5 years later...

5 years ago today, my best friend and I were saying 'I do' and talking about our '5 year plan.'

4 years ago today, we were eating at Sumo and preparing for the arrival of the wonderful surprise to our five year plan.

3 years ago today, we were eating at Sumo and talking about how much joy one little man could bring and how thankful we were for God's 5 year plan.

2 years ago today, we were landing in England (literally) to begin a scary, exciting new adventure.

1 year ago today, we were preparing to go on our first full week vacation...and talking about how grateful we were to have the opportunity to live in another country.

Today we were watching movers unload boxes into our new home, anticipating the arrival of our newest blessing and celebrating with my parents...at Sumo:)

We are so, so blessed...thank goodness for a change of plans:)

my little bug

My little bug is in Mankato for a few days...I have been a mess for days just thinking about being away from him, but I know that he is going to be having so much fun with Grammy and Papa Marvin while we clean and move into the new house.

I did, however, have to make sure that we did something special before we went to meet Grammy...you know, just to make sure he still wants to come home:)!  I hadn't had a chance to take him to Tanganyika yet and our friend, Cate, invited us to go with her...we happily agreed!  It was the perfect send off for my little bug!

While he loved all of the other animals...he was not a fan of the birds  (ok, so neither was I:)...

updates:)

Wow...where to start?!?!  We have had a busy couple of weeks...oh, and no, don't worry, the lil' wildcat is still snug in my belly:)!

Well, we closed on our house on June 19th, however, we pretty much had the best homeowner ever, and were able to get in four days early to rip out carpet and prep the walls for paint...yay!  The painters started on the 19th (yep, before we even closed...seriously, best homeowner ever)...even better?  He thinks he will be done by this Wednesday, hooray!

We also picked out wood floors.  I'm not going to lie...this somehow became the single most stressful decision I've made in a long time and I'm not really sure how...pregnant women should not be allowed to make permanent decisions:)

We have been buying all of those must haves for the house...tv, washer/dryer, vacuum...you kind of forget all of the little things that go with buying a house!

Parker had zoo camp last week...he loved it!  I was a little nervous about taking him because it was my first time to leave him here, but he did so great!

Zoo camp meant that I was able to do things like pick out outlet covers, and cabinet handles without getting P in and out of the car seven times.  It's amazing what you can get done in an hour and a half by yourself!

We have also been playing a ridiculous amount of baseball around here.  Seriously, I can't believe how this child can sit and watch a Royals game and then go out and recreate it:).  He likes to play all of the positions, so we often have to use KiKi so that P can be everything from catcher to outfielder.  I love that we can tell when he's going to play catcher because he turns his hat backwards.  

We have had appointments for the lil' wildcat and everything is on track...to be late:)  My doctor is a little concerned that I won't deliver naturally if I stay on this track, but I told him that I'm not worried because God is just waiting for us to get settled...nothing like answered prayers:)

Oh, and our stuff comes on FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!  I can't believe that after almost 12 weeks of living out of suitcases, we will finally not only have all of our things, but a place to put them:)!

fireworks!

A couple of weekends ago, we were so lucky to be visiting Brady's family during the annual Scandia Community Celebration.  This is a huge event that Brady's mom puts a lot of time into...filled with great food, games, and a spectacular, hour-long fireworks display.  We are so glad we could be there and had so much fun!  The best part of the evening was...Willie!!!  He made a special appearance...signed loads of autographs (Parker got his arm and hat signed), played football with the kids (my son is the one who tackled him...Willie's such a good sport), and shot off the first firework.  It was such a fun night!

Yes, that is a real tank in the background...Brady's mom's client is a collector.

My knock-kneed little man was in awe.

Willie, Grammy and the boys.

Parker getting his second autograph.

P loved the bounce house!  Plus, you can see his Willie tattoo:)

Yeah...I don't have many shirts that still cover the lil' wildcat:).

Parker HATES loud noises so once they started testing the fireworks, we had to wear these...

So pretty!

blessed

We are so blessed to be here to celebrate milestones with our friends and family this year.  I can't tell you how hard it was to be away for two years and not be there for weddings, showers, birthdays, births, etc. 

I am so glad that we were here this year to celebrate my mom's birthday with her.  She always, always puts her kids first (now her grandkids:), and we are so blessed to call her mom.  

Love you Mom!

my kind of nesting...

We have officially been living out of suitcases for 8 weeks...that means that right now, I am having to resist the urge to nest...in the traditional sense...I cannot prepare the nursery, clean out my cabinets, scrub the bathrooms, or rearrange the furniture (I know, I'm crazy)...so instead I have been doing the following...

...moving in new tenants to our old house...what a relief to have that house rented out for another year...

...scrubbing bathroom tiles and replacing things for the new tenants...nothing like making something look nice for someone else:)

...finally getting my driver's license...that's right Brady and I are now officially legal!!  Poor Brady had to retake both the written and driving tests...better him than me:)

...signing Parker up for preschool, zoo camp, swimming lessons, doctor and dentist appointments...

...buying our first of two cars...yay! (we ended up getting another highlander...so predictable:)

...doing my first good neighbor program meal delivery...without a gps...it took me a while to remember where all of the streets in valley center are...

...getting reactivated in junior league...I am so excited about my placement and can't wait to get started next week!

...scheduling a painter to come in the day after we close to paint all of the trim and the walls on the main floor...it will be so, so nice to have it done!

...ordering curtains online for the kids' rooms (wow, it feels weird to use the plural version of kid:)

...filling a closet in my parents' house with diapers, wipes, white onesies, car seats, baby bath and lotion, and anything else that I can buy without having a home or knowing the gender...this poor child...

Anyway, we are so excited for all that is to come and hoping that the lil' wildcat doesn't make an early appearance!