Happy Birthday Gracyn

My third daughter is one today! So bittersweet! I can't hardly believe that one year ago she was just a tiny little baby, holding her in my arms, all swaddled tight in a hospital blanket. I think this may be my last child too, so that makes it even more bittersweet - I am sure many of you mom's know that feeling. I'll just link you up to my post a year ago today in case you are interested in seeing Gracyn as a baby, and reading the birth story. It's always funny to me how certain things come back to you one year after an event. Playing the morning thru my head. It was a Sunday morning - a perfect day to have a baby! Gracyn came in to our lives fast and furious - not even giving me a chance to get any pain medications in. She has some of the same whim for life now a year later. She is walking with about 6-8 steps at a time! She has the furious part down to a science now - not always fast, but she's usually furious! :) She's so happy, but man can she get mad. I have not known too many 10 month olds that have all out fits like a 2 year old. She will kick and scream and throw herself to the floor when mad! Anyway - we are having our little party for her tonight - I will have to post pics maybe tomorrow!

Here is the last picture I took of my sweetheart!

Happy Birthday Gracyn - we love you!

Gracyn shares a birthday now with Adam and Kristen's little baby girl Priya too - CONGRATULATIONS guys!

Ciao.

Shopping and Scrapping

Weekend is well on it's way - in fact - it's almost over. Friday night was a fun night with girlfriends. First I had a home party to go to at a girlfriends house - that was a good time, and then I went to another friends house to scrapbook! The girls stayed overnight at Kyle's parent's house because Kyle was out fishing until late. Sat. morning I was up bright and early to leave for our overnight shopping/scrapping trip. We got to the outlet mall by 11:00am and shopped until about 6:30pm! Then it was to the hotel to settle in, get comfy, and scrap our hearts away! Shopping was great! I NEVER shop on a weekly basis. I'm not the type to go to Target or Kohl's or any mall on a weekly or even monthly basis. I HATE dragging three kids into any store like that, and I am really just not a big shopper. I don't really like to spend money, and when I do I make sure to buy things that are somewhat classic and that I can wear for quite some time. I like to get my money's worth! Anyway - I was quite successful for myself and for Braelyn - who needed the most clothes. I got all the girls' holiday outfits and also two halloween costumes so we are all set for the holidays coming up! I feel really good about that! I did well at Gap Outlet, Banana Republic outlet, Guess, Children's Place, & OshKosh. This morning we are finishing up some scrapping here before check out, and then we are heading back to the outlets to finish up! I need shoes yet - for me and Braelyn!

Here are a few LO's!

This LO is for The-Lilypad challenge tomorrow (Monday) and also for the Digi Dare-ya blog challenge!

OK - we are going to clean up our room, pack up and head out! Hope you all had a fun weekend!

MandaKay

Feeling like I need a vacation!

So, it seems like forever since Kyle and I have had a vacation together - somewhere tropical - in the winter. I think our last trip was when I was pregnant with Braelyn. Well, she is 4 now, so it was probably 5 years ago this winter. Kyle and I got married in January - and I love that - because it's always a great excuse to get away from the Michigan snow. So why am I already looking forward to it?!! We just got our passports and I am excited because we are going to Punta Cana in January - over our anniversary! Kyle and I, as many of you know, have not had a ton of quality time lately, so it gives me something to look forward to. October we'll be moving/unpacking, November is Kyle hunting and Thanksgiving. December is crazy holiday busy, and then January - a good month to head out of Michigan. We have been to Hawaii for our honeymoon and Punta Cana, Dominican twice. We did some other non-tropical trips too before kiddos, and of course this summer we did the North Carolina trip, but nothing since having kids! Those of you that know us though do know that we get some nice weekends away without kiddos, so I can't really complain too much. Last year we had to miss out on our three other close friends going on a cruise b/c it was planned for 4 months after having Gracyn. Being a nursing momma and just knowing I wouldn't be able to leave my kiddos for a week back then, we declined, but were bummed. So we just figured it was due time. We will be going with one of our friend couples that goes away EVERY winter to somewhere tropical (you lucky buggers!) Anyway - I am just so excited after seeing my horrible horrible passport picture (what's up with those anyway???)

Had Wed. night church tonight and I had to teach for the first time. It went okay. I will only have to teach every other Wed. so that will be nice! Tomorrow is another work day! Love work days! Looking forward to this weekend and going away for some shopping and scrapping with some girlfriends and my sister (can't wait Kelly, Amy, and Tammy)! Braelyn and myself will be the main people I am shopping for - we desperately need clothes!

Shows I am loving:
Dancing with the Stars
Criminal Minds
Samantha Who - can't wait for the new episodes
The Office

I don't think I have any new pictures or LO's to show you tonight - I can't believe it!!!
Have a good rest of your week and a fun weekend everyone!
MandaKay

Weekend Recap

I feel like this weekend went SOOOOO quickly. I'll do a fairly quick re-cap. Fri. night - small group (tacos and bonfire!). Sat. was a BIG work day. Kyle headed out to the house in the morning to finish the deck stairs, I headed there with the girls after Gracyn's nap. I grabbed some subs on the way out there and had packed a cooler, so we did a quick picnic lunch there and then I got to work shop vacuuming the whole entire house. I ran the girls home at 2:00 for their naps, and came back and I vacuumed again until 4:15pm! I was beat! Kyle got the deck stairs all done and no just needs to put on the railing and spindles, and he also washed up the mantle wood! I have a few pictures to share below! Monday morning the painters will be in there and I can't wait to see some of the colors go on! I think I cleaned it pretty well for them! Sat. night we went to a friends house for pizza and the girls played with their daughter! By 8:00 I could tell I was getting a HORRIBLE migraine again, and so by 8:30 we had to head home. I went RIGHT to bed upon getting home. I think Kyle got all the girls to bed fine! Not sure what these migraines are about, but I'm ready to discuss them with my Dr. Sunday morning was set to be a busy morning for us. With our new involvement in the new group Fusion at our church we had to wake up on time and get us all ready for church to leave at 9:30 am. There was a little prep work to do before the class started. I think the class will be a hit and our church OBVIOUSLY needed a new ministry for marriage and family b/c we had 70-100 people there! We had a few volunteer sign-up that we needed to pass around and a sign-up for an event in October, and the sign-up sheets were FULL!!! Prais God! It's amazing that when you get involved in these things it really does get you excited for God and for those around us in church!!! Anyway, after class we sat with no kiddos (Thanks MaryJo for taking Gracyn to nap - it was SWEET) thru a great encouraging sermon! After church we went to Kyle's parents for a great lunch and to celebrate a birthday! At 3:30 we headed with Kyle's parents to Crane's Orchard for some apple picking! We picked a fair amount of apples and now I have a big job this week of making up some apple crisp desserts to freeze and applesauce!!! YUM! So that was our weekend in a nutshell!

Here are some house pics!

Our fireplace - the focal point of the home! It is a real fireplace and we can't wait until the freakin 80 degree weather leaves us here in Michigan and we can sit in front of a cozy fire!!!

Blurry picture, but it is from our front door looking in. to the left is the office/sitting room, straight ahead is obviously the stairs to the upstairs and the living room. The door there on the right is our master suite.

This view is from the living room looking towards the kitchen. The table will go there in the center between the two. Down that little hallway immediately outside of the arch is the half bath that I am super de duper excited about and also another entry to that office/sitting room!

This is our master bath - that is Kyle's sink and mine is opposite it. The shower and toilet are in a little room inside of the bathroom and also the walk-in closet is in there too.

Here are the apple picking pictures - I didn't take very many. We really were only picking for about 30 minuted b/c it was 82 degrees - WAY too hot to apple pick. I am soooo ready for fall here in Michigan and I actually want to start wearing my fall clothes and stuff. I'm done sweating now thank you!

Kyle's parents with the girls! They couldn't turn down our invite - the girls batted their eyelashes pretty hard!

My little Gracie - sucking on her apple. She was quiet the whole time - content to have a big piece of fruit! Her 1 yr. birthday is in 10 days!!! Wow! Are you all still wondering after looking at these horrible pictures why I still have a point and shoot camera and not a digital SLR??? I AM!!! ARGHHH!!!!

Digi-scrapping related:

SMJ has a new kit out!!! Autumn Fleamarket!!! Here is my LO with it!!!

This is the view out of our little apartment/house at my parents - gorgeous, but last weekend we had got quite a bit of rain and so the creek flooded. Pretty common here - luckily - the house is built up on a hill so water in the house has never been a problem! These willow trees thrive because of all the water! I love those trees! I remember when we were young we'd go in that creek and get blood suckers stuck on us and we'd run up the hill to the house to get salt to get those things off. Little childhood memory for ya there! :)

Is this post long enough yet? I really need to get to bed now - Kyle already headed there about an hour ago. Our week looks much the same as the last few. Kyle working on the house at night every night this week, Wed. night church night, Fri. night is a weekend retreat for Kyle and I - but seperately. I get to go with some church friends/sister to shop and scrap and Kyle is going fishing for a night or so. Both trips overlap just one night though - he'll get to hang with the kids most the weekend, which will be great for them all!

Remebrances

So, I have hosted the Lilypad Blog Challenge this week. Come play - it's all about remembering. I did two LO's for this - both taking a different stance on the challenge.

So much fun stuff out there digitally right now! C.D. Muckoski (a big time paper scrapper) has dove into the realm of digital and her goodies are so so cute! I spent a little bit of money at Little Dreamer Designs (luckily they are having a sale!!!). Of course The-Lilypad keeps on putting out super cute stuff, and Shabby Miss Jenn has a bunch of stuff up her sleeve too!!! ;) Right now I have been working on my CD calendar that Janet Phillips put out a week or so ago - I'm about half done with it - it actually goes quickly, but I only do about 1 or 2 months at one sit down.

Life has pretty well just been normal stuff. My mom is gone all week to the Mayo Clinic. She and her sisters are there getting tests done for a study on Pancreatic cancer, since her brother and father both died of that. I spoke with her last night and they are doing good, but there have been some rough patches she said. So far the tests are going okay though. My mom has 2 today and the major test done tomorrow - so keep her in your prayers. Kyle's grandpa with cancer is having good days and bad, so we continue to pray for him and our family as we deal with this. Sometimes I wonder how God isn't depressed really. When you think of all the people out there hurting, it must hurt Him to see it all. And yet, still He is there and still He remains faithful. I feel like my prayer list keeps growing.

House is moving right along. Trimmers are finishing up, our mason is busy at laying the stone on the fireplace and the outdoor posts, and painters start on Mon.! We are still looking at middle of Oct. for the move in date - so it's coming quickly now! I am so way more than excited!!!

Good weekend...Despite all the Rain!

It is raining buckets today here! It's coming STRAIGHT down and it's keeping us inside today!!! I LOVE it! Kyle doesn't love it so much because he really wanted to put on our deck stairs today, but I am sure he is finding plenty to keep busy with inside the house! It's a perfect night to go to Crazy Bounce! Selah gets a little big girl party at Crazy Bounce because she is fully potty trained! It'll tire the girls right out too - lots of fun!

The weekend started off great yesterday! Braelyn had school - her first real full day and she did GREAT! While she was in school I had a Bible Study with friends! We are going to do this every Fri. morning and we are studying the book Captivating, along with the study guide! I am really looking forward this that time, and the study! While the kids napped I met with our decorator and finalized some colors and fabrics and stuff! I think we have most everything picked out!!! I just can't stress how excited I am to see it all come together - that part is so much fun! Kyle came home after work and we had a steak dinner here at home and just hung out. It was so nice to have him home and to have him spend some quality time with the kids and I! My parents then told us to get out of the house after the kids are sleeping and to go on a real date! So at 9:45 we left to go out! I haven't LEFT at that time of night to go out in so long! I felt like we were 21 again! Thurs. night we got to go out too - we left after kiddos were in bed and stopped at the house and then did our grocery shopping - we were gone that night until 11:00pm and last night we strolled in around 12:00am! We just sat at a the Curragh downtown Holland. Had a few drinks and some great conversation!!! It was so good to do that! I can't thank my parents enough for letting us get out while the kiddos sleep! I try not to have them watch the kids too often when they are awake, other than my mom's Mondays that she does while I work, so the fact that they don't mind us leaving when the kids leave is great! I am getting spoiled!!!

Tomorrow is our church potluck to kick off the start of the fall programs! Kyle and I have had the pleasure of starting up a new group at our church with our new pastor and a couple other couples, called FUSION. It is a marriage and family ministry! Our church really has NOTHING in this area, so I think it will be a great resource for people! Our new pastor will be leading a new sunday school class on sunday's while our kiddos are in Sunday School themselves. Kyle and I are in charge of Fusion Events, which will mean we get to organize a bunch of fun events for the group! On the 28th we are going apple picking after church with any families that want to come, and in Oct. we are going to have a Road Rally for couples. Sounds like a ton of fun!!! So we are excited about getting more involved in church and specifically in this great ministry!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Quick picture post

Just a quick picture post of Braelyn and her first day of school! She did good - she really likes her teacher and helper, but she was a bit clingy to me, which was suprising. I had pumped Braelyn up all last week that I got to go to school with her and that it would be just me and her and Selah and Gracyn would stay home with Grammie. I am quite certain that Braelyn looked at today as more of a Mommy Braelyn day than she did a 1st day of school day. I'm thinking she needs a mommy dughter date. A daddy daughter date wouldn't be bad either. Being the oldest daughter, Braelyn has never really had me all to herself. I had Selah 20 months after Braelyn and Gracyn 20 months after Selah. Poor girl. I kind of felt bad today. She loved school though, and I do think she will be great on Fri. I have prepped her on the fact that I will be giving her a kiss goodbye and then picking her back up in 2 1/2 hrs. I think she will do great - she was super excited to go this morning! I can tell they are going to learn a lot this year too - more preparation for Kindergarten, a little less play! OK - this was supposed to be a short post - sorry. Here are the photos!

My sweet Braelyn

And this is the picture that my mom just was so loving. Every year on the first day of school my mom took pictures of us kids right here - in this courtyard in front of her house! I think this was pretty special to see Braelyn here! I of course am just happy that she still is allowing us to live here, and I too think it's pretty cool that if I dig enough I can probably find a picture of me standing just like this - 24 years ago or so!

Braelyn had no problem finding her name, mailbox, backpack pege, etc... So very different from last year on the first day of threeschool!

Each child got this frog in the mail last week and they were instructed to decorate the froggy and bring it to school on the first day! Braelyn colored hers, and the teacher took her picture here by the board where she hung the froggy next to the picture of Braelyn!

Another little project. Trace her name.

And I had to take a picture of Braelyn with her teacher and helper! Teacher on left, helper on right.

There you have it - my big girls first day of preschool. Technically Fri. will be a real first day though - her whole class there and for the full 2 1/2 hrs. unlike today!

It's beginning to look alot like a kitchen!!!

It's coming together folks! Very exciting! I am so stressed with picking all the final stuff out, it's giving me migraines! We hung out there tonight and cleaned up a bit so the trim guys can just keep working! We also have our garage doors and a driveway and sidewalk leading to the house! It was raining tonight so I didn't get pictures of that - maybe later in the week!

This girl can play a kazoo better than me! I have never seen anything like it. Not even one and the girl can play a whole song on the thing! :) Again - where did my baby go?

These snails were all over the other morning and Braelyn and Selah were loving them!

Have you ever heard this song??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG9XfJxMY8A - You're Gonna Miss This by Trace Adkins. You must listen to the words if you haven't heard it before. I have a little take on it. Just hear me out - if you don't agree that is fine - it's just my theory.

I am not sure I have ever once thought "man, I miss our dating days", or "man, I miss our newlywed days", and I highly doubt I'll miss these CRAZY days of toddler hood. Now, again, hear me out. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy dating or being newlyweds. I'm not saying I don't love being a mom. I'm saying I don't ever LONG to go back to certain era's. I have so much to look forward too in the future. Now, don't get me wrong - I know the point that the song is making - he's saying don't wish the days away. That I would agree with - even though I often say to myself - "Oh if only my kids were each 2 years older". I know one day I will wish I didn't wish them away, but I know for a fact I wouldn't wish to go back either. Kyle and I talk about how each stage is going to be busy in it's own way. When we were dating, we thought we were busy. When we were newlyweds - we thought we were busy. With three kids 4 and under - we KNOW we are busy. But guess what? We look at our parents (both sets) and we say "wow - they are busy". I don't know anyone who is not busy! Each stage of life presents something new. Something different. I embrace that rather than wishing for the past. I kinda think that is the way God intended it also. I think it's great to remember the memories of years past, but I don't know if we were intended to wish for the past back. I remember watching a Nooma video by Rob Bell called Today, and in it Rob says this:

How much time and energy do we spend wishing things were how they used to be? We often think about times in our past when things were different and want our lives to be like that again. Some of us have even come to believe that our best days may actually be behind us. But if we’re in some way hung up on the past, what does that mean for our lives now? How are we and those around us affected if we’re not fully present? If we’re longing for the way things used to be, what does that really say about our understanding and appreciation of our lives today? Maybe we need to learn to embrace our past for what it is, in order to live our lives to the fullest, right here, right now.

I think this is some of the reason I listen to Trace's song and think, "man, I don't want to go back to any point in my life. I want to embrace where I am at right now!" Again, that does not mean I won't look back at pictures and smile, or that I won't look at that above picture of Gracyn and say where does the time go, but I do want to try to live for today and for my future - because I know I was made for great things!

By the way - I do love the song still!!!

Kiddos Update

I feel like I need to document some of the things that the girls are going thru right now - I have not been keeping up to date on their "facts" type layouts/scrap pages, and I know I will forget some of this stuff if I don't just get it down in writing!

Gracyn:

She will be one year old this month - the 30th!!! I cannot even believe it! She is no longer a baby! Officially I am out of baby stage. Soon to be a walker. She can stand up from a sit all on her own - without holding on to anything! She has 4 teeth to chew on adult like food. You give her any type of baby food anymore and she pitches a fit! Oh - that reminds me - she is very into pitching fits lately. I thought kids didn't do that until they were two. I am talking about throwing herself into the floor screaming. Yes - don't worry - I ignore that behavior and don't give into her every need! Gracyn is into talking already. A few of her words:

*Ma Ma

*Da Da

*ball

*Bubba (which is my parents horse)

*Rashka (which is my parents dog)

*Uh Oh (my all time favorite - she says it so cute!)

*dog (sounds more like daw)

Selah:

POTTY TRAINED!!! Yes!!! I am back down to one kid in diapers!!! Have I mentioned that she is so dang cute? She is just my child that can rub ya wrong, but in a cute as ever way! She pushes my buttons more than Braelyn ever has tried, but she gives her little stinker face and it is hard to stay angry - LOL! It does not seem like Braelyn should be 2 only to me. For some reason I view her as older. She will be three in January.

Braelyn:

My love-a-love! Sweet Braelyn. She is so revved up for preschool this year and knows her teacher's name! She's ready. She can now write almost all the letters in her name, but can't write them all out in the right order. I hope at preschool they work with her a little on that b/c I know quite a few of the kids in her threeschool class could write their names already last year. Admittedly I probably don't spend as much time as I should with her doing practice. Still taking an afternoon naps and most definitely needs it. Most the time lately it is taken on the couch though - not in her bed really anymore. Favorite color - pink. Favorite song - Best of Both Worlds by Hanna Montana. Favorite food - Sunday morning cinnamon rolls. Favorite movie - Alvin & the Chipmunks. Favorite book - Sam I Am. Favorite toy - hmmm...I might have to ask her this one!

So there ya have it - the update on my three girls! Can't get over how cute they are lately! So fun watching them grow up and interact together!

Kyle and I - well not much to update on here. We are still very much in love, but our time together lately has been minimal to say the least. When we are together it seems as though there are always other with us. Can't tell you the last time we had dinner with just us two. We are either with the kids, with our family (parents and in-laws), or with friends. I told Kyle last night when we climbed into bed at 11:30 after getting home from working on the house vacuuming drywall dust, that I can't wait to move into OUR home and have just our family there. Don't get me wrong... I LOVE the time we are getting to spend with our families lately, with vacations and dinners and all, but I totally cherish the alone time too - just us as a family. I know have my own family and I want to take ownership of them! :) Plus Kyle and my conversations lately all revolve around house stuff. There are so many moments when I think "oh - I can't forget to talk to Kyle about this conversation or that meeting he had" and I either forget or we just have enough time to talk about what we have to have on order next for the next step of the house! Love my man though and he is working SOOOO hard lately! He is such a provider and has such a work ethic. I admire that so much in him!

Our house:

drywall is done! Trimming has officially started. Our cupboards are sitting in the kitchen ready to be put up! Today we finalized paint colors and picked out our flooring! I told Kyle tonight that I just can't wait to see how it all comes together - it can be so stressful picking all this stuff out. I would say we are going with the cottagey style or beachy cottage feel. All very warm soft colors. Browns and greenish blues. Our bedroom is a bit more modern, with the brighter green and darker brown, but most of the house will be lighter and softer! Again - I pick a totally different style than our last two previous houses!

OK - I've bored you all again - if you've stuck thru all this - bless your heart! As always - I have two LO's to show off!

My niece Ainsley - template by Janet Phillips and kit is by Shabby Princess - Gabby kit

Mostly the Sept BYOC at The-Lilypad. Me and my girls - huskin' corn! Love my summer sweet corn!

Free quickpage by Dani Mogstad - beach photos from our vacation last month!

The-Lilypad goodies, template by Two Sisters Design. Me and Kyle at a Tigers game in July.

That's it folks - I'm off to bed now! Kyle is fishing in the morning (he deserves it!) and then working from noon to 3:00 or so at the house. We have a wedding tomorrow late afternoon for his co-worker. Not sure what I will do with the girls in the morning - I should hit one of my nephews games if I get out with the three kids again!

Winners!!!

So I get to give out the gift cards to Jenna Desai's store at the Lilypad finally!!! All 4 entrants will be winning a $5 gift card to Jenna's store!!! Thanks for playing along gals! The LO's you all shared were awesome!

We had a great weekend - love these long holidays! I normally work Mondays, so it seems so wierd that I didn't work today and that I don't work again until Thur!!! Fri. night we had a great night out with friends and my girls had an awesome night with Cassie - the sitter! Sat. I helped Kyle build our deck!!! What a feeling of accomplishment! He did most of it, but I did my fair share of holding up boards and nailing in hangers! The girls were with us for a bit playing and then they napped at home and I went back! Thanks again Grammie for being there while they nap!!! Sat. night was pretty laid back - we were beat! Sunday was great! Sunday mornings are always rough for some reason - just the whole idea of all 5 of us getting up and ready and still trying to have a nice relaxing day is hard. Church started at 10:00am and we were rushed somehow to get there. Gracyn normally naps at that time so I was so apprehensive about how it was going to go. Well, we got there and put the kids and nursery and they all did wonderful - no crying! We went up into the sanctuary and I was still a bit bugged b/c it was so busy and not much space to sit. Little did I know God was going to bop me atop the head with the message! Our new pastor - whom I have gotten the joy of meeting personally as we build a marrige/family group for our church - gave a sermon on James 4 and on being a friend of the world or a friend of God. I found out, shamefully, that I am guilty of being a friend of this world. I want things for me. I am selfishly driven. Ugh. Knock me up top the head again. Principle: God did not create us to be part of this world. He did not intend for us to be comfortable here. WHAT? You mean it's not about me and what I want here on earth? Huh? Those were just a few points going thru my head. I got a ton out of the sermon and I think I want to study the book of James a little closer this week. Seems to be pretty straight forward about some issues! Anyway - so my day was just better after that! Love when that happens! I think that is just one of the many reasons that God created church bodies - can be very uplifting! After church we went to Kyle's parents condo for a nice day on the lake with family! At night, after kids were in bed we watched the movie "Cleaner". Good movie if you like cop/crime scene movies! Can't go wrong with morgan Freeman and Eva Mendes anyway! Today we got to sleep in a bit (about 8:15am!!!), and then we were up and preparing a big breakfast with my parents and family! Yum - there was so much good breakfast food! Kyle went to work on the house again and me and the girls hung out. Did a fairly light dinner tonight of some fresh produce we got Fri night while out with our friends at their produce company. We also went swimming tonight at my sister's house. Fun weekend!

Good luck with everyone going back to school tomorrow! Hope the school year schedule goes smoothly as you get back into it! Braelyn doesn't start till next week - she is getting pretty excited!