Sneak Peek

It was about time I take some new non-snapshot pictures of my kids so that was our project of the morning! I'm sure all the grandparents will be happy to finally have updated ones! I decided to do them myself to save some money, which I have done in the past. I'm happy with what I got. They aren't perfect or professional by any means, but they look pretty darn good! (in my opinion!!!) I'm busy editing and making adjustments to the ones that I will end up printing, but here is a sneak peek of what I got. These of course are very cute, but they aren't ones that I will be printing for the wall. (without a doubt, they will go in a scrapbook though!)

My test subject....Giggly girl!

I tickled her tummy....so she had to do the same! Goofy girl!

I'm saying cheese...just take the darn picture!

Definitely a black mail picture!!!
I'm calling this his lawyer picture. lol.

Potty Training 101.....by Caleb

Caleb has been cheering Erika on in her potty training adventure. Today he decided to coach her on how to poop in the potty. He was pretty effective in his coaching.....she finally pooped in the potty!!!!! We had a mini party at our house! I'm sure the neighbors were wondering what in the world was going on, lol. I'm very proud of her!!

You Know....When....

You know you are a mommy when you cut your own food into bite size pieces and don't even realize it!
You know you are a mommy when you excuse yourself from the room to go potty.
You know you are in Texas when you see a little league team practicing in January!
You know you are at a ritzy mall when there is no McDonald's (or any food that my kids will touch for that matter!)
You know your kids miss the snow when they lay on the carpet and try to make snow angels.
You know you are in Texas when you get dirty looks for not bundling your kids up like there is a blizzard, when in fact it's 50 degrees outside.
You know something has to change when your kids ask where we're going everytime they have to get dressed!
You know your son wants to move home when you take one thing out of his closet and he asks "Is this the day that we are moving to Minnesota?"

If you live in the Dallas area

Then surely you were outside enjoying the beautiful 80 degree weather yesterday! We spent several hours at the park with some friends. The kids had a blast!
They weren't very interested in letting me take pictures of them, they were having too much fun! Caleb left with a fat lip and Erika left with a scrape on her arm. They are both fine...and they both crashed at 7 last night! It was great!

We have a name!

For the first time ever Erika has named one of her baby dolls! I love it! Normally she just calls them all baby or doll. This baby must be special though because the plays with it non stop and yesterday she named it! I would like to introduce you to Kiki! I think this one is going to stick too, she has been calling her that for two days! I have a cousin named Katrina, but her nickname is Kiki. I'm sure she remembers Kiki, but we haven't seen her for a while or talked about her, but somehow the name Kiki stuck in her head! I think it's pretty cute! (Papa Ole & Grandma Deb if you are reading....this doll is one of the things we picked out for her Christmas gift from you!)

Caleb most certainly did not want to be left out of the picture taking this morning so here he is with his Lightning McQueen!

My latest trip to Kroger....

We made a trip to Kroger today! Here's what I got:

4 Quaker rice cakes
2 Chex Mix (the yummy chocolate kind)*
3 bottles of Ken's salad dressing*
3 bags of Green Giant veggie steamers*
2 bottles of French's mustard*
2 Cantelope
2 Bounty paper towels

And get ready for this....my total for all 18 items....are you ready?....$7.20!!!!!!!! WOHOO!!!!

Here's how:

The items with a star are a part of a "$5 off when you buy 10", the sale price is after the $5 off. Also, our Kroger doubles coupons up to .50 and triples coupons up to .39

4 Quaker rice cakes - on sale for $1, used (4) $1 coupons - Total: FREE
2 Chex Mix* - on sale for $1.69, used (2) .50 coupons - Total: $.69 each
3 bottles of Ken's salad dressing* - on sale for $1.49, used (3) $1 coupons - Total: $.49 each
3 bags of Green Giant veggie steamers* - on sale for $.99, used (3) $.50 coupons - Total: FREE
2 bottles of French's mustard* - on sale for $.99, used (2) $.50 coupons - Total: FREE
2 Cantelope - $3.79 each, on sale B1G1 - Total: $1.89 each
2 Bounty paper towels - on sale for $1.03, used (2) $.25 coupons - Total: $.28 each

Not too shabby!!!! :) I'll probably head back and get more veggies in a couple days!

Wordless Wednesday

This is what we're missing....

Back home. And to think that this week will be 40-50 degrees WARMER than last week! CRAZY! It seems like it's been a long time since it was that cold in MN!

I think this is a good week to just stay here in Dallas....80 on Thursday!!!

Oh the anticipation....

It's very rare that we get any exciting mail....but next week is sure to be a good mail week! I ordered a cd for the kids. It's called Scripture Rock. I used to babysit for a family pre-marriage and pre-babies and their kids had this cd. I loved it! Go here to listen to a sample. I can't wait! I always loved how those kids would go around singing songs that were directly from scripture. I have searched for this cd at every christian book store I have been in and never found it. I finally found it online though. wohoo!!! Very excited!
Our other exciting piece of mail that is sure to come next week is a 16x20 print of our Christmas picture! I received an email from Kodak telling me that they added a credit to my account for a free 16x20 print! Unbelievable!!!!! For no apparent reason either! All I paid was shipping, so for $4.99 I will have a huge family picture to hang on the wall! I can't wait!!! :)

Halfway there...

I finally took down the Christmas decor from my blog, but I'm not done yet! I need to make new pictures so they match the new background! Each time I sit down to try and get it done someone needs me! Go figure! lol. I'll get them done in time to change it again, I'm sure! Although today I plan to be very productive so who knows I may actually get them done today!

Someday she will hate this....

But I love it! Yesterday we got Caleb new undies and as soon as the package was open a pair went on Erika's head! All on her own. She's done this before, but if only you could have seen her this time. Five pair of undies and she had them all! She squealed with delight.

Change.

I woke up this morning thinking about how much our lives have changed since David and I got married 6 1/2 years ago! So naturally I decided to blog about it all! I normally do not like change at all, but that seems to be what life is all about. I am beginning to accept change. So here is a look back....

2002
We got married and moved in together for the first time. Holy moly...that is change! Good change though.

2003
David quit his full time job and went back to school. Change.
We found out we were expecting our first little one. Change.
We moved to a new apartment. Change.
Caleb was born at 33wks due to Pre-E. Change.
We became NICU parents. Change.
The blissful innocence of pregnancy was taken from me. Change.
David went back to work full time. Change.
I was off of work for 8 weeks. Three of which were spent in the hospital with Caleb.
Then back to work and Caleb in daycare. Change.

2004
We bought our first house! A project house!
We decide we are ready for baby #2. CHANGE!
Found out Caleb will have a brother. How perfect... I have A TON of boy clothes and a boy already. No change really. (except for the fact we will have two kids 16 months apart)
Pregnancy sailing right along. No problems and NO signs of pre-e.
Then our world changed. Maybe even stopped for a day or two or three or ten.
Dylan Charles entered the world. So very silent and still.
We were not prepared to bury our son. We were not ready to say goodbye.
But we did. We didn't have a choice. We said goodbye. Gave our son back to God.
Thanksgiving will never be the same. Change.
We get through the holidays. Somehow. Still not sure how.

2005
We need a vaction. San Diego here we come!
Amazing time for us as a family. Still...a piece of us was missing. Always will be.
We grieve. Visit Dylan's grave. Change.
I think at some point in 2005 I actually accepted the fact that he was gone. Change.
I took the crib down. Sad day. I sobbed. Change.
We press on with the hope of seeing him again.
We send him balloons for his birthday. Amazing. Hard day. We were so supported though. Many family and friends came to celebrate with us.
Shortly before Christmas we found out baby #3 was in the oven. Change.
We wanted this, we really did. Scary though.
Third time is a charm or three strikes and you're out?

2006
Cautiously excited about the new baby.
In March....it's a GIRL! Change.
I have ultrasounds pretty regularily. They are watching mom and baby like a hawk.
Every ultrasound I ask the gender. Just to make sure.
This is grandbaby #10 on the Ruch side and only girl #2. See why I had to make sure?
June..we put our house on the market. Not a great market but not horrible yet.
House sells in 6 days! And they want to close in three weeks. Change.
Mid July...amnio says baby girls lungs are ready. She can come. Three weeks early.
No reason to keep her in me...she's healthy, we want her here now!
Erika entered the world screaming. I sobbed. Change.
One week after the c-section we move. Change.
Lived with brother and sister in law for two weeks. with a newborn. Change.
Closed on new house. Moved again. Change.
Took a family vacation to Wisconsin Dells.
Not as hard as our previous vacation.
Still missing Dylan.
I go back to work. Change.
Make it three days...give my two week notice.
I can't do it. I can't leave my babies with someone else. They need me.
They made that apparent every evening. They were leeches. Would not let go.
Life is short. We can make it without my income. We take the plunge. Change.
Best plunge we ever took. Ever. Change.
To supplement the income...daycare. Change.
This time...I was the provider instead of the parent. Change.

2007
It seems in 2007 we got a brief break from change.
No moves.
No babies.
No deaths.
Still missing Dylan.
The only change happening is our ever changing and growing children.

2008
I think 2008 made up for 2007.
David's job has a 6 week layoff. Change.
But there is work in Texas. Are you kidding me? Change.
Long distance marriage and parenting is not ideal. I do not recommend it. Not even a little.
Grandma Elaine meets her sweet Jesus face to face. Change.
Her body is whole. No more pain. No more MS. She is perfect. Change.
Then she meets our sweet Dylan. I might be a little jealous.
Make the big move. For real? Texas? Is this really happening? Change.
New apartment. (which is really old) New church. New friends. New weather. CHANGE!
Grandma Vera meets her sweet Jesus face to face. Change.
Then she meets our sweet Dylan. I might be a little jealous.
Uncle Jim meets his sweet Jesus face to face. Change.
Without doubt Dylan's Great Grandma Vera introduced them. Yep, jealous.
Christmas is upon us. No snow. I have a son who is extremely fond of snow.
He is not too crazy about the climate change we have put him through. Change.

2009
We still miss Dylan. Every single day. How could we not? We have found joy in keeping his memory alive. The kids know who their brother is. Even if they don't fully understand death and heaven.
It's only day #10 of the new year. There is change in store for us. I am sure of it.
For now we just follow after God and His plans for us.


That is probably a whole lot more than you ever wanted to know about our last 6 1/2 years. It's rare for me to actually open up and share my emotions. Guess maybe there might be something changing within me. I can feel it. Something is stirring in me. I know it's change.

Training them young....

A few days before Christmas the kids and I made a stop at Starbucks to get Daddy one last gift. (beans to go with his new grinder!) There is no way I could go into Starbucks and not get something! Especially with the kids! It's a RARE occasion that I actually have a reason to go in there, so I couldn't resist! When we go in there the kids beg for a "coffee"! I don't really give my kids coffee....they have enough energy without all that caffeine thank you very much! I just love the cute mini cups that their hot chocolate comes in!

Our First Brown Christmas!

I really don't have anything exciting or interesting to blog about our Christmas. We stayed home and had a VERY relaxing Christmas. Quite the change from the hustle and bustle that we are use to! It was nice, but not nice enough to want it this way every year! And as you know... we miss the snow! Without further ado (is that even how you spell that word?) here are some pictures!

This was the Sunday before Christmas, all ready for Church!

On Christmas Eve we decorated cookies for Santa, gave the kids baths and then opened all the gifts from family! This is right before they tore open what was under the tree. Aren't they cute??

I took this picture mostly because her hair was ULTRA curly that night after bath.

I love when it's like that!
David loves his new Michigan shirt! Can you tell?

The kids decided they wanted to have a "sleepover" in Caleb's room. Surprisingly enough, they didn't take too long to fall asleep!

Once they were asleep "Santa" got to work!
Christmas morning. Caleb & Daddy reading the Christmas story,

the REAL reason for the season!

Erika mostly got doll stuff, which she LOVES!

Caleb mostly got train stuff. :) He's a happy camper!

Frustrated!

I was finally motivated to sit down and blog and post pictures this afternoon, but blogger is having issues! I have tried uploading my pictures a few times and there is an "internal error" happening. Oh well! I guess it will just have to wait! I'll try again later!

Slacking already!

I am slacking on my blogging goal! Oh well, at least it is still early in the month! The past two days I have had a terrible back ache. Sitting in my computer chair (which is a folding chair) was just not an option! I am feeling better though! Since we have not left the house for two solid days, we are headed out to do laundry and a couple errands! I'll be back to blog during naptime this afternoon! :)

Another casualty...

of the letter R. As you may recall my daughter does not use the letter R when she talks. Sometimes, yes, but most of the time, no. Her latest and greatest.....the color "poople". It's quite hilarious when she says it!
And I'm really glad I have this blog to share all these funny stories with you all, but mostly I'm so glad because now I don't have to worry about writing all these down! :)

Coming Soon...

I'll have a new update and pictures up soon! We are being lazy today, so it won't be today. :) Probably sometime over the weekend!

Hope you all had a great Christmas and a great New Year!