We've Moved to the Country Folks!!

Thank God I'm a Country Girl!

Now, don't get me wrong; if you know me you know I love to shop, enjoy fine dining, taking in the vastness of the skyscrapers(I've always been crazy about skyscrapers for some silly reason). I love visiting the city. Key word-visiting. But when it comes to everyday living, I'm a front-porch sitting kind of girl.

Stephen and I stumbled upon an ad. It read: "Peaceful, country home, ranch on 1 and 1/2 acres. " It was at a price that seemed to good to be true but we checked it out anyway and thank God we did. It needs a little TLC and is a work in progress but we were anxious to move in.

Its about a 40 min. commute to the Uof I but hey, don't the city folks do at least that every day in bumper to bumper traffic? Or on a stinky, crowded subway or L-train or whatever? Our commute will be of beautiful peaceful countryside. Truly theraputic.

So if you need some fresh air and a little relaxation and just want to "get away," you can come sit on my porch. I'll bring ya a nice ice-cold beverage and a cookie (probably store bought). :)

Front yard view

Oops, when you live in the country you can't leave your work boots outside or Mr. Toady might find a temporary resting place.


These beautiful tiger lilys are everywhere!

One of the side yard views

One of the neighbors barns. They have horses, a donkey, goat, dogs, cats.....

Front of house

Back of house

View into backyard.

And a couple of Max. I'll post some pics later of him playing in new yard. Favorite activity is finding sticks and throwing them in tall grass by creek.

Fate

The latest book I am reading entitled "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan," by Lisa See has a line in it that got me thinking. Lily, the main character responds to her friend, "You can't fight your fate. It is predestined." Do you think this is really true? It made me also think of the phrase, "Whatever happens, happens." And, "Whatever happens, happens for a reason." I also thought of the popular scripture in Jeremiah and also one of my very favorites, "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." So does this mean that we should not worry or debate about "things" at all because they have actually already been planned out-whether bad or good choices/ decisions, wrong turns, detours ect.....Or does this mean there is more pressure to make the right choice because we don't want to choose something that is not a part of our predestined plan or fate??? Hmmm. Let me know what you guys think!!??

Pics from latest camping trip to Lake Shelbyville.

The New Adventures of a Stay-at-Home Mom!

As some of you know, I have been blessed with the opportunity to be a stay at home mom or "STAHM". I am feeling so excited, humbled and yes, a little anxious too. But, mostly, I am thrilled beyond belief. I have known in my heart that this is always what I wanted to do. Do I have other passions and desires-of course.(I actually have a HUGE list now of "things to do"-some Max and Mommy things, and some "Just Mommy" things too.) But, nothing is more rewarding or fulfilling than this. There is just nothing else like it. My little Max hugs and kisses and laughter are all I need. Being able to see him change and grow every day now is, just, well,the greatest! Enjoy the pics. Very random ones in no particular order.

BEAUUTYEE, BEAUUTE, BEAUTY

"Maxy have a new big boy bed!" says Max over&over&over&over

Max and Will at big bro Ed's hockey game. Cute.

Max blowing bubbles

Max and Momma catching some rays. This summer is gonna be sooo FUN!

Max is 2!

On March 2, Max celebrated his golden birthday. He turned two years old! We got a giant chocolate chip cookie and sang Happy Birthday. He opened a couple of presents and then later in the week, Gma Lila and Gpa Mutache and big brother Will were here to help us celebrate. We had a scrumptious chocolate elmo cake with vanilla ice cream and then opened more presents and more and more and more.....We were/are truly grateful that gma & gpa made the long trek from Kansas. They were a joy and blessing to have. Max is lucky he has such amazing grandparents. Thank you Gma Lila, Gpa Mutache, Gma Elaine and Gpa Richard. We Love You!

Mmmm! Max loved the little confetti pieces on his giant cookie!

All this sugar is intoxicating!

Hooray for Elmo and Big Bird! -Oops accidentally deleted the pic of the cake. Still new at this blogging thing, not a pro yet like my sister Mindy! It was super cute though.

Max and Gma Lila

So Good!

Dive In

Max playing with his new piano. FYI-he has giant hands

and long fingers. :)

Here with big bro Will

Watching Veggie Tales video with Gpa "Mutache"
a Precious Picture

Max's first haircut

I'm a big boy!

A "Model" look

Happy Boy


Almost done!

Uuuhhh.....

"Momma-are you sure about this?"-I was asking myself.

This past week Max and Daddy came to Momma's salon and spa and got his first big boy haircut. He was a little skeptical at first but then he got to hold the squirt bottle and all was fine. We were very proud of him. He sat so still on Daddy's lap. I was surprised at how big of a change it made. I had been holding out as long as I could because I loved the blonde girls. So here are some photos of Max's first big boy haircut.

Bathtime and other favorites

One of my very favorite times with Max is his bedtime routine. We start with a warm bubbly bath, which usually has mommy wanting to take one too; brush our teeth-a work in progress; pick out jammies- elmo's world, dinosaurs, or motorcycles; and-of course-read books. His favorites now are "Polar Bear, Polar Bear What do you Hear?" by Eric Carle and "Roll Over, Roll Over" by Penny Dale. Max is talking more and more every day. Sometimes, he won't stop talking! We are amazed by how seemingly overnight Max began repeating anything we said and talking in 2-3 word sentences. "Okay, c'mon", "I do it", "All Done", "Seepy pie", "Night Night Daddy"," Oh, Goodness". I am a proud momma. :)

Max actually says "cheese" now and then says "So Cute!"

The "mohawk" has now become the "wave" as Max's hair keeps growing.

Max and big brother Ed-Wow, can you tell they're brothers!?

My Mommy does my hair

All Clean

Max's First Snow

HI! A favorite of mine-not sure when.

Happy Halloween!

Me and Kelsey behind the front desk.

Kristi,me, Miranda at work

"All Done"

This Halloween was Max's first Halloween to "trick or treat". I found a sock monkey costume that was perfect for him. We first stopped at Kid's First to say trick or treat to his teachers and some of his friends. They thought he looked so cute. We then drove to one of our friend's house to "trick or treat" Max had his very own bag for all his candy-which quickly became momma and daddy's candy. We headed home after that. Just enough for Max to get a taste and most importantly so we could get some pictures! Earlier in the day I worked but we all had fun by dressing up and bringing treats to work. Sorry, everything is not in very good order. I am still in about 1st grade when it comes to blogging. :)

My sweet little sock monkey

Momma "Dorothy and my little sock monkey

Say trick or treat!

Max thought we should take his red car.

Getting ready to go. Daddy helped me get into my costume.

Some of the HDAK work crew