One more candle added to the cake

Good morning 30, I've been expecting you....

I'd be lying to you if I said I did everything I wanted to do in my 20's - b/c I didn't. I did do a lot and had a lot of fun!
One thing I can say is I am ready for the next decade and it's a nice feeling. No panic, no regrets just excitement and anticipation.

Mike made sure I went out with a bang. This year he set up a sitter for Blake and took me on a weekend trip to New York City.

We walked the big apple



Went to a Broadway



He even took me on a dinner cruise.










It was just what I wanted.

Then on Monday, which was my actual Birthday, two great friends took me out for lunch.

If there is one great thing I have learned these last few years is that life may not turn out exactly how you planned it out to be and that is OK. In some ways that has been a hard lesson for me to learn, but I am grateful I have a great husband and a beautiful, perfect son.

The weather may be a TAD premature

and so might Robbie's car...

But that hasn't stopped any of us from going
canoeing

exploring

camping

hiking

building castles

and chillin' like a villain in our own backyard.

Greatest Gift

We, like many others, celebrated Easter with some colored Easter eggs.


A hunt with church members on a brisk spring morning.






But of course we all know vinegar stenched eggs and bunnies dressed up like Sir Elton John are not the true meaning of Easter.

It's a time of celebration for that great miracle and gift given to us - the gift of life eternal.
John 14:19
"because I live, ye shall live also"

I hope we all enjoyed Easter for it's true meaning and remember the life that Christ gave to us.
Happy Easter!

Countdown to 30

Yes that's right! These are the last moments of my twenties. I'm coming upon my 30th birthday at the end of April and I have decided to embrace it.
I am excited and have never felt better.

So here is to the last 30 days before I turn 30 and to bidding goodbye to my fabulous 20's.
Maybe I will go get a massage...

I recently spent 10 days at my brothers house in Ohio helping him take care of things while his wife was gone, including their 5 kids + Blake.
I had a few different than my normal day experiences while I was there AND, I learned a few things a long the way. All while having a blast with my niece and nephews.


Bedtime came a whole lot earlier for me. My body was out of order by 10pm!

Costco seems to make more sense (a family of 3 just can't eat that much broccoli before it goes bad).

Timing was very important when it came to taking a hot shower.

Laundry is just a whole different ball game...

Despite the broken pickle jar in the middle of the isle and the fact that I just couldn't turn the shopping cart with that many kids hanging off of it, the trip to the grocery store turned out to be NOT so bad.

The fact is that being a parent takes a lot of patients, sacrifice, love and a whole lot of luck. Which sometimes comes so easy and pretty much effortless, but other times it may be forced or even barely there. But there is nothing more fulfilling than seeing them accomplish something new and grow into someone great.

Even on days like this, when those precious moments come, nothing can replace the joy you find inside a Mother.


I say thank you to my parents who cared, loved and sacrificed so much for me and still do...

I love you guys!

Defeated by a 4 year old

He looks so sweet and innocent doesn't he?

Blake and I play games together - a lot of games together. Classic games like Operation, War, Connect 4...

AAAAAND like a good mother should, I usually let him win.

Well this particular day Blake wanted to play one of my favorites - Carcassonne

AAAAAND like a well, not so good mother; I wanted to win.

We played and unknown to me, Blake is surprisingly really good. Watching Mike and I play a few times he has caught on pretty well - so well that he defeated me with ease.


I never really liked the game anyway... ;)

When a storm hits...

We are ready with our

Goggles

sleds

shovels

and one piece snow suits


We also made sure we had our homemade snow experience in the backyard with our own hill to sled down



and of course a classic snowman.


We've had so much fun this winter with all this snow instead of rain. It doesn't get much better than being snowed in for a day or two!

I'M SO GLAD YOU WERE BORN!

To the best husband,

the best dad,

and my best friend


HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

If only I had the voice of a Southern angel, singing Happy Birthday would of sounded a lot better! ;)

Feliz cumpleaños Blake

This last weekend Blake turned 4 in the best place possible for a kid to have a birthday!!!

Disney World!

Back in November we found a steal of a deal on plane tickets from Philly to Florida and decided to get them. We also got FREE passes into Disney World for doing a day of service here in PA! It was all such a great deal that we just couldn't pass it up. Plus we got to spend the whole time in FL with our good friends Matt and Brittney and their kids.

Mike made this awesome Super Why/Super Blake birthday cake upon Blake's request.

One of the highlights was this great roller coaster ride Blake clearly LOVED... (apparently so did I)

The roller coaster quickly took a backseat after we found Mickey Mouse and his house.

We spent some time in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale where Matt and Brittney live.

We visited the Everglades and saw some alligators...

Tough guys???

Maybe not...

They jumped back this far .2 seconds after the alligator swung his tale!

Bye Florida, you will be missed! Back to cold and rainy Philadelphia.