Congratulations, Matt and Kate Sivard!

WHAT. A. WEEKEND!

This weekend was a special weekend. Our little Matty got married!! Ok, so he is actually a very tall Matty and I am pretty sure he would kill me for even calling him Matty. Oh well:) Hopefully he is enjoying his wife too much to even be reading this!!

 It was a weekend of festivities that all started on Friday night for us. We got there right in time for the Rehearsal dinner. Unfortunately, it wasn't a smooth ride there. It was supposed to be about 2 hours away. Add LOTS of traffic and a sick sister and you get an over 3 hour ride...not to mention the other sister that has exams for the next two weeks that needed to talk disgusting medical stuff with my dad the WHOLE way. BUT we got there....and still had a sick sister (thanks to no food, Vicodin, and a surgery 4 days prior). Anyways, the rehearsal dinner was absolutely beautiful (and delicious!) and we got to visit with our very dear friends, the Sivards. 

Saturday, get this, I SLEPT IN!!! WOOHOO! However, I did wake up several times during the night swearing that I heard my babies crying. The wedding/reception was gorgeous! Nic got there RIGHT before the wedding started, which made me one happy woman. 

 Kristen, Molly, and Mom

 Sam

 BEAUTIFUL!

 Matt and Kate

 The famous stair step pic...minus Adam:(

 Sivards and Fergusons

We are so happy for Matt and Kate and this journey they are beginning as a married couple. That night we added one more to our stair step!

Congratulations, Matt and Kate!!!

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Happy 32nd Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

I am so thankful for God choosing you 2 to be together. I am thankful that He allowed me to be your child. I am thankful for your strong marriage. I am thankful for your love for not only each other, but for God. I am thankful for you showing us kids what a healthy marriage looks like. I am thankful for your wisdom on marriage. Love you both SO much and am proud to call you my parents. 

I Enjoy...

Things I Enjoy...

Waking up and realizing my kids, husband, and I slept through the whole night...doesn't happen all that often and all you mothers out there will have to agree:)

Curling up on the couch with a blanket and a good book while it is raining...there is something about the sound of rain that is so relaxing and calming....except in storms

Laying on the float in my parents' hot tub...if you turn it way down, it feel like a pool and when you don't have a pool, you will do anything to stay cool

Listening to my children laugh TOGETHER...the sounds makes my heart totally melt...again, those of you with children know the feeling

Going on dates with my husband...time alone with the spouse allows us to actually talk and actually give each other our 100% attention

Old TV shows...there is something about the style of clothes and the expectations that makes me want to live one day in the life of Lucy

Bike rides with my little family...the little activities and times with our family make wonderful memories

The smell of clean laundry...Don't know if it is because it means I accomplished something or because clean laundry just makes everything better in some way

A clean kitchen...clears anxiety for some reason

Pedicures/manicures...makes me feel kept on the days I don't get to shower:)

Recording family memories through blogging...I don't want to forget anything and some days I just feel like I am losing my mind

Talking around my parents' table with my whole family...we end up laughing and talking about different memories we each have

Campfires with smores...there is something totally peaceful about staring into the fire, and the smores are just so darn good

The smell of campfires...don't ask me why...maybe because it reminds me of my camping days with Nic and his family...and the one time my family went with them:)

Singing at the top of my lungs in the car with my kids...and the looks of total strangers watching us at stop lights

Baths...without kids...gives me time to just think...or not to think

Walking around any store...I love to just roam and look around 

Being on the boat...the feeling of being on water is freeing to me

Conversations with Hayden...both the learning experiences and the just because conversations

Watching Colton walk...watching your child learn something knew is exciting for both you and them

Hacienda chips and salsa...every day of my life

McDonald's diet coke...because everyone has to have a bad habit 

Being with friends...makes my heart happy

Talking to God/Spending time in His Word...realigns all priorities and reminds me of His faithfulness and love for me

SLEEP...we all need it and don't get enough of it. 

Just being with family...the simple "just being" makes everything in the world seem ok.

Snuggling...with my babies or with Nic...just being able to hold them or be held by Nic satisfies my heart.

Trying to work out...I try to love it, but haven't gotten there yet, sometimes I think I love it until I forget about it

Nic's grilled creations...he is the BEST cook I know...his chicken, hamburgers, porkchops...ANYTHING!

Looking through pictures/taking pictures...takes me to an exact time in my life that reminds me of all the happiness throughout my 26 years

Holding newborns...there is just something inside me that yearns to hold a newborn when I see them...maybe the way that you can hold them and they don't want down or are too big to be held

When a complete stranger smiles back at me (not in a creepy way)...reminds me that the whole world isn't turning into complete pshycos

A small victory...like connecting the diaper sprayer all by myself.

Unexpected surprises...don't have a specific reason for this one

Watching the sun set...the sky is the most beautiful mix of colors showing off God's beauty

A call from a family member or best friend...just because

Getting a hand written letter...makes me feel special

Waking up at 4 in the morning realizing I DO NOT have to wake up yet...I love the fact that I get to snuggle deep in my sheets and fall back into peaceful sleep

Fresh fruit...watermelon, strawberries, blueberries, apples, bananas, anything....makes me feel healthy

A glass of Moscato with slices of strawberries...thanks to my sister, Kristen

Reaching in my pocket and finding an unexpected dollars...the bigger the bill, the better!

Different things that remind me of my childhood...such as the smell of cherry pie reminding me of my grandma's cooking, or different toys/items that remind me of different friends

Laughing until my stomach hurts and tears are streaming down my face...because laughter heals everything and it makes you lose calories

Holding Nic's hand...makes me feel loved and protected

Watching Nic wrestle with the kids...the sounds and sight just make me overflow with joy

Being able to do something for someone to make them smile...anyone enjoys that

Reading different quotes...it's inspirational

When the weather is just cool enough to wear a sweatshirt...for some reason that is the most comfortable temp for me

Springtime...the smell of rain and the blooming of flowers...the world has color again!

The breeze on a HOT day...not sure why...I just do enjoy it

There are so many more things to be enjoyed, but my bed is calling me name...which reminds me...I enjoy the feeling of stretching out in my bed and I finally get to close my eyes.

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." -Robert Brault

Ramblings to stay distracted from the knife...

Today is a the day my sister has been waiting for all summer. After months of appointments, ups and downs, Sarah has finally found an answer to her "tree trunk leg" problem. Please don't tell her I said that...she might hurt me. As we speak, she is under the knife:) The doctor will be releasing her vein from being trapped by her muscle. There is a scientific term, but let's be real, I have absolutely no idea to even pronounce it, let alone spell it out. Anyways, I think I am rambling right now just to keep my anxiety down. You would think it was my own daughter. That's ok, I helped raise her...right, mom?!:) Just please take a moment to say a little prayer for her and the doctor.
Ok, so what else can I talk about?
The fair has started which means my husband has been turned into the county carny....well...one that is wearing a uniform. He has been working the fair and not getting home until after midnight. BUT that meant we got yesterday morning/afternoon together. We only had Reagan so we decided to take her and her cousin and the kids to the zoo. All 4 kids were absolutely perfect and I can't wait to recruit the girls as babysitters in a couple years!! The weather was rather nice and all in all it was a wonderful day.
Colton's personality is growing more and more as the days go by. He makes me laugh EVERY time I look at him...except when those times are his amazingly huge fits when he throws himself backwards, straightens, starts kicking his legs, and screaming. Other than that, he is a hoot. He no longer crawls and walks with his little arms up...and, well, it just makes me laugh. He is learning how to walk faster and faster to keep up with his sister. He laughs at everything and has a smile plastered over his face. One of my favorite things that he is doing right now is coming right up to me to throw his body on me for a hug and then opens his mouth for a kiss. I am having a little problem though right now. He is constantly throwing things. All day long he carries around a ball. He throws it, chases it, and just keeps himself entertained. BUT he doesn't only throw balls. He throws EVERYTHING and I don't know how to help him with this problem. I remember it with Hayden, but I forget what we did for it. Yikes. What a character.
Hayden has been growing up before our eyes. I think it is because of having older kids in the house during the day. She has been wanting to do everything they do, including cleaning her place up after she eats. I am so thankful that the girls have been so wonderful to her and such great examples for her. She loves them. She is in a stage right now where she lines up everything, whether they are dinosaurs, blocks, dolls, tea cups. She takes her time and makes them just right. She also has been watching the girls build with the foam stacking blocks and I found her last night in the playroom building away by herself. It was actually very neat.

Time out...do people realize how LOUD they are in the waiting rooms? I mean really...I don't really want to hear about this battery that is now in a pee cup and is really neat looking from the doctor.

Ok. Time in. One thing that has been making me smile recently is watching the 2 kids together. They have been playing more and more together. To hear them both laugh at the same time totally melts my heart. Hayden has been really learning to share. She hasn't been the best with that in the past. With other kids, yes. But Bubby, no chance on Earth was she going to allow him to touch any toy of hers...or his. But she has been doing wonderfully lately and I am very thankful. It has and will always be a prayer of mine that my kids grow up loving each other and have an unbreakable friendship like I have with my siblings. I am excited to watch their relationship grow through the years. I know they will fight, yell, and even hate each other at times. But, I also want them to love, trust, and be there for each other. One thing I have learned through the years is sometimes family is the only thing you have. You might as well like them:)
Well, the doctor just told us he is done and she is in recovery. So I can now stop blabbing now that my anxiety is done:) I have no idea what he is saying right now, but I am guessing everything went well. Thanks for the prayers:)

Lovin' the Summer

This past weekend is a weekend that I was greatly thankful for. Sometimes through hard times you wonder what God's plan really is. But God has blessed me with my friends and my family to get through those times.
Friday night started the weekend with lots of laughter and of course, great company. Tara, Steve, and Hannah came our way for a cookout. We also had Kammy, Rory, their daughters Jayda and Brynlee over as well. It was a great night of food, slip n' slide, campfire, and just some good laughs. All the kids played AWESOME together and Hayden has a new little friend that she didn't even fight with once:) I call that a success!

Saturday started off a rocky morning but turned into a relaxing, healing day. Nic was playing in a softball tourney all day while I headed off to the lake with the babies. My parents and sister were up there and we spent the afternoon soaking in the rays and just having some good heart to heart conversations. After the lake we went to my parents' house where we met up with Kim and Randy Clem and their sweet granddaughter Ryleigh, who I have had the chance to babysit a couple of times earlier in the week. We went to Uptown Kitchen for some dinner and then Urban Swirl (my new favorite ice cream place), where we let the kids run around. Hayden and Ry were played wonderfully together and laughed a lot (at what, we have no idea).

Sunday was just plain hot. So...us ladies (mom, sisters, and me) decided to use floats in the hot tub (which was of course turned down to feel like a pool) where we stayed for a good 2 hours while the kids napped. But like I said before, it was one stinkin HOT day, so we didn't last over those 2 hours. After Nic got off work, we headed to his dad's house for a cookout with his Uncle John, Aunt Jennifer, and cousins Josh and Cammy who JUST came into town from Texas. They also came to Nic's softball games later that evening. It was great talking with them and just being with them. After all, we don't get to see them all that much at all. Hayden followed Cammy wherever she went and Colt just stared at Josh. I am not sure what that was all about. Josh is a young teen so I don't know since he hasn't been around younger guys at all if it was new for him? hehe! He is surrounded by girls all the time:)

OHHH....AND Colton was walking almost the WHOLE time at the ball park. I think he is finally becoming an actual walker! I know, I know, it only took him 15 months! I think Hannah has been an inspiration to him:)

Today was a a special day. It was the first time I went blueberry picking. I have been hearing about how lots of different people have gone and how good the blueberries are so I decided I wanted to take the kids. I had absolutely NO idea what I was doing, but I didn't care! Sarah had spent the night last night after our weekly show, The Bachelorette, and Nic had SWAT training. So...that meant Sarah and I got to take the kids. Ryleigh got to come with us which was a lot of fun for Hayden. I knew that it was going to be scorching hot and miserable, so we went right away in the morning. Let me tell ya...it was scorching hot even that early. I was so impressed with how all three kids did considering each of us were dripping with sweat and you could barely breathe with the heavy air. BUT we still had a great time and I can't wait to do it again! Ry spent her time picking and eating, Hayden spent her time by picking all the green ones (the ones you aren't supposed to pick), Sarah and I spent our time picking and placing in the bucket (and sorting out all the green ones from Hayden), and Colt spent his time taking them from the bucket and throwing them. Somehow, we still ended up with A LOT! Oh the memories:) (the pics below are weird because my camera kept fogging up)