A Moment of Ellie Kate reflection...

She is such a sweet big sister. I mean, just look at that....

Peyton adores her big sister in every way, and that is just all right with Ellie Kate. Best buddies for life, I like to say.


And I about broke into the Hallelujah Chorus over this one...

For months I have been battling the bangs and awkward hair length. Well guess what? I won...

I finally got her hair in pig tails. Count one point for the mommy team.

Oh, and for all you mommies out there who don't have a two year old yet, let me give you a glimpse into the future...

Apparently, when you tell them to wash their hands, what they hear is - squeeze Mommy and Daddy's toothpaste out into the sink.

Oh wait, maybe that isnt all two year olds, maybe that is just MY two year old.

Our fancy shmancy pool party!

Today, we brought in the summer with a bang!!! We broke out the blow-up pool.

Well, actually, it wasn't really our, or should I say MY, original intention to break out the pool this weekend. I mean, as of 9am this morning, we didn't even own a pool. Of course, that was all before I sent my darling husband to the grocery store.

I sent Ben to pick up a "few items for dinner" (which apparently is open for interpretation). When I called him nearly an hour after he and Ellie Kate had left, wondering if they were ok, I got this conversation:

Me: Babe, you guys ok?

Ben: Yea, we are fine, just headed home.

Me: Great, what took so long? Long lines at the store today?

Ben: No, I had a hard time finding the things on your list.

(Me to myself: hmmm, I never have a hard time finding lemons, spinach, and breadcrumbs.)

Me: Oh, well ok. Ellie Kate ok?

Ben: Yeah, she is great. You know, she told me while we were out shopping that she needed to go potty, so i took her potty and she went.

Me: Yeah, honey, she has been potty trained well over 4 months now. She's pretty well got it mastered.

Ben: Well, I thought she needed to be rewarded for pottying like such a big girl.

"Oh please," I thought to myself, "please don't say he let her walk up and down the candy aisle and pick whatever she fancied."

Ben: I bought her a special toy.

Me: What kind of toy?

Ben: You will just have to wait and see.

And ten minutes later, I heard the air compressor just a blowin away in my garage. At first I thought it was some crazy neighbor working on some other Saturday morning project. It didn't take long to realize that ghastly sound was coming from my own garage. Oy.

It didn't take long, however, for both my girls to be swimmin' the day away in their new slide/pool combo. They will probably want daddy to be the permanent grocery shopper :-)

My bathing beauty. She always looks like she is up to something. Gotta love her.

Of course, Ellie Kate found the water hose and sprayed both daddy and I, and she thought that was pretty stinkin hilarious.

I should have known better than to send Ben to the store with that sweet innocent looking face. Poor guy just can't say no.

Personal Opinon Ahead - Proceed with Caution

So unless you are living under a rock, you know that Kris Allen won season 9's American Idol last night.I feel like this is a small victory. Not because I liked Kris's voice better. Not because I thought he wore better clothes. And not even because he was the underdog. No, I feel like this is a victory in a whole other way.

As I am about to bring baby number 3 into this world and as I have been raising my two sweet girls, I have become increasingly concerned with the future my girls will soon face. In all honesty, it looks pretty bleak. Divorce plaguing nearly half of American marriages, a child being abused every 4 seconds, sex scenes allowed on prime time "family" television shows, and the growing obsession with one's self. Frankly, I am frightened of what the world may look like when my children are in high school.

When pictures surfaced recently of Adam's homosexual lifestyle, it proved again that our culture is becoming more and more polluted and more and more accepting of unbiblical lifestyles. God is being removed from our surroundings, and Christians are turning the other cheek.

Christians are electing politicians that condone the killing of innocent babies, because it might bring in a few extra bucks at tax time. The Christian church is dying because its church members are addicted to porn and gambling. And we are choosing role models for our children who openly express a lifestyle contradicting that of the Lord's, and its frightening.

A lot of my friends have said, "Its a singing competition and the best singer should win." Well, I think as Christians we are called to take a stand against that which goes against God's Word. We have the opportunity to chose the role models that are placed in front of our children - and I for one chose a man who is a self-proclaimed sinner who is saved by grace, a man who obviously loves and stands for his family, and a man who will point others to Christ -and I voted twice. :-)

I am slightly encouraged last night as America picked the underdog, the "black horse" and I hope my children will chose role models that make a stand against the world, and make a stand for Christ.

Bliss and Bossiness

This video began as I tried to capture the giggling sounds of my daughters. There is no more wonderful sound on earth (in my opinion), than that of my children laughing together. When I heard them cackling like never before, I knew I had to capture it on film.

Then, it turned into a video of bossiness. Once the cackling had ceased, and Peyton no longer enjoyed the splishing and splashing of her older sister, she tried to seek help from outside the bathtub (too bad I was around the corner trying to capture this once adorable moment without either of them knowing. ) Ellie Kate proceeded to do as she typically does - instruct her wayward sister of her naughtiness and correct such crude behavior immediately.

So enjoy the sweet sounds for just a few seconds, and then laugh at my daughter's strong nature, and say a little prayer for her teenage years!

Who doesn't love a good heart beat?

Aww, the sweet 141 pitter patters a minute of our sweet unborn daughter, errr, I mean child - I guess it is just a habit.

Yep, that's right, today was the day I got to officially hear the newest addition to our clan make her (or his) first mark on the world. It took just a few minutes to find, and it sounded glorious.

Ellie Kate kept asking, "Whaz thad sound, mommy?" I kept telling her that that was the new baby, and she gave me one of those, "hmmm", looks like maybe I was out of my mind. My midwife was kind enough to let her play with the "lets see how big my tummy is growing" tape measure, and that kept her busy the rest of the appointment.

Peyton crawled around on the floor with my midwife's son and only took one tumble as I rested on the table, beaming from ear to ear. It seemed like only yesterday I was laying on the table listening to Peyton's heartbeat for the first time. Where does the time go?

I am so excited for the healthy progress my sweet baby is making and I can't wait to wrap my arms around her (or him). Well, maybe it would be good if baby stayed in for at least 7 more month, I do have a two year old and a nine month old still in training to become mommy's super duper helper.

The Cantaloupe Cuties

Last year, it was all about the watermelon. Ellie Kate would eat it by the mounds and beg for more.

This past winter, it was all about the clementines. Many a day, I would find my darling first born sneaking into our refrigerator for a mid-day snack (of which I approved).

Lately, there is a new fad on the block; a new fruit to tickle our fancy; a new healthy obsession, if you will.

Its all about the cantaloupe.

Morning, noon, and night - they eat it by the bowl fulls.

And that is quite alright by me. I may need to come up with a cantaloupe section of our budget, though.

Its a Girl!!!

*Seriously, guys, sorry about the delay...*

So last night, I had a dream that I am having another girl. Ben barged into our bedroom, Peyton in tow, and announced that he had just found out I was pregnant with another girl. Why would he know and not me? I don't know, its a dream, remember?

Over the past few weeks, most people have said things to me like, "oh man, I hope its a boy, for Ben's sake;" or "You need to get some testosterone in that house;" and others - but you get the point.

Honestly, though, if you ask Ben, he truly wants another girl. Don't get me wrong, we will take what we get and be ecstatic, but he loves his daughters, and would love another. Frankly, I wouldn't mind it either.

Back to my dream.

So the odd announcement of "Its a girl!" got me thinking about the first time I heard those words. Laying in the middle of that operating room, half out of consciousness, the doctors yells, "Its a girl!" Visions of hair bows, tutus, frilly dresses, and nail polish came to mind. Oh the joys I would have as we brushed each other's hair and had tea parties with our dollys. Baking cookies with matching aprons and getting our nails done at the salon. Oh what fun it will be to have a girl - I thought to myself.

Boy, was I wrong.

Instead, I got...


a power tool using,june bug poking,

boo-boo getting

dirty faced little munchkin...

and I love every bit of her.

Happy Birthday to You!

May 6, 1980 - one of the greatest days in history.

May 6, 1980 is when my darling husband, the most handsome man on the planet, was born.

I mean, think about all that would be missing from my life, and consequently your life, if this monumental event had never occurred.

Ben and I would have never met, we would have never gotten married, there would be no Ellie Kate and Peyton, and therefore no blog. Seriously, May 6, 1980 should be a national holiday. I'll speak to my representative about that.

When contemplating the makes of this post, I couldn't come up with a good enough idea that would quite encompass all the is my wonderful husband.

I mean, I've talked about what a great daddy he is. Ive shared stories of his putting newborn clothes on my 9 month old baby, and giving that same baby a Schwann's man push up pop. I have even written 100 things I love about him. What more could I do?

Then I thought to myself - Why not come up with some things that would showcase to the world what makes up the mind of my man. What makes him tick? What things do I pass by and can't help but think of him? So I thought I would share them with you.

Shall we begin????

There is no where else in the entire world that that man would rather be than with his two princesses. When we found out we were expecting for the third time, he never asked about money, never had a selfish comment, and had to contain himself from jumping out of his skin. For that, I love him even more.

Here he is with each of our girls....

I keep trying to tell him that no matter how much he loves the Red Sox, they will never love him back. It doesn't help. The man's devotion for the sox and his hatred for pinstripes runs very deep.

I can't help but include his favorite college team - the Michigan Wolverines (I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit). Sorry dad, I had all intentions of marrying a Buckeye - I guess God has a sense of humor.

Our favorite little breakfast joint at our favorite vacation spot (53 days to go, and we will be dining it up in this very location)

Oh, the never ending change in facial hair. WILL IT EVER STOP. I swear he does it just to annoy me.

Who doesn't love green bean casserole? The creamy, fattening, crunchy goodness - I mean nothing accompanies a turkey better on Thanksgiving than good ole' green bean casserole. Ben would rather eat dirt. He just might lose his American citizenship over that one.

Falls Creek, USA. The very sight of our first meeting and one of his favorite places to take 100 youth kids every summer. To most, it would be torture, but to him - its bliss.

My husband still wears the original Air Jordan's. I am not joking. Seriously, boy, UPDATE yourself! Those shoes are frightening - especially when he wears them with capris and socks. What can I say - I try.

Oddly enough, Burlington Coat factory is his favorite place to shop. he is always looking for an excuse to go there and always finds the weirdest things. They do have some pretty sweet deals though.

Oh golly jeepers. If he thought he could grow a mullet and not be run out of town by his youth kids, he would. He loves all things 80's - from the horrible rocker music to the parachute pants. I'm serious. I think he misses the days of the 80's when he was in a boy band. I am still mad at his mom for not having video of that.

I can't give you a snapshot of my husband's life without including his drug of choice - ESPN. He watches is every night as we are going to bed. He's so desperate for it, I have caught him watching badminton on there. Lame.

So for your viewing pleasure, there is some things that make up my fabulous prince charming. I love him so much - quirkiness and all. Happy Birthday, darlin!

And here is my challenge to all of you (well all of you who are my real life friends) - What makes you think of Ben? What do you see that screams his name? Feel free to add my list in the comments below. Don't worry about embarrassing him, that is half the fun!