October 2013

October officially became waiting-for-baby-to-eventually-come month, as it was an exceptionally long and tiring pregnancy for sure!  I started with Braxton Hicks contractions around 6 months and they continued, coming even stronger throughout the month of October.  We tried to nestle in here at home and eagerly await our 2nd daughter's arrival, while also cherishing this time as a family of four for just a bit longer.

Jane's pre-school took a trip to the fire station and it was a great time, although Jane was feeling a bit under the weather.  We also braved a little chilly night and took the kids to their first (and only) Rochester Zebra football game.  We had fun bundling up and watching the game; and by watching I mean talking about the concession stand, cheerleaders, elephant ears (long discussion ensued about the fact that there weren't actually elephant ears at the football game), and pretty much anything but football.  The most memorable part of the evening was allowing Luke to try some blue Powerade, only to have him ask the next day for that "yummy blue milk" - he still talks about it today!

Evan and I enjoyed putting the kids to bed and finishing our Breaking Bad marathon and starting The Walking Dead; evening rituals included hunkering down in our basement and watching 2-3 episodes a night while we patiently (sort of) awaited the arrival of our daughter!

Morning before Jane's field trip

After awhile, the fire station just isn't all that exciting to 3-yr old girls

It was a beautiful day and fun memory

The kids LOVE taking baths together; Evan left them alone for 10 minutes and secretly caught them laughing and playing with tons of great pics on our camera.  They love being silly together.  They are both getting so big it's almost impossible to bathe them together any longer.. :(

Bundled up at the football game!

Jane and mommy (2 days before baby arrived!)

They love this Mickey Mouse piano book from Great-Grandma S.  Lots of time "practicing and infructing (instructing)" says Jane.

Jane debuted her artistic ability with this Magna Doodle portrait of our family.  She drew each person.  I love how Daddy was the 2nd from the right...

September 2013

Whew...one would think that after all the excitement of August, we would slow things down a bit, but alas, this family seems to move at 1 of 2 paces....fast, or even faster!  

I just love the month of September (and not just because it's my birthday month!) - it brings back memories of closing the summer, getting ready for school to start, warm but not blazing hot weather and the slight beginnings of fall, my favorite season!

We enjoyed our time here at home with no travel in September, and instead welcomed guests (my cousin Matt and his wife Alison), enjoyed our annual trip to Thistleberry Farm, watched Jane's preschool class "perform" at church, and began to really prepare the nursery and rest of the house for the baby's arrival.  All in all, a very low-key and wonderful September!

A wonderful visit with this wonderful couple!  We got to show them around Rochester, enjoyed a boat ride (the weather was amazing!), played games and just visited!

Loving life on the boat with my 2 (and a half) favorite people!

He is getting SO big!

The highlight for Jane during our trip to Thistleberry.  We love going to the farm and luckily chose a weekend this year when it wasn't blasted cold!  Jane loved this slide and went down it a least a dozen times.  The picture of her from the bottom didn't post correctly, but she was all smiles.

Jane trying to "help" Luke onto the big jumpy thing - she loved it...

...him, not so much.  He wanted off immediately!

Loving the cow train as usual

The climbing wall was a new addition to the farm and Jane took to it right away!

Huge progress for Luke as he wouldn't even go near the horses last year - he rode all the way by himself and no tears!

The hayride was less-than-thrilling for Luke

Picking pumpkins!

Getting ready for Jane's pre-school "program" at Church. 

Grammy and Grandpa Bob joined us for the morning much to Jane's delight!

Jane did a great job singing for everyone - I was one proud mama!

A fun picture of life here at home.  Jane loves dressing up and having tea parties and always invites (read: makes) her brother to join.  He obliges as you can see he'll wear the jewelry but normally draws the line at putting on her princess dress-up clothes.  This feast is fit for a king!

I love this one, they pretend to feed their stuffed animals; I have no idea why Luke is holding his arm like that, but he kept it like that the entire time!

Happy Birthday to me!  Unfortunately, I had a work meeting all day in Indy, but the guys on my team treated me to this delicious chocolate cake!

Is this my 3 1/2 year old, or someone else!?  She is so beautiful to me!

Here's me being brave putting a preggo picture up here...picture taken at almost 37 weeks pregnant.  She's almost here!!

Happy Birthday, Daddio!

I thought such a monumentous occassion deserved a post all it's own, as you certainly don't turn the big 6-0 every year!  My extremely thoughtful mom began planning for my dad's birthday months in advance (shock to no one) and it turned out to be an entire weekend full of festivities to honor my dad!  

I couldn't even capture all the great things she/we planned for him, but I do know that every single person, especially the man of the hour, enjoyed it thoroughly!  There was a special foot massage/spa session (he may kill me for writing that here...), lunch on Friday with my brothers and grandma (his 91-year old mother), surprise visitors on Friday night (my sister and my whole crew showed up with balloons, as he didn't know we were coming in), donuts with grandkids on Saturday morning (a tradition), golf with son(s)-in-law, church, special dinner out, a full day at Coney Island pool, gifts, cake, etc.  OK, maybe I can capture them all, but the bottom line it was an awesome weekend celebrating an even more awesome guy!  

Happy 60th Birthday, Dad!

Jane practicing holding Baby Karis - she thought she was very grown up!

Life was complete once Aunt Tatie arrived.  #heroworship

Jane practicing to yell "Surprise" at Grandpaul

The grandkids swinging on the porch swing

The most priceless picture ever.  Keegan loves his GrandPaul and wants to be just like him.  I think he nailed it!

Luke still working on the smile-on-cue part

Family picture before heading out to dinner

The Birthday Boy and Hostess/Planner Extraordinaire

I just think this picture is hysterical...Luke is holding down the fort, keeping everyone in line

Toasting to a great guy!

The gals

Had to include one with the cake...

..that the kids eagerly tasted immediately upon getting the green light

The boys

The siblings. *My brother Brian looks like he is impersonating Chris Farley (Motivational Speaker) in this picture.  I'm confident he will agree with me!

Dad with his 2 daughters

Love this one!

A brand new bike...gotta keep him in shape for the 70th birthday!

Too much partying for Luke.  The kid loves to read and refuses to give up on the day...just like his daddy

Getting ready to head home.  I may still be the only one, but I think Luke looks sooo much like my dad!