Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Almost walking.....

Ok, so now that Lucie has turned 8 months old she is starting to walk behind her little car/walker. She loves doing this, of course she falls down but she gets right back up and starts again! Gracie walked when she was 9 months, so Lucie is not far behind her!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Lucky,,,,,

Everyday I get up and go through the normal routine of getting ready, going to work, taking care of our children, taking care of the house, and I never just stop and look around at what I have. This year so far has really shown me the love I have for my husband and the devotion and trust we have in eachother. Without him I don't think I could get through the day sometimes.
When I find myself wondering why all the crappy things happen to us I have to remember that it is all part of a bigger plan for us. When obstacles come into our lives they are just things to help remind us that we are strong and can overcome anything. I will admit sometimes I have my doubts and it can be so hard and discouraging.
The bigger plan is what I try to remember. I remember how long I was alone with no boyfriend in my life until I finally met RJ again, then I remember how long we tried to have a baby, and then we had 2 right away. Our paths seem to be a never ending waiting line sometimes, but then I think how lucky I am to have RJ right with me when I think we will never see the light.
Our life's tradgedies seem to bring us closer. So maybe it's not luck at all, maybe it's fate.........

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

8 month & 21 month pics...............

So I recently tried to take pictures of the girls at home. Then I got a couple of the three kids all together. Of course nobody wanted to sit still for anything and it ended up being pretty frustrating. Overall it went ok, it took a long time but I ended up with some cute ones. Of course I had to include the funny pictures for everyone to see as well.
Lucie's Toes

This is how most of them looked.....

Gracie had enough of her picture being taken


Gracie Jane's mug shot, lol...


Gracie decided she would only sit for pictures if she could have a popsickle


I like this one!

While taking a popsickle break for Gracie, I was able to snap a few of these two cuties...

My funny girl.......

Cheese, Gracie refused to put any more cute shirts on so a tank top it is......

Gracie decided that she would be much cuter if she shrugged her head to the side..
Daddy had to hold Lucie for this one, I love their hands ....
My pretty baby girl.....

Lu-Lu being silly for the camera!

She truly resembles her Momma in this pic, lol

Look up here Lu-Lu Belle....

This is one of my favs, of course the pillow Grandma Smith made for her had to be in it!

Gracie being fiesty

She is so good and innocent......

This is how a ton of the pictures looked since Lucie kept leaning out the front of the basket

Profile of my Lu-Lu Belle....

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

LIAM MAX FLATTERY....

Errol, Mom, Gracie, Kevin & Frannie



Gracie on the trike, Liam on the 4 wheeler


Liam says "what's next mom"


Liam trying to hitch a ride with Gracie


Liam and everyone watching him open gifts


Larissa trying to put a hat on John


RJ and Lucie enjoying someone's joke


Erica & Liam



Erica let Liam lick the frosting off all the cake decorations



Liam Max

Sunday my nephew Liam turned 2. My sister Erica had a party for him at their new apartment in Ankeny so we traveled there on Saturday to be a part of the festivities! He got a lot of cool new toys and some clothes. His 2 favorite things were a trike, and a motorized minature 4 wheeler. Gracie and Liam took turns riding the 4 wheeler around the apartment which was super cute. There were a lot of family members there to celebrate so it was a little crowded, but the more the merrier!! We enjoyed cake and ice cream and had a lot of fun.

Smith Family Reunion...

Gracie swinging in the big girl swing!

RJ & Lucie

RJ, Gracie & Robert (nice mustache)


Dan, Barb, Kirsten & Monica



Jeff & Joe

Monica and her soon to be hubby Jeff

Aunt Christy & Lucie

Lucie and Gracie taking a nap

Walker rocking Lucie

Grandma helping Lucie and Gracie on the swingset

What happend......

This past Sunday we spent the afternoon at RJ's parents house for the Smith Family Reunion. There were faces there that we haven't seen in awhile and some that were not, that's right Heather, I am talking about you... Most everyone did a little swimming, a little eating, and a lot of catching up. I personally got to talk to Monica (RJ's cousin) about her upcoming wedding in October. Sounds like it is going to be a lot of fun, with a lot of yummy deserts. Of course she couldn't give any of us the details of her dress because her mom (Aunt Barb) wants it to be a secret, so I guess we will just have to wait until the wedding to see it.
The girls both took a long nap which was a nice break for RJ and I. I would say that the big hi-light of the day was the announcement of the birth of "SOPHIE MAY HILSABECK". She is the new daughter of RJ's cousin Dillon and his wife Ashlie. I believe she was 8 lbs, 5 oz. Congrats to the new Grandma Gail and Grandpa Matt, who I am sure are super excited. Also Monday (the day after she was born) was Gail's birthday so that was a great birthday present for her!!!!!
All and all it was a fun day filled with lot's of laughs and conversation. Cudos to Robert (RJ's cousin) for sporting his new mustache, everyone seemed to get a kick out of it!

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Happy Birthday Liam Max....









Oh how crazy it is that 2 years ago tomorrow my little sister was giving birth to her son Liam. I remember being in the delivery room recording it all for Erica and I was crying when she pushed him out. It was such a miracle. I was so proud of her for getting through it. He was so little when he was born and had some problems but today he is a healthy, happy little boy!
I am so happy to say that I have been able to be a part of most of the big steps he has taken so far in his life! Erica and Liam recently moved to Ankeny so our visits have been a little further apart. Today Gracie is so excited to go and see him! We will have a bunch of fun!!

So happy birthday Liam or O'lem as Gracie likes to call him sometimes!!! We love you very much!!
Love Aunt Sarah, Uncle RJ, Alex, Gracie and Lucie

Friday, August 13, 2010

Just another day....

These past few days have just flown by and little by little we are getting more sleep (RJ & I). It came to our attention last night that even though the girls were both asleep before 10pm, we were both still up watching a movie that we had rented the night before. We laughed afterwards thinking, maybe we stayed up because watching a movie without interruptions anymore is about impossible. On any other occasion we jump at the chance to get to bed by 10:30pm. Sounds crazy I know. I found myself sitting in front of the t.v. letting out a big sigh as to say, ahhh it's quiet and I can hear the whole movie from beginning to end. It was nice. It was also nice to sit with my husband and watch the movie. Of course once it was over we poured ourselves into bed and fell asleep before our heads even hit the pillow. Time -- 12pm. Oh well , rest is for the weary.
We are going to be busy this weekend getting the house ready for the open house on Sunday and our nephew LIAM MAX turns two so we will be heading to Ankeny for his birthday party on Saturday afternoon. Then on Sunday we will be going to RJ's parents for the Smith Reunion!!! Hopefully the weather will cool down a bit or at least not be so darn muggy. Otherwise the girls and I will be inside most of the time. I will post pics from the weekend hopefully Sunday night!!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

So tired..........

It seems I am more tired as the days go by. My babies are getting bigger and they are both teething at different times. Not to mention their constant growth spurts. Gracie is now 21 months old and Lucie is 7 months. They are both waking up in the middle of the night. I would let them cry themselves back to sleep but then they wake each other up and then we are all up. They truly need to be in seperate rooms but we just aren't in the position right now to accomodate that.
Every morning I wake up with Gracie next to me cuddling up to me with her wooby. She is there because it has become her ritual to wake up around 5:30 yelling for Daddy to come and get her. He brings her into our room and she sleeps there until I get up for work. Of course I just hate to leave her there, even though I am right around the corner in the bathroom getting ready. I just want to lay there with her as long as I can. Everytime I look at my babies I get so emotional, it's just still hard to believe that they are mine. I think back to how long RJ and I tried to have them and it was a very long road to get where we are now. Anyway, I am usually in the bathroom getting ready when my mom arrives in the morning to watch the girls. Right around then is when Lu-Lu wakes up and then I just have to be the one to go in and get her. Her little face is so cute to kiss in the morning. Then we(the girls & I) sit on my bed for a couple of minutes with Grandma and talk. I love it.
Then I am off to work, and when I get home at 4:45pm I just want to play with them and also get the house work done. Too many things to do when all I want to do is enjoy some time with them. Their bedtime seems to be getting later and later each night and I would say that by the time they are in bed and I have cleaned up the house, put all the toys away, done the dishes and a load of laundry, then take my shower I am usually in bed around 11:30pm. Then once again Lucie wakes up around 12:30 for a bottle and I don't get her back to bed until around 1am. So you can see why I am so tired. In the end, it's all worth it even if I complain about it!!

On the market again...

Yes once again we have put the house on the market. We decided to switch realtors from Nerem's to Flynn's. Hoping this change will bring us a bit of luck. We would love to be able to move before winter so let's keep our fingers crossed. In the mean time it is an endless task of keeping the house picked up and cleaned in the chance some potential buyers might want to come at the last minute to take a peak. This is a bit hard to do with 2 little ones getting into everything. My mom was gracious enough to make us some new curtains for the kitchen and diningroom. We are trying to make some minor changes through out the house in hopes that it will help! WISH US LUCK!!!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Summer pics....

Alex & Gracie playing video games


Hale to queen Gracie!


Gracie & Lu-Lu wrestling around



Muah Kisses!!





Summer's End....

Seems like we just started our half of the summer break with Alex yesterday and already he will be returning to his Mom's this coming Monday August 9th. Until now I have never posted anything on Facebook or on this blog about what is going on with us at home. In part I think it's because I feel so many different things about it all.
Alex decided February 22 of this year that he wanted to live with his mom. Mainly it started because of an argument between the three of us (RJ, Alex & Myself). Things were said that made each of us feel bad and in the end we decided that maybe it would be ok to let him "try" living with his mom. He felt our rules were too strict and he was very jealous of Gracie and Lucie and that our attention had been focused more on them than him.
Words can't express how bad I personally feel about it all. Alex was my world before the girls were born. From the beginning I have always treated Alex like he was mine. He had just turned 4 when RJ and I got together. As the years have gone by we have been through a lot with him. Through all of the negative comments made towards me (by his mom) and just the negative attitude about me being in Alex's life I tried to always make sure he knew I loved him so much. All I ever wanted was to be a mom. I think that got away from me over time. I hate that he doesn't want to be with us. I told him how sorry I was if I ever made him feel like he wasn't still just as important to me as the girls are. Things are a bit better now, but I still feel guilty about all of it I guess. I feel like I let him down. All RJ and I ever wanted was to have a big family. It's just not the same without him with us everday. It's very hard to get used to, so now we take it one day at a time and try to enjoy every second we do have with him.
By writing this I think I am somehow apologizing to everyone not just Alex for not being the person I should have been. But I am trying very hard to be that person again.