Away from Home (This is a long one)

Josiah and I took a road trip last week. A trip that lasted much longer than expected but a trip I was glad we could make. It started out to be an overnight trip. I have to work up north every three weeks with MTU and normally Josiah and I have gone just for the night, maybe two nights. But it worked out so that Dan was gone for the weekend, so I decided that we would stay at my mom's for the weekend. We were able to stop and see my college bud, Brandi on my way and drop off maternity clothes, because she recently found out that she was pregnant:) (I also recently found out that another college friend, Beth, is pregnant and both of them are due on the same day; how crazy is that. Plus my friend Kari has started the adoption processes...so our little circle of friends (The Yaya's) from college are multiplying quickly. We are going to have so much fun with all of our kids growing up and being so close in age. Our get together's will never be the same!!! I can't wait!!) Back to my trip:) After Brandi's, we stopped by my friend Christy's house to visit her and her two boys. Always a fun stop and now that Josiah is beginning to interact with people more and getting together with her and her boys is getting more fun.

Then we were on to my mom's. I worked on Friday. Which would have been like any other work day up North, except I locked my keys in the car:( But thankfully the towing company was on top of their game that day and within 20 minutes of my initial call I was on the road again. Then I did some garage saling!! Yah!! I don't get to do that very often and it is harder to do with Josiah in tow. I found some great deals on toddler toys since Josiah is walking along furniture and pushing a walker now. I had no age appropriate toys...thank goodness for garage sales!!! Back at Grandma Sherry and Grandpa Bob's we just hung out and took lots of walks for the weekend. We had a really nice relaxing time.

On Sunday we were on the road again. We were off to visit Great Granma D. We called her up on Sunday morning and asked if she was up for company...and of course who could refuse a visit from the cutest grandkid ever...and of course there is Josiah too:) hehehe. Grandma took some pictures and video and then we were off to lunch. We had a nice visit. I was glad that it worked out for us to stop and visit. She doesn't get to see Josiah very often.

Then we were on the road again. Off to visit more grandparents. This visit was a God inspired visit. First of all, my dad didn't have it down on the right day on the calender...he thought we were coming to visit the following weekend. Probably if they had been planning on us coming, they may have said don't come. Kathie's mother had made a turn for the worse over the week prior to our visit and by the time we got there she had stopped eating and drinking. Had I known, I probably wouldn't have come and so I think that is the reason God had kept us all in the dark. When we arrived, I was very taken aback at Grandma's state. But thankfully I had Josiah in my arms and he just smiled at her...even giggled a little at the sounds she was making while breathing. I am pretty sure she knew we were there. In fact when Kathie told her that she was going to show us the house, Grandma said "Okay" and I believe that is the last time she spoke. I think that Josiah being there took away from some of the sadness and anxiety that my dad and Kathie were feeling. Josiah was so happy and played so well that it was hard not to smile at him. He was God's perfect distraction from such a hard time. On Monday night Grandma passed away in her sleep. It was such a blessing. The day she passed was the anniversary of the date she and Grandpa eloped. They had a church wedding 6 months later, but didn't tell people that they had eloped. Kind of a cute story.

God also provided a distraction for myself...Josiah and I got very very sick. I have to tell you that is one of the hardest things I have had to deal with as a parent...changing a diaper of a sick kid while very nauseaus and sick myself. Not fun! My mom was sick the same night, followed by Bob a couple of days later and by the time I got home, Dan got it too. Hopefully it is now completely out of our system.

The funeral was set for Friday with the viewing on Thursday night. Since I was already up in the area, I decided to head back to my mom's and spend the rest of the week. I could make up my work the following week and Josiah could not have gone to day care with his diarrhea anyway. So it worked out very well. The only thing that didn't work out is Josiah's night time routine. On top of being sick, he was cutting 5 teeth at the same time, he hadn't seen his dad in a long time and we weren't home. Every time he woke up in the middle of hte night he couldn't get back to sleep. So I was very tired, but somehow I got through it.

Needless to say I was glad to be home. But it took Josiah a couple of nights to readjust and since he is still teething we are still having some problems at night. But this to shall pass!!!

p.s. I tried to post pictures and of course I couldn't get it to work:( I really wish it was working better or more consistently. When I get a chance again, I will post the pictures I was planning on posting with this post!

Belated 8 Months Update

Things have been entirely to chaotic this month. I have hardly had a moment to get on the computer let alone blog. Plus the blogger pictures wasn't working for over a week and it was during that week that I actually had time to blog. Such is life. Hopefully I can get a few cute pictures posted today. Yah, I actually got it to work:) Happy day! So now I am going to try and upload a series of pictures that illustrates just how wiggly my little guy is...

Josiah updates for the month of July:

1. July 1st: Learned to rake veggie puffs with his little fingers and put them into his mouth
2. July 2nd: Learned to wave bye-bye right at 7 months
3. July 9th:Sat very well without falling for days at a time...good strong back by 7 months
4. July 4th: 1st 4th of July
5. July 10th: Learned to whistle
6. July 11th: pulled himself up to kneeling
7. July 14th: 1st camping trip
8. July 16th: 1st trip to ER (we didn't stay beause they took to long but not before he had his first butt thermometer;) He turned out to be just fine.)
9. July 17th: Learned to go from sitting to crawling but not without a 1st fat lip:(
10. July 19th: Pulls himself to standing for the 1st time (in the bath tub of all places).
11. July 20th: 1st of many goose eggs. He crawled into the coffee table and couldn't get back out:)
12. July 22nd: Learned to go from crawling to sitting. This is a great trick...because now he can go from toy to toy without me ever having to get up;) But this really was a milestone...he could really play on his own and become very independent. A good trait in a little child. It gives me freedom to get things done I need to get done while he plays with his toys.
13. July 23rd: Discovered his love for Ramon Noodles...dad was so excited!!!
14. July 25th: Started saying mom mom again:)
15. July 26th: Crawled on his hands and knees for the 1st time
16. July 27th: Went to Traverse City for the 1st time
17. July 28th: 1st Boat ride (loved it)
18. July 28th: 1st time in the lake swimming (loved it)
19. July 30th: 1st watermelon (loved it)
20. August 1st: Crawled up a stair for 1st time.

And the photo blogger stopped working again:( But at least I got to post what I did!!! I will do what I can to get right on top of 9 month pictures.

Grocery List

1. Bread
2. Eggs
3. Sausage
4. Pancake mix (I have 1 box, spartan brand)
5. Syrup (done)
6. Cereal (done)
7. Instant Oatmeal (done)
8. Fruit
9. Tuna fish (I have 4 cans)
10. Lunch meat (I have some frozen that I can thaw out to bring)
11. Cheese
12. Chips
13. Pickles
14. Hamburger (and buns)
15. Hotdogs (I have one package of turkey dogs) (and buns)
16. Brats
17. Potato Salad
18. Macaroni Salad
19. Meatballs
20. Potatoes
21. Onions
22. Carrots
23. Italian dressing
24. Chicken broth
25. Tomatoes
26. Cucumbers
27. Green Peppers
28. Cookies
29. Butter (done)
30. Peanut butter (done)
31. Marshmellows (done)
32. Pie filling
33. Chocolate bars (I have 6 candy bars)
34. Graham crackers (done)
35. Milk
36. Dish Soap (we ran out on the last camping trip...need to replenish)
37. Lemonade
38. Pop
39. Josiahs food (Cereal, sweet potatoes, cottage cheese, apple sauce, peaches)

I think that should do it!

The Menu is Set

Over Labor Day weekend Mindy and her husband Mike and Dan and I have made it an annual thing to go camping for the long weekend. We have had an awsome time the past two years and are looking forward to this year. Funny thing: I just got the pictures developed from our first trip 2 years ago. I took the camera in to get developed and really had no idea what pictures were on it until I saw them. And since I wasn't pregnant in these pictures I knew it was from the year before.

Anywhoo, Mindy and I got together to set the Menu. We both love eating good food when we camp, and we have similar tastes in food, so it works out well. The husbands either go along with what we make or make something for themselves...but mostly they like what we like, so it works out well.

SATURDAY

BREAKFAST

Eggies in a Nest

Sausage

Juice

LUNCH

Hotdogs or brats
Macaroni Salad

Chips

Pickles

Cookies

DINNER

Hobo pies (made in a dutch oven)

Tomato, cucumber, green pepper salad

This an awsome concoction that we have developed and perfected over the past two years.

DESSERT
S'mores
Peanut butter chocolate pies

SUNDAY

BREAKFAST
Pancakes
Bacon
Orange Juice

LUNCH
Hamburgers
Potato Salad
Chips
Cookies

DINNER
Leftovers

MONDAY

Today's menu is easy and leftovers and doesn't require a fire (in case we run out of wood)because we have to pack up to go home:(

BREAKFAST
Cereal
Oatmeal
Fruit

LUNCH
Tunafish Sandwhiches
Leftover Salads
Chips
Pickles
Cookies

*I wish the picture thing was working, I would have had a picture of lunch too! You will just have to imagine the brats and chips:)

Clean House

Two weeks ago I was going through a depression. The cause this time was mostly related to finances, weight gain and the unclean state of my house. They always add up over time and then come to a major peak where I can't take it any longer and I just cry it out or sleep it off. Sometimes it will go away quickly and sometimes it lingers.

Last Saturday I was really down and just wanted some time away from my house and everything in it...the responsibility and the mess. I just needed some time where I didn't have to worry about what time Josiah was to go down for a nap or when he needed to eat or how to entertain him (which he does really well by himself these days)...but still I just wanted me time. And I hadn't had it for quite awhile. So I called Mindy to see what she had planned for Sunday and we made a date to go for a walk and get icecream.

So I went to bed with the hopefullness that this was just what I needed. I would go for a walk with a good friend, we would chat and get icecream and I would come home fully rejuvinated.

I get Dan all set to take Josiah for the day and I head out with many expectations. Mindy and I went for a great walk, we got icecream and had some great chats. We came back to her place and watched a movie and then it was time to head home. I had a wonderful afternoon. Unfortunately it wasn't the cureall that I had hoped for. I still felt unbelievably sad when I left. So I went to Taco Bell thinking that my favorite food would help. But I was almost in tears by the time I started eating my taco. By the time I got to my carmel apple empanada ( which I was sure would make me feel better) I was almost histerical with tears and I had to wait until I got home to eat it. At this point I didn't know what to do. I was driving home tears streaming. I was going to stop at one friends house in my way home, but couldn't bring myself to stop. Then I was going to call another friend, but I knew they were going through troubles of their own. I was going to call my mom, but I didn't know what to say and I had this crappy feeling that I shouldn't be feeling the way I am because I had everything in life. I have a wonderful husband an incredible little boy who loves me unconditionally. I have a roof over my head and we both have good jobs. So why in the heck was I feeling so crappy. I did finally get ahold of my Stephens Mininster (who had been assinged to me when we first moved here) but she was up north and wouldn't be home until really late.

The person that came through for me in the end was my dear husband. He knew when he saw me walk through the door that I wasn't do well. I went right up to the bedroom and laid down and he just laid next to me and hugged me and didn't say anything. He just waited for me to talk if that is what I wanted. I finally talked to him and he listened, he didn't try to fix my problems that I was having he just listened. It was exactly what I needed. What a guy!

On Monday, I decided to take Josiah to Day Care and take the day for myself with no one home. It was the best thing I could have ever done. On my way home from dropping him off, I passed the cemetary and I was pulled in. Very strange, but it was a draw I couldn't ignore. So I pulled in and found a place to park and started to walk. I walked very slow and read the names on the grave stones. I came across several baby head stones and it really put into perspective what a blessing Josiah was. It helped me remember that Josiah was a gift to me to take care of and no one can take care of him better than mom. But others can still take care of him when I need time for myself. I had such an uplifting walk that morning, that I came home and started to clean my house. I had so much energy for the first time in months I think! It was wonderful.

The best part of last week was when my mom came down on Thursday to help me really clean my house. I had started to pick up things and put things away that needed to be put away. But when she got here we tackled some major projects.

• We rearranged and cleaned out the master bathroom. When i can post pictures again I will make sure to post them.
• We went through the many many tubs of clothes that I have (summer and winter skinny, summer and winter thin, winter now and maternity clothes).
• Plus we went through all of Josiah's clothes and moved him up to the next size clothes.
• We cleaned my bedroom and rearranged some furniture. It was so amazing the difference it made to move the furniture arround. It also inspired Dan to get going on finishing some projects in the bedroom. We put the bed back up this weekend (which hadn't been up since before Josiah was born) and he finished the trim on the windows. Our bedroom looks so wonderful now.
• We did a thorough clean of Josiah's high chair (which he made a mess of that night with spaghetti:) and some of his toys.

By the time my mom left Dan and I were so inspired to keep cleaning and getting htings done that I haven't stopped much to anything else:) Except nap on Sunday of course!!! So thank you mom for giving us the motivation and help we needed to get a handle on our house. I love being in my bedroom and bathroom. It is a haven from the rest of the house. I just hope I can keep it like that for a while.

Frustrated

I have been trying to add pictures to my camping post for a week now and no such luck Not sure what is going on, but I am soooo frustrated. And I have had the time to blog too, which makes me even more frustrated:( So I finally just published the post without pictures...I will get back to it when pictures can post again.

Josiah's 1st Camping Trip

We had such a great time! It was a last minute camping trip. I know, me spontaneous!! Don't let me kid you though...I still packed the kitchen sink (and bathtub):) I only had 4 days to get ready, but I still loaded the entire back end of hte camper!! But we had everything we needed and had an awsome time.

Friday Night

We didn't get to the campsite until about 7:30pm. Josiah took a great nap on the way to the campground and was rearing to go when we got there. Thank goodness I packed the excersaucer, because it was a life saver. We got everything set up just in time to get Josiah ready for a bath and bedtime. Thank goodness I stuck in Josiah's little blow up duck tub!! We heated up some water and gave him a little bath, I nursed him and laid him down in his pack-n-play (which by the way, fit perfectly in the camper where the table would normally set up.

After we put Josiah to bed Dan and I finally sat down and relaxed. I had found a new strategy game for kids at a garage sale called "Blockus". Very fun game. I don't normally like strategy games, but since it was designed for children, I could figure it out:) We didn't bother with a campfire Friday night because we were already to hot to bother with a fire.

SATURDAY

Josiah woke up at 6:00am and had no idea where he was and was immediately histerical. So I went and got him and brought him into bed with us. Amazingly enough we didn't even feel crowded with Dan, Buster, Josiah and myself. To calm Josiah down I nursed him and he went right back to sleep for another couple of hours. When we all finally woke up we just laid in bed and played for a little while.

After we got up and around, Dan and I needed to go to the bathrooms to brush teeth and stuff, so we put Josiah in the stroller and headed out with Buster to the bathrooms. Josiah remained reclined in his stroller for the entire walk. To cute!

Then we got breakfast for all of us! The picture that follows is for the benefit of Mindy. We love food when we go camping and this is just to get ya excited about our upcoming camping trip!!

After breakfast Josiah was ready for a nap and we just hung out and relaxed...ok so those who know me know that I actually took a nap too! I love camping with a baby. Everytime he takes a nap is a perfect excuse to take a nap and what better

Hair Makeover!!!

I decided it was time for a new look. I am 30 now and I have been feeling very frumpy. Most likely due to the baby weight..which just seems to hang around. However, getting your hair cut and colored does wonders for changing how you view yourself. I needed an image boost and this was just the thing to do it. I had been thinking about what I wanted to do for along time now...but it wasn't until the morning of the appointed that I finally decided and even then, I let the stylist use her own judgment. As for the highlighting, I never really decided...I had help from the stylist when it came to making the final decision. And I love it!!! I have received many compliments (even from my boss, a male;) and most of them saying that it's a very fun and summery hair cut. Several people have made the comment that now that it is the style it is now....my old hair style didn't really do much for me. So all the more reason for me to be excited about the new do. Unfortunately it was very difficult to capture on film the hair that I see when I look in the mirror. So if you want to see how great it really looks you will just wait until I see you next;) hehehe

And just to build anticipation for the next post (when I have some spare time): Josiah's 1st Camping Trip...here is a picture of my hair when I just wash it and let it air dry...very fun and flippy:) Gotta love a hair style that you can just wash and go:)

Isn't he just the most adorable thing ever?

July 4th

We had a great 4th of July. We started out the morning by sleeping in a little:) Always a nice thing!! Then we packed up and headed to the parade. It was the first time I had been to our hometown 4th of July parade and it turned out to be a really great parade. We then walked around to all the small town festivities. Then we were off to a friends for a BBQ. We then finished the day off enjoying fireworks on the balcony of our friends apartment. I think Josiah enjoyed everything, right down to the fireworks. The next day was a little rough recovering from lack of sleep, but it was definately worth having a great Babies 1st 4th of July.

Getting all decked out his Babies 1st 4th of July clothing.

We even decked out the stroller in red, white and blue:)

Josiah loved the parade and so did we. It was our first home town parade and it was actually a very good parade. I was bummed there wasn't a marching band because it would have been fun to see Josiah react to the band...but he loved the bagpipe band.

He didn't get much sleep today, but he did catch a quick cat nap on our walk over to the island where we enjoyed an icecream and a blue grass band.

While we were at the parade, our good friends (Cosmo Christine and Marc) invited us over for a BBQ. We didn't have any plans for the afternoon and a 4th spent with friends is the best. The guys played a very serious game of crocket and the women sat around sipping on spiked lemonade:)

Probably one of the most adorable pictures I have taken yet of Josiah.

We ended the day at Cosmo Heather's apartment. She has a great view of the local fireworks from her balcony. The fireworks were a great way to end a great day. And it was a huge bonusto just get in and out and not have to deal with the crowds ...especially with a tired little buddy.

All in all a great 1st 4th!!!

7 Months Old

UPDATES ON THE BABY FRONT

Weight: 20lbs (weighed him on our scale at home)
Height: 27 1/2 inches (measured him by standing him against the wall and marking it)
Head size: My favorite white hat no longer fits him:(

1. Says dada or more often he says dla dla
2. Started to say mum, but hasn't said it in a long time. I know that the time will come when I will wish he couldn't call me and demand that I come to his beckaning:)
3. Has favorite toys: mostly big boy trucks and cars. He will sit for a long time just rolling the wheels with his pointer finger and studying it. He seems very serious about his cars!!
4. Loves the Jumparoo or just plain jumping everywhere he can convince someone to let him work their arms out.
5. By 6 1/4 months he was on the move. He learned how to army crawl, using his right big toe and left forearm to push and pull him everywhere he needs to go.
6. Went from pooping maybe once a day to pooping 3-5 times a day. We have officially introduced most foods. I started making my own baby food. Way to easy to be paying so much money for a jar. I hope I can keep it up.
7. By the end of the 6th month he had learned to put cheerios into his mouth. He chews really well and they are a great distraction:)
8. He got his first bloody lip half way through the month...bumped his lip on a pop bottle and his little sharp teeth cut his bottom lip:(
9. He spent the entire weekend with Grandma and Grandpa.
10. When I arrived to pick him up, he reached out for me for the first time:) Big moment!!

11. By the end of the month he is sitting up extremely well on his own. He can even look up and not fall backwards:)

My Birthday

My day got progressively better!!! I decided that it was up to me whether or not I was going to have a good day and I made it a great day. I put Josiah down for a nap, made myself a cup of coffee and grabbed my trashy magazine and headed for the deck. Dan, Josiah and I had been sick for so long that we had almost let summer pass us by. So this was a wonderful treat for me to just relax out on the porch enjoying a beautiful summer morning. It was so great to not have to work on my birthday!! I had a productive day, doing laundry and cleaning a bit here an there, but I didn't over due it...it was the beginning of my birthday week;) Once Dan got home we packed Josiah up and headed out to the babysitter to drop Josiah off for the evening. My good pal Heather has a teenage daughter, Julia, who has become a wonderful babysitter for us. Josiah loves her and she hasn't had anyproblems watching him. And she has been available every time I have needed someone (huge bonus). After we got Josiah all settled in, we headed out to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. Mindy and her husband Mike were going to meet us there for dinner...unfortunately Mike had to work and couldn't make it, but Mindy still joined us. I was sooooooooooo glad that she came and celebrated my birthday with me. I was feeling really down that nothing was going to happen, no surprise party, no weekend get away...and for my big 30 birthday. So the fact that she came out with me really meant alot. PLUS she made me a birthday pie. It was made using rhubarb from my very own yard:) And it was soooo good!! It was rhubarb cheesecake with whip cream on top. I had never had it before, but man was it good. Minday had brought forks so that we could eat it in the parking lot of hte movie theatre in between dinner and the movie:) To fun. The tail gate on my vehicle wasn't flat enough, but as you can see, Josiah's portable high chair made a perfect table. The reason there is only cool whip on part of the pie is because 3 of us couldn't eat the whole pie after eating a big meal at Texas Roadhouse. Which reminds me of a funny storry about dinner...I am the kind of person that likes attention (which those of you who know me, know this to be true). So I kind of like having the silly birthday song sung to me at restaraunts and I am only slightly ashamed to admit it. Well on our way to the restaraunt I mentioned this to Dan. However there was a miscommunication with the waitress and it didn't happen and I was slightly bummed and Dan knew it. So when I got back from the bathroom, he stood up in the restaraunt and was swinging his beer mug back and forth singing to me....way better than silly wait staff singing to me!!

After we ate our pie we were off to see Superman Returns. Good flick, but I am still a huge fan of Smallville and it was hard to get used to the new characters in the movie. I am however very excited about the opening of Pirattes of the Caribbean...I had hoped it would open just in time for my birthday. But Superman was a very good!

On Saturday, Dan and I once again dropped Josiah off with a babysitter. This time a woman from church had offered and we took her up on it:) And we went golfing! We actually played a scramble...which was so much more fun for the two of us that golfing our own ball. We both had some really great hits which makes it even more fun. I think playing a scramble made it so that Dan would want to go out more often...if only we had the money, time and free babysitters to do so:)

My Golden Birthday

Today I turn 30. I still am not sure exactly how I feel about that. I feel sad at times and then I don't feel any different at times ( like most birthdays). I think the sad part is because I love big parties and I plan alot of parties and I didn't get anything together this year. I guess I am most bummed because we could have gone up north to the lake for a nice long relaxing weekend, but Dan is on call and can't go more than 30 miles from home. And I couldn't just pick up and leave for the entire weekend.

However my great pal Mindy rescued me. Mindy and Mike are going to join Dan and I for dinner and a movie. So at least I feel like I am going to have a little party if you will. Plus Mindy made a birthday pie. Made from the rhubarb in our yard:) I can't wait to try it...she said she would bring forks and plates in case we just can't wait until we get home to sample the Rhubarb cheese cake.

We have a babysitter all lined up for tonight, so it should be a good time! I am really looking forward to getting out for a night on the town:) Plus Dan and I are going golfing tomorrow and already have a babysitter lined up for that as well. SoI need to turn my frown upside down and have a great day and weekend. I think we are going to go to the fireworks here in town and the parade, so that should be fun!!! It will be a nice relaxing weekend at home!

Turning 30

Today I Remember my childhood:)

1. My Holly Hobbie birthday cake and my pink big wheel for my birthday present.
2. My surprise birthday at McDonalds. I remember seeing my cousin Ashley there and thinking that it was cool that we ran in to her on my birthday. I was totally surprised that the rest of my cousins and friends and family were there too.
3. Camping every summer with my mom, dad and 2 brothers
4. The tire swing and the Lilac bushes in our yard
5. Playing with my cousins in our pool and playing at my cousins in their pool.
6. Snowmobile rides with my brothers
7. Learning to ride my bike at my Grandma and Grandpa D.'s house
8. Family Reunions (they were always so much fun).
9. Fishing at my Grandma L.'s with my cousins
10. Swimming and tubing at my Grandma and Grandpa D.'s
11. The awsome rec room we had at our old house. It was huge. the only bummer about having a really big rec room is that you have to clean it every once in a while.
12. Learning to golf with Grandma and Grandpa D. (They actually built a Par 3 in their front yard, Grandpa sawed off a few golf clubs to teach me how to golf when I was about 6. I will remember him when I go golfing for my birthday tomorrow. What a great gift he gave me...the love of golf)
13. Going golfing with my mom over the years
14. T-ball (I got the first home run one year. I played for a team called Ace Hardware. I still remember it like it was yesterday. I ran to first base, then I started for 2nd base and they threw it to 1st base, etc. until I arrived home for a home run.
15. Playing on the back porch with my cats.
16. Playing on the back porch with my tape recorder. I loved singing songs and telling stories into that tape recorder.
17. My puppy "Angel" I remember playing with her in the farmers field next door. I built a little hideaway for us to hang out in.
18. My cat Pumpkin...she's the one I remember the most.
19. Getting my mouth washed out with soap:( It had to be done. Then again, maybe it was only threatened. The threat must have worked because I still remember it;)
20. Always having remodeling projects going in our house.
21. Riding back and forth to my brothers basketball games with my mom.
22. My brothers track meets, football games, basketball games, baseball games...
23. Going fishing and hunting with my dad.
24. Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa D.'s house...the thousands (literally) of presents
25. Christmas at Grandma L.'s house...the awsome food
26. Grandma L.'s Rhubarb Crisp (then discovering how to make it many years later, realizing that it was so easy to make...yet soooooooo good:)
27. Aunt Chris's Scotcharoos's (Rice Krispie treat with a layer of chocolate on the top...my favorite).
28. Learning how to make Grandma L.'s crab dip
29. My two cousins and I getting our ears pierced by my mom using an ice cube and a potato.
30. Going garage saling with my mom and Grandma D.

Wedding #2

Anne and Dennis

The Wedding

The wedding itself was back in May. A very small and quaint yet very beautiful ceremony. I played the role that I love to play so well...the wedding coordinator. Which meant that I was the go to person on the day of the wedding...the person that was not nervous or worried that a hair was out of place or a dress might not stay up or the candles might not get lit. Nope I was the person that when someone couldn't find something or needed something, I was right there to be at the bridal parties beck and call and I loved it.

Actually I am the wedding coordinator for our church. So that when there is a couple that doesn't typically go to our church or they choose to bring in a different pastor I am the one that is there to answer all their questions and to help run the rehersal. If I had the motivation and the capitol to do so I would start my own wedding consulting business, but for now I am content to just do a couple of weddings a year within our church.

The Cosmo Girls

The Beautiful Bride

The Reception

What a wonderful time the reception was. This took place just last weekend and we had such a good time. The food was incredible, the music was great and you couldn't have asked for more perfect weather. We were able to take Josiah with us to this reception and he had a great time as well. He just watched all the people, I think he was mezmorized by all the bright colors and all the kids running around:) He even took a good nap and went to bed when it was time. There was a slight fiasco when I realized that the batteries were dying in the monitors. But Patty saved the day and brought us batteries. It actually turns out that the only reason the monitor was beeping was because it was out of range not out of batteries, but better to be safe than sorry.

All decked out in our Hawaiin Garb!!

*Well blogger isn't letting me upload any more pictures at the moment. Hopefully I will be able to upload a few more because we got some really adorable pictures.

Wedding #1

Brandi and Kevin Get Married

The E. Lansing Yaya's: One more down, one to go!!

Rehersal Dinner

Night before the wedding
Toasting the bride

The Beautiful Bride The Reception

There were fake "Lion's" tatoos on all the tables and I made it my mission to make sure that they all had a home:) I didn't actually put this tatoo on my forehead in case any of you were wondering, but Dan put one around his neck:) To much fun!

This wedding has allowed me to achieve many milestones with Josiah. How you ask? For her first bacherlorette party, I discovered I could leave Josiah overnight and we would both survive:) And for her 2nd bacherlorette I left him with dad overnight without batting an eye. Yah, I missed him, but I did not have the anxiety I had the first time. And then with the wedding, I not only left him overnight with Grandma and Grandpa W., I left him for two nights in a row with them. At first I was nervous...but he is so good most of the time and sleeps so well through the night that I realized that I had nothing to worry about.
Everything worked out really well; Dan and I had a really great time at the wedding and Josiah had a good time with Grandma and Grandpa. However, when I got to the house on Sunday, he instantly became fussy and wanted to nurse (at least that is how I remember it). Oh yah, now it is coming back to me...I snuck up to his room where he was sleeping and I woke him up. Bad mom, I know. But I really needed a hug. I had just gotten into an minor car accident and I really needed to snuggle with him. Well I paid for that. You should never wake a sleeping baby. He was fussy for quite some time after that and all he wanted to do was nurse. Which was ok because it gave me time to settle down and hang out with my boy!

6 Month Photoshoot Pictures Finally

Yah, I have been trying to post these pictures for almost a week now and tonight was the first night I didn't get an error message:) So enjoy...they are absolutely precious!!

Memorial Day Weekend

We met our good friends Jeremiah and Kelly up in the UP for the long weekend. Neither one of us had met each others son. They are the ones that had Brayden in January. So they are only 6 weeks apart!! It will be so much fun as they get older and can start playing together. They were to cute together though. We put them on the floor and they pretty much just pushed at each others heads. They did do a fair amount of talking to each other though and I couldn't get Josiah to get his hands out of his mouth (because he was teething) to get a good picture of the two of them and they were both so wiggly. But we did get a few cute ones.

Jeremiah and Dan were best friends from high school...so it is really fun that they get to have children (boys no less) at the same time in their lives. We are going to have so much fun camping and what not as they boys grow up. But the funny thing is how much the boys look like their dads. Too cute!!

At some point in the weekend, another one of their friends from high school came over with their little boy who was born only 11 days after Josiah. So it was fun to see that they were doing the same things and were progressing at the same rate. They were both about the same size too. But what was even more fun was putting all three boys on the floor and watching them interact. They all took turns talking and paying attention to the boy talking...it was so commical! And they all had something to say!!

Josiah cut his second tooth while we up in the UP. We really havne't noticed much change in personality or any thing with the cutting fo the first teeth. We just pray that many more of his teeth will go as smoothly.

Grandma Julie even got to babysit for us, while the parents went out on the town. It was the first time that we had gone out without Josiah together since January...so it was really great to get out. And Grandma did great! Josiah heard me come in and woke up and wanted to be held, but other than that, she said they had a great evening. And so did we!!! We went out to dinner and a movie (X-Men...very good flick) and then dessert:)

All in all a great weekend!