{olives on a monday} the swanys

being happy at home. {part 1}

2012-02-01T17:11:00.000-05:00

{my parents house. December 2011}

As a young girl I don’t remember ever really wanting to be something in particular when I grew up. I never really put that much thought into it. Sure I played house, and friends and I would have a wide variety of pretend careers but even as I got older I never really had a career I REALLY wanted.

I suppose maybe it’s like that for a lot of people. I think many young people enter into college having NO IDEA what they really want to do. I honestly think it would be helpful for high school students to have a

‘careers’ class where they could observe and/or explore different career paths to help them decide what they might want to do. Then again people seem change their minds as they grow older too.

Anyway, when I entered college I decided to get a teaching degree. I always loved my teachers and I really wanted to teach middle school aged kids. After three different schools, and getting married, I had one year of college fund money and then I was out. Long story short I did what seemed completely logical at the time. I got a degree in history, thinking I could get a job at the historical society, or perhaps when Justin was done with school we’d move somewhere amazing where I’d get an amazing career with National Geographic or something.

YEAH.

I graduated and when jobs weren’t panning out in Madison, I stuck with my job at Starbucks and saw the head of the department for some ideas.

He told me to join the PEACE CORPS.

Nice and all, but I did just get married and pretty sure my husband didn’t want me taking off to who knows where and for how long. I’m sure I would’ve benefited a LOT from the experience but I was at a point in my life where it wasn’t going to happen.

So, I worked at Starbucks…and then I got pregnant about six months after I graduated.

TOTAL shock…and COMPLETE excitement.

I remember back as a young girl, sitting in church watching families file in with their sweet little children and want that. A husband and little babes of my own to love on, teach, and raise.

Now here I am, all these years later, with a great husband and four healthy boys and I find myself complaining. I know I should be completely grateful { and I am grateful for all the goodness God has given to me}, but I still feel….unsettled?

Am I the only one?

more soon…

on abortion.

2012-02-01T15:26:00.004-05:00

this is written by a friends' husband. They are an incredible family, and they both have been such an encouragement to me. pretty cool.

via- lifesitenews.com

I dreaded going to the abortion clinic to protest, but what happened next was incredible

BY SHAUN MCDONNELL

February 1, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - This morning, after attending my regular Tuesday Bible Study with the men from Harvest Bible Chapel Orlando, I felt called to go and visit the local abortion clinic that was only one mile away from where our bible study is located.

A woman by the name of Kelly Clinger told me about this clinic. She was there last week praying for women to change their minds on aborting their children. She has an incredible story and has really been a light unto the world on the topic of life. I recommend you go and read her story over here.

Shaun McDonnell and his youngest daughter Charlotte.

I have to be honest. I did not want go to this clinic. In the past, I have been more soft spoken about my Christian beliefs and it just hasn’t been ‘my style’ to go do something like this. The Lord pushed me in this direction and every step I took towards that clinic was one that I didn’t want to take. However, my focus this past year or so has been obedience to Christ and I have found that it has been doing wonders in my life to be obedient to what He says. For example, in Matthew 5:37 Jesus says:

“But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.”

I had told Kelly Clinger and another person that I would be at that clinic this week to pray for the women walking into it and here I was, just one mile from it. So, honestly, I reluctantly obeyed. I was scared, nervous and part of me was looking for ways to get out of this commitment. As you can tell, it is important to note that everything that happened at the clinic was not at all by my might but the Spirit constantly pushing me to do what is good.

The feeling of just pure darkness when I walked up to the clinic was almost overwhelming. I hadn’t done a thing and already I was emotionally distraught. I wanted to leave just being NEAR this place.

However, amidst the darkness of the Orlando Women’s Center there was a light.

His name is John Barros.

In my quest to be honest in all things I must admit John Barros is crazy. He is crazy for Jesus. And it shows. And it works.

John Barros has been at the Orlando Women’s Center every morning for almost two years (if my memory is correct). He gets there around 8 a.m. and he stays all day, every day, except for Saturdays. When he is not at the clinic, he is at the nearby prison where he shares the Gospel with violent criminals. John Barros is the real deal. He’s giving it all for the Gospel.

John pointed me towards his ‘office’ - a stack of railroad ties separating the property of the abortion clinic and its neighboring facility. His ‘office’ contained merely a black bible, multiple DVDs on the truth of abortion and some brochures he would give to women encouraging them to change their minds and perhaps give their baby up for adoption. He also had some Dunkin Donuts coffee that he drank methodically while telling me about what happens at the Orlando Women’s Center (OWC).

John has the face of a man who has been worn down by the countless deaths he has encountered at the clinic. Also on his face is the glimpse of hope that he might be able to save just one more. One more. Just one more in the name of Jesus.

Kelly Clinger and John Barros

John told me that about 100-150 abortions occur at this clinic each week. My gag reflex set in while he was telling me about how busy “Late Term Wednesdays” could be. On Wednesdays, women carrying a child as late as 28 weeks come for an abortion. The doctor induces their labor via drugs and then has them trot around like “cattle” in the back of the parking lot together to help start the process of labor. Each woman then stands over a glass bowl and births the infant into the bowl of water and the doctor then takes care of killing the infant at that point.

Unreal. It happens.

In the middle of this story a car pulls into clinic. John immediately gets up from his office and asks them if he can give them some information that they can read before going into the clinic. Inside the car are two black women. One is the friend who has come along for emotional support. The other one is a young girl named Stephanie.

Hanging on Stephanie’s rear view mirror in her car is a picture of a beautiful little girl. It turns out that Stephanie already has two kids but she really doesn’t want this third one that she is carrying. But, she is listening to John and it almost seems like she is going to change her mind. Yet, she drove into the back of the clinic, parked and entered the clinic. So sad. But there is more to this story…

After Stephanie went into the clinic I was shocked at how many cars pulled up. At one point there was a traffic jam caused by the number of cars waiting to get into the clinic. It was then I realized how real all of this was.

I saw a woman dressed in a business suit go in for an abortion. It was almost like a typical doctor’s appointment for her; it looked as if she was just going to go to work immediately afterwards.

I saw a father with fierce eyes bringing his crying daughter into the clinic. They pulled up in a car with a Z88.3 bumper sticker on the back (the local Christian radio station). The look in this father’s eyes seemed to tell the story of, “my daughter won’t have a baby out of wedlock and embarass the family,” but I have no idea if that is true. He pretended as though John didn’t exist. He never looked at us. As far as I know, she aborted.

A young man and his scantily clad girlfriend pulled up and the girl just looked at me in disbelief as I prayed quietly by myself in John’s office. The disbelief was mutual. I saw them walk into the clinic holding hands.

Then, John started preaching. With a bullhorn.

Again, my honest thoughts at this point were that John is crazy. He started preaching fire and brimstone and I truly thought it was not helping. I spent a few minutes saddened by this thought because I thought I was right. I mean, how many times have we ever seen someone change their mind when a man is yelling at them about Jesus?

John put my preconceived notions to the test. They failed miserably.

John had his Bible in his hand. He held the bullhorn up with the other hand and preached loudly. Although he had his Bible it was obvious to me it was his physical sword as he had all of its words memorized it seemed. He preached scary stuff from Ezekiel and my thoughts continued to be “JOHN, THIS ISN’T HELPING!” and even “I DON’T WANT TO ASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH THIS GUY.”

Yeah, sorry, I thought it. I was so wrong.

John then preached a story about a young woman who had come to this same clinic many years ago and there was no one there to yell the ultimate truth of the Bible at her through the clinic doors and walls. Not knowing the truth, that woman walked into that clinic and aborted her child.

That girl was Kelly Clinger.

John paused at that moment and you could see the pain in his eyes. You could still see the glimpse of hope as well. It was steady. He was steady. He was doing his calling.

A loud crash came from the clinic as the front door opened and the scantily-clad girl came running out, tears streaming down her face. She looked at John for a split second and her eyes spoke a silent thank you.

A minute later her boyfriend angrily stepped out of the clinic and just looked at John. This boy, we shall call him Beavis, looked at John and said, “I want to hurt you really badly. I have never wanted to hurt anyone as badly as I do you.”

Beavis started walking towards the back of the clinic at this point. He looked at me and again expressed his desire to hurt John.

John didn’t care. John had seen this before. John Barros is the pro-life honey badger.

He quickly called Beavis a coward right to his face and again my thoughts were negative. “THIS ISN’T HELPING,” I thought.

Again, I was wrong.

I watched as Beavis’s girlfriend was nodding in agreement with John back in the parking lot. You see, John knew these boys just by looking at them. Beavis was the type of guy who had successfully pressured his girlfriend into aborting their ‘accident.’ Well, Beavis wasn’t counting on John being at the clinic.

As scantily-clad girl and Beavis drove away I could see her waving happily at John. Beavis gave John the finger. Beavis was exactly what John had called him - a coward.

Beavis needed to hear it. Tough love from the Office of John Barros.

John immediately went back to preaching. While he was preaching with his bullhorn I saw Stephanie and her friend walk out of the clinic and into the back lot multiple times. I knew God was working on her heart so I prayed silently sitting in John’s office.

Again, while John was preaching, another woman ran out crying with her friend. As they were changing their minds and running to their car I heard one of them yell, “We hear you! Ok?! We hear you!”

A young girl then pulled up to the clinic. I tried to talk to her but she told me she was just there for her pills. No harm done.

John then tells me later that there are no pills at this clinic. He’s seen this girl before. She stayed in the clinic and probably aborted her second or third child. It’s habit forming.

I then watched, in my amazement, as Stephanie and her friend walked out the front door of the clinic with smiles. Stephanie had changed her mind. John gave her some material and all the information she needed to get help. She was grateful. I was stunned.

Internally, I was an emotional wreck.
Externally, I was an emotional wreck.

God allowed me to see three different women change their minds and three different lives saved. I saw rich women, poor women, middle class women go into the clinic for abortions. From my one morning at the clinic there was no class or race that dominated the day. Abortion seems to spread the entire spectrum now.

My only regret? I wish I had my wife, Katie, with me. I was talking to a lot of women who were emotionally vulnerable and here I was trying to look like I had it altogether, but wanting to save all of the women from harm. Having Katie there would have been a good level of support and comfort. She could have helped keep me more sane and out of danger. I’ll do that in the future.

I thank our Father in Heaven for this opportunity to see what is real. I challenge everyone reading this to step out with a big heart at least once when it comes to abortion. You won’t like it but God definitely will.

{8 months}

2012-02-01T09:19:00.000-05:00

just.

2012-01-29T20:32:00.004-05:00

so you know these? They are all over Pinterest and Facebook:

they are pretty funny, right? Well this one was MADE for Justin:

hmmmmmmmmmmm...yeah.

instagram friday

2012-01-27T11:44:00.001-05:00

{ my friend Bethany has been doing this and I liked the idea since I usually take a lot of photos with my phone throughout this week.}

7 months! {via instagram}

2012-01-08T23:26:00.002-05:00

Christmas pj's 2011

2012-01-08T22:59:00.004-05:00

{in came cousin Lucy!!}

Christmas 2011 {via instagram}

2011-12-28T19:45:00.000-05:00

{headed north}

{ my parents new farm}

{ Lucky Charms for Breakfast!!! How lucky!! Only and Grandpa and Grandma's!!}

{Grandpa & Grandma Wojo and boys}

{Reuben, Miles, Evan, and Max do the lego thing}

{Declan}

merry christmas

2011-12-24T23:08:00.000-05:00

Christmas 2011

2011-12-24T20:23:00.000-05:00

Ready for the game.

2011-12-12T23:32:00.000-05:00

three {liam via iPhone}

2011-12-02T17:27:00.001-05:00

Liam, You are 3!!!!

{Liam and one of his best buds, Caeden}

The last three years have flown by

A lego cake was very appropriate, and you were more than thrilled to lay your eyes on this. I had all these wonderful Ideas of making you a lego brick cake,but quickly realized that due to sickness and the craziness of life I better just order one from a bakery...from someone who ACTUALLY knows how to decorate a cake...I just added the little bricks...and you loved it.

You, Dad, and Evan{poor Max was sick} spent the majority of the evening playing wii. {notice remote in hand}
You, Evan, and I went to get a Christmas tree together while Dad stayed home with a sick Declan and Max. We had a fun time running through the trees, finding a tree to take home.
This year { started on your birthday} I decided to start a new tradition on Birthdays. The day of your birthday you get to run through a doorway of streamers. You thought it was so cool, but didn't quite get what to do...so you did this:

Finally with a little help from your older brother Evan, you got it..and you were giggles for quite awhile!

You are such a joy,our thirdborn son. You have a sweet smile, and a kind spirit {most of the time} and all love your brothers dearly. You love other people, especially the crossing guard at Max and Evan"s school.As we cross the road to walk up to the school, he guides us and you wave and say hi over and over the whole length of the street. You also love to have your window down when we go to the bank or Starbucks drive-thru so you can say hi to whomever is working. We are so thankful for you and your fun crazy personality.

Happy 3rd Birthday Liamster!

xoxo

Mommy

{thanksgiving 2011 {iPhone snapshots}

2011-11-27T16:32:00.015-05:00

{ Evan's thankfulness feathers}

{Finding Nemo on Thanksgiving Eve}

{game ready}

{the feast!! From center round table l to r: Joelle, Maxwell, Liam, Julia ,Dad, Mom, Mike, Justin, Evan, and Jaimee}

{Declan}

{out at the Mitchell farm}

{Justin drumming at the church}

{Grandpa's new office at the church}

{WI farmland}

{Chicagoland oasis, headed back home!}

fall wrap up

2011-11-17T08:45:00.010-05:00

we've been enjoying the fall! {cannot believe Thanksgiving is next week!}

soccer ended a few weeks ago. a pretty fun season if you ask me. Max is at the age where it is actually quite enjoyable to watch his games. They are playing positions and we had a great team. Max had about 20 goals this season. He is a good little player, and not to mention how HOT the coach is.

They won the last match, 7-4 {max had 2 goals} and the parents of the kiddos thanked Justin with a giftcard, and we all are already looking forward to the spring season.
I realized how competitive Justin and I are. Justin gets pretty passionate as the coach and I am that crazy sideline parent yelling the whole game. I think we keep it under control though, and the leauge has a zero tolerance for trash talking refs which I am actually thankful for. I think it is a great policy.

Evan's team {also Coached by the hot guy} ended the season on a good note too. He scored all the goals and they won something like 11- 3. Evan is the only kid on his team that had any idea what was going on {because he has watched Max play for two years} and so he carried the team.

To see Evan in action click HERE

It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is next week!! We are giving a go to Basketball this winter. Max and Evan are excited to give it a go, and Basketball is another sport we all enjoy. Not sure if it'll beat out soccer, but it remains to be seen!
It has been a great year, gone by incredibly fast, and I am excited to spend time rounding this year off with great friends and family!

{just us, and our youngest}

2011-11-12T22:21:00.002-05:00

{my parents were here for a few days, and we went for a walk this morning at the arboretum, it was a little windy, but gorgeous out!}

5 months

2011-11-01T08:35:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween {sugar day!}

2011-10-31T22:23:00.009-04:00

Can it be ? it's Captian Rex and Obi Wan!!!

Arrrg! Some scurrvy pirates! Captian Liam Blackbeard and his first mate Dex!

My littlest pirate!

{fun fall treat}

2011-10-28T12:20:00.003-04:00

made these fun acorns for our small group last night.
{or if you are Jewish you could sprinkle them with some blue glitter for Hanukkah! they also work as dreidels :}
So fun, so easy, so cute.

need:
mini chocolate chips
bite size nutter butter cookies
Hersey kisses

1. melt about 1/2 cup of choc. chips in microwave. {only about 30 seconds, stir well }
2. I used a butter knife and put a little of the chocolate. "glue" on a nutter butter and stick on the kiss.
{I found it easy to have the kisses unwrapped ahead of time}
3. as you finish pasting the kiss and nutter butter together then start back on the first ones you made and put a dab of the
"glue" on the bottom of a mini chocolate chip and paste on top nutter butter.

wallah.

{Jacobsen Park}

2011-10-25T22:23:00.000-04:00

{2 minutes}

2011-10-12T20:38:00.001-04:00

When we get home from school in the afternoons I'm busy, helping with homework, getting snacks, folding laundry...you get the picture, and when I'm deep into say folding said laundry and someone comes in asking for water I {apparently all the time} say; " Just give me two minutes."

Liam, 2.5 and apparently picking up every phrase I use has lately been using this one, which I didn't even realize until Justin pointed it out.

When Just says: " You ready to go?"
Liam responds: "two minutes."

Max asks; " Liam, could I have some pretzels?"
Liam: "yeah, two minutes."

Me: " Liam, you ready to go upstairs to bed?"
You guessed it...2 minutes.

{happy birthday}

2011-10-12T18:28:00.001-04:00

10.10.11 004, a photo by olives on a monday on Flickr.

both of the boys grandmother's birthdays are this week. A fun e-mail to send.

{ after school snacking}

2011-10-04T15:41:00.001-04:00

When the boys get home from school they are a little nuts about scarfing whatever they can get their hands on.
Now I know this is nothing new or revolutionary, but I thought I'd share it anyway.
I recently bought a few jars at IKEA that I filled with pretzels, granola bars, raisins and on the bottom shelf of the fridge {green basket is leftover from some peaches I recently bought...need a few more of those fun things} I put easy to grab snacks that I replenish weekly. {cheese slices, carrot sticks,hummus, yogurt, grapes, apple slices, etc. }. I put them all in little baggies for them to easily grab.
Woohoo for making everyday things just that much easier! :)

{better-than-crack- brownies}

2011-10-03T09:00:00.004-04:00

made these last Friday get together at our casa...BIG hit with adults and kids! And I'm sorry {because they are so incredibly full of healthy goodness} to say it but these are quite possibly the best brownies ever.
Of course I won't be eating any sort of sweet treat until Thanksgiving. I'm trying a sugar fast...and let me tell you, it's only day three and ready to give up. However, I want to stick with it and since other friends are doing it along side me it makes the pain a little less painful :)

So if you would like to partake in this yummy goodness, now or down the road, I recommend these tasty little buggers. While I'm not very crack knowledgeable, I have a feeling these are better than said crack and let's be honest, it's a pretty funny name.
{Better-than-crack-brownies}

Yield: 24 brownies

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Bake Time: 25 minutes

1 batch of your favorite brownie recipe for a 9×13-inch pan
½ cup salted peanuts
8 Reese’s peanut butter cups, chopped
1½ cups milk chocolate chips
1½ cups creamy peanut butter
½ tablespoon unsalted butter
1½ cups Rice Krispies cereal

1. Prepare the brownies according to the directions and bake for about 5 minutes less than the recipe states. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the top with the peanuts and chopped peanut butter cups. Return to the oven and bake for 5 additional minutes.
2. While they are finishing baking, melt the chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in the cereal to evenly coat. Remove the brownies from the oven and evenly pour the chocolate and peanut butter mixture over top. Spread to cover evenly. Refrigerate for 2 hours before cutting and serving. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
(Recipe adapted from How Sweet It Is)

{rollin'}

2011-09-21T15:54:00.000-04:00

rolled over at 16 weeks {to the day}!

{hot dog}

2011-09-21T00:30:00.000-04:00

Evan's class has a class pet, a little dog named, Hot Dog {named by the kids of course} and on Tuesday evan got to bring him home.He was BEYOND thrilled yo have him. He came come and pretended to have a snack with him, took him to play with him, { at one point he got out the game SORRY! and played with him...saying things like, " It's your turn Hot Dog." it was pretty sweet. He even slept with him that night and in the morning he zipped him up in his backpack with his head sticking out...you know so he could breathe and all. Off they went Evan and Hot Dog to tell Ms. Walker { his teacher } about their adventures the night before. It was quite sweet.Evan loves with his whole heart...even a little stuffed pup.

{baby love}

2011-09-13T10:06:00.001-04:00

{Dex. 3 months}

2011-09-01T13:35:00.001-04:00

Happy 3 months Declan!

sunday drive {8.28.11}

2011-08-29T10:35:00.004-04:00

2011-08-24T08:22:00.004-04:00

"...You want to see a legalist, take a look in the mirror. Deep in the heart of all of us is the proud desire to prove ourselves. SIn is wanting to live our lives our own way without God...the battle of legalism takes place every day in our hearts." - Tim Chester {You Can Change}.
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
{Romans 6:11-12}

{star wars party}

2011-08-22T08:07:00.000-04:00

last Friday we had a Star Wars Party for Max and Evan.

{clay, max,riley,evan, caleb, wesley,travis, and tyler}

{goodie bags}

Yoda Soda...boys LOVED this. :)

storm trooper fruit

dinner
The boys fought Darth Vador to try and destroy the Death Star!

Jedi poses.

time for cake!

then take down Darth again!

woohoo!!!

jedi's!

{got the boys all shirts!!! ...they were all so amazed that I knew what size to get...I used the force }

a great time!

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!

maxwell {7}

2011-08-19T22:25:00.001-04:00

Maxwell,
you are 7 SEVEN!!!

What an amazing oldest brother you are. You are so good with your three younger broters, so loving, so sweet, so kind. You are incredibly helpful to your Dad and I. You listen well and are eager to help out (most of the time:).

You love to read(like me), and love math(like Dad)...and you are a great student. Your teachers always mention how sweet you are, and now that Evan is at school with you, you are a proud older brother ...showing him the ropes.

We are so thankful for you, our firstborn son...were we learned the ropes of parenthood. Thank you for being so patient with us, and so compliant as we figure this whole thing out...well try to anyway.
Happy 7th Birthday Max!
love you.
xoxo
MOM

holla. {another fab. find

2011-08-17T15:52:00.002-04:00

{Street Level bag from Piperlime. $99.}

{ Destination Tote from Francesca's Clollection. $48.}

{back to school}

2011-08-11T08:23:00.008-04:00

{evan. ~max.}
kindergartner

2nd grader

{fully equipped. evan with his new shark backpack and mario lunchbox. max with his northface backpack and star wars lunchbox.}

kindegarden :)" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6131/6032147584_7f1e558379_z.jpg" width="480" height="640">

{evan in his classroom. teacher: ms. walker}

cousins weekend.

2011-08-09T12:07:00.003-04:00

this past weekend my cousin {and bff} Nicole, husband Marc and three sons,Miles Reuben, and Booker came down for a visit.

7 boys in our casa!

they had a blast together...and were COMPLETELY wiped by the time the fun ended and they headed home.

{Liam and Reuben}

{Ev, Max,and Miles}

{Booker and his mama}

{declan (and Evan's dirty hands) }

an AWESOME weekend!

Evan {5}

2011-08-08T20:56:00.007-04:00

Today you turned 5! And this week you start school! You have such a great smile,one that is so sweet.
Your heart is so tender, you really have a love for people. A compassionfor others,and that makes my heart so joyful.

You recently have learned to ride on two wheels and you couldn't be more happy to ride with the big boys! {you are the youngestin the group of you whoplay together...3 8 year olds ,two {one nearly 7} 7 year old{max} and you. :)

You never sleep alone. If not with Max,with your Dad and I...even if you start in your own bed,you always migrate to someone elses.
Max and you are the best of friends. You are always playing together and really do get along quite well. I hope you two maintain this closeness for life.
Liam and you go at it a lot. You both are strong willed, know what you want and wrestle A LOT. You have your moments that you both just gie in, share and play nice together,and they are sweet.
You are completely smitten with your brother Declan. You always want to hold him, burp him,love on him and I love watching you with him. Being so caring and attentive.
At this age you are in LOVE with Star Wars and Poke`mon. You still have a deep affection for Mario, and the wii. You and Max have seen all 6 Star Wars Movies and have some characters and homemade lightsabers. It's fun to watch you guys pretend to be Obe Won, Luke, R2D2, or sometimes Darth Vador.

Your Dad and I are so thankful to have you in our lives. Your passion and love for people excite me for your future. You are a great son and we thank God for you!
lovey love you,
xoxo
Mom

{31...and a genius}

2011-08-03T11:02:00.001-04:00

so I was looking online at Nordstrom for a dress and saw this adorable number...then I saw the price tag. {blech...it's obscene}

{$546. marc{ripoff} jacobs}

THEN! I found this little number at Ruche...I couldn't believe the similarity.

{$46}
{ruche clothing}

THEN even better...I found this baby.

{now $19.99 at Urban Outfitters}

(I ordered the ruche one...we shall see how it actually looks on )

I should SO be hired as a fashion consultant on the Today show or something, showing these dresses, in a segment called, " runway fashions at a price you can actually afford." I'm pretty amazed that I was able to find three of these dresses that were so alike in style.
{alright, I know that this isn't really THAT monumental, but it was a fun proud moment for me...so let me bask in it thankyouverymuch! :) }

{31}

2011-08-03T10:54:00.004-04:00

nothing makes you feel more special than getting a e-mail from your insurance company on your birthday.

{what happened to the paper cards I used to get in the mail Liberty Mutual? Budget cuts? Too tech. savvy? I want answers!}

so thankful for all that I have, and how God has worked in my 31 years of life.

our{24 hour} holiday

2011-08-02T11:33:00.005-04:00

a couple of weekends ago we went on a 24 hour vacation. We left around 1PM for Indianapolis.

About 4:30 we arrived in Indianapolis and headed straight for the zoo which is in the heart of downtown. I found tickets fo $4 each, so we paid $16 instead of $56 to get into the zoo. And the best part {minus the heat}? Almost all the animals were out and active, and the zoo was practically empty. If you ever get a chance to go the the Indy zoo, do it. It may be the nicest one I've been to. It's set up well, you can see the animals so well.

{it was hot!}

TONY STEWART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then we headed to an AWESOME Hyatt hotel, swam in the pool, and had dinner. We stayed up late watching a movie and in the morning had a nice breakfast and headed to the chilrens musuem. Since it was another scorcher of a day the place was packed. As I stood in the MASSIVE line I looked at Justin waiting with the boys for me to get the tickets {cost-$65} I mouthed to him, "do we really want to do this?" To whcih he promptly mouthed back, "NO." We told the boys we were bustin' outtat there and would do something else. So Evan wanted his picture with the transformer Bumblebee in the lobby so we snapped a quick piture and left.

We decided to drop by Trader Joe's {and I ran in alone as it was quite busy} and pick up some fun things, since we have no T.J.'s anywhere near us...then we headed towards home via Cincinnati. We talked about going to a baseball game, but then decided with the heat, a newborn, and a two year old who didn't sleep enought the night before to just head to a place we'd been before.Newport. It's just south of Cincy, technically in Kentucky, on the Ohio River.

We walked around a bit and had dinner at an Irish Pub...and by then we were all ready to head home.

{proof Dex was with us! :) }

And around 6pm Saturday we were home sweet home. Just and I were beat, but the boys had a blast and it was a fun time together as a family.

{2 months}

2011-08-01T23:09:00.002-04:00

still livin' the dream. you are an angel baby.

so sweet.

so go with the flow.

so quiet.

so happy.

you so make me want to have another.

you are two months today, can't believe that.

people ask me who you look like and while I can see all three of your older brothers in you, you are definately your own little guy.

your smile is constant.

your cries are few.

you're so dang handsome.

love you my 4th boy.

can't imagine life without you.

xoxo.

9 years.

2011-07-20T09:54:00.003-04:00

{july 20.2002}

{07.16.2011}

9 years!?!?!
FLEW by.

Justin,
9 years ago we said I do. I remember when I stepped up to walk down the aisle I looked and saw you for the first time that day, I lost it. The months leading up to our wedding were so emotionaly draining, so hard and I was sad that Jared was not there to celebrate with us all... but all of the sudden in that moment I remember feeling so much joy and happiness that we were soon to be wed.

Nobody else can make me laugh like you do, nobody can make me cry like you do, nobody can make me happy like you do, nobody is you, my partner in this life, a true gift from God , I am so thankful that he gave you to be mine.

Wouldn't want to do this crazy life with anyone but you!

love you Just.

xoxo

Annie

Yucatecan Rice Salad

2011-07-06T10:08:00.005-04:00

I made this salad for a baby shower a few weeks ago {pardon the cell phone picture} and while it may be claimed "girl" food, it is enjoyable for men and women alike. :)

YUJCATECAN RICE SALAD
{adapted from Cooking Light mag}

need:
1/2 cup water
1/4 teas. ground turmeric
1/2 cup instant brown rice {I used Uncle Ben's}
1/3 cup jalapeno stuffed green olives coarsely chopped
1/4 cup diced jalapenos {optional...but add a nice little extra kick}
1/3 cup red onion {chopped}
1/4cup cilantro
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 can {15 oz} black beans rinsed & drained
3 slices Pepper Jack cheese cut into 1/2 inch thick squares

1. Bring water and turmeric to boil in medium saucepan. Stir in rice, cover and reduce heat. Simmer for 5 minutes. Place rice in wire mesh strainer and rinse with cold water...drain well.
2. Combine olives,jalapenos {if using}, onion, cilantro olive oil, and black beans in a medium bowl. Add rice and toss gently. Then lightly toss in cheese.

enjoy.

Happy Independence Day! {4th of July}

2011-07-04T23:56:00.001-04:00

{1 month}

2011-07-01T15:09:00.001-04:00

Declan,

One month old! Can hardly believe it,but in many ways it feels like you've been here a lot longer...always a part of our family.

You have been a D.R.E.A.M. baby. So easy from the get go. You sleep like a champ, eat like a champ, even poop like a champ.

We are all just so smitten with you. You're adorably sweet...and you have been givng us the cutest little coos lately.

We are so happy to have you in our lives. So excited to see you grow.

love you Dex.

xoxo
Mommy

boys room

2011-06-28T10:53:00.015-04:00

You may remember the "frat party" from last year...and the only picture I have of the boys old room.

...And the new room { that is more blue than I wanted but oh well because I AM NOT painting it anytime again soon...or any room for that matter} which isnt really that new since I did this in January but am just now getting around to posting.

love this fun print...

the six of us.

2011-06-26T14:56:00.001-04:00

There are 6 {six} of us.
I think part of me is in denial, I don't feel like there are six of us, that I have 4 boys {!!!} but it's reality.

I'll be honest, having a 4th boy was a hard pill for me to swallow.{ Of course as soon as I saw Dex's sweet face I didn't have a care in the world that he was another boy, I was in love and completely smitten.} It really
was hard for me to deal with having four boys in my home, stiking it up, tracking mud everywhere, and wrestling matches.
Now though, I couldn't imagine it any other way. It just works...and God knew it all along...what he had in store for us, and it is good.

Declan has been a DREAM of a newborn, he sleeps well at night, and is a quiet baby...just taking the three brothers in I suppose. He is so tiny {to us}, so delicate, so sweet. The newborn smiles have begun and I love soaking in each one. And though I really loathe nursing, I do love those sweet moments after he has finished and is awake, laying there and we just look at each other. It is a sweet moment that is hard to explain.

With each new baby we've had I would say each baby has gotten easier to handle. Partly it is experience, but I also think each boy has seemed to accomadate to life in this world a little easier.

I know my emotions are ALL over the place, losing my mind over some toys lying around when they should be put away, having no clue what we are going to have for dinner tonight...heck, all week, feeling like a obese whale...that is no longer pregnant, and so on. You don't want to hear it, you may want to have me commited.

Some days are completely INSANE, and have moments where I think we are the worst parents EVER, and that we CANNOT handle this,Justin has a deadline in a few weeks at work and has been extremely busy,{so I savor the late nights we have together alone...catching up on our new favorite series, Doc Martin} so we haven't seen too much of him. Mostly though it is good. REALLY good. The boys get along with one another quite well and I am excited to see them grow up together.

Max is an great eldest son. He is such a first born, so responsible, so caring, so compliant. He will do and will do most anything I ask. He is SO incredibly helpful to me. The best thing he has been doing though is in the mornings. He has been taking Evan and Liam downstairs and gives them breakfast. I remember coming down the first morning he gave them breakfast and he said to me ; " MOM! I coooked breakfast for me, Evan and Liam!" He had gotten out the toaster and bread and made them all a piece...the best part was there was no butter or jam on the toast and all 3 gobbled them up.

Evan wants to hold Declan ALL DAY LONG. He is really in love with Declan. He is so funny because he is such a people pleaser. He does not like to see others upset and tries to make them happy as soon as possible{usually}. A few days ago he was sitting with Declan and Dex started to cry and Evan came into the laundry room saying he needed to change his shirt because Dex was scared of it. It had a shark on it. :) {pretty sweet}

Liam....Liamster, Liamster, Liamster. Quite the character that one. His vocabulary
has grown so much in the last few weeks. He has been cracking Justin and I up with some of his witty phrases. And while he was scared to even come near Declan the first week or so and now he is so great at finding his paci when he is upset, and will come and kiss him at random moments. He is quite gentle and realizes that he is fragile...something I was a bit nervous about, but the kid has quite surprised me. Let's just pray he doesn't turn on me! :)

SO...life is good.It is crazy, often feels like total chaos {like when I find three of my necklaces outside in the mud and "inside" toys strewn all over our yard making me feel like we are two steps away from full on hillbilies...just need some missing teeth, which I may soon have as my dentist has been harassing me for weeks with calls to come in for a cleaning }...but overall it is great. Really great, and I thank God for this little {big} family of ours.

goodness.

2011-06-24T15:37:00.004-04:00

Liam LOVES popcorn.

A few nights ago we were making some popcorn on the stove, and Liam is saying:

"I want porn. I want porn."

Whaaa???
Justin and I split a gut, Max asks what's so funny,and Evan just rolls with it and laughs like he gets it.

"It's called PopCORN, Liam." I say.

I show him the bottle of kernels..."what is this called?"

"Pop-Porn." He says.

Can't say I didn't try.

{2 weeks}

2011-06-15T14:49:00.002-04:00

{4 boys}

2011-06-13T11:49:00.003-04:00

Liamster

2011-06-10T14:46:00.000-04:00

one {1} week.

2011-06-08T13:25:00.000-04:00

declan {week one}

2011-06-07T18:30:00.000-04:00

Declan Paul.

2011-06-04T21:41:00.001-04:00

{3 days old}

{six} 6.

2011-06-03T13:38:00.001-04:00

we welcome...

2011-06-02T09:21:00.002-04:00

(hat made by my sweet friend Allison)

Declan Paul.
June 1 2011.
3:03 am
7 lbs. 15 oz
20.5 inches
we are in love

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Memorial Day {2011}

2011-05-30T16:21:00.005-04:00

{thankful for all who serve/have served our country!}

{growing up}

2011-05-27T08:34:00.004-04:00

last night around 2:30am, I woke up to Maxwell standing next to our bed...Evan already in it from a nightmere he'd had.

"What's up bud?"

"I had a nightmere."

Justin lifts the sheets to let him climb in and Max says;
"I don't need to come in, I just needed to see you guys."

growing up...it really happens.

Prince Evan

2011-05-24T05:34:00.000-04:00

Evan: " Mom, I want to go to Faith's Birthday Party."

me: "Oh I know you do Evan but it's for girls only. It's a princess party."

Evan: "Well, I can be a Prince. Boys are Princes."

{funny}

2011-05-23T09:46:00.003-04:00

{what can happen when you have several monogram mugs and don't pay much attention to placement...}

spring soccer {2011}

2011-05-23T09:01:00.006-04:00

This spring has been a crazy one for soccer. We've had so manny cancelled games due to rain and many games I've had to miss so I haven't had a chance to take any pictures since Liam spends the majority of the game trying to get me to let him out of his stroller. {not going to happen kid} But here is one of the two shots I took this spring of Max in process of kicking the ball into the goal.

Because of all the game cancellations and crazy weather this spring, they held picture day at a random time on a Saturday afternoon. If Justin wasn't the coach we may not have made it either...so here is the "team" photo.

Awkward...glad we get a free copy... because...
this
is
hilarious.

{a hard goodbye}

2011-05-16T20:31:00.001-04:00

{scrapbook page by my Mother-in-law : 2004}

Evan and Great Grandpa :summer 2007}

{Liam and Great Grandpa : summer 2009}

{November 2010}

Last week Justin got a call that his 96 year old Grandfather was not doing well and the next day the call that he had passed. Justin flew up to Wisconsin to be with family as they laid him to rest and I VERY sadly stayed home being 37 weeks pregnant this week.

June 25, 1914- May 12, 2011

Here is some of his obituary:
Paul was a veteran of World War II having proudly served his country in the U. S. Army 12th Armored Division as a Tank Sargent in the 494th Headquarters Battalion where he earned the Bronze Star for his distinguished service. Paul was united in marriage to Ruth Butler on January 23, 1954 in Janesville. He retired as master carpenter from the UW- Madison Carpenter shop in 1980 at the age of 66 and in 2001 retired from Genesis Housing in Oregon at the age of 87 where he was the maintenance man. Paul was known for his service to community youth, co-founder of Boy Scout Troop 168 at St. John's Lutheran Church, ran the Pine Wood derby and coached Little League. Paul was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church as council member and usher. He was Past Commander of the American Legion Post 205 of Janesville. He worked with others to establish the Oregon-Brooklyn Habitat for Humanity which became the Madison Habitat for Humanity and built the first Habitat home in Brooklyn. Paul was an avid sportsman who at an early age successfully avoided the Washburn County game wardens. Paul is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Ruth; his children, John (Jane), Grace (Mark) Thomsen, Eric (La Vonne), Edward (Melissa) and Kyle (Darlene); 16 grandchildren and four great-grandsons.

He was a WONDERFUL man, who lived a long life and will not be forgotten for his care and love for his country and his family.

Mothers Day {2011}

2011-05-08T19:14:00.005-04:00

Justin took the boys to pick out flowers...it was sweet :)

{flowers from Justin & Evan}
{flowers from Liam}
{flowers from Maxwell}

{isms} of late.

2011-05-03T15:26:00.006-04:00

Liam{isms}:

"oooohhhhhhooooo" w ith the most genuine voice of love and care that can come from such a small child.
"Dad, da, da, da, da,da....{until Justin says ," Yeah"}asaki, sickla, mama, lada, da, ma.{or something like that}"

-He rolls his eyes at totally appropriate and hilarious moments.

-a hug is him putting his hands on your neck in a choke like hold.
-LOVES these little model cars we can get at our grocery store. They are bigger than matchbox cars and just a little bigger than his hands. LOVES them.

- favorite color is DEFINITELY green as he talks about it...a lot.

-also is a pro at the ipad.

Evan{isms}:
two funny things said recently:
"So....{pauses, sits and puts his hands under his chin} when is that baby going to come?"
convo with Max while reading together: " Max, did you get that book from school?"
Max replies, "Yeah, my teacher gave it to me. " WOW. You are AWESOME."

- Eats an apple a day

{in fact he ate a whole box of 365 apple bars from Whole Foods the other day....I know it's not exactly the same thing as an actual apple but he loves that flavor apparently..so after his morning apple he had the bars for lunch.}

-still wearing {Luigi} gloves...a lot.

Max{isms}:
a few funny phrases I can recall as of late.
"Mom! Look at this kid ! He is nuts!"

or this;

" Mom! We should get rid of this kid! He is SO naughty!"

-promptly gets out his bike and rides for 20 minutes or so every day after school. Then puts his bike away and practices shooting baskets for another 20 minutes {at least}.This kid is disciplined! :)

-has been writing notes to Justin and I at school. He is always so embarrassed to show us, but they are so sweet.

Justin {ism}:

-laughs hysterically at me whenever I get a haircut.

EVERY. TIME.

I got my haircut this last week and when I get him he takes one look at me and bursts into laughter.

He tells me he really likes it and it looks good {which I do believe because he has told me when it has NOT looked goo} but who wouldn't be skeptical.

What a odd cookie.

blessed at 34 weeks

2011-05-02T09:44:00.005-04:00

Last Saturday I was very blessed by the women of our church body. I'm so thankful for such an amzing group of women that are so kind, caring, and fun. All so different from one another, I truly love them all. This ADORABLE decor was done by my friend Rebekah, {who gave it to me after the shower and I am trying to think of something fun to do with it...so I am taking suggestions} along with a wonderful brunch prepared by several ladies. It was a great morning. :)
Y'all. I'm seriously the size of a blimp. I know I was my biggest with Max but BOY do I feel like an oompa loompa walking around. 35 weeks this week...{this picture is from 34 weeks} and I'm fearing another 10 lb. babe. I'll take anything under that, as Liam was 9lbs. 9oz.

Lord willing,this baby will come this month. It is still hard to believe this is our forth {4th!} baby. Time truly does fly by as they say.

{flare}

2011-04-27T20:45:00.003-04:00

Evan likes to pretend he is Luigi..as in Mario and Luigi. He wears these gloves...a lot. I think it's one battle not worth fighting, only because it's pretty cute, not to mention hilarious.

And then there is Max, with his necklaces. One is "important" and the other is his "favorite". One is just a UK lanyard that he put key chains on {he has quite a collection of key chains}, the other is a chain he got at school for passing reading tests, and each time he completes a certain number of points he gets a tag...and he insists on wearing them everyday. I've convinced him to take the weekends off, finally.

Well, I suppose Liam can usually be seen with this thing in his mouth. We are working on saying bye-bye to the paci PERMANENTLY though.

He has risen! {Easter morning at our casa}

2011-04-25T19:14:00.002-04:00

{Easter morning at our casa}

reflecting on HIM.

2011-04-22T08:37:00.001-04:00

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you Another helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."-John 14:15-17

Approaching Easter, I'm once again thankful to God for the GREATEST gift, his Son whom he gave to us that we might be saved.
This year though, I've been thinking beyond that wonderful gift. It's all good to be thankful for that precious gift of Jesus, but it's also should be much more than that. While it's true there is nothing we can do to earn God's favor, I'm realizing the importance of living the gospel in my life each day. Each day preaching the gospel to myself that I might live as a light for him.
We've been working through a few studies in our church body, about the mission of the church. It has not only been eye opening to me, but in this day and age so refreshing, and needed. The commitment to Christ, along with support and love of our church body has changed Just and I...it has taught us to love more, serve more, and as the result has strengthened our relationship{s} with Christ.
My prayer as we continue on in this world is that we would seek the Holy Spirit as our helper and guide {John 14} as we seek to live as Christ lived while here on earth. That each day we would die to ourselves, our desires, and seek to serve others, to live in a way that brings ALL glory and honor to Christ and draw others to him.

Phew, easier said than done!

"Rightly may we pray for ourselves that we may have God's blessing and mercy and the light of his countenance -not that we may then monopolize His grace and bask in the sunshine of His favour, but that others may see in us His blessing, and His beauty, and be drawn to him through us...True , the gospel lacks visibility if we merely preach it, and lacks credibility if we who preach it are interested only in souls and have no concern about the welfare of people's bodies, situations, and communities. Yet the reason for our acceptance of social responsibility is not primarily in order to give the gospel either a visibility or a creditability it would otherwise lack, but rather simple uncomplicated compassion. Love has no need to justify itself. It merely expresses itself in service whenever it sees a need." -John Stott.

Thank you Lord for sending your son!

"...the universe was created for the glorification of God’s grace at Calvary, echoing through eternity in the Christ-exalting joys of the redeemed." - J. Piper

dino cupcakes?

2011-04-11T18:38:00.003-04:00

last Saturday afternoon.

Liam had big plans for dino cupcakes.

goofy boy.

home sweet home

2011-04-11T12:08:00.000-04:00

Back in 2008 I posted pictures of our guest room. It has changed twice since then...nothing drastic, but here is what it looked like up until about a month ago.

..and here she is now. { HOORAY, we bought a bed frame and all the people we've had stay with us have given us rave reviews on it's comfort level}...so come visit us!

on two wheels.

2011-04-07T16:22:00.007-04:00

After a few lessons. a few with Dad. a few with Grandpa Wojo.

And wallah! On two wheels he rode.

And Loving it!

after school

2011-03-31T16:14:00.001-04:00

after school dumping ground, originally uploaded by olives on a monday.

after the rain.

2011-03-30T15:25:00.001-04:00

a new babe!

2011-03-30T09:51:00.004-04:00

{picture credit: Sue Heidkamp}

Booker Joshua Tantillo

March 28, 2011

{9lbs. 12oz.}

My best friend{and cousin} Nicole, and her husband Marc had her third son this past Monday.

Welcome Booker! Love you so much already!

fun.

2011-03-25T15:54:00.003-04:00

Made these little goodies for the sweetest 7 year old girl I know. Aubrey has the sweetest heart, and is SO great with little ones even at her young age. She is going to be an amazing Mother one day :)

It was fun to experiment with doing the rainbow thing but I think I may do a cake next time as it will layer better. {Evan enjoys one without frosting...he's not a big frosting fan}

It was a fun little thing to do to celebrate her birthday with our Community Group last night :)

vanilla cupcake recipe {adapted from Martha Stewart}
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 cup whole milk, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
2 large egg whites, room temperature

{preheat oven @ 350.}

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter on medium-high speed, until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar and continue to beat until well combined and fluffy. Reduce the mixer speed to medium and slowly add egg and egg whites until just blended.

With the mixer on low, slowly add half the flour mixture; mix until just blended. Add the milk and vanilla and mix until just blended. Slowly add remaining flour mixture, until just blended.

Seperate the batter into six smaller bowls and make these six colors:
blue, purple {9 red, 6 blue}, yellow, green, red, and orange {12 yellow, 4 red}.
{then I even layered them in rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple}

bake for about 22{ish} minutes until they spring back at you when you touch them {do not overbake!}

buttercream frosting {the original recipe I was looking at used 2{TWO!} sticks of butter so I decided to scrap that and just make it up...totally easy peasy}
1 stick {slightly firm but not cold} butter
milk {about 1/4cup}
1/4 teas. vanilla
conf. sugar {about 2.5 cups}

I didn't actually measure anything but the butter. I don't like a lot of butter and one stick was still a lot for me. I added about two cups of conf. sugar and a little vanilla and milk and just added to as I tasted it along the way to get the desired thickness I wanted. Worked like a charm.

st.pats2011

2011-03-20T17:17:00.001-04:00

st.pats2011, originally uploaded by olives on a monday.

At school Maxwell's teacher played a little joke on the kids when they came back from lunch on St. Patrick's Day. She had pulled a card {they have 5 cards, and have to pull one when they aren't listening, or are talking too much, etc...} from each of their names and told them a leprechaun had been there and taken them.
Well Maxwell ate it all up and all the talk after school was of leprechauns. What do they like to eat? Why do they love green so much? How are they so fast?
Later that evening and after giving Evan an earful of his Leperchaun knowledge Evan wanted to find one. So off they went in search of 4 leaf clovers {see picture} and to catch a Leprechan, under rocks behind bushes {Max even swore he saw one quickly bound away} and soon Evan is shouting;
"Lep- RE- CHAUN! Where are you? I need to see you!"
"SHHHushh, " Max says." They will just run away if you yell for them. You have to sneak up on them."
It was quite humorous and I SO wish my flip had been chraged so I could have taken a video. Regardless a great memory for this mother on St. Patrick's Day 2011.

{what's for dinner?} Potato & Leek Soup.

2011-03-10T18:46:00.021-05:00

My sister in law Jennie recenty started a food/life/baby blog and she has posted some amazing looking recipies {one of which I'm try later this week}.

As for tonight: Potato & Leek Soup {adapted from America's Test Kitchen}Have you ever smelled them? Being pregnant and having an amazing sense of smell... the smell was strong, but they smell really great. {ps, see how mine are wilted at top...not as fresh as I'd like but it was my fault as I had them for about 5 days before I used them...still good though!}

need:
5- 6 lbs. leeks { they call for white/light green parts but I used some of the green too}
1/2 stick butter
2 {minced} garlic cloves
6 cups {low-sodium} chicken broth
1.5 lbs. red potatoes, cleaned and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1/4 teas. dried thyme
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper

Begin by melting butter and garlic in large stock pot {or even better a dutch oven if you have it}.
meanwhile, dice up your leeks. The recipe called for the whites/light green parts of the leeks but I decided to add some of the healthy looking green root in.

{make sure you really clean your leeks well. It is amazing the amount of dirt you will clean out of those suckers}

Dump your leeks into the pot and mix with butter and garlic. Cover and let simmer for 15 minutes.

While those simmer, cut up your potatoes.

Dump in your potatoes and the chick broth.

{And then...my camera died. Woopsie. So the rest are taken with my cell}

Let potatoes simmer for aout 20 minutes {until tender} take out the bay leaf, and smash some of the potatoes against the side of the pot to thicken soup ...or just take the easy way out and use an immersion blender. {LOVE the thing}

salt and pepper to taste and....wallah!

And here is the finished product just before I served it.

It was VERY tasty with some garlic bread { I bought frozen}, of which I recommend ALEXIA brand {it is in our organic section at our grocery store, and Whole Foods sells it}.

It was a great meal for a colder, overcast day!

26 weeks

2011-03-02T08:55:00.001-05:00

26weeks, originally uploaded by olives on a monday.

...and feeling like 36 weeks. YIKESA.

reunion

2011-02-28T10:09:00.002-05:00

this past weekend our good friends Chad & Melody stayed with us. They moved to Colorado about a year ago, and it was such a joy to see them again.

Our combined six kids seemed to have picked up where we left off last and really had a great time together {with a few arguments here and there} at ages, 6, 4, 3, 2 {two 2 year olds}, and 1. It was fun to see them all together.

Adeline, Evan, Maxwell, Juliana, Breckenrdige and Liam.

After the kids were all in bed we had some GREAT laughs and good conversation and it seemed as if hardly any time has passed.

We do miss them dearly.

Hope to see them again soon.
Love you guys.

back?

2011-02-15T11:39:00.006-05:00

been a bit MIA...I know.

A few busy weekends and over a week of sickness in the casa has taken me down.

I have a lot of things in my head {well, when do I not?}, it's now just a matter of getting to posting them.

For now I just this week finished uploading the few {not very good} pictures I have from December and January.

boys in their Christmas pj's:

{Liam in pirates, Evan in Mario {what else, the kid is obsessed}, and Max in Lego Star Wars...even though he has never seen Star Wars }

Max

2011-02-01T22:36:00.005-05:00

Last Friday night I picked up the boys at a friends house {where a sitter watched a combined 7 kiddos between the two of us...Jessica knows how to whip those kids into shape} after a day of helping another friend move, and on the ride home this conversation happens.

Max: "Mom, I have to tell you something. But I don't want to tell you, I'm embarrassed."

And I reply; " Well, you can tell me, you can tell me anything. I won't laugh."

"I don't know, guess what it is."

And after 10 minutes of going back and forth {I have NO idea what it could be} I finally convince him he HAS to tell me, because I am his Mother!

"Well , all the kids say I have a girlfriend."

" I have a girlfriend!" Evan chimes in," Aubrey, and I kissed her 2 times."

"What? " I say fully knowing that Evan is completely making up this story just to be a part of the conversation.

" I mean, I kissed her 3 times."

So I tell Evan he needs to wait until he is VERY old to kiss a girl, and that he shouldn't make things up...you get the idea.

Back to Max.

"So Max, who is this girl?"

"Samaj."

" Do you say she is your girlfriend?"
"No."
Does she say you are her boyfriend?"
"NO, and sometimes she is mean."

"If she is mean, why are you friends with her?"
" Well, she only was once, and I told her not to be and she obeyed."

{I am DYING at this point...and really don't know what to say}. "Max, she doesn't have to obey you. You can ask her to not be mean to you because it makes you sad, but you aren't in charge of her."

" Well. I AM taller than her."

I can't hold in my laughter anymore.
They do grow up fast, don't they?!

2011-01-25T16:37:00.001-05:00

Windy Corner

2011-01-17T22:05:00.001-05:00

Max was off school for Martin Luther King Jr. day, and he wanted to celebrate. He thought we could join a march somewhere but I suggested we go out to lunch instead.
I read about this place opening up a few months ago, and it seemed like the perfect day to go for lunch. {please excuse the picture quality, they were all taken with my cell...moron forgot my camera at home}

The owners {a chef and host/sommelier married couple who also own two other wonderful local restuarants} bought this old run down mom and pop market and completely renovated it withrecycled wood from a local horse farm. The best part is that it is that it is all local meats and produce.

Max & Liam waiting for our po-boy's. :)

Ev. & I.

yummy chicken avocado po-boy.

the boys outside after a tasty lunch.

prayer.

2011-01-11T13:55:00.007-05:00

{taken with cell, retro camera}

I've been thinking about prayer lately...and praying about prayer. I have to admit, I'm not the best at it. I'm not consistent about it. I think I fear I am praying to much with my petitions and not enough with praise, and then I tend to avoid it altogether as I don't want to feel like {and God knows if I am} I'm faking it. I'll pray in large groups {sometimes} but I feel like I am always fumbling over my words because I don't want to sound like I am trying to impress people, but at the same time I don't want to sound like a babbling fool.

Here is the thing though, that I have been thinking about more: God knows my heart. Maybe I'm not the most eloquent, and maybe I often times don't know what to say, or exactly how to pray but I know that I should just {like the old Nike ads displayed} DO IT. Our actions are a reflection of our heart, and my avoiding prayer has shown me that I don't see that it really boils down to me, my heart, and my pride.

As I've been thinking about prayer,this verse has been coming to mind.

" Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." {Philippians 4:6}

This includes being anxious about prayer itself.

Then the other day I stumbled across this:
"I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf."{ Romans 15:30}
Hello?! Wake up call?!
STRIVE to pray. When have I ever done this? To see God as my only hope and CLING to him and desperately cling to him. To do this through prayer. What an amazing gift that I really have taken for granted. A gift from a savior who has shown grace upon grace and I've so blindly ignored it for so long because of my own selfish fears.

When was the last time I have strived, struggled, and persisted in prayer? I think about the struggles of so many in the Bible, like Paul who PRAYED for those who hated him that they might be saved. I've never thought much how hard that could have been for him, to persist, and to struggle in having a heart of love towards those who hated him, to want them to know Christ like he did.

AMAZING.

So, this year as we welcome a forth child into our home and as we embark on new challenges and changes of what may happen, I hope that I can learn to pray more. That God would reveal to me the importance to be persistent in prayer.

To struggle. To STRIVE and to persevere in prayer and praise to him.

Happy 2011.

18 weeks

2011-01-05T08:53:00.005-05:00

18 weeks.
CRAZY. Nearly halfway done with the pregnancy already.
In the next few weeks we will also be finding out the sex of this little one.

I won't lie.

I am SUPER anxious. We even talked about not finding out, but I don't think I could take it...not knowing.

I long for a daughter, I always have. I'll even admit I have a small girl stash, which has dwindled a bit with friends having girls, but I've held on to my absolute favorites.

Don't get me wrong, my 3 boys have brought such joy to our home and though I don't think I expected to have three sons, here they are and I thank God for each one of them,their tender hearts, their differences,love for sports, and each of their personalities.

God has a plan. He's always known what our family would look like. Who would be a part of this family and for how long.
So I trust him. I am excited to have a new baby. He knows what is in store for us... girl or boy.

And you know what? There is great comfort and joy in just knowing that.

jennings, driver, and rodgers.

2011-01-03T07:43:00.003-05:00

For Christmas, Justin's parents got the boys Packers Jerseys. I think Evan has worn it every day since Christmas except maybe the two times it's been washed.

they are well loved.

Max is QB Aaron Rodgers.{#12} Evan is wide reciever Greg Jennings {#85} and Liam is wide reciever Donald Driver{#80}.

I don't know if you caught the Packers/Bears game yesterday, but they all had a pretty good game.

uh, oh....Driver is losing it.

Driver it's ok...

The team back together again.

Happy New Year !

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-23T05:16:00.002-05:00

see you in 2011!

christmas tea.

2010-12-13T10:33:00.001-05:00

my friend alison hosted a fun womens' tea get together on Sunday. She is a great cook, sweet lady and all around awesome person.

the amazing spread. She made about 90% of this awesome this. I contributed...nada.

the ladies {taken by me}

a close up of the goodies. :)

all the ladies {taken by alison's husband :) }

Fun, snowy, afternoon with some wonderful women. Thanks Alison!

2. {two}

2010-12-02T06:55:00.000-05:00

oh Liamster. You are two?!

{2 days old.}
What a joy you have been from the day you were born.

{8 months}
You are so sweet, so independent, and yet you love people...you warm up to people so quickly.

{1st Birthday!}
My little L-man has grown into quite the toddler! You are one tough cookie. People always comment when they see you take a spill on a sidewalk or a crash into something. You never cry unless you were really hurt. o

{26 months}
You are simply adorable. You have a smile that KILLS.

{33 months }
You crack us up with your silly ways, pretending your a cat, doing a crazy laugh.

Being pregnant with your little brother {or} sister, I have been not feeling well and been so tired during this first trimester. After we take Max to school, you, Evan, and I snuggle on the coach together and watch a litte morning cartoons. You guys watch...I cat nap. It is a wonderful time though. The three of us huddled together under a blanket. A sweet memory, that is for sure.

I could not imagine life without you, our third sweet, happy baby boy. You have brought such joy to our family and we are so excited to see you grow.

Happy 2nd Birthday sweet boy!
xoxo
love,
Your Mama.

turkey bowl 2010

2010-11-30T17:54:00.004-05:00

the first annual turkey bowl was held this year. In Libertyville, Illinois.
here are some highlights from the game.

Happy Thanksgiving.

2010-11-23T08:51:00.005-05:00

Maxwell's turkey cookie

We are heading for Wisconsin/Illinois this weekend to be with our families this afternoon, but I thought I'd share this fun questionnaire my cousin Nicole sent me... here are Max and Evan's "recipes" :

Evan's 'recipe'

1.How do you cook a Turkey? Put eggs and sauce on it.
2.What do you have to do to the turkey first? clean it... get the poop out.
3.then what? look at it.
4.stuff it with what? eggs and milk
5.What degrees do you cook it at? 4 degrees
6.how long do you cook it for? 10 minutes
7.what do you season with? pepper
8.what do you serve on the side? broccoli, eggs, pasta, chili, pizza, and waffles

Max's 'recipe'

1. How do you cook a turkey? you put it in the oven and make sure its not cold.
2. What do you do with the turkey first? Cut it
3. Then what? you take the bones out.
4. what do you stuff it with? Oranges, grapes, tomato.
5. What degrees do you cook it at? 19 degrees
6. How long do you cook it for? 10 minutes.
7. What do you season it with? Fruits and stuff.
8. What do you serve on the side? Grapes, bread, oranges, brownies.

10 things I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving. {in no specific order}

1. this life growing inside of me.

2. my husband who is such an encouragement to me, is so patient with me. Thankful to have him as my partner in life.

3. my firstborn, Maxwell {maxo} who has the sweetest heart.

4. my middle child Evan {Ev} who makes us laugh and loves to cuddle,

5.my baby [for a few more months anyway} Liam {the L-man} who is always bringing some sort of entertainment and smiles to our faces.

6. my immediate and extended family. Truly blessed to have 2 wonderful families.

7. Our church body. I am SO thankful for such a great group of people who genuinely love and care for one another.

8. friends near and far. Thankful for all the different friends in my life who have impacted me, encouraged me, and have been there for me.

9. a merciful, just Savior. Thankful to know him, and I pray I can stop and give thanks for him each day, no matter what is going on in my life.
"The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever." - Psalm 138:8

10. a roof over our heads, a husband with a good job, and food on the table.

Praying you all have a fun Thanksgiving weekend giving thanks to Chirst and rejoicing in his truths.

the boys {some recent pics}

2010-11-21T20:40:00.002-05:00

my big boy, Maxo. {6}

my Ev.{4}

my baby.the L man. {2 in 2 weeks}

the 2nd trimester is so close I can smell it.

2010-11-15T08:20:00.000-05:00

{ 7:50 this morning...taken with cell...does NOT do the beautiful morning fog justice.}

SO... this pregnancy has brought about some interesting changes.

1. The thought of drinking up a cup of coffee makes me ill. I NEVER in a million years would think that would happen. Can't do it though...

2. Can't have chocolate either. GROSS.

3. Can't cook meat. ICK...it makes me feel so ill...we've been having a lot of vegetarian dishes lately.

4. I've been craving dried apricots. I also want a MARGARITA like an alcoholic.

5. I have never been so exhausted or felt so l-a-z-y in all of my life. I slept 11 hours straight recently. Felt SO good.

How normal people drink wine.

2010-11-10T12:08:00.003-05:00

thank you Abraham Piper {via You would Not Believe}

2010-11-08T12:43:00.001-05:00

I realize anew that, just as we must learn to obey God one choice at a time, we must also learn to trust God one circumstance at a time. Trusting God is not a matter of my feelings but of my will. I never feel like trusting God when adversity strikes, but I can choose to do so even when I don't feel like it. That act of the will, though, must be based on belief, and belief must be based on truth.

{Trusting God, by Jerry Bridges}

trick-or-treat 2010.

2010-11-08T08:51:00.000-05:00

We had lots of pumpkins from a trip to the pumpkin patch with the Youngs. Max wanted to carve one SO badly so one afternoon we did, and the photo op. afterward went anything but well. It was fun anyway. :)

We get SO many kids at our house on Halloween. It's crazy, but the boys love it. Max was sick on the 31st {AGAIN} so he missed out on the candy collecting, but the shark and puppy got loot for their sickly {pirate} brother. our shark.

our puppy.

4 {four}

2010-11-03T20:22:00.000-04:00

so.

It took 3 {three} days of putting this shirt on Liam...

...with me on the third day laughing , telling Justin to go outside and READ Liam's shirt.

Not so observant that one.

So there you have it.

Number 4 {four} will make an appearance sometime around June 11, 2011

{toms}

2010-10-22T16:38:00.008-04:00

Today a package came, inside was this box:

I was excited. My first pair of toms.

Here is the thing about toms...you buy a pair, and A child in need gets a pair. Rocks.

And with the purchase of this particular pair, toms teamed up with another charity I love to build clean water wells in Africa. Rocks again.

{love}

Get yourself some toms today! {did I mention they are amazingly comfy?!}

Finding Me.

2010-10-18T12:59:00.002-04:00

{by, anne swanson}
In this day and age with so many working moms, and women doing more than they ever have, being a stay-at-home mom seems, well, like it isn't enough. {read more HERE}

day 4: {WashingtonDC}

2010-10-14T15:30:00.003-04:00

On Friday {day 4}, I had to wake up and pack the car. I was debating between taking the boys to a museum in Baltimore or the National mall...knowing we needed to be back by 2:30 as Justin would be done with his conference.
The National Mall in DC won. We checked out of the hotel and headed to the train station.

Max, Evan and I on the train.
Maxwell right after we got off train. Capital in background. National Museum of History on left, and Smithsonian castle on right.

Evan in front of the Washington Monument.
Then we walked to the WWII monument, walked the length of the reflecting pool{which alone is nearly half a mile} to the Lincoln Memorial.

Then we turned around and started back towards the National Mall.
It was SO gorgeous out. About 75 and SO sunny.

Then we caught a glimpse of the White House...which we hope to actually tour someday.

THEN!!! Then, we were stopped by police while they cleared the streets of cars and people. Nobody was allowed to cross. Soon came several police cars, then motorcyles, then a HUGE parade of black, SUV's Vans, ambulance, and more police. { I swore the sun shown right on Obama and I saw him through the tinted glass, but alas who could beleive me? Just like the time I talked to Usher}

I was so excited I couldn't even take a decent picture.

We headed in to the Museum of Natural History {Night at the Museum filmed there...so cool..and a cute movie} checked it out a bit and had a quick snack before running back to the Metro to get back to pick up Justin by 2:30.

A great morning in DC.

National Zoo, DC {day 3}: meeting Danielle, her twin boys and baby girl

2010-10-13T08:14:00.004-04:00

On Thursday, after battling traffic and a GPS that said I'd be in traffic for another hour and a half when I was supposed to be meeting Danielle and her kids at the zoo in a half hour I saw a sign for the Metro and went for it.
I got a parking spot at the very tip-top of the parking garage and hauled the boys and a stroller down three flights of stairs. We bought our tickets I grabbed a map and we headed up to the train platform, got on board and set out to the zoo.

We finally made it and bet up with Danielle her boys; Duncan and Owen, and new baby girl, Sophia.

Evan, Duncan and Owen were non-stop...the whole day.

max.

Evan checking out the pandas.

Danielle showing the boys this crazy bird {it was quite loud too!}

there are A LOT of shots like this one.

finally, one of all of the boys {minus liam and sophia who were sleeping} all looking

...and last but not least a quick shot of Danielle and I before we parted ways.

So great to meet you and your family {minus Josh} Danielle! Finally! After all these years, and I appreciate you even more now that we've met in real life!:}

day 2 : {meeting amy & her boys} Washington DC

2010-10-12T09:29:00.001-04:00

Wednesday the boys and I drove to just north of Washington to meet my newest blog friend Amy. She and our {6} SIX boys drove to downtown DC and went to the building museum, took the boys to the current exhibit of legos complete with building area where the oldest 4 built while we tried to keep the babes from licking the floors :)
{These pictures are just outside the museum}

luca{18 months}&liam{22 months}

evan{4}& xan{4}

these two...instant buds.

max{6} & david {8}

don't you love how cooperative liam & luca were?

6 boys!

And lastly, a quick shot of amy & I {ages unknown}.

so great to meet you AMY! It was a great day, felt like we'd been friends forever, and I love how our boys instantly bonded. Let's do it again soon!