Big Birthday Wish List

I have a big birthday coming up.  We have no money...having two kids in daycare and ridiculous student loans, we are lucky we can feed ourselves. :)  But I put together a list of a few things I might like should you feel so inclined.  Or maybe I'm just starting a wishlist for myself so I know what I want and where to find it.  I mean, Christmas is coming up too...

In no particular order...
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

I want a tablet, and shockingly, I want to try something that isn't an Apple product.  This tablet is awesome and comes with a Photoshop program built in.  Yes please.

Sewing Machine

I know this may sound crazy to a lot of people, but I kinda want to learn how to sew well enough that I can make a few things for the kids, myself, Justin or the house.  I already have a few ideas in mind and life would be a lot easier with a simple, relatively inexpensive sewing machine. :)

35mm Nikkor Lens

As you know, I love photography.  Recently, I've been practicing a lot and truly want to try to become good enough I can make a small business on the side.  I love taking pictures of people, my kids in particular.  My kids like my camera and tend to get a little to close to me while trying to take pictures.  This lens will allow me to include a little more in the photographs when they are all up in my grill. :)

Coach Bag

As you all may or may not know, I love Coach.  I love their purses, a lot.  I'm a snob.  So you really can't go wrong with...

This one

Or this one

Or this one

So there it is.  I will also accept money so I can take some more photography classes/workshops.  ;)

Big Finale

...of "Family Birthday Month" which is what I am now dubbing the month of August.  Mom, Justin, Kevin, and finally Liam.

One year ago tomorrow...

I was 8.5 months pregnant, awaiting news of the arrival of my niece or nephew from Wisconsin.  I spent the entire afternoon arguing with Justin about me driving up by myself with Kayla.  I insisted I was fine and I wanted to see my nephew.  If I went into labor, who the hell cares because I'll be at a hospital.  He insisted I wait until he got home.  He won (rare), but we made it to see Liam (and Lauren and Kevin and a bunch of other people).

Happy first birthday Liam Wiley House!  And happy first anniversary of being parents to my little sister and my brother-in-law.  Time goes by crazy fast and only gets faster.  I love you all and am so happy my little man has a built in best friend! :)

Strawberry Pickin'

I have tried very hard to get the kids out of the house this summer.  We have found some really fun things to do with our friends for relatively inexpensive.  It's been great.  And I'm even getting pretty good and dealing with two on my own while out and about now!

At the very end of June we went strawberry picking on a B-E-A-UTIFUL day with our friends K and M (and M's aunt). :)  It was a very nice day, hence not the best lighting for photography (mid day bright shining sun), but I didn't want to not try to get some photos.  And K was even nice enough to try to get a photo of my with my kiddos, even though Kayla was NOT interested. 

We picked tiny lovely strawberries, shopped in the little store and had some lunch together.  It was overall a great day!  

I'm trying to get back to blogging.  I've been busy with my photography lately, but I'm hoping for a Kayla update, Brody's 11 month update and a 101 update soon!

2 Months Away from 9 Years

Dear Justin,

Since your last birthday, we've

Welcomed a nephew:

Welcomed our second baby, our son:

Celebrated an anniversary:

Not from our anniversary, but I'm pretty sure we did nothing.  So here it is. :)

Celebrated the holidays in our own place as a family for the first time (after spreading illness throughout my family):

Took our first family trip to see/meet your family:

Celebrated our first baby's second birthday:

Been through too many sicknesses between our two kids and ourselves to count:

Bought our first home:

Baptized our little man:

And so much more.

We have had some hard times and still continue to have ups and downs, but there is no one I would rather be sitting next to on this crazy ride.

Today (tomorrow because we work and I won't have time to post this :)) is your birthday and in exactly two months, we will have been together for 9 years (minus one week where you were a little confused but we don't mention that).  Nine.  On paper, it sounds like forever.  In reality, I can't believe how quickly it's going and how easy it is to love you.

I hope that today, you not only know how much you are loved, but you feel it from Kayla, Brody and me.  You are so important to us and we thank God every day for another one with you in our lives.

Love,
M, K, & B

Be careful what you wish for...

I've been really hoping and praying that Kayla would be one of those toddlers that learns the lyrics to pop songs and sings them randomly throughout the day.  I thought this was totally possible as she seems to have an excellent memory.  Well the other day I caught her "singing" some pop song lyrics...




From that small little girl's mouth I heard, "I don't care.  I love it.  I love it."  She's going to be trouble.