• Erik & Laurel’s Wedding!

    'Three beautiful ladies - inside and out!'

    Three beautiful ladies – Renelle, Laurel, & Aunt Mary Ann

    I was able to attend my cousin Laurel Mura‘s wedding while in Colorado! She was beautiful bride, the wedding was well organized, lots of fun, and amazing! It was great to see a lot of family over the weekend too! Wishing her and Erik an awesome life together! Lots of love!

    'Uncle Rick giving Laurel away at the wedding!'
    Laurel & her Dad (Uncle Rick)
    'The kiss! :)'
    The Kiss!
    'Congratulations @[32508013:2048:Laurel Mura] and Erik! We are so happy for both of you! Welcome to the family E! :)'
    Congratulations!  Newly married couple!
    'Beautiful wedding!'
    Happy for my cousin and wish her the very best!

  • Flashback Friday: NICU Graduation Celebration

    Such goofs - Brina and Karliec

    Ready for the NICU Graduation Celebration

    Today’s Flashback Friday goes back to September 2005 when the girls went to their NICU Graduation Celebration.  It is hard to believe they are now 7 months old.  We are thankful for all the doctors and nurses that helped our family during the time when the girls were staying in the NICU.  They took good care of our babies and we learned a lot from them during their stay.  It was a great event to celebrate.  Glad the girls were still growing and healthy.

    Flashback Friday - Brina and Karlie looking pretty in their outfits from Aunt Mary, Uncle Rick and Laurelc

    Relaxing while we pack up the diaper bag and get everything ready to head out.  The super cute dresses are from my Aunt Mary Ann, Uncle Rick, and cousins Renelle & Laurel in Colorado!  Thanks guys, they are adorable!

    Karlie getting her face painted at the NICU Graduate Partyc

     Karlie’s 1st Face Painting experience.  She was not too sure about a stranger touching and putting stuff on her face even though the rest of us were right there.

    Karlie unsure about this whole face painting experiencec

    Karlie made it through the face painting, but was not happy with us at the end.  She was not a big fan of it.  Her legs were kicking, arms waving, and was about to burst into tears to let us know that she was not impressed with this whole face painting adventure.  A little TLC and snuggle calmed her down quickly and she was fine for the rest of the event.

    Daddy holding Brina still so she could get her face paintedc

     Brina getting her face painted for the 1st time at the NICU Graduation Celebration.  She didn’t seem to mind it at all.

    Brina getting her face painted at the NICU Graduate Partyc

     Brina was relaxed and just let her paint her face.  She figured Daddy was there it must be okay.

    Karlie with her face painted from the NICU Graduate partyc

    Karlie is all smiles now.  She doesn’t even remember that her face is painted with a smiley face.

    Brina was constantly sucking on her dress today, maybe a different texture, who knowsc

    For some reason Brina loved chewing on this dress.  Must of tasted good or had an appealing texture.

    Brina smiling with her face painted from the NICU Graduate Partyc

    Brina talking and happy even though her pink heart is completely smeared all over her face from her fun NICU celebration adventure earlier that day!

    Karlie happy and smilingc

     Karlie is glad to be back home again.  Her smiley face stayed on for several hours after we arrived back home.

    Karlie and Brina having fun with their new toys from the NICU Party-they actually won one of the door prizesc

    Karlie and Brina are very lucky girls.  During the NICU Graduation Celebration they won a door prize for some toy blocks and shapes.  They are playing with their new toys now.   They have no clue they won anything, but were happy to play with the new toys.  So exciting!!!

  • Flashback Friday: Fun with Friends and Bath Time

    GattiTown Birthday Party (Brina, Bridgette, Karlie, Mandy, Jack, Danielle and Riley)c

     First trip to GattiTown with Mandy, Jack, Danielle, and Riley (Brina & Karlie)

    Today our Flashback Friday is in August 2005 when the girls were 6 months old.  It is quite an adventure packing up and heading out to visit family, friends, or do errands, but we are getting better at it.  The process of just getting out of the house, into the car, and on our way is usually several minutes long.

    The girls have been enjoying going out and about more.  I try to do at least one fun activity outside of the house each week with family or friends.  They are usually exhausted by the time we get home, but we have fun.  It is good for me to spend time with other Moms too.

    Thankful for family and friends to hang out with.  The girls are really good and for the most part do really well when we are out and about.  They love watching everything.  It is neat to watch them soak everything in during our adventures.

    Mandy and Jack at GattiTownc

    Mandy and Jack on the carousel

    Riley and Danielle at GattiTownc

    Danielle and Riley on the carousel

    Flashback Friday - Brina - cool toy Riley, beep, beep, you better watch out here I comec

     Brina very excited about driving Riley’s cool car!  Vroom…vroom….look out people here I come!

    Brina and Josh Kambc

     Josh carrying Brina

    Kari and Karliec

     Karlie hanging out with Kari

    Karlie and Christy Kambc

    Christy holding Karlie

    Flashback Friday - Aunt Vick and bouncing Brinac

     Aunt Vick hanging out with Brina as she bounces around

    Karlie eating with an audience, Uncle Brad, Jordan, Rachelc

    Cousins Jordan and Rachel feeding Karlie

    Flashback Friday - Brina watching Jack unwrap his presentsc

     Brina watching cousin Jack open his birthday gifts

    Jack getting excitedc

     Jack opening his birthday gifts.

    Karlie still sporting her Elmo party hatc

    Karlie starting to zone.  She didn’t like the party hat at first, but soon forgot about it.

    Our first bath together-they were greasy from sunblock (Karlie and Brina)c

     1st Bath together after being out with friends and having sunblock on them.  It was too hard to safely bath two wet babies at the same time before now.  They could sit up on their own and each had a place to safely sit in the tub now.  At first they were not sure what to do?  You mean we can play in here!?

    Brina's turn to get the sprayc

     Getting use to the bath time fun.

  • Flashback Friday: First Father’s Day Celebration

    We love our Daddyc

     Brina and Karlie laying in their on a sheet in the shape of a heart.  Happy Father’s Day Dad!

    Today we are flashing back to about 10 years ago for Jake’s first Father’s Day with the girls.  It was wonderful to celebrate this special day with Jake and the girls.  He is an awesome Dad to the girls.  They love their Daddy very much.  He took great care of me throughout the rough pregnancy,12 weeks of bedrest, followed by NICU, and sleepless nights helping with the kids.

    Thankful for this amazing man to live life and raise our kids with.  He is loving, kind, patient, generous, and so much more.  Jake has always taken good care of us.  He knows how to keep life exciting.  Jake is always ready to give a hug, encouragement, or smile.

    Brina hiding behind the tissue paperc

    Brina gift.  She wasn’t sure about the blue tissue paper stuffed into her pjs.

    Brina in a Bagc

    Brina in a gift bag with tissue paper.  One of Daddy’s greatest gifts!

    Karlie a little concerned about the Gift Processc

    Karlie is a little concerned about being in a bag with tissue paper.  Another one of Daddy’s sweet gifts!

    Daddy and Brina Playingc

    Jake playing and talking with Brina.

    Karlie and Brina by their Father's Day Hugs and Kisses Heartc

    Happy Father’s Day Daddy!  We LOVE YOU!!!

    Flashback Friday - Daddy's cat nap with his girlsc

    Such a fun day everyone needed a little nap!  Jake and his sweet little girls!

  • Flashback Friday: Celebrating at My Youngest Brother’s Graduation

    Flashback Friday - Dad, Josh, and Momc

    My youngest brother Josh and my parents

    Today’s Flashback Friday goes back to my brother Josh’s High School graduation in May 2005.  It was also the girls first trip to Kansas.  It was a lot of fun being able to celebrate with my brother on his special day.  A lot has happened in the past ten years, but it is neat to look back on this fun day.

    Thankful for a chance to spend a long weekend in Kansas with my family.  It was an adventure and exhausting with two little ones in tow, but we had a great time.  It’s not every year your little brother graduates from High School.

    Grandma Doris, Josh, & Grandpa Verlync

     Josh with Grandma Doris and Grandpa Verlyn!

    Grandma Willa, Josh, & Grandpa CEc

     Josh with Grandma Willa and Grandpa CE

    Handing the babies to Joshc

     Grandpa Russell and Jake handing the girls for Josh to hold.

    IMG_0751c

     My oldest brother Jeremy and his wife Amber (who was pregnant with Brandon at the time) with my youngest brother Josh.

    Jacob, Bridgette, Josh and Lee-Josh's Graduationc

    Jake, and I with my two younger brothers Josh and Lee.

    Jake, Josh, Karlie, Brina, Bridgettec

    Jake, Josh, Karlie, Brina, and I at Josh’s High School Graduation celebration

    Josh and his table of memoriesc

    Congratulations Josh!

    Karlie and Brina with Uncle Joshc

    As you can see Karlie and Brina were SUPER thrilled to be celebrating with Uncle Josh!

    Lee, Alecia, Josh, Bridgette, Jordan, and Rachelc

    Cousins – Lee, Alecia, Josh, myself, Jordan, and Rachel

    Lee, Josh, Bridgette, and Jeremyc

    Siblings – Lee, Josh, Me, Jeremy

    Uncle Sam, Josh, and Uncle Paulc

    Josh with Uncle Sam and Uncle Paul  Uncle Sam recently passed away (about a month ago).  Thankful for the memories and times together.  Cherish the time you have with your family while you can.

  • Travel & Vacation: Celebrating in Vermont

    Birthday cake!  Doesn’t the birthday cake look beautiful?!  Grandma Kay made the cake and did the main layer of frosting and Brina added all the colorful frosting and goodies to the cake.  It looked pretty and tasted delicious! 🙂

    The girls had a four day birthday weekend since they didn’t have school on Friday or Monday so we made a quick trip up to Vermont to spend some time with Jake’s Mom and grandparents.  We celebrated the girls birthday during our visit which was a lot of fun.  The girls enjoyed spending time with their grandparents.  It was a great trip packed full of a lot of good memories.  Grandma Kay gave Brina some good tips on cake decorating which Brina loved (she was tickled pink that Grandma let her decorate their birthday cake).

     Brina decorating her and Karlie’s birthday cake

    Karlie all smiles. While Brina was decorating the birthday cake Karlie was happily picking up the toys and cleaning.

    Brina loves helping in the kitchen, decorating the birthday cake was a big hit with her

    Karlie discovered a cool toy in Grandma’s stash while cleaning up!  She thought the helicopter was pretty amazing!

    Grandma Kay showing Brina how to do another neat trick with the frosting!

    Sweet girl having fun

    Brina so proud of her decorated cake

    Karlie having fun!

    Brina had extra frosting so Grandma let her decorate some cookies.  Daddy eating one of the cookies Brina just frosted.

    Happy Birthday Sweet Girls!

    Look whose eight!  Grandma Kay found some really cool number 8 balloons that the girls loved!