our garden

Today was a gorgeous day to be outside.  We took advantage and got our garden all ready for the summer.  After Tob got it all tilled, the kids and I set out and planted a variety of fruits and veggies.  We can't wait to see what works and is tasty... and what we won't do next year.

 

Tob's 37th (again)

Tob spent the last year thinking he was already 37... so here we go again... Happy 37th Birthday!  Here's to another year young!
The kids and I surprised Tob with breakfast, cards, and some special gifts!  He got an updated coffee mug with the kids pictures on it (Gabi is now on it!).  We also got him a new jacket for his motorcycle. Everything was a hit!  Since Monday's are chaotic, we celebrated his birthday the Saturday before.  On Monday we went out to dinner with Mom, Dad, the Shammot's and kids for a great dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings.  Thankfully we survived the tornado warnings and made it home before the flash flooding!

Mom's day 2014

As a mom of little ones, you never know what to expect on Mother's day.  This year, I was certainly blessed.  The kids brought home several handmade items and stories about me from school (their teachers ROCK).  Each was touching and cute in their own way!  Gabi said I was only 27, so that was a BONUS!
In the morning, I was awoken by little kisses and hugs from my munchkins.  I came down to a decked out breakfast table with flowers, gifts, and breakfast made by Tob.  Felt super blessed!  It was a gorgeous Cleveland day.  After Mass, and back at home, we enjoyed the weather outside almost the entire day!  Love days like these!  I can't fail to record that while sitting on the deck my heart melted as I watched our girls playing.  Isa and Gabi dressed in princess attire with their arms around each other walking up the little hill laughing will forever be an image in my mind I will cherish.  Then my lil Will came up and snuggled with me on the deck.  priceless.

Merry Christmas!

We wish everyone a wonderful Christmas filled with love!

Group Halloween Party

Once again, our group found a date to get most of the kids together in costume to celebrate Halloween.  With our meetings getting less frequent, these moments are truly special.  The kids are growing up so fast, but despite it all, they get along great!  We missed Julie, Sam, Alex, Evelyn and Grant.
Cheryl was gracious enough to host at her new home.  The kids ran around and caused a ruckus but sure did have fun doing it!  The ladies had a nice time catching up with each other.  Love this group!

 Top: Brady, Kevin, Jacob, Will

Bottom: Elizabeth, Isa, Gabi, Elin, Kaitlyn, Natalie, Gina

Halloween 2013

What an adventure this Halloween was!  The girls have had their costumes picked out and ready in their minds for months.  Will, was a little less decisive.  He contemplated some Minecraft character or not trick-or-treating at all (and instead selling candy... we told him this was NOT a good idea with everyone else giving it away).  Finally we tried the SWAT costume he got for Christmas last year, and somehow, it worked!
With 3 kids ready for the big day... the next thing to do was wait and hope that the weather would hold off.  After several beautiful days, the weather for Halloween was predicted to be in the mid 60s with a steady rainfall increasing to 80% chance by 6pm with possible 50mph wind gusts... yikes!
With pumpkins carved, food in our bellies, and dressed to trick-or-treat, we opened our door to check the weather.  With Daddy stuck in traffic a little longer, mom loaded the kids in the van, and with the door open, the kids jumped out, and ran from house to van for about a block.  Once Daddy was home, we all ventured the light rain and wind and had a ton of fun running from house to house.  Despite the rain, it was rather exhilarating!  We laughed from house to house.  The kids all got tons of compliments and we heard "look, real costumes" from several homes!  It was real cute watching them run to the homes and seeing them have fun.   We spent almost the whole hour and a half out and returned home wet, a little bit cold, but with lots of loot!  With Bapa around to hand out the candy at home and ready with a warm fire for us.... we huddled in the living room to check out the stash!  A fun night indeed!

some of our wet freinds