{ 10 years }

" Nothing that I wouldn't do, go to the ends of the earth for you, To make you feel my love, to make you feel my love." -Adele Happy 10th Anniversary Just! xoxo

Broccoli Gribiche

Tonight for dinner I made Broccoli Gribiche and Garlic Chicken { via Jamie Oliver}. The Broccoli Gribiche was really awesome, and I've been loving this cookbook. I highly recommend it! " I tend to cook with whole, natural foods- whole grains, whole grain flours, minimally processed sweetners and fresh produce..." My kinda cook, and a therefore my kind of cookbook. 5 stars for sure.

{Wisconsin} Instagram

We just got back late last week from nearly 3 weeks in the Northwoods. Justin was at a conference, then work for the first week and a half, then he joined us at my parents...who live in Wisconsin but about 10 minutes from the Minnesota boarder. Declan Liam Max We did the bow and arrow thing...which the boys LOVED. {Evan} { Just} {My brother Carl} {my brother Pete} Lucy {my niece} and Declan The boys . We went to the beach. My sister-in-laws Jennie showcasing her La Croix on the St. Croix River. Declan and I WE went to the Children's Museum in MInnesota. Declan, Grandpa, and Lucy My parents, my brother Alec and I went to the MInnesota Art Institute. They had Rembrandt on temporary display. Justin and I went out for an afternoon to the cute town of Stillwater, MN. more of the farm.
 On our way headed back home we also spent a few days at Justin's parents In southern, WI. IT was SO hot. We spent the majority of the 4th in the pool! Fun trip and always nice to get back home. OIN

Declan turns 1 { via instragram}

Friday, June 1 our baby, Declan Paul turned 1! We had a group of friends over, the Bush family( thier 3 boys Issac, Luke, and Owen), the Woodyards ( and thier baby Samuel)the Valentines( and thier kiddos, Calaeb, Clay, Aubrey, and Faith) and Our friend Tara. We got a late start and didn't actually sit down for dinner until about 8, but the kids all had fun playing and Declan fell asleep right as we were ready to eat. There was little left by the end of the meal and on Declan slept. We cut his cake (made by my sweet friend Gina .. Who wasn't able to come with her husband Ryan and daughter lily but brought me the cake)and ate i5 without him and soon after all had left, around 111PM Declan woke up, so we got him up sang Happy Birthday and he opened his gifts and he ate his special Birthday cookie...which he devoured. Max, Liam, and Evan were thrilled to watch him. Around midnight we all headed to bed, completely exhausted and slept until 10 the next morning. It was a fu day. Declan Paul, You have brought such joy to our family. Definately our easiest baby from the get go you are always smiling and laughing, it's hard to believe you could be so sweet. You adore your older brothers, having a special relationship with each one of them, it makes our hearts glad. People are just drawn to you and you love the attention. When you get really excited while talking your Dad and I joke that you sound like an angry German. Cracks us up. We thank God for you, what a special gift you have been to all of us. we cannot wait to see you become an older brother later this year. Love you sweet boy! Xoxo Mama

{Memorial Day 2012}

First off, big THANKS to all our service men and women who are active today, and to our vets. THANK YOU for all you do for this country! {big shout-out to my cousin's Benjamin and Jonathan...so proud of them both!}

 {top left to bottom right- kids on the slip-n-slide! Declan and Owen {2 months apart} my dinner plate, Matt and Justin playing some corn hole, Karyn and Matt tending the fire}

Our friends' the Bushs'...have an AMAZING backyard and we spend the afternoon/evening there. The kids played, adults talked and played, we had a great dinner, and finished the night around a fire making smores. 

{more slip-n-slide action}

{and my baby...who will be ONE {1} on Friday!!!}

Kindergarten Graduation

EJ and his sweet teacher, Mrs. Walker. Last Friday was kindergarten graduation. The class prepared a little program for the parents, it was sweet. Afterwards lots of pictures were taken and I snapped this one of Evan and his awesome teacher Mrs. Walker. She was fabulous to work with, kept us in the loop of what the class was doing, and she has such a sweet heart for Kindergartners. Very thankful for such a great school. ( Maxwell's teacher rocked this year too) Can't believe EJ is on to 1st grade and Max on to 3rd!

the mother's day that wasn't

   {taken on the way to church, Mother's day}

7:38 my alarm went off, and I hit snooze. I heard Justin in the bathroom finishing up before he had to leave to be at church by 8.
 I think I hit snooze at least three times before I forced myself out of bed. Good thing I had thought of what to wear the night before. Got dressed, tossed my hair up in crazy pony and went to wake the boys. After coaxing them out of bed, got them downstairs, dressed and grabbed Clif bars for the car, we headed out the door at 8:49...we were doing well.  { I forgot to mention that I completely fell flat on my face right after I put my wedge shoes on...who falls in wedge shoes? I should just stick with flats}
It was pouring rain out and I was dying for a Starbucks latte. Unsure if Sunday School started at 9 or 9:15 I decided it'd be best to skip Starbucks and just get to church. As I pulled up to the curb in front of our church building {which is in a strip mall} an older couple from church was headed in. They saw me and Bill headed over to help. He took Dex and a box for me while the rest of the boys piled out and into the building and headed to their classes.  I headed in {wondering why I didn't grab my rain jacket as I was wearing a white blouse, but luckily the rain had subsided a bit} and grabbed Declan who was being held by Laurel , made some small talk with a few people and went to grab a cup of coffee.
  I poured my coffee and opened a creamer {creamer is a new thing for me, I used to do black but have been finding a little cream enjoyable} I dump in the half and half and there are curds...in my coffee. GROSS. I look at a few more of the creamers and they all look gross. Justin comes in at some point and offers to drink my curd coffee and I grab a new cup and someone brings out a new box of creamers...and the old box which expired 5 months ago. We toss it in the trash.
   I head to the nursery as I am on duty for babes this morning during Sunday school and 5 kids and I {and my friend Gina joins at some point} stack blocks, look at books and color. It was chill.
   After Sunday school ended, the girls who were on for church relieved me of my duties. I found the boys and we sat in our row, as church began. Long story short,  Liam and Evan fought over toys Evan snuck into church...I hulled them both out, spankings and a firm talking to. Back into church, Liam and Evan fought over a Bible, Evan laid on floor, Liam whined, Liam stole Maxwell's paper, while I was trying to get Evan off said floor. My friend Jess came over and took Liam to sit with her while I talked to Evan to sit still while he pulled away as I had my arm around him whispering in his ear. I stood up to finish singing what was left of the singing and cried. I was not only utterly embarrassed but felt like the WORST Mother EVER. I felt like I had ZERO control over my unruly children and that they had no respect for me.
  After church I bolted. I talked the people I only had to, gathered the boys and left. Justin called asking if I had the boys and I was all angry and annoyed at him {for no reason of course} and went home. I grumbled as I picked up pajamas scattered all around the living room, swept and cleaned things left out from the night before. I heated up some leftovers for lunch and cried again as I folded laundry. There was no real reason...just hormonal and being completely selfish.
Justin came home and told me to leave the house for awhile but I didn't feel like it. I finished laundry and took a short nap on the couch.
  I woke up in a much better mood and Justin reminded me that I had much to be thankful for, four healthy boys { a baby on the way} and despite the frustrations of everyday life that we all experience, I should be praising God for the blessings he has poured out on us.
  And he was/is right.
We decided to go to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner. Not exactly my Mother's Day choice of dining out, but we had a gift card from a couple of kids on Maxwell's soccer team as a gift to Justin {who coached}, and the boys all LOVE B.W.W. TV's and trivia...they are in love. And the place had only a few other people there, one of which was a large family of older kids and adults who were all watching intently and laughing wholeheartedly at America's Funniest Home Video's on one of the TV's. We had a nice dinner. Max and Evan were THRILLED to be winning Trivia {other people were signed on but clearly not playing} and we all left with full bellies and in a good spirits. At home boys went to bed and  Just and I stayed up for a bit before we to hit the sack.
  I'm not sure what I expected for this mother's day{ I didn't really have any expectations}...right after church I thought it was the WORST ever, but it turned out just fine. Nothing spectacular, but ending the day together just doing something simple was all this Mother needed.

{baby boy bow tie baby shower}

last night I hosted a boy bow tie baby shower for my sweet friends allison + beth both due at the end of May. it was a fun evening of fellowship, friends, and food.
 decor, bow tie punch glasses, bow tie onesies {made by yours truly} and guest favors {a personal favorite, Mrs. Meyer's!} allison + beth,   gina,myself, and carrie {sporting our bow ties...I look like a farmer!}
char, carolyn, gina, and lindsey, allison and beth again {strike a pose!}-mia {Rebekah who had to leave early :( but she made all the fun poms! }

game time    poms {made by Rebekah} and onesies {by me}
the Dexter {only male ...except for the ones in utero } + allison, rebeah, and lindsey enjoying dinner


the food {veggies +hummus, fruit, chicken salad +ham sandwhiches, 7 layer salad, bow tie salad {of course!!} crackers and spicy dip, and strawberry salad! YUM!
front door { flowers given + planted by my sweet friend Carrie Beth, poms by Rebekah}
the AMAZING bow tie cake {by Gina, who rocks at cake decorating, and they taste awesome too!}


   

{an announcement}

31.

Happy 31st to my sweetheart. xoxo.

Tennessee

Boys had spring break last week and we made a two day trip down to Gatlinburg/Knoxville Tennessee.


We first went to Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg.

It was pretty busy there, but boys all had fun...especially seeing the sharks.

We hope to take them to Shedd Aquarium one day soon. I have great memories of that AWESOME aquarium in Chicago.

{my 5 boys looking into a big tank }

After a long night of swimming at the hotel and sleeping in {and me having to run to the store to get items to clean up half the bottle of nail polish I dumped in the hotel bathtub} we headed to the Knoxville Zoo.










The days FLEW by and we {and by we I mean Just and I} were pretty wiped by the time we got home Friday night but it as a fun family trip.