House Update #3

and more pictures...we now have our granite and tile, base boards, crown molding and window casings. Things are coming along nicely...we so cannot wait!!!!

Back of house (deck)

Kitchen Sink

Upper Landing

Master Shower w/tile :-)

Master Tub

Wet Bar w/Granite

While I'm Waiting

I will serve You while I'm waiting...

Love this song, heard a million times for some reason it struck me in a different way today. Maybe because waiting hasn't always been my strong suit but He has Blessed me abundantly despite. I don't really feel like I'm in a place right now where I'm waiting for something to change in my life, I feel more like I'm living my Blessings but this is a great reminder, none the less. This song did though make me think of a few special people who I know are 'waiting' to see God's plan for their lives. So this is for all those who are "Waiting"

House Update #2

It was a raining, drizzly day so our pics are kind of dark but here is the latest on our house. We are bing told Apr 27 for closing...we so can't wait!!!!

Upper Landing

Master Bath

Basement Family Room

Basement Theater Room

Kitchen...Yay we have cabinets, well some of them anyway. they are not all installed yet

Basement Wet Bar

Guest Bath Vanity

Huge Master Shower

Master Bath (Her Vanity)

Another Kitchen Shot

I LOVE Getting a Good Deal...

As we prepare to move into our new house we have been window shopping for odds and ends. I have found a new love called Pinterest...so many cool ideas to share. One of the things I saw that I ended up falling in love w/was this shower curtain. I wasn't sure what bathroom I wanted it for but decided after some thought that I would like it for the kids bathroom...that is, until I saw the price tag...YIKES!!! The other day I was surfing Bed Bath and Beyonds website and came across this shower curtain...pretty similar wouldn't you say :-) and less than 1/2 the price plus I had a 20% off coupon and a gift card from my parents (thanks mom and dad). So we headed to BBB today and I bought the shower curtain, 3 bath towels and another shower curtain (for our guest bath room) that was on clearance marked down from $50 to $20. I only spent $10 out of pocket (total bill was $85)...not too shabby of a deal if you ask me :-).

Pre-School Day 4

So our 4th day of pre-school had a bit of a tough start. Evan didn't want me to leave at drop off...he was very clingy and just wanted me to hold him and protested when the teacher took him from my arms :-( I had to make a quick get away so that things didn't escalate more. I think I was never so glad to not be a working mom, it was heart-breaking to walk away when I knew he wanted me to stay, even though I knew he would be just fine and actually have fun once I left.

Funny side story, while I was holding Evan and he was fussing for me to stay the assistant teacher looked over at me and said "he's usually the easy one" Haha, while I agree that overall Evan is an 'easier' toddler I think it is funny that it only took his teachers 3 days to figure that out (probably less time than that, really). Poor Taryn is too much like her momma. I don't really like labeling them as 'easy' or 'more difficult' because the truth be told the both have their moments and I think Taryn being a girl just sets her up to be more emotional about things. While she may have her tough moments she also has her good ones where she is funny, silly, sweet, loving, cuddly and thoughtful.

After school Evan came running up the ramp to me telling me how much fun he had. It was so cute to hear him say good-bye to his new friends by name. He is such a social little guy.

The teacher made a point to tell me how great they are doing and how happy she is that we are brining them. YAY!!!! So glad it is working out all around.

Great-Grandma Lillis

I forgot we had these photos from our trip to SA...I was going through the other camera and found them and really wanted to share them. The twins and Annaliese were able to meet their Great-Grandma (Chad's Grandmother) during our trip. It was so great to see her and introduce her to the children. And even better was the opportunity to take some pictures w/her, pictures I am sure the kids will appreciate having one day.

Love this picture of Chad w/his Grandma and baby daughter

Annaliese was very content sleeping in grandma's arms

House Update

We weren't able to get too many photos or even look around much as they are now locking the house so we have to get the realtor to get into the house and they get nervous w/us walking around the construction w/the kids so it was just a quick in and out on Saturday, hopefully in a couple of weeks they will be further a long and we will be able to see more of the house. But we do have stone, siding and walls :-)

Fire Place

Sunroom

Pantry

My Girl(s)

LOVE THEM!!!! so much :-). Annaliese was doing her tummy time on Friday and Taryn though she would crawl under the play-mat and do tummy time w/her sissy...I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get a photo of the two of them together. Evan and Taryn are such great 'big' siblings for Annaliese, I can't wait to watch them grow together. As Annaliese gets older and more interactive the twins are showing more and more interest in her. They love her so much and get so excited when she is on the floor playing.

Oh and I guess I spoke to soon because on Friday Annaliese decided that rolling tummy to back wasn't enough so now she is rolling both directions and all over the place....and so it begins :-)

Who Knew Rolling Over was so Funny!!!

But it is to Evan and Taryn. Annaliese rolled over for the first time at 2 months exactly, and had done it again a few times since but nothing consistent until this week now I can't keep her on her belly :-). She hasn't rolled fully from back to belly yet, but she is so close. The twins think its hilarious that when she rolls over and they always try to roll her back to her tummy, the only problem is they aren't the most genteel so I have to play referee a lot :-)

First Day of School

The twins had their first day of preschool today and did awesome. They had so much fun they didn't want to leave...not sure if I should take offense or not. Its a long drive and Annaliese have to kill the 2.5 hours that the twins are in school but when I see how much fun they had it makes it all worth it. Once we move into the house the drive will only be 15 min instead of an hour so it will be much better and Annaliese and I can chill at home why the twins are in school...but for now we make it work. They were so excited to go this morning and not one tear shed by them...I won't tell you how many I shed, I did at least make it out of the class room first :-). The teachers were so sweet and welcoming I am just so excited about this opportunity, they had Chapel time today and talked about how each person has special gifts from God and how it makes God happy when we use the gifts he gives us. Such great new and fun things for the kids to learn :-)

Yes she is wearing a red, white and blue flower in her hair

and no it doesn't match her pretty pink sweater but

...she is exercising her right to express her self and

I have learned to pick my battles :-)

Road Trip

Yes, call us insane Chad and I took the kids on a long road trip to Texas. There were many reasons behind our motivation but mainly I just needed to get the kids out of this tiny condo and they needed some sunshine to play in, so since we had to drive to GA anyway for me to do drill w/the GA ANG and Chad to do his check ride (flying eval) we decided we would just continue to TX and invade what once was a peaceful home (until we arrived)at His Glory Hill otherwise known as mema and papa's house. The kids and I stayed for 3 weeks while Chad flew back to MD to work, you know someone has to earn a living :-). When our time was up in TX Chad flew back to pick us up and we made the journey back to MD making a detour once again through GA so I could work March drill. If I'm counting right the kids and I were gone about 6 weeks. We had a great time but it is still good to be home. Annaliese did so amazing on the trip, we asked a lot of her and she far surpassed our expectations. She continues to grow like a weed...I can't believe how big she is. She smiles so much and giggles now, she rolls over a lot and has some teeth coming in ALREADY!!!! I really want time to slow down a bit. She is a great sleeper too, we have had a few nights where she was up every 3 hours but most nights she is down for anywhere from 7-10 hours and then goes back down for another 4-5 hours. We are putting her down around 7 and wakes for the day around 8 of course w/the time changes (changing time zones and springing forward) we are trying to figure out the right bed time again, but she is pretty good at letting us know she is ready (i.e. inconsolable crying) :-)

...Back to our TX trip, kids had a great time, we went to the zoo and took a train ride, Sea World, had a few play dates and a party, lots of sunshine and out door time and walks to our land...it was wonderful, we hated to leave but I guess at some point you have to face real life again :-)