Let Freedom Ring...

Happy Independence Day!
I LOVE the 4th of July! What a blessing it is to be a "for the most part" free Country! This freedom that we have here in America, is truly a gift from the Lord! I pray that The Leaders of this Country make decisions that please Christ, because I would hate to see this freedom that we hold so dear become lost.
   Not only does Independence Day remind me of the Freedom we have here in America, but most importantly, it reminds me of the freedom we Have in Christ! I am so grateful that Jesus set me free from the chains of sin that had me bound! And now, because of this freedom, I have a hope and a wonderful promise of EVERLASTING life! It hurts me to see people around me slowly slipping into those chains...they celebrate their "freedom" in their country, not realizing that the very Freedom they truly need, they don't yet have, or they are walking away from it. That is why God has called us believers to go out into all the World and tell them about what Christ has done for them! I don't know if you feel the same way I do, but why is it that such wonderful news is so hard to share at times. I am praying the Lord gives me more Boldness to not worry about how I am going to tell people, or what they are going to think of me! I believe we don't have much more time left, so that alone should press me to GET OUT THERE! Ahh, Independence Day is also a reminder of how much growth in Christ, I am in NEED of!! I thank the Lord for His grace, but do not want to use it as an excuse!


I did have a wonderful 4th though :) The Temp outside was 100*!!! For some reason I get sickly pretty fast if it is that hot out! I was really looking forwards to the Allendale Parade in the morning, so we all headed out at 8:30! I had the boys dressed in their red, white and blues, we got some Breakfast and headed to the parade.

Zachary July 2012

Ayden July 2012

Thankfully my sister Julie got there earlier to get a shaded spot! But the kids, of course, have to be on the curb to catch candy where there is NO shade ...Anyways, it was so much fun to have everyone there. My family has been attending this parade EVERY year, for the past like 10 (if not more) years! So it is kinda important for our kiddos to get to experience this day just like mommy remembered it :)

The Group

I thought it was cute that Ayden wore the same outfit that Zachary wore this time last year! Boy does time fly!!

Ayden July 2011

Ok so...confession time..teehee...

Fire Trucks coming...

He sees them...

I really was curious how well Ayden was going to handle the beloved Fire Trucks that parade down the street...Sooo, here they came at the very start of the parade, and I am pretty sure that this year they had ten times the fire trucks as they normally do! I am so grateful for what the fire fighters do...but three trucks would have been perfect. So each of the trucks had to turn their sirens on right in front of Ayden..lol..that seems to be how it goes, right? When he first some them coming, he got really excited, then they got closer and he wasn't so sure about them anymore.

I think that face says it all. This is shortly before he burst into tears.

Auntie Leslie comforting the forgotten child.

 Daddy tried covering his ears...but I think with the 100 degree heat and all those trucks blowing their sirens, he panicked. He started screaming but Ben couldn't hear him over the sirens, so I let him know and he whisked Ayden away...so now for the confession...I was so caught up with watching Aydens reaction, for a moment...or maybe a few moments, I COMPLETELY forgot I had a second child! Honestly! As the sirens are blaring, not one thought crossed my mind like, "I wonder if Zachary is scared"....oh boy. Thankfully my sweet sister Leslie was right next to him, and as he too started screaming, she took him away and comforted him...Thankfully he will never know that Auntie Leslie rescued him because Mommy forgot about him... It must have been the heat getting to me! I  saw here holding and comforting him, and my first thought was "oh that's sweet, she would rather cuddle Zachary then watch the parade"....ya...then I was like OMG was he crying from the trucks??? She was like, "no, he was terrified." Then I felt really bad...

Zachary before the firs trucks...

   After the parade we made our stop to Bigby to use our BOGO coupon they hand out in the parade :) We like coffee...and yes I totally came to the parade with a hot cup of Panera coffee, despite the 100 degree weather. After that, we headed to my parents for the cookout and HOURS of swimming...We lived in the pool for the day, because that was the only way to cope haha..Thanks to my parent's sweet neighbors the "V's". We had big plans for that night, to hit some amazing fireworks, but the kids along with mommy and daddy were WELL spent by 6pm, and Daddy thought it to be wise if we headed home to relax and call it a night!! I was glad to be in my bed in the A/C, as I heard all the fireworks going off!! The thought crossed my mind that we could be out there watching fireworks, but that wonderful thought was followed by the reality of then sitting in the car for an hour at midnight trying to get back home, and having two crabby kids (and parents I'm sure) who just need bed sitting there....then ya I fell asleep..

My Boys are blessed with such Sweet Aunts!!

Ayden turned into a little tomato!! 

Keeping cool in the car!

   So today (the 5th), me and the boys spent the morning relaxing in the cool house. I put Ayden in "big boy" underpants along with rubber pants...they lasted maybe 5 min..haha. But ya, we chilled together in mommy's bed for a bit. I love how much the boys love being with each other already :) Too cute!

Refreshing...

So tonight was the start of our very first young "married" couples Bible Study! The last bible study I went to drew more of the "singles" crowd, and for that, along with other reasons I stopped going. Fast forwards 2 years, and we now have two little boys to boot...so finding the time to each get out to some kind of separate bible study was challenging. My sister and her husband started sharing how they wanted to start one, and there were many other couples we each new that were wanting to do the same thing. So we finally set a date and did it! Everyone met up at our place, and I had my little sister in the play room watching all of our children (bless her dear heart). It turned out wonderful! Just having that time to sit down with other couples who are in the same season as you are, and then all challenge eachother and grow together!! Ya it was that good, but that's honestly what happens when the Lord shows up :) I love it when He does that! Just to see how the Lord was laying the same things on all of our hearts was so cool. We decided to go through Galatians, and boy is it packed full of good stuff! I got so much out of it as we were reading it, and look forwards to going through it again. If you are a young "married" couple and would like to join us, you are more than welcome too! In fact, I would highly encourage you to come! It was refreshing!

What do you do when it's 100 Degrees out??

I have not posted in awhile, due to a busy schedule :( I usually sit down to blog once the boys are down for nap/bedtime. But, recently we have been pretty busy with nothing to important haha. I tell myself each week, "ok, this week I am going to hang around home and get things done".....ya then I get a txt from my mom...or sister..or a friend...So I tell my self, "sure just this once" and I end up saying that at least 5 times a week. So anyways, we have had 95* weather here with the heat index in the 100's!! That's HOTTT! My mom planned a fun Beach day on Wednesday. It was so much fun and awesome that most of my sisters were able to come because they had the day off! So my Grandma joined and then some of my younger siblings! We headed over to Kirk Park on Lake Michigan. I had never been there before, but really enjoyed it...it was kind of secluded (which we like) and I think we will hit that park again this summer...maybe even tonight! (rabbit trail) I am so blessed to have a Husband who strives to guard his heart and his eyes for me :) He requests not to go to the popular beaches, due to how the women walk around in less then they would wear in a locker room...I think it's awesome (his decision), so I try my best to honor his wish...even though it can be hard when "everyone else is going there" and we find something else to do. But the more I think about his "leadership" in that area, the more it makes me smile. Especially with two little boys..soon to be young men (if I blink), just knowing that their Daddy is such a wonderful example to exemplify. What a blessing! Anyways...I just had to Boast in what the Lord has given me!! So ya, my mom put this whole beach day together Wednesday! It was a blast! The water was a tad frigid, so we all sat out and soaked up the sun!! Maybe a little too much sun though! My friend Laura, gave me an idea to bring a Pac n Play to the beach...It was awesome!! I was able to lay the boys in there for their naps!! It worked perfect! After the beach we headed back to my parents house, then took a dip in their neighbors pool!! It felt sososo nice! Today to beat the heat, I went shopping with my sisters :) Good times! Again, to Boast in what the Lord has given me...I love my sisters! I can't imagine what life would be like without them..I know I say this often, but it's so true. We are each so much apart of each others life, even though a few are miiiillleeesss away (Sarah and Beth). So here are the photos I snapped this week!! Enjoy! Oh and again, they are from my phone camera, so bare with me on the quality :)

First you need to secure your tanning blanket :)

Grandma and Zachary

A few minuets after Gmas magic ;)

Ayden LOVED the sand!!

Aydens BEST Buddy

These were my sister Hannahs "kids"...She is a nanny :)

Beach Bum :)

Side not: Check out the big 3 month old!!! 

Welcome SUMMER!!!

So it's been a few days since I last posted! I feel like I have been sosos busy. For Fathers day, we pretty much spent it running around to different family get togethers. As important as family is...we will have to do things a little different next time... We came home around 11pm exhausted! The kids did not get naps, so they were all screams and grumpy pants when we got home! I Love family, but there comes a point where you have to sssllllooowww down. Especially since it was on a Sunday, which should be a day of rest. When we went to bed around midnight we both agreed that that was the moment we were finally resting all day. Not cool...I think every newer developing family goes through this stage of learning and finding out you can't be as "flittery" (for lack of a better word lol) as you were when you were dating. I love having kids and learning as I go...so anyways...now it's Friday already!! I Love Fridays!! Why? Because it means my Love is home ALL weekend! I Love having Ben home...He is so sweet and patient and fun and loving and helpful and happy and..ya I could go on and on! But I honestly do look forwards to the weekends for that one thing!

So Tuesday it was almost 100 degrees outside...so my sister and I decided that it was a great Beach day! Se we headed out to our local beach and had a great time!! Ayden still hates the water :( I need some ideas on what I can do to make him enjoy it!! He loves bath time, but that's it. But after he and Isaiah had fun in the sand (which included a face plant with a stick face) we decided it was time for them to sleep...so we could lay out lol...Ayden was so wiped, that after watching kids play in the water, he fell fast asleep...Zachariah, on the other hand, wanted to be held the whole time because he was in pain from having his circumcision dine that morning!

The best part of my week so far was that night my husband got me a rose and told me he had a surprise for me on Thursday.. My guess was that it was going to be a date night or something...but he had asked me about a month ago, what some of my dreams were as well as "what were some things I would like to do" in life. So I gave him my list and one of the things I most desired was to do Ballet again. I had done it about 4 or 5 years ago, but became to busy. So anyways, he surprised me with ballet classes every Thursday! I was pretty shocked! He had it all set up for me, so I dropped the kiddos off at my sisters and went to my first class yesterday! It was sosososo much fun! To actually have an hour to do something I have been desiring to do for awhile now, was such a blessing! I got to meet some more awesome ladies and have a really awesome dance instructor! Thanks again Lovey!!




 Here are just some random pictures!!
I took these pictures of my oldest baby Ayden! He is 14 months old, and we pulled him up to the the table (instead of his highchair) for the first time last night. It was so cute to watch him feel like a big boy as he sat there and ate. We handed him a fork and he actually fed himself! It was bitter sweet because I realized that he is not gonna be my little baby for much longer :( But like my Pastor said this week, "we are not raising them to be children, we are raising them to be adults".
Side Note: these are from my camera phone so they are a tad blurry :)