Memorial Day {2011}

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

{growing up}

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

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}

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

spring soccer {2011}

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}

{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}

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

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

{isms} of late.

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

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}

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}

{Easter morning at our casa}

reflecting on HIM.

"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?

last Saturday afternoon.

Liam had big plans for dino cupcakes.

goofy boy.

home sweet home

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.

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

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

after the rain.

a new babe!

{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.

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

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.