Thanksgiving 2013

We had a great Thanksgiving this year. We were blessed to have my brother and my aunt and uncle come up to join us. We have many things to be thankful for this year.

1. The boys. I am so thankful God blessed me with my three little boys. They are all so smart and funny. I am thankful they are all healthy and happy. Even though they drive me crazy on an almost daily basis, I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. 

2. I am thankful for my job. It is tiring and can be a huge challenge but it also is very fulfilling to be able to help people for a living. My boss and coworkers are all amazing people to work with. 

3. I am thankful for my nephew Christopher. I am grateful that I got to be an aunt for 5 months. Christopher has taught me to see what is truly important in life and that every person and moment is fleeting. Nothing lasts forever so cherish that which is important. 

4. I am thankful for my brother, that he found a great job and happiness, that he is in a good place in life right now.

5. I am thankful that I live in a country where I am safe and free. I am thankful for our troops that risk their lives to protect my freedom.

6. I am thankful for the last three years with my mom. She was diagnosed with cancer three years ago and has done very well with the treatments. I am thankful for every moment I get with her and for her health.

Wordless Wednesday: Honoring Christopher (06.27.13)

{Wordless Wednesday} My Boys

Before church on Sunday

100 {and nine...} Words on My Mom

I could never describe in 100 words how wonderful my mom is. There really are not enough words in the world to do the job. She has been my best friend for as long as I can remember. She is a beautiful, smart, kind, loving, and inspirational woman.  She has taught me so many things throughout the years but nothing as important as second chances. I was not an easy child to deal with and my mom never gave up on me. She is resilient and compassionate. She is fun and funny. She is the best mom in the entire world. How did I get to be so lucky?

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{Little Moments} Shoes in the Kitchen

Do you ever have those moments where something little {and sometimes quite unexpected} can make you fall head over heals in love with your kids again?

This morning as I was leaving for work, I came across a pair of Jacob's shoes strewn on the kitchen floor. This is not unusual. His shoes end up everywhere. But for some reason, this morning, they tugged at my heart strings. Looking at those little shoes made me crazy about him all over again. It made me want to abandon all sense of right and burst into his room where he was sleeping, scoop him up out of bed, and snuggle with him in the rocking chair. It made me want to breathe all of him in and savor it. It made me want to call into work and spend the day playing Batman and singing silly songs.

I don't know what it was about those shoes this morning. But I am crazy about that kid. And even though they were Jacob's shoes that I found, of course, I am madly in love with both of my little monsters!

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Cherish The Moments

When Jacob had his two year pictures taken, I got them back and thought Wow! He is SUCH a big boy now!!!


I pulled my frames out of boxes today as the Christmas decorations came down. And when I took Jacob's two year pictures from the frame to replace them with his three year pictures, I took a moment to look at them. Awww, he was SO little! I thought to myself.

It's just another reminder at how quickly time passes. So I am making it a goal to remember to cherish every moment, even the ones where I want to pull out my hair and just scream. Because before I know it, the boys will be off to college and out on their own and I'll be left wondering where the time went and longing for the days of "don't hit your brother" and "do you need to go to time out?," where their whining and screaming would be enough to send me over the edge.

The moments are fleeting. Another whole year has passed. Let's make the most of the time we have.

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The Best Part of the Day

My favorite time of day is right before bedtime. No, I don't mean before my bedtime where, if I'm lucky, I can sneak a few moments of me time. I mean before the kids' bedtime. On a typical night we are all four in the nursery (it used to be our bed but has graduated to the nursery now) just spending time together. We are usually all in our pajamas and there are lots of tickles, laughs, snuggles, hugs, and kisses. (And lately, somersaults from Jacob) We aren't thinking about cleaning up the kitchen or picking up toys or preparing for the next day. We are simply living life in the present and soaking up the last moments with our precious babes before we settle them to sleep for the night. It's the perfect end to the day. 

photo from February

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Wordless Wednesday: Brothers

There is SO MUCH that I want to say about this picture but I will refrain seeing as how it's WordLESS Wednesday. Tomorrow, however, I guarantee nothing....

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Jordan's First Birthday Party

We had a great time at Jordan's first birthday party. We did a Winnie The Pooh theme, thanks to my husband buying me the Wilton 3D Bear cake pan. I think it all turned out really cute.

We invited our family and close friends and it was a small party which was nice. Jordan got a lot of nice things as gifts - including new carseats for our cars {okay, this was more for us than for him ;-) } He was getting a bit overwhelmed with all the new things but he didn't have any meltdowns or anything. Jacob was slightly jealous of his new things but they ahve been good about sharing them.

The cake turned out pretty cute but I didn't think it tasted the greatest. We didn't take too many pictures of Jordan eating it since he already had his first taste of cake on his actual birthday. But he still enjoyed it!

Now on with the pictures from the party!

pooh cake

birthday banner

all set up

the highchair balloons

yummy fruit salad

plates, napkins, utensils all set up

opening his first present

"WOW!!!" - Jacob, he decided to open this one himself

Jordan checking out the weebles tree house from Marcy, Bob, Stella, and Anthony

opening presents

rocking horse from Grandma Joan (GG)

If there's something to climb on, Jordan is on it

opening presents

xylophone from Uncle Buddy

showing him how it works

he likes it!

opening  more presents

car track from Mom and Dad

he was not a fan of the birthday hat

Jordan and his cake

playing with the balloon strings

digging in

he likes it

Jordan with Lolo and Papa

Jordan with Aunt Minnie

Jordan with Grandpa and Grandma

our family

eating the balloon ribbons

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Memorable Moments from July

1. Starting this blog on July 1st. 

2. Jacob running through the house carrying a plunger. Hilarious!

3. Celebrating 4th of July. It was Jordan's first 4th of July.

4. Hearing Jacob tell his brother how much he loves him. 

5. Watching fireworks with the boys. 

  

6. .Taking the boys to the park

 

7. Watching Jordan try new foods, such as corn on the cob.

8. Putting up bird feeders in our backyard and watching all the new birds come.

9. The storm that came and took down some of our tree branches. 

10. Jordan's 9 month doctor visit.

11. Jacob helping Grandpa take care of all the tree branches in our backyard

 

12. Caching for a Cure 2011  

13. Taking the boys to the Splash Pad

 

14. Saying goodbye to a family member, Isabelle

15. Getting my hair cut

14. Picking blueberries

15. Saying goodbye to my brother as he prepares to head to Indiana University for his MBA

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