Reconnecting After 4 Years

On November 19th, 2005 Tim and I promised to love each other thru good times and bad, thru sickness and health, for the rest of our lives. This past year has brought many changes in our relationship and we definitely needed our anniversary to find each other again and focus on US.

The day started when I found a box on the dining room table with a note. The note said to be ready by 5:30, that he was going to top our first date (which was church and the bagel shop seven years ago) etc. I opened the box to find a new beautiful dress!! At 5:30 the doorbell rang and their stood my "date" with a dozen red roses. Charlie answered the door and said "What are you doing Dad?" Tim said "I'm here to take your Momma on a date". Charlie came running in the bathroom "Mom, Daddy is here with flowers". I walked out to see the biggest smile on his face and he was wearing his black suit. My sisters shut the door behind us, reassuring me that the boys would be just fine. We had a wonderful night and can't wait for the next time.

The other part of my present was this amazing picture that brought tears to my eyes. It is a picture of Tim and I on our honeymoon in Jamaica WITH 300 small pictures within the large one. All of the small pictures are the events from the past 4 years, including our beautiful children and other family members.

My wonderful surprise

My beautiful new dress

The picture (flash ruined the pic - sorry)

The frame says "Kiss me and you will see stars, Love me and I will give them to you"

The couple on their way out

To My Wonderful Husband: I don't know how you are going to top this anniversary BUT I can't wait to see you try. Thank you for making me feel like the most beautiful woman in the room and an appreciated wife and mother. I love you more than you will ever know. I can't wait to see where the next 4 years takes us - lets hope it doesn't mean more babies! Our family is complete with our 3 handsome sons.

A Day with Nama

The boys' Nama came down today to take Charlie on a special outing AND to let me take a much needed nap. They had a great time together, ate lunch with Dad, went to the mall to play trains and purchased a few (Thanks Nama), ride the horses in the food court, and eat ice cream. They made it back to read books and play downstairs with the babies.

Thanks so much Linda for spending the day with Charlie and "unloading" my responsibilities for a day. It is great to get extra help and watch Charlie enjoy his grandparents! We have been blessed to get help from quite a few people lately and we can't thank you all enough. Every little bit helps and we appreciate everyone's help. An old student of mine came to play with Charlie yesterday, Aunt Tina makes her weekly trips to explore caves with Charlie, Aunt Mary is flying in tomorrow to help, grandparents are always making plans to get here, and Jolly LOVES helping us at church with the boys. THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Reading stories

The babies are enjoying the story as well

Lincoln sleeping

Max getting Momma time alone - very rare

Nama and her grandsons

Times to cherish and hold onto

Randomness

Aunt Tina aka Nanny Tina hangin' with Linc

Sunday's Game - Go Viks

Charlie loving his new ball from Papa - great for throwing at Daddy

Charlie's favorite job - feeding his babies

He said "Hook me up Momma, I got to get milk for the babies"

Lincoln enjoying a night outside while Charlie was bike riding

Max was very relaxed enjoying the fresh air

The men out for a ride

Dad can get Lincoln to make the funniest faces

Charlie's new favorite thing to do with Dad is play "Iron Chef" in the kitchen

The Nanny at it once again comforting Max

Charlie loves it when I change the sheets on the bed and everything ends up on the floor first

My boys in bed with me, Charles T., Mr. Charming, and Handsome Devil

Thanks Aunt Teresa for the onesies!

Maxwell

Lincoln

Papa and Grandma's Little Men

The boys' Papa and Grandma came to our house on their way to Wisconsin for a week and then stopped on their way back home. Charlie always keeps his grandparents busy, starting their day at 6 am or so. St. Peter had their open house celebration and ribbon cutting on Saturday for HWY 169 so we had to attend. Charlie has inspected that job site more than any of the construction workers so he was excited to see it finished. What he doesn't know is that the machines are now done (poor guy).

Park visits, picture making, storytime, shopping for books, and lots of snuggles is how they like to spend most of their time with their boys. On Saturday night my parents kicked Tim and I out of the house for a much needed time to ourselves. While we were driving away Charlie looked at us like "Where are they going?". The last time we left by ourselves like that we came home with two babies. I can imagine what was going through his head! We miss Papa and Grandma already and can't wait to get home for Christmas!

Enjoying lunch together

The lion heading out into the rain with Papa

Having their cup of joe at the coffee house

Lincoln and Max in the loving, protective hands of their grandparents

Time is slipping away...

Best Buds at the park

Grandma let Tim and I take a few naps while she was here - the best gift we could get these days

Telling Linc about all their adventures outside

The men snuggling in the new construction blanket that Grandma found Charlie.

We were having issues with Charlie going to bed and Grandma thought the new "cool dude" blanket would help make Charlie brave AND it worked. Thanks Grandma!

Our Poor Baby

My little man that has been a fighter from the beginning (literally) now has another hurdle to jump over. We went to the doctor today after being concerned about a lump in Maxwell's groin. The doc confirmed that Max has a hernia. He said it is the biggest that he has seen in a baby this young. Normally they wait until babies are 4 to 6 months to do the surgery but because of the size our doc is suggesting it be done soon. It breaks my heart to know that he has to go through this but I have been told that it is a routine procedure and he will be able to come home with us the same day. He doesn't seem to be in any pain right now. We are waiting to hear from the Children's Hospital to find out the details. As if his cough and cold wasn't enough, he now has this to go through.
Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. We will keep everyone updated and hope it is taken care of quickly.
(stay tuned for pictures from two weekends the boys spent with their Papa and Grandma)

"Give Me Something Good To Eat"

Halloween was a fun day with Charlie going back and forth about wanting to wear his costume. When he found out that you get candy if you have a costume on, he was all for it. As you can guess Charlie was a Job Site Foreman aka Chris Jr. Max and Lincoln helped Mom pass out candy while Dad and Charlie went trick or treating with our neighbors Jed, Jenni, and Keira (Keira was a frog). When Charlie saw Keira walking up the sidewalk to the house he said "Keira are you a ribbit?" :)
We hope everyone had a safe, entertaining Halloween night!

"Can we have some of Charlie's candy Momma?"

"It just isn't fair! I want some too!"

Keira and Charlie ready to knock on some doors

Tim was reliving his childhood memories of trick or treating in their old neighborhood

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Promoting Daddy's office - Bolton & Menk

"Will work for candy" (Aunt Faye said he needed a sign that said so)

Trying to ditch the parents

Making sure Keira got home safely

Some of the candy Charlie came home with

Who do you think had more fun?

Spending Quality Time

The boys' Nama came down to visit on Sunday. We went to church, lunch, and home to play. It was wonderful quality time that Charlie very much enjoyed having. As Aunt Tina knows you can't play with Charlie AND hold the babies. Nama did her best to spread her attention to all 3 (as much as Charlie would let her).