Bill and Christie Lee

Winter Play

2012-01-31T08:16:00.006-05:00

When its too cold to go outside what is a boy to do?

-Play with toys (of course)

-Work on the truck

-Make muffins

-Ride bikes

-And play with friends (if they are willing to venture out in the cold to my house) :)

But lately the weather has been a bit crazy but totally in our favor. We have been able to take the occasional walk because the temp has reached up into the 50s! Today it reached 60! and you better believe we were outside as much as possible!

Here is our winter one year ago.

Here it is today. Notice Lake is NOT even frozen!
Pretty crazy weather but I like it!

Our Big Decision!

2012-01-28T10:07:00.011-05:00

In November interviews began. This picture was taken the night of Bill's very first interview. (He doesn't like this pic fyi.....funny smile.) We were invited to a dinner with a few people from the emergency dept. The night was perfect! We enjoyed the city and meeting these wonderful charismatic people whom would eventually become his co-workers. We both had a VERY good feeling that would LAST and stick with us throughout the rest of Bill's interviews.

Meanwhile, Jackson stayed back at the hotel while we were painting the town RED! (Hint Hint) JK he was enjoying his time with cousins (Carter & Landon. Hint) at their house. I took this in the hotel and he looked so bored. :)

On Tuesday, January 24th I sat next to my incredible husband while he SIGNED with the hospital we first interviewed with on that rainy night.

We are so excited to announce that our next move will be to
the VERY COOL city of

CINCINNATI

1993 - "Most Livable City"
2004 - Partners for Livable Communities
2004 - Ranked #5 as a U.S. arts destination, American Style Magazine
2004 - Top Ten "Cities that Rock", Esquire magazine, April 2004
2007 - Ranked #1 city in Ohio for "Best Cities For Young Professionals" and #18 overall, Forbes magazine
2008 - Ranked #10 as the most walkable city in the United States and #1 in Ohio.
2011 - Ranked #5 in "America's Most Affordable Cities" Forbes magazine
2011 - Ranked #1 "residential remodeling market" in the United States by Remodeling Magazine
2011 - Ranked #7 as the "Most Romantic City" in the United States by Amazon.com
2012 - Ranked #3 for Top US Travel Destinations by "Lonely Planet"

NOT TO MENTION:

Newport Aquarium
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Reds
Bengals
Skyline Chili
Oktoberfest!
Over the Rhin e....LOVE
Fountain Square
Findlay Market
Creation Museum (well actually over the river in KY but close)
Great Wolf Lodge
IKEA !!!!!
Whole Foods
Jungle Jim's International Market !

AND Much Much more!

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Most importantly, we both have family there. My brother Tommy and his sister Tamme live just south of the city, over the Ohio river, in KY. Bill also has his Gpa Blevins and a number of Aunts, Uncles & Cousins in the area. The rest of our family members are only under 2 hours away. We are thrilled to finally be closer! My friends Shelly and Katie are there too.....College roommates and good friends!
So, the city comes with built-in friends and family to keep us company and make us feel at home.
We want to thank all our friends and family for their prayers over the last 3 months. It was very hard because other places were very desirable as well but in the end we went with what FELT right. We JUST KNEW! And we believe the Lord is behind that feeling!

I guess this guy knew all along where we were headed.
(Jackson 6 weeks old at his first Cincinnati Reds game)

A Look Back and a New Year!

2011-12-31T19:02:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year! We are looking forward to 2012 for so many reasons. New job, move, travel and more time with family just to name a few. God has big plans and we strive to follow His lead. We pray you do the same.
Enjoy a look back on 2011....

click here
and here
and here
and here
and here
and here
and here

Christmas was so wonderful this year! Bill had enough time off to allow us to spend good quality unrushed time with our family.

Early Christmas-Late Snow

2011-12-18T22:01:00.007-05:00

Christmas came early for us this week. We realized the night before that there was only one morning we could do OUR Christmas before we left for home. So, we started wrapping and assembling.

Christmas came REAL EARLY that next morning because Jackson decided to wake up extra early but that was ok. We were excited for him to see his new trike. He LOVED it, well eventually! He just wouldn't part with his sippy cup for the longest time. It takes him a while to wake up in the morning and it was just too much to have to wake up to a new bike. SO, we didn't get the excitement we had hoped but it eventually came later on that day.

Jackson had such a hard time getting anything out of his stocking. His "serious face" was just too serious for Christmas morning.....I eventually had to help him.

For some reason Jackson wanted to fan baby Jesus with his new airplane sucker thingy. Cute and weird but maybe he felt Jesus needed to be cooled down.

It was so fun to watch him open gifts and get all excited!

When Bill opened his big gift Jackson quickly forgot about the toys he had just unwrapped. He would do nothing else but help daddy with HIS new toy. It was too precious and his serious face came back.

We had a nice little Christmas together and look forward to spending time with our families this coming week.
Thank you, Friends & Family, for your beautiful cards and holiday wishes!
We hope everyone has a very blessed Christmas
and many many blessings in 2012!

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We were SO excited to wake up to snow Sunday morning. We wasted No time in getting outside to play in it. Jackson was so excited and curious about the snow. He enjoyed falling in it and eating it.

Later Jackson came in the kitchen with Bills snow boots on. SO funny and especially funny watching him walk in them. He still loves that kitty so much! :)

This is How we Prepared for Christmas

2011-12-12T22:53:00.004-05:00

We bought a REAL tree for the first time this year!

Jackson picked the best one. (there is a man hiding behind the tree. ;)
Jackson helped me set the table.....

while Daddy prepared the Roast Beast.

Then we toasted in the season with some delicious Eggnog!

We put up the tree

Set up the Manger Scene

And sat back and basked in the Glow!

This is Jacksons FAKE smile. He was DONE taking pictures, had WAY too much Eggnog and was ready for bed!

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-12-03T17:14:00.005-05:00

We (mainly Bill) had a wonderful time taking pictures while we were home this Thanksgiving!
We have such a beautiful family. We love them more than any word or picture could convey!

Fun times at the Lee Farm on Gma and Papaws hay bales and at the pond.

We are so blessed to have Onah and Marie with us for their first Thanksgiving this year!

Sisters.....and now I am the SHORTEST! Even 14 yr old Megs is taller than me! I'm 20 years older than Megan and 9 years older than Bethany and they tower over me! Oh well. I knew I would eventually be the shortest of all 6 of my younger siblings.

Bill took some awesome shots of Megan on her longboard.

Sunny Days

2011-11-10T19:32:00.004-05:00

We are enjoying this unusually warm November. Of course, as I type, temps have dropped and we are expected to get snow. To have a few extra days to run and play outside allowed us to go for a few extra long walks to the park, etc. Its one of our family favorites! But I must say, I can't wait to get that first BIG snow storm. I am one of those people who LOVE Rainstorms and Snowstorms. Its exciting to me. I have a child that wants to play outside rain or shine. So I know I will wrestle him into a snowsuit multiple times this winter to play outside which is fine with me. :)

Gma Papaw Part 2 & Halloween

2011-11-03T21:24:00.004-04:00

Grandma & Papaw Lee Visit Part 1

2011-10-31T22:11:00.001-04:00

Elmo Post

2011-10-21T13:18:00.006-04:00

I remember when Bill and I were registering at BabysRUs and we walked by all the Elmo stuff in the bath section. I said something like this...... "Ya know Bill, Jackson will probably want the Elmo stuff one day but I would NEVER register for all this stuff now! What an annoying creature! I can't stand his laugh!" Bill says something similar to this............"We are NOT registering for any Elmo Crap and we WON'T EVER have Elmo ANYTHING in our house." "I hate the red furry ........(I cant' remember what he called it but very funny)

Well guess who decided to grace us with his bright red, high pitched laugh?

And guess who loves him?

I guess its my fault really. There is one time during the day that I let Jackson what TV and its during Sesame Street. I loved it as a child. He started showing REAL interest in Elmo recently and can even say his name. What is it about Elmo that attracts kids? I guess its the Red and his Enthusiasm for Everything!

Back away from the TV a bit Jackson!

But he has won the heart of my sweet little angel. :)

P.S. Grandparents......This is in NO WAY an invitation to get him everything Elmo for Christmas. We still have our opinions about this annoying little creature. That is why we got him the NON-talking Elmo toy. :) Maybe we should get him interested in a different character except they are ALL annoying or creepy. So, we'll stick to Elmo I guess. He is endearing in a small way. Lego's............Jackson wants big chunky Lego's for Christmas! And NO not the Sesame Street ones with ELMO on them. ;)

Faces & Feet

2011-10-15T14:27:00.008-04:00

Tis the Season..........

2011-10-11T17:10:00.004-04:00

.....For a day at the Pumpkin Patch

Port Farms has all sorts of fun things for little guys to see and do!

You can EVEN do this!!!

Yes that's right! Milk a fake cow! What fun!

There's Hay mazes...

Silly fake horses to ride.....

Slides with Mommy....

Bunnys to pet....

This Firehouse bunny is NOT fit for the job!

And our Favorite.....Playing in the Corn!

We are enjoying the Fall here in Erie. Pennsylvania has had the most beautiful Fall leaves I have ever seen! They are just beginning to show color here. We look forward to Halloween this year too. Not completely sure what Jackson will be but we do plan on taking him out Trick or Treating a bit. It'll be too cute and Bill and I can't wait for him to work his charm so we can get our hands on Yummy CANDY! Hee Hee

Big Camping Post

2011-10-06T14:53:00.004-04:00

Wood's Tall Timber Lake Resort is where we stayed this past weekend. We suprised my friend Shelly when she showed up with her fiance Jake, expecting to tent camp. She was so happy to see us there and learn she WASNT going to camp but stay with us in the cabin. But boy did we get to know that cabin.

I'd imagine its pretty fun doing all the things WTTL offers there BUT the weather was so bad all we could do is imagine.

This wonderful resort is tucked in the woods in New Philadelphia, Ohio.

This place is HAPPENING in the summer months. Swimming, Paddle boating, canoeing, Putt-Putt, 9-hole golf coarse, hiking, etc.
Bill enjoying a nice cup of coffee. Jake called him the Old Spice guy from the commercial. He sure didn't smell like Old Spice.
Jackson was constantly sweeping. I brought toys for him but I guess he just felt the need to clean up after us.
We did wrap up a couple times and head out for a very brisk rainy walk and to check out the area and play some golf.

All of us. Jake's Son Slade came and brought his friend Austin. A fun couple of guys!

We enjoyed the Chili cook-off where I made my chili and won a WTTL Gift Card. Well there were only 3 of us that made chili so we ALL won gift cards. Ha! LOL. Lame but all the Chili was OH SO GOOD! Afterwards we went back to the cabin for warm Apple Crisp and a camp fire.

Jake made FABULOUS breakfasts!

And we took pictures. The lighting was actually perfect for picture taking.

I did some impromptu engagement pics for them. Not really engagement pics cause they were wearing their coats but it was fun anyways. They are such a wonderful couple and I cannot wait to see Shelly walk down the isle!

My Little Pizza Maker

2011-10-03T22:25:00.004-04:00

Just so cute!

Hiking in Asbury

2011-09-28T09:20:00.003-04:00

That is just what this post is...............pictures of hiking in Asbury woods.
Not much to say but wanted to share with the family (friends too) pics!!!
OH and say I am so blessed to have Bill home this week. (Although these pics were taken last week I think) We love doing all sorts of fun things together as a family and hiking is a big one! Jackson loves the exploring part. We love Gods beautiful creation and hearing nothing but birds, trees, the rustling leaves and I am sure I heard one of the boys fart a time or two but its all part of the experience. :)

Love Theater!

2011-09-21T16:17:00.005-04:00

A couple weeks ago Bill took me on a wonderful date celebrating our 10 year anniversary. He surprised me with Wicked tickets. Its a Broadway musical that came out about 5 years ago. I have wanted to see it since. Above is my favorite song and scene from the musical!
I was excited like a little girl that just opened up a Cinderella barbie doll on Christmas morning! Funny. So I am sure Bill was confident he did good. ;)
We ate dinner at a nice restaurant that we were both impressed with, then strolled down by the theater to eat dessert at an Italian restaurant.

The stage was always changing and AMAZING! The whole musical was more than I expected.
I really love theater. Bill took me to see my first broadway musical when we were dating.......Les Miserables. And now I catch as many plays/musicals as I can now that my brother Brandon is in theater. I love it and I especially LOVE seeing him act. I am proud of him for chasing after his passion! I am sad to have to miss his first professional role in Spring Awakening.

A Few of Jacksons' Favorites!

2011-09-14T14:00:00.003-04:00

Holding his banana himself

Climbing on the kitchen table to eat pears

Eating Spaghetti

Wrestling with Daddy
Bringing Mommy flowers (with Daddys help)

My favorite...........Relaxing!