Forever Thankful For So Much

I have been really looking forward to a few things and wanted to jot them down and thought this was the perfect place to do so. We used to make it up to Ohio at least once a year before our daughter was born. We made it up once when Kate was 5 months old to visit Mikes dying grandmother and grandfather. Thankful we did, because they both died within a week of each other, a week later. It has now been three years since our last Ohio trip and we are heading up there in June for Stephanie's wedding. Kaydee gets to be the flower girl, Gavyn, the ring bearer, and Mike will be a groomsman. I am looking forward to introducing our little Bear to the family and reintroducing the little spitfire. Kaydee rarely stops talking about 'the wedding' and apparently, there will be a pool and s'mores at this wedding. According to Kaydee. And only Kaydee. I have decided against disney world this year and am planning a mountain cabin trip for just the four of us in November. I have started researching this week and have gotten so excited to spend a few days away from the hustle bustle that every day life entails. It originated as a romantic getaway for just mike and I and I quickly decided to include the kiddos after seeing the fun they can have. More on that trip another day. Gavyn has been in speech therapy since November now and I am so impressed with his improvement. He has come such a long way from his silent expressions. He is a little grabber now and likes telling his 'thith' what his thoughts on the matter are. Our backyard renovation is well underway and almost complete. Just a couple more truckloads of gravel and some shrubs and we are done! The kids have certainly been enjoying the freedom of playing in an enclosed area instead of the driveway where we were for the last couple of years. It's certainly a sanctuary for us all. I'm looking forward to the fire pit area being completed so we can start toasting marshmallows and roasting hot dogs. There is much that I am so thankful for and I absolutely never forget to thank the almighty for the blessings he has bestowed upon us. Shalom

I'm baaaack! ... For today.

Ok, so it's almost been another year since my last post and I hate it. I created this blog to relive memories down the road and it has turned into me trying to remember what he opened in order to blog about it. My life has been remarkable over the last 10 months since my last post. Not in the sense that we have run into some ungodly large sum of money or that we have taken beautiful trips to amazing destinations. It's actually been quite ordinary in some ways which makes it completely extraordinary. I often find myself at the end of the day thinking (or at times saying out loud if someone is around to listen) 'Man, glad this day is over.' I often regret thinking that even before it is finished coming to a complete sentence. I love every day. I love that I have two beautiful children who melt down and that I was given the opportunity to go insane daily over spilled cookies, accidents on the floor, or just disruption from my favorite DVR'd prime time. This is the life I never thought I would absolutely and completely love. I always pictured being in a large home surrounded by my best friends flanking my left and right side and throwing huge parties all summer while out children played in the rolling hills we called home. This life most certainly pales in comparison. My children prove to me every day that life is a blessing and that we are blessed with love and family. Onto what's been going on. We threw Gavyn a birthday party yesterday at our home. Mike has worked tirelessly trying to get our backyard 'oasis' prepared for the event only for it to rain all day and so we were forced to throw he party inside. It turned out quite nice. The outside activities I had planned were no longer to be played, but we made do and the kids had fun, which was the main goal. All in all, it was a success. The theme was Construction Crew (seemed appropriate, given Mike's fairly recent hobby he's picked up). I personalized you hard hats, purchased Home Depot work aprons, and have you trucks out as favors. The purpose for the party? To celebrate the fact that our little baby boy is no longer a baby. He is TWO! He is such an incredibly smart and sensitive child. He gives kisses and comfort anytime he feels someone is in distress. He loves loves loves his big 'thith' even though she takes the brunt of his strength most of the time. We are already beginning potty training him as he has decided for himself that using the potty is way cleaner than peeling or pooing in a diaper. I guess his OCD he has inherited from his father pays off in the aspect. We laugh and play all day, because that is his favorite thing to do. I have the happiest child on the planet. Truly, I do. Kaydee's third birthday (yes, THREE!!!) was at a park in my parents' neighborhood and she wanted ice cream. So, we threw her an ice cream party. The kids jumped in jumpy houses, they threw water balloons at each other over war, and we had a glorious time. She is such a dainty little tomboyish princess. She loves dressing up and changing her name. Don't try to call her Kaydee when she is CLEARLY named Belle or Lola at that moment. She won't answer and will most certainly correct you where you stand. She compliments when complimenting seems necessary (she definitely gets that from her father) and will tell you she loves you when you seem to need it most. That girl makes me smile more than there are hours in the day. Probably as many times as she makes me want to pull my hair out with her shenanigans. She is as witty as her father and wants to play with her friends all day. We are completing her first dance season with a recital May 31 and I'm sure it will be darling. The girl loves to perform. On stage, at the dinner table, or on the potty. She's a performer. We also just completed her second year of preschool and will be sending Kate along to Pre-K in the fall. So hard to believe, but she is so excited to attend her big kid school. Gavyn starts preschool in the fall which means this mama has 8 hours a week all by herself. We have had a year full of excitement and fun blended with some hardships which only makes the good times even sweeter.