Eye Glasses for my girls.

Grateful for the time at Grandma and Grandpa Rosenquists

I am extremely grateful for the time we were welcomed into Grandma Betty and Grandpa Max's home in New Lenox. In many ways it seemed a bit da-ja-vou. I have a baby boy sleeping in the elevator. Same swim time on the deck outside.. the same highchair to clean all the pb and jelly on...and the same kitchen cabinets perfectly puzzle pieced together with both of our groceries. You see when Xander was Cooper's age we lived in the same little apartment while we made our "Appaloosa House".
I am very, very aware that we could be in a tiny, loud apartment in an undesirable part of town or that we could be in a trailer park somewhere. I truly am grateful for my hospitable in-laws. They have been loving, accommodating and I will always be grateful for the time we could spend there as a family. :)

Mother's Day 2011 "Building a home to put my chair."

Well if you have kept up with the blog you will see its a tradition to have Dan take a photo of the kids and I every mothers day in my blue chair. It was my first post and its only fitting we carry on with the theme. We are building our home right now. There is no chair. There is no house to put the chair. In some ways I feel like God has stripped us of almost all the "stuff" we once owned. Not that God is punishing us but  maybe He is showing us realize what really matters in life- to make us pull together as a family. Someways maybe by losing what we had will make us better more grateful and more family centered. I can't wait to move. I really wanted to move this weekend, or by Aliza's Birthday or Xander's Birthday- (Once I was hopeful about moving during Christmas break! Seems maybe God is teaching me patience as well.) but as you can see we still have a ways to go. I'm praying we learn whatever God is showing us and to fully trust Him in all things.

Aliza Jane is THREE! -March 16, 2011

A butterfly cake, a butterfly net, a butterfly bug box to keep a butterflies alive in (from her Auntie & Uncle  in MN), a Butterfly watch and a musical jewelry box with a ballerina that is decorated with Butterflies on the outside (from her Grandma and Grandpa in Mn, even her dress accidentally had butterflies on it that day! We love you Aliza!

Weekends Down at the Farm

The kids, dog and I go down to the farm ever other week or so sometimes we stay the night and part of the next day and sometimes we pack up and come home with out him. Other times we just all go down together as a family on Sun to celebrate a birthday or such. The cousins are  always happy to see us and I am happy to spend a day with (more or less) my husband.

Winter Blizzard 2-6-11

Sleeping Arrangements

This is what the kids do when I need to take a phone call and they need to keep Cooper quiet.. at the time anything to get through my business call of taking an order or dealing with business issues.. but then I go in there to my boy who is covered in "apple stickiness" and little bits and pieces everywhere of apple and usually find myself wondering why I let my kids get by with so much... my life would be easier if I didnt' let anyone help me cook , and never gave my baby a messy snack, and always made him buckle in his highchair  and not stand, and everyone slpet in their own bed and not mine!:) but some how I don't think that when I get to be old and look back I will regret any of those little things.

     Well we have had quite a few creative sleeping arrangements here. Suzy has slept with just about everyone even Aliza in the crib a few times. Suzy always puts herself to nap with Aliza and the photo of them on my bed was not posed and Yes- Suzy and Aliza were both actually sleeping.
     Cooper is now moved from the crib in our room to the Pack and Play in the elevator -where he sleeps much better.
     Dan is now Gone most of the week and sometimes is only home for Sat and Sun night. So the girls take turns sleeping with me... or sometimes I look and find that they have decided to camp on my floor and I have a child occupying both walkways on either side of my bed and one in bed with me. I have never had the heart to boot them out and I suppose there is a place inside me that is warmed to the core to know that they want to sleep there in close poximity just to be close to Mom.
     Now Suzy almost always sleeps at the bottom of the girls lower bunk. The Girls now sleep together when Dan is home. Even though Aliza and Josie bicker about "taking up too much room" and "stop touching my babydoll" they seem to... well what do you think? (see bottom picture)...  I think it looks like they seem  work it out in the end. :)