Monday Fun-day

Monday again and I was going to go to the gym and then groceries, but when Micah asked to go to the "jumpy place" today I couldn't resist. I figured if I got my socks on I could jump and run as much as I could to get a little workout. And guess what? I did. My fitbit recorded me doing at least 26 minutes of working out. We were there for about an hour and had a blast. Mostly because there was barely any kids there and Noelle loved it too. 10 bucks for all of us is a great deal to me. Noelle doesn't cost yet until she's two and she has as much fun as Micah.  I tried to do a flip in the air and I couldn't believe how dizzy I was afterwards. I have really changed from back in the day. I still am contemplating purchasing a trampoline for our backyard. We loved ours as a kid and I see how much Micah loves to jump. So I'm still thinking about it. Anyways, I didn't take any pictures today because I left my phone in my bag. I thought about taking it out, but then I felt so much free-er (is that a word) Ok MORE free without it. So we ran and jumped and had a blast. Then we decided to let Noelle take a nap in the car, grab chickfila and then head to the grocery store. I have to admit Micah's idea made Monday a fun day. I'm so thankful for him and his love for life.


So here's my pic from Saturday....This is called "My Happy Feet." It's a place where they massage your feet and back for super cheap. My friends from Lifegroup told me about them and I had to try it out. I only had a little bit of time after I worked out and I was needing someone to rub my feet. So I googled this place that had good ratings. 30 minutes for 20 bucks and 60 minutes for 30 bucks. I mean seriously?? You can't go wrong. It was amazing and if I would have had more time (or if Craig would have not told me things were crazy at home) I'm sure I would have done the 60 minutes. It goes by so fast.

Saturday night we got to go out with a new couple from our Lifegroup, but we had never spent one on one time with them. They invited us out and I was very surprised. I think they had heard about our outing the weekend before with other couple from our lifegroup. So we finally snagged a babysitter for a few hours and got to meet them at an awesome mexican restaurant in downtown Plano. We had a blast. Hopefully we will be able to spend more time with them. The girl's husband and Craig were two peas in a pod. So they got along very well. I never thought this girl had liked me, so I was very nervous...which is weird for me. I tried not to be to gabby and ask her questions and it went well. They have a six year old little girl and a 3 year old boy. 

Sunday was a busy day too. We went to church then out to lunch because it was nice out and back out to lifegroup. So Micah is taking a nap today because he is exhausted. 

Some pics from our lunch outing yesterday:

Noelle loves her sweet potato fries just like her mommy. She has been eating all solids lately. Good report from her is that all this food is making her go poo on the daily. I don't know what happened but it suddenly clicked and she is regular now. I haven't had to give her any Miralax in the past week. I even started giving her bananas and bread. She is doing great. Sleeping through the night well too. I have about 55 days before vacation to get her totally weaned and I am well on my way. It's getting better and I think I am losing my supply fast. 

Crazy that the Superbowl is this Sunday. We have friends coming over for dinner Saturday night and then hopefully watching the game with another couple Sunday. I will be so thankful once Football season is over. Even though Craig hasn't been watching lately since the Bears are out.

Happy Monday Ya'll!!

13 Months

She is the big 1-3 now. 13 months old and acts like a two year old. I really don't remember Micah every going down the slide and climbing up the stair at the park at 13 months old, but she is a pro at it. She tries to hang with the big kids. To me she looks big, but I guess she's still pretty small. Weighing about 20 pounds now. They are playing together well and Micah always wants to show her everything at the park. He tries to get her attention all the time and I hear her name A LOT. 

Funny story is we went to the park after picking Micah up from school and I didn't know how long Noelle would last so I told Micah we needed to go to the Berkner or "burger" park as he says. He wanted to go to a different one, but I told him this one was closer in case I needed to run home quick to put Noelle down. Then he took a second to think and said, "What are you going to do with your car  mom?" I started laughing so hard because I realized he took what I said literally and thought I was going to RUN home. I started picturing myself running home with Noelle and just cracked up and couldn't stop laughing. I tried to explain that I meant run home in the car, but he was a little confused why I used the word, run. It was too cute.

We still have not gotten the flu around here. I am so thankful. The other day Micah was so exhausted he went to bed at 6:30 p.m. and woke up the next morning at 8:15 a.m. I thought for sure he was sick and he was going to wake up with a fever. I didn't think a three year old could sleep that long without being sick. I was wrong. He woke up ready to go and he was feeling just fine. I know he still needs a nap, but some days it's just hard to fit it in. So I push him and then he gets to his breaking point. Last night he went to bed at 7:30 and woke up this morning at 6 a.m. Way too early. So I just lay in his bed with him for a bit. I can actually fit in there and when I'm that tired I don't mind. 

Thanks to Nana and Papa my son is obsessed with cinnamon bread or he likes to say "simeon" bread. I have to buy 2 loaves or bread at the store now because he wants like 2 pieces of bread in the morning and sometimes he wants it for dessert after dinner. Goodness. What a crazy (growing) boy.

Craig and I had a check up today at the doctor. I am getting my blood done again to see how my thyroid is doing after 3 months of being on Young Living Essential Oil pills. Against my doctors wishes, but who cars. It's my body and I like having choices. My numbers really aren't that high to begin with, so even if the pills didn't work I will be fine. I just have to go get checked twice a year to make sure they are getting higher. 

Can't believe February is next weekend already. Am I doing better with my resolution to blog more?? I'm really trying. I need to do better at taking pics and stop snapping so much. I usually have more pics to share. 

Love you all

The Greatest Show(man)

What an amazing weekend we had! I kept hearing how great this movie was and so I asked Craig if we could make it a date weekend. We decided to ask a couple to go with us and make it a dinner and a movie night. Usually it's hard to do both because movies are so long, but we decided it was worth it. So we asked our friends Devon and Jason (my realtor friend who helped us buy the house) to go with us. They recommended a German Biergarten for dinner. It was definitely something we had never tried before. I got a lamb shank. It was really tasty... Oh and yes the beers were pretty huge and amazing too!


Devon and I with our beers....CHEERS!!

So absolutely LOVED this musical movie. It was so uplifting and the music was upbeat and super catchy. We have been listening to the album ever since we left the theater. I would see it again in the theater if I could. It's been awhile since a musical came out that I really loved and that I left feeling better than when I came. It's a family movie for sure. My kids already know most of the songs and we are singing them all the time. I even worked out to the album this morning (monday). It's very motivating.

So there's my 2 cents. If you haven't seen it make sure you GO!! Except I may be the last person who has seen it. haha

My kids are still healthy and I did take them both to the gym today. I know the flu is still going around, but I was hoping there weren't many kids at the child care. When I dropped them off there was only 1 child. Still praying we all stay healthy!!


We were at the park on Saturday too! It was a little windy, but a great day for the park!

Noelle playing at the mall play place.

Noelle is doing better with naps/sleeping. She is sleeping all night through now and wakes around 7 a.m., but if I nurse her she will go back down till 8 or 8:30 a.m. Also on Saturday night it was the first time I had a babysitter put Noelle to bed. I was a bit nervous, but ready to let go. I did have one more frozen milk in the freezer I told her to give her before bed. I have a hard time cutting out breast milk altogether. I still think it's good for her immune system. She will be 13 months tomorrow. I feel like it's still so young. I know Micah was still doing bottles at night for a little bit. The doctor said not to start the bottles because it would be another habit to break, but with the second kid I feel better making my own decisions about what she needs. And she may need bottles for a bit still.


On Sunday we went to church and when we were leaving Micah decided to run down the hill beside us. Again another windy day and he looked so cute in the field. I felt like he should have been in a kids magazine. So what did I do?  snapped a pic!

Praying for so many of you and our health as time goes by. Everyone is getting older and we all could use prayer. Lots of things happening in the family and we are praying for everyone!!

Love you all

Prayers work Ya'll

I just had to jump on here (while Noelle is sleeping) and let you all know how much I have felt your prayers. Noelle felt them too and she is doing MUCH better. She and I have been so much happier yesterday and today. Last night she did her normal 4-6 nap (which is still a bit long for an afternoon nap) and still went to bed at 8:30 and woke at 7 a.m. for feeding went back to bed and slept till I had to wake her to leave to take Micah to school. Then today she napped from 11:30 -1:15 a.m. and now just went down (very quick) at 4 p.m. I really have no idea what was wrong with her the past week or so. I'm so very, very thankful she realizes naps are good for her too. I just wanted everyone to know how much I appreciate you thinking of us and praying for her to get back on schedule. I really hope this lasts.

She is still crying to be nursed and it's hard to reject her right now since all I want is her to be back on her schedule. So I am doing whatever it takes to get her happy and ready to sleep. Hoping I can make some more cutbacks after she gets back into a routine. I really appreciate these small naps now. An hour makes so much of a difference.

After being cooped up in the house for 2 days it felt so good to get out. Micah had a good day at school and Noelle and I took a short trip to Hobby Lobby. I grabbed a cute "Gather" sign for my kitchen I have wanted for a while. Then I came home and played with NJ, did some laundry and watched, "Fuller House." I wanted to clean more, but when she slept I just wanted to chill for a bit. I haven't been able to sit and watch something myself in so long.

Micah wanted to take a picture with Noelle when we got home today from picking him up and he grabbed her and smiled so big, but sister was not in the mood for a picture. It's funny how cute he is with her though. He tries to tell her that we want a picture, but she definitely doesn't want to sit and smile for a photo these days.

 Micah learning how to draw an M. Please don't mind the beautiful background.

Anyways, wanted to hop on here and let ya'll know I'm back to myself a bit more now. I had a rough couple of days, but feeling like a new mom with some rested babes!!

Love you all

fighting sleep

We are still struggling over here to take naps. Doctor said it's normal for her to be off schedule after going on a trip out of town. She is reluctant to take naps during the day, but goes to sleep fine at night now. Probably because she is exhausted from the day. I'm still trying to not stress about it, but the day seems extremely long when naps only last 30-40 minutes. I seriously can't get anything done. And I mean ANYTHING. And here I am again, just put her down 20 minutes ago and she is already crying. I am really not enjoying this time. She is so much happier when she sleeps, and I know how important sleep is.

Today is so cold out. I really want to get out and do something with the kids, but no where to go and nothing to do. I think some schools even closed today. I really don't even know why. Micah has been so sweet to Noelle lately. He realizes she is going to be his pal now and he tries to play with her. He tells her how much he loves her and gives her eskimo kisses.

Yesterday we were playing with some legos and the barn animals. He was being one of the horses and acting mean to the other animals. He said, "the horses don't have Jesus in their heart so they are being naughty." I was a little taken back and said well that's probably true. It's hard to be nice to others when you don't know how much Jesus loves you. So we decided to take the horses to church and tell them about Jesus. It was one of those moments as a mom when you realize he is learning and understands a lot more than you think.


On Friday we had a few friends over from Lifegroup and their kids. Craig was going on an overnight trip with the guys from Lifegroup so I thought I could have the girls over. Micah had so much fun with all the kids. The next morning he asked if all his friends were coming over again. I think he could have friends over every day all day. He is such a social butterfly. His best friends Jackson and Logan came over too. They all ate together at the table and I got to snap a pic of them all!!

Noelle is starting to eat more solids. She is a salty fan. She loves turkey sausage, and ham. I am always surprised how much she eats of it. She has a hard time telling me what she wants and is still throwing lots of food. She seems to like the spoon and giving her pureed food that way. She also wants whatever I am eating still. So I try not to eat in front of her unless it's at the dinner table. I only have a few months left before she needs to be completely weaned and I know it's going to be here fast. She is still so clingy to me, but seems like if we are out and with others she is more likely to forget about the milk. If I'm not around I'm sure she wouldn't cry for it like she does right now. 

Pray for her to get back on a normal schedule and for me not to go too crazy at home all day with these kiddos. I had to take them both for a car ride yesterday at 4 p.m. because I was not in the mood to go another 3 hours with crabby patty. So she took a 30 minute nap in the car while Micah and I got some Dunkin Donuts. He had some donuts before dinner, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to survive and be sane.

Happy Tuesday!

One year old problems

It all started yesterday when I put her down for her afternoon nap. Something just clicked and she decided she needed to stand up and cry the whole time. So after an hour I decided to go get her and skip her nap to go to bed early. So at 7 p.m. I put her down and again she stood up and cried. So after 40 minutes I went in and tried to nurse her and put her back down. She kept crying and then Craig tried to put her down. It wasn't until 9:30 p.m. she fell asleep and I couldn't believe it. So I was hoping it was a fluke, but nope. the same thing today. She wouldn't nap this morning and then fell asleep in the car and now she has been crying for 30 minutes. I really don't know what to do. I feel like every time I go in there it's hurting my chances of her going to sleep. So I had to go outside for a while to cool off.  She's always been a good sleeper. I've had to let her cry it out a lot, but not like this. She is screaming her head off and standing up. I've been calling her "relentless." I feel bad for Micah because he's trying to take a nap too. I am trying to not let it get to me, but it's tough when I know she needs it so bad. I'm not giving up on naps.

We go some cute photos of the kids in from our trip! Here are some photos of us and Hannah and Zeke and Tammi!

These kids are so cute!! I am glad we got all four of them together!!

Home for the Holidays

We got home yesterday and happy to say everything is right where we left it. No burglaries, or stolen TV's and our pipes didn't burst. So we are happy to be back in our beds. Missing all our family already.  I think I heard the word, "MOMMA!" about a hundred BILLION times already and it's only 2 p.m. Micah is excited to be home. I can tell he is so comfortable here and in his zone, but he wants me to see every little move he makes. I don't know why, but it's driving me a bit crazy already. "Look mamma... look at this, look what I did, come chase me." sheeez. I forgot what's it's like to be alone. I looked at Noelle today and said, "Say momma." Then...I thought more about that and decided she can keep quiet as long as she wants...LOL I have enough of my name said today for 4 kids.

I know I shared a few pics from before. I hope ya'll are ready for some more! I am so happy we got to spend so much time in Illinois. We didn't leave anyone out. We saw as many people as we could. Of course it was still hard to leave.  We were all wiped yesterday from the long vacation and plane trip. Both kids went to bed at 7 p.m. and Noelle finally slept all night. She was having a rough time the last few nights. I think she knew I was sleeping in the same room as her. She probably has a good sense of smell like her mom.

I will start with our week at the Hooker's. Lots of Christmas parties to go too and Birthdays to celebrate. Noelle turned ONE on the 23rd and it was so fun to be with everyone and watch her eat her smash cake. She really enjoyed that thing and I was glad it was white.

One of our first nights we took Kim and Gary to Texas De Brazil. A Brazilian restaurant with all your can eat MEAT!! It was downtown and so pretty out.

Kim and I got out nails done and then had a starbucks run. It was a fun girl day without the kids.

At the Schaver Christmas party Tammi did a Cocoa Bar. It was so delicious and creative.

 Miss Noelle was hiding from people at first and decided daddy's legs were a good place.

 Mark and Blair.

 Auntie Tammi. 

 My sweet girl and I

 Playing Bingo and every time someone called out a number Micah would repeat it. And yes it was a long game... haha. It was really cute though.

 Grandma Schaver held Noelle for the game. She just sat in her lap and I was amazed.

Then we have the Hooker party. This was also Noelle's birthday and we celebrated it at the Christmas party with balloons and cake!!

 YUMM

Christmas EVE we woke up to snow!!! It was so beautiful and such a lovely welcome to Christmas.

Christmas day was a bit more relaxed. Tammi and I went to church with Gary and the kids stayed back to get some rest before Christmas Fondue and presents.

The next day we went downtown to the WinterWonderland. Micah had so much fun. He was the perfect age for lots of rides. I was so glad he could do most of them.

 Here we are with our jammies Tammi made for us all. We all had our name on are shirts with Christmas pants. So fun!

Watch out! Auntie Tammi and her liquor. It's scary. haha just kidding. She just took a sip I swear.

 And yes we celebrated Noelle's birthday again with my parents!! Had a little party for her with some dinner and cake! She was a little tired this time around and wasn't as happy eating the smash cake.

 We also took some cousin photos this day in the morning. It was only like 1 degree outside. No big deal.

December 28th

Micah & Noelle get to open more presents and Nana and Papa's house.

 I got to see my childhood friend and also one of my bridesmaids Leah Ipema and her son Nolan. He is only 8 months old. So cute

Noelle styling her cute new outfit

 Snow snow everywhere!! Pretty to look at for sure!!

 Noelle snuggling papa

We go to visit our Bridge family in Des Plaines and see one of our Lifegroup friends. Micah and Madison really enjoyed each other. We even found them hiding in a room together...yikes

 Nicole and I

 Micah loved their decoration. I might steal this for next year. The grinch is ripping their lights off the house. So cool

We're going on a trip in our favorite rocket ship..

 This was too funny not to share.

 We made raisin pie. Paw Paw's favorite pie. It was everything YOU think it would be.

 Auntie Gail meeting Noelle.

 Noelle meeting Jaxon

 Lots of dancing going on in this house.

Sweet little babes all sitting together by the tree.

 Steph and I with our youngests

 Dancing.

Lots of giggles and laughs with Nana and Papa so I'm glad I got one last picture of the four of them.

What great memories and great time with family and friends. We are so blessed to have such great people in our lives. Thankful for you all and how you have loved on us and our kids this year. Happy New Year to you all. Let's make 2018 the best!!