Oh Baby! Oh Baby!

Today my cousins, Jill and Joy, and I hosted a shower for my sister Emily and my cousin Jenny (Jill and Joy's sister). It was a great afternoon spent together chatting, laughing, eating, and celebrating babies.

We did challenge their mothering skills before we let them open gifts. We made them identify baby foods, change a diaper and identify (the candy bar) in the dirty diaper. They both passed and it was super fun! :)

I was able to snap a few pictures...so I will let them do the talking! Enjoy!

Cousin Jenny Due August 23rd, Me Due August 10th, Sister Emily Due September 28th, and Sister in Law Tina Due October 29th. OH BABY!!

six things on a saturday morning

1. We had a busy week of VBS. Both girls had a great time....however watching Cece go through VBS for the first time was pretty cool. She was mesmerized by the whole week! To her it was completely magical.....it was all she could have imagined and more! She had so much fun even though it totally wore her out!

2. We are quickly approaching 33 weeks. We are making baby preparations. Her room is painted and her crib is up. Cece has even tried it out on a few occasions and she has been able to take some pretty sweet naps. So we think it will work :) The girls and I purchased a new baby bag earlier this week. Cece and I went through baby clothes and got them washed up. She made fun of me for talking baby talk as I went through the clothes. We had a lot of fun! Cece is pretty anxious for little sister to come along. She is so excited...she was born to be a big sister!

3. Our garden is growing like crazy. We even have a few zinnias popping out!

4. I have been busy this summer trying to finish up my classes before baby arrives. I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Soon very soon...no more assignments to work on or tests to take. I can't wait!

5. I have had a shark steam mop for over a month now....I am in love. It makes cleaning floors so much easier and it cleans so well. However, it does make me wonder what kind of filth we were living in before! :)

6. Cecilia learned how to blow a bubble this week. Pretty darn cool!

Happy Weekend!

well we did it.....

...we bought a new minivan!

Before we move on, I think the venture van needs a good bye. And I don't think we can properly say goodbye without telling her story. I mean we did spend 8 years and 100,000 miles together. So here goes...well at least this is how I remember it.......

I was 9 months pregnant with Ellie when I graduated college. I was driving a red two-door Pontiac Sunbird that I bought when I was 15....my little red sports car. Trust me...it was a sweet ride :) We had decided that Tim and I would switch cars once Ellie was born...he was driving a four door. We thought that would be easier for me with the baby. We had also discussed getting me a new car.

One day my mom called and asked me what I thought about getting a minivan. Honestly, we didn't know what to think...it was something we hadn't considered. I was 22 years old... mind you....minivans were not something I thought much about.

The next day she called back and said....we got you a minivan!

Two days after Ellie was born they delivered my minivan.

Graduate college, have a baby, get a minivan. yikes.

Good Bye Venture Van!

I quickly fell in love with the space and practicality of the minivan. Nothing beats those automatic sliding doors! I soon realized I would be driving a minivan for most of my adult life and that was fine by me.

She was a good van. She got us safely where we needed to go. She treated us well. She was also starting to show her age. It was time.

So...... like the saying goes.....out with the old and in with the new!

And boy oh boy am I excited for my new minivan!!

wordless wednesday: a country drive

On Saturday evening, we loaded in Papa's truck and went for a drive. Going for a drive through the country side was one of my favorite things to do as a child. It made my heart happy to share that with the girls and oh my goodness did they love it!

First we went to take a look at a pond that Papa had spent the last few days building. Once it is full of water it will be beautiful!

Then we headed to the "Spooky Road". The girls said it wasn't that spooky....i think if we took them through it in the dark they would be singing a different tune!

hello tuesday and a meal plan

hello tuesday? I can't believe it is tuesday...night....already. After a very relaxing weekend, Monday flashed by in a blurr. so I feel like I am playing catch up and I am trying to come from way behind. yikes.

hello amazing fathers...we are blessed with so many great fathers in our life!

hello more babies....just when you think there can't be any more babies joining our family...there are! Tim's brother and his wife found out last week they are expecting twins! babies are good!!

hello VBS. Both Ellie and Cece are going to VBS this year and absolutely loving it. And I am helping out with crafts.

hello 32 weeks.

hello soccer on a hot summer night

hello hope. who knew a grow man finishing singing the ABCs could make you feel so much hope...but it did. Jimmy and Erin are making good progress, however they both have a long way to go. prayers are working.

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hello meal plan.....

Monday: Sloppy Joes at Mom and Dads

Tuesday: Cereal before Soccer Games

Wednesday: Chicken Fajitas
*carryover from last week

Thursday: ???

Friday: Brats and PW's Macaroni Salad...supposedly the Best Macaroni Salad Ever!!

10 years

10 years ago I was head over heels in love.

I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

I was marrying an amazing man.

A man I knew would love me, take care of me, support me, provide for me with all he had....

and that I would do the same for him.

I didn't think it could get any better than that.

Then I spent the next 10 years building a life with him

and guess what...it did get better.

Way better.

Actually just when I don't think I can love him any more...

I do.

He is the perfect match for me.

He loves me unconditionally.

He makes me laugh.

He cares for our family.

He is a amazing father to our girls.

He builds me tomato cages and makes me dinner.

He puts up with all my crazy ideas.

He loves me.

Now, I know I am the luckiest girl in the world.

I love you, Tim.

soccer

Cece played in her first soccer game on Tuesday evening. Here she is all ready to go! She has been talking about playing soccer for weeks now and was super excited. When we got to the fields she got a little shy, but she came around. She played very hard and she had tons of fun! I didn't get any action photos from her game....don't you worry I will:)

 

Sisters all ready for Soccer! Ellie is playing soccer in our church league as well. And Little Sister did plenty of kicking during their games too! :)

Ellie had been playing in another soccer league on Saturdays. She has two Saturdays of play left. Here are some pictures from her last game. And by some you know I mean a whole bunch...right?!?

 

Enjoy :)