sister of the bride

I'm not sure how it all happened. My sister is married. She is a Mrs. now and lives in a far off land...so to speak. She is no longer this precious, little baby I met in 1987! But really, she's even better now!

I was so excited on the day Kelsey was born. So nervous. I even lost my lunch over the whole ordeal. You see, I was six years old and was at the perfect age for getting a baby sister. What fun to be able to take care of a real, live baby! Having such a gap between us allowed me to experience just a taste of what it would be like to have my own babies. I'm pretty sure I remember this photo being taken...in the hospital, I believe.

And then she grew up and conqered just about everything...including The Wheel of Fortune! We went through stages, of course. She didn't stay THAT cute forever:) She was irritating....I was bossy. We fought. But whatever. Then we became the best of friends. And then she fell in love and she got more beautiful by the second. I really believe that Bryant has made her even more beautiful, inside and out. Look at her...




I was not quite as nervous on the monumental day of her life. I didn't lose my lunch, although it looks here as though SHE wanted to:) I was just so happy. That is it. Well, that and praying that I wouldn't split my dress wide open. But I was overjoyed and so honored to be standing next to her instead of holding her like I did on that very first day of her life!

The beautiful couple...love you two so much!

my family

This was our first attempt at a whole family picture in...who know how long. We almost have everyone looking at the camera! I love it!

breaking leaves

You've probably heard of raking leaves....or maybe even breaking bread....but have you ever heard of breaking leaves? Yeah, well me neither. Until Parker educated me on the matter today.

I'm blogging with my coffee (two loves), waiting for my youngest to wake up from nap, and watching two of my boys raking leaves outside in the perfect weather. Good day!

some fall favorites...

so many things...

but here are a few to share tonight:

the leaves are FALLING, and of course, this makes me a little sad because we'll have to say goodbye very soon. But aren't they just beautiful?



this fall we've started a new format for our small group: a much more fluid approach to fellowship including wine, bread, and good conversation. I love it so much. Instead of feeling drained by having small group at our house, I feel refreshed! Isn't that the way it is supposed to be?


And my new autumn tablecloth....ooohhhh! I am so into it. Can't get over the vibrant colors...



cute little pumpkins from the dollar store. I'm sure some grubby, little hands will get a hold of them soon, but I'm enjoying them right now:)



Daily walks with Parker to go pick up B. from school. Special times.

p.s. that is not my slobber on my collar, just so you know. I believe it was Parker's. So there.

train ride...

We went on a super-fun train ride with the family last Sunday. I forgot my camera...but thank goodness for sisters! My sister posted all of her pictures on facebook. Come and look You wanna be friends? I'll totally be your friend:)

Here is one funny picture from the chaos of four kiddos, 3 and under! You might notice that I cropped myself out of the picture because I had a wretched expression on my face. Sometimes this happens...

grandma dee and me

My mom let me borrow her camera (thank you!!) and I found a bunch of cute pictures on her memory card. I especially love this one taken this summer with my grandma dee. Coffee in hand and everything--how fitting! Love you!

first in 6 months!

We recently returned home after another wonderful vacation with family--this time to Glacier National Park with my side of the family. Now, a few of us are sick. Can't tell you how many episodes of Backyardigans we've had on today:) I secretly love that show....but after today, that may change! I didn't even feel a bit guilty about excessive TV today. My super outdoorsy boy rejected the idea of walking to the park. Now, that is SICK!

I'll put together a little slide show of our trip later....after I swipe a few from other family members:) But I love this picture of Kelsey and me after our "strenuous" hike! It is the first one of the two of us taken in six months! Yes, we were reunited with our little sis and we couldn't be happier!

Look....

what HE brought me, on HIS birthday no less! HE is 30. And I like to rub it in because I'm still experiencing the lovely twenties! But I should be nicer to him...he did bring be tulips in the dead of winter. He's a good one. You're a keeper, Joely! Happy Birthday!

party pictures...

Been meaning to do this for a while now...

I seem to be missing pictures of lots of people. Ugh...all my fault! So...you all can still send me some:)

2008 * If only....

...I could write my family's 2008 resolutions for them:)

*Joel* will play as much soccer as possible because it makes him so happy--and I can't resist a man in soccer shorts...he he:)

*Parker* poop in the potty every time, continue to charm the ladies with his percussion skills, and wake up on the right side of the toddler bed...more often!

*Griffin* will try his darnedest to stop eating things he shouldn't, stay out of the toilet, walk proficiently, and use his dimples for something other than mischief!

Oh, and my resolutions not as fun to write for myself.. and I have too many to list. But here is one to document: I am going to be a healthier Amy by the end of the year. I'm not talking about looking good in jeans or being able to lift a whole bunch of weight (which would be cool), but this year has been a doozy as far as how I'm taking care of myself and my health has suffered. I have plans to make small changes and hopefully not be sick as often.

night out with my sister

My little sister and I went out on the town last night...dinner, a little shopping, and a great movie (Twenty Seven Dresses, a pre-screening). I love going out with Kelsey to have girl time because she is one of the few people that I feel like I can be totally silly with or completely honest and not even think twice. Sometimes I wonder what people think when they listen in on our conversations. It is so fun to be able to laugh at strange family quirks, roll our eyes at common annoyances, and it is even great to laugh the exact same laugh at the exact same time!

{We had so much fun...despite the near fainting while in line at our favorite store. How embarrassing, but what can you do? Turns out, I was coming down with something. We made it out alive:}

But here is the thing...Kelsey is leaving in one month to study in Spain for a semester--six months! How could she? Actually, I couldn't be happier for her, but I'm still feeling sorry for myself. What am I going to do? Not sure...but I do know that one of the benefits of Kels being out of country is that I'll be able to raid her closet! She's only a few inches taller than me and I really feel like that would make me feel closer to her while she's gone. What do ya think, sista?
In the meantime, I'm just going to continue my state of denial and pretend that nothing big is about to happen. I've heard that denial is really healthy anyway!

Good Times:)

Another shot of the four bambinos last night. As you can tell, they were having the time of their lives ;)

a halloween night...

We had another great Halloween spent with family and a lot of food! We have a bit of tradition on October 31...we have family over here for dinner (most items are pumpkin related) and we just spend time together and open the door for Trick or Treaters. We also get to ooohhh and aaaahhh over our very own little darlings. This year we had a bumble bee (Griffin), Superman (Parker), a princess (Miss Audrey), and an Elf (Elliot). I will try to post a picture of the four of them later today when my sister emails me the picture. I was a bit lazy again with my camera! I know I'm biased, but they seriously are the cutest little halloweeners I've ever seen. Did I just make up that word?

Our friend Dan brought over the greatest game for the boys...Elefun! I love it and so does Parker. Griffin....well, he tries to eat the elephant and the butterflies, but he'll get it in a while. But it keeps Parker occupied and he's learning how to do it himself--which is huge!

Here is my recipe for our special chili. I know it sounds strange, but believe me...most people love it. And it is super healthy too!

Pumpkin Black-Bean Chicken Chili

1 cup chopped onions
1 cup chopped yellow bell pepper
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbsp. oil

1.5 tsp. dried oregano

2 tsp. chili powder

2 tsp. cumin

2 15 oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained

2.5 cups chopped chicken

16 oz can pumpkin
14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
3 cups chicken broth
Bag of frozen corn
3 Tbl. brown sugar

1. Saute onions, yellow pepper, and garlic in oil for 8 minutes, or until soft.
2. Stir in oregano, cumin, and chili powder. Cook 1 minute. Transfer to slow cooker.
3. Add remaining ingredients.
4. Cover. Cook on low 7-8 hours.

a new life to love

We spent the weekend with family across the mountains. We made special trip over to meet our new niece, Miss Avree Jean! She's two weeks old and just beautiful. I love watching new parents with their little ones. I think it is so amazing how life can change in an instant when a new baby is born. I love it! Congratulations to Aubree and Derek!

Parker was so proud to be able to hold little Avree. This picture totally cracks me up. Check out Griff trying to be so cool because he's a whole 8 months older...:)

And Parker got to hang out with his older cousins, Sean and Mattison. Sean is his idol. Sean is everything. Sean'sthe bomb! Parker even has dreams about him. This past weekend, Parker realized a dream...he slept in Sean's cool bed. Oh my!



And now we're back home and trying to get back to normal. Funny thing is, whenever I try to get back to normal, I suddenly realize normal has changed. Ha! Out of necessity (vacation, illness, etc.), I've let some things slide and been pretty lax regarding discipline with myself and my children. I'm actually enjoying adding a little bit of routine and order to our lives. Not too much though:)

STRIKE FOUR!

That terrible stomach bug hit the fourth member of our family last night. Poor Joel. It is probably good that I got it early on because it gave me a ton more sympathy. I'm afraid that I used to be a bit of the "suck it up" kind--which is just terrible to admit.

This has been a weird week. I expected to come home to beautiful October and enjoy our regular routine of friends and activities. Instead, we came home to beautiful October and have spent the whole week indoors, hanging on to this bug. Gosh, it is just gorgeous outside. I already miss October and it isn't even gone:)

I went to the mall today because I just had to get out! I found a book I'm excited about...

I haven't started yet, but I think it is going to be interesting. Lectio Divina sounds pretty cool, doesn't it?

so much to say, so little time

Our vacation to Colorado was beyond good. Way beyond! I really couldn't have asked for anything more. We spent the majority of our time up in the mountains at Beaver Creek in a beautiful condo. What did we do? A whole lot of nothing...watched movies, read books, ate a lot of food, played with our boys, went on some mini hikes, and took numerous naps. We did all the things we want to do to relax at home, but we never seem to make enough time....basically we had good, old-fashioned family time and we came back so refreshed. Perfect!

Oh, and our time spent with Jenn and her family was even better than I expected! Her family is beautiful and sweet and really...she's a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of girl. So genuine...so lovely...so fun! When I'm around her, I feel filled up and blessed! I would hang out with her everyday if I could. If only....:)

We were also able to meet up with Sarah and her family! Like Sarah said, it was way too brief....but so wonderful to meet her! I feel like they have something in the water in Colorado--she's another one who is so genuine and has such a good, good heart. Oh, how I wish we lived closer...

I really feel like I could write volumes about how this vacation was so excellent on every level, but I have sick boy on my hands and can't spend much time here on my 'puter. I put together a little slide show, but I have to admit that I was a little bit of a slacker when it came to pictures. I guess my camera was on vacation too! Jenn and Sarah have some that are much better. Enjoy!

a fall vacation...

It seems as though vacation always seems to come just in the nick of time. Just when we feel as though the days are too long and the nights too short...when work becomes too much....when we grow tired of the daily grind ....VACATION! Woo Hoo!!

I've been a bit absent from my normal blogging routine already this week, but now I'm going to be really absent! Maybe my mind has just been preparing for next week and checked out early. I tend to do that. We get to go on our first vacation as a family of four:) We'll be hanging out at a condo for a week in a state I've never visited. AND we'll get to spend time with Jenn and her family! How cool is that? I am beyond excited! I can't wait! Not super-excited about the flight with the two kiddos...but I'm sure that it will go better than I've imagined!

And so...see you all later! I'll be back sooner than later with some great pictures, I hope!

apples for today

When Parker was a baby and my husband was finishing up his last year in PA school, we spent time living with family members as Joel moved from one rotation to the next. To welcome a family member to live with you is one thing, but to welcome a family with a baby is something totally different! Many thanks to our family for the many gracious acts throughout those years.

Parker was four months old when we moved in with my grandparents. We have so many amazing memories together and those months will always hold a special place in my heart. One memory in particular...

My grandparents walked with me as I pushed Parker in the stroller to go find the apple tree we spotted earlier in the vacant lot. We were armed with grocery sacks to collect our find! They helped me collect tons and tons of free apples and we then loaded them up in the stroller in every way possible. We made applesauce together...and I think it was the very best I've ever tasted. And it was FREE, which always makes things taste great. Even better, though, are the memories we made together during the process.

Each year since then, I've made my own applesauce. I can't help it...I just can't. I feel like I could make some everyday if people would eat it. I love slicing and peeling, adding my special spices and making the house smell delicious. You know how scents take you back to a particular moment in your history? I'm always amazed with this. Every batch of applesauce I make brings me back to that day. I love that! I guess it is a good thing we live in apple country!

This year, my mom went up north with us to get our apples. It was such a perfect Fall morning....ice cream and scones to top it off:) I've made two pots of applesauce and now I'm in the process of making Sandy's Apple Butter. Yummy!

My Recipe

Two kinds of apples, enough to fill a large slow cooker...maybe 12 apples (I used Jonagold and Fuji this year)
1/4 cup - 1/2 cup raw sugar
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
1/4 Teaspoon Nutmeg

Peel and slice apples and mix all ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on low overnight. Mash with a potato masher in the morning and there you go, breakfast for all. Freezes well. Oh, and it is good warm with vanilla ice cream. What isn't?

our holiday weekend...

We actually didn't have a Labor Day weekend because Joel worked yesterday...however, it was "our holiday", as we celebrated our 6th anniversary! Here are some pictures from the weekend...

*edit* I added in the photo I used to make the anniversary card. It is the only one I have scanned in. We look like kids....we were!

Our anniversary gift to ourselves. It is hanging in our living room.

My attempt to take a picture of us at lunch. Next time I’ll ask the waiter...:)

Griffin is always laughing! I have no idea why the sky was so funny:)


Daddy and his big boy...the most tenderhearted little boy I’ve ever met.

The chicken marsala at DRG. Simply amazing.


Aren‘t they so precious?.

There are many things I could write about our weekend away...how great it was to see people and how we love and miss them...the hospitality and generosity of others...how the weather on the other side of the state made me glad we still have summer over here:)...so many things! However, I really want to just say how blessed my children are to have such wonderful cousins!

Mattison and Sean are older than our boys by quite a bit, but I know that they will always be the ones that Parker and Griffin look up to and admire. Parker woke up this morning so sad because Mattison and Sean weren't here to play with. Parker is so obsessed with Sean that he has dreams about him. They are just so darn cool! They treat my children like they are little treasures and I love them for that. They are truly treasures to us.

Audrey and Elliot are very close in age to my boys and will soon live very close. This weekend, we had a bit of a glimpse of what is to come! Parker is all boy, Audrey all girl...but somehow they both just crack one another up. Parker also talked this morning about how he wanted to play with Audrey! I think they will have a very special relationship in the future. As far as the youngest boys (2 months and 6 months)...Griffin tried to roll over onto little Elliot this weekend! I'm sure they will be great buds:) I'm so excited to have them live close so I can love on those little ones...

I really want my kids to love Mattison, Sean, Audrey, and Elliot more like they are siblings than cousins. I think that it is really up to the parents to create the environment for this kind of relationship to bloom. I've been watching others that seem to be really good at this. Joel's Auntie Maggie, in particular, is a master at this! She loves each one of the cousins like they are her own children. Without the competition for attention and love, the relationships between cousins are allowed to flourish. The cousins have wonderful relationships, I believe, even though they aren't all close in age. What a gift! I want that for my children! Not only do I want that for my children, but I want that for my nieces and nephews. But I'm realizing that this type of thing doesn't just happen...it must be intentional.

I am not sure if she reads this, but thank you Auntie Maggie for showing us all how to do it! You are amazing and so special to us!