Valentines Day

I know this "holiday" seems a little cliche....but I really like valentine's day! I think that valentines day was created by the greeting card companies as a way for people to spend more money, but I think its pretty fun.

The boys woke up to little valentine presents that they have thoroughly enjoyed all morning...as well as some chocolate. *side-note...when you give a 2 year old chocolate at 7:30 in the morning there will be repercussions...like jumping from the 5th...yes a said 5th...stair and running around like a CRAZY man :) But its all in good fun and Dave and I got a good chuckle about the whole thing. Dave got a present and card from me...I really like giving gifts.

We are all dressed in red...I even made my husband:)

We made valentines for friends.

We have read lots of books about valentines day. My favorite is Little Critter Valentines Day

For lunch we will have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches shaped like a heart. And its fun to color their milk red.

After rest we will talk about St. Valentine...learn more about him here.

For dinner we will have a heart shaped pizza from Papa Murpheys and valentine cookies for desert.

Maybe a little over the top...yes maybe! But seriously...we are having fun today! Maybe its the kindergarten teacher coming out in me...who knows!

My little valentines!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day spent with friends and loved ones!

Happy Valentines Day!

5 years...

Last week Dave and I celebrated 5 years of marriage! I can't believe it! In 5 years we have had 3 beautiful boys...one little girl in heaven, 5 moves and a master's for Dave almost complete! Its been a busy 5 years, full of wonderful memories, lots of laughter and plenty of tears...both tears of joy and sadness! I have had my best friend by my side through it all! Every year we go back and watch our wedding video and relive the day! So much fun!!! I love seeing all the friends that were part of our day...and everyone dancing at the reception is a plus! I am so grateful for this video! The boys watched it with us this year...it was so much fun..they kept asking where they were in the video....they didn't quite get it! 5 years...in the scheme of things is really not that long, its fun to know that this is just the beginning of out life together. God willing we will have MANY more memories together, have more children and lots more adventure in this wonderful world of parenthood!

November 25, 2006

Our first Easter with Jacob

Now a family of 4...finding our pumpkins

5 of us in September

Earlier this year I posted the story of how Dave and I met and our engagement story...I am reposting it HERE if you want to read it again!

Have a blessed day!

Whats Happening with The Staples...

Well its been awhile since I have been on here....

Its been hard to find balance between it all... nursing, having quality time with the boys, homeschool preschool (which is SO much fun), quality time with my husband, keeping a clean house, keeping up with the laundry...and just keeping up with the things of everyday life, errands, bills, balancing the check book, etc. I know it will come...give yourself 3 months is what I keep having to remind myself. Here is a quick take at what we have been up to...

Halloween

1.) Beau is absolutely perfect! He fits in wonderfully and is loved by everyone in the house! Jacob and Baker simply adore him...a little too much sometimes:)! Seriously the amount of kisses they give this sweet baby! Beau is a BIG boy...as he was from the beginning. He is almost 2 months old (where did the time go?) and is over 15 pounds! I have him in 6 month clothes already, which I am actually grateful for...thats were all my warm baby clothes are! He is a good eater...sleeps well..and literally NEVER cries! God has blessed us with Beau! The transition of 2 to 3 has actually been easier them 1 to 2! It is SO beautiful bringing a new soul into your family...watching your family grow and watching the love between your children!

I love this smile!

2.) SO I have started weight watchers once again... It has been more difficult this time for me to log in what I eat. I was at a different place last time I began WW...Baker was 1 already so it was easier for me to focus on me..if that makes sense. But I will get there, discipline is a good thing:) It will also be nice to get back in shape before Beau is 1...right? Thats what I keep telling myself! I have been making it to the gym about 3 times a week. Dave watches the boys Tuesday mornings and my mom comes and watches the boys Thursday mornings (I love living close to family). I just have to make sure I make it one other time that week. Its been good. I'm excited about my goal.

Beau and Me

3.) We have began preschool here at the Staples. We are doing The Little Saints preschool program. It is really fun and so cute! We do it 3 times a week for about an hour. We just finished learning about safety and next week we will move on to shapes! I have noticed their behavior is better on the days that we do preschool. I spend quality time with them, we read, sing songs, do an art project, talk and laugh! After that they are okay with being by themselves for a short while and playing. They get a long better and let me get some things done. I have really enjoyed it too...it's bringing back the teacher in me!

Jacob painting

4.) Beau John Paul was baptized on October 16th. It was such a blessed day with friends and family. We are blessed to have our good friends the Schroeders be the godparents of Beau. Thank you to all that joined us on this beautiful day!

The Staples came to visit

5.) Here is a song for your listening pleasure...I couldn't decide between the acoustic or regular version...so here are them both. You can decide!

I hope that you all have a wonderful Wednesday...hopefully i will be back here soon to write more!

Tag!

This morning I woke up tired and exhausted from last night's drama (which included several...I mean SEVERAL intense contractions that led me to believe that I would be holding my sweet baby this morning...but no such luck :(. I got on to check my morning blogs...and my dear friend Cynthia invited me to play along in a little game of answer these questions! Too much fun...how could I resist!

If you have a chance visit Cynthia's blog...which is full of beautiful, inspirational writings, good music and fun ideas!

What's your occupation right now? I am blessed to stay at home with my two beautiful boys (almost 3..come on baby Beau)! It is the hardest thing I have ever done and the thing that has led me closer to our Lady and our Lord. Through their constant grace I am able to strive to live out my vocation.

What are you listening to right now? I have been on a country kick lately...laugh if you want! But I can't get enough of Keith Urban, Bard Paisely, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood and much much much more! That twang puts a smile on my face!

What was the last thing you ate? Strawberry Yogurt! Something to get that baby moving this morning!

How old are you today? 29...not to far away is the big 30!

What is your favorite sport to watch on tv? I LOVE football season with my husband. It excites me to sit on the couch and watch a good old football game with my husband...and boys! They tackle when the football players tackle! It is quite enjoyable!

Favorite drink? I am on a lemonade kick! That is what the pregnant belly wants! Have you tried the premium lemonade at Wendy's? Or the lemonade at Chic-fi-la??? Oh my goodness...yes please!

Favorite new song? Like i said before my country side is coming out...Love Brad Paisely's new song..Alabama

What is the last movie you watched? The Rite...good movie but left me with weird dreams.

Favorite day of the year? I LOVE Thanksgiving! Such yummy food, a beautiful time of year and a great time to spend with family!

What was your favorite toy as a child? I would have to agree with Cynthia and say that I loved my Barbies! I loved setting up the "dream house", dressing them in all their fun outfits and have Ken and Barbie fall in love!

What is your favorite season? Fall hands-down! I almost pulled out all my fall decorations this weekend but I resisted! The crisp air, apple picking, pumpkins, leaves falling, sweaters, football...it all makes me so excited thinking about it! And this year a new baby:)

Cherries or blueberries? Cherries make my tummy happy!

When was the last time you cried? Last night. I really thought we would be gong to the hospital. I just sat in the boys room and sobbed...because I knew everything was going to change. A good change but nonetheless change. Why is change so hard?

What is on the floor of your closet? A big tub of maternity clothes...and I am excited to be done with those! I seriously wear the same 3 outfits every week!

Who is the friend you have had the longest? Adria...meet her in 6th grade when we moved to Colorado and have been best friends ever since. I am blessed to have her in my life! Love you A!

What did you do last night? We ate leftovers for dinner, gave the boys a bath, put them to bed (without any hiccups)...said good-bye to my husband who was going out to do his fantasy football draft...and then proceeded to have contractions.

How many states have you lived in? 5 states...Wisconsin, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas and Florida.

What is your favorite kind of flower? Gerber daisy's and tulips! Love. Love. Love.

Did you have fun?? Thanks for following a long :)

Here are the people I will tag: Caitlin, Julie and Lisa

So I cannot figure out this font thing...and how to post a video from youtube...I have done it before but am giving up for today. Wierd.

The Seasons of Life

As I sit here this morning watching the boys play outside, digging in the dirt, climbing up the slide, hiding behind the tree they call their fort, getting along for the most part:), I can't help but feel how blessed I am. I am also thinking about how much my life will change in just a little over 8 weeks (probably more...I am typically late with the babes!)

I sit here sipping my coffee with my feet up just watching my boys go on their many adventures. They don't really need me right now..they are completly fine on there own...and enjoying their freedom too! Thats how life is right now...typically pretty easy when it comes to entertaining the boys. Yes, sometimes I do feel like a WWF referee breaking up the constant fun of wrestling and tackling that has gone a little to far and isn't fun for one of them anymore. But really I can't complain. We put the boys to bed at 8 and I pretty much don't see them till the morning, there is the occasional visit in the middle of the night that is fixed with a quick kiss, a re-tuck in and a rub on the head...and maybe a prayer or too...but they go back to sleep. With a good nights sleep this means I am able to get up at 6 to pray and shower before I see the beautiful faces of my boys. (believe me when I say I am such a better mom if I have had a cup of coffee and some prayer time before we start our day!) When we go out I don't have to bring a diaper bag and remember the million things that a newborn might possibly need. I don't have to think about the type of shirt I need to wear that will work with nursing while we are out. We can go out in the mornings without wrecking anyones nap schedule. They eat the same thing at lunch and they can feed themselves! They go down for nap at the same time..on their own and sleep. We have routine. This is the season of life that we are in right now...but it will soon change.

When a new baby enters the picture EVERYTHING changes for the time being...but it is such a short time and soon things will become routine again...probably a different routine but non the less a routine. There will be many awakenings in the middle of the night. There will be the constant nursing that a little one desires. There will be the carrying of the car seat into the grocery store. Things will change...you get the picture!

But how we look forward to this change, how exciting it is to hold a sweet, tiny baby in your arms again. One thing I have learned and I will continue to learn with every new baby is that this season goes by SO FAST! They are only little for so long and then soon they will be running with the rest of the pack. That they only sleep peacefully in your arms for a short period and they only need you in the middle of the night for a brief time. I know that with Jacob I did not treasure the newborn time I had with him like I should have. I worried about things like sleep schedules, nursing...was he doing all the things he should be doing at this point in his life. What will it be like when he crawls...when he walks. I wished for the next period of his life to come and did not really enjoy the time that was present with us at that moment. But I have learned and the time I have with a newborn is treasured and looked forward to.

So yes, in 8 weeks or so I will not be sitting here watching the boys play outside, sipping my coffee with my feet up. I will most likely be sitting here nursing and enjoying the sweet baby smell as the boys play outside...But how we look forward to Beau John Paul becoming part of this family outside the womb.

Jacob

Baker

The Difficulty of the Perfect Picture!

I am sure other mothers have this problem...but it is SO hard for me to get a good picture of the boys! They really are cute I tell myself...why can't they both smile at the camera and at the same time? Sometimes I feel like they are plotting against me! Here are a couple of examples...

Both boys are NOT looking at the camera...Jacob's smile is adorable though!

Baker is NOT looking at the camera

Jacob is NOT looking at the camera...and possibly picking his nose!

Baker is done with getting his picture taken...so is Jacob!

Jacob looking at the camera...and Baker trying to escape the picture!

Where is Baker????

Cute one of Baker...but where is Jacob???

This is the best we got...

The Pumpkin Patch!

Last Friday we ventured out to thepumpkin patch for some fall fun and to collect our pumpkins! We went to this GREAT farm that had lots of fun stuff for the kiddos to do! They had bouncy castles for us to jump in, an inflatable slide for us to go down, farm animals for us to see and of course pumpkins for us to find! It was a really wonderful day for us!

We got home and put the pumpkins on our porch...they looked so cute sitting there, making our house look adorable! I woke up Saturday morning to find that one of our pumpkins had been smashed! What punks! I guess it will give us an excuse to go back!

Happy Fall!

Brotherly Love

In the past several weeks I have really noticed the relationship between Jacob and Baker start to change and develop. It all started when Baker began to walk...it was a whole new world for Baker and a lot of fun for Jacob to have Baker be able to keep up with him. They will play in the toy room together without me present and they will run up and down the hallway giggling. Jacob can't fall asleep unless he knows Baker is in the crib next to him and has to make sure he knows where Baker is at all times. Baker follows Jacob around EVERYWHERE and does whatever he does. For example, if Jacob is stomping his feet then Baker stomps his feet, if Jacob is patting his chest like a gorilla then Baker pats his chest like a gorilla....really cute to watch! I love when I am cooking dinner and I hear them laughing together...it brings so much joy to my heart. The other day I walked into their bedroom to see what they were up to and this is what I discovered...

Now don't get me wrong, we still have our fair share of timeouts because of hitting or not sharing. I still have to constantly teach Baker to be gentle and tell him not to touch certain things. I have to remind Jacob to play nice with his brother and to treat him like he likes to be treated. But with all that...we have some brotherly love going on in this house!!!

Photo Session

My very dear, best, longest friend Adria blessed our family with her talents and took some pictures for us. It was around Baker's 1st birthday and she really captured some good ones. Take a look...

The Staples Family

Daddy and Baker

Daddy and Jacob

Baker

Jacob

Baker and Mama

Mama and her boys

Baker

Cool Dude Jacob

Baker enjoying some cake

Too Cute for words!

Thank you SO much Adria! Such great memories captured! Love you!