Learner's Permit

Watch yourselves on the road- student driver coming through!!! We were so excited this morning to get Hunter's learner's permit. He studied in the car on the way there, we had all documents in hand, and we gave plenty of time to get to the BMV to take the test. We pulled into the parking lot and there was probably 14 people in line waiting for the doors to open. I couldn't believe it (note to self- avoid Tuesdays and Saturdays at the BMV).

So we got in line and when the doors opened, we went to the secondary line for written examinations. Lucky for us most of the line in front of us was for the actual driver's tests, so we were able to bypass a long wait. We showed our identification, Hunter took the vision test and then off to the computer he went for the written portion of the exam (why do I not remember taking a test prior to the actual driver's test?). He passed to the point where the test automatically stops once you get a certain amount correct. We then walked next door to the License Bureau.

We filled out more paperwork and then we were done. Temps in hand- we were on the way home. Now we just need to start actually letting him drive. He's hoping to get on the road with Sean this afternoon (aka- drive around a vacant parking lot). Let's hope the F150 isn't too intimidating for him to attempt to learn on.

I am officially old...

Hunter's Half Birthday

15 1/2     Today.

We could go get his temporary driver's license this weekend...we just have to figure out when we can take him (and I need to read up to see if I have to be the one or if Sean can do it). He has been studying his little driver's ed book and is eager and ready.

Hold me. Or hold on to your seat belts if you are the one sharing the road with him.

I need to do updates

I am sooooo behind on my blog and have updates and pictures over the last few weeks that I really want to get to but have been swamped at work and when I get home, the computer is the last thing I want to be turning on (if I can wrestle it out of Hunter's hands). So- I hope to have some time (hopefully tomorrow) to at least post some pics and small updates as to what we have been doing. Until then, this message will serve the purpose of letting my mom and sister know I'm still alive- just trying to unbury myself from piles and piles of paperwork.

:)

Anniversary Tradition Time!!!

July 21, 2012

5 years ago, I married my best friend. Sean- I love you more and more each day. Thank you for holding my hand in this journey called life and providing me with a love I never knew could exist. These have been the most amazing 5 years (though really 7 years total that we have been together) and I truly feel like the luckiest girl.

ok- enough sappiness. Time for my annual Tradition of wearing my wedding dress!!! As mentioned, I didn't preserve it so I could wear it every year on my anniversary. I am so happy that it still fits. Plus it gives me so much happiness to watch how my family has grown and changed through the years. I hope when the kids are old and out of the house that we can still take our yearly pictures!

Wedding Day

1st Anniversary- too pregnant to wear my dress...

2nd Anniversary. Owen was almost 1 and Hunter was with his dad's family in Michigan. I was also 14 weeks pregnant here... major boobs and totally sucked myself into the dress

3rd Anniversary- Owen was almost 2, Quinlin 6 months, Hunter age 13 1/2

Our 4th Anniversary- Owen almost 3, Quinlin 1 1/2. Hunter was away in Michigan

And this year- our 5th Anniversary. Hunter 15 1/2, Owen almost 4, Quinlin 2 1/2

And then a pose outside before we went out for our annual dinner

Our Summer Goals- where are we now

So far, so good on completing items off of our summer goals list. There are some really simple ones we haven't done yet, walks for example. But every time we start, the kids see their friends and don't want to keep going. Or the Muppet Movie? How hard is that to order on my netflix queue...but, I have a slight thing for Channing Tatum now and as soon as I return Act of Valor, The Vow is the next movie for me to see... so muppets will have to wait. But, I think we are doing ok seeing as though it is mid summer.

I think if you click on the image, it will bring it up bigger for easier viewing.

No More Braces!

As I mentioned yesterday, we had steak for dinner as we were celebrating Hunter's braces coming off. It was a long time coming as he had the braces put on in March 2010 so he was eager to be free of them. I must say, his teeth look amazing. His mouth was so overcrowded in the beginning and the teeth were all jammed and crooked. His orthodontist had his work cut out for him, and did an incredible job. I would recommend him to anyone!

Yay Steak! He hasn't really been able to eat them while the braces were on, so thoroughly enjoyed dinner that night. Mind you, he took a little plate and no veggies, but that's ok.

and for comparison...this is Hunter about a week after he got his braces on:

His teeth were very crowded...

Yay- new straight teeth. And, should I not add how old he looks now???? when did that happen?

Quinlin- age 2 1/2

July 11, 2012

My darling baby girl turned 2 1/2. I know it's written all the time, but so hard to believe she's already 2 1/2. 3 is literally just around the corner. The past 6 months have been such a whirlwind as she's really coming into her own and such a beautiful little girl both on the inside and the outside.

First I wanted to do my annual picture session of my little beauty, but it required bribing her with marshmallows.

Her prized possessions had to pose with her- Eeyore and blankey

• I don't have exact stats since we haven't been to the doctor's office for a while (knock on wood), but from our home scale she's about 32 pounds and is about 35 inches tall. Though I'm sure on some crazy hair days, she stands much taller than that.
• The summer has lightened her hair to a nice shade of dark blond. She experienced her first haircut at 27 months and it continues to grow, though when really hot, it shrinks up into spiral ringlets. I always imagined my daughter to have thick straight hair, but crazy and curly it is and I love it. Some days she lets me style it, other days it runs wild.
• She has a beautiful suntan from being outside all the time. She loves to play on Owen's big wheel or ride her little scooter down the sidewalk. This has been a great summer for her as she really has come into her own for making friends. Our friends about 4 doors down have two little girls (twins, age 4) and Quinlin just adores them. She also loves our neighbors Adam and Lauren and instantly she and Owen rush to see if any one's garage doors are open which signals playtime.
• At 2 1/2, she is a mix between tomboy and girly girl. Some days loves to be pampered- painting nails, getting her hair straightened, wearing dresses...and other days only wants to wear Owen's boy clothes or Owen's underwear (don't worry, it's clean).
• She is in size 3T for almost everything, size 5 diapers and I think size 7 shoes.
• She says anything and everything. We can have full conversations now and it's absolutely adorable.
• She knows her colors, shapes and can count to 13.
• Favorite show- Dora the Explorer. It's been so great to be outside all the time as she gets one 30 minute episode before bedtime so really hasn't had a chance to see that there are other shows out there. She will sit and watch Power Rangers with Owen sometimes, but doesn't seem overly interested.
• She is a nurturer and a mommy type. Loves to help Owen. If he gets stuck on his bike, she is right there with him pushing him along or getting him that jump start. If he's crying, she rushes to his side to see if he's ok. "you ok owen, you ok". very reassuring with a nice pat on the back and a hug quickly to follow.
• Owen is her world with Sean and Hunter as a close tied for second.
• Potty training stalled a bit as the daycare won't begin working with her until the end of August when she switches classrooms (not enough staff to bring her to the bathroom, whereas the next classroom has a little toilet in a portion of the room). She gets it and goes at home probably 2-3 times a day. I am hoping that she will be easy to train once we begin working with her more.

On July 11, to celebrate her half birthday, we did our annual picture session.

And I love this face...

And she had ravioli for dinner (we had steak, more on that tomorrow)

and our annual happy half birthday cupcakes

After dinner, we went to the pool in our development

She loves to swim. More braver than Owen when it comes to the water for sure.

She loves to jump into daddy's arms

 It really was a great day.



Magic Mike, July 4 and my birthday recaps

I don't know why this month seams to be flying by! Already a week later, I am finally writing about the 4th of July. First, though, I must mention my girls night to see Magic Mike. After several scheduling attempts, a few girlfriends and I went to see Magic Mike. I didn't hear the greatest things about it leading up to it, and was almost a little hesitant to spend my money on an evening movie (you know movies are expensive!). But- I am so glad we didn't cancel our plans. We picked Tuesday night, July 3rd to go since we all had off of work the next day.

Ok- I loved it. It definitely wasn't the best acting by any means, and a few parts were slow, but the movie was hilarious. Matthew McConaughey was hilarious and Channing Tatum was an amazing dancer and of course, was easy on the eyes. The movie had us laughing in so many different parts. We went out for apps and drinks afterwards and it was a really great night. Highly recommend!

Sean had to work the morning of July 4th so I just stayed around the house with the kids. Hunter went with his dad and family on that side for the day and in the afternoon when Sean returned home, we went to the neighbors at the end of the street for a cookout. I should have known when we were in for disaster when the kids didn't nap and instead of sleeping I had found that they found a green marker and decided to draw all over each other. And I'm not kidding- arms, stomachs, legs, eyelids, cheeks. everywhere. We threw them in the tub, bathed them and then went to Steve and Keirstie's. It was so hot (97*) and miserable. The kids played- water balloons, huge water slide, baby pool, water balloons. We played corn hole and Sean played bocce ball. Everything was fine, until I had to bring Quinlin home to change her diaper about 6:30pm. Owen came too and at one point, they each had a meltdown. Screaming, hot, overtired, it was awful. I called Sean who wasn't answering and texted him to come home and help me. Owen eventually made it back to the party after calming down. And Quinlin- nothing made that girl happy. So at 7:45 I put her to bed, screaming bloody murder and by 8pm, she was sound asleep. Sean's sister stopped over and Owen came home to visit with her and really that was our night. It started pouring rain about 9pm and Sean made his way home, but once the meltdowns started, it didn't even feel like the fourth of July. No fireworks, no sparklers, no pictures, nothing. Kind of disappointing.

My birthday was on the 7th (36- yikes) and on the 6th Sean surprised me by buying me a new anniversary band for my ring finger. We had always walked about the fact that I wanted one and to him it was the perfect time- my birthday and our upcoming 5 year wedding anniversary. He ruined the surprise by telling me he was going to do it, but I'm glad he did because he thought my ring finger was a size 6. It's not- I wear a 4.5 so a size 6 would have been way to big. We went to the store, picked it out and then rushed home to go to dinner with my parents for my birthday.

We went to a wood fire grill near the house and the food was good, but the kids were not. After several potty breaks between Owen and Quinlin and overall restlessness, Sean ended up leaving the restaurant with both babies and vowing to never bring them to a restaurant again. They weren't that bad...but when you see the people sitting near you obviously getting agitated by our crazy children, best to get out of the situation. I stayed with my parents and Hunter and finished packing up our meals and then we were on the way home. Once home, my parents watched the crazies for a little while so we could run back to the jewelry store to pick up my newly resized ring. And I loved it. I'm a lucky girl:

 Since we got my ring, Sean deserved some fishing items as an early anniversary present.

 We came home and the kids played and had treats. Perfect friday night.

Saturday was my birthday and we started it by leaving the kids with my in-laws and took Hunter to the golf course. I don't know what I was thinking to want to play 9 holes in 95*. A little crazy. Luckily we played a scramble- but I was dying. I only played 7 holes and decided to hang in the cart while the boys finished playing. I putted awesome by the way. 

 Hunter looking so old on the golf cart!

That night we went to our buddies annual party- Mikeapalooza. 

 And I was surprised with two birthday cakes. so sweet!

My oldest friend's birthday is 2 days after mine so we celebrated both our days!

Cute pic of Sean's cousin and his fiance. They just got engaged last month. 

We were in the basement playing pool when the guys stumbled across some fun items in storage.

 And we found a blanket that was monogrammed for our Mike's wedding... he's been divorced for 4 years now. Not sure why he still has the blanket? So leave it to Sean to let the fun begin.

 And turn it into a toga...

 He is nothing but hilarious.

 At the end of the night, I got serenaded by Mike and Socrates. Love those guys.

Really a nice long weekend!