Baby, it's hot outside!

Maxwell enjoying some cool in the pool...

Happy Birthday Carl!

Happy 19th Birthday to my brother Carl! We
celebrated his birthday last week though because
he (and my Dad and sister-in-law Julia) is on
a missions trip in Mongolia for the next two weeks.
Hope they are doing well in the wilderness!!!

Baby Samantha is here!

Congratulations to Vanessa and Wally...on the birth of
Samantha Schoen Boss.

Born: July 27, 2006
Weight: 6 lbs. 13 oz.
Length: 19.75cm
Love you all.

I dreamt a dream...

Pray for my cousin Vanessa...she has been in labor for over 20 hours now and is finally fully dilated and pushing but throwing up while doing so! Hurry up Samantha...we cannot wait to meet you!

Ok now for my dream last night...(sorry for all the errors...typed really fast so I would not forget)

So I was in town for whatever reason visiting my cousins, when Vanessa and Wally called us to tell us they were going to the hopital. Nicole told me to go and that she would meet me there later after she ran some errands or something. So I get to the hospital and soon after I arrive Vanessa and Wally show up.Vanessa is heaving and hoeing (spelling?) and Wally is carrying a newborn. In they waltz and I follow them to their room when Wally hands me this baby boy (turns out to be a friends baby they were babysitting for when Nessa started labor) and he like throws the baby at me and I nearly drop him...and in typical Wally fashion he says something sarcastic like...."you sure you know what your doing?" I tell him to be quiet and start pacing the hall with this baby. There is another family in the hall a grandma, an aunt, and a 7 year old girl waiting for their relative to give birth. I am being entertained by the 7 year old when a crowd of like 20 people rush in. One guy is like barking out orders to these people and it is like mass chaos. In they go into this room with double doors and they are all running around with video cameras and costumes. One girl stops because she recognizes me and I vaguely remember her but I ask her what is going on. She replies that they are here to make a birth video. All of the sudden she is being called by someone, and the leader of this troop whips open the door to the room Nessa is in and about half the people rush in to survey the room and they are talking about where to set up their cameras and complaining that this room is not a good set up. Meanwhile the "actors" are in the hall stretching, they have legwarmers on, and they are chatting about different things. I tune into this girl who says, " Man, I have so much to do today and to run errands....too bad this place is such a bad set-up this Wal-Mart is the biggest one I have ever been in but the birthing suite set up is really disappointing..." (apparently Wal-Mart now has birthing centers). So eventually all these people cram into Vanessas room and perform some sort of show and it also involves Nessa's birth. Next thing I know they are all charging out of the room and gone. I head in and there are Nicole, Aunt Sue and my Mom...I missed their entrance somehow...and Vanessa is currently out of the room. Nicole and I start talking about our cameras and Sue and Mom are playing with an I-pod. Soon Vanessa waltzes in, wearing a long pale orange gorgeous nightgown and looking better than ever. She comes to the bed Nicole and I are currently sitting on and puts down colored pencils and a coloring book and begins to color.
Then she looks up at Nic and I and lovingly says..."She is just gorgeous...just gorgeous."

That's it. I then awoke to Maxwell wanting to get out of his crib. I wanted more! I may just be going insane...

But I will have you know I HATE Wal-Mart...I am a Target girl through and through. So I will be birthing at the Target Birth Center if you want to send flowers ! :)

Happy 4th Anniversary Marc and Nicole!

Four years ago, a week after Just and I's wedding, my best friend was married to the love of her life, Marc AnthonyTantillo. Four years later they are expecting their first child this September and we could not be more excited for them! Happy Anniversary you two!

ode to the tide-to-go pen

For all you non-believers out there, those who have shunned the idea that a stain pen would rid your possessions of stains I give you the Tide-to-go Pen. I admit I had my doubts, but after I received a coupon in the mail for a significant discount I decided to give them a try. Being pregnant I tend to spill on myself.... well pretty much everything there is food around. Thus the need for a stain remover. The first time I used it I was skeptical. Push on the tip to let out the detergent and rub it out...I mean come on. But it worked!!! Really worked! The key is to get to the stain A.S.A.P., you cannot let it sit all day and then try it I doubt that will work. That is the beauty of the pen...it is easily transportable. It is good to go! Throw it in your purse, diaper bag, car, even your pocket if you so desire so then at the drop of a hat you have your instant stain remover handy! Don't doubt the pen! My cousin mocked me SOOOO bad when I gave it to her after she spilled coffee on her white t-shirt, I told her to just try it and she was amazed by the power of the pen. But don't take my word for it, you will have to try it for yourself.

treasures in heaven

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and dust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, your heart will be also...No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."- Matthew 6:19-24

I read a wonderful article that in sum was about how we so often desire other things more than Christ. The point was that it is okay to have desires for good things, as long as you remain submitted to Christ and keep him in the center of your focus, the most desirable thing in your heart. If your desires compete with and forget about Christ, then your heart is lusting for these desires alone and it is not right. This clashes with what should be our greatest desire; to know, love, and follow Jesus Christ. This should be our constant focus! :)

just something to think about...

Happy 4th Anniversary!

4 years ago...my favorite part of the wedding!
(I do not have the professional photo scanned into
my computer, so a friends copy will have to do!


this picture taken last weekend from
the wedding we went to.

Today Justin & I are celebrating our fourth wedding anniversary. We have been together for 8 years, married for 4. We have been through a lot together, some great highs and some low lows, but one thing remains the same, Christ. He has given us each other, he has always been there through it all, and my hope and prayer for us as a couple, and as parents is that Christ would be reflected through our relationship. That we might as one know him as best we can and share his love and what he has taught us to our children and others.
Back last September I refelcted a little about how marriage should be, and I thought I would share it again!
" What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?"
I really love weddings. Nothing sends my heart into a delirious excitement like a wedding. To see two people consumed with love for each other, and ready to experience the rest of their lives with one another makes me ecstatic. When I married Justin I felt an incredible joy and security that this man was taking me to be his wife forever! It is almost impossible to describe the happiness I felt.As with all marriages there are good times and bad. The honeymoon does end, and often times in our day and age many marriages do as well. It saddens me to see so many marriages end up so broken and bitter.It is so amazing to think of your marriage when thinking about your relationship with Christ. So many give up on their marriages so easily, as they do with Christ, but there are those who cling on to Christ when their marriage is in distress. This is our only hope. I have realized that my husband will not and cannot make me happy. Only Christ can. I can experience Chirst's glory through my marriage by loving my husband through good times and bad. I cling unto Christ when I feel as though Justin just does not understand me, because he cannot read my thoughts...But Christ can. And I cling unto Christ when things are good, so that his mysterious ways may be revealed to me so I can trust him more, and love him more deeply.I read once that you cannot love someone "too much." The problem is that we love Christ too little. How true is that! I do love my husband more than I ever thought possible! But, my husband will fail my expectations...All spouses do, but Christ never will! My love for Christ should be even more so! He has given us such an incredible gift...himself! Better than any other gift we could ever think of!EVERTHING in our marriage can reveal Christs' character. We can really discover and get to know him through it, or, we can battle everyday in our broken world to try and find happiness in our spouse which is impossible. To respect and receive respect, humbly seek and extend forgiveness, and so many other aspects of my marriage can be revealed though Christ and his purpose for our lives; for his ultimate glory!

I am so thankful that God has given Justin to me and I am looking forward to us growing old together! For more on the celebration of marriage God bringing two people together as one I suggest you checking out my friend Danielles blog who is celebrating her second anniversary with her husband Josh, hope your day is special!( ps- Happy Bleated Anniversary to Bethany and her hubby too!).
As for us, I am so thankful for such a loving, handsome, hardworking husband. Thanks for being so good to me after I cried about Maxwell destroying my wedding bouquet yesterday. You always know how to make me laugh, I love how much we laugh. I love when you always know something is wrong and always work things out with stubborn ol' me. I love you!
Happy Anniversary.

36 weeks

I know I should not complain...I know I will miss
feeling this little one inside of me when I cannot feel
him kick inside anymore, but I am really eager to meet
him! It also has been REALLY HOT the last few days
and when your pregnant it is like having a built
in heater! Still I am thankful for this precious gift
that God has given to us and we are all looking forward
to his arrival, hopefully safe and sound.

Happy Birthday Marc!

Marc, the fabulous and wonderful husband to my best friend Nicole turns 26 today! I never have met anyone whose love for music is equal in comparision to my husbands' love for music. A die hard Cubs fan, he has the most faith in his Cubbies of anyone I know. Marc and Nicole are expecting their first child, Miles this Septmeber and Marc can not wait any longer! You would think he was the pregnant one! Seriously though, he is going to be an amazing Father as he is an amazing Husband and friend. We love you Marc. Happy Birthday!

Mr. & Mrs. Chad Kemp

Even though this picture is not the best quality, it
still shows what is my most favorite part of weddings.
After the groom kisses the bride, the couple is announced and
the couple descends down the aisle as husband and wife, both with
the biggest smiles on their faces...gets me every time! I love it!

After a year of planning, of Nicole and I running to Michaels
like every week, Chad and Nicole were finally married! It was
a beautiful wedding and all they had hoped and dreamed!
Congratulations you two and have a great honeymoon!

pool boy

My Mother-In-Law has done countless pages of Max, but
this one was sooo cute and she used the
same photographs as posted here, so I thought I
would add her scrapbook page! She is so good!





HOT!!! Max stayed nice and cool today though!

And we're off...

Well, it's official. We are moving to Kentucky! The fact that this is really happening is still settling in my mind. I have a lot of emotions running through me. Excitement, starting fresh, purchasing our first home, exploring a new place, meeting new people. Sadness, leaving our families behind, leaving friends behind, leaving a great city. I am a little nervous about keeping myself sane. I will be at home full time with our 2 year old and newborn, and living in an unknown city where I know nobody is a bit intimidating I will admit. But I have high hopes, of finding a great church, meeting new people, and decorating a new home. We have been dealing with our garage sale/ hammy-down furniture which is all being tossed or donated when we move. The only nice furniture we have is our bed, and a crib. It is out with the old and in with the new! It will be nice to decide on a style for our home instead of the Hodge-podge that we have been living in. Not that I should complain we are truly blessed with what we do have, but the 2,000 lb. fruit couch has GOT to GO!
Our lease is up at the end of this month, so we will be moving sometime in August, no rush since the new tenets will not be arriving until mid-September. We are moving in with my parents until we move to Lexington, which will most likely be sometime in November. The job that Justin took is a project lasting about four years, so after that we will be moving again. Most likely he will take a job with a new company( so that we do not have to move every 4 years or so) and most likely back to the Chicago area. But we will see when the time comes. For now, we are excited to see what Gods plans are for us while we are in Kentucky. It will be interesting to see if our kids develop some southern accents too :)

bookworm...

A few days ago I hear max in his room, chatting as always, so
I head in to discover him reading. Melted this Mom's heart.

Happy 27th Jared Paul

I John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear; because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love."

Although we think of and pray for you daily, today is your Birthday and even though we cannot communicate, I hope you can feel the love we all have for you. We miss you. May God give you peace particularly on this day as you turn 27.

34 weeks...the big yellow mack truck.

happy 4th!

sportin' his red white and blue

enjoying the pool

soaked

hose fun






























We had a great 4th filled with baseball, swimming, playing
in the hose, and spending time at Grandapa and Grandma
Wojos and then and Uncle Marc's and Aunt Nicole's house.
Fun to see everybody!

World Cup fever...

After the games today Justin and Max were itching to hit the field...

warming up



goooooal (a header by Maxwell Jared Swanson)!!!!!


I being nearly 34 weeks, did not play...yikes look at that belly!


of course max had to hit the swings while we were there !

*Fireworks *

After getting home after a bunch of running around today, Just, Max, and I spent some time out on the deck. We lit some candles and enjoyed the warm summer air. We happen to live in a great part of Madison, there are lots of bluffs around, a bit like Colorado...just no mountians...not quite the same.
Anyway, back to the point. Off to the south we noticed someone was shooting fireworks off. The problem was that this was not a professional fireworks show, so they were only setting off a few at a time with like 1o mintue intervals in between. When they came Max cheered, when they left he began this bird flapping thing accopanied by, "more...more..." he obviously has no idea we have no power over these things. But the best part was that after about the third interval of these fireworks they shot just one off. Maxwell goes,
"Ohhh...kaaaaay...." in a tone like, alright I want some more here people and I am not going to cheer for real until I know they are here to stay. The show lasted about a half an hour, and afterwards Max chatted about it like it was the show of the century.