28

So today is my birthday, and it's kind of a significant one to me because it's sort of a golden birthday. I was born on 2-8-82, and today I turned 28. I love that I have a fun numerical birthday, and it's pretty easy to remember, especially when I have to give it to someone for information purposes. The next time I'll have a "golden" birthday will be when I turn 82...if I live that long! But I do have some great genes in my family :) As long as I can be as active as my Grandpa, Grandma, and Great Aunts have been-that's fine with me! At any rate, I think it's awesome I can have 3 golden birthdays. Not to mention that 8 is my favorite number-it's upright infinity after all!
I have seen a lot of growth in myself over the past year. We have been through so much, and I've learned that I'm much more resilient than I gave myself credit for. I've learned that it's good to look at the big picture sometimes, but when you have a lot on your plate, it's easier to take it a day at a time. I've started to live more in the moment. I love this quote, "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present..." I want to live this next year according to that. So often we think we are prepared for what life has in store for us, and then God throws us a curve ball. We are not only defined by how we handle those unexpected situations, but how we honor and cherish the gifts that have been given to us now. The gift of family, love, our Mother Earth, etc. I never want to take anything for granted, especially time spent with loved ones because we never know how long we have with them. Already the time for us to move is quickly coming upon us, and I know that I'll be missing my family and friends so much. I am so grateful for everyone in my life, and all the blessings I have been given. God is so good, and I know He gives me the strength to accomplish anything.
I have had a wonderful birthday, and I thank each and every one of you for the birthday wishes you gave to me :) Till next year!
I'll get some pictures posted later this week after I get my camera back from Micah-he took it for his last week on this Pediatrics rotation...we get to move him home on Saturday!!!

I can breathe again!

Over the past year or so I have begun to sneeze uncontrollably at my parent's house. A few months ago I began to experience some shortness of breath after being in their house for a few hours. We have somewhat concluded that it is the cat's fault, and since I'm no longer around them much my body has lost it's resistance to them. When I spend more than 3 or 4 days in the house I get better because I think my body gets used to the allergens and begins to build up the tolerance. But at any rate, I'm only in town for a weekend, so I go through this every time I come to visit.
Well, my Dad came up with the idea to put this ventilation mask on me and see if it helps the problem...and so far so good! I've had it on for about 20 minutes now and I haven't sneezed once :) I guess I look a little funny too-so we snapped a few pictures.

Bad kitty kitty!

Too bad it's blurry, it says "DANGER This area contains dangerous life forms and unknown bacteria." So we hung it on Lance :)

We really need to think of something else though...maybe get rid of the cats?? ;)

Night out

I know a lot of this blog is about our adventures with the kids, but every great once in a while (and I mean GREAT once in a while-haha) we get to go out on a date night or spend some time with friends without kids. Our best man Josh also has a January birthday and he wanted to take us all out to celebrate. It was also a thank you dinner for Micah for bringing him some business. So we loaded up our minivan with Josh, his girlfriend Jen, Dan, his friend Kelli, and us and took off for a night on the town! Josh's brother Rob also met us up at the restaurant.

(Jen, Josh, Me, Micah, Kelli, Dan, and Rob)
We went to this awesome sushi bar for dinner and just enjoyed some great food. We even cooked slices of steak on a rock :)

We went out for drinks after dinner, and then to a comedy club. It was a ton of fun and was so nice to get out and enjoy some adult company and conversations :) Again, I had almost no battery left in my camera, so this is all I have. Kelli took some pictures-and if I can get a hold of them I'll post them here too. Happy Birthday Josh! Thanks for an awesome evening :) And thanks to Micah's parents for babysitting the boys for us!!!!!

Birthday Parties

We had a few birthday parties in January :) James, Aiden's best friend, turned 4! Laura was planning on having a small party at Chuck E Cheese for him-but the morning of his birthday and party he was sick :( She called it off, but then he got better and the party was back on again :) The kids had a great time, and since this was only our second time going there-it was fun. My camera was running out of batteries, so I only could take a few pictures.

Happy Birthday James!

Over the weekend Micah's little cousin Macee turned 3 :) She was having a party and we were all planning on going-but then I got sick! I didn't want to go and get everyone else sick, so the rest of the family went before the party to give Macee her gift. We were sorry to miss it, but I know the kids enjoyed seeing her and especially getting the cool Spongebob gift bags ;)

This is Macee's little sister Averie-isn't she so cute-and so little! She's 8 months! I'm so used to the Devinator and his 90% self ;)

Happy Birthday Macee!

On the Road

I feel that this poor blog has been so neglected over these past few weeks. Micah has been away doing a Pediatrics rotation since the beginning of the month-and so the boys and I have been traveling between cities a lot. We are home for Aiden's preschool on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and then after his swim lessons we take off to see Micah for the remainder of the week. Depending on the weather, we are able to be in town from Thursday afternoon to Monday afternoon. It's nice to get to spend that time with Micah and visit with old friends. But it has been hard being on the road so much, packing and unpacking. I won't say that the boys have been unaffected. The first night in the apartment is usually the hardest, and we end up sleeping with the boys in one way or another. Just a few more weeks of this, and then Micah will be home.
One of the good things about this adventure is that we are experiencing first hand what it will be like to live in a much smaller home. The apartment that we found is just down the street from the hospital, and it is fully furnished-to an extent. It has furniture and some kitchen things...but if I am going to make anything, I usually have to plan ahead and bring everything from home. But we have been given the sense that this is what life could be like when we move in a few months. And for the most part we are doing pretty ok! Of course we don't have everything there that we would want when we move, and it probably would be a bit more crowded when we get all our belongings in one place. But we see where we would make some cut backs and feel that we could make it work. The hardest thing I have observed though is that the boys don't have much room to run around without getting in our way a bit. It's hard because the weather is pretty miserable-so they can't burn off any energy outdoors...but when we move, I expect gorgeous weather most of the time-so I hope that will make a big difference later.
At any rate, we're making it work. And we will make it work wherever we go. Right now we are focusing on spending as much time as we can when we are together. And we are getting ready to get the house on the market. I am not looking forward to this process, but it has to be done. So...if you know anyone in our area, or coming to our area that needs a great home-let me know! :)
I will try and get some more pics and posts up here in the next couple of days, but be patient with me as I've just gotten home-again-from another weekend away from home.

Tired boy

I had been on the computer and phone all morning getting some quotes from movers for our big move in June, and the boys had been playing and running around as usual. I had Sesame Street on and was planning on putting Devin down when it was over. I was still on the computer when Devin crawled up on the couch with me-not unusual. Then about a minute later Aiden declares that Devin is sleeping! Sure enough I look over at him next to me and he is passed out :) Poor little guy-I got him up to bed just as soon as I finished getting his picture...

Dream of Angels baby!

chubby legs

We went to visit some of my cousins over the weekend. Kara is 6 weeks older than Devin, so it was fun getting them together to play for a bit. Lori had to change Kara's diaper and left her pants off while waiting to get her PJ's-and I saw how skinny her legs were! I promptly took off Devin's pants so we can compare, and it was just too funny to see Kara running around all twig-like in comparison to Devin's thunder thighs :)

They were really cute together!

A little snow fun

We've had a little snow! When we were home for my family's early Christmas, it snowed (remember the crying children in the family pictures because it was so cold?). But when we got back from taking those pictures all Aiden wanted to do was play in the snow...so they did :)

Aiden got Papa!

And Papa got Aiden!

Yeah, they're so cute trying to get me now...

Snowman time.

We let the Devinator out for a few minutes.

Finishing touches...they had to use golf tees because nothing else would stick to the snowman!

Awesome job everyone!

Then today we got a bunch of snow-so I got the kids all dressed up and ready to go shovel the driveway and play in the snow.

Aiden got to work right away ;)

But my wonderful neighbor beat me with his snow blower! How awesome is that? I went ahead and did the walkway though. He's so generous with his time and snow blower, and always looking out for us. What a great neighbor-Thanks Jamie!

Devin figured he'd help too ;) Although I think he's pretending it's a snow blower and not a lawnmower...

Snow Angels-but Aiden runs all over them after he makes them, so no good picture on how they turned out.

Aiden is getting me with a snowball. It really wasn't good packing snow, so he did the best he could.

He's fallen and can't get up! He was totally that kid from the Christmas Story movie ;)

I pulled the sled out for a little bit too, and Aiden just loved pulling Devin around...although it was easiest to just pull him along the driveway.

too cute :)

Then I pulled him along in our back yard where there is a tiny bunny hill from our ditch.

I didn't get a picture of it during the day, but it was cute to see our tracks out the back when the light came on. I tell you what...I was exhausted after pulling the kids up and down that a few times! But no heart tachycardia!!! wooohoo!

After I finally made them call it quits, we enjoyed some Hot Chocolate, also known as Snowman Soup ;)

Then they settled down to watch a movie. What a pretty fun day!