Last day of May...

After wishing for some rain this morning so to avoid getting in the shower and in turn going to Max's tee-ball game, I'm glad that it held to just a few sprinkles. We had a good time at the game. Molly sat with her bag of popcorn and raisins. As soon as we run out of those she wants to immediately so and sit with Max. She loves doing everything that he does. Sometimes he resists at first, but then finally gives in. She told him last Tuesday that she wanted to play ball with him. He said no because she wasn't big enough. Finally, he looked at her and said, "alright...you can play baseball with me". I think Max is really enjoying himself which makes me happy. I never want any of my children to participate in extra activities that he truly doesn't enjoy. We, of course, will make them study all sorts of things that they probably won't be interested in so I'll let them choose the extra stuff. After the game we played at the park for awhile and then headed to The Root Beer Stand for lunch. GOOD STUFF! The kids loved having the tray of food right on the window and they sat on the floor of the van and inhaled their french fries and root beer floats. We made one last stop to the Peach Corner and picked up fresh strawberries, cukes, & green beans. I'm so glad that has finally opened. A part of me is sad that I don't have more of a yard to plant the beautiful flowers that we found there, but another part is relieved that I don't have more of a yard. The rest of the afternoon was spent in our backyard playing in the pool and snacking on our strawberries. It was a great Saturday afternoon.

Max talked a lot about preschool today. And then Molly started talking about how she wants to go to preschool too. Max told her no because she is only 2. August 20 is going to be here before I know it. I'll blink and we'll be celebrating Christmas. Max thinks that he gets to go today to prechool because he is going #2 all on his own and no longer wearing a diaper. I'm so proud of him. He has become quite the gentleman (although he still has his moments). Speaking of proud moments, I'm going to go off on a bunny trail here... Dr. Viner and the nurses have been complimenting me on what good kids I have. At Wednesday's visit, Dr. Viner came in the room and said that a bunch of them at the office were going to bring their kids to our house and that they would pick them up later. I've tried to explain to them that Max & Molly just take bribes very well. Honestly though, I am usually pretty happy with how they behave in the office. My sister tells me to take it in and say thank you and not to make excuses for the good compliments. I suppose.

Well, I'm not sure where I was before my bunny trail so I'll sign off for now. Aaron headed out to get the first season of Lost. We are spending the summer catching up on all 3 seasons so that we'll be ready in September. We'll see if we catch up on time.

Happy June!

Feeling blessed to be living in KY...

Driving the other day I felt like I was 17 again back in Pittsford...driving thru the curves and hills...thru the tree lined roads....with my window down...a sort of peaceful feeling went over me. There is no other place I would have rather grown up...even with it's one blinking red light. I hope that my children love where they are going to be growing up. Last night, we were off to Aaron's softball game. Several of the ladies that work for Aaron and are throwing us a baby shower came to the game to meet me so that I could get to know them before the party next Saturday. How kind is that??? Who throws a shower for a woman they've never met let alone take time out of their evening to attend a grown men's softball league just to hang out with that lady??? They were all so nice and there was never a dull moment in the conversation. I did see Aaron's first hit...it was a great hit. I didn't see anything after that b/c I was so busy chatting away. I'm just feeling very blessed this morning to be here and to be here with my husband and children....and on the verge of having another little one.
Dear Lord, thank you for all the ways that you have blessed our family. Please show me how to use these blessings to help others.

36 weeks & counting...

Another doctors appointment this morning. I really do look forward to them. Even the kids were excited to go this morning. Molly kept putting on her crocs and saying, "go to baby doctor now". I had to keep telling her it wasn't time yet. Finally, she got to crawl in the backseat, buckle herself in, and bunker down with a book for the ride. She has been calling me "Sue-zanne" all day. In the doctor's office they call your name over the loudspeaker so that is what she has been pretending to do since we left the office this morning.
Nothing much to report. The doctor said I was at a 1...but that she was still "floatin" around up there. If this is what "floatin" around feels like I don't want to know what it's going to feel like in a few weeks. I feel like she is going to fall out everytime I attempt to walk up the steps. Lots of contractions...they are getting more and more uncomfortable, but I find myself even excited about that. I can't wait for her to join our family. I think the kids are going to be terrific with her and I can't wait to see how they react to her.
We are still throwing around names. Aaron says it's all up to me, but I know it's really not. He loves Maggie so I've been thinking Maggie Grace. I think Marlee is officially off the table...who knows. Molly wants to name her Sheriff from the movie Cars. I told her she could call her that if she wanted, but that it wasn't going on the birth certificate.
We headed to the storage unit tonight to get some of the baby things around. Molly is very excited about helping me put a bag together for her. She and I made a list. We had to put toys on the list...Molly insisted. She has been doing a lot of that lately!

A Tuesday with a Monday feeling...

After such a beautiful weekend as far as weather goes and having Aaron home for 4 days, it was rough to return to the work week. Especially when the work week starts out so gloomy. Lots of lounging with the kids today. It's getting harder to get up the stairs. I know that this little one is much easier to transport while she is still inside me, but the thought of bending over with ease to pick up toys is so exciting to me. Aah..the little things in life.

So the day did brighten yesterday. After having lunch together, Molly went down for a nap & Max played on NickJr. I cleaned up the kitchen and finished some laundry. After nap it was time to clean up their room. Max did a wonderful job while Molly found a Franklin book and decided to hide in our closet. I put her in time out for not helping...that last a few seconds before she decided it might be in her best interest to help. She got up and started picking up books. Then came time to change her diaper...she is not a big fan of this unless she is getting one of her 4 favorite pairs of p.j.s on her body. She whimpers & kicks...I told her to knock it off. We finally finished and she looks at me and says, "it's not that bad momma". Stacy said that was God talking to me thru Molly. I think she might be right.

The kids headed downstairs while I finished a few things upstairs. I finally made my way downstairs when I saw Max with his laser pointer and Molly running around in her furry Cinderella shoes. I asked them what was going on...My 2 year old looks at me and says, "we're looking for clues momma. Scooby Doo clues." Max runs in the laundry room with his laser and yells to his sister, "in here Molly...I found some clues in here". She squats and responds with, "Max, I found tracks". How in the world could I ever be fed up with kids like this???

Tee-ball went well tonight. Max had a couple good throws. It's so cute when they hit the ball and instead of running to 1st base they chase after the ball they just hit. Molly wants to play so badly with him. It warms my heart how close the 2 of them have become. Don't get me wrong, she still kicks him and hits him and still tries to make it his fault somehow, but I almost think she is like a puppy playing with a huge dog...she doesn't know any better.

We'll see what today brings...

Official start of summer...

I love it when you can begin the official start of summer with a day at the pool with your family. It was a great weekend with my parents and it's always rough saying good-bye at the end of the weekend. After a tasty breakfast at Shoney's they took off back to Michigan. We decided to go to the "duck pool" after they left. The kids call it that because of the duck slide. The pool is right by the park that we play at and for the past couple of months the kids keep asking, "have the water guys come and filled the pool yet momma?" And I just keep telling them soon. Well, today we pulled up and they both started yelling, "it's ready momma, they filled it". As they were getting out of the car they told me and Aaron how excited they were. They have the perfect kiddie pool that is no more than a foot and a half. It's great for them. That is of course until the big kids decide to invade. Aaron actually stared one kid down and then asked a few of them how old they were. They all ran.

We closed our weekend with leftover pizza, milk & cookies, Candyland, Go Fish, & Memory. The kids were in bed at 6:30 tonight. They were exhausted. I love seeing them having a good time down here. I know in a few years or so the guilt I feel for moving them down here might subside a little bit, but until then I'll keep trying to fill their days with fun things to do.

HAPPY SUMMER TO ALL!

Our big events this weekend...

Max is OFFICIALLY potty trained!!! I went out Friday night...I had to escape. We spent the day shopping and about 20 seconds (seriously 20 seconds) from pulling into our house Molly threw up all over the back seat. I now officially believe that she cannot handle long trips in the Yaris. When we got home and cleaned up, Aaron went for a run. I think the kids could smell my exhaustion and took full advantage. Well as soon as Aaron hit the door I ran! I went and got a quick (not so great) pedicure. (There is a HUGE difference in the $25 pedicure vs. the $45/$50 pedicure.) I got a voicemail from Max while I was sitting in the nice massage chair. He told me to call him b/c he had a surprise for me. I called him back and he told me all about how he pooped in the toilet like a big boy. I was SO happy...finally! The 2nd big part of our weekend...we told Max that if he went 3 nights dry in his diaper he could sleep in just his underwear. He went 4 nights and #2 in the potty so we thought we'd try it out....it was his 3rd night last night and so far...all dry. At least I won't have 3 in diapers....Just in time!!!

Max also started tee-ball on Saturday. There wasn't much to the game. They all took turns hitting the ball and running the bases. Most of them hit the ball and then chased after it instead of running to 1st base. I guess that's where you have to start. They were all adorable...in their team shirt and hats (hats that were huge on them). It was nice to be a part of their excitment. I'm sure that not one parent was thinking about the rising cost of groceries or the price of gas. Everyone was just so concetrated on their little ones. We could learn so much for our kids.

I can't believe that Max is so big already. I'm not sure how almost 4 years have gone by already. I'm just holding on to the fact that sometimes he still wants to cuddle, hold my hand, and give me kisses...I know that won't last forever. Pretty soon the photos of him will be him at his confirmation, senior prom, college graduation, etc. Oh how I'll cry!!! I know I will kick myself for wishing the time to fly by. Thank you Lord for my beautiful & kind children. Today Molly gave Max the first ice cream cone without any one telling her to do so. Max gave up the car seat in the back so that Molly could sit there. Sometimes it amazes me how kind and thoughtful they are. I should pay more attention to them...learn more from them.

We spent the day at the park yesterday with my parents. It was BEAUTIFUL! I love going there. It makes it so I don't miss the U.P. so much. The kids had a great time. I can't wait to take the new baby there when she arrives. When you look around at the water, rock formations, the trees...how can you not believe in our God. His beauty is EVERYWHERE!