Transportation Museum

Last Tuesday my dad came into town on Wednesday we went to the Transportation Museum in St. Louis. We decided this was a trip for just Grandpa, Mommy and Alyssa.
Once we got there Alyssa was in love at first sight. She saw a train before even entering the building. While there she got to ride a small train, play in a huge play area that had trains, dress up, kitchens, and houses to play in. In the play area Alyssa had us sit in the kitchen area, and she fixed us meals and even got the mop out to clean up a pretend mess that she made.
After playing for awhile we went and got to walk and look at many different trains from different eras. Alyssa could care less about the history but loved climbing on and through the trains. We would give her information about it and she would say "ok" and keep going.
After leaving the museum she decided that we needed to go get chips and salsa so I found a Mexican restaurant close by and we had some yummy lunch then headed for home.
  Alyssa loved getting some time with Grandpa and Mommy without Colin.

Side note: I sent Grandpa to Walmart bright and early Wednesday morning for a new SD card for my camera so that I could take pictures at the museum. I put it in the camera and then left the camera on the counter. I did get some pictures with my phone but haven't uploaded them to my computer.

Fun Weekend

It was a really good weekend. It was busy but I enjoyed every second of it.
On Friday night we went out to dinner and walked the mall. It was so nice not to be rushing or anything. We went there with no agenda, ended up at the play area and got library books then left.
On Saturday we went to the park nice and early. Played for an hour and then Chris ran a 5k and I walked a mile with the kids. We then went to swim. After swim it was naps and then I took Alyssa to a birthday party. She had a blast at the birthday party and I was so proud of how well she behaved.
We then came home and packed up the kids for Grandma and Grandpa's house for the night.
We dropped the kids off at their Grandparents and Chris and I went out to celebrate our anniversary.
This morning we picked the kids up at 8:30, came home cleaned and naps then went to the park for another party. The kids had a blast and fell asleep quickly tonight.
I love weekends that are busy but that you don't feel rushed or tired at the end of.
It is going to be a good busy week and I'm so looking forward to next weekend too.

8 Years Ago Today

8 years ago today I married my best friend and soul mate. We had been together for many years and engaged for 7 months.

Alyssa took this picture of us on Mother's Day

I can't tell you the exact moment I knew Chris was the one for me, but I do know that I knew by the time I went off to college that he was meant to be mine. At our wedding my Maid of Honor said that she knew that she hadn't found true love because she had never looked at a boy the way I looked at Chris. That is something that has stuck with me. I hope that I still look at Chris the same way today that I did so long ago. I can honestly say that there are times I still get butterflies in my stomach.
   In those 8 years we have moved 3 times, I have changed jobs 7 times, and Chris has changed jobs twice.
 We have been blessed with two amazing children and a dog.These two children have made our life and marriage so much fuller. Before kids we would spend hours on the couch in front of the TV. Now the TV is usually not on until 9 at night. Our time is spent taking walks, playing hide and go seek, and being a family.

  Tonight Chris asked me if someone would have told you 8 years ago that you would be where we are today what would you say? I told him that I would have said they were crazy. This was not the path I saw my life on but I'm so glad I'm on it now.
    I look forward to Chris coming home every night. I get excited for date nights. We don't have as many as we used to, but I love that we make it a point to have them.
   Chris is my rock. He has been by my side during the toughest times, but also the happiest times.
  This last year hasn't bought too many big changes, I have actually kept my same job, there are no more babies to plan for and Chris' job has been close to home. The biggest thing we took on this year was making ourselves healthy.
   I am so proud of the new healthier us. We are more active with and without the kids, we eat healthier and our weights are much better.We have also made church a part of our lives.  We have taken time to make sure that we can be the best for each other and the best for our kids.
   I can't believe that it has been 8 years. I have had so much joy in the last 8 years I can only imagine what is to come as we truly take shapes in our jobs and in raising our kids.
I love you Chris and Happy Anniversary!

Mother's Day

It was an awesome weekend in our household. Yesterday morning we got up and headed to the zoo. It was perfect weather for being outside. At the zoo we were able to pet the goats, ride the carousel, and see many animals outside playing. We then went to the party that was held for Cheri at the zoo. Alyssa loved playing with her cousins and enjoyed watching the fish in the floor to ceiling aquarium.
  We then rode the train, saw the elephants and left the zoo. We then got back in the car and the kids were asleep before we even got out of Forest Park. Unfortunately for them we had to stop about ten minutes later for a new laptop for me and they never went back to sleep.





   Then last night I went out to dinner with some friends.
This morning the kids got up and went and got me flowers and doughnuts. Alyssa was full of many "Happy Mother's Day" for me. While eating breakfast I got to open cards and gifts from the kids. They gave me 2 hour long massages at a local spa.
 We then got ready for church and then walked to church. After church we came home had lunch and had a family nap.
After everyone woke up we walked to the park and played for an hour. We came home to clean up the house and the kids played outside on the deck with water. It was so nice to listen to them out there playing while I was cleaning.
We then had a nice dinner Chris fixed for us out on the deck and then out for ice cream.
It was a great day.

It is weekends like this that help remind me how awesome my life really is. As I sat reflecting on the weekend I can't help but be in awe of all that I have.
I'm 28, I own my own successful business that allows me to be home with my kids. I have a house that I love in a nice and safe neighborhood. I have two amazing kids that bring my joy and the best husband I could ever ask for.
Without my husband I would not be who I am today. I don't think I would have had the courage to take the jump to opening my own business without him. I also wouldn't have the kids that I have without him. (Obviously) He knows me so well and makes sure I am taken care of financially, physically and emotionally on a daily basis. I can only hope he feels the same way about me.
I really do love my life and as we come upon our 8 year anniversary I enjoy looking at where we have come from and where we are going.  

Colin is sick again

Something is wrong with Colin. I took him to the doctor last Wednesday and the doctor gave him a clean bill of health.
He hasn't eaten well in over a week and a half, and he is super fussy and isn't sleeping well at night. We started drops in his ear today hoping that is it. If it isn't I don't know what to do. It is heartbreaking to see him so upset and we don't know what to do to make him feel better.
 

Play Date

On Friday morning I took Alyssa on her first official play date. We got together with one of the girls from the day care. Alyssa and M play great together and so we set up a time that Alyssa could see her house.
  Alyssa had a BLAST. From the second we walked in the door Alyssa and M went off to play. Not once did they have an argument or issue. They played for an hour and a half and I think they would have played longer if we would have let them.
  After we left I was going to take Alyssa to lunch. We were driving past Red Lobster and she said "Mommy I want shrimp" so we turned around and went to Red Lobster. She ate 2 biscuits, almost all her popcorn shrimp and all the oranges on her plate. She then ate almost all a huge cookie for dessert that I said she could have since she ate all her lunch.
   It is so much fun to see Alyssa grow and become even more of her own person. She is a smart little girl and it is fun to watch that brain expand.

Bump on the Head and other Daycare news

On Friday I was cleaning under the yellow daycare table. Alyssa came over to see what I was cleaning and she knocked the table over onto my head. I started to cry immediately and couldn't stop. Alyssa kept saying over and over "Stop crying mommy stop crying". She was worried and didn't know what to do so she started to act out. I was able to keep functioning until Chris got home about 45 minutes later. A neighbor then drove me to the hospital and then Jenni came and sat with me while Chris took care of everything at home.  
The hospital said I did not have a concussion, but I disagree. I had all the signs of a concussion including, extreme tiredness, fluid drainage from the ears, extreme headache and a super foggy head. I am feeling better tonight so hopefully I will feel even better tomorrow.
   In other news the day care should be getting its new Group home Licenses soon. (I should of had it over 2 weeks ago so we are hoping soon.) Also Jenni and I have started a business plan so that if an opportunity comes up for us to move to a new center sooner than later we are ready. A business plan takes a lot of work to do. We started on Wednesday and we are done with 2 of the 11 steps. We will keep working on it and then we can just tweak it as things change and then we will be ready when the time comes. It is exciting to see what the future can hold for us.
  The daycare is totally full and we do not have any kids on a waiting list right now. It feels good to know all the spots are full and good to see the group we have get along so well.
I'm so happy with where my life has gone in the last two years!