Game Night, Date Night, or Just A Way of Life

Rushing, Rushing, Rushing.

We are always in a hurry. Ever since I was involved in a Random Acts of Kindness Scavenger Hunt a couple weeks ago, I've been more aware of this. Just watch the people around you as you run your errands. Everyone is in such a hurry that they barely have time to look at someone and smile.

My girlfriend came up with this idea for our small group to do. She came up with most of the ideas herself but said she did find a few on Pinterest.

We had an hour and 15 minutes to complete as many Acts of Kindness as we could. Of course we had to have photo documentation, which probably was the worst part. It kind of takes away from the kindness when you do something nice for someone and someone is snapping pictures while you do it.

That's why I thought this would also be a great idea for a date night with your husband or maybe even one of your kids or a whole family outing! Or just think how great it would be if in your daily life you were slowing down, aware of the people around you and being kind! Ever since doing this with our friends, I have definitely been more aware and have been trying not to be in such a rush everywhere I go.

Here is the list my friend made up but really the list could be endless. I did change a few things just because she had a lot of specific places to go.

1. Help someone bag their groceries at Aldi.
2. Hand out flowers to random people at the store.
3. Place Christmas cards and invites to our church's Christmas Eve service on cars in a parking lot.
4. Go through drive thru and pay for the person behind you.
5. Buy coffee for a Salvation Army bell ringer.
6. Leave quarters for someone at the Laundromat.
7. Leave coloring books and crayons in a waiting room.
8. Tape quarters to a vending machine.
9. Buy a gift card at a store and give it to the person behind you.
10. Buy a bottle of water and gum for a clerk at the grocery store.
11. Hand out balloons to kids shopping with their parents at the grocery store.
12. Push carts back inside at a store.
13. Give coupon to a table at a restaurant.
14. Drop coins at a playground for kids to find.
15. Send a text to someone you think needs a lift. Tell them that you will be praying for the throughout the week and include scripture.

Like I said, the possibilities are endless. Just stop and look around you when you are out and I'm sure you will find many things to add to this list to bless those around you.

Here are some more that I thought of:

Give someone your cart at Aldi and DON'T take their quarter. (I actually love doing this!)
Take some one's cart from them after they load their car and bring the cart back for them.
Pick up garbage that you see lying around.
Help an elderly person.
Smile at people and say "Hi!"
Let others go first.
Hold the door for someone.

Another way our family has been blessed this month is through an assignment Alex, Amanda, and Joshua were given at school. Their teacher gave each student in their class $5 to bless someone. We had a lot of fun thinking of ideas and bringing gifts to others.

Joshua brought Football cards to a little boy that has been going through intensive treatments for cancer. We have been praying for this boy for months now and they were so excited to go and meet him.

Alex wanted to bring flowers to a woman that we have also been praying for that has cancer. We were able to bring her the flowers and sit down and have a cup of tea with her.

Amanda really wanted to buy gifts for kids at the hospital but was disappointed that she wouldn't be able to give the gifts to the kids herself. She then decided to buy a Poinsettia plant for our neighbor and we brought them some cookies too. They are new neighbors of ours and he has been in and out of the hospital this fall.

It's been a huge blessing to our family to take time out of our busy schedules to think about others, take the time to go and sit with them for a little while. I definitely want to add this to the things we do every year at Christmas time and even throughout the year.

As you go through the busyness of this season, remember to take time out for others around you and show them the Love of Christ.

"For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another."

1 John 3:11

I Think It's Finally Safe To Say......

The Flu Bug is gone.

I hope.

It was Saturday evening, November 3, that it entered our home. I remember every little detail.

Just kidding. That was a long time ago. I remember it was a Saturday night and I remember it was Joshua. Other than that, it's all a blur.

We finally got him back to school the following Wednesday.

Then BAM! Thursday night at 10:15, it was Alex.

It's weird to say but even a child's personality shines through in their ability to vomit. In an effort to not be so graphic, I will just say one word, "Everywhere." You name it, it was on it.

OK, never mind. I'll be graphic. Walls, sheets, comforter, pillow pet, another kid, the bathroom, down the stairs, in her hair. You get the idea.

At this point I forgot how long it took for one kid to get better and the next one to get sick. I want to say it was the following Tuesday night that Isaac came down with it.

Amanda insisted she had a force field around her and I was being a germ-a-phobe (how do you spell that?) I cleaned it all up and washed a million sheets but tried to stay far away from all my children. Everyone was under strict instructions to not touch anyone else's cup or food regardless of who had it already.

We thought we were going to be in the clear for Thanksgiving but there was one person that I don't think was as much of a germ-a-phobe as I was.

Yep, Tuesday night before Thanksgiving Brad got it. And he got it the worst! He had a vacation day all planned but spent it in bed. Once again, I stayed far away! He spent his Thanksgiving Day laying on the couch recovering after a day and a half of pure torture!

Well, now it's been a week and a half and neither Amanda or I have come down with it. We both had small touches of not feeling good but we never came down with the full fledged flu.

Now that you've had that fun fascinating details of our sicknesses, here is what else has been happening.

A little boy lost his first 2 teeth. It's hard to tell because his new ones had already come in behind but he lost both of his bottom teeth. Unfortunately the tooth fairy forgot to come when he lost the first one but the second one, she was all over that and made it on the first night but almost got caught!

When I look at his teeth, I think one word......BRACES! Can't wait for that!

They've been a little suspicious if the tooth fairy is real or not ever since a friend told them it's their mom. They've asked me several times and I make sure that I don't lie to them. I simply ask them what they think and they decide she is real. After all she gives them money.

Then there is this little boy. He keeps losing teeth but they never seem to want to come in. He lost both of his front teeth last January and the 2nd one finally popped through about a week ago. He currently has another one loose.

Can you tell he wasn't too happy about having his picture taken? This was the best I could get.

This is Cracking Me Up

I watched my 3 year old nephew this morning and we took a little trip to the park so I could take his 3 year pictures.

 

I love this picture!

 

It looks like I hung him on the wall and snapped his picture but I guess I just got him at the perfect time when he was jumping up and down.

 

BEST CAKE EVER!!!!!

I know, I know. I keep saying that. But this one really is.

A couple weeks ago, my husband asked if I would make a cake because I hadn't made one in awhile. He really wanted a strawberry one but told him that is a spring cake and that I had a new one I really wanted to try.

I had recently pinned a chocolate cake by Rachel Ray. Honestly, I love chocolate but not usually a fan of the chocolate on chocolate cake.

I thought about making a boxed cake and adding the frosting.

After I made the cake and needed more unsweetened chocolate to make the frosting, I thought about using canned frosting on the cake.

I am so glad I did neither.

This cake was so moist and delicious and the frosting was so amazing that I could have eaten it plain with a spoon. I actually had leftover and we put it in the microwave to warm it up and used it as an ice cream topping. AMAZING!!!!

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups flour

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon salt

• 3 1/2 cups sugar

• 14.5 ounces unsweetened chocolate, 4 ounces coarsely chopped and 10.5 ounces finely chopped (I used pre-melted)

• 15 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon-size pieces and chilled

• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

• 2 eggs

• 4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream

 

Directions

1. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Grease two 8-inch round cake pans. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper, then grease the parchment. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
2. In a saucepan, dissolve 2 cups sugar in 2 cups water over medium-high heat. Remove from the heat, add the coarsely chopped chocolate and 6 tablespoons butter and whisk until smooth. Whisk in the cocoa powder. Beat in the eggs, then stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla. Add the flour mixture, whisking until incorporated. Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake until the cakes are springy to the touch and have pulled away from the sides of the pans, about 30 minutes. Transfer to racks and let cool for 10 minutes. Remove from the pans and place on the racks. Let cool completely.
3. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the finely chopped chocolate and the remaining 9 tablespoons butter, 2 teaspoons vanilla and 1/8 teaspoon salt. In a medium saucepan, bring the cream and remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar to a boil. Pour the cream mixture over the chocolate and let stand for 2 minutes, then stir the mixture until smooth. Refrigerate, stirring occasionally, until thickened to a spreadable consistency, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
4. Lay 4 strips of parchment paper around the border of a cake stand. Remove the parchment from 1 of the cake layers and place the layer on the cake stand. Place about 1 cup of the chocolate frosting in the center of the layer and spread to within 1/4 inch of the edge. Remove the parchment from the second cake layer and place the layer on top of the first. Apply a thin coating of frosting around the sides of the cake, rotating as you go. Top the cake with the remaining frosting and spread from the top of the cake down and around the sides. Discard the parchment paper strips.

I put the frosting in the refrigerator for 1 hour and 30 min and it didn't seem to be thick enough. I ended up spreading it in the middle and then as I poured it over the top it ran down the sides. I then stored it in the fridge and the frosting set on the cake. I'm not sure if this is a result of me using the pre-melted chocolate as opposed to using a bar or if it just needs to be in the fridge longer.

I also did not put the parchment strips around the edges. I'm guessing it is so you can remove them and not have the chocolate frosting that dripped down making the cake look messy. I like that little extra frosting to lick off the plate later.

Before I make my layer cakes, I do like to level my cakes with a bread knife. Note: you will not want to throw it out! Save it and eat it later or snack on it while you are frosting the cake.

Good Medicine

Last week I came home from church and was not feeling very good. I've had a cough for what seems like forever. I had a chest cold and a coughing fit in church (you know the kind that brings you to tears) which led to a headache and I was just exhausted. Once I got home, I ate some lunch and then went to bed for a good nap.

Brad also wasn't feeling the best that day. He was coming down with a head cold.

Two of our wonderful children thought it would make us feel better if they made us a little surprise.

Isaac made a book titled "I Love Dad!" and Alex made me a book titled "My Mommey".

I won't share all the wonderful pictures but thought I would share what each book says.

Isaac's book:

I love dad Be ckuz He works for are family.
I love dad Be Ckause He lets us go to the park.
I love dad Be Ckause He buys Subway.
I love dad Be Ckause He bags are sandwichs.
I like dad Be Ckause He likes to play tag.
I like dad be caus He plays football.
I love dad Because brings me to Dunkin Donuts.

Alex's book:

I love you because you make breckfest for us and lunch and dinner for us. You are the best Mom ever.
Sometimes she makes us treats.
I love you because you give me hugs and kisses.
I love you because you play with me.
I love you because you snuggle with me.
I love you because she likes to shop with me.
I love you because you take me trick-or-treating.
I love you because you love me.
I love you because you help me get ready for school.
I love you because you do the laundry.
I love you because you make us hot chocolat in the winter.
I love you because you help me when I get hurt.
I love you because you keep me safe.
I love you because you buy stuf for me.
I love you because you let us go on vackashon.
I love you because you let us have a candy.
I love you because you let us have a birthday party on are golden birthday.

This was my favorite page. I think every mom can agree that laundry is the thankless job that we spend hours a week doing and often goes unnoticed. It's nice to know someone notices.

But I think we can all agree, books like this are sure to make anyone that is sick feel a lot better!

I'm sure we will both treasure these books for years to come.

This One Gave Me A Workout!

Besides taking a few snapshots of my kids here and there, I haven't picked up my camera much lately.

I've missed it more than I thought.

So, Saturday I headed out with my kids lookin' good and snapped some pictures for Christmas cards. Yep, it's already time to start thinking about Christmas cards.

After 45 minutes of my kids, my sister showed up with her four kids. One of them wanted nothing to do with getting her photo taken.

Can you figure out which one?

 

 

After almost 2 hours and 8 kids, I was exhausted and was sore for 2 days!

Time for some Fall Cookin'

Fall is my favorite season! And when it comes, it puts me in the mood to cook and bake.

Something about the chilly air just begs for apple recipes, pumpkin recipes, soups, and who knows what else! Last week I made Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread and then this week it was Apple Pie.

As far as supper food goes, I've been trying loads of new Pinterest recipes and every single one has been a hit lately. My family says I've been spoiling them, so either I need to make a bad recipe soon or serve them grilled cheese so that they don't get to used to this.

This recipe is actually a Pinterest recipe that I tried last winter. My family loved it but Brad thought it was a little bland. So I've spiced it up a little. And did I mention that it is Super Easy!

Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings

1 lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
2 carrots
1 celery stalk
1 medium onion
Salt and Pepper
2 cans (10.5 oz each) Cream of Chicken Soup
1 (14oz) can of Chicken Broth
4 Grands Biscuits

Put Chicken in Crock Pot. Sprinkle salt and pepper on the breasts. Put diced carrots, celery, and onion on top.

Add Cream of Chicken Soup and Chicken Broth. Cook on low for 8 hours or on High for 4-6 hours.

Take out chicken and shred. Put back in the Crock Pot.

Cut each uncooked biscuit into 9 pieces. Stir into chicken mixture and cook on High for 30 minutes.

Makes 6-8 servings.

We Escaped....For a few hours anyway.

I know, I know. My last post was how my kids are so awesome and now I'm posting about getting away from them. I love my kids but sometimes it's nice to get out with just the two of us.

We own 1 Bull's Season ticket. Our brother-in-law and my sister own the other one. Before the season they have a night for Season ticket holders to come to the United Center and meet the players, take pictures, shoot baskets, and eat discounted food. They had me at discounted food and FREE parking.

There was a lot of standing in line. Standing in line to get in, then to get autographs, then to get pictures taken but it was still loads of fun.

This is Brad with the Head Coach. I have no idea what his name is and don't really feel like searching for it right now to make myself look intelligent.

This is Stacy King and Bill Wennington. They apparently played with Michael Jordan and are now announcers or something. I did remember Bill Wennington but not Stacy King.

By the time we got those 3 autographs, autograph time was over. I must also say that Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah were not there that night. Figures! Something about personal issues and family stuff. Whatever!

We then headed down by Scottie Pippen and snapped a couple shots. These kids must have thought it was really cool to just be able to touch him or maybe those are his kids and he couldn't get a babysitter. Who knows....

I snapped this picture court side and our seats are way, way, way, way, way up there. Do you see them? Me neither.

I'm not really a fan of the Luvabulls but I thought this picture was kind of cool.

I then kicked them out so I could have a picture with just us.

I thought this night was more fun than a game. Brad did not agree. That's why I probably don't get to go to a lot of them.

We didn't have time to stand in line to shoot a basket but that is probably for the best. Since Brad was once a big time basketball star they probably would have wanted to recruit him and we just don't have time for that in our busy schedule. Haha!

I Really Do Have The Best Kids

They got off the bus so excited! The next day was going to be my birthday and they were all set to make sure it was special.

Up to the girls bedroom they went..............armed with markers, crayons, and paper.

When I came up to my bedroom, I found this. These are actually wrapped presents filled with drawings and books that the kids made for me.

And signs were posted everywhere.

 

 
Then they treated me to a little play of their pets singing "Happy Birthday!" They had a special chair for me to sit in with a little carpet leading to the chair.

They definitely made me feel very special! So special, that I almost forgot I was turning another year older.

Camping Fun

It's amazing what you'll find when you download pictures from your camera.

We went camping over Labor Day and I had forgotten that I had taken a few pictures.

It was a little hot that weekend, so one afternoon we headed to the Nature Center to get a little relief. Yes, there was air conditioning there. They had a coloring contest and some crafts the kids could do. Amanda won the contest and won a bird book.

All the boys are getting older and now love building their own fires. Another big thing this year was riding their bikes to the creek to try and catch whatever animals they could find.



The two Isaac's and Jack always have a good time together, as you can see.

The kids had a blast and as they get older, surprisingly enough, camping gets a little more relaxing for Brad and I. Well, relaxing after all the packing and setting up. But after all that is done, you can often find us parked in a lawn chair.

We were actually supposed to go camping again this past weekend but ended up cancelling due to cold temps. This family does not camp in winter coats. We like our furnace!

I think she hears us AND she is laughing!

Brad is not a fan of road trips. He is not a very patient driver to begin with but anytime I plan a trip I try to find something close because he doesn't like to be in the car more than an hour. Two hours is really pushing it.

Rightfully so. As a kid, his vacations consisted of trips to Kansas or California to visit grandparents. Apparently these trips were not fun.

I, on the other hand, love road trips. There is something so peaceful about staring out the window for hours looking at God's creation. Even if it is cornfields for hours on end. I have fond memories of family vacations to Florida, driving through the night, and spending time with the family.

When we go somewhere as a family, I love the relaxing drives. Well, I love it until we get close to our destination and we need to find exactly where we have to go.

We have a Garmin that is a few years old. I love how she tells you where to go and gives you an estimated time of arrival. Unfortunately, she is not always the best at giving us the correct directions and it ends up with me and Brad yelling, turning around a million times, and trying to figure out exactly where we are supposed to be.

It always ends with Brad saying, "That thing is going in the garbage as soon as we get home."

I of course nod, knowing that I will not be throwing it out and our next trip we will play this fun game again.

We've had trips to Chicago where we keep losing satellite and she keeps saying, "Recalculating."

Brad: Where do I need to turn.

Me: I don't know. Just a second.

Garmin: Recalculating

Brad: I need to know where to go.

Me: I know but she's not telling me.

Garmin: Turn on ____.

Me: We needed to turn on that street.

Brad: You need to tell me before we get to the street.

Garmin: Recalculating.

You get the drift. And I should probably add a lot of exclamation marks and I'm not really sure how to add frustration.

Then there was the trip to Iowa. We missed the street we needed to turn on and she told us to go to the next street and it would bring is around in a circle. Well, it did not bring us around in a circle. It brought us to a dead end and we were pulling a trailer. Not fun to try and turn around.

Then on our way home from Iowa, she brought us a completely different route. We were on a time crunch and then she just turned off on us. Thankfully, my phone helped us a little and a quick stop at a gas station to ask directions.

This past weekend, Brad and I took a trip to Indianapolis. We were cruising along just fine until it was time to get off the highway and drive 2 miles to our hotel.

Me: Take a right. Now take a left.

Brad: This is weird. This is a subdivision.

Me: I know but that is what she said. Maybe it takes us through to the next street.

       Nope, dead end.

There was some landscaping and then we could see the street we needed to be on. We turned around.

After finally figuring out how to get to the other street, going through an Industrial area, we finally got close to the hotel. And because we don't like to do anything easy, we passed up the street to the hotel and turned around once again.

We figured out the next day that at the first right she had us take, we could have gone straight and it would have taken us directly to our hotel.

I am convinced that she can hear us. She purposely brings us the wrong way and then laughs at us as we fight and try to figure out how to get to our destination.

Can't wait to see where she brings us on our next trip!

The Most Amazing Cupcakes!!!!

A couple months ago our family went to visit some friends out of town.

It just so happened that we went a couple weeks after my friend celebrated her birthday and since she is weeeee bit older than me, I tend to give her a hard time. Seeing that I seem to be surrounded by people younger than me, my poor friend must take this abuse from me. Thankfully she is a good sport! (I feel like an old lady using that word but can't think of a better word.)

I brought her a nice bag filled with goodies for OLD people. Things like a nice housecoat, rollers, denture cream, arthritis rub, and a rain bonnet. I can't remember what else was in that bag. Give me a break, it's been a couple months! Unfortunately her husband videotaped my gift presentation, so I'm sure it will all come back to haunt me some day!

But after being a little mean, I did make it up her by giving her something nice.

Enter........our shared love for peanut butter.

I made her the MOST amazing cupcakes! Actually, the cupcakes were good but the frosting.......out of this world. Who wouldn't love peanut butter mixed with a lot of butter and then add some powdered sugar. I could have eaten the whole bowl!

WARNING: These are very dangerous. You will not be able to get them off your mind until they have all been eaten.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
6 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup smooth all natural peanut butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup whole milk
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Peanut Butter Frosting
6 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup creamy peanut butter, natural
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup whole milk

For Cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine milk and vanilla in a small bowl.

Combine baking powder, flour and salt in another bowl.

Beat butter and sugars in a bowl until light and fluffy.

Add eggs and blend until smooth. Slowly add peanut butter.

Alternately add half of the flour mixture and milk mixtures, mixing slowly, until all is incorporated.

Fold in chocolate chips.

Put into lined baking cups. Recipe says it makes 12. I actually got 16.

Bake for about 22 minutes or until golden brown.

For Frosting:

Combine sugar and salt in a bowl and combine milk and vanilla in another bowl.

Add Peanut butter and butter in mixer. Beat until smooth and creamy.

Alternately add sugar and milk mixture until fully incorporated.

If you want your frosting thinner add more milk. If you want it thicker, add some more powdered sugar.

Spread on your cupcakes and enjoy!!!!

Note: I am one to fudge on some the ingredients but on this recipe I did exactly as I typed it, so I am not sure of the outcome if you don't use Whole milk or natural peanut butter. I figure the natural peanut butter made them healthy. Right?


On a different note, what fun is a trip without a good game of find the dead cat and throw him in a corn field.

 

 

 

And, yes, I just posted about cupcakes and a dead cat in the same post. This blog is going downhill fast! Sorry about that.

Off to School Again

School has officially started. Today Alex, Amanda, and Joshua began 2nd grade and Isaac began 1st grade.

 

If you are Facebook friend of mine you probably saw our crying picture. (For those of you who aren't, sorry, I will not repost me with an ugly crying face.)  I was asked several times if I'm really sad.

 

Honestly, I would rather a lazy day at home with my family rather than doing anything else. I enjoy having my kids at home but yes, I do look forward to running errands by myself.

 

They all had a good day and have decided that they do want to be back at school. We'll see how long that will last!

 

Don't they look so old?

 

This is what happens when you try to take too many pictures.

 

As the kids head off to school, I have high hopes of getting many projects done.

A few weeks ago I found my list from last year. Four things crossed off, Nine still there. The four things crossed off all need to go back on this years list. I guess I wasn't too successful!

All I can do is try again this year!

First on my list is the lawn. It needs A LOT of TLC.

Next is cleaning vehicles and then we have the Spring cleaning the house which never got done. If I do it in the Fall, does that count for last spring and next spring?

And of course, organizing pictures and working on the kids baby books are on the list for the 3rd year now.

Now you understand why I don't want the kids to go back to school. I have work to do......lots and lots of work to do!

Looking Back and A Weekend of Celebrating

At our house we like to lump all our celebrations together. In July we celebrated Brad's birthday and then 4 days later it was Alex, Amanda, and Joshua's birthday.

Then in August we have our wedding anniversary and Isaac's birthday a day apart.

Of course in October, we have my lone birthday. I only mention it in case you were wanting to get a head start on shopping for my present. Of course, I will still take cash or gift cards in case you don't have time to shop.

Anyway, Brad and I went out on Friday night to celebrate our 12 year anniversary. We celebrated a day early. Here is a picture of us on the beautiful day 12 years ago.

So young and in love.....and clueless.

We were oblivious to fact that this someday would be our life.

Yes, I know I just posted an absolutely horrible picture of myself but I figured I just had a baby so nobody is allowed to make fun of me.

I often get asked, "How did you do it?" Honestly, looking at this picture makes me a little tired and I wonder myself how I did it. It was only by God's grace and Him giving me the strength to make it through each day that we have made it this far.

Here is a recent picture of Brad and I. Now...... when looking at this picture, I'm thinking that you are probably all thinking, "Wow! They've barely changed!" And then you notice all the wisdom in our eyes.

Ok, you can quit laughing now.

Yes, we've aged and I'm not sure we are wiser but I hope we are. I know we are more tired, that's for sure!

But seriously, I am very thankful for the past 12 years. God has truly blessed us. He has blessed our marriage and He has definitely blessed me with a man that I truly love, can call my best friend, and that I am extremely thankful for.

Then on Saturday night we celebrated the 7th birthday of my little baby Isaac. How did he get to be 7 already? He is having just as hard of a time growing up as I am with him growing up. We would both love if he could just stay my little boy. We've spent time snuggling this weekend and looking at baby pictures of him.

As I said, we went out Saturday night. We had a family night of miniature golfing and Isaac got to ride the go-carts with Brad. That was his favorite part of the night. Then we headed out to eat.

Today (his actual birthday) was celebrated with cake. He chose chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and sprinkles.

I am feeling very blessed this weekend. I look forward to seeing where God leads our family in the years to come.

A Couple Days Away

A couple weeks ago our family was able to sneak away for a couple days and have some fun.

The first day we headed to the Volo Auto Museum where we saw all kinds of........

Yep, you guessed it! Cars!

We saw expensive cars. This beauty was only $188,998!

We saw cute little convertible cars.

We sat in a racing car.

We saw old and shiny cars.

(The kids wanted to know why there were no seat belts in most of the cars.)

We saw famous cars. Lots of famous cars!

I was a little disappointed with Kitt. I thought he would be way cooler in real life. 

After the auto museum we headed over to Gurnee to check into our hotel, do a little shopping and get some food.

The next day we headed over to Great America and rode some roller coasters. At least the ones that we were tall enough to go on.

While eating lunch, I looked over and there was Brad flying this little airplane.

 We had a fun couple days and came home exhausted!