I Think We Need To Change The Name of This Blog!

As we were settling back into our routine after our trip to Italy, we were surprised by a lifetime souvenir! You can probably guess right...we are adding to our family and couldn't be more happy-after the shock set in of course!

It was right before the 4th of July weekend and we were headed to the lake. I felt a little different and just wanted to make sure I wasn't expecting. Like last time the YES popped up right away! I didn't know how to act or who to tell-of course I called my husband first. In the end we are so blessed and lucky to be able to have these beautiful babies. It will be crazy at first, but as they get older we will have three best friends (we hope).

We went to the doctor last week and everything looks great. My doctor was even more excited that I am starting this pregnancy 30 LBS less then the last time, so it will be an easier pregnancy. I know you are not really supposed to tell people until you are about 12 weeks, but we are excited and if anything happens we want to have the support of our family and friends.

We obviously don't know the gender and have no preference-I have the clothes for either. Now, what do you think the name of the blog should be? What? Three under Three? Let me know!

Here is our little grape (according to "the books")

You Know Someone is your Friend When...

You know someone is your friend when you haven't seen them in about three years and when you do everything picks up where you left!

Awww, so refreshing!

I have had the opportunity to see my best friends from my younger years: Robyn (from college) came to see me for my birthday, Avery and I just went to see Tara (from high school), and in August Nicole aka Pils (from high school) is coming here. It has been a great year to catch up and be reminded about what great people I have in my life.

I just wish I could have them all in the same place.

Don't get my wrong-I am lucky to have a best friend and many close friends here in my town, and thank goodness because I am not sure I could survive having them all live away:) Being away from the rest is one (of many) reasons why it is hard to get older.

Tonight, I sit here writing this post and think about how everything that has happened between my friendships has made our relationships closer-not that I am proud of everything we have gone through! I'm just amazed they still love me for who I am-crazy at times!

Here are pictures from our trip. After downloading the pictures I became frustrated at the LACK of pictures I took. I don't even have any with Tara and myself! Ugg! We were too busy with our little ones, but now I am so mad.

You know they are a friend when...

you're excited to see them

your babies act like they were best friends forever. They wanted to touch each other! Avery gave him many hugs that night

you don't have to do much to entertain each other. Going out to lunch was fun! They both enjoyed the lemons

you don't have to get dressed up to hang out. We spent a lot of time in our p.js or comfy clothes

you can go out to breakfast at 7:00 in the morning:) and be home by 8:30 (it was funny to me because Avery typically doesn't wake up until then!

you share everything! Tara made us feel so welcomed and Avery helped herself to whatever she wanted! She also got these new pink shoes.

We had a great trip and Avery loved having me to herself. I realized life was so easy with one child! Thank you Tara, Joe and Carter! You are amazing friends and I know you will always be in our lives. Next summer: The Lake!

What's Behind the Door

WHAT IS BEHIND THE DOOR?

Avery has learned to open and close all the doors. Today she asked for a pad of paper and a pen, so I gave it to her. Next thing I hear is the two of them giggling. She was sitting on her potty writing and Mack snuck in to get in on the action. Then she shut the door. Later, I was putting away clothes in my bedroom and Avery was in the bathroom. Then Mack crawled in...Avery shut the door. All I could hear behind the door were more giggles and when I tried to open the door Mack pushed it shut! I had to push my way in and here is what I found:

Avery was putting hair band on him-I love it!

She is pretending this is lip stick

Again, it's only the beginning! They are too funny!

Traveling with Children

Avery and I are headed to Arizona to visit my best friend Tara and her little boy Carter! This will be Avery's third time to travel on an airplane. One of those times being over to Europe! We are by no means experts, but we have learned a lot in the last two years. I read an article on the plane one time expressing the importance of travel with children. Here is another article about traveling: http://matadornetwork.com/life/family-travel-101-why-traveling-with-your-kids-is-important-and-fun/ -This article breaks it down like this:

-Start them young-Avery was three months old
-Take is slow-there will be lots of stops for food and diaper changes
-Be FLEXIBLE-in you head things are a lot different then they may turn out
-Strike a Balance-do kids stuff and adult stuff
-Reap the benefits-be a family!
We do not not have a lot of money and have been lucky to go to the places we have! We see the benefits for our children-to see places and get their hands in things!
It's most important to be prepared for the actual travel part. When you get there it is easy to have fun and reconnect as a family. I have included some pictures of the BEST things to travel with.

Of course always remember their security-Avery's happens to be this Baby Zoobie blanket (Mack has one as well)

Have you heard/seen of these? A Trunki! All the grand babies have one. You can actually have your child sit on top and pull them through the airport. This is filled with all their toys!

With all Avery's allergies we carry one of these-it has her special lotion, soap, and creams in it.

Another life savior-a portable DVD player! They have all those 5 dollar movies at Target or Walmart-stock up!

Here is her back pack where we can also store books, paper and crayons and of course...

FOOD! My mom always tells us how important it is to bring food and we learned how important this was over in Europe. This is small compared to what we brought with us last time.

Go Go Baby! This thing is great. When you have car seats to carry, get one of these! You strap their car seat to this and can carry them through the airport and it acts as a stroller. Then you can bring it right up to the door of the plane where they will gate check it-when you get off it will be waiting for you.

We will post pictures of our time in Arizona-until then enjoy the weekend!

Looking for Something New to do in Columbia Missouri?

Mark and I got to partake in another 'once in a life time' experience! On Sunday we drove to St. Louis for a kid free night to enjoy U2. It was so neat to see and we had a great time together! I had to include some pictures from the night, but my main point of this post was to introduce a new adventure in Columbia.

We went with a group of 20 and luckily had air conditioning...it was the start of another heat wave. We were also celebrating Sarah's birthday!

Amazing stage!

While we were gone these two got to experience fun with Nanny and Papa H! Nanny spent the night!

We left St. Louis super early in the morning, so Mark could go to work and I could take the kids to JEFFERSON FARM. Since we moved in they have been working on this cool farm up the road and we heard it was supposed to be like Grants Farm in St. Louis. We don't have a zoo here in town, so what an exciting thing for this place!Jane was already here and then Aunt Meagan, Aunt Heidi, and Cohan came over to go on our new adventure. This is Cohan raising his hand because he is ready to go the Jefferson Farm.

First we had to have a photo session on the bed

Ready to go!

First, when you get there you pay (children under 2 are free) and then you get on a golf cart to take a tour

After looking at their cool garden (HUGE GARDEN) we got fish food and fed the fish. They loved watching the huge catfish

Mack loved it too

Avery even went to Aunt Meagan to have her help-big step!

These three are so cute together

They have animals you can pet as well. A horse, cow-with baby, chickens, sheep and a goat

We didn't catch Cohan

Haha Mack

And Avery

Smell the beautiful flowers

We tried hard to get these three together

So, if you are looking for something new to do in Columbia, Missouri Jefferson Farms is the place to try. You can even bring a picnic and have lunch on their beautiful land. All their food that they grow is donated to Central Food Bank. It's a learning farm for college students as well as little children. We loved it and can't wait to go back when the weather gets cooler!

Here is their website with the hours and events http://jeffersonfarm.org