WonderBug activity center

 A few weeks ago I entered into a contest on Twitter simply by retweeting a post from @parenting (Parenting Magazine). By some miracle, I actually won! Yesterday our prize arrived and I couldn't be more tickled. And Drew is enjoying it as well.

The first photo is her enjoying her previous, much older saucer. That saucer has made it through 6 children!

As you can see in the photos, the WonderBug activity center from Kolcraft is her choice of extracurricular activity. Thank you to Kolcraft and Parenting!

and He has Risen

I feel like I can now relate slightly with both my mom and my sister after a visit from the Easter Bunny this past Sunday. And maybe more so with my mother... First, Lia is very much like her aunt Casey... it's almost scary sometimes. While they are different in many ways, they are very much alike in the way where Easter eggs and baskets need to be at eye level. Or you will die before you find them. And you will curse Easter for the rest of your life.

On the other hand I can relate more with my mom. She had to go through this every year with Casey and of course I look forward to doing the same with Lia. I have very little patience for whining and when the whining escalates to tears... I give Dave the look and he steps in and does what he does best... calms the girls down... I need to work on my skills. In the meantime I'll just photograph the memories ;) Fortunate for us the Easter Bunny was lazy this year and all the baskets were on the table, thus only eggs needed to be found. Mom, shut it.

ANYWAY, Easter was great! Beautiful weather, lots of food, great company... and only a few tears shed.

goodies

Just for fun, this post is a small collection of some of the fun things here at the moment... or maybe... things I like at the moment...

First... in keeping with my new year's resolutions, I started my third book for the year. Now... I know I stated I wanted to read 2 books a month but come on, this is a house of EIGHT... laundry alone takes up my free time ;) Kidding... I get to snack on sticky buns and Rolo's somewhere in that free time too. I have actually read this book before but wanted to touch base again and pull myself together so... don't judge ;)

This is my most favorite. During our annual shopping trip to the Mall of America, I ran across this in The Afternoon store. This store quickly became one of our favorites in the last few years. BUT I saw this journal and had to have it for Lia and myself. Her and I both are in love with the idea of this journal.

Lastly for today are these bags. I received two of these for Christmas and I'm in love. They run around in the bottom of my purse and I try my darnedest to remember to use them every chance I get. And to top it off, all the patterns are super adorable! I have this exact one but couldn't find a photo of the second purple one I received...

This is not a blog entry to advertise for any of these products... these are just a few things I'm loving on at the moment :)

How Great Thou Art

Brought me to tears... Amazing.

cookie cutter children

Almost every time I'm out and about with the kids, people comment how they're all just "cookie cutter" children or made from the same "cookie cutter." I guess I didn't realize how much they look alike... until these photos I took the other day while Nash and Drew were both sleeping. Almost scary! I still think they all look quite different yet the same in some tiny ways...all adorable nonetheless.

Now... who is who?!?  ;)

Nash, then Drew.
I think...

I do!

I always said when I was growing up... "I'm never going to say that to my kids!" Well... they must have done something right because I catch myself repeating a lot of the same things to my own kids. My only hope is my kids learn some things I learned from my parents. After 33 years of marriage, I have learned couples disagree, couples argue, but I also learned couples work through tough times, do things together, and love each other unconditionally. Watching my parents' marriage only makes me excited for the years Dave and I have ahead of us... here's to you Mom and Dad! Thank you for the example you're giving and here's to many, many more years together... and many, many, MANY more years of Dad's deer-in-the-headlights-smile!

I apologize for this being late but... I'm lazy... I LOVE YOU! :)

warby parker style with auntie

Aunt Casey got some new spectacles but first needed to try some out. Tayt and Luke helped. Sorta. These two boys... sometimes I'm not sure if they really like each other or not but they are quite the pair. I know it'll only get worse. :)

my blog

I'm working right now... or telling Dave that I'm working right now while I do some blog browsing and jumping back and forth between those blogs and my work program... anyway... I ran across this blog and absolutely fell in love with how she explained herself. When I first started this blog, I knew there were some things I didn't really care to discuss in great deal on here... reasons of which I will spare you of right now... but in this process, I never want to give the impression that our family has it together here... I'm not convinced we ever have anything together... except we know who we are, what we stand for, and that there is a great deal of love in this house... I'm rambling... back to the point, kind of ... I love #2 on her FAQs, especially this...

One more thing. Please keep in mind that on this blog I attempt to keep things very positive and showcase the best and prettiest things happening in my life. That doesn’t mean there aren’t bad days and failed projects and lost tempers. At the end of the day, blogs are a show. I suppose that’s why we like them so much.

:)

April 12, 2000 - the day our lives changed forever

Wow. I am in so much disbelief after digging out these photos... hurts my heart. I surely didn't think 11 years ago I'd feel this way. This child changed our lives in so many ways. He taught us to love. He taught us to live. He made us grow up in a hurry. And none of it I would change for anything. I blame this huge family on this little guy who got everything started. He was a miracle from God. A miracle I didn't even know I wanted so badly. He made so many things right and continues to bless us every day. He is everyone's favorite. And I know he knows it. Keep being you Peyton William. We love you so much.

Happy Birthday Peyton William!

June 2000 - 2-1/2 months



November 2000 - 7 months

June 2002 - 2 years

June 2004 - 4 years

2004-2005 school year - 4K



The Beast at 2!

This Child.... yet another heartbreaker! He gets in to everything, destroys nearly everything he comes in to contact with, and to top it off... has everyone wrapped around his little finger. He sure knows how to bat those wildly long eyelashes to his advantage. Every day he amazes us and every day I enjoy watching his personality grow... even if it is in to more of a beast. I'll take it ;)

Happy Birthday Beast!

It astonishes me daily how fast these kids grow... it's down right amazing!

 

Jax Man!

Just a short year ago I rushed to the hospital only to miss the birth of my second nephew by mere seconds. Hooray for speedy births!

This little man is such a ham. Those dimples and jagged teeth get me every time. He fits right in and I'm afraid Drew is in trouble being the girl around here after a cluster of 4 boys...

Happy FIRST Birthday Jax Man!

April 7, 2010 - enjoying

buds - Jax and Peyton

Jax Man on his day :)