Because He Lives!

A few weekends ago Kevin was able to take Rachel to a father-daughter dance. They both loved it! I got to take the boys out to dinner, they chose Chinese Buffet, and we came home and watched the Muppets. Daniel sings the songs on the Muppet movie, and so fun to watch them enjoy some things I enjoyed as a kid.

The kids love to help me bake...especially cookies!
We jumped right in and bought a few chicks. It has been a lot of fun so far, the kids are really enjoying them and I am curious to how adventurous we will get with animals in the future.
We went to a fishing clinic last weekend, and this weekend surprised the kids with fishing poles. They are all very good casters already, and we look forward to some fishing adventures this summer.
Resurrection Sunday 2012!

Daniel performed with his Sunday School Class.

And so the last few weeks have been filled with fun stuff....piano lessons, dance lessons, trips to the store, new libraries, going to yard sales and the Co-op. We did our last week of review before we move on and finish Kindergarden. I feel like we have really been enjoying the kids lately, and at the same time I still struggle with the day to day. And then God shows up and gives me an encouraging word in the Bible, a conversation with my sister, dad, and friends on the phone, some moments before the kids wake up, some time with my brother, or a hug from a friend. And then I am alright. God meets my needs. And it reminds me of the song, "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone, Because I know He holds the Future, and life is worth the living just because He lives." And that is what this Resurrection means to me personally today.

Daniel's 6th Birthday

In true fashion we had at least three birthday celebrations for Daniel. My Dad had surprised us the week before and flew in, so of course we had to celebrate with him, and then we went to New Hartford to celebrate with our Great Aunt Pauline, and then we had some guests over for Daniel's birthday and I tackled a pirate ship birthday cake for that.

Daniel is still into building things, he wants to build things when he grows up, loves legos, pirate things, cars, trains, and blocks. The weather has been unseasonable warm lately, we have been enjoying it.

The Months Go Quick

As I won this monthaversary, I was thinking of what to update this blog about this time. If I think a month went quickly, look at those two young kids in the picture above. After we got married, we went on our honeymoon, and finished the semester out. Kevin worked at Kroger until I graduated, and then we spend the next year in transition and apart for most of the year. But one thing that God gave me was a good man who was faithful and consistent. A man who has grown a lot, and continue to excel (he is good in the Office Program Excel too) in what ever he puts his hand to do. I am proud of him.

Now I need to get pictures up of our new 6 year old...after we recover from sickness this week.

Sweet Friends, Sweet Pea, and Sweet Weather!

We had a great time with our visitors from Lowell, MA! We used to live 7 minutes away, and now 5 plus hours takes some better planning, but it was great. I got to show off a little bit of stuff around here, and it was great to have the kids play so well together! So very thankful for their friendship!!!

We went the Museum of Play in Rochester, a little busy, but I would like to go again.


Now we have a dog named Sweet Pea. At first I wasn't sure if we could keep her, she initially made Daniel break out into hives, but he as settled down, and we are getting into the groove of having a dog. She is a pomeranian mix.
We have also been spending a lot of time outdoors! I'm hoping the winter is truly over now, we made it through another one, and not too worse for the wear.
The kids have begun to enjoy 4 wheeling over at Uncle Joe's.

The Spring Co-op has begun, and the first week was fun. I feel a little more in the groove with the kids, settled in here, and slightly more confidence in homeschooling. I needed to get these updates before Daniel's birthday is here, it is right around the corner!

College

We are approaching our 10 year college reunion and I have tried to pull out some old pictures. It is funny how much easier the digital camera has made everything, but we have a scanner and should use it to get these pictures digital. Kevin and I met in August 1998, our freshman year, although we didn't really date until our senior year. He was, is, and shall always be my best friend. His family was so welcoming, he was so eager to help out and to be there for his friends. He always knows how to make me laugh. I think I laugh everyday, between him and the kids. He was very athletic, and could do the obstacle course in less than a minute...a time that I think was just recently beat by a few seconds. He taught me how to climb the rope at the end of the Obstacle Course, although I would help him out freshmen year when he was in engineering (pre business for him) Kevin would look out for you, and his sincerity stayed with me until I realized we should be more than just friends.

There was a lot I got out of college, a good education, some great friends and experiences, but the best thing I left with was him!

Field trips and February

February has been flying by. We have enjoyed a few field trips, one out to the Utica Art Museum. Kevin has a great aunt who lives out there, and we were able to meet up with her and spend the day with her. She was a huge help too!

Here the kids are putting together their own modern art design. I think the kids did surprisingly well and were pretty interested in the paintings and exhibits.
But after some time they just needed to blow off some steam, and we went to a fun indoor playground before we drove back.
We had fun with Valentines Day this year, with Daniel and Rachel making different Valentines, our annual heart hide and seek game, and making some cake. The frosting was kind of runny, but it was fun all the same.
A day in the life....Daniel and Rachel are working on a project together and Noah can play pretty independently. The space behind the kids we put some dry erase paint up, and it is fun drawing on the wall. If one thing I am learning is to go with the flow a little better, and the kids will learn and are learning everyday.
We went on another field trip to the Museum of Science in Syracuse. It is becoming a favorite with the hands on things the kids can do, and it is close that we can meet up with Kevin during the day. I don't like the two hour parking limit however.

It has still been a mild winter, and find myself wanting just a little more snow. But we have been able to get out a lot this winter and I can't complain. I am looking forward to friends coming in next week, a few more museums to visit, and Daniel's approaching 6 year old birthday!

Monthaversary

Today is Kevin and my Monthaversary. We have been married 9 years and two months. It was something I watched my parents do. Every 30th of the month they would see who could say happy monthaversary first, and that person would win. I don't know if there was much of a prize, but just maybe some friendly competition. A friendly competition I have won most of the time, yet he seems to win when it counts.

I got thinking we will be celebration out 10th anniversary this year, and I am chuckling to recall where we thought we would be by this year. Or what we thought we could do for it. Like 10 years ago large, extravagant trips, and worldwide travel would be commonplace in our life....and it is not. During our last anniversary I was sick with a fever, and that was a new way to celebrate, but it made me think I need acknowledge the important things more, and not just wait for a certain day to come around.

So here is my challenge this year, to highlight on this blog the things I appreciate about Kevin...hopefully posting on the 23rd of the month. Technically I guess I have missed a few months out of this year, but with all the posting about the kids and the changes in our lives, I want to acknowledge the man who is the biggest part of this families success, and that is my very own husband. So check back over the next few months and see what I see in Kevin.