We are Up and Running

Well...our computer is back up and going, about 90%. Yay!!! Jeremy even got all of our backed up picture on here. Unforunately, we backed up even longer ago than I rememberd...it was December of 2007:-( NOOOOO pictures of Hannah's first year, except what I made a slideshow out of, and printed (just a few). Lesson learned, external hard drive is now saving our files every night. Hahaha...one extreme to the other I guess. Well, I owe you lots of pictures and videos. Videos will have to wait until tomorrow I believe because it's getting late and the girlies will be waking up soon (and I still have to make my bed before Jeremy gets home for his first softball tonight:-)


Sweet Hannah, eating lunch today.


I think this is such a funny picture. These are my girls. Hannah has a pretend plastic bottle in her mouth. Nicole is watching her from her play kitchen. They are so silly.



Our produce...our first carrot, some green beans, and two green bell peppers.

Free Movies

One of my favorite things about summer with children are free movies at the movie theater. I remember going with my mom when I was growing up. I tried to take Nicole last year a couple of times, but she only lasted about 30 minutes. This year, I'm excited to take her again, because I know she'll last much longer. However...I have a feeling Hannah won't. I'll have to find a way to work around this.

Anyway...here is the schedule for Hollywood 20. Let me know if you are planning on going to any. Here is the link to the list for other theaters around the state.

Ah...my copy and past isn't working.

I'm taking her Charlotte's Webb on 6/30 for sure. I'll probably take her to others, after I check with Plugged inonline. What? You haven't heard of that. It's a GREAT site to go to EVERY TIME you want to go see a movie. It tells you exactly what to expect, positive elements, negetaive elements, violence, language, sexual contents, spiritual contents, etc. It's a great resource by Focus on the Family. We almost always check movies out before we rent (and we usually regret it when we don't check it out first). Here's the link. btw...they also review music, TV shows, games...anything conisdered entertainment. Bookmark it.

The BIG news....

Well...it's official. We are a real true American family who now drives a real, non-American made minivan, hahaha. Today we went to Sarasota and picked up our 2005 Toyota Sienna. Here she is.

My friend Jami refuses to call these vehicles minivans, she prefers the phrase "mothership" Hmm...maybe I'll choose to drive a mothership and not a minivan too:-)

So...why did we pick this one? We wanted either an 05 or higher Honda Odyssey or an 04 or higher Toyota Sienna. Both are the top rated vans in all areas. They each have a few little extras that the other is missing. What I really wanted, no matter which brand I bought was an optional 8th seat. The cool thing about the Sienna's is that the 8th seat (middle seat in the 2nd row) moves forward about 6 inches. This will be very handy for an infant car seat in a few months:-). The seats in the second row fold down and then forward and the 3rd row seats fold flat into the floor. We already used this fun option by bringing back two rocking chairs from Granny's house. No problem...they both fit with room to spare:-)

The van drives great. I used to drive a Toyota Camry, so the transition was easy. I really really like this van (and did you notice it's leather....that's a little bonus two, it's very soft and comfy). I'm excited to have more room for our family and it already feels safer. So...that was our Big (literally) news. Oh...I forgot to add. When we first started looking for vans, Nicole told us she wanted a white one. So...I guess she got what she wanted. She thinks this white van is for her:-)

btw...I don't know yet when we'll find out if we are having a boy or girl. Probably at the end of this month. I'll make the appointment on Wednesday at my next appointment with my midwife.

Happy Birthday Nicole

It's official...Nicole is 3 years old! I have pictures, but I can't upload them yet. I will when our computer is fully functioning. We are probably at 30% functional. Time, time, time.


Anyway...Nicole has been excited about her birthday for a few days now. She got to go to Yaya's work and get her hair washed, cut, blown dry and styled. Then...surprise...she got to go next door and get her very first manicure (read nail painting). I took her to "Donald Ducks's " (McDonalds, hahaha) for lunch...which she didn't eat (maybe because of all the animal crackers and M&Ms at the salon). Right now she's "suppose" to be sleeping, however she's not. Tonight Jeremy and I are taking her to a minor league baseball game. We are super duper excited. One day when Jeremy gets a day off, we are going to leave Hannah with a grandparent and we're going to take Nicole to Chuck E. Cheese ALL by herself. I'm very excited about that. But, I think it'll be a few weeks.

We aren't throwing a party this year. We did a big party last year and it was very overwhelming...so I vowed no party for birthday 3...and I'm sticking to it. Nicole is getting a few little gifts...but her real gift from us and the grandparents comes in the form of gymnastics lessons. I think she'll love it.

Well, I wish I had sweet baby pictures to share, I guess I could, they would just need to get scanned, but I'm to sleepy right now. Maybe another time. Until then...have a fun day for Nicole:-)

Let's take a little hike down memory lane

My time with my lap top as my main computer is quickly coming to an end. Yes, we have our computer put together and can even get online again...however we still have LOTS of work to do.
So...I thought tonight we could look through some of my favorite pictures that I've found on my laptop. Enjoy.


Taken by my friend Ashley, just a few weeks before we got engaged


I love this picture...I think I look "light" haha, like it was easy to twirl me around


Still the same "photo shoot" Ashley probably wouldn't like her name being on these pictures now. I thought they were great then...but she's a phenomenal photographer now...she was just practicing with her new camera. I think she was a sophomore in college.

Our Wedding

We got a "whew" from the pastor performing the ceremony after we kissed, haha.

Rehearsal Night

At one point while we were dating, Jeremy told me he wanted to wear a Hawaiian tuxedo at his wedding. I remembered that and came up with a more appropriate time for Hawaiian attire...during the rehearsal:-)

My bridesmaids being silly goofy. I love those girls

From left: Katie, Ashley, Elisa, Abby, me, Tiffy

New York City (I think we were there for a day and a half!)

We took this for Jeremy's dad.

Jeremy thought this would be a fun picture, the middle of street.

What would a trip to The Big Apple be without a slice of pizza?

I love this picture. We went to Brooklyn (Brooklyn Tabernacle) for church on Sunday. That was an adventure. But on our way back we had fun exploring. This is the fountain that Will Smith is in front of, drinking Benadryl in the movie Hitch. We were there first!

Ground Zero


Our Honeymoon - Puerto Rico

We had fun one day walking around the amazing resort, exploring and taking pictures.

It looks like I'm about to fall off the cliff...but I'm not.

The view from our room

The Rainforest in Puerto Rico.

This is one of our favorite pictures. We set the camera up on a bench and put it on timer and shot this ourselves. Not to shabby:-)

Hahaha...this bird said "Hola" every time we walked by. A bilingual bird! Can you imagine???

Smile for the camera.

Our Friends Ben & Jami's wedding (I hope it's ok I put these up Jami)

Jeremy was a groomsman. He had just seated a grandmother or something and found me as he was walking back...so we snuck a picture.

I've always liked this picture. I thought it was so great with the bubbles...and Jami is Beautiful!


Our First Home improvement project

We got married Oct. 4...about 3 or 4 weeks later, I was vacuuming the floor and found a huge soaking wet area. The mark on the floor was the mildew from the HUGE china cabinet against the wall. The shower had been leaking the whole time we had lived there (a whole month or so) and it took that long for the water to soak through for me to see it.

This is a gross picture of the rotted shower pan from our dining room side. We spent the next 9 months fixing up the bathroom in our spare time. I think that project was the best thing to happen to our young marriage. We learned more about each other working on this project together than we ever learned in pre-marital counseling. I'm thankful for the memories AND the things we learned about each other.

Well...I hope you enjoyed my little walk down memory lane. I'm sorry the pictures weren't more organized. It was fun for me though. Off to bed...an hour later than expected. Leave me some fun comments about the pictures:-)

Big News...

What is it???? Coming soon.....

Still Down...but Not Out

Our computer is still down, sort of. We have all the parts, and they have even been installed into the computer, but there has been little time for anything else. My dear, sweet, hardworking husband has been working crazy hours and literally has not had time to do anything but eat dinner and go to bed. They have a blessing of a job about an hour and half away that is getting them through right now, but it's been lots of work with intense deadlines, forcing the guys to work up to 15 hours a day. (That's almost two work days in one for those of you who are not good at math ;) I'm so proud of Jeremy for giving this job everything he has. He's not the "work-a-holic" type. As in...his work does not come before family. This isn't something that always happens. But, I understand, and he understands that when there are deadlines to be met, they need to met unless there is an incredible need for him at home (at which point I KNOW he would drop everything). But, praise the Lord, there isn't an incredible need, just a missing of daddy and husband. We did have a very nice and restful Sunday and I think that re-energized all of us for the coming week. I also realize that there are lots of people who HAVE to work those kinds of hours just to pay the bills, so I'm trying not to complain and to send him off each morning at 6:45 with a smile, and greet him each night at 8:00 with a kiss and a semi-clean home:-) I love Him so much, and I'm thankful he is such a hard worker and so serious about providing for our family. Lazy is not a word that come near to describing Jeremy...it's the furthest thing from him.

I usually ignore cheesy radio commercials about relationships (or really any commercial in general). But last night, driving home from our coupon club I heard something I've heard a zillion times before...but it encouraged me. It said something like..."A lot of people say marriage is a 50/50 effort. I don't know about your, but I expect my wife to give closer to 100%. There may even be times when one spouse has to give more like 150%." This made me think about us right now. I think that we are both giving at least 150%...but I know that right now, Jeremy Needs me to be as supportive as possible. I may hate (and he does too) that he doesn't get to see the girls in morning, and sometimes not even at night. I may hate that we don't get to eat together as a family right now. I may hate that all there is time and energy to do is eat and go to bed. I may hate that we don't have as much "free time" right now as normal. But...I have two options as a wife. I can either complain, grumble and make things miserable for both him and me. Or I can support and encourage and cherish the moments we have, even if it's only half an hour. I guess that's my giving that extra percent. I realize that I can have a great influence on the dynamic of our family by my attitude and actions to everyone else, the girls and Jeremy. It is so important for me, right now, to be positive, hopeful and encouraging. I think for the most part I have been...I'm sure there are times when I've given in to my selfishness and made it all about me. But, you know what...it's not all about me. Being married and loving someone is not an act to serve yourself, it is an act to serve the other person, at all times. I want to serve Jeremy the best way he needs it...and right now, this week, last week, maybe next....the best way I can serve him is to have a hot dinner ready at whatever time he makes it home, clean clothes folded (and put away), a hot breakfast made early in the morning, and a full, filling lunch for during the day. That's my job right now...that's how I can be a help-mate to my husband. How can you be one to yours today? Forget about your needs...what are His...right now. Think of one, and go fulfill it.

Hmmm...not what I meant to talk about for this post, haha. Look at the title...Oh, "Still down...but Not Out". I'm still working off my laptop, which I'm thankful for. But, it's much slower and frustrating to work on. If I have not been very good about keeping in contact with you, please bear with me. Maybe by the end of this week we'll have our computer up again. But, really...it's pretty low on the priority list right now.

The girls....let me gush about them for a moment. I LOVE my daughters. They are so precious. Yesterday was a hard day, at least after naps. They literally woke up crying and cried pretty much until bed time. Some times it was justified, but most of the time they were just fussing. A bit draining. However...little Nicole woke up this morning with an amazing sweet attitude, as did Hannah. We have had a fun day playing games, learning letter sounds (st this week)and walking around "Sam's house" (Sam's club) Nicole has been very lovey today. I can't even count how many times she's hugged, kissed and said I love you to me or Hannah today. But, I'll always take one more. I just adore our little family. They are so sweet, and I'm thankful God has blessed us with these two little girls. Who knows if we've got another sweet little girl coming, or a big rambuncious boy...can't wait to find out.

On that note....everyone wants to know...right? I don't have a date set yet for my ultrasound. Probably at the end of the month. Will let you know later.

EBay

Last night I entered my first ever bid and won my first ever product on Ebay. It was quite exciting. I did it the "risky" way. My highest bid was not much higher than the current bid, so I waited until there was less than a minute left, entered my bid, and won:-)

I won this OK, ok...you can't tell what it is. Well, I'll tell you. It is a 5 pack of Leapfrog DVDs that teach letter recognition (Nicole already knows her letter and sounds and learned it mostly from that video), beginning and advanced reading and phonics, beginning math, and even reading comprehension. They are super and I've been looking for the 5 pack, which they no longer make. I don't think they'll be delivered by her birthday, but that's ok. It was pretty fun watching how this whole ebay thing works. Now I just hope my payment works so I get a good rating from the seller.

Sweet Hannah

Tonight, I had Hannah all to myself from about 5:00 onward. Nicole was with grammy and gramps celebrating her upcoming birthday next week (they'll be out of town) and Jeremy was working late.

I enjoyed every moment with her. It's not often that I get Hannah all to myself, especially for that long of time. I had fun laughing and playing with her. I wish I could describe everything we did, but they all were probably silly to anyone else watching. But, I think to us both...they were precious. I loved watching her play alone in the bathtub. I loved the squeal of me squirting her with water. I loved snuggling and tickling on the floor. I love it when she found a pair of to big for her shoes, brought them to me, and then kicked her feet while yelling. Clearly she was telling me to put them on her. I loved watching her try to walk around the house (holding my hands of course) with huge clunky, heavy shoes. I loved smooshing faces with her at dinner. And holding her before bed. It was a sweet couple of hours.

I get a lot of play time with my girls, but rarely alone. It's fun to just have one for a little while. I can't wait for Nicole's turn next time:-)

Dance Class

This afternoon I took Nicole to her very first dance class. She has been asking about going every day for almost a week now. A friend of mine, Ashley takes her daughter Isa who is about the same age as Nicole. AND....our friend Anna from the college ministry at church is one of the instructors. The class is free (can you believe it?) and it's a children's worship class. It was adorable. The kids did "Father Abraham" "Open the Eyes of My Heart" and some other fun preschool style dances.

So....do you want to know how the class went? If you were to ask Nicole, "What was your favorite part of dance class?" she would say (and has said) "Sitting next to mommy". Yep...she ended up sitting next to me for about 90% of the class. She stood in line well, but when the kids started marching into the room, she started crying and saying she wanted her mommy. They brought me into the room (moms are usually suppose to stay in a different room and watch through a window) and Nicole, Hannah and I sat on a bench and watched. Nicole would not budge and looked as if she would cry for the first few minutes. However....by the end of the class she was smiling and having fun watching the kids. Then, they did a song that required bean bags, and the teachers asked Nicole if she wanted to (come across the room) and get a bean bag. The first song with the bean bags, Nicole just stood there, but during the second song she started jumping up and down and dancing along.

There are only 2 more classes left :-( didn't know that or else I would have just waited till the fall) But, I think it will be really good for her to be in a class with lots of other kids and some structure. We are hoping to get her into gymnastics also. One thing Nicole misses out on by me staying home is a very structured time of learning with other children her age. So...I'm hoping after a few weeks of gymnastics or dance she will be confident enough to be away from me and begin to learn how to follow instructions from other adults and follow class rules. I think it will be really good for her, and I'm excited about it.

So...the first class seemed to be a bomb, but she watched, and maybe next week she'll get up and dance a bit more.