Celebrating 8 Years of Marriage

Nathan and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary yesterday. We didn't do anything special - it fell on a Tuesday and we both had to work and Noah was supposed to have a t-ball game. The game got rained out so we ended up spending the evening at home with the kids. We exchanged gifts and Nathan cooked me an awesome steak dinner! It was kind of neat celebrating with our kids at home - it was kind of our dream of what our lives would be like 8 years ago.

Nathan got me some beautiful roses and a "steal her heart" necklace - he did good! I got Nathan some new clothes I caught him eyeing while we were shopping recently :) Noah took a picture of Nathan and I for us and then both kids hopped up in our laps and wanted pictures with us :) Then we watched the Bachelorette and went to bed.

It feels like Nathan and I have been married for longer than 8 years - I guess that's because we have been together for 16 years. I have almost been with him as longer than without during my life so far. These 8 years have been so great, so hard, so happy, and some sad - but that is what life is all about.

Memorial Day Weekend!

Nathan and I went to Springfield, MO Friday through Sunday with our friends Scooter and Tamer to race his car at the Ozark Raceway Park. We were supposed to leave at 11:00, we ended up leaving about 4:00. That is pretty much how the whole weekend went as far as racing. Nathan's car had parts broken the night before we left so that delayed us leaving. Then when we go to leave Nathan's truck started leaking power steering fluid and the breaks were smoking (they got it fixed enough so we could drive it anyway and it made it - Thank God!). We forgot water and had to stop and get some for his car - Nathan dropped 2 of the jugs and busted them on the way to the truck. Our navigation took us on the scenic route to the track. We got there and they were already running the first time trial of Nathan's class. The laptop for the car would not come on so we had to borrow one. They called the second round of Nathan's class so fast that they barely had time to get it over to the track to run it. The car was running the same as it did without nitrous - I don't know much about cars, but I knew that was not right. We ended up staying at the track until 12:00 a.m. and then had to drive back to town to eat and find a hotel. After stopping at 5 hotels, we finally found a room - it wasn't the nicest room, but at 2:00 a.m. we didn't care! The next day we got up and ate breakfast and had to go buy some heating pads for his nitrous bottle because his bottle heater quit working. Well, the heating pads didn't work either. Then, he made the third round of qualifying. But, before we could do the fourth round, it started raining. So, after about a 2 hour rain delay they started back up again. He got his fourth round done and then we had to wait for the bracket for his class to see who he raced first. He said the guy he was racing was a lot faster so he was going to have to do everything right to beat him - and he did! He then beat the second guy he raced too! Things were starting to turn around for our "everything going wrong" weekend but then it happened again. I was waiting to record the race down the track and the guy that Nathan was supposed to race pulled up and they announced he would be getting to go straight to the finals because his opponent couldn't make it. Nathan's starter (that he just had fixed, by the way) quit working. So, he was done. He got 4th place - and he was happy with that. Even with all this stuff going wrong - I watched him still smile and have fun the whole time. It is what he loves to do. I cannot imagine how happy he would be if everything went right for him!

On Sunday, we got back later than we intended, but still made it to my family reunion in time to see some family and Noah got to play with his cousins and build a sand castle (his favorite part). We then went home where Nathan and Ryan took naps and Noah and I played (it really shows which kid is like which parent at nap time) :)

Monday we went to the park with our church and let the kids play on the playground and swing set. We then went to Wal-Mart to get some stuff to grill and headed home. Once again, Nathan and Ryan napped while Noah and I played :) Nathan mowed the yard and I cleaned house and we ended the day with burgers on the grill.

It was a life-filled weekend - my favorite kind!

Noahsaurus turned 4!

It is no secret Noah is obsessed with dinosaurs. He insists he will be a paleontologist when he grows up and knows anything you want to know about them all. So, when figuring out the theme for his 4th birthday party there was no question - dinosaurs! We had the party at a local farm that has a barn they rent out for parties with a petting zoo, bounce houses, and train rides. It is such a neat place to have locally. The weather on party day wasn't the best but we made the most of it. It only actually rained on us once - and that of course was while we were all on the train ride :) Luckily none of us melted! Noah initially wanted a volcano cake that actually erupted - well after talking it over with our cake lady we decided it would be best to do a separate volcano from the cake - we were afraid the lava would leak into the cake and make it inedible. So, I found Noah a little volcano and we made it erupt a few times at home and he was SO excited - it was so cute. So, we took it to his party and he yelled for everyone to come watch. Well, the volcano erupted and it wasn't as good of an eruption as we had at home - Noah was still exited, but I think his guests were confused as to what the big deal was - but they were good sports for Noah :)

We had to do the party a few days before Noah's actual birthday so we wanted to do a little something on his birthday for him too. His birthday fell on a Wednesday and we usually go eat at Nathan's parents house every Wednesday so instead we all met at the park for pizza. Noah wanted red dot (pepperoni) pizza for his birthday because that is what the Ninja Turtles eat :) So, after work I went and got Noah and took him to his birthday sign at the hotel here in town. Then home to open all his presents from me and Nathan then to the park. He and Ryan played hard at the park with their cousin Paxton - mud, dirt, rocks, flowers, slides, swings, jungle gym, puddles - they were in heaven! We sang Happy Birthday to Noah one last time and he blew out his candle. When we were walking out of the park Noah said "bye birthday - see you when I am five" :)

I'm 4!

Presents from Momma and Daddy :)

A few Noah facts to look back on:

Noah loves to watch tv, play computer games, read books, do puzzles - but most of all play outside! He will gather up sticks and rocks for hours. He has the same breakfast every day (cereal bar, fruit pouch, and a banana) and his favorite dinner foods are popcorn chicken, pizza, mashed potatoes, chips, green beans and most of all chicken and rice! He will eat 3 plates of it at a time. Noah is not much for sweets - he rarely eats any junk food other than some chips or a chocolate chip cookie on occasion. Noah is the sweetest boy and doesn't like to pick favorites. We call him our little politician because no matter what we ask him trying to get him to pick a favorite person for something or toy for something he always says "I like everyone" or "everyone is the best" or "I love all my toys". Noah is the funniest kid I know and I never know what is going to come out of his sweet mouth. Lately he keeps saying "are you thinking what I'm thinking?" and "I won't let you down mom" :) He loves his sister and is constantly hugging her and helping take care of her. He really is a good kid 90% of the time and the other 10% doesn't last long and is usually from lack of nap. I can't wait to continue to watch him grow and learn each day - he is truly a blessing to us all!

Mother's Day 2014

A day I looked forward to for years to celebrate my mom but also to be celebrated :) We started the day at church, then in my typical mom style asked the kids if they wanted a happy meal, so we had McDonald's for lunch :) (Nathan took me out to eat at Olive Garden a few days earlier to celebrate also) Ryan is still not doing great in restaurants, so it is all to go orders for us for now. We went home and Ryan napped and I cleaned the house.

Then once Ryan woke up we met my mom at the park so my kids could play and my brother and I could give her gifts. We had cupcakes and fruit and dip and cookie cake and talked and played frisbee. It was nice :)

I always take a picture with my kids in front of the same tree in the yard at my house. I like to see how they change year to year and make comparison shots :)

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there - whether it be naturally, adoption, foster, or to the 4 legged furry kind! If you are struggling to become a mother, do not give up. It is hard and nothing anyone can say will change that. Just pray. And don't give up. And pray some more! I will be praying for you...

Busy With Nothing to Do :)

Saturday we did nothing but read books, watch movies, put puzzles together, make pizzas, put train tracks together, take care of baby dolls, and have a fake food picnic :) Then our friend NaKeshia came over for Magic Mike and Italian food - a great end to a perfect day!

Sunday we had church and then I worked in the church nursery while Nathan took the kids to have chips and dip with my mom and brothers kids. Then they came back and picked me up and we went to the court square for a benefit for some awesome people! We had spaghetti and Noah bounced for an hour straight while Ryan walked for an hour straight. It was not too hot in the shade - it was nice.

We then went home for Ryan to nap and Noah to shoot his BB gun with Daddy while I cleaned the porch.

It was really nice to have no where to be and nothing to do but also be busy all weekend.