Faith, Family and Fun

We were so lucky to be able to spend Easter weekend with Mitch's family...for the 3rd year in a row! Grandma Tootie, Grandpa Dave and Shelby arrived on Friday afternoon. Leah was so excited to see them. And we all were very happy to invite them into our new home. Mitch took his parents around town to show them our new community and his new workplace while us girls stayed home and watched "Tangled". Mitch made a wonderful meal for us and afterwards we delighted ourselves with the best Fudge cake, from Sam's of all places. Grandma Tootie thought that Kiersten should have her own piece so Grandma Tootie got to give Kiersten her bath :)

Later that night Mitch got a call from his brother. I knew that their was a surprise in store, but it was fun to watch it unwind. Our niece Rylee was supposed to come for Easter with the grandparents as well, but Mitch was told she was staying back to have Easter with her mom's family. When actually she was in Kentucky with her dad picking up his new race car. So about 9:30 on Friday night Brian called and asked Mitch if the offer still stood that he could stay at our place when he went to get his car, Mitch said of course. Brian told him to look outside...Mitch replied "I don't believe you." But sure enough, there was Brian trying to back his gigantic Suburban with a trailer and a race car attached into our driveway. It was such a fun night!!!

Saturday morning Brian and his friend David hit the road back to Minnesota but Rylee stayed here with us. Us girls filled our morning with pedicures and a quick shopping trip to Wal-Mart. When we were done we met the guys downtown where we walked around and stopped for lunch at Pastabilities. Saturday afternoon was filled with an easter egg hunt, dyeing easter eggs and playing outside. Mitch and I prepared a wonderful Easter dinner with Ham, Potatoes Au Gratin, sweet carrots, green beans almondine and peach cobbler for dessert. After the girls went to bed the rest of us had some fun playing Family Feud.

Sunday morning we were up and moving early to get ready for church. Normally we go to a Saturday night service, but it wasn't offered Easter weekend. And since the Sunday service was during Kiersten's nap time we tried to hit an earlier service at another nearby church. We didn't necessarily enjoy it as much as our church, but it was nice to be at church with the entire family. After we got home it was time for them to pack up and hit the road. Our time together always goes by so quickly but it was a wonderful weekend and we can't wait to do it again.

Early Easter

On Palm Sunday, my family all packed up in their vehicles and headed North to the big city of Herscher! My Grandma Schaumburg lives in an assisted living facility up there and we are so fortunate because they have a large kitchen/meeting room that they let families use. So dressed in their Sunday best the kids and parents were able to have a nice visit for Easter.

Having lived in New Jersey the past couple of years and having to split Christmas time between Illinois and Minnesota, I haven't gotten to see much of the Schaumburg side of the family the last few years. So it was great to catch up in person and not just on facebook. My cousins and brother went out and hid some Easter Eggs and we all enjoyed watching the kids on the hunt...even Grandma Schaumburg. I'm hoping now that we are back in Illinois there will be more opportunities for get-togethers like this.

School Days

Leah started preschool last week. I was so happy for her!!! She went to daycare "School" in New Jersey for a year and a half and we pulled her out shortly after Kiersten was born for financial reasons, and filled our days with MOPS meetings and playdates. Leah always asked about her school and her friends though. So it was a no-brainer that once we got back to the midwest she would be going back to school. I knew I wanted her in a Christian program and I didn't have to look long or hard to find one. There are 2 Lutheran Pre-Schools here, JACKPOT!!! Not only did I go to a Lutheran pre-school, but I taught at one for a few years too. And just our luck they had an opening in the 3 year old room...1 opening just waiting for us. She technically isn't 3 yet, but they let her start anyway. She LOVES it and to make it even more interesting, we have been going to church at St. Paul's so she gets to spend her time there on the weekends to. The girl is definitely comfortable. The teachers said she fit right in from the start...No, not my social butterly, ha ha!

Painting a Masterpiece

No it's not a crime scene, just Leah playing in my bathroom with a bottle of nail polish!!! Friday night Mitch and I stayed up late, watching a movie and having some adult conversation. Well Saturday I was just exhausted! Mitch and Leah made their traditional pancake breakfast then went to the store. After they returned Mitch and I got busy working on some dishes to take to my Grandma's for Easter dinner on Sunday.

After lunch and some play we put the girls down for a nap. Leah wasn't settling down like normal for her nap. We heard her running around upstairs. After a few warnings she got quiet. I laid down on my bed for a nap while Mitch was downstairs watching TV. I woke about 40 minutes later and and my bathroom door was closed and I heard little noises coming from behind the door. I opened the door to the scene above. She looked up at me and immediately said "I'm sorry, Mommy. I wanted to paint my toes." She kept repeating how sorry she was and I told her to stay put while I went down and got Daddy and the nail polish remover. I made a quick trip to the store for more nail polish remover while daddy got to work. After about 2 bottles she was mostly clean...mostly.

Girl's Only!

It's only taken me two weeks, but the girls rooms and bathroom are completely finished. Yes, I had them totally unpacked the afternoon after the movers arrived, but finishing touches have been put in place. The girls have their OWN bathroom since we have a master bath now, YAY! and so I wanted it to be "Kid" friendly, I knew that I had some coral colored towels that would fit the rubber ducky curtain, and it really does. I just wish I would have gone with a lighter color on the walls. We tried to make things simple by doing the bathroom the same color as Leah's room...a good idea in theory, but the finished project is not my favorite. The room is just TOO small, oh well...Live and Learn. Leah's bedroom on the other hand, I LOVE! I wish I had a cool little girl room when I was a kid, but instead I had faux wood paneling and a pink and purple flower bedspread, perfect for a grandmother's house...just kidding, mom..kind of :)

I found Leah's bedspread on Overstock.com...I just loved the Hibiscus flowers and tropical colors in it, and that was it. Once I got it I knew in an instant what color I wanted on the walls...its very close to the color of her nursery that we changed after a year and a half, because in the off chance that Kiersten would have been a boy, we didn't want to have a pink nursery. Anyway, I think Leah's room looks great. Mitch and I spent hours sanding and priming and painting the furniture white so it would be fitting the little princess that she is. The green rug is a great accent and the vintage flower/alphabet cards on the walls suit Leah to a tee...they have small fairy princesses on them. Eventually I would like to put dark pink curtains up, but all in good time.

Kiersten's room is about as identical to her old room as it can get. The yellow did not suit me at all when we first moved in. Her room in Jersey was a very pale yellow, but once we moved in the color started to grow on me. Plus I decided that it wouldn't really make sense to change it because eventually it would be a nursery for baby #3...whenever we get around to that. The furniture is all placed in the exact same positions as her room as Jersey, it's just much bigger!!! I added the decal above the crib that says "You are my Sunshine" because that is the song that I sang to both of my babies as I rocked them gently to sleep. Leah sings it once in awhile to Kiersten and it makes my heart happy. And if Kiersten is struggling to fall asleep it always does the trick. I hope my girls are as happy to be here as I am and I hope that they can create memories to last a lifetime.

Gigi's Birthday!

Since we live so close and all...We were able to drive to Charleston this past weekend to celebrate Gigi's Birthday. It was great-Grandpa Merle's birthday too and Leah did a fantastic job singing to both of them. Grandpa got a kick out of it and I think he loved hearing her sing. She even gave him a big snuggle too.

It was a beautiful day, high 70's and a good breeze so on our way down to Charleston we stopped at the store and picked up some kites and bubbles. Colby and Leah loved trying to fly them out in Gigi and Papa's big yard. It made for lots of fun watching them too. The kites were cheapo $1 kites from Wal-Mart but that didn't stop them from getting up off the ground. Really, they weren't too shabby...I'd buy them again. Leah LOVED her kite, I got her the Little Mermaid.

Matt and I decided that since it was mom's birthday we should do the cooking. Matt got some chicken breast marinated and made some delicious BBQ bacon wrapped shrimp. Cynthia made a corn casserole. I made a pasta salad, Mitch made a green bean/potato salad and together we made some DELICIOUS homemade whopper, chocolate malted buttercream cupcakes. I knew that Whoppers were once one of my mom's favorite. At lunch she told us how she had an aunt who always had chocolate malted milk balls in her candy dish, and how she always loved to visit her. I'm glad I remembered they were her fave. Anyway, They were so good. It was a wonderful day with the family, and we hope Grandpa Merle and Gigi had a great birthday!

The First of Many

Today we took the girls on a walk and on their first trip to the area playground. We are located about a half a mile away from an elementary school and it was a beautiful day to be outside. The high today was 81 and with the humidity it felt every bit of it. Probably didn't help that we started out on this little excursion shortly after noon, it was warm but we loved it. The girls were so content riding in their little red wagon, each with a sippy cup in hand. On the way we met our friendly neighbor Les who was out working in the yard. And we got to see a big group flying kites way up in the sky. The playground was great with lots to do. Leah had to check it ALL out. She is such a brave little monkey. Climbing up and down and here and there. I think Kiersten is going to follow in her footsteps. Kiersten got such a kick out of somethings and it was so great for us to take a break from working on the house to get out together as a family. Next time we will remember the sunscreen...the girls were looking a little pink on the way home. Thankfully they were just overheated and not sunburnt. We are loving this spring weather and are so thankful for our outside time. Next up on our agenda...Scovill Zoo and the Children's Museum.

Post Script: I spoke to soon, Bug's arm were about as pink as the shirt she has on...and I feel horrible. Sorry, Bug...I'll remember the sunscreen next time.

Unpacking and Progress

Wow, who knew how much work it could be to unpack a house and take care of two kids. It's been a week in our new home, but things are really coming together. The first floor is really pretty much done. Of course, there are still pictures to hang, and a little organizing to do...but for the most part it feels like home. In most of the pictures, if you see pictures on the wall they are just there to keep them off the floor and away from the girls. And the book shelves in the family room...well, you are going to have to give me some time with those. Again...stuff was just put up there to keep it out of the girls reach. And Yes, the dining room is a playroom. We needed a playroom and don't have a dining room set so it seemed like a win/win situation.

We were really really lucky moving into this house. All of the colors were really neutral and so we didn't have to do any painting. On the down side, the previous owners must have been freakishly tall because all of the nails in the walls are very high, so there is some patchwork that needs to be done and it may be difficult to match paints. Fortunately there is can after can of used paint in the garage and the basement so I am hoping we can figure it out. So for those of you that have been waiting (Laura, Tiffany, etc etc.) Here are some pictures of the kitchen, living room, dining room/playroom and the family room. I'll keep working on things upstairs and try to get pictures posted soon.