Halloween in Maryland

The Drenzek Family spent the actual Halloween holiday up in Maryland this year. One of my good friend, Krista's bridal shower was scheduled for October 31st, so we decided to make a road trip out of it and show off new baby Kyla to all my high school friends while there.

Thanks to Shannon's parents for letting us crash at their place! It's becoming increasingly more challenging to travel as a family of four- we need more room to crash now! But it worked out great and I think Mrs. Baker and Adam enjoyed having the girls there. Shannon might have even showed a maternal instinct or two ;-) (you reading this Shannon?)

Krista's shower was fun with a Mexican theme. It's always good to see my high school girls and celebrate something!

Halloween Trick or Treating we met up with my friend Justin and his wife, Lenore and little boy Brayden. Brady had just turned 1 so didn't grasp the whole trick or treating concept yet, but Arden did! Once she realized she could get CANDY from the houses she went to, she was sold. Unfortunately we went to a neighborhood where most of the kids have grown up and therefore not that many people were home handing out candy. Then it started to rain so we scratched the whole trick or treating thing and headed to dinner instead. It was the usual whirlwind trip to MD trying to see everyone but it was fun!

Annual Drenzek Pumpkin Carving Party!

We're continuing the Drenzek party tradition of the Pumpkin Carving/Kids Costume parties of years past. They've increasing become more and more fun as the kids get older (and they are more of them!) And each year it's so much fun to see what the kids come as (and how long they actually keep their costumes on!)

This year I wasn't so good at taking pictures- being a hostess and mom of 2 seemed to be too much to do so the photog in me was on strike. But we had a firefighter, a policeman, 2 ladybugs, a train, a giraffe and a flower. I'm sure I'm forgetting someone. We also had lots of yummy

food brought by friends. And oh yeah, some pumpkins actually got carved!

Pumpkin Patch!

So we seem to be making it a October tradition to go to Hill Ridge Farms to the fall play activities and the pumpkin patch. They have quite the set up with mazes, bounce houses, goats, bunnies, corn rooms, hay jumps, hay rides and of course PUMPKINS!!!

It was a bit windy and chilly this year, but Arden still seemed to make the best of it and have fun with her friends, Oscar and Sutton, that joined us. Sutton and her could have probably spent hours in the hay jumping room. Kyla spent most of the trip asleep strapped to Mommy. Arden then picked out her own little baby pumpkin and I attempted to get a picture of the two of them with pumpkins. Not so successful. I'm realizing that getting the "perfect" sisters shot is going to take A LOT of patience!!

Kyla's 2 Month Check Up

2 months already! So true that with the second one the time seems to go by that much quicker!! She's starting to smile and coo a bit and show off her growing personality!

Kyla went in for her 2 month check up today. Here are her stats:

10 lbs 14 oz- 50%

23 cm - 75%

She seems bigger then Arden was at this age but she's not by much, only an ounce or two. She is longer. I think it's just the second, "this is my last baby" mind playing tricks on me!

Starting My Own Business!

So as a Stay-at-home-Mom that dabbles in yoga teaching, I've felt pretty helpless to our struggling financial situation this past year. With Dave being self-employed in the construction industry during a recession, it's been tough for us. I'm a firm believer in opportunities presenting themselves when they're needed most. I ran into an old friend at a birthday party and she told me about selling lia sophia jewelry. After doing some research and going to some shows and meetings, I decided I could do this too! I get a girls night out whenever I want and a huge jewelry selection for a very minimal cost to me, plus I get to make money! Sold! That sounds like a great job description to me! And then I can feel like I'm contributing a bit more to our family income, or at the very least work towards paying Arden's preschool tuition for next year.

The first step was to line up my first shows and have my own starter show at my house! It was fun to have a reason to entertain and have friends over to look at some pretty jewelry. Then I got to order a bunch of stuff for a very limited cost because of being a hostess! I got 7 pieces of jewelry for about $100! And these pieces build my display when I go out and do shows.

The next step was to go out and do my first shows! I had a blast! Thanks to my friends and family that hosted them! And I made some good money while having fun!

Now to keep on truckin' booking shows and learning new tips and ideas to make my business better! Let me know if anyone is interested in some great jewelry, hosting a show, or starting your own business!

You can check out my website here- Melissa's lia sophia site

4th Anniversary!

So it's kinda crazy to think that 4 years ago we were married in a field outside of Asheville beside a 100 year old tobacco barn and now we're still happily married with 2 kids! Wow. Ok the 2 kids part is the "wow", not the still happily married.

I still think about our wedding day with a smile on my face. It was so us and part of me wishes I could go back there and redo it every year!

Mom came up and watched the girls while we were able to get out for evening. We went to the Melting Pot for fondue dessert- something I've always wanted to do! So yummy! Then we got a drink at vivace and headed home. It was a nice night! Love you honey- here's to many more!