Crazy....

.... things happen when you wake up in a panic at 1:00 AM, dreaming that your 3-year old is climbing out a 2nd story window.

Crazy things, like the thought (TWO HOURS later when you still haven't gotten back to sleep).... "Huh, I wonder what I could buy on Ebay?"

For the record, I have NEVER had that random thought before in my life. EVER.

For the sake of our bank account, I think I will just close my laptop now and attempt to shut my little eyes again.....

Hey, children of the 80's/90's....

There is something very wrong with my sleep cycles when I am awake at 2:28 AM, watching clips on Hulu! But.... I'm looking on the bright side, this made me laugh....

Thought that some of you kiddos who grew up in the 80's/90's might enjoy a little "Saved by the Bell" flashback. Ahh, those were the days....


(oh, please forgive that the little screen isn't LITTLE ENOUGH to fit in my blog's width allotment.... I never can figure out what is up with that!)

Or if you just need a little music to brighten your morning....

Fun Family Night

We had a fun family night yesterday.... with the added bonus of free bowling and free Applebees for the kiddos (WNY Applebees has a reading program.... kids just have to read 10 books, fill out a certificate, and they get a free kids' meal! AWESOME!)

How is it that little feet look so cute in ugly bowling shoes?!!

Just a little help from Dad!

Such good form! :)

More cheering!

Momma with my two little bowling buddies! Needless to say, I decided to sit this game out.... but we laughed about me hiding a "ball" underneath my shirt! :)

A little more of the fun....

We're getting ready around here.....

2 weeks until we meet Baby!!! It's completely hard to believe.... but yes, I am ready! The house may not be spic 'n span at this point, but still, I'm ready!!! We've been busy getting the baby things out.....

Gowns/Onesies/Sleepers/Burp cloths/Receiving blankets washed = Check!
New bouncy seat assembled = Check!
Quite a few freezer meals put together and frozen = Check!
Paperwork filled out at the hospital = Check!
Bassinet in our room = Check!
Infant carseat cleaned and reassembled = Check!
Crib mattress raised for infant = Check!
Baby prayed for without ceasing = Check!

Here are my sweet, little monkeys, after they helped Daddy get the crib ready for baby!

Be encouraged.....

I saw this on my friend, Lisa's, blog and loved it. Ladies, be encouraged.... you are beautiful.... you are loved!

Just because....

.... this is gorgeous!

(Scott took this picture on the shores of Lake Ontario during his camping excursion with Aaron a few weeks ago!)

Thankful Thursday...

Today, I am thankful....

1) For great surprises! Plans for a sitter had fallen through last week so I just assumed that we wouldn't be going out for our anniversary. BUT.... my sweetie made ALL the arrangements.... lined up the sitter.... and took me out for a fantastic dinner for our special day! It was a fabulous night, full of great, uninterrupted conversation, and what made it even better: It was NEARLY free because Scott had won a fantastic gift certificate to the Bonefish Grill at a golf tournament (and had kept it a secret!) Love it!

2) For a healthy 36 1/2 weeks of pregnancy! It's almost surreal to me that baby and I are at this point already! We'll be looking into this little miracle's eyes in 2 1/2 weeks OR LESS! (I had a full morning of cramping and contractions yesterday.... no go yet.... everything is fine.... but it was a reminder to me that I just may not make it until Sept. 8th!)
3) That these little sweeties are so excited about having a new sibling! They go back and forth about whether they think this baby is a girl or a boy, and just recently, Isaac has started saying, "A lil' brudder named Aaron!" So cute! :)

4) For new strategies in parenting. No, this isn't brain surgery.... but I had gotten pretty tired of the words, "I'm bored." I prayed for wisdom, and this one piece hit me.... a list for Aaron that he has to accomplish by the end of the day. It has worked wonders and includes fun things for him to do on his own, with me, with Isaac, and also, a few chores. I haven't heard "I'm bored" in a couple of days now! YEA!

5) For a fabulous family night last night! We tried out the community pool, and it was awesome.... complete with diving boards and a water slide! :)

Have a blessed day! Love ya!

12 years!

Happy Anniversary to the best guy in the world!!! It's been 12 great years..... can't wait to see what the next 12+++++ will bring!!! I love you!

(On a complete sidenote, does anyone else have problems finding pics of just you and your spouse post-kiddos' arrival?!! We take thousands and thousands of pics, but most of them are of the boys, of course, or of the boys with ONE of us..... While searching for this picture, I realized that I need to hand Aaron the camera and have him take some more pics of my favorite sweetie and me!)

Baseball Pics....

We just had Aaron's baseball banquet last night, so we officially wrapped up the season. I think that he had a good time even though all of the other kiddos were quite a bit older than him. He did get the hang of hitting off the machine, too! And he said that he loved having daddy as a coach!

A sweet little somebody can't wait to play in the big leagues, too!

Flashback Friday....

A few weeks ago, we were blessed with some SWEET visitors. My sister, Deb, and our friend, Cathy came for a visit from Indiana. We were SO SPOILED to have them here.... the boys had an absolute blast with them.... as did we (and they even blessed me with a little bit of extra rest time during the days, too! Ahh, such a joy for this pregnant momma!) Love ya, girls!!!

Isaac and Aunt Debby enjoyed a little sword fighting and dressing up like pirates!

And there were MANY nerf gun wars around the house!

And we were so blessed with a PERFECT night to visit Niagara Falls to see them all lit up! You can kind of see the Horseshoe Falls in the background of this picture.... Falls or not, this one was too sweet of Aaron and Deb to NOT post!

Thankful Thursday (a little late....)

Today, I am thankful....

1) For a new, pretty journal. I am trying to get back into the habit of journaling.... not easy, but I do love it.
2) For Pandora Internet Radio. Seriously, Scott and I just discovered this, and it is incredible! You can set up "stations" online and listen to your favorite music for free. My new, current stations: WORSHIP and 80's Rock! :)
3) For friends who invite us over for playdates! Yesterday was "one of those days".... all I heard from Aaron ALL morning was "I'm bored..... can I invite _____ over?" which was hard because I was trying to get a project finished AND entertain my kiddos at the same time (didn't work so well). One of Aaron's classmates invited him over for an afternoon of swimming and legos.... it was quite fabulous!
4) For 85 cent cantaloupe at Aldi!
5) While I'm on the topic, for Aldi!!! I know I've mentioned it many times, but I am always floored at how much money I save there. And because there aren't 8 brands of sour cream to choose from, the store is smaller, so I can get in and out of there, with my kids, WITH a full cart of groceries, in 25 minutes or less!!!!!!!! If you have an Aldi close and haven't tried it, you really should (just make sure to take your bags or boxes with you)!

Have a fabulous day! Love ya!

A great date!

Every couple of months, our church hosts an amazing, amazing event called "Married Life Live".... all about nurturing marriages! It really is quite terrific! At the last one we went to, Scott and I tried to do some sort of dance steps with a hundred other couples.... didn't go so well for us (I'm convinced that it is the 10 inches that separate us in height!) Anyway, last night, the church hosted comedian, Tim Hawkins. I just gotta say.... if you ever, ever, ever have the chance to see him in person, DO IT! He is BEYOND incredible! Scott and I were both laughing so hard that we were crying at points.... totally clean.... totally hysterical.

Here is a little bit of his act:



If you need some more good laughs, just go to Youtube and search Tim Hawkins. Seriously, you won't regret. Very, very funny.....

He is With You....

Wow, I just heard this song for the first time on a precious friend's blog and was so moved, so touched.....



To my dear friends who are waiting for their house to sell, He is with you....

To my dear friends who are watching and waiting for miracles to come for their son, He is with you....

To my dear friends who are waiting for God to lead them to a Godly spouse, He is with you....

To my dear friends who have spent years longing for a baby to hold, He is with you....

To you, to me, to all of us.... I'm thankful for a God who came down and put on skin to literally reveal that HE IS WITH US! During different struggles in my own life, I often found myself focusing on the question, "Why?" I still don't have the answer to that question.... and won't on this side of eternity.... BUT I do know that God's presence was revealed to me in a more real and profound way through suffering and struggle than through any other time in my life. I know that I know that I know that He will never leave me; He will never forsake me.... He is with me....

Thankful Thursday....

Today, I am thankful....

1) For rest time at our house. Yes, I know that has been on my list before.... um, not so long ago.... but it just may make my list the entire time that I have prescho0lers (and especially when momma is pregnant!)
2) That my hubby is an incredible daddy.... really, THE BEST! He and Aaron just packed up his car this afternoon after work, bike rack included, and headed up to Lake Ontario for a night of camping. Needless to say, their packing list looked a little different than mine would have, but I've learned a very, very valuable lesson over the past 6 years.... LET DAD BE DAD.... the kiddos thrive under his leadership and direction and so does daddy! I hope that they have a great night away and can't wait to see the pictures! I'm excited that the two of them are getting this special time together.
3) That I get one-on-one time with just Isaac tonight! Currently, that is involving a little of The Wiggles.... to help get him over the hump and the heartbreak of not getting to join the boys on their manly excursion! :)
4) When paint colors turn out just like I wanted.... I'm loving the blue in Isaac's big boy room.... fabulous!
5) And last but certainly not least.... for God's active involvement in our lives. I'm so excited about what He is doing in me, in my boys, and in my marriage right now. Growth is GOOD!!!!!!!!!

Have a fabulous day! Much love!

This guy must not be a dad....

.... I mean, come on, are ya kiddin' me?!!



For the record, my babies are nearly always barefoot prior to walking. If you're grossed out or offended..... sorry!!! :)

Big Boy Room

Preparing for baby's arrival also has meant a big move to a new room and a new big boy bed for Isaac. Scott and I finished up the room while the boys were still in Indiana, and Isaac made the transition to the new room when he got back from the trip. He has been very excited about his new "monkey room"!





We love how it turned out. The walls are a smokey blue color.... very, very cool ("Breezy" from Sherwin Williams).

What will he be....

.... when he grows up?

Maybe a rock star....


.... or maybe a worship leader?




Whatever he decides to do in the future as a career, I sure am crazy about this kid.... and boy, does he make me LAUGH!!! :)