{31...and a genius}

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}

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

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}

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.

{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

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}

{1 month}

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

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.

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.

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}

{4 boys}

Liamster

one {1} week.

declan {week one}

Declan Paul.

{3 days old}

{six} 6.

we welcome...

(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

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