home... on a friday night

yes, it's very rare that I'm home on a Friday night. But today I had a 9 hour migraine, so we decided not to go to the Farm today like we originally planned. After the migraine subsided, I finally sat down and updated the blog liked I have been meaning to do for so long!

So, a couple of the posts are backdated, so I didn't want you to miss them, so just keep scrolling down because there are...... 6 NEW POSTS below this one! yeah, I told you I had some blogging to do! Hopefully next time I won't get so behind! I've missed y'all!

for sale... by owner

Well, Ben and I are selling our house. We have had a FOR SALE BY OWNER sign in the front yard for a few months and had a few calls here and there. We aren't in a huge hurry to move, so that's why we haven't listed it with a realtor yet.

Basically, we absolutely LOVE our house, but we just want to move back closer to Mobile because:

1. We are thinking about the future of starting a family (future... not now) and being closer to both sets of parents and all siblings (babysitters!).

2. Ben works in Mobile and with my new job, I don't travel as much and I work in Mobile almost every day.

3. Our social life would be much better by being able to get together with people more often and having people over to our house without them having to drive so far.

Those are just a few reasons, but basically it's only because of location, not because of the house itself that we are moving. So anyway, if YOU or anyone you know is looking to move to the Eastern Shore/Baldwin County area, please let me know if you would be interested in seeing our house. Like I said, it is for sale by owner right now, so I can email you picutres or more information on where it is, how much, etc and set up a time to come see the house!

We actually had 2 people come see the house today, and both were pretty interested and had odd circumstances that led them to calling us, so it would be amazing if one of these buyers worked out. Please keep that in your prayers, but we definitely aren't getting our hopes up because we know the economy is rough and it could be tough to sell a house right now.

This is part of the flyer with some of the information on the house:

I'm really anxious to move, so let me know if you know of anyone that is interested! :)

in the shop

So, you may have noticed that most of my pictures lately have been pretty blurry, kinda yellowy, and just really not up to par in the quality department (you haven't noticed? well i definitely have).

I knew that my camera was acting up but I couldn't figure out what was wrong. The flash wouldn't work correctly, so I had to use it without the flash, but then obviously that wasn't what was ideal in all situations. Natalie finally convinced me that I wasn't just camera-dumb and I really did need to get it checked out.

Anyway, I finally took it in to Calagaz (where it's from) and they have sent it back to Nikon, since it's under warranty and they are going to fix it. I don't know what is wrong, but they will have my camera for UP TO 3-4 WEEKS!!! I think I am going to go CRAZY!!! I don't know how I will cope without my "baby" for that long!

Next weekend is my cousins wedding and I am typically the flash happy second photographer at all weddings I go to, so I will be having withdrawals. I know I will be using my old point-and-shoot camera with the phrase that goes along with it "I hate this camera!" Hoping for a quick turn around!

good-bye beach

This past weekend was probably our farewell to the beach for the season. We always seem to find our way down there randomly in the fall anyway, but primarily we will be at football games and hunting camps. The whole family was there and the usual food, wine, sun, pool, & fun took place!

Friday was special because it was Ben's Birthday, but actually pretty low key. Momma cooked an incredible slow roasted pork, and when I say incredible I mean LITERALLY BEST WE HAD ALL EVER HAD (i'll get the recipe for yall!) for dinner. Then we had Baskin Robbins Oreo Ice Cream Cake for Birthday Dessert and then he opened presents!

Ben gave Bennett his bath and had boy bonding time!

Saturday morning at 5am everyone (except Natalie and Bennett) went out in the Gulf fishing. I was up for the sunrise (which doesn't happen often, so I had to photgraph it!)... I think that I zoomed in so far that I lost all the light, so this actually looks more like a sunset than sunrise, but it really was sunny and light outside...

After a day of no fish, we started to head back home, until we saw something big floating in the water:

So we stopped and tried to catch the fish under it

and DID! We caught 3 Dolphin/Mahi Mahi:

We came back in and enjoyed the rest of the beautiful day by and in the pool

I helped Bennett get dressed Saturday night and put his ELMO slippers on him... he wore them all night!

Doc and Bennett

Since I had seen the sunrise, I figured I would try to catch the sunset too, but you can't really see it anymore from our house... still pretty

and I saw a stingray on the walk back up the dock

Ben has been working extremely hard and long hours lately, so he took Monday off and we stayed down at the beach an extra night. It was wonderfully relaxing, we got our last dose of sun, and Ben even read almost an entire book (The Last Lecture). We look forward to the change of seasons and new things to do on the weekends, but we have thoroughly enjoyed the beach this summer, and always will!!!

Happy Hubby

Happy 25th Birthday Ben!!

I love you & hope you have a fantastic birthday!!

This time last year we were about to leave for a trip to Las Vegas!!! With life being crazy at both of our jobs this year, things will definitely be more low key, at the beach, but surely we will enjoy it either way!

(us last year for his birthday in Vegas)

It's a GIRL!!

Ben and I are going to have a NIECE!!!

Ben's brother Will and wonderful wife Amy found out yesterday that they are having a baby GIRL at the beginning of January 2010.

They are going to be such wonderful parents to what will surely be an absolutely gorgeous child. So far everything is looking healthy and right on track, which is what we all hope and pray for! Congratulations and we can't wait!

Watercolor Vacation

We took a weekend vacation down to Watercolor, FL with Ben's family. It was very relaxing and fun, although it rained a good bit of the time we were there. We stayed at the Watercolor Inn which was so convenient, quaint, and definitely a place I would recommend and want to come back to for a romantic weekend with Ben.

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This was the partially rainy/cloudy, partially pretty sunset type of weather we witnessed on the drive there Friday.

Our room was very cool, with a great porch overlooking the Gulf, and had a great outdoor looking shower stall right smack in the middle of the room

Friday night, the whole family (Ben's parents, Will and Amy, Adam, Ben and I) went to dinner at a great restaurant called Fish out of Water. The food, wine, and company was all wonderful!

Saturday morning we all went to breakfast in Seaside and then had intentions of enjoying a lazy day on the beach, but our plans were completely changed when mother nature took over and let the bottom fall out. It rained ALL MORNING LONG and through the mid afternoon. Us ladies took that as a great opportunity to go shopping, while the boys somewhat strolled around, before going back to the hotel to watch golf on TV, have drinks, and relax, (I guess... who really knows what they did while we were gone). Amy, Ms. LeJean and I fully enjoyed our girl time shopping at the Outlets in SanDestin and I got some GREAT work and fun clothes! Saturday night we all went to Harbor Docks for dinner and I had some delicious Sushi!

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Sunday, we woke up to some beautiful weather. It was a welcome change and we were ready to hit the beach before returning home. We checked the weather channel and found out that Tropical Storm Claudette was actually headed straight for us and scheduled to hit the exact county we were in, that afternoon. You would never know it by looking outside, so we headed out to the pool anyway. I loved the architecture of the hotel:

Unfortunately, then it was time to head back home.

After a little more shopping in sandestin for the boys (orvis and brooks brothers), and some lunch at Johnny Rockets, we made it back home and got ready for another week of work! Thanks Kennemers for such a fun family weekend!

Ida Claire

Ida Claire

...............

Ingredients:

1 box Honey Graham Crackers

2 3.4 oz boxes French Vanilla Pudding

2 cups Milk

1 12 oz. package Cool Whip

1 container Milk Chocolate Icing

...............

1. Line a 9x13 baking dish w/ Graham Crackers

2. In seperate bowl, Mix puddings & milk together. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread evenly over grahams.

3. Add another layer of grahams.

4. Heat icing in microwave 15 seconds & stir until smooth. Spread on top of grahams.

5. Store in refrigerator until ready to enjoy (Ben likes it several hours/a day after its been made so the grahams soften up a little bit)!

..............

See... this is the easiest, and yummiest ever! It's a Setzler family favorite and will NOT disappoint!

grilling & games

Friday night we got together at Austin & Steph's house for a cookout. Katie & Jody were supposed to join us too, but after a fishing trip return got delayed, they were unfortunately unable to make it.

We enjoyed an abundance of delicious chicken & veggie shish-kabobs on the grill & a rice pilaf that Steph & Austin prepared.

I made the dessert, Ida Claire, which seems to be the only dessert Ben has requested at all lately (it's just THAT good).

After dinner, we played a hilarious game of SCRABBLE (things got funny when we decided to go boys vs. girls teams), and then our old favorite, CATCH PHRASE! Steph & Austin were kind enough to let us spend the night so we didn't have to drive all the way back home across the bay. Saturday the boys played their, now regular, game of golf before we hit up FIVE GUYS burgers & fries for lunch.... oh the greasy goodness that place is!

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Before heading back home, we stopped by Natalie and Stephen's to say hello, and ended up staying for a little while. Bennett was up from his nap, and I played with him for hours. On the floor, looking for our belly buttons, in his playroom, watching movies, then outside... Just check out Nat's blog for how he ended up "organic gardening" and looking very cute in Ben's red visor. He says my name (AUNIE) over and over again, and wants me to play with him, and knows that Harper is our puppy, not his Steele, and he can't say Ben or "BigUn" yet, but he just loves us all and we just LOVE him right back!

New Routine

Well, life has changed quite a bit around here for me. After 8 months of unemployment, it takes a little bit of getting used to when you go back to work. I have been completely sleep deprived and constantly busy the past few weeks. I think I'm figuring it out all now and settling into a new Routine. My first 3 weeks of work have been:

week 1: studying & preparing at home

week 2: training in atlanta for 3 days w/ the whole company

week 3: 1st week out in the field seeing doctors

I am absolutely loving it so far!!! We have some great products, I'm so glad to be calling on pediatricians again, I really like my boss and all my co-workers, and I'm just glad to be out in the field again! The 3 days a week work schedule is working out fantastically so far so that is definitely going to help with the hectic schedule in the beginning.

What else has been going on?

1. Ben and I have seen several movies lately:

The Hangover--HILARIOUS must see! we want to go again!

Public Enemies-- good but a little slow at first. more for the boys.

Taken-- suspenseful, much better than expected

He's Just Not That Into You-- very very cute, loved the cast, we both enjoyed it

TWILIGHT--ok, ok... yes, we finally joined the masses and watched this movie. I have never read the books or anything, but of course have heard all the "hype" for a while. So we finally rented the 1st movie and watched it together. Ben liked it, and I on the other hand LOVED it, and am officially obsessed! I can't wait for NEW MOON to come out and I'm so glad to finally "get" what all the hype is about... now I just need to read the books so I know all the other fun details!

2. I FINALLY got a NEW CAR!! When my last company went bankrupt, I had to immediately return my company car. Then I was left car-less. Luckily, I 1st borrowed my dad's extra car, then for the past 6 months, borrowed Ben's dad's extra car (what a lifesaver). But once I got my new job, and found out that they wouldnt provide a company car but instead reimburse for gas mileage, it was time to purchase our own.... Say hello to my new baby (2009 black GMC Acadia):

3. One of my dear friends from middle/high school, Ann Brown, is engaged and moving to Iowa with her fiance, this month, so Ben & I went to her going away party Luau last weekend (after driving up to Montgomery for Ben's family reunion too, but i don't have pictures of that).

4. We headed to Biloxi Friday night with Katie and Jody just for a random night of fun!... and FUN we had! After dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, we hit up the casino... I like to play blackjack, but I can't stand losing money, so theres a conflict of interests there! haha, all in all it wasn't a big loss, and we just had a great time. After laying out by the pool on Saturday, we all headed back home.

5. We got Harper's hair shaven again and I think he likes it. It seems like it's so much cooler. I also bought him a doggie baby pool for the backyard since I have gone back to work and he has to stay outside in the heat every day now. He was hesitant at first, but I think he has jumped in a few times while we were gone! I'll take pictures soon. He also got a double ear infection, and we didn't realize it until it had gotten really bad, so after a trip to vet, I think he's finally on the mend.

That's just about it on our end. Life as usual other than all those other changes! :) I'll try to post more frequently so my posts arent so random and long next time! Have a wonderful week everyone!