Family Farewell...

Last Monday, our awesome cousins, Sus and Chris left for Swaziland, Africa. They have joined the Peace Corps and will be gone for at least 2 years. You can follow their fun adventures here. Swaziland is way down south near South Africa and Lesotho.

Grandma Freda had a fun family gathering at her house with lots of food and good times. It was such a melancholic day as we all were happy to be together, but very sad with the pending farewells. 2 1/2 years is a long time. The baby in my belly will be older than Ben is now when they come home...

These two people are so special. They are such an inspirational couple with hearts that desire to serve others, explore, and save the world. As much as they will be missed, it is such a neat thing to get to live vicariously through them as they live on the opposite side of the world in a place so unfamiliar trying their hardest to help others live a good life.

It has been so much fun this past year getting to live in the same place as Sus. This is the first time our whole lives that we have been so close and accessible to each other! She is so much fun, such an interesting gal, and such a sweet soul. I will miss her so much.

Ben has also grown quite attached to his fun cousins. They have taught him so much and he has SO much fun when they are together. Hopefully he will be able remain connected through their pictures and stories they share and he will be so excited when they return.

Family gatherings will certainly be different without these two...

The day was a good one. The boys did their usual thing downstairs on the couch, the girls chatted away, the babe explored. After a delicious meal, it was a hard time saying goodbye. After many hugs, kisses, tears, and well wishes...they were off.

We wish them all the best. We will miss them, love them, pray for them, and think of them daily on their life-changing journey. May they impact many lives for the better, enjoy their adventure and come home safely. We love you Sus and Chris!

My Daddy.

Horribly late love being sent out to the best daddy in the world. He loves his little girls like no other. He loves his little ben in a way that makes my heart melt. We love him more than words.

celebrating early at the family farewell...

Happy VERY late Father's Day Daddy. xoxo

Update Mania!

Only a week away from you my dear blog and there is SO MUCH you have missed out on. Here's a fun peek at what you will see coming soon:

~A fun family night at the OKC Arena Football Game
~Cute videos of the belly and the ben
~A sad farewell to cousins Sus & Chris
~A week with Grandpa, Grandma, and Uncle Brian
~Tons and tons of pics

See you back here soon!

Happy Father's Day.

I must give some credit to the world's greatest father...

He takes care of us, provides for us, loves us, nurtures us, wrestles with us, reads to us, kisses us, sings to us, plays with us, cooks for us, plans for us, worries about us, teaches us, hugs us, snuggles with us...he is the greatest there ever was, and we love him so much.

Newsletter: Month 19

Dearest Ben,

Whew! We made it through that last month! :) Now here you are, 19 MONTHS OLD and growing like a weed. You are a full-blown little boy that I cannot keep up with but boy do you keep yourself busy! All those rumors about little boys being active, dirty, adventurous, rowdy, loud, and full of energy are coming true right before our eyes as we watch you grow from a little baby boy into this hilarious big boy.

You are constantly moving. You still love jumping and will do it at request to show off. Every time a song comes on you immediately start dancing and sadly you still have only white boy moves. You bring your arms in to your body as if you are going to run, and then sway and bounce in rhythm all while shaking your head. If one of daddy's punk rock songs comes on, you will headbang to rock out. You very carefully have to hold your legs steady with your knees bent while your head rocks back and forth and your mouth is open and your eyes are closed. Rock on! Too cute. You've mastered walking backwards and you also like to get down on the floor and do a backwards army crawl while squealing with pride. Granny taught you how to march when you were following her through the house putting laundry away. She would sing a marching chant and you march right along behind her raising your knees high and smiling big. You've turned into a little monkey jumping on the bed and couch at every chance. Even though you know you aren't supposed to, you will jump with a huge grin and as soon as we give you the look, you jump down to your bottom and laugh whole-heartedly. 

We've had you outside as much as we can. It is already hot, hot, hot so it's been in short stints. We've gone to the park, worked in the yard, and spent lots of time in Papa & Granny's kiddy pool. You love the park, which is probably a given for every kid, but you do. You love to swing and slide and of course just take off running like a free man. You also love helping daddy in the yard. He bought you your very own hand shovel just like his, and you dig right along side him in the dirt happy as can be. And the pool...well you just love being in any kind of water, splashing, and pouring. My little water baby.

Basketball is still your favorite pasttime. Uncle Zach gave you an OSU basketball hoop and it has been out in our living room to keep you entertained for hours. You gather all the balls in the house and then throw them in...actually making quite a few baskets! We spent a week at the farm and you and papa spent hours playing "one on one" using the trashcan as a basket and papa giving play by play analysis. You even started repeating some of the player's names and you both were in heaven. Oh yeah, and you named your teddy bear Pistol Pete. I dare anyone to say we are brainwashing you. :)

You continue to get smarter and smarter and it impresses me to no end. While you continue to love being read to, and pointing out every single thing you know in each of your books, you've progressed to counting! If I ask, "how many ____s do you see?" you will point to each one expecting me to count them for you. You also can recognize colors and shapes by pointing those out too. It's crazy! A huge step was when you finally stopped shouting, "MORE" for please and politely started saying, "Peez" as necessary. It is so adorable whenever you ask for something now and you sound much less barbaric. You have clung to your adoration of the word NO, though you have become more kind with your intonation. And best of all is how everytime something falls, drops, spills, rolls, etc. you proclaim loudly, "Oh No!" in the most dramatic voice. It's so darn funny.

Your daddy is doing work for your Papa & Granny this summer so we have spent alot of time both at the lakehouse and at the farm. This has been a huge help to your big ol' pregnant mama who is getting a break by having others around to entertain you. The time is nearing when you won't be the only kiddo around and I sometimes worry that you will take negative notice when your baby brother or sister arrives. You are just so adored and constantly fawned over and the guilt of taking any of that away is eating at me. Please just know how much you are loved little man. Please just know.

 

You are such a sweet, sweet boy who pats us on the back when being held, gives tight hugs, kisses us without being asked, and loves to cuddle. It is the warmest feeling I've ever known when you walk over to me with your blond ringlets wisping in the air and lean up to give me a kiss for no reason. I was unaware of such pride and love for another thing until you started doing this. I know that this new gift you've given will never wane and throughout our lives, every time I receive a gentle kiss from you I will be the happiest mama in the whole world. 

Love,

Mama

31 weeks

This was fun last time, so I've decided to do another comparison. Even though I am now almost 33 weeks, let's look back to the last belly pic I took when I was 31 weeks with baby #2:

And then 31 weeks with Ben:

Despite the better quality of pictures and the new wall color...any other differences you notice?

Just your average evening.

like father, like son.

So that crazy little maniac that runs around like a banshee all day long? This is what he looks like come 5:30 when King of the Hill comes on. He settles in with his daddy on the couch and will sit throughout the entire 30 minute program, watching and commenting. King of the Hill? What?

I can't get him to watch 2 minutes of Thomas the Train, Sesame Street, or Elliot Moose. Nothing. Nadda. Won't even look. However, put on a basketball game, or KING OF THE HILL and he here:

Saying it makes his daddy happy and proud is an understatement to say the least.

Twinkies?

Brad says we look exactly alike. He says it's our eyes and curly hair. (You should see ben's curls in the back!) I would add the chin. I think he is wrong, because there is NO WAY that I am that cute...

Paradise Cove.

Views from last week-end. We took a boat ride over to Paradise Cove...a family favorite spot.

To answer your question...#4

So I haven't done one of these since April, but I just think they are so much fun!

Liz asked: Where did you get your organic cheese?

From the weekly Farmer's Market...

Micca asked: Why doesn't Brad like Facebook?

When he first signed up he couldn't figure out it's purpose. He was so confused that the whole point was to just chat, and keep up with others. Now he checks it every single day. Not saying he likes it per say, but he checks it! :)

Liz asked: Guess what i'm going to do on your birthday.... going to see wicked, jealous?

Yes. Although I did get to see it here in OKC. Loved it.

Liz asked: In regards to making face wash: With that lemon zest, do you also use the juice of the lemon too?

The recipe doesn't call for the juice of the lemon, just the zest of it. But I found myself adding water to the mix because it was pretty dry, so I doubt adding the juice would hurt.

Lane asked: In regards to my floor cleaner: groovy! I've tried everything on our vinyl too! how many parts vinegar to how many parts lemon juice?

I just filled a rectangle glad tupperware with vinegar and then squeezed in two or three long squeezes of lemon juice. No real science to it. 

Emily asked: So is he (Ben) going to be a long distance runner or basketball player?

Most likely a basketball player. The ball phase was definitely not a phase. He is still obsessed with balls (any kind). We spend hours every single day throwing, fetching, shooting, and kicking balls. We've also been watching the NBA play-offs and everytime he sees anything related to basketball on tv he literally squeals with delight. He loves watching the games and cheering on the teams. He knows to clap when they make a basket. 

However, he had really gotten in to running suicides. He'll just run back and forth as fast as he can in the living room, or anywhere we are. :)

Mother Mary asked: In regards to the new car: Very nice, have you named her yet?

No, and I have no ideas. Anybody? 

Liz asked: does he like beer? i think we used to love it at the lake. 

I don't know. It was all pretend. :)

Leslie & Amanda asked: In regards to Brad's birthday pizza at the ballpark: Did you really hide away a pizza? how does that even work? and yeah, what's up with the hideaway pizza? confused.

Hideaway pizza is a local pizzeria with delicious pies. They have a stand at the ballpark which is a real treat. Brad got to order the whole pizza instead of just a slice and he was in HEAVEN.

Molly asked: In regards to my mom's tattoo: What's the deal with the tat. any family meaning? 

Depending on who you ask it has different meanings. 1 is that it is an Irish Love Knot, 2 is that it is a symbol for the holy trinity, or 3 it is also a symbol used by the band Led Zeppelin. My sister got it first, then 2 of my cousins got it, and my mom just really liked it. I'll let you guess which meaning we like to take from it. :)

Lee asked: BTW, What is your due date?

AUGUST 8TH...ONLY 2 MONTHS AWAY!

Emily asked: How is the simple living going? Your garden growing? Around here we have a place called Azure Standard we can order from to get local stuff that is hard to find, ie flour, beans and stuffs. Do you have the like? Have you found something like this yet? 

Simple living is much harder in the summer. We have been on the go so much that it has been so hard making all of our food from scratch. We are doing our best though. Our garden is awesome. Nothing has died yet at least! :) And no, I haven't found anything like Azure Standard. Sounds awesome! We do have a local food coop but you have to sign up, pay a monthly fee, only order online and only once a month. Other than that, it is very hard to find local staples...

Leslie asked: And sock shoes?? omg. do they make heels like that? and how awesome would that be if i could pull those off @ work. i'd be soooo comfy.

They do make sock heels. But for little baby girls, not us big kids that need them. I would pay you to wear them to work!

Leslie asked: Does cali help ben clean up?

Heck yeah! She eats up everything he drops in the blink of an eye!

Brooke asked: Regarding Ben's janitorial skills: Can ben train my husband?

Trust me, he looks awfully cute doing it, but it is NOT quality cleaning. :) 

Trish asked: Is that a honesdale tee brad is wearing also?

YES! That is his Wallenpawpak basketball league shirt...#11. He also has a black Wallenpawpak soccer shirt that he lives in. As I am typing this he is wearing his red Cayuga staff shirt. We are proud.

Devon asked: So i've looked at this photo like 4 times because i'm totally perplexed by the differing shapes of your bellies. is it because ash is more pregnant? is it because one is a girl and one is a boy. shed some knowledge, please, please!

The only answer I have for you, as lame as it is, is that every pregnancy, and every woman are different. Teaching yoga and being around tons of pregnant women has taught me that no belly is the same. Even the same woman can carry completely different with each baby. However, some fun "wives tales" about bellies that I have heard are:

*If you carry high, it's a girl, low, it's a boy.

*If you gain weight out wide (wide waist) it's a girl, if you carry out way in front, it's a boy.

*If you gain lots of weight it's a girl.

*If the line on the belly extends to the rib cage, it's a boy. 

Emily asked: Do you have internet connection at the lake house or did you do these posts ahead of time?

No, the lakehouse is devoid of communication with the outside world. Well, except for the cable and phone. :) But for Brad and I, having no internet is basically being completely isolated. And we LOVE it! So yes, I did a few posts ahead of time to get caught up and scheduled them to post while we were gone. 

Hooray! I love when my loyal readers ask questions! How fun to get to answer them! xoxo

The Wind Comes Sweepin' Down the Plain...

And we are takin' advantage of it!

Our local power company, OG&E, has started offering their customers a very cool opportunity. You can sign up for wind power to power your home!

You can either sign up for a percentage of your power or all of it, and Brad and I are so excited. We switched over completely to 100% wind power for all of our electricity! How cool is that! 

Not only is this a renewable resource, but it is also a "local business" as Oklahoma is slowly but surely growing it's wind power initiative taking advantage of one of our most consistent and plentiful resources. Over the last few years, they have expanded greatly and windmills are beginning to dot our western plains.

Yeah for no more coal! 

Welcome Grady!

Ash & Zach welcomed their sweet precious little boy to the world last Saturday evening...

Grady Wayne

June 6th, 4:52 p.m.

6 lbs., 19 inches

Absolutely perfect in every way.

We have waited so anxiously for this little soul's arrival. Anticipating family gatherings, parenting adventures, and celebrating milestones together with some of our dearest friends.

So many have loved him since the moment they learned of him. He is surrounded by many who will pray for him, love on him, celebrate him, and enjoy every moment of his sweet precious life.

And even though he has such a wonderful family surrounding him, there are many of us who feel as though he has born into our very own families...

that the word friend or friend's little boy, isn't strong enough to describe how much he means to us.

What a fortunate little boy to have two of the most loving, patient people I have ever met for parents. He will be raised in a Godly home with abnormal amounts of nurturing, care, and complete adoration.

Welcome to the world little man.

We could not be more happy to begin lovin' on you.