The Gounaris Family

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Christmas is Here!

Well, Christmas is just one day away! While I will have many pictures after the holidays (I am going to Wisconsin on Friday!), I have been informed that I need to update my blog : ) So, here are some pictures of Tom and I when we went to the city a couple weeks ago to see the tree! Stay tuned for more pictures and lots of family updates at the start of the new year! 




"That's what she said"





Saturday, November 29, 2008

Turkey Day Pictures!!!

We had a GREAT Thanksgiving! Here are a few Pictures!

Me and Tom relaxin' on the sofa

Nick in his Turkey apron!
Denise with little Anthony
Angelo, Anthony, and Tommy
Me and Christopher


Tom and Anthony!

The kids relaxing after all the Turkey!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Hello??

Hmm...I guess LacyCat is the only one thankful for anything....either that or nobody reads my blog anymore. Come on people! 

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

I know, bad Sarah, I am getting horrible at updating my blog. I'm just not doing anything fun so I have no pictures. Without pictures, I have nothing to write but stuff I would rather keep to myself. Tom and I are both just working hard.


I just got a new calling at church...2nd counselor in Young Womens...I've never worked with YW before so this should be fun. I went to YW today and it was quite different then what I grew up with in New Mexico. There were only 2 girls...14 and 15! Fun stuff. This is the first time I've had a calling other than something related to music. Although, I am still the assistant music coordinator for the ward. Two Callings...whoohoo!

We are excited for Thanksgiving coming up. We are going to my brother and sister-in laws home for the holidays. I'm making pumpkin and apple pie, and my favorite green bean casserole. They have the cutest little boys...3 of them...all 2 and younger! We are happy to spend some time with them. My brother Andrew and his wife and little boy were supposed to come too...but plans changed. I am going to Green Bay, WI to visit them right after Christmas. I haven't seen my nephew, Allen, since he was 6 weeks old so I am EXCITED to say the least!!

Best of all about THANKSGIVING, it's a great time to think and reflect on what I am thankful for. First of all, I am thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am grateful that because of Him, we all have the opportunity to live with our Heavenly parents again and be with our families forever. I can't even imagine my life without Him.
Next, I am thankful for FAMILY. All of them...on both sides! But most of all I am thankful for my husband. He is such a wonderful and unique person. I am constantly amazed by his amazing ideas and his knowledge. I've never been treated so kindly and loved so deeply by anyone. I just look at him and he makes me want to smile. He's always trying to make me and everyone around him laugh. I love that about him...he brings laughter and happiness to my life when sometimes I think I don't have anything to be happy about. Thank you Tom for all you do.
I can't leave out my mother...even though she is gone, I am so thankful for all she taught me and left me with. She is the reason I am who I am and I love her.
I am also so grateful for my dad and his new wife Cathie. My dads very quiet, just like me, so it was hard for me to know how he was doing after mom died. But, I KNOW that Cathie makes him happy. I can see that. I am grateful for the sweet cards and packages she sends letting me know that they both love and care about me.
I am thankful for the laughter and sweet spirits of children. Maybe it's because I was the youngest in my family, so I didn't have any annoying younger siblings...but I just LOVE children. I can never have a job that doesn't involve children. They just make my day! Yes, it's hard at times...but they are so innocent and sweet...all of them. They just need someone to love and teach them.
Last, I am thankful for my life. This year was a close call, but I am grateful that Heavenly Father let me stick around a little longer. I hope I can still accomplish many great things in my (hopefully) long life!

So...this is what I am most thankful for. What are you thankful for this holiday season?



Saturday, November 01, 2008

one last thing

I was hoping that everyone could take my last name off their blogs?? Some of you have it listed in the links and some have mentioned it in a post. I don't like that when someone googles my name it can lead to my blog. Thank you so much! If you could do that as soon as possible I would appreciate it! : ) I don't want to have to set my blog to private.

My Brother Andrew has a Twin!

I just have to post this! EVERY time I see this guy I have to do a double take because I think it's my brother Andrew. They look EXACTLY the same! No joke! This guy, whose name is Barret, is in my stake here in NY (I think I stole the pic. from Jen's facebook, sorry). For those of you who know my brother...can  you guess which one is him? : ) 


WHO IS WHO?????





And...I just want to say that I love my brother! He's the best and I miss him! I haven't seen him in FOREVER. I'm so excited because Andrew, his wife Sarah, and their little boy Allen are coming to visit for Thanksgiving. HIP HIP HOORAY! Now, if only Kim could come too, life would be grand! : )


This is Andrew and I the day I graduated college!

Finally an Update!

Sorry for the lack of blogging lately. We've been so busy. Nothing too exciting. Just the boring day to day stuff. Seems like there is always something to do and no down time for us. We recently moved...again. I'm thinking I won't take pictures this time. It's getting kind of old that we move so much. Our apartment in Glen Cove had a few problems...mold being one of them. We just thought that we would take the chance to get out of it while we could. We now live in Queens and are MUCH happier to live in a newer and cleaner apartment. Tom only has a 20 min. ride on the train to get to work which makes him a happy camper. My commute to work is not so hot...but I have found a closer job which is MUCH better for me.
Anyway, on to the pictures! Our good friends Brooke and Frank came to visit NY! They have been living in Hawaii for the past little while. We got together for dinner with them, Dave and Julie, and Deanna and Bryant...all friends from our days in the singles branch. Frankie was leaving the next week to fight the war in Afghanistan so Julie made him a REALLY cool and yummy tank cake!
Enjoy the pictures!


Deanna and Bryant

Me, Brooke, Deanna, and Julie

Julies AWSOME cake!

Brooke, Deanna, and half of Bryant

Julie, Dave, Frankie, and Brooke!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

There has got to be a record for 5 posts in 1 day!

Jacque and Tigh are visiting in NYC this week! We went to Olive Garden Friday night, the broadway show Spamalot, and bowling at Dave & Busters on Saturday! It was super fun! I'm so glad I got to see them while they were here. It's nice seeing a familiar face when I am so far away from home!

Times Square


Jacque and Tigh at Dave and Busters


Me and Jacque

Random #2

This was a HUGE accomplishment for me to FINALLY get this little girl to smile! She spent the first 3 weeks crying EVERY DAY, ALL DAY and not easting a thing!! I am happy to say she has finally adjusted!!


Another little girl in my class that is just the CUTEST thing EVER!!!

My Third of Five Posts for Today!

As requested by Jacque...here are pictures of our current dwelling! BIG thanks to Dad and to Toms Mama for helping us get it put together when I was so sick!!

Master Bedroom


Master


Closet--This was pretty much what sold me on the apartment...I NEED at LEAST this size closet!!


Bathroom


The Loft


Living Room--smallest living room you will probably EVER see!!!


Kitchen


Random

This is me after I woke up...I felt equally as awful as I look...but at least I had Morphine! 

This is just one of the many bruises I had for a couple weeks after I got out of the hospital. I had a total of 6 IV's!! Luckily I was unconscious when most of them were put in!

This is me about 2 days before I lost the baby. Mostly it is so big because of swelling :0 I have lost 18 lbs since this picture! Whoohoo 

This is my dad at the beach when he came out to help me

And this is dad by the lighthouse!

Labor Day Weekend in Upstate NY

So, I know these pictures are seriously very late, but at least I got them on here. I'm sure most of you already saw them on facebook. If not, enjoy!
Tom and I wanted/needed to just get away for a little weekend. We went to upstate NY where his uncle has been building a cabin over the last 15 years. It was AMAZING! We had so much fun and can't wait to go back! Hopefully in the next few weeks we can take another trip to see all the leaves changing--my favorite thing about fall. :)

The Cabin


Authentic sign from Greece (Tom found it on his mission). It says "Gounaris Street"


Tom and I on the quads


These spider webs were EVERYWHERE when we woke up in the morning!


Nothing runs like a Deere!
 

The inside kitchen and stairs


I can't believe his uncle built all this--it's so amazing!


The view


The teepee!!!


Roasting marshmallows!




See the little house over there--that belongs to Yoko Ono!


Tom and Theo Thanasi cutting fire wood!


4-Wheelers are awesome!