Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope all you LOVERS had a great day! I just LOVE the word LOVERS don't you? I can't help but laugh when I say it!

Anyway, I worked today so Dave and I celebrated our night out on Sunday.

This is my amazing self-photography skills. The best pic I got of the two of us from that night. Dave had to work that evening so we just went to dinner at our favorite restaurant. I even got a single red rose! (That Kensley quickly stole from me upon returning home and then forced us all to sniff for the next hour). Thank you Grandma Patti for babysitting!

Since I worked today, Dave ended up taking the kiddies to playgroup. They had a valentine exchange at Chick-fil-a. I'm a little sad I missed out on it. Chick-fil-a is my favorite! Dave told me Kensley had a blast and I'm sure she did since there was lots of C-A-N-D-Y involved. 

I think Valentine's Day is a fun day to remind you of how lucky you are to have someone you love in your life. I am so lucky to have a husband who treats me like every day is Valentine's Day. He wakes up and lets me sleep in while he takes care of the kids, he helps out around the house and it's the little things he does to let me know he cares. It's been almost 9 years and he hasn't run away screaming yet! I am blessed!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today is my hubby's 31st Birthday!

Honey, I am so grateful for this day. It gave me you. You are the best guy in the whole world. You are an amazing father. The most patient husband. 

I know you think that 31 is super old, but I can't wait to spend the next 31 years with you (And then some!)

So here is to a fabulous Birthday!

And many, many more!

We love you!!!

P.S. Can you tell sleeping baby pictures with you are my favorite? ;)

Melt My Heart

Is there anything more precious than a sleeping baby?

I could munch on those cheeks all day long.

This is the view you would see if you pan out a little bit. Someone is a little creepy and wants to have her photo taken whenever I am taking anyone's photo. It cracks me up.

Someone might be a little jealous...

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

Well, if you look outside it doesn't. It is currently 56 degrees here and rainy. This has been one of the warmest fall/winter seasons that I can remember. But they are calling for snow tomorrow and I will keep my fingers crossed!

But inside our home...things are looking festive. Christmas time is by far my favorite time of year. The music, lights, food and all the time spent with family. Someone said that being a mom at Christmas time is a lot of responsibility and I agree. I am the one in charge of traditions and the memories my own children will have when they think back to their holidays as children. So I spend hours thinking and planning the traditions I want to start.

Thanksgiving night we started with the tree.





Kensley helped us out the entire time. To pulling out the lights, hanging the beads to pulling out each and every one of the ornaments and hanging them on the lowest branches.

And just like it does every year as we pull out those ornaments, the memories come flooding back. Our engagement ornament in 2003, First Christmas Together in 2004, Baby's First Christmas in 2008 and now 2010, Kensley's little hand print from her first Christmas. Those ornaments mean the most to us.



And major kudos to my husband, who always makes our tree look amazing. Glad I married a tall guy ;)



There is nothing like seeing your favorite holiday come alive again through the eyes of your child.



Here is to making memories. Lots and lots of 'em.

Happy Thanksgiving!

From The Barb's

Cupcakes and Chuck E. Cheese

Yesterday Kensley turned 2 and a half years old. When I was little (and I think for most kids) it was very important when you turned a half year older. I always remember telling everyone, "I am three and a half!" so I figured when I became a mother it would be something fun and special if we celebrated that half birthday. Once I had my daughter it became even more important because I realized just how precious each and every day is. I have seen mothers who have lost their children much too early and I want to make sure I never forget how blessed I am. I want my children to never forget just how much we love them. Oh, and its another good reason to have cake. ;)

We started off the day by going to a new cupcake shop that opened in our town. They specialize in the most amazing cupcake flavors and to be honest I was really, really hoping they would have red velvet cake. (Note to self: Must start back on my diet tomorrow).







You can see to my great pleasure they had red velvet and it was sooo delish!



We tried to get out of the shop without giving her the cupcake, but the birthday girl insisted. So she had a cupcake for breakfast. Call the parent police on us.









We stopped for some Chick-fil-a in the car and then it was off to Chuck E. Cheese! Can I just say that I have never been to a Chuck E. Cheese? I know. I lived a sheltered life. I have heard horror stories about these kind of places. Festering with germs and completely disgusting. Ours was just newly renovated though and I figured now would be a good time to go.



And we completely hit the Chuck E. Cheese lottery. Since school is back in session there were literally two other kids there with their parents. We had free range over that place, and we took it over.



Of course any game that involved balls were Kensley's favorite. We played Skee Ball countless times. On the way out Dave told me he though he blew his arm out from throwing all day long.







We all had a great time and it really all comes down to the point that we were together. I know when she gets older she isn't going to remember the 10 cent bracelet and straw she won at the end of the day. She is going to remember sitting on her daddy's lap and the fact that he blew his arm out throwing balls to win her as many tickets as we he could. We will look at this picture and laugh at the fact that we were all trying to smash our heads together to fit inside the little red circle when in fact we didn't have to, it was just a reference to the center of the photo. She will remember that today was a great day. Well, she is only two and a half so maybe she won't.




But I will.

A nice weekend

This weekend was a busy one. Saturday Dave and I got a chance to go on a "date" in the afternoon while his mom watched the kids. I call it a "date" because we spent most of it running errands that we just don't like to do while we have the kids with us. I picked up my prenatal vitamins, returned some things to Babies 'R Us, and stopped at Kohls to get Kensley some footed Pajamas. We did get to stop at Quaker Steak and have lunch so it wasn't all business ;)

Here is a pic of Dave and I on our little "date"

Here I am bored and waiting for Dave to get back from running in the store. Please excuse my terrible roots. They are getting highlighted tomorrow! ha!

 

We came home and went to our friends house for dinner and let the kids play. We got home around 9:30 and we were pretty much all in bed by 11. That is pretty early for us but we were exhausted. In big news- Rowan slept 5 hours in a row that night! He woke up to eat and then slept another 4. He is getting much closer to sleeping through the night!

Sunday we headed to the outlet mall for some shopping. Gigi came with us because she has never been. Let me tell you, we need to get those dvd players that go on the back of your seats. Kensley is so much better in the car when she can watch a movie on the way there. They go on sale pretty cheap around Christmas so I think we will get them so both the kids can watch. Well, once Rowan can face forward ;) We got a lot accomplished at the outlet mall. Both kids now have fall/winter jackets, we got Kensley a pair of boots and more socks, and they both got a lot of fall/winter clothes. I am so excited to try to get their pictures taken in some of the outfits.

Kensley was in love with this ride inside the food court. She DID NOT want to get out of it and continue shopping.

 

We left the mall early because Gigi started to feel really ill and was having blurred vision. She went to the doctor today and he thinks it might be ocular headaches? If she has an episode again she was told to go to the ER to make sure. I hope that is all it is, it was pretty scary yesterday but she was feeling much better by the time we got home. She took us out for ice cream because she felt bad! haha That's Gigi for you!

Then we came home and napped. We sleep whenever we possibly can! ha!

The Start of Summer

I always feel like Memorial Day weekend is like the official start of summer. Almost always the weather is warm by this point and everyone is excited for cook outs and late night fires and all things summer-like. If today is any indication how this summer is going to go, well then I can only be excited for the next several months ;)

We spent the day at Gramma and Papa's. We sort of had a late start so we ate breakfast on the way.



Maybe the powdered donuts were another bad idea of mine...haha



And here is my little fish in the water. I am not lying when I tell you she was in that pool for HOURS. I did my best to get her out and in the shade for a moment here and there but she kept hopping right back in (with a family member of course ;)



She sat in that raft and floated around with daddy just as content as can be. What a life huh?!



Popsicles were the best and really only way to coax her out of the pool...



Here she is with gramma Kelly



I think she had a good time...



As much as I love summer, I have to admit that there is just something so fresh and new about seeing it through the eyes of your child. Maybe because this is the first year that K can really enjoy the weather and appreciate the days spent outside at the pool, playing in the sandbox and chasing the ball with uncle Colton. I don't blame her for loving it as much as she does. Dave and I were talking tonight on the way home about the fact that because she loves it so much it makes us love it all the more. She truly makes everything special and the already special days become even more so because of her and the new light she shines on it.

This summer is going to be such a good one. I can smell the burgers on the grill, that sweet smell of sunscreen and the great feeling of the warm sun and an icy cold drink. This summer also brings with it the start of a new life and boy what a life he is coming into. This summer couldn't get any better if it tried.

6 Year Anniversary

Today was our 6 year anniversary. I can't believe it has been 6 years! They have completely flown by. I can remember the day like it was yesterday and our wedding was so much fun. I remember talking to Dave on our way to the hotel that night and both of saying we would get married 100 times over because we had such a good time. Today was just as beautiful as it was 6 years ago, maybe a little hotter. We spent the afternoon shopping just Dave and I. Kensley spent the day with Grandma Patti and got to go see Shrek 4 at the movie theatre. I think its safe to say she didn't miss us too much ;)

Our first stop was at Old Navy and we really scored some good deals! I got Rowan 15 shirts, 2 pairs of pajamas and we bought Kensley another bathing suit. We should have paid $110 for all of that and I ended up paying $45. I was super happy with that!



Then we drove up to the outdoor mall and spent the whole day outside walking around. We found this adorable swim outfit for next year...



Dave got me an adorable diaper bag for an anniversary gift and I think maybe I should feel bad about only getting him a gift card to Chipotle? haha But I am justifying the cute bag with the fact that its not really just a gift for me, its a gift for the babies as well. Right? ;)

After shopping we stopped and had dinner at Hibatchi Japan. It was absolutely delicious and we had such a great time!



Got to love the onion volcano ;)

We then picked up Kensley and spent the evening with friends playing in their backyard.



They have two boys who are 1 and 4 and Kensley just adores them.



She never ever wants to leave their house when we visit.



Can you blame her?



It was a great way to spend our anniversary. I love having days like this to reflect on the amazing man I married. I know its important to try to remember it every day, but these days are extra special. My hubby is my best friend, my perfect match. I watched him today as we ate nachos and cheese break my chips in half because that is how I like them, he talked me into a gift because he told me over and over I deserved it, he held my hand and made me feel beautiful. I watched him play with our daughter. I witnessed all over again the amazing dad he is when I watched him on our video monitor tonight lay beside her in bed because she woke up crying and wanted her daddy. I am so blessed. So unbelievably lucky to know him, have him and call him my own. These 6 years have been such a gift and I am looking forward to growing old with my best friend by my side.

Love you baby.