Reconnecting............

This weekend was absolutely amazing! We may not have done anything very exciting. In fact we really did a whole lot of nothing but reconnect on all levels of our family. Sometimes Anthony and I get caught up in the day to day living plus video games, scrapbooking, camera, internet, tv and texting. We didn't really do it on purpose but we kept it pretty much did not do much. I did do a little scrapbooking. Anthony did play a game on the internet for a bit. We also both texted at one point but for the most part it was just us and the kiddos. Sometimes the weekend comes and we just take turns having down time while the other watches the kids. It can be nice but many times we disconnect. It may not always be technology related either. I get busy with crafts. Anthony will get busy with household projects, but this weekend was not one of those!

The weather was absolutely amazing and it really helped so much. I had to do a little shopping on Saturday so I got some much needed time away and to myself. I got up very early to do that though. I was home by 10. Saturday we played with the kids. We all took naps which was pretty amazing. It was beautiful and Saturday night was one of those nights where kids play outside late, the crickets and toads make wonderful music, the air smells of fall but it is still amazingly warm, and the sun sets giving off a warm wonderful glow. We all sat in the back yard and enjoyed it. The kids played in the sandbox. It was one of those nights where no shirts were needed and babies can wear just a diaper.


Said baby also eats lots of sand and is in love with Daddy while he plays with the dogs getting them to bark and run and jump and anything else they will do.



The sandbox is a magical thing. It is where said baby's brother insists baby join him to play. Brother is not interested in anybody else though. He only wants to fill his trucks with sand and dig to China.

...............But don't take that baby out of the sand box because he will insist she needs to sit in there and play. They will make a huge mess of your bathtub when they come in, but it will be so worth it because they will be warm and snuggly when they get out. They will snuggle and hug and laugh with their parents.

Mom and Dad will get a great idea to go look at the stars and have a night to themselves away from the house. It is something they have done since they began dating 4 years prior. Their first official date was gazing at the stars and just talking. Thank the Lord for Grandma's who are willing to come over at 8:15 at night to watch a little boy who is so excited to see her. She must endure Thomas the Train.

Anthony and I enjoyed our night together. It may have been brief but it was so nice to get away. We won't talk about the fact that it was none too quiet but it was still nice to get away. The lake hosts a halloween night every year and of course we always pick that night to go so it is loud. It was beautiful though. Even if Anthony said the moon was too bright.

I found it wonderful. Staring out at the lake, spending time with my wonderful husband made it all worth it.

If you look real close you can see the big dipper. Who knew I would be able to photograph the stars. It was much easier than I guessed it would be.

We reconnected even more. Sometimes the kids, chores, and work get between us so it was nice to spend some time just enjoying each other.

Unfortunately I was up pretty much up all night with Lilliana. I am doing the same tonight. Her poor teeth are bothering her. She is so uncomfortable. Anthony was gracious and let me sleep in and made me a wonderful breakfast.

We managed to get ready for pictures with minimal mishaps and away we went. I left the camera at home although I would have loved to have it. It was about not being behind the lens today. There were times I really wanted to kick myself for not having it, but I really enjoyed my family and loved having somebody else do the work. My midwife who did my maternity photos did our family ones. I can't wait to see them.

We went out to dinner. It was a bittersweet night. Anthony's youngest brother will be leaving tomorrow for Boot Camp. He has joined the Marines. The whole family got together to tell him goodbye. I have had the priviledge of getting to know him the past year. I think he only comes over to eat my cooking:) Really I know that is not the case! We love having him and I always offer for him to eat. I am thankful Anthony got to work with him most of the summer. He is a wonderful uncle to Eli and Lilliana. We will miss him a lot as he has been a huge help to us on our house and just over all company too. We are very proud of him! He has grown up so much from the first time I met him. I know Eli will miss him dearly. He always talks about his Uncle Steven. Eli is probably closest to him out of Anthony's and mine siblings. Really truly as far as seeing Steven is the closest to any of us. We don't see anybody else much. I do talk to my sisters frequently but there is something to be said about actually seeing a person. All that to say we are very proud of him but will miss him very much!

It has been an amazing Fall Weekend!! We truly are blessed. I may not get a lot of sleep because of my beautiful little girl but I am BLESSED to have her and blessed in so many other ways.

It is a tradition!

The year Eli was born I started a tradition of taking his picture in the leaves. I have continued it every year. This year Lilliana got to join in. I have to say I either had very little patience today or Eli was extra crazy. It was a tough time trying to get ones that I wanted. We made it work though. Lilliana gets outside and nothing else matters but everything on the ground. I did not get all the ones I wanted of her but that is ok. I have enough to keep up a tradition. This weekend we have family pictures so I don't want to over do it with. No other plans other than to rest, relax, and enjoy the warm weather.


Eli has grown so much. This is each of his pictures from the past three years. First one he was 7 months. The second one he was 19 months and the last one is today at 2 and half.






I love this last photo.........except the leaves coming out of Lilliana's mouth. She just loves to eat them along with grass and sticks. Silly girl!

Enjoy the weekend!

The Little Red Wagon

This week has been absolutely beautiful. It has been sunny, warm, and the trees are giving us a stunning show like they do every fall. I love all seasons for different reasons, but since moving to Michigan Fall is by far my favorite just because of the beautiful colors.

A week and a half ago I took a picture of our maple right before it was to change. Well it has not disappointed this year. Here is a comparison from that first picture to today............


I had great plans to find some leaves and play in them this afternoon and maybe find a good pumpkin patch. Unfortunately the leaves have not fallen all the way yet so we just got to enjoy a good long walk in the evening rays with the beautiful colors. I decided tonight we would pull out the wagon. It has not been used much this year and since Lilliana can sit up now we used that. We went to the park because it was Eli's request. The sun was wonderful and the kids got so excited when we got there....


Eli played on the swings for a long time. They have become the favorite thing.


Lilliana sat and watched. She did not want to leave the wagon.



Eli saw me taking pictures and insisted he come get some with Lilliana so that is what they did.


It is amazing how much they kids have grown since our last wagon pictures. Lilliana now can sit up on her own and sits above the back rest. Eli just looks older..............


Eli insisted on pulling the wagon there and home. He wanted to pull "Lydiana." He is such a good big brother. I could not believe how well he did. I kept asking if he wanted help but he insisted he could do it up hills and all. At one point there were some girls running and he saw them and started running while pulling her.

She enjoyed her ride.

As we came up to the house Anthony was home from work waiting for us. The Maple was brilliantly lit by the evening sun and I could not resist................



Fall is glorious!

We enjoyed a night of quick baths, pillow fights, Curious George stories, and a little girl snuggling with her daddy.


Chubby cheeks is what she is!  I was calling he that today and she thought it was hilarious. She was giggling and laughing so hard. Of course I got the camera and it was not as much but it still happened. The girl is so much happier now that her teeth are popping through. The girl loves to dance too. I have been trying to get a good video of it lately and finally did yesterday. She will just dance anytime there is music. So here are a couple videos of her.

Tomorrow is supposed to be wonderful for weather so I am sure we will be back outside enjoying it!

Make Up!

This weekend was a make up for pictures of Eli. In fact as I was downloading them off the memory card it seemed as if I only had one child because there was not but maybe five of our little diva......


We had a long weekend. Anthony had today off so it was nice. That means he has a long four days ahead but still it was nice he had today off. Eli and I spent some much needed time this weekend hanging out! He was my little buddy and I loved it. He has been full of energy and well just plain mouthy so we worked on that a little bit.

Saturday we had a "catch up" day. The kids went to see Grandma Terri. Anthony and I did grocery shopping for two weeks. I also did a cousin's hair for homecoming. We had an early dinner and then we all took a drive to MSU so I could look at a possible spot for photo sessions. It was perfect unfortunately the leaves had not changed like I had hoped. Eli had a blast and we enjoyed walking in the cool fall weather! Eli just loved being able to run!

He also was so interested in the construction taking place! He told us all about it.

Sunday I was supposed to do some family, two year old, and maternity photos but they were canceled which was ok. It worked out. We will reschedule soon. Eli and I made cupcakes since I was not busy.
We can thank this project to Pinterest.



Eli loved them and I loved that the owls fit a fall theme. The dark ones were my own creation as I had a ton of cookies with no frosting and needed to do something so we made them like that. Anthony thought they looked scary but oh well. Eli shared his cupcakes with his daycare friends today.

The kids also spent some time in the sandbox. Lilliana did not last long..........


She was more content to sit with dad and watch...........



Since Anthony has been playing with his Legos lately Eli is obsessed with playing with Anthony. That seems to be the coveted thing to do. He also loves having Anthony make him things so he can play with them. This weekend the coveted Lego toys were these trucks.



Today was probably the highlight of the weekend for Eli. We took him to see his first movie. We went and saw The Lion King. HE LOVED IT!! He was mesmorized. We let him get popcorn and even a little bit of pop. He never gets it so that was a big treat. I have never seen him gulp something so fast in my life. It probably won't happen again anytime soon. Today was a special treat! Of course I took pictures.
They have two big fish tanks when you walk in so Eli wanted to see those and he thought they were pretty neat.

HE was way more interested in his pop and popcorn that getting a picture with us!


He kept his glasses on most of the time about the last half hour he took them off but he was just enthralled with the big screen.



Such a pill!! I wanted just a couple of pictures at the end of him sitting there in his glasses. I had no idea he was closing his eyes on purpose until I got home and downloaded them. Sneaky little boy. He thinks if he closes his eyes we don't see him. Oh well he still is so stinking cute.



I loved seeing the movie again and I know he liked it. He is such a good brother though because twice he asked about Lilliana and making sure we were going to get her from Aunt Toni's house when we were done.

This week is supposed to be beautiful so I am sure we will be soaking up the sun and enjoying this wonderful fall weather!