The Love of Grandparents

Such a busy fun week we have had. My grandparents drove all the way from Idaho to Michigan to come see us this week. We planned for them to be here a week but that did not happen. My dear old grandpa gets a bug up his pants and has to be on the road again. So unfortunately they left early Thursday morning. We did have a blast while they were here though.

They came to visit and help me get some stuff organized. When I found out they would not be here as long I stopped the organization and we spent the time visiting. We did get a lot done. Who would have guessed a tub full of girl clothes would entertain Eli for hours? Well it did..


The Sunday night they arrived we had an amazing lightening show. It had to have hit a sub station because the sky glowed different colors and the lights slowly faded. It made for a dark night. Eli loved looking at the window watching the firemen go by with my grandma. He loved watching the lightening. The town was the darkest I have ever seen it and it was weird. You could feel the air just charged with energy. It was a bit eerie. It reminded us God is in control.



Monday we spent the day organizing.
Tuesday-We did a little more organizing. I rested a lot too as morning sickness seems to be taking over. I suspect I am carrying another little boy. I could be wrong but I was only sick like this with Eli and I feel much of the same this time. Lilliana also began crawling forward on Tuesday. Little girl can chase her brother and she is so excited.

Grandpa and Eli went to the park and had some good time playing together.


Grandma enjoyed teasing him and just cuddling him all week.



Grandma fell in love with Lilliana as she is such a snuggle bug!

Wednesday brought a night of shopping and dinner at Chilis. We went to Target of course.


Lilliana also began pulling up on things that day. I am not surprised as Eli crawled one day and pulled up the next.

Our trip to Target brought us home a popcorn maker courtesy of Grandma Jenny. Eli loved watching us pop popcorn. Grandma was teaching him to listen to it and he loved it!!


That night my grandma and I sat and talked until 1 in the morning. I asked her so many questions about when she grew up and when she delivered all her babies. It was a great talk. I also was able to learn the full story of one of my aunt's who passed away at only 3 months. She also told me fond memories of my mom and her birth story. I love hearing that stuff now that I am older. It was a good visit and something I miss a lot about having my grandma around. We were sad to see them go!! Hopefully next time they can stay a little longer.

Yesterday brought us more snow and Anthony finally got home. I also opened my fridge to find this......


Gotta love a little boy's imagination.

Lilliana also got her second American Girl doll magazine. I am teaching her from a young age. She looked at it and showed Daddy what she wanted. She already has Molly and most of her accessories as she was mine. She really would like a bitty baby one day.



Today Lilliana turned 9 months!!!

Poor girl is a bit flushed and not feeling well. She and I both have spiked a fever today. I am dealing with the flu I do believe as is she along with some terrible morning sickness. We were planning to go to Lansing's Silver Bells in the City tonight. It included a light parade, fireworks, and the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Capitol.  That did not happen as both of us just do not feel the best.  We instead got Olive Garden for take out and Daddy rented Winnie the Pooh for Eli so we are calling it a night in. I am completely bummed but know going out would be a terrible thing!  Hopefully we feel better tomorrow! Happy weekend everybody!

Exciting News

It is fitting that today is Veteren's Day and yesterday Eli got a letter from his Uncle Steven who is at Boot Camp.


Hey was so excited to read it.


We are so very proud of Steven and his hard work. We are also gratefule and thankful for all those that have served this country.

The kids are sick with colds this week so this is how they really feel about it...


Consequently when Eli is sick he seems to be a bit more of a handful. The only way I could get anything done in the kitchen yesterday was by doing this.


That is a mix of Rice Krispies, Macaroni, and Rice. Eli loved playing in it and it kept him busy. He was so excited about it that when Anthony got home from work he had to tell him and show him. He was eating it too which for the record I told him he probably would not like it.


Yesterday also saw our first snow. It was not a lot but white stuff did fall. Eli loved looking up to watch it.


Lilliana loved sitting in her highchair and watching along with watching Eli and Anthony clean up more of the yard.



We also had exciting news to tell Eli yesterday. I can't say he took it as well as I would have thought he would but that is ok. He does keep talking about it...................

It is hard to read but it says........... "Guess what? I am going to be a..... Big Sister/Big Brother Again"

Around 5 weeks. We are going to silhoutte pictures this time.

2 years Old, 6 Weeks, 8 months

................................That is right correct. Baby number 3 is on the way. Now before I get comments like you know how to stop that etc. Yes we do but we have always said if God blesses us by surprise we will be grateful and take it.  A couple weeks ago when I had such a hard week this was why. Eli and Lilliana have been planned. This baby is a complete and utter surprise to us. It was a lot to take. I am thrilled to have another baby. I just am not thrilled about being pregnant. It is a lot to swallow for me and I am not going to lie I cried for a good 3 days. Thankfully I am getting excited and I know it was God's plan. It will all be wonderful in the end. We have always wanted to wait until I am a good 12 weeks to tell and always struggle when to tell everybody but my body does not hide it well. I am already showing as per usual and probably will break out the maternity pants soon. Needless to say we are thrilled I know the kids will be too. 

My grandparents are on their way now from Idaho to come visit. They are going to help me get organized and get some stuff done before this baby gets here. I can't wait to see them. They will arrive sunday and hopefully after a week we will have had a wonderful visit and gotten a lot accompolished. Have a happy weekend everybody!!!!!!!!!!

This is what makes my day and makes my life wonderful............

They make me smile. Lilliana is so close to crawling and Eli just adores her. He is the best big brother any sibling could have. Enough said!!!!!!

Yet Another Catch Up Post.........

I have had pictures sitting on my memory card for well over a week. That rarely happens anymore. I usually stay on top of them so they do not pile up and are a mess for editing and organizing. Needless to say I now have a bit of a mess but until Christmas is over it is just going to have to wait as I have way too many projects to work on.

Two Friday mornings ago we woke up to this.............

Notice the crumbs on the chair and the coveted blue blanket with it

Yep Anthony's destroyed birthday cake done by a little boy.

It should not surprise me as the night before he had had cake and then I caught him trying to get into it again........



That Friday Lilliana also sported her first official pony tail. Yes it is not a lot but it is something!

She may not like me to put it up but oh well she deals.

I can't say we did a lot of fun things last week. I have been absolutely exhausted as Anthony has been out of town most weeks Monday-Thursday and then home. The kids were also not sleeping well so I have just been trying to function and keep up. They still seem to have a lot of energy.


Eli needs a hair cut! He also has become quit the clown and insists he is funny which he is. As last night he was in trouble at dinner. Anthony stood him up to spank him. He looks right at me and says, "mom I get a spanking!" He was so proud of himself. Needless to say Anthony just took him to his bed. Then he was acting up so Anthony went in to deal with it and Eli proceeds to yell non stop, "You spank me like this, like this, like this," over and over all the time smacking his bottom. We had to just laugh and walk away. It was pointless at that point. As we walk away we here, "I am funny and you know it!" Yep mouthy crazy and well we have our hands full!!

We did not celebrate halloween this year. We usually do not. Eli did get to go hand out some candy and I tried to sleep off my tooth pain as I had it pulled two fridays ago. That was another reason stuff was piling up. My mouth has taken a good week to feel better. All that to say the kids got their annual card from Great Grandma Gloria. Eli is at the age where he can open them and loved it! They sat and looked at them for a while. Lilliana chewed on hers more than anything but that is ok!



Lilliana has figured out if she does this funny giggle we will laugh at her so she does it all the time. She I think is going to be our kid always looking for a laugh. She also has grown fond of this toy. It has become the favorite and she screeches anytime we pull it out.


She also still loves her jumparoo and boy can she jump! She just gets going and goes higher and higher!


She is usually very happy and loves her brother. They feed off each other. She also started saying "eat" this weekend. She is talking way earlier than Eli but still not crawling forward as Eli was pretty much walking at this point. That is ok with me though! I don't feel like beginning the chase game yet!


This weekend Anthony and I did the usual catch up! We also went on a date. The kids have found new places with me when I cook. Lilliana is at my feet and Eli is on his stool trying to help with whatever I will let him do. He is such a big helper.


Anthony and Eli also got the leaves raked. Eli was determined while doing this and had such concentration.



He had fun! I worked on Christmas presents. That will be what I am doing for the rest of the month but then I can enjoy December as we are pretty much done with Christmas shopping. I started this summer doing it because Anthony usually gets laid off around this time. It is nice that it will be done. We finished up a lot of it when Anthony and I went on our date. We had a great time. It was a great weekend. It has just been a busy week and half. On a not so good note Anthony's car died for good so we are praying and deciding what we are going to do there. We probably will upgrade to a newer car for me and he will get my car. We will see. Right now we are just using one car and it is working no problem. We have done it before. Eli is also sick with a nasty cold. He was miserable most of yesterday but seems to be better today! Hopefully this week I can keep up a little better!

A Little Boy............

.............has taken my time this week. Eli has needed some special attention today and in the evenings so I have been busy and not been able to do any photo editing or anything that requires several minutes of work. So sorry not too many updates. He and I have been working on attitude, respect, and just being a good boy. I see improvement in just today as we spent a lot of time working on things. So hopefully this weekend I can get back to a little more normal. Although he will always come first as that is my first priority! I will say today has been the first day in a long while that I have not put him to bed and thought, "Thank God it is bed time!" He has been a handful and I just decided that we really needed to address some things and he might need some more one on one time. I was right and I hope we can continue on this path because he and I both needed an attitude change! So more to come soon, but the most important thing is my little man is learning to be a good respectful person. I am learning even more patience!

November 1st

I can't believe it is November already!! October flew by for us. I have pictures to post of  the weekend but don't want to take the time at the moment. More to come tomorrow.

Today has been a curveball throwing kind of day. All that to say things happen in life we just have to go with them. In the end God knows what is best and he will get us through. I am in that situation. I am thankful for this trial ahead of me and will continue to pray hard. My faith and everything I know has been tested to the core but I will make it. Thanks to my wonderful husband who despite my moments of pure anger always knows how to calm me down and bring me back to reality and really show me it will be ok. Also thanks to a very amazing friend who I would not be where I am with photography without her but for her constant support through everything. She also keeps me excited and happy!! She is a blessing and one day we will live close by each other and raise our kids together. Until then we will dream and work with what we have!

It is fitting that is is the month of November but I have to remember this, 1st Thessalonians 5:18 "In EVERYTHING give thanks: For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Today I will remember that.