Looking forward..

We've had a busy week! I can't believe it already Friday. Nolan had an eye appt this morning for his uncooperative clogged tear duct. Doc wasn't as helpful as I was hoping...so now we wait some more....

We scored tickets to this weekend's Purdue vs. ND football game. We are so excited. It'll be nice to be away from the kids awhile and visit with some friends too!

On another exciting note...we finally bought a new ring. Shocking, I know. It has only been since November that I lost my original diamond. I was worth the wait.

Check back early next week and maybe I'll have pics from this weekend.

Happy belated party Nolan

Bad mommy just realized she never shared Nolan's b-day party pics. Bad mommy almost didn't even have a b-day party for Nolan. I mean, does a one year old even need a party? The good mommy in me, however, thought better of it, and started planning. And then...things changed. We ended up going up north to celebrate, but we had two parties, which is really twice as fun! It was nice to visit with everyone and eat cake..twice actually. Thanks to all who helped out!

Here is Nolan's special birthday banner I made. It took forever to make but it was worth it. All I have to switch is the pics and it's ?? birthday banner! Don't you want one now too?

Nolan on his actual birthday. The boys helped make the cake. Nolan didn't really know what to think of all the fuss...the singing, the candles, the cake.

Party #1..see how excited Nolan is:

Living the good life for sure. All tuckered out.Party #2: by this point he thinks we've gone mad.

I came across this and felt that it was good enough to share. Before I was a christian I never really got it. I personally know that people tend to put off seeking God because they think that accepting Him will make their live inconvenient (having to go to Church, giving up sinful behavior, etc...) but in reality accepting Christ makes things so much easier.

http://asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com/2008/09/from-my-heart.html

Don't put off the decision to do so....not deciding is still deciding.

Photocards

Holy crap. I just posted my first ad on craigslist for my cards...kinda scary...kinda exciting!

We'll see if anyone bits....

If anyone knows me, they now that I am not a morning person. So when my phone rang shortly after 8:45 am one beautiful September morning I was a little annoyed. I still has 15 minutes to sleep before I had to get up to make it to my 10:00 am job where I was a teller at a local bank.

It was my mom and see seemed a little panicky.

"Turn on the TV and see this"

I watched as the second plane hit on live TV. I couldn't even begin to understand the gravity of what was going on.

Jason, just my boyfriend at the time, was at Purdue. All phone lines where busy. You could not get through. I guess everyone was checking on their loved ones...just in case.

As I drove to work and listened intently to the events unfolding...I remember being scared that planes were going to begin falling out of the sky.

By the time I arrived at work, we had a TV set up in the lobby and watched as things started to become clear that this was not an accident. We watched the plane hit the pentagon. The towers fall. United 93. I will never forget the disparity. The sadness.

There were very few customers that day. But alot of calls. Alot of reassuring and alot of older people wanting large sums of money. I think some people feared that the whole economy was on the verge of collapse. Especially those who lived during the stock market crash.

I made my best friend and her boyfriend spend the night at my apartment. So I wouldn't have to be alone. CNN was on all night. I would drift off and wake up to images that will forever be with me. People who survived, firefighters, police. Heroes.

My life was forever changed that day. Continued to be changed because of that day. The war on terror...the Iraqi war...all lead back to it.

When me and Jason first meet and I found out he was in the reserves, I asked him if he was scared to go to war. "Who's gonna go to war with the US" he said. That was 2000. What a difference a year makes.

I wasn't a Christian then. I am sure that I would have handled that day different if I had been. I do remember that all the sudden God becoming center stage in America. In God We Trust was all the sudden ok again. I didn't see God in that day. I saw hate and anger. Now, I see his mercy, his love.

The patriotism, the coming together as a nation was amazing. People sacrificed for each other. People wanted to fight and win over terrorism. No politics, no party lines. People were courteous and nice. It's sad that it takes a national tragedy to show love to your neighbor.

I will never forget and I am sure you won't either. So many things will never be the same.

I pray for those left behind and those who's lives have been forever affected. May God give them peace in their pain.

Weekend in Ohio

We're back from the much anticipated "get-away"...We headed to Cincy last weekend to meet up with Jason's brother/wife/son and dad. It's been almost 2 years since Jason and Josh have seen each other! Josh recently got out of the military and has since moved to Alabama. I have never been there, but now we have a great excuse to go!

We planned a Friday night Cubs vs. Reds game and guess what? It rained! Bummer cause having four kids at the ballpark is not enough stress. They ended up losing. Double bummer.

With Nolan, it was either this:Or this:

On Saturday, we headed to the Creation Museum. If you thought about going....go. It's not the greatest thing to take the kiddo along with, lots of reading and very few 'hands-on' exhibits. We are definitely going back...sans kids. Love this pic I got in the botanical gardens. Next time, I am planning on taking more time to shoot out there.We stayed Saturday night too and ended up checking out one of the local churchs on Sunday. It was...well, it was uninspiring and almost wishy-washy. Too bad too. The theme was serving one another. Hard to imagine messing that one up??

What. What's this. More Cubs pics??? Have you had enough all ready?

See that...we are at the game again on Sunday. Believe me, it wasn't my idea. They lost too. Again. Maybe I did get something out of that service earlier in the day...selflessness, caring more about others happy vs. self...j/k. I ended up working out ok. We got the tickets cheaper than the ones we bought from the Reds a few weeks earlier. Gotta love those scalpers. The weather was gorgeous and there isn't really anything in life that a little cotton candy can't fix. There was a silver lining. After the game, the kids were allowed on the field to run the bases. Well, kids as in anyone with kids with them could run the bases. The boys were excited. How many times do you get to go onto a Major League field?

See this?? A pic with me in it. Too bad each kid has the dumbest expression...guess I can't win them all.

Happy birthday Nolan

It's hard to believe that just one year ago, we didn't know what you would bring into our family...Then your here, and we can't imagine what life was without you!

It's been months of growth, teaching, learning, milestones.

12 glorious months of smiles, tears, and giggles

Many new adjustments.

365 days of joy, worry and wonder.

I love you more than you know.

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY NOLAN!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe my little baby is one!

Who says laundry has to be boring??

Here is what we did today:

Before....

After....

We still have to paint the trim white and take down the rest of the track from the closet doors. I used to like the fact that I was able to hid things in there and just shut the doors. But since out front loaders are too deep, we had to take the doors off. This was the solution we can up with. What do you think??

I love black cabinets. Now it off to the boys bathroom...I'm so painting the oak in there black after seeing how great these look (gasp!) Maybe I'll do some fun stripes on the wall too!

New pics

This is the best your gonna get. No wordy updates...I know your suprised. Nolan says it best I think:

I keep promising to get back on the ball with this blog. Maybe if I stop with all the empty promises, something will give. See..Cam doesn't believe me either...

Warning!! Pic overload ahead:

I took these all downtown last night. Which is your favorite?

Dear Blog

How I think about you all the time. I think about all the fun things in my life that you help me share with the world. I really love you. I just don't have time for you right now. Please forgive me for my lack of interest in you lately. You see, I am too just too busy for you right now. No, you have not be replaced. I just feel like you can't be number 1 right now. I am sorry that I spend time with other blogs and not you. It's just that they give me more satifaction reading about my friends and all THEIR cute kids and seeming have-it-all-together lives. I will try hard to rekindle our relationship...I know that you long to have attention too. Tell you what, maybe I will even update your music and slideshow. It's the least I could do for neglecting you so this summer. I have so much to share with you. I hope you still love me....

<3
-me

Pics of people you probably don't know

I took these yesterday. Too bad their not my kids...because I think they are my favorite yet! I am glad they turned out decent...this was the first time I took pics for someone I didn't know.

What do you think??


Thanks Cathy...you are awesome for helping a sister out! I owe you now.

We're off to our "mini-vacation" :) See ya when we get back.

Obama Supporter??

I saw this and was shocked! Please read and be an informed voter!

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Election2008/Default.aspx?id=204974

I am not trying to start a political debate or pursuade you one way or the other. I just think this is shaddy that they would do this...if they do this, what else are they going to cover up???

-J

Gavin

Gavin is now 6 years old and is starting 1st grade in 19 days!!! Yes. we know because we are counting. I am ready for a little break. If you ask him, "not really, but it's ok." I love his school and his teacher this year is awesome, so we are looking forward to new adventures and all the new stuff he'll learn.

With his new best girl:

Still looks like his daddy:

Speaking of school, I don't think I have ever shared pics of his graduation. Quite cute if you ask me. They had a great program showing off all the things they learned this year. I love his school, have I mentioned that already?!?
Gavin has learned to ride his bike without training wheels. A feat overcome only because a certain "girl" he knows, that is younger by the way, could do it. Positive peer pressure is wonderful. He had so much fun playing t-ball this year too. Not that a two week hiatus helped or anything....it was a nice break. The rain on the other hand....every day...not so much.

Notice in most of these pics, he isn't looking my way. That would be because if he is, he is making some goof off face.

Gavin's creativity, the one things he did get from me, besides my bad attitude/temper, is showing up more and more. I love that he like to "create" things from scraps of odd things to make something beautiful. He is frequently setting up "scenarios" and such for Cameron and Nolan and then gets mad when they wreck them (go figure!)

Setting up a pit stop for walkers in the neighborhood. He tried to charge a fee, but that didn't fly :)

Thanks uncle Jake for the b-day present. Just what I need, a tattoo artist for a son. Check this out: momma was NOT home at the time. I don't necessarily agree with this pic, but it is funny. Thanks Andrew for the cool pirate costume :) For his birthday last month, we threw him a small party with some friends of his and their families. We kept it small (mainly because these friends have siblings...many siblings :) I think they had a great time and Gavin enjoyed his presents (because to him it seems like that is all that a party would be for...hello?!) and the yummy chocolate cupcakes.

His actual birthday was the next day. It was Sunday, so the morning was spent in church and then we went to a Japanese steakhouse for lunch (yum!) Gavin thought that was pretty cool. Jason took him fishing during nap time and then it was chuck e cheese for dinner (big surprise, I know). He said it was his best birthday yet! Gavin loves to try new things and is rarely afraid of anything...makes a momma a little nervous, ya know??

Getting a little wet in the dunk tank at my brothers graduation party. He had a blast dunking the cousins and getting dunked!

Mom: "what do you love"

Gavin: "ugh...(big smile)...

*candy

*my dog

Mom: "what else"
Gavin: "uhh...mmmm.....I don't know"
Mom: "what you like to do"
Gavin: (laughing)

*play with the neighbor kids
*call people on the telephone (?!?)
*talk to bunny rabbits (???)

Mom: "let's be serious, this is for the blog"
Gavin: "no, no it's not, let's be silly"
Mom: "GAVIN"
Gavin: "ok..."

*swimming

Mom: favorite food
Gavin: all I like is blueberries (probably because that is what he ate last)

Mom: more

*bacon
*scooter
*coloring
*I really like to play with my friend Micah
*looking out my window at bedtime

Dislikes (per Gavin):
*onions!
*peppers
*shopping
*hot sauce
*spankings

Next: what about the folks??? What WE have been up too lately!