Final Cake!

It's done.  I finished my last cake class.  It was fun.  It was a nice outlet.  I felt creative.  My kids (Natali) were pretty impressed with my mad cake skills!  I am not sure when I will every had a need to make a basket weave cake...but at least  I know how.

Birthday Boy

Today was this little guys birthday.  Happy Birthday Spencer!

We started the morning with a special breakfast.  Cinnamon rolls & bananas.  Balloons & a super fancy yellow table cloth (not really but the kids thought it was pretty awesome)

We spent the day playing outside, running errands, and celebrating everything Spencer.  After dinner it was time for what we were all waiting for...the CAKE!  And I think it is safe to say it did not disappoint.

(not to shabby if I do say so myself)

Spencer did not hold back.  He dove into that cake like a seasoned pro, must be genetic!

There was a lot of cake to eat.  Good thing Spencer had some people around who were willing to help!  I totally caught Isaac sticking his finger into the cake earlier that day.  It probably was a lot to ask of a 2 year old.  Natali was cute, she told everyone we saw today that it was her baby brothers birthday.  "He's turning one.  We are having cake tonight when Daddy comes home!"  Pure excitement.  She really is getting into this whole birthday thing.

 Happy Birthday Spencer...We Love You!!!

A Year Ago...

A year ago today I went into the hospital to meet out little boy Spencer Chase!  He was a whopper, 10.5!    All I can say is I am glad that I am not pregnant now.  I can't believe a year has passed.  So much has happened.  Spencer's birthday kind of marked the beginning of a whirlwind year for us.  We made it, graduation is well within site.  Our move is approaching.  Life is about to change again.

I can't believe this little chunk has been with us a year.  In so many ways it seems like yesterday that I was making those long (and painful) walks from my room up to the NICU to see him.  But at the same time I can't imagine our life with out this little guy. 

(Oh my gosh look at those ROLLS...I love it)

Spencer you are a joy in our family!  I love coming and getting you in the morning, you are so happy to see me.  You light up when you hear your brother & sisters voice up stairs.  You have bananas every morning.  You L-O-V-E veggie straws.  You drink your milk from a sippy and you love to drink it and then let it slowly run down your chin.  You & Dad love to throw balls back and forth to each other.  You like to come into the kitchen and chase balls all over our uneven kitchen floor.  You are starting to pull your self up (a little).  You clap, wave high to people, and pretend to answer the phone when it rings.  I love you Spencer!  Thank you for being a part of our family.  Happy Birthday little man, you are just the sweetest!

Destroyed

Yes this is a picture of my diaper bag.  More specifically my diaper bag DESTROYED.  That's right I had to DESTROY my diaper bag.  The nifty little ipod zipper broke (although I have yet to store an actual ipod there).  I get a replacement because I haven't had the bag for a year yet.  But in order to get a new bag I had to DESTROY my current bag.  "Cut the strap and the main compartment," were my instructions.  I can't wait to get me new bag, it's the newest version and a new color!  I know it's just a diaper bag, but it was a little painful taking my scissors to it.  Ouch.

Weekend Get Away

Both boys snoozing away on our ride home from St. Louis

We took a little road trip down to St. Louis to visit one of my dearest friends.  She was up visiting her family so before we move down south we took one last chance to meet up.  I got to see her new baby, eat at Lions Choice, relax, talk, watch movies, drink diet cokes together, talk, get pedicures, talk, eat, and did I mention talk!  It was great.  We had planned to explore St. Louis more, but the weather was not cooperating.  But we made the most of what we had.  It was quick but so much fun.  The kids were tuckered out from all the playing.  Thanks for having us down Amanda...what a great way to spend my b-day weekend!!!

Silly Sleepers

Spencer:
The other morning I went down to make sure he had fallen asleep for his morning nap.  Cute little man had fallen asleep sitting up playing with his little head resting on the edge of the bumper pad.  It was pretty cute!  


Then yesterday I went down again to check on him and he had both little feet sticking out from under the bumper pad.  It makes me laugh that he finds the corner of the crib and gets all scrunched.  Silly little baby (that is almost one years old)!

Isaac:

I am scared.  I think Isaac is hitting the "Terrible Twos"! For our kids it hits late in the two's and is really more like the Torturous Three's.  I remember when Natali was going through that, um shall we say stage, and thinking Isaac would never be like that.  He would just be my sweet Bubba.  Oh how the tides are turning.  This little man is starting to give me a real run for my money.  Thankful he still has really sweet moments in between the rage.  

Like his younger brother Isaac has also been found in some unique sleeping positions.  Several nights I have gone in to check on him & Natali before going to bed and Isaac will either be asleep on the floor, laying on Natali's bed, or half on the bed & half on the floor.  

Thursday I went in during nap time to find out why it was so quiet (it can be a bad thing sometimes).  Luckily he was just asleep.  This is how I found him.  Nothing crazy, but enough that I chuckled to myself.

(notice the blanket over the head, motorcycle fallen out of right hand, fishing pole out of left hand, and Natali's shoes on his feet)

Soccer Time

Natali started Spring soccer today.  She was excited.  With new soccer shorts and pink shin gaurds she was ready.  Today was just practice.  Meeting the team, getting your team shirt, and ball.  She was pumped!

Practice Time

It was a good day!

Strawberries

Fresh strawberry jam, a little bit of butter, on hot rolls...yes please!  Costco had a steal of a deal on strawberries last week and so I figured it was time I learned how to make homemade jam.  With just a few phones calls to make sure I was doing it right (thanks Kel) and some time at the sink cleaning strawberries I ended up with some jars of pure bliss!  I like this...I like this A LOT!

11 Months

(photo taken by the lovely Chrissy)


Spencer is 11 months.  I love this little boy!  He is so cheery and happy.  I love his blue eyes and his crazy blond hair.  His chubby kissable cheeks and all 7 of his baby teeth.

• His mobility is getting faster and faster each day
• He's learning how to perfect the army crawl
• Has mastered moving from tummy/back to sitting (it's taken him awhile I know)
• Becoming more vocal when food does not come fast enough, when mom leaves the room, and when brother & sister take his toys
• Finds all the things that we don't want him to on the floor
• Trying to pull himself up 
• Loves to sit on the grass
• First time in a swing at the park this week, smiled the whole time
• Loves to eat mangos, avocados, peas, bananas, veggie straws, cottage cheese, cheese chunks, ice cream...pretty much anything we let him try (not in love with red kidney beans)

Happy 11 months little man!

Spring Came

Despite my doubts, Spring has finally arrived in Des Moines.  I know I am jinxing it but I couldn't help but celebrate.  I'm no dummy,  it wouldn't be Iowa without a mid April snow storm.  But I am loving picnic lunches, playing at the park, sun kissed cheeks, and all the promises of Spring!  just not the allergies

Home Sweet Home

So here is a little snippet of what out new place looks like.  We are renting and super excited to have this part of moving done.  It has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, and a 2 car garage.  It has a fenced backyard and apparently just gobs of storage.  Can you see the smile on my face as I type this?!!  Considering where we live now (don't get me wrong we love our LITTLE place...little being the key word) this is a big up grade on space.  It's in an older established neighborhood super close to the church and walking distance to the elementary school.  I have already declared that we will be getting a trampoline for the backyard once we are there.  It might not be our "dream home" but for the next three years it will be where we call home!

Ben wishes the MASSIVE meat smoker on wheels was considered part of the house, but alas, it will not be there when we move in.  I bet that bad boy would make a great hamburger!

Let Them Eat Cake

So for the month of March I have been taking a Wilton Cake class at our local Michaels.  And guess what?  I LOVE it!  It is so much fun.  I love the creative outlet.  I love that I am doing something just for me, because I wanted to.   Because it was something I had an interest and desire in and I wanted to learn more. So I rallied a few girls behind me and we went.  We learned how to make a MOIST cake, smooth out the icing (still working on that one), a DIVINE frosting recipe, and some basic decorating techniques.  Over the last month I think I have made at least 5 cakes.  I think my favorite was the lemon cake, with a lemon curd middle, and a light flavored lemon frosting.  Spring time in my mouth!  Here are a few pictures of my evolution of the cake.

I am no expert now, but it was a fun class.  I am ready and super excited for course 2!

It Loud Mama!

Me:  Isaac I'm going to vacuum okay?
Isaac:  No!  It loud mama.
Me:  It's okay.  Just for a minute.
Isaac:  NO...shut da' door.  (door to the vacuum closet)
Me:  I have to Bubba

As I am removing all the random items that have been thrown on top of the vacuum to get it out, Isaac runs into his room and then back into the front room.  As I turn around this is what I see.

Cute Isaac, so sweet!

PASSED

Oh man, when Ben texted me and said that board scores were in the mail yesterday my stomach did one of those somersault things inside.  He kept texting about ever 20 minutes asking if the mail had come.  Our mail man is notorious for delivering our mail at 9 pm or later at times.  (please not today)  I kept checking but no mail.  Finally it came.  The doctors at the hospital Ben is at wanted me to open it over the phone with him there.  Yeah right...are you kidding me!  Instead they let him leave so he could come home.  So while on his drive home he calls me.  I offer to open it for him.  He hesitates and then, "sure if you want to."  So I did.  I could hardly handle the anticipation.  I opened it and it read, "...was successful in achieving a passing score on Part-II Clinical Science Examination."  Ben's reaction, "are you kidding, are you sure?"  After several reassurances we both celebrating.  (or crying...that would be me).  So now we can finally really relax.  I guess Texas can't get rid of us now.  We found a house to rent this week as well and we are super excited about it!  Things are falling into place and we couldn't feel more blessed.

Spring Break Fun...and a hair cut!

This week has been Spring Break out here.  Natali has had no preschool.  We weren't able to plan any big trips or weekend getaways (we have to save that time & money for when we take a trip to check out Texas since we move there in 2 1/2 months).  So I tried to make each day a little special or fun.  We've played more with friends, enjoyed playgroup  & Happy Meals, we even went to the mall to visit the Easter Bunny and ride the Easter Express train.

I tried to get all three kids to look at me and stand around the stroller.  It was SUPER successful, don't you think!?!

Natali on the train with two friends Isaac & Maddie.  My Isaac kept saying he wanted to ride the train.  But when it came time to get on he FREAKED out.  He just wanted to run around and touch the train.  So I had to drag him out kicking & screaming.  Once we were out he just cried that he wanted to ride the train.  We tried one more time to get him on, even sitting with an adult.  But, once again he FREAKED. Oh the joys of a two year old!

Spencer was a trooper and just chilled in the stroller.  Our little man got his first real official hair cut.  I was getting bothered by the fact that he had better sweeping bangs across his forehead than I did.  It was sad, I didn't cry this time like I did with Isaac.  But I sure do think it makes him look older, still as cute though!

After riding the train we went and got ice cream cones.  Why not!  Then we all headed over to the park to play with friends, eat a picnic style lunch, and enjoy some much needed sunshine and fresh air.  Have I mentioned it has been a really really long winter!?!?

Brother & Sisterly Love

I LOVE that Natali still asks to hold Spencer.  It usually only lasts a few seconds before Spencer tries to wiggle free.  She sure does love him!

I can't get enough of these two little boys!  I don't see ANY sibling resemblance between these two!  I can't wait to watch them interact more as Spencer gets older.

TEXAS BABY...

OH my GOSH!  To say the last few days have been a roller coaster would be the biggest understatement of my life.

We are moving to Temple, Texas.  I couldn't be more excited.  It was our number one choice.   We did SCRAMBLE (that will be a totally different post).  But through many small & BIG MIRACLES, we are going to our top choice.  We found out Wednesday and I think the reality of it all is finally starting to set in.

I CANNOT wait!  So long ice & snow....hello heat & humidity! (and apparently snakes & creepy crawly things)

Spencer 10 Months

It's hard to believe that my baby is 10 months.  They grow so quickly.  Here are some highlights of Spencer right now.

• He LOVES to feed himself, he really liked the brownie he tasted last week...he cried for more
• He is sleeping well.  He usually goes to bed around 6:30pm and sleeps till 7am
• He still doesn't crawl but he wiggles & rolls to get whatever he wants
• He has 5 teeth, two bottom & three on top
• His hair is still crazy...honestly I don't know what to do with it...it's just fuzzy
• He says "uh-oh"
• He loves the baby in the mirror
• He is just plain old sweet!

Spencer, we love ya!  

Piles & Piles of Snow

To say that we have snow is an understatement!  The other day I went out to shovel the drive to help Ben.   Shortly after starting I came back to the house and said, "I don't know where to even put it!" 

I am super TIRED of the snow, wind, & cold.  I am tired of bundling up kids, warming up the car, scraping off windshields, and slipping on ice.  But I NEVER get tired of this little boy & his cute face.

Kid Friendly Collage

I am always looking for a craft that both kids can do!  I found this one on the Family Fun website and it was a hit with the kids!  We've had a few snow days so this was a perfect activity.
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/crafts-by-age/toddler-crafts/glueless-collages-667490/