The Difference A Day Can Make!!

Here's the scoop ~ the picture above was taken today and the shots below were taken yesterday. Yup, we live in OHIO!!! Thankfully we took full advantage of the amazing weather yesterday with the Petrie clan and headed out for a bike riding adventure at Bear Town Lakes, dinner at Yours Truly, play-time at Chagrin Falls park and last but certainly not least, ice cream at the Popcorn Shop! We were astonished at how steady Selah was on her bike this year and braking quite well down the hills. Not long before we try no training wheels! Judah thought he was on his own "ride" (just the stroller really), but he kept shouting with thrill "ride-ride"!!! It was a great day and even though the winter storm has crept back in today ~ it was a great reminder that spring/summer is so very close!!!

Kayla kept Selah busy reading while she wrote chalk messages all down the bike trails!

Logan checking out what fish were in the pond ~ he's becoming quite the man!

Judah's week!

So our little man gave us quite the scare this week ~ with our first (of many I am sure) trips to the ER. Somehow he found the strength to pull down our old 30-40 lb. tv right onto himself. I turned around to see him trapped from chest to feet underneath it! After calling the doctors office, they sent us into the ER to make sure there was no internal bleeding or cracked ribs. God was watching over our boy and thankfully all was well. The very next day we headed out for our weekly playgroup at the park (loving the beautiful spring weather) ~ only to have him flip over half way down the slide and get the nice scrapes you see on his nose. Seriously, how much can one mama take in a week!

p.s. These pictures are taken with our new camera ~ Nikon L100!!!

Spring Fever!

Seriously ~ it has been WAY to long since I blogged last. So, I thought I would recap the past month or two and catch everyone up on our lives! Selah turned 4!!!! I know everyone says the same thing, but truly "where has the time gone". She is practically a grown-up already! Her days mostly consist of preschool (obsession with everything about Miss Ellen ~ her teacher), reading, and telling us either stories or singing us a song through0ut the day. Literally ~ she even sings most of her prayers!!! The funny thing is the other day she was singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in the car and everytime, right before she would say "Star" ~ Judah shocked me and he said it for her!! Really sweet and amazing, because he ISN'T an "on-demand" talker ~ I mean, the boy knows many words, but if you ask him to say it, you can forget him doing it (hmmmmm, where would that stubborn streak come from???? ~ ok, yes, it is the Austin blood in him!!!).

As for Judah ~ besides the fact that he is holding out on us with his chatting, he actually can be quite the talker, just on his terms! His latest saying is "night-night" ~ and he giggles tremendously over this one, not sure why! Besides the cranky spout here or there with teething ~ he is just such a happy little guy. He LOVES trying on shoes, boots, heels ~ whatever he can get his little hands on. We just bought him his first pair of crocks and he was beside himself! Mostly ~ he just loves imitating his big sister, Derek got the best video last week and if I can figure out how to post it, I will.

My favorite thing about the two of them is their love for one another. Don't get me wrong ~ there are times it can be a love/hate relationship ~ but there is something so amazing about watching how they're growing in their bond to each other. Judah would follow Selah to the moon and back if he could ~ and nothing makes me want to cry more than sitting back and thanking God for the both of them.

As for me ~ I am now 10 weeks pregnant and still a bit in awe that we're going down this road again (one last time!!!!). I have been really nauseous this round, which I wasn't with the other two ~ but hopefully that will pass in the next couple weeks. Our due date for those that don't know is October 10th ~ so we're really excited to have the summer with just the two, before our world turns upside down once again! We have lots of names twirling around in our heads ~ but feel free to give any suggestions!!

Ok ~ that is about it for now, I will try and be more dedicated to keeping all those we love updated in the future. And, no I didn't leave Derek out ~ he has just been super swamped with work and anything besides that is him being the most AMAZING "family-man" that I know. He is a testimony every day of demonstrating a true servant's heart and reminds me why I am so blest to have him as my hubby.

Love ya all.

Christmas 2008

Before I start our Christmas photo celebration ~ I couldn't resist posting these two shots from our time w/ the Western DuRoss clan over Turkey Day. Chip and Audz already made a great post from our time together, but these were two adorable shots I had to put on here! Finn ~ we miss you buddy and the kiddos do too! And to all those Western Clan DuRoss's ~ we miss you too and hope you had a great time with your family over Christmas!

Below is a shot of our sweet Selah as she just discovered that Santa really did come to our house this year and ate all the cookies and milk she left out. Even Rudolf enjoyed the yummy carrots she remembered to put out for him! This was an awesome year with both our kids ~ Selah was REALLY into the idea of Santa and all those fun tales we told her, but even more than that ~ there was never a doubt in our minds that she completely understood what Christmas was truly about and the great sacrifice that Christ gave to each of us as a humble child coming to this earth. If that doesn't bring a parent joy, I don't know what does! As for Judah ~ he may not get the meaning yet, but he certainly did get the idea of ripping open presents!!!

Selah got a baker's outfit from Mommy for Christmas this year. I love our time in the kitchen together and now she is all set to dig right in there with me!

We spent our Christmas Eve over at NeNe Heather's home. As the years go on, I just love the traditions we're establishing for our children to not only count on but come to love as much as I do. This year Heather and I did a CRAZY amount of baking cookies and even made Grandma Hoy's marshmallow log roll. What's so special to me about making this, is that Heather was the one w/ the sweet memory of my Grandma making these many many years ago ~ but it wasn't until we actually cut into it that my memories came flooding back and even now it makes me want to cry.

Uncle Gordy, Alexa & Selah

Is my man cute or what???

The three amigos "Leah, Kayla & Selah" ~ yes the beat red faces are from playing non-stop!

On Christmas Day we got to spend the whole day over at Nana & Papa's which the kiddos couldn't wait to do. Little did Selah know that they had quite the Christmas surprise waiting for her! This picture isn't Nana sneaking her some spoonfuls of Cool Whip (although she does that plenty!!!), but one of the hidden clues for the scavenger hunt she went on to find her AMAZING dollhouse!!! Our girl has quite the imagination ~ so I can't wait to watch and listen to her through the many years she is going to love this special gift.

We were also excited to spend this Christmas with not only Nana, Papa & Gammy ~ but Susan, Stephanie too! My only regret is there wasn't more time to spend with you two. I am hoping for next year though and Dave can come along too! Selah loved getting to put on her "performances" for you guys ~ hopefully next year Judah will join in on the fun!

Halloween & more...

There have been some changes this year that I must say have been fun! Morgan and Kayla are being home schooled, and as much as I was scared I wouldn't get enough sister time (selfish, I know) ~ I think we may actually see each other even more, if that is possible! Plus, I get the added bonus of sharing our days w/ my adorable nieces. Selah doesn't quite understand why we don't just live with them!!!! And another change this summer/fall is Nana & Papa's home being under MAJOR construction! So, with that comes the bonus of meals at our house w/ them! Again, Selah can't quite understand why this project isn't done yet (neither can Mom & Dad DuRoss!!!).

There are LOTS of changes with our "little man" these days too! Let me try and remember them all. We have retired our high chair and he now sits in a big boy chair next to Selah. Seriously ~that just melts my heart! He can evidently undress himself completely ~ Derek caught this great shot!! He is a pro on our stairs down to the basement. And, he is talking up a storm and probably growing weary of us saying "Judah, say........". But it's so much fun and he loves the applause! I think his most recent list (and don't be offended if you aren't on it, he is adding daily) is DaDa, MaMa, Lela (Selah), KeKe (Kitty), Ora (Dora ~ yes, he has an older sister), Nana, Baba (Sippy Cup), Eat, Shoes, Ball, More, Done, UhhhOhhhh, Nice (yes, he hears me saying "be nice to your sister all day long") ~ I am sure there are more, but that is all that comes to mind!! We are just treasuring every minute with our man and our sweet Selah. As much as they can get at each other, they love up on each other just as much. After dinner has really become their special time ~ now they head off to the basement and get into all sorts of "trouble"!!

And last, but not least, are the Halloween shots. We went to the Chesterland Fire Dept. all dressed up with the Congdons. They got to go through the rescue house and even climb out the window of the mini-me house, check out the inside of an ambulace and even "drive" a fire truck ~ what more could you ask for???

Grant, Judah, Alec & Selah

The Basement...

Well ~ this basement has been quite the project, but I am very happy to say it's DONE! First in August we spent a great deal of $$$ to get it completely water-proofed and then last month we started having it finished! It was so much fun to see it go from what it was to what it is now ~ here are some shots of what has now become a beloved addition to our home! It will either help us sell our house (yup, for those that don't know it went on the market on Monday) or it will help us stay sane for the time! It goes without saying that it's Selah & Judah's favorite "hang-out" place. It's so sweet ~ every night after dinner they usually go off and have their own time just playing w/ each other! Now you know just where to find them ~ downstairs!!

September Update

So, here is a sample of our September!
While the kiddos missed their Nana & Papa while they were in Idaho ~ they were VERY excited to have the use of Papa's car and his handy-dandy headphones. Little did ya know, Papa!

The next shot is of Selah & her friend Andrew. This was her very first play-date at our house. I picked them both up from preschool and they got to spend the whole day making "forts" in our "woods" and getting into all sorts of fun things ~ our girl is getting so grown up!














Next came a day at Eagle Creek Gardens for some pumpkin fun w/ the Kaselak's. Kinder Music showed up for the kids to beat on the drums and shake a thing or two, they all got to go on pony-rides ~ even our man, Judah, he was slick on that horsey! And ofcourse, we got to go through the fields on a nice crisp fall day for a hay-ride. Thanks Shasta, Scot, Harrison & Hugh!







And last, but certainly not least was our seemingly annual event at Fun-Time Inflatables w/ the Congdons. It was funny to see how just a little time can change so much. Judah was in full boy mode and couldn't wait to join in on all the action. Last time we were there he was around 11 months old and just watching ~ now he was part of the CRAZINESS! Alec just turned 2 years old ~ he's getting so big (that's him riding the slide with Selah). Happy Birthday Alec!