lots going on

- last week it was high 90's EVERY day. we stayed indoors A- LOT !!

- the ice cream truck came to our house



- we went with our friends Greg and Kelli to the Indiana State fair last Thursday.. it was super duper hot.. (we left the kiddos at home) and we pigged out on all kinds of yummy fair food. seriously, I have never seen so much fried stuff at one time.. LOL
we tried the fried snickers bar.. MMMMM. I was a tad intrigued to try the deep fried pepsi balls.... yep, ALMOST!
who comes up with these things???
and after being at the fair all afternoon we cooled off and rocked out to this guy.
WOW.. was he good. I did not know he was such a rocker. huge light show and everything.
casting crowns opened up for Jeremy. I had never heard them before. Now I am hooked. Came home and ripped their first two albums, and then went to our local christian bookstore and pre-ordered their new release.. AND got a free t-shirt. WHOO HOO!

-my grandparents came to visit from Georgia. I felt so bad for them , that they left their extremely hot weather just come to IN for ridiculously hot, and humid weather.
seeminly like 105 degrees! and people my g-parents are 86 and 87 years old!!
my grandma loved on my kids.. it was so sweet. pictures to come. =)

-we went to a bday party and I did the cake.


so fun, and it turned out really cute. the bday girl LOVED her cake =)



I'm thinking of starting a cake biz. hmmmmm. we'll see!
- here is my little caterpillar. he got a caterpillar cape and antenna to wear and then goodie bags filled with bullfrogs and butterflies.. (and caterpillar) stuff.
I think I have lost my little boy, and he metamorphased to a many legged fuzzy little caterpillar.pretty darn cute though!! LOl


-and I have been scrapping. Its been so fun. I think I am in a groove. I posted them on 2peas.. *ELIZABETH*.. go check them out.. one of these days I'll post them here =)

- I have really been feeling blessed lately.
here is my lil family:



- finally got new flooring last week in the entry, dining and kitchen. I LOVE it!!!
(we went with tile instead of the wood laminate, and I am so happy!!)






-and we picked up this cute lamp at Lowes on the clearance cart (only 25 bucks) and put it over the kitchen sink.



- and I am so thankful for my ultra talented friend Jennifer. look what she did with my sweet baby..
today we had Brigham's preschool teachers over for their home visit. Of course he was way high strung.. its a good thing they know him already, otherwise the kid would have scared them off.. lol
he picked his name tag.. they took his picture to go in his cubby. He had a blank look on his face, so I asked him if he knew what a cubby was.. he said.. A BEAR!!!
so funny.
he also told them that his favorite food was apples. not sure where he got that!!!
he only gets them with his happy meal .. LOL
Friday night I have a women's back to school kick off at church. should be fun. my friend is leading the worship. and she ROCKS.
Saturday ,Andrew has his fantasy football draft and then poker night. I think I'll go shopping =)
------ hope you're all having a super week!!-----------

I am such a slacker!!!

seriously, we had a packed week and weekend and I said to myself, for sure I was going to blog about it on MOnday. well here it is Thursday, and I have yet to sit down and do it!!

We had some fun play dates with friends last week, and then we had our friends 'the other' Millers over for dinner on Friday night. A crazy , wild , late night with all our kiddos, but we had fun!
Andrew and Corey went to see the Simpsons movie which started at 11:40 pm. I was so exhausted from the week, that I crashed shortly after he left! Don't think I missed much- he said it was just ok.

Sat morning we got up and my dad, Brigham and Tatum and myself drove about 2 hours East of Indy to my grandmas. Her husband has not been well, and she hadn't gotten up to see Tatum. She and my two aunts and one uncle came to see Brigham when he was less than a week old.
She had sent several notes this summer, and I know it was killing her, that she couldn't get her hands on her first great granddaughter!!
So we made the trip, which was great, Tatum slept the whole time, and Brigham read and sang along to Jeremy Camp!!

***speaking of, we're going to see Jeremy Camp and Casting Crowns next Thursday. THey'll be at the Indiana State Fair(which I have never been to) and so we're going with some friends to it. We both have babies 3-4 months old, so we'll take them, but leave the other kiddos at home! I can't wait.. its been so long, since I have been to a concert!!***

We had a great time on the farm. My cousins were there and Brigham had a great time with the highschool and college age that they are.My cousin Hilary, just got engaged, and wanted Brigham to be the ring bearer.( Hopefully his rambumxious three year old self will have settled a bit by January!! )
He got to feed the cows some corn cobs and play with the dirt.. always a highlight. Seems like everytime we go down to the farm, there is a new (or 2 or 3) dog running around. Brigham was not to thrilled to have the dogs around. Truthfully, I wasn't either.

anway we had a good visit, and my grandma loved on Tatum. My camera died after these pics, so hopefully my aunt will email me the rest from the day!!
We celebrated grandma's 86th birthday, my dad's 59th birthday and Brigham's 3rd bday.




The cake was so yummy!! and after eating the leftovers of that, and the dessert I had made for Fridy night.. I had to make a dessert for this past Monday for Andrew's men's meeting. I have had enough sweets for awhile, and I am just trying to get it all out of my house.. because if its around, I will eat it!!
I put my foot down last night and went for and hour walk on our trail pushing Tatum in the stroller. It felt really good to get out and get sweaty.

Hopefully, next week, when the overtime is over for Andrew than I can make it a regular thing. I am challenging myself to lose 40 lbs by Christmas!!

I already dropped the pregancy weight in the first couple weeks, but I still want to get back to college weight and even tone up better than I was back then!!.... fingers crossed.. LOL

Been scrapping a lot this week off and on. Its been in the 90's so we have been indoors, and doing lots of arts and craft type projects. I am having a girls night out tomorrow with my friend for her birthday. We're going for sushi and then to scrap into the wee hours.. (hopefully, if I can make it..LOL)
I am just dying to get some adorable pics of Tatum scrapped.
Can't believe she will be THREE months old, next week! She is getting cuter and cuter everyday, and so pudgy.. I just can't stand it. Brigham continues to love on her all the time.
It is so much fun having two !!
trying to get some pictures loaded.. not working.. ahhhh so frustrating!!!
well, hope you have a good day =)

where oh where has the summer gone??

seriously, I can't believe its almost my dad's bday ( on the 27th) and that always makes me feel like summer is almost over!!

guess it didn't help when we had the little one and were busy with her for the first few weeks of june.

I have yet to take my pasty self to the pool!! maybe that is just me being courtious to the other folks!

I mean you know its bad when your husband says to you.. last week " honey, when we get paid this week, I want you to go to Carribean Mist and buy yourself a tanning package"
Me: um, are you sure, I have just been becoming used to blending in with the sidewalks!!.. not to mention I have really been concerned about skin cancer from watching all these recent reports on tv."
Him: yeah, I think you should go and buy a tanning package. you need to sexify yourself!"
Me: oh, so I really look that bad???!"
Him: well, I just think when you feel good about yourself, then you are happy.. and then everybody is happy."
--------------

still have not bought a tanning package, but I did go get a pedicure on Saturday. =)

Last weekend we went to a friend's 40th bday party. Hard to believe we're hanging with people that OLD!! LOL
they don't seem it al all, and they have the sweetest little girl a tad younger than Brigham.
and my mom was nice enough to point out , that 40 is not far off for me.. um Thanks!
luckily my husband is not 30 yet, so he keeps me young. and frankly, I don't consider 32 almost to 40!!

Sunday we had a great time with our Care group, grilling out, kids running wild, babies crying and easing the chaos with adult beverages and a few games of wi.
I think that is the new thing for stay at home moms... get together for playdates and wave your arms frantically in the air, while holding an infant.. all to beat a 7 year old at tennis!! =)
very addicting game, I may add.

Well, last night we went to the fair. normally its beyond miserably hot, and usually there is a tornado warning going on, and usually it stinks really bad, and usually it is full of nasty carnies.
BUT, we went on the first night of the week. animals were nice and clean, as were the people =)
and the weather was a gorgeous 75 degrees with a breeze.
all of the projects were new and fresh, and not moldy, etc.
Brigham had a great time. We ate the tenderloins, funnel cakes, and I tried the cheesecake on a stick. (not so worth the 3.50).. very disapointed.
We did let Brigham play one game, and he was just totally enamored by the lights and sounds. Actully Tatum was too.
I just started praying then, and will continue, that my sweet babies, will not end up like the swarms of 'fair kids' hanging out.
Definately got a glimps into what 14-18 year olds are like... S-C-A-R-Y !!!

ok, so on for some pics...










I love that one where Brig is just in awe of the games and lights surrounding him.
we let him play the pick the duck.. and he won the stuffed cow. he loves that cow. it has gone everywere with us since then.
and then we let him 'think' he was playing Wack the Mole.
too funny!
well, enjoy your day!!

the circus was in town

we're still recovering from the 3 ring circus that landed right on our doorsteps last Saturday for Brigham's 3rd birthday party!!
yep, still have balloons floating around...I've popped most of them, but out of the 60 plus that we had.. I just don't want to break his poor little heart with them all gone! amazing how much a kid and a bright colored balloon can have!!

we turned our house into a big top!!
as each child entered, they had to put on a big red clown nose.. it was a big hit!

we had a big bounce and bubbles in the front yard. balloons everywhere!
inside were streamers, and balloons and some stuffed animals(lion, tiger, elephant, horse, etc) corralled with a sign, that said 'dont feed the animals'.





we had a consession stand , which the clown, aka, my mom worked hard at serving up everyone's favorite circus treats.
we had popcorn, and cheese popcorn, jumbo soft pretzels, snow cones, and hot dogs.
bright colored licorace(which tastes horrible by the way, but looked awesome!)and of course the (nasty tasting) orange mallow circus peanuts!!
I served lemonade, water and ice tea for the adults, and the kids got those lil jugs of various fruit punches.


there were cupcakes shaped like popcorn bags.. (seriously, one of the cutes things I have ever made!.. and so EASY!!)

I made 24 cupcakes with random bright colored icing, and clowns or confetti on top.
...and of course, Brigham got his clown cake!!



it turned out super cute, even though I finished it like an hour before the party started!!.. yep, I am a procrastinator..
sent Andrew back to Wal mart 4 times to get things, I had forgotten!

and people, I started planning this party months ago!! LOL
anway, outside we had a fish pond, where the kids fished for the red crab.. out of several fish we had put in our swimming pool!
then there was the hanging monkey.. aka Curious George pinata that took a LONG time and finally Andrew's baseball bat to bust it open!!




we played pin the tale on the monkey..(adorable set that I got from Potterybarn kids),
tattoos, and a ping pong ball in the bucket toss.
all the kids had loads of fun. I had all kinds of different circus themed prized for them, like big striped lolli pops, animal figurines, circus themed coloring books, juggling balls, bubbles, etc.
needless to say, after George busted, the kids were on an extreme sugar high... and this was before cake and ice cream!! LOL


it was a perfect night.. hi 70's with a breeze. the party started at 5 pm and people were just leaving around 9-9:30p!!
everyone had a blast.. and when it was over, I sent Brigham to bed and Andrew to the liquor store!!
I was so pooped, and needed to relax. He surprised me with some new parot bay strawberry kiwi mixers.. mmmm, they were delish! but, I only had one, before, I crashed.. it had been such a long day!

so here's a pic of my two cuties decked in their circus duds.
the big clown collar.. (luckily he's too young to be embarrassed!.. and sweet T in her first Hanna Anderson dress.. thanks Steph!!)




whew!! that was a long post.. maybe thats why it takes me forever to update this thing...LOL I have no patience.. lol
well, I am going to scrap some.. have a great one all!! =)

Check out my Slide Show!

my little cutie heads...

can't ya tell, she just loves her brother??? LOL
two months is not long enough to get used to her crazy mama posing her for the camera!!
(notice the home made outfit for T.. onesie with some ribbon ironed on!!)I didn't want to spend the money on something, she'd wear a total of 1 time!!
Our 4th was pretty wild..
10 am went to my moms house , met our friends and decorated bikes..
headed to mom's neigborhood park, where there was a street parade. Probably about 65 kids with decorated wagons and bikes,scooters, etc.
the fire truck was a big hit, and the kids got to climb on it.
Then after the parade, the kids could play at the park, and the local Kroger donated watermelons and popsicles!!
my cute 4th outfit for Brigham got ruined in about 2.5 mintues!!
wait a minute, his first red white and blue shorts got ruined in 1.2 seconds at home, b/c I thought he could actually wear his Thomas bigboy underwear, and of course he peed in them right away!!).. so on went the diaper!!

after the parade, we all went to my moms back yard for water fun and a cookout.Our friends' parents came into town too, so that was fun to meet them again.
Here are the kids running in the water and Brig's first time husking corn!!


we ate and ate, and survived the heat. we had fabulous hot fudge brownie sundaes!!

then we went home for naps, and off to some friends' house for a pool party/ cookout and fireworks!!
here are the kids eating with their life jackets on!!


A couple weeks ago, there was a scare with one of the kiddos falling in the pool, so now the rule is, all kids wear life vests when they are on the deck! so here they are with their clothes on too!!
We did finally get Brigham into the pool for a bit.. he still wasn't too thrilled!!
after more pool and hot tub time, we headed outside for our 'own fireworks'.
Brigham did great with the sparklers!! I was a tad uneasy about it, but, he wasn't scared, and did real well. Of course, my camera died , so no pics!! I am hoping one of the other crazy camera mamas captured one for me!!

we caravaned to the local firework display and then hung out in the big field for awhile, as the adults tried to one up each other with high school gymnastic routines!!LOL ( I DID not participate, thank you!)

It was a fun filled day, and we were all tired! brig slept in the next day until 11:30am!! It was great =)
Friday, we had playgroup at the Purdue fountains.. Do you think my little guy would get in??
NOpe, of course not..did capture his piggies getting wet though....
We had a date night Friday night, and did some birthday shopping for Brigham's party, and ate at a Thai place.
Saturday I spent all day running errands with Tatum.. such an easy shopper, she is!!
Brigham, not so much, so my mom watched him all day Sat, kept him the night, and then watched him most of Sunday too, so I could get some stuff done!!
SO thankful for having family in town!

well, I have a crying baby, so I better run..
hope you all have a great week!!

today is the day that I remember

the culmination of flirtatious dates, lazy days, lack of responsibilities, being crazy, late nights, late mornings, concerts, shopping freely, great converation, learning how to coexist, comfort in just being, able to be free, movie watching, beer drinking, laughing, being real, dreaming, sharing, loving...


FOUR Years ago, I got MARRIED....


and boy did life change!!!..well, maybe thats because 3 months into our marriage, we got pregnant!!... and so life began...

(here we are with an almost 3 year old... and 9 months preggo with #2!!)
it cetainly has been one wild ride.. and I am hanging on for more!!

(and here is #2!! )
we are dropping the kids off at my moms, and we're heading out do dinner at a fancy down town italian place, and then to a movie... hopefully Evan Almighty!!

oh, and I can't forget the breast pump... I know, how romantic!!

oh, the last two weeks...

has kinda been a blur!!
it was really really HOT, so we stayed indoors the first week! Brigham was so excited about his little pool, that we let him go in it around eight or nine pm..(after our family walks and after it has cooled off a little!)
Then then next week, we had rain! FINALLY!!
my husband kidding me saying that our whole state is in a drout.. except for our yard!!

and our water bill shows it!! LOL..well, I am kind of a nut when it comes to my yard and keeping it green and keeping the flowers from wilting!!

So remember when I said my baby weight came right off..? well it did .. in the first 2 weeks, and then I have just been sitting at the same dang weight forEVER!!
trying to do more walks.. but the ice cream, cakes, candy, ICE CREAM is certainly not helping.. good news, is that I am not gaining!!
guess its b/c of the nursing.. lil Tatum sure is getting a taste of my sweet tooth! LOL
eating out has been a weakness of ours too.. the week before last , we went to MOES.. (love that place) with Kelli and Greg and the kids.. and then like 3 days later after going to watch their 7 year old's softball game, we all went out for pizza!!
we always have so much fun together, and unfortunatley it also includes eating and of course ice cream. They introduced us to the soft serve at Pizza Hut for a quarter!!
How could we pass it up.. and it was really good too(not like the nast ice milk from the dorms in college! LOL)

SO Father's day was low key. went to church, and then went out to lunch with my dad at Camilles!
I told Andrew he could pick, and crazy enough he pulled into the place that he usually HATES to go, but I love it.. and my dad loves it.. so guess Andrew was doing a nicety by doing that. I am trying to get Andrew to grow to love places like "camilles cafe' and 'panera'. He hates all that froo froo kinda food!!

so all afternoon we all just hung out in the AC and then Brigham got to go out to his pool and play with Grandpa..
around 8pm we realized, we never had dinner, so we ordered chinese.
Oh,and I had made a cake in honor of the fathers =)


totally made up the cake.. yellow cake mix. double layer. poked wholes in each layer and poured carmel topping over, added whipped cream to middle layer, sprinkled Heath bar over that, and then frosted the whole thing in chocolate.. it was HEAVEN!!!

last week was VBS at our church, but I opted not to go. I wasn't seeing getting my self and two kids out the door by 8:30 am!! I think I need a couple more months to practice, before MOPS starts up, and Brigham goes to pre school!!
We had a play date with my friend Sarah and her daughter Micheala at the park. The kids found a water spicket and they were soaked. seriously, they had a whole park to themselves, and they couldn't get enough of the water!!
Thursday night, we went to a carnival at church. so much fun, although, Brigham was a tad too young for most of the games. He did win a sucker, and enjoyed the cotton candy,and got his face painted..


Then last Friday, I offered to watch my friend Kelli's daughter so she could get some errands done. Hannah and Brigham are in seprable.. seriously , I think they could play together 24-7 ! Hannah is a whole year older, but the same height, and just adorable. We're hoping her 'going potty' will rub off on Brigham, the more they are together! He always wants to copy her..
Like after I watched the kids, we all went to chick filet. the kids just play and play and the moms talk, and we both have babies too. It was so busy on Friday, because all the local VBS's got out and all the kids were given little certificates w/ coupons on it!! So yeah, it was a tad crazy, for about 20 minutes, and then it cleared out..
I never knew that if you turn your kids toy back in (from the kids meal) that you get a FREE ice cream! so Brigham loved it, and Kelli and I just had to have one of those fabulous shakes!!

Friday night I met my friend Jennifer out for scrapbooking! It felt so good to get out and go to a crop. I got 4 out of the 10 pages that I had planned for =(.. but of course we had fun. we even took a break and went to TGIF's for fried green beans and cocktails.
and then I just had to swing past Chick Filet again, for yes, ANOTHER hand dipped shake!!
2 in one day.. seriously, folks, this has to stop !!

oh, and Tatum ,made her debut in scrapping. I brought her with me. she was so good.
here is proof =)

Saturday, I went to a class at Lowe's.. learning how to install flooring!
After getting some estimates that were in the $1600-2400 range, I decided, we could attempt it ourselves.

I am losing patience and want it done NOW... however, Brigham's birthday party is on July 14th, and that is just pushing it.
I am going crazy, anyway trying to plan for that, and get everything I need. He says he wants a clown cake, and I can't find a clown pan anywhere!

Well, I'll leave you with a couple cute pics of the kids.. having a girl is like having a doll to play dress up with. The girl wears dresses EVERY day! and I change her clothes like 5 times a day... ( ok, not really, luckily she poops thru them, and then just HAS to be changed... LOL)
A friend of mine, gaver her this little diva outfit, I think its adorable.
Brigham is just adoring his little sister, and the disposing of poopy diapers has not gotten old for him..!!
kids are so fun, but tiring eh?? I have to go take a nap!!



(she has been lifting her head since about two weeks old.. getting stronger every day, here , she finally found that fist to suck on!!)