AAAhhhhhh so much has happened!

Well before I even started this post, I had to look back and see just exactly how long it has been since I was last here. LOL February to June isn't bad right?!

So let's see, back in March we celebrated Vans 2nd birthday!!!  I know parents sound like broken records when we say this, but it is soooo true...Time flies! I can't believe he is 2 already! It feels like we just had him in the hospital yesterday. But, at the same time, I, probable more so than Daddy, just cause I am at home with him, feel like it has been a very long 2 years. He has been so ill for two years and I am hoping we are turning a corner now. He was diagnosed with GERD at 6 months old, even though we know he was like that from the moment he was born...constantly throwing up and not gaining weight. Then soon after that, he just seemed to catch EVERYTHING that was out there. You name it he has had it. I am sure it didn't help that this winter went down as one of the worst winters for illnesses. And Indiana was hit hard! We are 1 ear infection away from tubes, chicken pox, hand foot and mouth, the flu from every strain, pink eye, strep throat, fevers GALORE, and so on and so on. Each day though is a true blessing with him. I just keep reminding myself that without the strength from God, I could not make it through. HE has carried me through an enormous amount of trial and tribulations these past 2 years. I am amazed at how much he cares and loves me. Out of the billions of people in this world, I still feel like he has all the time  to focus on solely me. I pray everyday that my children will grow to have a close and personal relationship with God. It is an amazing thing!!!

Okay so updates...LOL Van turned 2 and we couldn't be more proud of the little guy who is coming into his own. He is talking constantly, I mean CONSTANTLY! HE loves his big sister to death and just mimicks any and all she does 24/7. It's pretty funny. I love watching them interact with one another. Lilly is all girl and Van is all boy at heart, but since he sees her play dress up and princesses he just wants to join in. Lol It's pretty funny. We recently got him his superman cape and he wears that thing around like its a life line.

He is obsessed with a few things these days. One, being Cars particularly Mater from the movie. Two, trains. Three, superheroes! So we had a Cars party for him. When he saw the cake, he actually gasped. LOL It was cute.

 

Soon after that Lilly had her second annual Father/Daughter Dance. She got all dressed up and had a wonderful evening with her Daddy. Never underestimate the importance of Daddy Daughter time. Girls are so impressionable, at any age. And aside from our God, there isn't anyone as important as her Daddy to her. Someone she can look up to for guidance and support. Someone she can count on. Someone she knows will be there for her through her first date, her first heartbreak, her first graduation and many more firsts. Someone to show her how to be brave and courageous, how to be a leader, how girls should be treated and how to put God first in all she does. She had an incredible night and was the belle of the ball!

From March on, it was a whirlwind of events for us. We decided this year that we would like to being the process of purchasing our first home. We didn't really know how to begin so we just jumped in, feet first! Easter snuck up on us quickly. Aunt Bekah came from Toledo to visit and we all had a really nice time together. Van loved looking for the Easter eggs. Lilly is pretty much a pro at it, so she was kind enough to leave the obvious ones for him to find, but even those he would walk right by jus following Lil around. lol

How could you not love these beautiful faces??

HE IS RISEN!

Antho and I started getting work out from house hunting so we took a break for about a week, but then realized we didn't do well with that either because we kept thinking we were missing something, or we would miss "our house." Silly I know, but those fears start to just creep in and take over. We prayed about it every night with the kids, that God would lead us to the right home for our family, that we would know it was our home, to just provide for us if this is his will. I came across a house that I thought we should take a look at, so we made an appointment, saw it, and I KNEW! I knew this was our house. Long story short, we are now first time home owners! It was a very long process with many ups and downs during it all. It was a huge emotional roller coaster that I look back at now and think how did I ever get through all that?! Van decided he wanted to start potty training himself during this time as well! I COULD NOT have picked a worse time to potty train. WE were coming up on the last month of school, last month for  ballet, with a recital, closing on our home, packing an entire house, and moving into new house (the last week of school)...so yeah potty training was not in my book for this time!!!!

I decided I wasn't going to encourage it, but I wouldn't discourage it either. IF he tells me he wants to go we will, but I just couldn't "train" him right now. He ended up doing really good. It is off and on that we go on the potty, and he and I are both very happy with that.

 

So the months of April and May were just massive chaos for us. Lilly had her recital half way through May, as her third year in dancing and she did incredible! They danced to This Little Light of Mine by Addison Road. If you have yet to hear that version, I highly suggest you do!! It's a very moving song that combined with the innocence of tiny ballerinas dancing for the Lord was such an emotional thing to watch. We were gone all day from 7 am til 9 pm with rehearsals, meetings and in between when she was suppose to be home resting up for her big night, we were at an urgent care because I had that feeling.....and what do you know her eye was getting worse by the minute. She had strep throat and pink eye!!! So we got a shot for strep throat, oral antibiotics for throat and drops and salve for her eye. My poor poor baby! We went that evening with hand sanitizer, tissues, garbage bags all in tow. Moms have to stay with their kids until it is their time to head to the stage for their song. So I kept her away from everyone as best I could, but knew I could only do so much. She was so upset over how her eye looked and how ugly she felt because her eye was starting to droop. It was so sad to hear her say the things she was saying to me. I reminded her that she was made in God's image and that she was perfect. That she was the most beautiful ballerina there that night. No one was looking at her eye. I told her we were all here to watch her and all the hard work she has done for the past year. She calmed down, walked on to that stage with confidence and danced her heart out. I was, AM, so proud of her!

Summer can't some soon enough for us all. Between moving, recitals, sickness, award ceremonies, Kindergarten graduation...definitely ready for a break.

 

Yes, you heard me, my pumpkin graduated Kindergarten with honors! Holy Cow! How did we get here, and where did this year go?! IT was yesterday I swear, me walking her into class on her first day. She was so scared and nervous. She wasn't sure if she would make friends, if anyone would like her, what she would say to others, what she would be learning, who would keep her safe...oh wait that was me! Okay, so she thought some of those things too. But I probably thought most of them for her. Then there we were on her last day of school, I watched her walk into school with her head held high and a huge smile on her face. What a difference a year makes. She was awarded the character quality Obedience, and I couldn't agree more with that one!

 

(First day of Kindergarten)            (Last day of Kindergarten)

 

School is out, summer is here and we are in the new house! So let the fun begin!!!

 

 

 

 

I guess I'm not a blogger!

Clearly I am not a blogger! LOL If it has been since October since I last wrote about everything....then it is safe to say I could NEVER do this for a living!! Or even a hobby!

So where should I begin...Lilly turned 6 October 31st! I can hardly believe it. She is growing up so fast, some days faster than I can keep track of. We had cake and ice cream with just family at our house. I swear each year we say we are cutting back on gifts, and do, somehow she comes out with more! She is really into the newest Disney movie, Brave, so she got her dress this summer and was practicing archery for months outside. I made her cake again this year and got the official stamp of approval for decorating cakes from her! She has such a great birthday and afterwards we went trick or treating. IT was sooo cold and rainy this year for that. So we didn't stay out more than prob half hour with the kids. Lilly was a southern belle and Van was a puppy. He actually wore part of Lilly's old costume from when she was 4 and she had matching pants with the top. We just put him in the top, which was of course to big, and then just some black pants. He loved it!!

 

Soon after her birthday celebration it seemed as if things went straight down the toilet, no pun intended! WE are got very very sick for just about the entire month of November and December! We all got hit with a really nasty stomach bug that was going around like you wouldn't believe! I started with it and no lie, within 2 hours of me throwing up, Lilly started then half hour later Antho started and an hour after that it was on to Vance. I kept thinking we were some sort of those comedies where one person starts puking and everyone else starts seconds later. I have never seen something hit so hard so quickly. Needless to say that the entire night was filled with throwing up and tons of washing bedding, bowls, trashcans etc. Ugh worst night ever. That bug stuck around for about 2- 3 weeks. After that bug, there was always something going around our house. I could not bare to watch the reports anymore on how this has been the absolute worst year ever for the flu and virusus. In December, there was probably only about 1 week that we were ALL healthy. So it was a pretty rough couple months for us and it did not make it easy at all for being the holiday season. My poor babies!

The kids had an awesome Christmas! Van absolutely LOVED opening his gifts. So much that he thought every single gift, including ones at my parents house, were for him. Even if they weren't his he assumed he would be opening them LOL Aunt Anna and Uncle Kyle were able to visit for a short time at Christmas. IT was so awesome to see them. Lilly and Van really miss Aunt Anna while she is living in New England. They love when she is around to play. So does Mommy!

 

It is so hard to constantly be in a state of mind of "blessed" or "thankfulness" but I am really trying hard to be like that...And as each holiday or special occasion comes around I am reminded of it, but there are not enough birthdays, holidays, reunions, celebrations to do that so this year I am trying to wake up each morning thanking the Lord for all his mercy and blessings to me and my family. I know I often complain or more so worry about how often Van gets sick or seems to catch SOMETHING all the time!!!! But I am reminded to cast all my cares and worries on HIM. Each day is a gift from heaven that I am here on this earth with my children and my family. My children do not have any life threatening diseases,  do not have tubes or machines hooked up to them to help them live, have 2 arms, legs, etc...that in itself should be enough to help me stay in a positive mind set. So all I can say is that, I am only human. One mom. One daughter. One sister. One wife. One aunt. One person. So yes, there will be many mistakes I make, many people I disappoint, many times I will let down fail those I love...But I get back up and try again. try to live a holy life, where I can make my kids proud, my husband proud but most of all my Lord proud. I truly am blessed to have so much and so many in my life. Here are some pics from Christmas.



 

They are growing up so fast! I can hardly believe Van is going to be 2 in a month! I swear, but it seems as if he is growing up at a speed way more faster than Lilly did. Impossible, I know, but still seems that way!

 

We haven't had too much snow this winter, more than last year though, but the kids were able to take a few days and go sledding. It was so very cold out the times we went so we didn't stay out too long but they still had such a fun time. Although I am not convinced it was worth the hour + it took to get them ready and get out the door...until I look at these photos. Van refused to be pulled back up the hill in a sled. He was adamant about walking up. And it was a very steep hill! He only held Papa's hand the last 20 feet! Big Boy!!! Where as Lilly was perfectly fine crawling back up LOL

I was quite surprised at how much Van really enjoyed the experience. He hated that we had to leave and never showed a bit of hesitation when we were on the sled. I guess that's boys for ya. Lilly and I took a few tumbles as we rolled at the bottom of the hills, but nothing that scared her too much. I could feel my whole body go right into the "Mama Bear" protection mode when I knew we were gonna tip and roll! My legs wrapped around her body as I tucked her into a fetal position as best as I could in the split seconds we had to 'prepare' as if to shield her from the hard hit we would soon endure on the frozen ground. They love the snow though, cold wet and slick, children after my own heart with my winter babies!!! Rosy cheeks and red hands, nothing that can't be warmed up with some hot chocolate and Mama's Love <3

 

 

 

But, no sooner did Christmas end, it was back to school and off to planning Valentine's parties. Amazing at how time flies the busier you are. 

 

Van January 2013 age: almost 2                                  Lilly January 2009 age: 2 yr 3 month