Just being us

I've been trying to live life & love my little loves.  Cherish ever moment for the beauty that it is. 

We have been trying to enjoy the end of the summer & do as many things together as a family before its back to the grind & hopefully good things for Jeff's job plans of subbing at the various surrounding school districts on my days off this school year.  Pray for us this goes well & he is able to get enough calls.  It keeps our kids out of daycare, saving us lots & hopefully keeps our kids healthy this winter (saving us even more!).

The heat wave has broke!  We are loving loving this beautiful weather!

 Think they're getting a little too brave & naughty?

 We hit up the Children's museum & had a blast.

 The traveling exibit is the Wizzard of Oz.  Check out my Munchkins!  Perfect!!!

Working on Logan getting this daytime potty training business wrapped up....

We're celebrating every #2 success, no matter how small! 

$1.14 & they were a huge hit!

 "RAWR!!!!"

And there is this.... still crossing my fingers it all goes through.  12 days until we are tentatively scheduled to sign on all those dotted lines!

In Memory

As my friend Kerry so perfectly put it:

"A beautiful service for those who were there in spirit. Anne and Shane are still fighting and their comforting each other brought a sense of inspiration and left no dry eyes in the house. Hang tough, you two. Lots of support and love behind you, there was standing room only in honor of your sweet baby."

I know God welcomed you home with open arms sweet Isabelle.
May you always know how much your mommy & daddy love you.
I pray God's arms continue to hold up your parents.
May our prayers bring them comfort & peace.
May they keep your smile, your kisses & your memories alive in their hearts always. 

I'll keep praying Anne & Shane......
My heart is with you both.

Prayers for a tragedy

I sit here a little shell shocked.  My head hurts.  I can't sleep.

Wednesday night, I frustratedly put Logan back to bed, after he pooped in his diaper just 10 minute after being put in bed.  All 3 kids got up, because they "had" to go potty....again.  45 minutes later, finally they were all in bed. 

I sat down to check my e-mail & get caught up with the social networking world.


And I discovered tragedy.


A past co-worker & friend of mine tragically lost her daughter Wednesday morning.  Heaven gained another angel.

My heart aches for them, I am just shocked.  We battled years of infertility together.  We both had preemies.  She after a whirlwind day at work & an emergency c-section.  She said "I waited so long for her, I waited, and now she is gone."  I'm sick.  I simply can not put words to how I feel.  I simply can not imagine, I don't possess the strength to imagine.  I hurt, I feel guilty.  I hurt for her, my heart breaks for her.  Devistating.

Isabelle was 17 months.   And her mama said she was starting to get curls, just like her!

Please shower their family with your thoughts, love & prayers.  Please heal their broken hearts.  Please wrap your loving arms around them & comfort them as they walk this journey.  My thoughts & prayers are with you Anne.

She asks that you all remember to hug & kiss you kids today & everyday. 
I know I will.
Last night I slept on the floor in a sleeping bag in my kids' room.  And you'll probably find me there again tonight. 

I just can't believe it.  I just can't.

Our house business!

In 15 weeks....
We have sold our house not once, but twice.

41 days on the market last time before it sold & then fell apart.
19 days on the market this time..... and SOLD!!!!!!

So where are we going???

In 8.5 weeks we have 'bought' a house not once.... but twice.  The.same.house!

After our first deal fell through, the house we were buying went back on the market & sold fast.  However, the same day we found out that we were getting an offer on our house, we also found out the second buyer of the house we wanted fell through.  Their agent called ours to see if we were still interested before they re-listed again.  Odd that it all happened the same day?  Its seeming like this whole ordeal is meant to be??

So August 28 is the day.  As long as the bank can roll it all out that fast, we'll be in our new casa in 3 weeks!  Not celebrating until I sign on any dotted lines.... and I'm buying that poor guy whose house we are buying a case or 2 of beer!

*Deep Breath*
Fingers Crossed!!

County Fair 2012!

Our 105+ degree heat from this past week took a break today & we got out to enjoy the county fair.  It was just 84 degrees out, with a breeze.  And it was PERFECT!!!

We met up with my friend Laura & her son Jackson, watched a parade in the morning, ate lunch at the fair, rode rides, saw animals, saw tractors & went home for a nap.  Then we went back to the fair for supper, walked through some 4H buildings, rode a few more rides, saw a few more animals & had some homemade ice cream before heading home to bed.  Could not have asked for a day more jam packed with junk food & fun!!! 

Parade....

 She's got this parade-candy thing down almost too well.  Had to drag her out from the middle of the street once!!

 Animals...

 She is pretty much a natural!!!

 Rides....

 Logan's one & only.  He was almost too short!  Shorty!  They even measured him to make sure.  I would have been pissed if they wouldn't of let him go.  He was so excited to go, but he started crying about 1/2 way through, & never went again.  :(  He needs about 1/2 of Livi's bravery & then they'd both be good!

 Merry Go Round!!

 Ok, I guess Logan went on 2 rides.  As you can see he was thrilled!
He makes me think of my brother Alex.  His diet & dislike of rides!

 Hayden & Livi rode a bunch more.  Livi wanted to ride EVERYTHING.  The ferris wheel.  The scrambler.  The zipper.  Everything.  And she would have too.  Girl has NO fear!  Maybe next year we'll do a few bigger things.  Hayden always wants to go along & then about 1/2 way through changes his mind.  He cried the 2nd 1/2 of almost every ride, but always stayed sitting nice & then always wanted to go with Liv on the next one, but never wanted to get back on most of them for a 2nd go-round.

 Actually this one he liked when it was low, not so much when it was up in the air.

 Logan :(

 Yep... they sure did.  Livi would have gone 10000 times. Hayden went once & I don't think he would have gone again.

 They held on so tight & sat so nice!!

 Livi was JUST tall enough.  They even measured her to make sure.  She was grinning ear-to-ear when she was done!  The carnival guy just laughed at her!  I think he thought I was nuts when I buckled her in.  She reminds me of my sister in that way... and it makes me a little nervous!! 

 Tractors...

 EXHAUSTED!!

 Back for supper.  YUP, this is what I had!!!

 More rides....

She is just something else right now.  Her little personality just kills me.  A couple people tonight came & told us they just enjoyed watching her ride.  They said she goes a mile a minute & they are so right!

 Hayden liked this ride, the only one he rode more than once.

 Logan :(

 Homemade Ice Cream!! 

This stand is owned by a couple who has teenage triplet boys.  We met them at our kids' first visit to the fair when they were babies.  We go back & see them every year!  This year their sons told them before the fair if they saw us, they couldn't chase us down again, its too embarrassing.  Ha.  We chatted for a bit & they treated us to free ice cream!  YUM!!

Bet my grandpa wishes he had an engine rigged up to turn the crank on his. 

Hayden doesn't usually even like ice cream that much, but he sure ate this up!

We had an absolute BLAST at the fair this year!!!