baby baby baby

I am so very excited to be having a little girl. I had so much fun picking out bedding, colors, drapes and such for the boys room. BUT I am so much more excited to decorate a girls room. It just seems so much more fun with frills and such!

I just caved and bought this bedding moments ago.

I am in love with this mobile....

but it was $60, and I just splurged on the bedding. So, I'm going to attempt to make my own. I'm going to make the top similar with the two rings, but I'm going to attempt to make these little birds to hang from it.

I just went ahead and bought the valance because it was so darn cute, and I'm going to make yellow drapes to match. I'm not an expert seamstress, but I'm going to give it my best shot! I feel like between my mom, mother-in-law, and my expert seamstress friend, Jessica, I should be able to get this stuff accomplished with little tears...I'm hoping anyhow!

Oh I just want to go buy fabric and get started right now, but I need to clean this place up! Maybe tomorrow...

where has the time gone?!

It just dawned on me this morning that I can no longer call my little men toddlers. They are not toddling about, they are not mimicking noises - they are full on sprinting and using complete sentences. Um, where have I been, and why have I been calling these little boys toddlers?!

I told Bryan last night that I am having the hardest time with Isaiah turning 4 in April. I realize it's a few months away, but 4. Doesn't that sound so old to you? My first born is going to be 4. Yeah, I really can't get used to that idea.

I think all these thoughts started when we started looking at bunk beds for our boys. BUNK BEDS! Oh man, I'm not ready for these changes!

21 weeks!

21 weeks along, and I'm feeling quite large! I'm carrying this precious little girl a whole lot lower than I did my boys. She's quite the mover and shaker these days. Her most active time of day is around noon. 
A few days ago I laid down on the couch and she started going crazy, so I asked Isaiah if he wanted to feel his baby sister kick. He was so stinking excited. 
He put his hand on my stomach, and she kicked him pretty good. He ripped his hand back and his eyes got huge. "That girl just kicked me, Mom!" Then he quickly responded with, "Don't worry, I will kick her back". And he punched me in the stomach. 
Ouch! I was trying so hard not to laugh because I was not expecting that kind of reaction, but I could not help it. It was so darn funny. I did inform him that he couldn't hit me, but he was so confused why it was okay for the baby to kick him but not okay for him to hit her. Oh my, here we go.

random thoughts on a semi-sunny day

Sitting here, sipping my coffee, waiting for the boys to fall asleep so I can vacuum. I'm staring at my Christmas tree and smiling because it looks nothing like I decorated it a few weeks ago. The boys have moved balls and ornaments around; even the presents under the tree have been relocated a few times. Makes me laugh. I'm surprised we've only had two broken ornaments so far. I was expecting far more catastrophes. 

I'm also trying to decide if I want to splurge and buy a bedding set for our little girl, or if I want to keep my cheap, cute one I found at Target, or if I want to attempt to make my own. Yup, can't figure it out. The cheap side of me says, just stick with the Target one. But then I'd have to make a bed skirt anyway because the one that came with it is ugly. So then, the other side of me says, "If I'm making a bed skirt anyway, why not attempt the rest". Then the lazy side of me wants to buy the adorable set that I found on Ebay for half the cost of what it would cost to buy it from a store.....But, it's still more expensive than my cheap Target option. 

hmmmmm what to do, what to do....

This is what I'm loving at the moment...it obviously looks better than my lump of a bumper all fancy in a nursery

Here is what I currently have, and would make a bed skirt to match

Bryan has informed me that he doesn't care what I do. I think he's tired of me asking him what to get. He is fully man and has no desire in decorating a little girl's nursery. He's very happy to leave it all up to me. I love that, but hate it at the same time. I'm a bit indecisive when it comes to splurging. I feel guilty for spending a little more money on something of pleasure and not necessity. So, anyone who reads this - got a solution or opinion? 

As I close, I'm leaning on splurging. That may change in a few minutes :)

Holiday fun

Last Saturday we went over to our friends, the Hartenstein's house, and made gingerbread houses! We've done this as a family every year, but it was so fun this year to do it with all our friends too. We just bought kits because it sounded so much easier! I got one for each boy since Isaiah is a perfectionist and Elias is not at all! I know what it feels like to work on a project with a sloppy person, so I'm all for spending a little more money to help a boy out! 

We went to zoolights at the Portland zoo for our first time last night. Wendy and Lanson joined us, and the boys had a pretty great time. I didn't realize how many lights there were! It was pretty, but no animals. That was a little discouraging for the boys. The funniest part of the night was there was a man I will call the "monkey nazi". He was in the monkey area telling everyone to keep their voices down because the monkeys just went to sleep. Really?! It's a dumb monkey! I thought it was quite hilarious.

humbled and grateful

We started the ol' potty training with my dear Elias last week. It just makes me laugh seeing that my life's excitement today lies in pee and poop. Seriously. I had big plans for myself. I was going to be some big shot in some big money making company. BUT here I am doing a pee and poop dance with Elias because he's catching on. 

I love it. I wouldn't change the way my life has folded out for anything. I love staying at home with my precious boys. I love teaching them something new. Heck, I even love the pee and poop dance we do! I just love this life the Lord has blessed me with. I'm humbled as I think about what I do (it doesn't get a whole lot of recognition, let's be honest), but I'm so incredibly grateful for these little souls the Lord has put me in charge of.

light it up!

It has been raining like crazy this week. The last sunny day we had was a week ago, and Bry wasn't feeling good so lights didn't go up until this weekend. So Bryan went out in the pouring rain and put the lights up today with his little helper, Elias. Isaiah is a lot like me - he's a fair weather helper. If it's sunny, we're all about helping. If it's raining, we like to stay cuddled up inside (he with his water and animal crackers, me with a steaming cup of coffee). 

I got a few pictures of Isaiah and Bryan putting up the lights. I only stayed on the porch under the cover, so I didn't get a picture of the house yet (fair weather gal, remember?).

Christmas tree oh christmas tree

I absolutely love going and cutting down a tree. It's like a mini adventure for me. We don't have a truck, so Bry throws it up on top of the Honda and ties it down. Every year, I watch anxiously through the sunroof to make sure it doesn't fly off and hit the car behind us. So far, it's never flown off the roof, but I'm always anxious. 

Anywho, we went to a little tree farm in Oregon City - Candy Cane Farm (I think that is what it's called). Bry let the boys help him with the saw, and you can tell from the pictures how much fun he had with them. So precious. I love all my boys! 

Our pick!

Isaiah had more fun picking up sticks than picking out a tree!

 

 

Elias loved helping cut down the tree

Love these little men!

All done!

 

Christmas pj's

My favorite time of year is Christmas. Most people's favorite time of year is Christmas. I think why I love it so much is because it is so dark and dreary in Oregon, but all the lights just make it so much more happy! 

Bryan thinks it's silly, but I love to buy the boys Christmas pj's. I have to buy them a new set every year. I have to tell you, it's so hard to find pj's without santa on them or some naughty saying about wanting more material stuff.  I really don't think it's cute to have my kids wearing something like that. I also don't like encouraging the Santa junk because it's just a lie and it takes the focus off of what Christmas is really about - Christ being born. 

All this pj talk has got me thinking about how we are going to teach our kids about Christmas, and how we are going to really encourage them to focus on the whole reason we celebrate. I haven't figured it out yet, but here are some of the ideas forming: 

We could have a birthday celebration for Jesus

We could buy and give presents to a family that needs help (while teaching them that helping the poor is really giving to Jesus) Right now we do the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. We've done it since we've been married, and now we do one box for each boy - they pick out toys for a little boy their age.

I'm toying with the idea of getting rid of present giving...I really do love to shop for them, so this is a hard one for me...but all the money we save could be used to help a family that was actually in need (we are not in need)...so maybe just downsize the gift giving?

We have a toy nativity set that I'd like to use to teach them the story - maybe we could use it every night to somewhere remind them constantly why this season is so special. 


That's all I have for now. I'm hoping I can come up with some more ideas or better ideas. I'm great at copying ideas, not so good at creating them! 

I know, there is a reindeer...we're just pretending it's a deer!

Ezekiel James

Here is my first nephew - Ezekiel James! He was born on Saturday, November 27 at 6:51 pm. He is 7 pounds and 19 inches long. Precious and blessed!
Meghan is a trooper. She had him at a birthing center in the middle of nowhere with no drugs. The room was beautiful and huge! Made me think twice about delivering in a tiny hospital room...hm, I may be in search of a birthing center close to me!

Here is my beautiful nephew!

2 more days

So many people have asked me if I'm going to let this little one be a surprise - "Are you going to keep it a secret until your baby is born?"

Um, no.

Remember this planner here? What if I'm having a girl? If so, she needs a proper girl room! I'm not buying/making a generic bed set just in case! I have perfectly useable boy bedding if I'm having another boy. If I'm having a girl, well, I'm going all out (as far as my budget will allow)!

I get to find out if I'm having a boy or a girl on Wednesday! I'm very excited to see my little onion swimming around on the screen. I've had such a healthy pregnancy compared to my last two, and I'm feeling incredibly blessed!

With Isaiah, I only went to a couple monthly visits, the rest were every two weeks. With Elias, I had to go to the doctor every two weeks the entire pregnancy! Now I'm just going to monthly visits, and I honestly wouldn't even bother going if it weren't for being able to hear the heart beat! That is the second most favorite part of pregnancy - hearing the heart beat. My absolute favorite is feeling this little one move all around. I love the kicking, squirming, and fluttering. It just makes me smile!

I would love to have a little girl, I will not lie. BUT I honestly would be just as excited to have a little boy. I love my little men, and imagining even more little boys running around just warms my heart! Two more days and I will know!

Anyway, all this talk of baby is because my adorable little nephew was just born - Ezekiel James. More on this little fellow soon!

2pm

Well, it's 2 o'clock, and I'm tired! I have a ginormous list to accomplish, but not enough energy to get it complete. I know, that is all I whine about these days - no energy.

My list & only the few things I've accomplished:
Laundry (have 3 loads left!)
Target
Albertson's
Dust
Change Sheets
Start photo calendar
Costco return
Call garbage company (someone took our trash cans!)
Look up IRS & Brotherhood Mutual certified letter status' (for work)
Call KeyBank about EIN (work)
Dishwasher/Dishes
Call Dr. Strande
Post Office
Find platters
Cost Plus

As you can see, blogging is not on the list, but I needed a break. I just put the boys down for a nap about 30 minutes ago, so some quiet, calm time was in order for me!

We started off at Cost Plus to use my $10 off coupon. Can't let such a deal go to waste! I got some cute napkins and towels for Thanksgiving. I'm hosting this year! My family from Idaho is coming up, and family from Salem. It's going to be good times!

Then we headed to Target and bought out the store. I got Isaiah and Elias some popcorn to hold them over until lunch! By this time, we're all tired, but I still had to get some grocery shopping in! We got to the car, and Isaiah stood up in the cart under the back door of the Honda and jumped. Not sure why he jumped, but he nailed his head on the door. It looked so painful, and a huge melt down occurred. All is well, no stitches needed!

We headed to Albertson's next. Lucky for me, there was Starbucks in the same complex! We went in to get some coffee, and Isaiah announced to the entire store that he had to pee. Fantastic. We went in, and Isaiah claimed to be scared. It took about 5 minutes of coaxing and the kid finally peed - EVERYWHERE. Not sure what he was doing, but he came within inches of spraying Elias and I! So nasty! So, I got to clean the Starbucks bathroom floor. Meanwhile, Elias decided to drop his favorite car into the very full trash can. He had a huge meltdown, so Mom (that's me) got to go digging! Oh so gross. I would have just left it if we were going home, but I still had a 20 pound turkey to buy!

So after that, we all scrubbed our hands with warm soap and water (3 times each), and headed out. There was a very nice lady outside the bathroom door just laughing her head off. I'm sure she found our squealing, crying, and panic noises quite hilarious. I just smiled at her, and she said, "It appears you have your hands full". Do you know how many times a day people say that to me when we venture out into the world? Everywhere we go.

Albertson's wasn't as bad as Starbucks, but I did turn around to find Elias licking tomatoes. I was talking to the manager about where I might find the lemon juice (it was five feet in front of my face). The manager was very sweet, he just laughed and said, "I think your little guy likes tomatoes." Oh so embarrassing! But really, he is two and he does love tomatoes. I just corrected him to not touch (for the 15th time), and went about my merry shopping.

AH well, I got my shopping done, I got a 22 pound turkey for $4.37, and my kids are sleeping now. All of the chaos seemed humiliating earlier, but now it's just so darn funny. A day in the life of Jen! Off to finish the list!

Confession

I have a confession. I saw the most adorable little girl bedding set for 50% off at Target, and I had to snatch it up! I have no idea if I'm having a boy or a girl, and won't know for two more weeks. BUT, I could not pass up such a great deal, just in case I was having a girl! I called Bryan to make sure he didn't care if I got it, and here was his response, "Getting a little ahead of yourself there? Get what you want if it's that great of a deal."

Haha! My husband is great. He is so level headed all the time. I was just way too excited about the cuteness of it! So, here's  sneak peak at what my maybe little baby girl's room would look like. Although, I just looked up the quilt to go with this set, and it would cost me just as much for the quilt as it did for the set. I'm thinking that I don't need the quilt, anyway. I NEVER used the boys' quilt that came with their set. Okay here it is!

So the lighting isn't fantastic, but really, how do you get great lighting on a rainy day in Oregon??

At this moment...

Jen
At this moment, I'm a stay at home, work at home mom/wife. Before I had kids, I wondered how people would be able to be a stay at home mom. Now, I cannot wait to focus all my energy on my kids when they are awake, and focus on myself when they are sleeping! It sounds selfish, but I honestly cannot wait to spend down time doing what I want to do! My down time these days are spent cramming work in, cleaning  quickly, fixing an easy meal, and fitting somewhere in there my Bible study.

I would love to be able to wake up and just think about my family, not about how many phone calls or emails I need to make for work that day. So, at this moment, my life is chaos. Someday it will be less chaotic and I can become a real stay at home mom. I'm really excited, just so you know!

I'm 16 weeks along in my pregnancy today! I'm not as tired or as sick as I was. I continue to hope/pray for a healthy pregnancy! Oh yes, I've been feeling the baby move for a couple weeks, but I felt the baby kick two nights ago for the first time. I forgot how amazing it was to feel my baby!

Bryan
He is an amazing provider. Bryan never complains about how much he works, and he is always positive about everything. He is the most wonderful father, and I get teary eyed so often watching him care for and play with our boys. They absolutely adore their daddy. I thank the Lord everyday for how amazing he is, and for giving me such an amazing husband. Really, this girl did not deserve someone so wonderful, but I'm so grateful!

Bryan is obsessed with bow hunting. Something I will never understand and often wonder if it's going to be a lifelong obsession. Like most guys, he always has football or basketball or ESPN on the tv.

The most exciting thing is watching him grow in the Lord. I love our conversations about God and praying together. I'm seeing a huge change in him, and it's all the Lord's work. I love it.

Isaiah
Isaiah has such a tender heart. He has an abundance of energy and an appetite to match. His favorite things include books, singing, Little Einsteins, riding his bike, trains, play doh, and coloring. I think Isaiah is going to be our art lover.

Elias
Elias is such a lover! He loves anyone who smiles at him, and is so joyful (most of the time). He has just as much energy as Isaiah and an appetite almost as big. His favortie things include singing, trucks, little people, play doh, coloring, balls, and trains. He's our little jumping man, so I'm thinking Elias is going to love sports.

I'm so thankful I get to stay at home with these little hooligans!

Loving God

I started this blog at the beginning to document our family life, but I've been adding more and more of my own story into it. I want to look back and realize how God has changed me and taught me. So, my blog is a mix of us all.

Now I want to share what I'm learning. God works in such amazing ways, and I'm seriously dense sometimes!

Let me just start with my story (and if you're still reading, good luck, this is a long post). I am so lonely. I have an amazing husband who I dearly love and am so blessed to share my life with. But, my dearest friends live so far from me. My best friend lives in Idaho, my other best friend lives in Spokane, my other two dearest friends live in Eugene and Tennessee! Yikes!

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I can home after a Bible study, and I was DISCOURAGED! I seriously just broke down and cried. But I didn't run to God. I ran home to my husband and told him my sob story about not having any friends. I told him that I felt I was obeying God, but He wasn't holding up His end. I felt that God should be dropping a friend in my lap! After that breakdown, I was about to call my friend, Krista, to continue my pity party, but then realized it was midnight in Tennessee. So, I emailed her.

Krista is who God spoke through (and Krista, if you're reading this, you were an instrument to changing my life). Krista reminded me that instead of turning my focus to finding a friend, God was just asking me to give him my focus. She encouraged me to find refuge and solitude in the Lord and to seek Him with my entire being.

The thing is, I know this stuff. I've known the Lord for years, but as I looked back on everything I had done lately, none of it was to seek God. It was to find a friend. I have been so self centered. I couldn't get my eyes off my loneliness long enough to realize that I have an amazing God standing right here waiting for me to respond.

Krista gave me the most amazing passage to meditate on, and encourage me to use it to change my thinking. Here it is:

Psalm 63:1-8

O God, you are my God,

earnestly I seek you;

my soul thirsts for you,

my body longs for you,

in a dry and wearly land

where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary

and beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life,

my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live,

and in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;

with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you;

I think of you through the watches of the night.

Because you are my help.

I sing in the shadow of your wings.

My soul clings to you;

your right hand upholds me.

I underlined everything that I underlined in my Bible. I love these verses. I don't know how I've been missing it, but I've not been loving God. I have been serving and obeying out of pure obligation and because I know that it is what I'm supposed to do. I haven't been doing it out of love.

It sounds like such a simple concept, but it's one I've been missing for years. I want to be so in love with God that it just spills into every part of my life.

Fall = A time to be creative

Welp, the rain has started here. I'm not a fan of the ran, I dare say I HATE the rain. When I lived in Idaho, I thought rain was so amazing and I loved it...because it rarely rained. Now that I'm in good ol' Oregon, my feelings have changed and I've come to despise the rain. For one, I have naturally curly hair - not good for rain (a whole lot of frizz going on). Two, I have two little boys who move slower than molasses getting in and out of a car, so errands are awful! And three, I just have a hard time handling the gloominess around here. There, done with my venting.

On a positive side, my creative juices start flowing when I can't just send the boys in the backyard to play. I use the dreary weather to take time to make crafts with the boys. We don't do huge things because they are two and three. We color A LOT. We cut paper A LOT. We make paper plate masks and wreathes out of candy corn. The boys are so messy, but they absolutely love making things. They get so excited to create.

I am not very creative. I can see an idea and copy it because I'm a perfectionist, but I can't just come up with an idea in my head. I hope that spending time with the boys just letting them create whatever and however they want, will somehow spark a creative part of their brain. I want them to have the confidence to try anything or do anything! For some reason I associate that to creating paper plate masks. I want them to make what comes to their imagination and not say, "no, that's not how you do it". I want to encourage them to go wild and dream big even if it's just with a paper plate. Is that weird?

Maybe I am weird, but I know that I lacked so much confidence in high school. I missed out on so much because I was afraid to try. I always wanted to be the best, so if I didn't think I had a chance at being the best, well, I just didn't even try. I never want my boys to have that attitude. I want them to try whatever their heart desires, and I want to be their biggest fan in whatever they choose.

These are their "monster masks"

Elias LOVES to growl

Disaster, Not so typical until recently....

Um yes. The picture speak for itself. My life as a disaster. I am usually quite fond of a clean, organized homestead. My house has not been perfect since having my little fellows, but it's been enjoyable to be in. Recently, it's just awful!

I had a cleaning schedule that I was pretty good at sticking with. I knew what we were having for dinner by 11am. I could get laundry done in one or two days. I NEVER took naps unless I was deathly ill. I was pretty organized. Not so much now.

I have been so stinking tired. I mean, EXAUSTED! I know this comes with pregnancy, but man, does my house have to suffer as much as I am suffering? I guess it has, but today that changed!

I woke up with more energy than I ever remember having! I'm only 13 weeks along in my pregnancy, but it is still hard to remember what having an ounce of energy feels like. My boys woke me up about 8 this morning, and usually I just go straight from my bed to the couch. I lay there and cuddle or talk with them for awhile, then I get up and make them breakfast when they tell me they are hungry.

Today, I got out of bed, made the boys breakfast, started some chicken for dinner (we're having chicken tortilla soup), made myself breakfast, played with play doh, and not once did I take a snooze on the couch! This is a first since about 9 weeks ago!

Once the boys informed me they were ready for lunch, I walked into the kitchen and could not even believe that I was living in this mess. I made the boys their lunch, took a few pictures to document this horrid event, and began cleaning.

I spent the next hour and a half cleaning. I can't tell you the last time I had the energy to do something more than sit at my computer and work for more than and hour and a half! Thank you, Jesus, for some energy! I feel like a new woman!

Just to end on a good mental picture. Here is what my lovely kitchen looks like now. AAAHHH, now I can breathe!

Pumpkin Patch!

I love this time of year! I love the smells, the colors, and the sweaters! I didn't grow up going to a pumpkin patch every year. Once I had my boys and heard there were such things, I had to start a search to find the most fun pumpkin patch! Bryan and I found Bauman Farms last year, and it's definitely one we're going to keep going back to! Reasonably priced, so many activities (slides, mazes, ziplines, park, trikes, swings, hayride, apple cannon, etc), and they have apple cider donuts. Really, could you want anything more from a pumpkin patch? If you don't have a pumpkin patch you love, you should really try Bauman Farms out. FANTASTIC!

We chose to go on a weekday this time because it was the only time we could get together with my brother and his family and my mom. I love that my boys have cousins so close in age that they get to grow up with! It's like having more siblings! The only thing I think the boys didn't get to do was the hayride. I got a few pics of the kids riding in a wheelbarrow - I think they had just as much fun riding in the wheelbarrow as they would have on a hayride. Weekday was an awesome choice because they were hardly any people. We just let the kids run around without worrying about losing them in a crowd. It was great.

I think I love going to the pumpkin patch almost more than my boys do! Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day.

One of those days

It's one of those days. You know the one that you wish you could just go back to bed and start over in 24 hours? That's it.

Today is Tuesday which means it's Bible Study Fellowship day. I should be there right now discussing with about 10 ladies the homework from last week. Instead, I'm just sitting here trying to hold it together because I am an emotional mess.

The day started off by me getting up a little late, no  big deal - happens often to me. Elias just couldn't pull himself together today. At first I thought he was sick, but no, he's just a mess today. I told him he couldn't use my deoderant and it was the end of the world. He started crying, and continued crying for the next hour and a half over every little thing.

Breakfast wasn't good enough, he didn't want his hair combed, he didn't want to wear the jeans I picked out for him, and on it goes. Everything was a melt down.

I know I'm supposed to be the mature one in these situations, but I really just wanted to sit on the floor and cry with him. I'm too tired, stressed, and emotional to deal with his breakdowns today.

Up my hands went in the defeated stance, and it was decided we'd stay home instead of going to my much needed Bible study.

Now, I'm looking at my boys and they are playing guitar and singing "Jesus loves me" at the top of their lungs. I'm so thankful that Elias has pulled himself together. Now, if only I could do the same and go on with the day....Here I go.

Gonna be a good day even though it started off rough!

So sweet

Yesterday I had the chance to go out with my dear friend, Jessica, to Papa Haydn's for a post birthday celebration for her. I didn't take any pictures, but this is the sweetness that I came home to. These boys just melt my heart!

Control...or lack of

I'm a control freak, yes I am. I'm entering a new phase in life that I'm giving up control, and learning to trust the Lord. When I say, "I'm entering a new phase", what I really mean is that I've been working on this since about my junior year of college. That was 7 years ago folks. Does it take anyone else that long to learn to trust?!

I'm a planner, I've always been a planner. I want a plan of action for everything. I want to know what time the party is, who else is going to the party (so I can plan my attire, conversation starters, and conversation avoiders in advance), what will we be doing at the party, how long are we expected to stay, and on and on it goes. Crazy? Yes, I’m quite aware of that.

 Here's what got me kick started into a whole new way of thinking...Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

It took me so long to realize that the Lord's purpose for my life is so much better than what I ever could have mapped out! I think back to college, and I had decided I wouldn't get married until I was 28. I was going to get a job, live on my own, and support myself before I ever tried to fit some man in my life. I was going to go to church, get involved, and hopefully run some type of children's program.

I look at the life the Lord has given me and I am one blessed woman. My best friend introduced me to my amazing husband that I married at age 23 while working at Applebee's. Um, not a real job and definitely not 28. So..I compromised my plan and decided we wouldn't have kids for five years. Five months later, I found out I was pregnant with Isaiah.

Now I am 28. I have been a wife for four and a half years, a mother for three and a half years to two beautiful boys, a bookkeeper-who-could-never-support-myself-on-my-salary for four years, and I've been a small group leader for 2nd and 3rd graders for one month.

I love my life and I am so so thankful for an amazing God who is in control of it. He has blessed me far more than I could have ever imagined or hoped for. I think giving up control is working for me! Thank you, Jesus!

9 Weeks

9 Weeks. That's how far along I am in my pregnancy. I'm thrilled to be having another baby! I'm also exhausted! It's so crazy to me how a tiny little thing can make me so sick, so tired, and so emotional! I cry at everything. I MEAN EVERYTHING. Happy? I cry. Sad? I cry. Tired? I cry. My boys disobey me? I cry. You get the drift. Everything makes me cry.

I get out of bed, make the boys breakfast, take my medicine, and lay on the couch. That's my mornings in a nutshell. I doze, letting the boys tear the house apart as long as they are playing nice together. When I finally start feeling better and start going about my day (which is seriously around lunch time), Isaiah usually says, "Mom, you feelin' better now?". So cute! He is so in tune with how people feel. Love that boy.

So, here's to 7 more months of pregnancy! Hopefully they go by quickly and this sickness passes soon!

Zoo...a bit like my life

We went to the zoo while my older brother, Ben, was in town. We were such a crew. There were two 3 years olds, two 2 year olds, one 1 year old, and one on the way in Meghan's belly. That's a whole lot of strollers, diapers, snacks, and photos. FUN!
We had a great time despite tired toddlers and the rain that threatened to fall. Here are a few pictures of our day. The pictures are way more fun than my writing!



I love this pic even though Isaiah is crying







Madi & Elias in the Eagle's nest



Most the group...Josh is hiding



There he is with my adorable niece, Lily





<>

My smiley Elias







Fabulous Week - So Tired!

What a week! We started at Lincoln City last Friday. My entire family from Idaho and my Uncle David from Georgia met us there. We stayed in a beautiful house with amazing views of the ocean. On Saturday, my brother, Ben, and his family flew into Portland and drove to Lincoln City. It was so fun!

First of all, I haven't seen Ben and his family for almost three years! Folks, that is far too long to stay away from a sibling. We had so much fun just hanging out and getting to know each other's children. Ben had met Isaiah when he was just a baby, so he met Elias for the first time. Isaiah and Madison (Ben's little girl) were best buds this whole week. They followed each other all over and had lots of laughs. So cute!

We celebrated my Grandpa's, my Uncle David's, and my birthday. It was a bit wild having so many people in one house, but I loved it. The crazy part is that we had five kids ages 3 and under. NUTS!

On Tuesday, everyone headed home, but Ben and Karen came back to Portland with us. We crammed nine extra people in my house for four days! My house is only 1500 square feet! We hung out, ate, went to the zoo, played in the park and just enjoyed each other's company.

I'm exhausted, but I am so thankful for such a wonderful family. They are fabulous, funny, down to earth, and just plain wonderful. I am a blessed woman! I have a million more pictures and more stories, but it's about time my head hits the pillow. More later!