Lovin' the Library...

Guess who had the best day ever?

Our Handsome Boys...

What a gorgeous weekend! Yesterday we took full advantage of the sunshine, and tried to be outside as much as possible. Nicholas enjoyed napping in the fresh air, while big brother Michael enjoyed digging in the dirt with his new cars. Our weekend was full of activity, which is why I'm ready for bed right now. Josh is in the process of kicking off his (rec league) basketball coaching season, yesterday was the draft. And, Michael went to a birthday party for one of his daycare friends yesterday. Of course, Josh and I were so excited about the party that the whole family ended up going. (We're so silly, I know!)

Today was our first visit to mass with Nicholas. It felt so good and so healing to be back at church today. All four of us were there, with support from Michael and Mary Jane. Surprisingly, the boys handled the mass just fine. Nicholas slept in Mary Jane's arms the entire time, and Michael could not have been more well behaved. We've spent the rest of the day doing chores around the house and visiting with friends.

I don't think we could have ordered a better fall weekend...

What football does to a man...

Can you say comatose?  Rendered speechless?  Zoned out?  

And furthermore, why does it start at such a young age?

In a little bit we're heading over to Carrie and Jason's to watch the "Skins" play.  I'm wondering if Michael will choose to watch the game or play with the other kids!  (I'm thinking and HOPING that he will want to play and will be totally oblivious to the game. ) We'll see, though!  

I'm just about as happy is Josh every Sunday during the fall, since the SEASON PREMIERE of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES is this evening!!!  And, SISTER AND BROTHERS!  I've been waiting for this Sunday to come for soooo long!  : ) 

We've got an exciting week ahead, so stay tuned for updates.  Josh is going to be inducted to the Hall of Fame on Friday night for our high school. I can't wait to see how Michael will react, I just know that he's going to be so proud of his dad!  As ready as I am to have this baby, I kind of hope that the baby waits until the football game is over Friday evening....I'm going to be completely thrown off my game if this baby decides to arrive before the tenth of October.  Completely.  

Itching to Play

Last evening we had dinner with our friends.  After dinner, the guys decided to get in a few basketball games.  Michael was forced to watch instead of play.  He did surprisingly well with just watching and cheering.  There were a few times when Michael yelled various comments at Josh, which was a little distracting. Michael was very entertained by the toys in the yard, and the supply of cars at our friends' house.  

We stayed out so late, that Michael actually slept in until 8:30 this morning!  I can't remember the last time he slept that late!  Maybe last summer?  I think he slept late this morning thanks to the new curtains that Josh installed yesterday.  Michael's room is incredibly dark when the curtains are drawn, it's almost like a cave!    

We have been working really hard on the house this weekend.  We put all of the new bedding on Michael's bed and cleaned out his closet this morning.  His closet was full of art work from our old house.  So, today we have been hanging up pictures and sorting through other things that made their way into that closet.  The piles in our basement are INSANE right now!  Josh is incredibly sick of this nesting phase.  I'm pretty sure that I'm driving him crazy right now with all of these home projects.  It will be worth it after our beach vacation, I keep telling him.  Coming home to an organized house will be heavenly!  

Not Sure Who to be More Proud of:

Josh for figuring out a system to give this kid help with the tricycle OR Michael for FINALLY taking interest in riding his tricycle!  Typically, Michael peddles a foot or two and then decides that riding a tricycle is too hard and decides to push it up and down the side walk.  Josh has been riding his new bike a little bit this week and so Michael's interest in the tricycle has been sparked.  (Thank goodness!)  

We had a lovely day.  Michael and I met my girlfriend, Nikki, and her two kiddos at the park. After playing for awhile we had a picnic lunch with a good friend of Nikki's and her little guy.  We then ran into some very friendly faces, who just finished up with swimming lessons.  Then it was time for the pool to open, so we all went swimming with our rascals!  Michael enjoyed the pool time with our friends.  What a great way to spend a summer afternoon!  

One of my brothers, Clay, commented that Michael and I go to the pool "just about everyday!"  He's right.  We do.  When you've packed on twenty extra lbs, the pool feels heavenly on a hot summer day.  Plus, Michael naps so well on pool days.  How, I love those quiet two hours in the afternoon.  Doesn't he look wiped out in the picture below?!?!  : ) 

His very favorite gift:

Carrie, Jason, and Jacob gave Michael this Lightning McQueen camping set for his birthday, and he is in absolute heaven!  The little backpack has not left his back ALL day!  As soon as Michael wakes from a nap, he grabs his backpack!  Josh took Michael out to do some shopping this afternoon, and Michael wore his backpack into every single shop. 

 And, the sleeping bag?  Michael pretended like the sleeping bag was his nap mat from the sitter's.  He took his afternoon nap on the sleeping bag, on the floor.  How incredibly comfortable, right?! The sleeping bag is on his bed this evening, instead of the floor.  Michael has also taken great pride in carrying around the water bottle all afternoon.  He's so proud, and it's clear that this gift made him feel like a real, big boy!  

Watching him walk around with a backpack on his back makes me want to cry, though!  He really does look like a big boy!  And, in just a few years he'll be walking into the doors of an actual school, with a backpack on his back.  At least, he's giving us a little practice with watching him carrying a backpack.  Maybe I won't cry as much on his first day of kindergarten?  (Yeah, right!)

Only ten and a half days of teaching middle school students for a year!  YIIIIKES!  I'm so ready for summer break! My house, particularly my closets, desperately need to be organized.  

Picture Time!

Finally... The PICTURES! If you click on the collage, you can see the photos better. Our friends sure do have some beautiful children! Michael is pretty wiped out today. He is now taking a nap, at 11:15. I am hopeful that it will be a long one. We're going to stay inside for a good bit of the day, or at least until it cools off. Michael has had an amazing birthday weekend!

The Big Birthday Party!

Today was the special "birthday party day" for Michael B! Our friends and family were able to join us this afternoon for some delicious BBQ (made by Mr. B's--Yummy!!), birthday cake, and homemade ice cream. We had an absolute blast. Michael enjoyed having his friends over to play; while Josh and I enjoyed having company over to help celebrate our three years of parenting!

We're so thankful for the support of our parents and to have such wonderful friends. Most of our friends here this evening have been our friends since childhood, which is just incredible. What an amazing gift we have in these friends! I love that we have spent special days like prom and basketball championships together, and now our children's birthdays!

I am so thankful that we are able to spend such special days like these with the ones we love. Thank you to everyone who came this evening. You made our day, and Michael's, too!

Pictures to come tomorrow! Blogger is NOT cooperating!!

CUTE Kiddos!

The zoo was fantastic:  perfect weather, good behavior (kids and grown-ups), a yummy picnic lunch, and a free visit!  Josh and I are so grateful for such a lovely day and to have such wonderful friends.  I have lots of pictures, but we're tired and ready for bed.  (Correction: Josh and I are tired. Michael is still going strong--talking about riding in the minivan and his friends!  Church is going to be rough tomorrow.)  More to come soon.  

Those CRAZY Running Parties!

I'm a tired gal!  The running girls have these amazing little running birthday parties, which begin at 5:30 am!!  Crazy, right?  We run a few miles, sing to the birthday girl, eat cake, and open presents--all before 6:30, or so!! Sometimes we run a little late...with the eating and chatting, not the actual running part.  

In order to make it to the party, I had to get up at 4:45 this morning.  That's very early! However,  it is completely worth the loss of about fifteen minutes of sleep.  Absolutely worth it.  I love my running friends and would do anything for them...so waking a little extra early is fine by me. The girls make me laugh and laugh, I'm on a little birthday party high for the rest of the day.  However,  I'm now very tired now and ready for bed.  

Michael, it seems, does NOT like the running parties!  I didn't come home between the party and school today, so I was not around for the good morning routine.  Each morning we hug, sometimes we rock, and sometimes I just hold him.  We really like our morning snuggle time.  Michael actually refused to go to the sitter's today, I think, because he did not understand why I wasn't back from running!  He knows I run in the morning, but I always come home and we have our routine.  Josh said he cried and made numerous excuses about why he shouldn't leave.  He has never, ever, ever done this before!  He never made mention of the fact that I wasn't home, but he knew that something wasn't right.  Once he got to the sitter's he was quite happy and was ready to play cars. 

So intuitive...and such a sweetheart of a son....

Good Night!  

With What?

Well, we've been busy this past week. With what, I'm not sure. It's just been one of those weeks that has been difficult to keep up with school, home, and all the rest in between. I actually did have a cute little post of Michael dancing to the Hokie Pokie as a shout out to Uncle Clay and all the other VT fans who read our blog. However, for whatever reason the Blogger connection was lost and I tried over and over again to post the video. And, it's just not in the cards, I suppose. 

We've had a great weekend. Yesterday we celebrated Josh's 31st birthday with some dear friends. We had a little pizza party with delicious cupcakes made by Melissa B. The children had as much fun (or more?) than the parents did. It is such a blessing to watch our babies play together, as Josh and I grew up with their parents. Everyone, with the exception of Melissa B, went to the same middle school and high school growing up. (Though you'd never know that Melis didn't grow up with us!!) And, for Nikki and Melissa S, and me, we went to elementary school together. Melissa S was actually our babysitter during the summers when my mom went back to school for her inservice days.  (We gave her some grief in those days, that's for sure.)

To know that Michael is surrounded by these wonderful children who have amazing parents, is such a gift! Looking back on my childhood, one of the greatest gifts that my parents and Josh's parents gave us, was our community. Our community was the home to these sweet, small, schools full of hard working families with similar values. And, to think that some of our dearest friends are from elementary school, is just quite simply very special.  

Tangents aside, we've had a weekend! And, we're hoping for a little snow, just not on Wednesday! I have two very important meetings that have required a ton of time to organize. Maybe I'll be able to keep up with the blogging and the photography of this rascal a little better this week. We'll see. Stay tuned. We'll also see if the blogger connection is any better this week. As of right now, I can't even post a picture! Grrr!!

Click here to see photos from last week. It's another album full of Michael B!

Suiting Up!

**********Update***********

We're home. The concert was a smashing success. We were shocked that Michael didn't smile or laugh ONCE during the concert. (No, I'm not kidding!!) His face was expressionless. We think that while he was totally in his element with the singing dinosaurs, ballerinas, and a certain Captain Feathersword; he was also in a state of disbelief and shock. Michael sat motionless for an hour and a half. That NEVER happens, unless he's sleeping. And, well, since he generally doesn't sleep sitting up, Josh and I found ourselves in a very rare situation this afternoon!

Dinner was fabulous, too. Kim picked the best restaurant, it was within walking distance of the concert, the food was delicious, and Kim even made a reservation for our party. My roommates look beautiful as ever and they all seem so happy. The boys, E. and Michael behaved themselves so much, that we were able to carry on a conversation (or two). (One day those two will have lots of fun together, but for now? Michael just tries to steal ice from little E.. ) We were all disappointed that we couldn't "sit around drinking pomegranate margaritas, while letting the children sleep under the table" (says Missy). (Unfortunately it seems those activities are reserved for FRIDAY nights, not Thursday's , Silly!!) But, you know, a little water and guacamole on a Thursday night, with friends you hardly see, is a pretty good deal.

Anyway.

There'll be pictures tomorrow. Maybe I'll even share a video...

Still singing--

Kate

*****************Update over*******************

We're on our way to our first WIGGLES concert!! Per Josh's request, Michael has NO idea that we're taking him to a concert. In fact, Michael thinks he's changing clothes so that we can go to Walmart and to purchase "new cars, a big truck, and a choo-choo train". (The words in quotes came straight from MB's mouth.)

Stay tuned. My roommates, Kim and Dave, will be there, too. And we're meeting Missy for dinner after the concert.

You know there'll be a montage, right???

Rock on,

Kate