last year after our own pregnancy loss. I suffered from depression, but wasn't willing to admit it. Anyone who knows Jake would know that he has wanted to be a dad since he came out of the womb! He learned the day that I was having my D&C that he would be working out of the New York/New Jersey office for three months last winter. He struggled with his own strong sense of loss and loneliness while he was living back East. For a long time, we were just so angry about what happened to us (Jake was obviously much more even tempered about it...everyone knows I get emotional). When we were ready to try again, we struggled with month after month of failure to get pregnant. It has been a tough road for us.

That is where the Christmas Miracle comes in. No...we don't have any of our own baby news to report - but we have been so inspired by the hope and joy we experienced this Christmas with both Meyah and our new nephew Maddox. It is so amazing how good things happen and how life can move in new and unexpected directions! We are so grateful for the support and patience our friends and family have had with us this past year...and we are so grateful for our new little nephew Maddox!


Hope you all had a wonderful Holiday Season!

New Blog Post!

Yes, it has been almost a year since my last blog post. What could possibly bring me out of blog hiding?? A give away at padgetthoke.blogspot.com!! I have become quite the blog follower, and her site is awesome!!

She is giving away Le Creuset Square Baking Dishes!! So cute!!

So much other news to report, but I would rather share how awesome Padgett's site is!!

WASHINGTON, D.C.!!

So, I have been a terrible blogger lately, but I am going to get better!! Back at the beginning of February (yeah, that's right...over 3 months ago) Sandra and Layne took us to Washington, D.C. with them. The trip was a ton of fun!! Sandra was speaking at an FDA conference about banning Oxycotin. Neither one had been to the city before, so we did all of the great sightseeing!! Jake and I love that city!

Here are some pictures:

Sandra and Layne, taking pictures of Jake

Layne was our professional photographer for the trip - he took the most and the best photos!

We visited the newly opened Pentagon Memorial. I have to say, it is one of the most moving memorials in DC.

This is the Korean War Memorial on the Mall...right now, Sandra is wishing we were at a different type of mall. I think she thought her feet were going to fall off!!

Jake wondered if he reflected in the pond too...no one had the heart to tell him no.

Sasha and Malia's pad.

Jake is always eager to learn new things! Or is he being patriotic?

Sandra resting her feet after we made her walk for miles and miles and miles and...

View from Arlington Cemetary

There were really so many more pictures and great stories from the trip...but I have been a terrible blogger lately. More exciting adventures coming soon!!

More of the Puppies!

So, the puppies have a nightly snuggle fest...on their mom. Here are the results!

Cooper likes to see her when he opens his eyes, so napping must be nose to nose.
Look at how cute my woobie I got for Christmas was...the dogs love purses and pink too!

Too Cute

Pictures from our DC trip are coming shortly...but I couldn't resist posting this new picture of Cooper and Zoey! Zoe gained almost a whole pound in two weeks!! She is now 2.2 pounds. I guess that fancy "Royal Canin" dog food is doing something!!

Zoey and Cooper!

The Kresser's have a new addition to the family!! Zoey is 6 weeks old - she is half Chihuahua and half Yorkshire Terrier (is that a Chorky??). Her pregnant mommy was given to a staff member from CCS's St. Mary Program...she was the last of her litter...the runt. Zoey was only going to come home for one night, to see how Cooper would react. However, Cooper and Jake fell in love with her immediately!! Even more than me!! Here are some pictures of the little lady.

This is her favorite spot...she fits perfectly under the counter!

Cooper was happy to find someone to play Orange Weiner with him

He is so gentle with her...it's been very surprising!
He even let her play by herself with it...Orange Weiner is still his favorite!

She tuckered out super early. But they had to stay close to each other. Cooper is very protective!!
WE LOVE HAVING HER AS PART OF OUR FAMILY!

Antelope Island

The weekend after we came home from our European adventure, Jake and I decided to take Cooper on a hike. We have always talked about going to Antelope Island and finally just did it! It was the perfect time of year to go - it wasn't too hot and there weren't a lot of bugs. I was suprised that it didn't smell - and amazed about how beautiful it was!

Here are a couple of pictures of the buffulo on the island...we didn't take many pics, but it is a recommended trip!