Greatest Gift

Have you ever...

had one of those moments where it just hits you... "wow! this is my life"?  I was overcome last night while talking with Dan on the porch after a busy day of work, ballgames, meetings, lessons, all taking us in separate directions for the day.  Of course when we make our way out to the porch for some quiet catch up time, the kids always make their way out there too, which in turn makes for not so quiet time... but it's all good.  Last night was the first night in a while we could actually see the moon {lots of thunderstorms here lately} & it was beautiful & high in the sky.  All three kids ran off the porch in search of lightening bugs & I was hanging over the railing just watching them run & laugh... & that's when it hit me... it was such an overwhelming feeling of happiness that I felt for my kids for being able to live where we live & run freely & enjoy such a simple thing like chasing lightening bugs.  I also felt such joy myself for everything we have & how much we truly enjoy it.  I can't believe how lucky I am to have this family & our home to cherish... sometimes it's those moments I need to have to remember in the midst of all the craziness... it really is all good :)

a belated happy Father's Day

Two of the most important men in my life...

my amazing husband & the incredible father of our three kids...

 

and my dad & a great grandpa to our kids...

 

I love you two so very much & couldn't imagine my life without you!  I'm so happy we were able to spend time yesterday to celebrate the two of you!  

Dan, I'm so proud of the father you've become... you're the best & the kids & I love you more than you can imagine :)

Dad, you were always firm with us growing up, but I see now your soft side when you're around the kids... you're the best!  I know one little girl who has a particular sweet spot for you in her heart :)

I love you guys & thank you for being such amazing fathers.

 
  

where oh where have i been?

well... since the boys got out of school, they've been on a steady stream of UNsteady bedtimes... baseball games... video games... fun days with grandma... they're little sis has joined in on all the fun too {which was the cause for that picture. fell asleep with her face in her ice cream cone!  too funny.} Lydia is loving having Collin & Evan home with her! She just plays right along side them or they'll think of something fun to play with her like hotel or shopping mall :) As any mother I love the days or even hours when they are all playing happily together! Now, if it would stop raining long enough for them to get some outside play time without coming back a muddy mess...  

For the last few weeks I've been on an exciting journey as well!  I'll share details soon... but I've been doing lots of thinking, researching & playing! I've also been taking this summer e course by the oh so fabulous Kelly Rae Roberts!!!

 

If you don't know about this amazing artist you should really go check out kelly's website. Her book is on my list to read too... she is truly an inspiring individual :)

Oh & I saw sneaks of the LOADS of new goodies being released for Reminisce this summer... oooooh you're gonna LOVE it all!!!  We've all been busy little designers these last several months!  Keep checking over at the Reminisce blog for new releases!

you know it's summer when...

the calendar reads June...

the kids REALLY don't have any interest in homework...

the slip n slide makes it's first appearance...

 

new swimsuits are revealed...

 

the big guns come out...

 

evenings on the porch are being enjoyed...

and baseball games are in full swing...

 

the long weekend was amazing, but unfortunately our boys have school until June 8th... I think we're all ready for some lazy days ahead!
  
  
 

weekend wishes...

It's Memorial Day weekend again & every year I can think of so many things that I want to do, but usually don't get too many accomplished!  Pretty much I'm just hoping to enjoy the weather, my family & relax, but there are a few things I REALLY want to do!  So here's my top picks for this weekend:

tonight:

a date with my hubby & seeing this...

 

please??? I'm starting to forget what he looks like... so I'm thinking we're due for this!

Saturday... outside time or maybe a little shopping & then celebrating with family my nephew's high school graduation!!!

Sunday... family time, visiting Dan's mom at the hospital {please pray for her comfort & for our entire family... it has been a rough several weeks} & just some relaxing time at home :)

Monday... enjoy NOT working or going to school!!! maybe we'll fit in a trip for ice cream!!!

Have a wonderful, enjoyable, relaxing & safe weekend everyone :)

 

Congratulations Brennan!!!

Yesterday our nephew Brennan graduated from high school!!! Wow. Is that really possible?  Needless to say, we are very proud, happy & excited for him! Now, for the big world & lots of big decisions that are in store!  We love you Brennan... congratulations :)

 

a little late, but I'll brag anyway :)

Earlier this month, Collin was lucky enough to be chosen to play a trumpet solo at the HTC spring concert.  Of course, Dan & I were very proud of him & he did great!  I was so impressed by the entire 5th & 6th grade band.  With the 5th graders just beginning in the fall, I can't believe how beautifully they played.  

Another highlight of the night was that they were able to play with the high school band, while accompanied by the boy's chorus.  It was truly a pleasure! Congratulations Collin & the rest of your talented friends :) 

 

our dream...

Six years ago Dan & I made one of the scariest, most exciting, amazing decisions of our lives.  While living in a smallish starter home with our boys {at that time Collin was nearly 5 & Evan nearly 2} my sister made us aware of a old farm house that was coming up for auction in a few weeks.  Dan & I had dreamed for years of living in the country & renovating a house into our dream home.  We went to look at the house, but we weren't sure.  The house would take major work.  Paneling covered nearly every wall & door in the downstairs, the upstairs was in bad shape {putting it nicely} with plaster cracking & falling, bad carpet covering painted wood floors... I could go on for months.  Over the next few weeks we went back & forth thinking we loved the setting & the style of the house, but didn't know if we could handle the project with 2 young children.  We went to the auction that day with much excitement & anticipation, as we had decided to bid on the property, but trying not to get our hopes too high, knowing how auctions go. Once bidding began it went so fast & evidently deep down we really wanted this house to be ours!  

Over the next few months we stripped all that paneling off the walls to find more horrible plaster & started making a plan of what to do.  Thank goodness for my wonderful brother, who is an amazing contractor, helped up muddle through all the craziness & put in hours upon hours of work helping us.  We stripped every wall in the house down to the studs, my dad rewired the entire house, we drywalled, put in new wood floors, totally reconfigured the staircase, stripped & refinished existing wood floors, Dan & my brother made all of our trim from bare wood to look like it originally was here all along. All windows & doors were replaced.  My brother made cabinets for our kitchen just like I had been drooling over in a design magazine.  We spent a solid year working days, nights, weekends to get it to the point to move in {although there was still tons to finish}.

In that span of time I went from stay at home mom to working from home freelance designing for Reminisce & finally a full time design position.   We also welcomed a new member to our family in Lydia!  Lydia was born in March, I had gall bladder surgery in August, we moved in with my sister right after that & we jacked up our house to put a new basement under it!  It was such an amazing, stressful time!  I really thought I could kill Dan for wanting to do that at that time with a new baby, but I went with it. Now I'm so glad we have the basement! It's a great place for us all to go & hang out or where the kids can go & run around when the weather isn't good.

Two summers ago we tackled yet another huge project... new roof, new siding, addition to Lydia's room & my favorite... the huge wrap around porch!!! It is our favorite place to be in the warmer months. Truly wonderful...

It's so amazing to me that all the years we've dreamed of what we wanted in a home, that we're slowly, but steadily making it there... to our dream home. We love everything about being here & raising our kids here.  We enjoy finally having a home where we can have friends & family join us & enjoy it here as well. There is still so much to complete, to change, to fix, to paint, to build, to improve, but we're doing it together & we are thankful every day for what we've accomplished so far!

 

Evan's special day

Yesterday was a very special day for a 7 year old around here... Evan made his First Holy Communion!!!  We are so proud of the great job he did. He looked so very handsome in his suit & tie!  Evan was up bright & early, so excited about the day ahead.  I had to keep telling him to wait to get his suit on, but quickly got himself ready as soon as I gave the green light. Evan was grinning from ear to ear most all the day & loved the fact that Dan & I gave him a gift of a St. Christopher medal {his middle name} & a Cross tie tack to wear to mass.  He did a wonderful job doing his reading at mass & was so very excited to receive Communion for the very first time. When mass was over we all couldn't wait to get back home to welcome our family to celebrate along with us!  We had a great dinner & a relaxing afternoon with everyone.  Another highlight to his afternoon came when Fr. Beckman came to visit, have a piece of pie & blessed all his special gifts that he had received.  What a great day!!! Congratulations Evan... We love you!

 

Congratulations everyone!!!
    

  

a little more sunshine in my days...

 

 

 

well, obviously it's been far too long since I've blogged, but with good reason {I think}. We've had lots of changes going on around here over the past few weeks. Dan & I decided after a little shake up at Lydia's babysitter, that we'd try keeping her at home with me. It wasn't so much a hard decision as it was trying to make sure we could make it all work out. With my full time design job at home, I have plenty of work to accomplish for sure, but I've spent the last week & a half trying to work it out. I love having Lydia at home.  My days are now inter-mixed with design work, blowing bubbles, swinging, puzzles & such. Hearing her chatter, extra hugs & kisses through the day & just having someone here with me is a welcome change.  Getting some time away from the computer throughout the day really helps me feel a little more fresh!!! I think it's even made me better at time management:)  I was a stay at home mom with both of the boys, although then I didn't hold a full time position besides... so I know you definitely have to use your "free" time wisely!  I've figured out times of the day that work best for uninterrupted work time & times that I need to take a break to play, read, or just cuddle.  It's such a wonderful thing to watch & listen to her growing & learning new things everyday.  When I have a meeting or an appointment or just because Grandma Mary has been delighted to spend time with her as well. I'm taking all the time I can to soak it all in & enjoy this opportunity. Although some days I might not get done everything I want to accomplish I'm reminding myself to take a deep breath & remember it's nothing I can't work on when Dan gets home or when the kids go to sleep. I love you Lydia & yes you definitely are MY SUNSHINE :)