THIRTY

Big D turned 30.
That my friends is a big deal!  His face above says it all!
The day itself was low-key.
Pumpkin pie oatmeal for breakfast.
Gifts.  A special blue ninja turtle that had been re-gifted.  Definitely from the heart!  The boys just can't help themselves.  They just get into the spirit of giving and give whatever they have!  It is actually very very sweet and thoughtful.
Work.  School.
A movie as a family.  Big Hero 6.  The boys loved it.  Lew couldn't look away.  Daniel loved sitting in between them both.  Just chillin.  He loves being a dad.  He loves being their dad.  I could see it in his face.
Dinner of choice at Olive Garden.

Cake.  German Chocolate.  His all time favorite.  It did not disappoint!
Special love notes.  He has continued to receive them throughout the week.  Just a fun reminder of how special he is!
He is special.  I love seeing him grow and learn and reach his potential.  I love seeing him become the man that I know he is.
I love that he was born.
I love that he made me a mom.
I love that he makes me laugh.
I love that he is good.
I love that he has been taught the importance of the Priesthood in his life.
I love that he sees a bigger picture.
I love that he is passionate and honest.
I love that he knows when to listen and change.
I love when he knows to lead and be bold.
I love when he wrestles with our men.
I love him and love that I get to share life experiences with him.  Definitely a journey!
Getting older isn't so bad.  It just means more lessons learned.  More wisdom gained.  More memories made.  I think that sounds nice.  But, I've always felt that way!
Happy Happy Day my love.  Wishing you all of the happiness that you deserve.

The first snow

Winter is definitely setting in.  I just love wearing warm sweaters, socks and boots.  SO Cozy.  I just don't love carrying the boys coats through the store!
We have already had a few intense snow storms.  (Even though as I type this we have nothing)
Nothing like just north of us.
Intense non the less.  Things like not being able to see to even get off the highway.  We had to keep on going.  Things like school buses sliding off the road leaving us sitting for hours waiting to get home.
The boys love and adore it.
The first snow is always so magical.  There is just something so special about it.  We all can't help but look out the window in awe.  And then run out as fast as we can to play in it.
This is our first snow of the season.  The boys couldn't even wait to get their snow pants on before helping me shovel the walk.  There was too much fun to be had.  Thomas couldn't wait to throw it and Lew couldn't wait to eat it!
I sure love my little snow angels and can't wait to be able to really get out there and play with them!

Ray

I surprised  Daniel with tickets to a Ray Lamontagne concert in Syracuse.  Just the two of us.  

I think that he was in heaven.  

He hasn't stopped talking about it!  

We left the littles with family.  T was more hesitant to say goodbye than we thought.  Lew could have cared less.  It's funny how that is.  

I love driving in the car with Daniel.  It is one of the only times we really get to just talk.  No distractions.  Just us.  We don't do things like this enough.  

We stayed downtown in a historical hotel.  Not quite what we imagined when driving up!

We walked around some shops and ate at an asian restaurant.  D loved his sushi.  I was told multiple times that I could not eat any.  

The venue was in an old theatre.  Very cool.  

We loved the saxophone player just outside the theatre.

We found a coffee shop across the street.  We drank steamers and cider.  A new favorite memory.  

Everywhere I went people commented on my belly.  Some really weird conversations were had.  

We had good seats at the concert.

Daniel bought a record.  

We were some of the youngest people there. 

We loved the concert and left loving Ray even more than before.  

His voice is so amazing.  

Daniel was like a kid in a candy shop.  Totally in his element and eating the whole thing up.  

Definitely another memory made.  A special one to remember.  

The last pictures of fall

Fall is my favorite season here.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the changing colors of the trees.
This year did not disappoint.
The boys spent hours every single day after school playing outside with friends enjoying the beautiful weather.
Here are a few last pictures of our fall.

A handsome man on a beautiful sunny day

Some pumpkin carving fun at our annual harvest fest dinner 

A fun night at a hotel.  Dinner, swimming and a good nights sleep.

Family movie day out

Thomas is playing basketball.  Lew is playing soccer.  THEY LOVE SPORTS.

Does anybody know where Lew is?

Samples at Sam's Club.  A regular Saturday activity. 

Two brothers sharing some love.

Goodbye Fall.  Hello Winter!

Happy Hauntings

This Halloween was packed full of fun festivities.

We had school programs.
School parades.
Ward trunk or treats.
Cookie making at friends houses.
Getting "booed" multiple times.  oops!
Friends over for our annual Harvest Fest dinner and pumpkin carving.
Chili cook offs.
Trick or Treating.
The works.

I like to party.  I like having fun.  I love the fall.  The leaves are amazing!  I love love love the kids dressing up in costumes.  I love that the kids get into full character in their costumes (Thomas).  I laugh every time I see Lew as a space astronaut/alien.  The name changed often.  I love the creativity and the spirit of a holiday.

I am not trying to be a Debby Downer but, this year I started to feel like we take things overboard.
I feel like the two weeks leading up to Halloween we were booked and by the time Halloween night came and we were heading out to go trick or treating, we were exhausted.

Of course we were excited... but we already had 3 big buckets at home full of treats.  Not to mention we had probably eaten more candy in that one week than the rest of the year combined.  And we hadn't even hit the main event yet.
We had buckets full of fake teeth, play dough and spider rings.
We had already worn our costumes every single day that week.
And to be honest and real, we only lasted about 15 minutes before we had a melt down and had to go home.  A melt down over something silly because we were EXHAUSTED I tell you.
So we came home.  Turned on movie.  Snuggled.  Went to bed.
With tired exhausted hearts from all of our festivities.

I had to post these last pictures.  They lift my spirit and apparently my spirit needed lifting after that rant of a post.  This was the perfect costume for this little one.  He brought it to life!

The Lucky One

I often get comments about my large belly.  I am definitely at the point in my pregnancy where I look due any minute. Even though I still have 6 weeks....
"You close?"  One lady demanded the other day as she went on to tell me that she didn't want to be the one to deliver my child.
I try to be witty, while not sounding exhausted, and answer with something about it not being soon enough.  We really are just so excited to meet this little one.
Then the conversation always seems to turn to how many other little ones I have at home.
I also try to be witty, while not sounding exhausted, and answer with something about it being my third boy.
That always gets a good reaction.  How will I do it?  Poor me.  Oh you are in for a wild ride!
It is always the same.
This bothered me early on.  I didn't know how to respond.

I feel genuinely so blessed to be having a healthy little boy.
This baby is already so loved by us all.
This baby was prayed into our family.
This baby is needed and wanted.  We can't wait for him to get here.  To be a part of our family forever.
I know that this is true.  I know with all my heart that this baby is a blessing and we are the lucky ones.
I didn't know how to tell strangers this, or even if I should.  It is private information.  Special information.
I soon decided that I did need to say something.  It is my way of letting others know that I cherish motherhood.  That I choose to be a mom.  That for me this means staying home with the little ones day in and day out.  Wiping noses.  Doing laundry.  Making dinner.  Tickling bellies.  Kissing necks.  Reading the same books over and over again.  Stepping on cars.  Wiping toothpaste out of the sink.  Getting the best kisses and hugs.  The good kind.  It is my way of letting others know that I choose to love what I do.  That I believe that this is a divine calling and families are important.  The most important.

So now I respond with how I am the LUCKY ONE.
I have the sweetest men in my life.
They all treat me so good.
They are full of goodness.
They all have different traits that bless my life daily.  I am the LUCKY ONE.

Thomas holds my hand everywhere we go.  Walking to school.  Going into the grocery store.  I know this won't last forever.  So today I will cherish it.

Lewis snuggles with me every morning in bed.  He pats my cheek and tells me, "I love you so much" in the sweetest most loving voice.  It is unconditional.

Daniel works so hard for me and always brings laughter into our lives.  He knows I love to laugh.  He  blesses our family with the priesthood.  He leads us and guides us.  He teaches our sons about the scriptures and what it means to be a good man.

I am the LUCKY ONE that will be blessed to have another man in my life.  6 weeks can't come soon enough!