Our New "Metal" Family Member

Well, we are officially crazy! When we were in Iowa visiting family and attending my cousin's wedding we found a VAN! It has been a LONG search, but we found a GREAT one and for WAY under budget. It just came with a 2 day drive back to Texas, family bonding time, right?! It has a few minor thing that need to be fixed, but David is just the guy to fix them!! Check it out!

HEB Cook-Off in San Antonio

I will eventually back track and catch you all up, but I wanted to share the fun weekend I had in San Antonio last weekend! I had the honor of traveling with my friend Courtney to join her team in a cook-off at a HUGE HEB in San Antonio. This was an event where the top two vote getting bloggers got to do. It was a crazy day, we checked in, we were assigned a shopper to get our ingredients (we had to use: Peter Pan Peanut Butter, HEB Frozen Veggies, Egg Beaters, & Hebrew National Hot Dogs with whatever else we chose). Once we shopped and ate lunch, then we had 45 min to prep, then 1 hr 5min to cook and plate! I felt like I was on a real cooking show, lol! I was sooo impressed with our team and our food, we rocked it!! We ended up winning 5 t0 2, WAY TO GO "I COOK" team!

The only bummer is we were suppose to meet George Duran, a celebrity chef (was suppose to be our chef for the day), but he couldn't make it due to the hurricane on the East Coast. Frank, the HEB Chef, was tons of fun though! Enjoy some fun pics:

You can get our recipes here at mycrazysavings.com.

God's Little Blessing!!

Well, most of you know by now, but if you don't WE ARE EXPECTING! This has been such a blessing!! Story below:

In April of this year (2011), life was CRAZY to say the least. We were packing and getting ready to move into a bigger rental, I was going strong on Weight Watchers and had already lost almost 18lbs, Moving began which consisted of lifting lots of heavy boxes up stairs, I was working out hard at the gym, and the list goes on and on. By all accounts we should not have been pregnant, and believe me it was the last thing I would have ever thought.

So, we just went on with life moving and getting settled into our new home and it wasn't until about the third week in May (not long before my birthday) that I started thinking I may be late. But, I still didn't think it was because I could be expecting. I just thought since I was loosing weight and working out hard, my body was getting adjusted. Anyhow, I told myself if I didn't start by my birthday then I would test. So, my birthday came on Friday that week, and NUTTIN! So, I decided to actually count my cycle days, well... to my surprise I was 10 days late, which is not normal for me. I called my friend Courtney and asked for her help with "something," but didn't tell her what. I ended up heading to her house that afternoon and testing. It was a BIG FAT POSITIVE! I was soooo shocked. I talked David into going out for birthday dinner (we usually just celebrate together), and wrapped up the test. At dinner I gave him the gift and he was just as surprised and excited!

For any of you who know our history, you know that this is such a blessing because we went through extensive fertility with Drew & Evan. It took us 7 1/2 years to get the news we were expecting Drew and 3 IUI's for Evan. We have been praising God everyday of this pregnancy. We are now just over 20 weeks, and just found out it is a BOY!!

Keep us in your prayers, the baby is very healthy, but I just found out today that I have a low lying placenta, which means it is covering the cervix. You know I do DRUG FREE births and the thought of a possible c-section FREAKS me out! So, please pray as the baby grows, the placenta will move up, which happens in LOTS of cases.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Lions & Tigers & Motorcycles???

Drew and I had our first trip to the circus with our friends the Solstads. The were kind enough to share their tickets and David was gracious enough to watch Evan and Maci. Thank goodness for that because the Circus was LONG and Drew barely made it through. He was saying he wanted to go home at intermission, but the Elephants saved the day! If you asked Drew what he liked best he would say the train & motorcycles in the cage. Enjoy some pics!

Drew's Treat! All he could talk about was Dumbo!

My Date, cute huh?




Getting Tattoo's from the Circus folks My favorite part of the circus, the Trapeze

Evan TURNED 15 Months!

Well, it is no suprise that I am behind once again! Evan turned 15 months on the 9th of July, and with that come a doctor's appointment and oh so yucky shots! I have to say we really like our Pediatrician and the staff!

Anyhow, I know you are anxiously awaiting to see how much our little sweetie has grown. Here goes:

Weight: 24.1 lbs (40%)
Height: 31 1/2" (58%)

So, this means our little man had a growth spurt, which he needed!

He still does not say much, we call him a boy with very few words. He comprehends what you are saying and knows what he wants. He is in love with airplanes just like Daddy! I think it is safe to say he is David remade! 15 months brought on walking for Evan, which is great because in June he would walk a couple steps then just sit down. He knew exactly what he was doing, little booger! He is very much the kid who goes for the easy route. He knows he can do something, but then just goes for the faster route.

He loves food & water! When he has either of these two, he just lights up and it is like you have just put fresh batteries in him. He loves to put on a show, especially when the dinner is spaghetti! So, it is safe to safe any noodle meal would be his favorite!

It is so sweet when I pick him up from his childcare room at church they always tell me how he was the easiest kiddo and how sweet he is. As a mama that just warms my heart!! He is truly a sweet and funny little boy, we are beyond blessed!

Trip To Iowa...FINALLY!

After over a year, I finally got brave and took a trip back to Iowa by myself with both kiddos! I have to tell you I was in tears more than once in the Chicago airport and just about gave up! I was reminded that I am not super woman and it is a lot of work traveling alone with two little ones. I am glad I made the trip and that the kiddos had an opportunity to spend time with their grandmas and grandpas! Enjoy some pics from our trip, they are in order backwards!

Boys with Grandma Choo Choo & Grandpa Hot Rod
Our Baby Racoon's at Grandma's...so cute!

Sweet Evan at the River

Drew loved Aunt Sharon's Turtle!

Aunt Sharon

Fun Boat Ride!

Uncle Tom...Drew's Hero!

Grandma Dawn, fun at the Park!

Drew on the BIG slide...wow!

Grandpa Gary..fun at the Park with Evan & Raegan

Pic with Mom & Grandma Pace

Grandma Pace & Evan, he stole her heart!

Dipple Grandkids (missing Tyler)

Drew with cousin Gabe!

Summer Pool Fun!

We have great friends down here in Texas and we are so blessed that! Both the Lee's and Solstad's live in the same housing edition and they have a really nice community pool. So, we have been thankful to get the opportunity to swim with them a handful of times this summer, which helps us get out of the house in this crazy heat!! A few weeks ago we had Mason over for the night, which Drew just LOVED, and we went to the pool! Talk about a great kid, Mason was so wonderful and patient with Drew. My boys just love him and his brother Garrett!! I can only pray my boys grow up to be like them!! Enjoy some fun photos from our trip to the pool!!

WALKING BOY... Kind of!

Okay, Evan has been walking here and there since I returned from my trip to Iowa, which was the middle of June. In the last week he has learned to stand up on his own, and has what we call (I know not good) an intoxicated walk! Who doesn't love watching a little one learn to walk. Just like everything else, Evan walks when he feels like it then when he is done, he just sits down and crawls the rest of the way! He is so easy going, JUST LIKE HIS DADDY! Enjoy these videos!

Silly Boys!

I am not sure I have an explanation for this one, but it will give you a good giggle! I have to say it always warms your heart when you see you children getting along, since Drew usually has a problem sharing. So, let's just say I will cherish this!!

HELP me earn Target Gift Card!!

Hey all, I don't post things like this often, but I am always looking at ways to help our family save! We are trying to save for a newer car since ours are OLD, so this would help! Click on this link (you need a FB account) and sign up under me! These go sooo fast! Once you sign-up you will also get a chance to earn one!!

CLICK Here to go to my page and sign-up!


THANKS!!!

BUG-A-LICIOUS BOY!

Rolly Pollys are a frequent visitor of our home these days, did you know they are going to grow into lady bugs? Me either!! The 2 things that make my smile turn upside down are:

*Putting more Rolly Pollys in his container on top of DEAD ones... YUCK!
*Walking into the kitchen and finding the Rolly Pollys have a free for all in my house. Drew tries to convince me that they need to be out and that they are hungry...REALLY???

Drew has been in rare form these day, and it just keeps the smiles stuck on our faces.

On the way home from dinner the other night, Drew was talking our ears off. He was giving us the following wish list:

-Lollipops, Hot Air Balloon, Microphone, more trains, and on and on....

Atleast he has a variety of wants, right?

Easter 2011

Okay, so I am behind as usual... I think that will be my tag line for EVERY post! Here are some fun pictures from Easter! We are blessed to have great friends down here in Texas, so we spent the day with them celebrating the resurrection of our Lord! Enjoy some cute pics...

I will post pics from our Easter Egg Hunt soon! Maybe one day this will actually be up-to-date with current info!