Happy Birthday Kirsten!

Tomorrow my cousin, Kirsten will turn 16. 16 is a milestone in and of itself but the fact that I remember the day she was born blows my mind. Its like saying your children are all grown up. I have 13 cousins, each distinctive and unique in their own way. Each one I love unconditional!

Pictured from left to right

Ashley, Nikki, Kirsten and Lauren in the front

All 13 cousins in order of age:

Justin - just has a baby girl, Kaylee - married to Krystal
Carla - dating Curt - I think he might be a keeper!
Ashley - married William 3 weeks after Brian and I got married last year
Tiffany - married Dec last year, living in DC with Sean in a 310 sq foot apartment
Michael - living for his passion for music
Sam - working harder than ever at the shipyard...dating a nice girl now
Nikki - in love at 17...Ryan and her car makes her smile...plays softball
Kirsten - Sweet 16 - gotta get that license now
Jenn - 15 and her conviction for her beliefs blow my mind...loves field hockey
Andrew - firecracker, smile to make you melt
Ashley - shy but talkative if she is comfortable around you...already in high school
Jordan - quiet but lovable...loves the Yankees
Lauren - youngest of them all..she is a lovable 6 year old...like gymnastics
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Our family isn't perfect, but its stronger than glue! I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Free Chocolate!

Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act

Every Friday until September Mars is giving away free chocolate coupons to the first 250,000 people! Here is the link...get your free chocolate before its too late!

https://secure.realchocolate.com/

Thanks Leslie and Kelly for this info!

Here comes BABY......

This is my sister-in-law, Dana. Dana just found out she is expecting her second child. This will be the second most spoiled child in the world...thanks to me (Aunt Coco.) I am very excited and hoping for a girl...Although a healthy happy baby is the goal, we can all hope for a little girl to add to the family. My favorite memory of Dana (there are many) is actually when she was pregnant with Carson. If you know Dana she is an amazing mom! When she was pregnant, I wondered how motherhood would be for her. She is pretty organized and always has it together so I wondered how life would be with an infant. She made it look so easy. She is the best mom to my nephew and I think our relationship has grown closer because of him. I can not wait to be a mom so we can share that experience as well. I could not dream a better wife for my brother and although he may not say it he knows how lucky he is as well. So I'm saying a prayer we have another healthy edition to our family in March 2010.

Closing in on our 1 year anniversary

Brian McPherson and I were married on October 4, 2008. Here are our vows:

Nicole's vows to Brian

Today I will marry my best friend, the one I will live, love, dream and grow old with. I love you, because in your eyes I am always beautiful, in my best moments...and in my worst. I love you, not only for who you are, but also for who I am when I am by your side. When I first met you, I had no idea you would become an irreplaceable part of my life; but, with each new day and each new memory we make, I fall more and more in love with you. Thank you for always supporting my dreams, and giving me the privilege to support yours. As we begin our future together, I promise to always be by your side through good times and bad. I promise to do everything I can to keep our marriage full of joy and promise to always tolerate your love of the Boston Red Sox's. I promise to love you all the days of my life.

Brian's vows to Nicole

Since our very first date, when I had to wait for you to get ready, I have known that this was going to be an interesting relationship. We have already had a fair share of good times and hard times; and, through all of it, we have only grown closer. I stand before you today, confident that you are my perfect match. There are many things I hope to learn from you during our journey through life together. I hope to learn to be as patient as you are...Wait, that's not it...I mean, I hope to learn to be as caring and loving as you are. You are always gracious and understanding; you always support me...even when there's a good chance I might be wrong. When I try to give you a hard time, you don't mind giving it right back and putting me in my place. I promise to always be a shoulder on which you can lean. I promise to stand beside you in good times and in bad times. I promise to support you through all of life's joys and disappointments. To borrow from Brad Paisley, "You;re the voice I love to hear. Someday when I'm ninety, you're that wooden rocking chair I want rocking right beside me. Everyday that passes, I will only love you more. You are everything to me."

Everyone else is doing it!

So almost everyone else I know has a blog...so here I am...I hope to begin a long journey...documenting my life as a wife, daughter, sister, aunt, employee and friend...and maybe just maybe a mother one day.