Celebrating Preston

We did a few things last week to celebrate Preston's birthday. On Thursday morning we let Preston decided what he wanted to do for his birthday. I gave him the choice between the zoo, swimming and the park. He chose the park, so we tried a new park that I have heard some good things about. It was a lot of fun. The park had a fun playground, but we didn't spend much time there because there was so much else to do.There was a wading creek that wound its way through the park. The boys really had a good time getting wet, especially since it was really hot. If we go back to that park, I will definitely bring the boys' swimsuits so that they can just have fun in the water and not worry about their clothes getting wet.

There is also a little train and a petting zoo that are only $1 each. This park is a goldmine....I can't believe it took us so long to finally visit it. We spent the morning there, had a picnic lunch and got completely tired out. It was a very fun park!!That night we went to a BBQ with some of the basketball girls that Chris coaches and then we came home and had birthday cupcakes.Saturday we had Preston's party at our house with our families. He was spoiled, as always, and he thoroughly enjoyed all the cake, presents and attention.Happy birthday sweet little "Presty".

Happy birthday Preston!

Today is Preston's 2nd birthday. I know every parent says this and it sounds really cliche, but seriously, I can't believe he is already 2! It has gone by so quickly.

He is definitely a little toddler now. He runs, talks, screams, throws fits and keeps up with his brothers pretty well. He loves: trucks, going to the park, Brayden and Logan, the grocery store and coloring. He hates: being teased, getting his diaper changed, time-out and brushing his teeth.

Preston was born at 11:31 pm, he almost made it to midnight and a birthday on the 26th, but thankfully he didn't! He was a week early, which I was very happy for. I had been having about a week's worth of false alarms and I was getting tired of thinking he was on his way and finding out he wasn't.

1 day old

1 year old

2 years old

My sister's wedding

My sister got married this past weekend. The ceremony was held at Hudson Gardens - it was a beautiful place to have a wedding. It was cloudy and cooler that day, but thankfully, the rain held out the whole time. All the boys were in the ceremony as ring bearers and they looked so adorable in their tuxes -- so grown up! Brayden and Logan got to pull a wagon down the aisle that Preston rode in.I can't believe I didn't get any pictures with my sister in them, I never had my camera at the right time I guess. She was a beautiful bride, but you'll just have to take my word for it unless you were there!
At the dinner reception, the boys kept busy with dancing, eating M&M's and taking pictures with the cameras that were on the tables. Not sure how those pictures will turn out, but they might have gotten some cute shots I guess! We were all exhausted by the end of the day, but the boys did so well considering they didn't really get naps or anything.

God met with me at church today

This past week has been kind of rough for me for various reasons that I won't get into here. I was worried and stressed and feeling like I had no control. I had a heavy heart and was carrying a burden I wasn't meant to carry alone.

I have been struggling with unbelief a little lately. Not because I don't think that God can do anything, but because I sometimes doubt that He will. Obviously I don't know God's plan in everything and that is hard for me as I like to know what's going on and feel as though I have a little control.

However, at church this morning I felt God really speaking to me and I felt such a peace wash over me. He told me that He knows what I've been going through and that he has it is in His hands now. He knows my heart and how I feel, and now I realize that and have given it over to God. While I still have to deal with some things, I no longer am going to worry about the outcome -- God will work His will in His time. What a relief!!

Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

Wii love you daddy

We got Chris a Wii for Father's Day this year. It wasn't really a surprise as I wanted to discuss it with him before I spent that much money, and it also was kind of a family present rather than just for him, but I think he was still surprised and happy. The boys really like to play it and are pretty good, considering their age. I have tried to get some pictures of Chris and the boys playing it, but it's hard. The lighting in our basement isn't great and then most of the shots turn out blurry since everyone is always moving.

I am so glad that there is a Father's day to honor the good dads in my life. Chris is a wonderful dad, taking time out of his day, no matter how busy he is, to spend time with the boys and do something fun with them. Wrestling is one of the boys' favorite things to do with him and they have so many variations on it. It's really fun to watch them get to let loose and have fun with their dad who obviously loves them so much and takes time to make that apparent to them.

My own father and I have a different relationship now that I am a grown woman and not under his care any more. However, my dad still stays involved in my life and shows me he cares by calling me once a week and asking about how I am doing. The older I get, the more I realize how much I am just like him in so many way -- but that's just fine with me!

Happy Father's Day Chris and dad!

100th post

I wish I had some amazing wisdom or something witty to share for my 100th post, but unfortunately I don't. I've tried to think something up for a few days now, but every time I start something, I end up deleting it. But I need to mark this milestone with something, so this is it! At least I acknowledged it in some way, right? I'll post some recent pictures of the boys playing on our bed so that this post isn't a total waste of space!

Time with Preston

Brayden and Logan have been attending VBS this week for 3-1/2 hours every morning, so Preston and I have had lots of time together. It has been a lot of fun as I usually don't get to spend time with just him. He is growing up so fast, and it was neat to see his personality when he is on his own and not trying to keep up with his brothers. I think he got a little lonely and bored, but I also think he liked the extra attention! We mostly ran errands because it is so much easier to run errands with one kid instead of three, but I don't think Preston minded too much. Chris joined us one morning when he didn't have basketball and we went to breakfast! I will be happy when the other boys are home again in the mornings, but I will miss my time alone with Preston too.

This week

• It was rainy, cloudy and chilly most of the week, which meant we couldn't go outside and play much. Instead we went to McDonald's to play one day and went to the library another.
• I had another fitting for my bridesmaid dress and it is still too long, so I'll probably have to go back again....it's a 30 minute drive one-way.
• I took the boys to Wash park and Brayden dropped his flip flip off the pier into the water. I had to squeeze my head under the railing to reach it and got a big scrape right above my eye. I'm hoping it fades before the wedding next weekend.
• After the flip-flop incident, we actually had a fun time playing on the playground with some friends from church.
• We sold 3 things on Craig's list within two days of listing them!
• Today is Logan's last soccer game. Brayden has one more next week in the morning, but Logan's game conflicted with the wedding, so he won't be able to make it. Fortunately, this has never upset him that he will be missing a game as he is excited to wear his tux and be in the wedding.
• Tonight I am going to Cheesecake Factory for my sister's bachelorette party. Yum!

Ice cream truck

Any time the weather gets warm, there is an ice cream truck that comes around our neighborhood. Luckily the boys don't totally understand it so they aren't always begging for a treat. They usually say "here comes the ice cream truck", but I don't think they actually connect that there is ice cream for sale in the truck, just that that is what people call a truck that drives slowly down the street playing music.

Just the other day Logan was outside playing and he ran inside to tell me that the ice cream truck was driving down the street but that it didn't stop at our house. Maybe he thinks that the ice cream truck just picks different houses to stop at? I don't know, but I'm happy to keep them a little innocent and naive in that area for as long as possible!

We had my sister's bridal shower at my house this weekend. My other two sisters helped me plan and pay for it, so it was a group effort. It was a gorgeous day outside with no clouds or rain, which was really a blessing considering that all week had been pretty rainy and cloudy! There weren't as many people there as we expected, but it was a good group and I think everyone had a good time. Us sisters rarely are all together at the same time, so it was fun to all be together again and get a picture! I can't believe my baby sister is getting married (and she is about the same age I was when I got married) -- kind of makes me feel old!

Gloria, Olivia, Monica, Clara

Nothing to say

I have wanted to post something for a day or two now, but I have nothing to write about. I also have no pictures because I recharged the batteries in my camera this week and since then, the camera has been sitting on top of my printer downstairs. However, that doesn't mean that we haven't been busy and having fun.

Chris and I stained the deck this week and then it rained, so it has taken a long time to dry. You have to cross the deck to get out to the backyard, so the boys (up until yesterday) hadn't been able to play outside much. Yesterday the deck was *mostly* dry, so I just said "who cares" and took them out. They enjoyed the sandbox and running around in the grass while I cleaned off all the stuff that normally goes on our deck with the hose. Even our dog was grateful that the deck was *mostly* dry because that meant she could be out in the yard and not cooped up her in coop.

After I finished cleaning off all the stuff, I decided to just sit and enjoy watching the boys. I rarely allow myself to sit down and relax as I have a to-do list a mile-long, but yesterday was just one of those days where I put that aside to give myself a rest. The boys were playing so well (all 3 of them!) and there was no fighting. I was thinking to myself how blessed I am and how so often I focus on the negative things in my life and then miss out on the things that really bring me joy.

So today, with my mile-long to-do list, I am resolved to get my things done, but at a slower pace so that I can enjoy the people and things that keep me from feeling totally stressed out and make me so happy that I can barely stand it!

Workin' hard

Because of the flooding we had in our basement last week and because I am having my sister's bridal shower here this coming weekend, we (mainly Chris) have been having to do a lot of work outside to get it looking nice. The boys have wanted to help and have enjoyed being outside with Chris. They helped him dig up the side of our house on Sunday and took some rides in the wheelbarrow. They also really wanted to help stain the deck last night, but we figured that'd be a big mess, so we didn't let them. They were a little upset, but then they decided to play so well together that I actually got to go out and help Chris a little too after Preston was in bed! That was a much bigger help than if they had been out there with paintbrushes.