Handyman Hubby!

Okay, how many here have been waiting years for a particular home improvement to be done? Meeee!!! I have patiently (really, I have) been waiting since we moved into this house two years ago for my wonderful, loving, handsome hubby to install a sink in our laundry room. I have been promised this amazing tool of beautful cleanliness since we were at the design center picking out house stuff almost three years ago. Finally, with imminent pooped-on baby outfits and spit-up on blankets and sheets looming in the not so distant future, Mama finally yelled out, "No more waiting, please!"
My husband leapt to his feet and ran into the laundry room to immediately install the sink. Well, maybe not immediately, but it was within a couple of days. Now, everyone needs to know, originally, it was only supposed to take a couple of hours, the morning at most. How many here believe that? Yeah, I didn't either. So, four days later, after numerous trips to Home Depot and Lowe's, a couple of runs to neighbors fo various sundry items, and a leak, I now have a gorgeous, completely functional laundry room sink!
I have to say my husband did a wonderful job! Really, I'm not just saying that. Yes, it took longer than expected, doesn't that happen to everyone? (Please say yes!) But, I'm always impressed with his diligence in doing projects completely and thoroughly. I can now say it was worth the two years wait. Well, maybe not two years, but thankfully it won't be three or even two and a half.


My proud husband and the beautiful new addition to our household!

Happy Birthday, Hauntie!

Yup, another family birthday! This time it was for my beautiful younger (but not by that much!) sister, Hauntie. Okay, okay, that's not really her name, but it's used so much that it should be. Gi-Gi started calling her that when she was a wee little thing and the name stuck.
Hauntie chose The Cheesecake Factory (yum, yum) for her birthday dinner. Thanks for picking that, sis! Just because you have the metabolism of an Olympic athlete doesn't mean all of us do! After filling our tummies with their scrumptious food, she got her piece of cheesecake, drool, drool.

This would be when the vultures came out of the wood work!

Vulture #1


Vulture #2


Vulture #3

Cheeky little monkeys, aren't they? They even got Banana Split birthday cake at home!


Even though we weren't super close growing up, maybe because we have vastly different personalities, as adults we are so close. I am so thankful to have her as my sister and friend as well as an incredible Hauntie for my kids! They think the sun and moon revolve around her and are always excited when she walks through the door. She has a beautiful gift with children and my kids are some of the main recipients of that gift. We're all so blessed by her! I love you, sis!

Movin' On Up

Big days at our household! With new baby coming in less than 8 weeks (already?!), we've realized we had to get everyone ready to go. So, one major thing was Ya-Ya's new bed. Yup, big girl bed here we go!

("practicing" sleeping in a big girl bed)

It was a spur of the moment decision on Saturday night, and, frankly, was worrisome to me. (big gulp) I'm just not ready for her to be out of a crib. Out of all of our kids, she would be the one getting in and out, in and out, so that means, up and down the stairs for Daddy and me. Well, two nights and two naps later, I am ready to claim victory!! Hurrah! She hasn't popped out of bed at all and now looks at her crib with disdain, stating, "I am a big durl!" We actually left the crib in the girls' room to use as a motivation tool. We told her if she got out of the bed, she would have to sleep like a baby in the crib. Well, who wants to be a baby? Certainly not Ya-Ya!
One of the best things was the cheers and encouragement she got from her brother and sister. I love when my family can come together and celebrate milestones and everyday events with one another. In fact, I think that may be one of the reasons she adjusted so well.

Three cheers for Ya-Ya!

Hurray!

Hurray!

Hurray!

Proof

For the last couple of days, I've been wondering where they've gone. I looked and looked and looked everywhere that I could think of. I didn't know where they possibly could have disappeared to. Then, there they were! I sat on the couch and lo and behold, they appeared! I have missed them. It looked like they had missed me, too. How did they get into such awful shape? Sigh. Ah well, I can only reach so far.



Just to prove that they are still there, in case you were doubting, here's a brief glimpse. Of course, this is after Hubby painted them for me. Is he a good husband, or what?!

Blessed

Blessed ~ that's us! You know, there are those days when you just don't feel like there's a lot of good stuff going on. The news, the economy, maybe the new president, grumpy kids, raging hormones, general yuckiness... And then there's something or many things that put it all into perspective.
On Sunday, we had an emergency trip to the hospital. It seemed that little "Dude" was trying to come early. No worries, we're both fine. We were so relieved to come home without him in our arms, but still safely in my tummy. It was when we came home that the tears came. When we had rushed out of the house, some our best friends swooped in and took over. Not only did they watch seven kids~with one more on the way, but ordered pizza, cleaned the kitchen, folded towels, put laundry in the dryer, let the kids watch Star Wars (a huge treat) and generally ran our house for us. I cannot tell you how blessed we both were. To top it off, we had overnight houseguests that night, so then they stepped in, did the bedtime routine and got them off to bed. You guys are the best!


Last night, as we were gathered for family bedtime prayer, each of the children prayed for Mama and Baby. Each put their hands on me and prayed out loud. Each was different and special. Bubba's was especially cute as he was saying thank you that he was going to get to teach his brother how to play with blocks and how to camp. Ya-ya's was just saying how much she loved baby over and over. Gi-gi's was special because she really understands how to pray and while she was, the baby was kicking her hand over and over. Yes, more tears. Are you surprised?


All this to say, we are blessed! No, no, no. We are abundantly blessed!! How could we ask for more?

Nana's 93rd!

Yay, 93! My nana had her 93rd birthday this past week and we all got to celebrate with her. When she was asked about a party, she said, "Oh, I don't want anything with a lot of people. Just the family." Many of you probably don't know, but my nana had 13 children. Just the family is a ton of people (and growing all the time)! Out of the 13, 11 of the siblings were able to be there, plus many of my cousins and their kids.

I love getting together with my family! Some people may not like having so many people around, but I think it's more fun that way. There are a boatload of cousins to play with and always lots of good food, Mexican of course.

Uncle David, Nana, Ya-Ya and Uncle Milton

Ya-Ya, Alex and Sophia

It was inevitible that Hubby and a smidgen of my uncles would be glued to the football game.

While we love that most of the family gets to stay with us,

we hate that others have to leave, especially when it's all the way back to Kansas!
I should have taken more pictures, but as my hubby likes to point out, I was too busy talking. Oh, that and eating. Hey, it's good being pregnant!
Thank you, Nana, for continuing to have birthdays. We love you!

Our New Baby!

Okay, okay, I know I said we weren't going to find out, but... How could we not? This little one is so cute! We saw opening and closing eyes, feet, hands, mouth opening and closing and of course it was all adorable.
Are you ready to know?

Are you really ready to know?

Okay, okay, here you go!



There was much jublilation in the land! I think Daddy pumped his fist in the air and yelled out, "All Right!"

Doughnut Saturday!

This is a treat at our house! Saturday morning, Daddy and Gi-Gi went to get doughnuts for the family. They didn't go to the convenience store, or the grocery story, but to Dunkin' Doughnuts. Woohoo! Our kids got so excited about this rare occurrence that I had to snap a couple of pics.

Our drama queen just closed her eyes, sighed, and then inhaled her doughnut!

All she kept saying over and over was, "Mmmmm, this is good!"

All he wanted was the sprinkles on the top.

Full tummies = happy kids!

Our Anniversary Day

Blessings to my sister! Hubby and I celebrated our fifth anniversary a week late last Friday.

My courageous, wonderful sister picked our children up at 10 am and kept them for us all day. Foot-loose and kid-free, we did some of our favorite things. Our first stop was Joe's Coffee Shop in Gilbert, one of our favorite places ever! It's surrounded by flowers, flowers and uh, flowers.


I got my decaf Pumpkin Spice Latte and Hubby got his Carmel Macchiato.



We found a secluded table and had, get this, uninterrupted conversation. On such a gorgeous morning, or any morning, it was fantastic! I even attempted some artistic photography.



Then after some shopping (me shopping, hubby walking patiently behind me), we saw "Valkyrie" which for most people wouldn't be a date movie, but it was for us! Really, who doesn't think Hitler and plots to assasinate him spells romance? Then it was off to PF Chang's for a late lunch. Who knew you could have lunch and dessert at 3:00 in the afternoon? Let me tell you, those mini-desserts are so delectable! After some down time at home (in other words, lounging on the couch), we got dolled up and went to Oregano's and had a pazookie! Two desserts in one day? Oh my goodness, no wonder I look like Santa Claus! After gorging ourselves once again, we rolled ourselves across the parking lot to the Hale Center Theatre to see the play, "Lend Me a Tenor". We laughed so hard our cheeks hurt! For those of you who don't live in Gilbert, we did three of it's best things in one day: Joe's Coffee Shop, Oregano's and the Hale.


It's always incredible and memorable to celebrate our anniversary once a year, but let me tell you, the day to day marriage in life stuff is pretty great, too. I am so thankful for my husband, but even more to the One who put us together. Gi-gi asked me the other day if we were going to be married for fifty-years. I said, "At least!"