Im really here!

So since the last time I was here to actually say something, Ive been mostly sick and not wanted to be the whiner and complain all the time!
When I was pregnant with Oliver I was pretty sick, not just nauseous but pukey sick.  However, with this go around, I just have a very uncomforatble stomach! I dont do well being sick...as Noah puts it.  So, basically I wanted to spare everyone that annoyance and let sweet sweet Noah have it all :) just kidding

We have however been up to some things!
Were in the process of trying to eat even better than we already sort of do...Noah is on the idea of not wanting to eat lots of red meat, which I totally understand, however Im NOT feeling chicken like I did with Oliver this time.  SO! we are working on trying a semi vegetarian thing...for a lack of better term. The other night I made Portabella Fajitas and OH MAN were they DE-LISH! I thought I took a picture of them....but FAIL! Im trying to vary our menu so if you have any suggestions please let me know!

On another note:  We took a family trip to Kansas City this weekend; just the three of us!
It was AMAZING! I could not of asked for a more well behaved little boy! He played with his IronMan most of the weekend.  When he wasnt he was playing with his cousins or splashing around at Oceans of Fun!
Let me tell you! It was a little chillier than I was expecting...but Oliver absolutely enjoyed it! We had to pull him away from the pirate ship and he did not like it! Other than that I think all three of us had a huge grin plastered on our faces!
I got to show Noah the Legends Mall and I think he was pretty excited about it...
We both got to share something new with each other as well as Oliver!

I really could not of asked for a better weekend! I love the times that we can get away and just be with US!

Us at AmeriStar

Mommy and Oli

Sleeping on the way there

Oliver loves trains and this was right up his alley!
Daddy had to break a little rule to get it....shh!

Texas Vacation Part 2

So we woke up the next morning and realized those beds sucked!! In this little twin bed all three of us slept.  The boys took up most of the room.  I just got up and started getting ready to pack up and start back on the road. When we finally did get ready to leave, the boys were putting the suitcases back in the van and Noah didnt like how I had packed it.

He was griping that the thing was too lumpy and decided that my little old swimsuit was the cause of it! HAHA!

We went on our way to San Antonio.

This part of the trip went by pretty quickly. I did more reading and napping of course!

When we finally made it to San Antonio, we were so ready to be out of the van and get exploring. 

Outside Stage where dancers dance.

The Marriage Spot...theres a huge long story with this one.

Some of the Beautiful buildings down the river.

Im not entirely sure what is up there.  I just thought it was neat!

ME!

Ill leave you with these for now.  The next part is going to be about Noah and I's night out!

Until next time...

Texas Vacation Part 1

***BE WARNED*** LOTS OF PICTURES TO FOLLOW!

So We got up early Tuesday morning to finish getting packed and we also had to pick up the house because they our realtor was going to show it while we were gone.  So it was a very early morning especially for us since we didnt go to bed until after one!  The plan was to be in the van and leaving town by 8.  We didnt get on the road until 10! UGH!!! I was frustrated because I was super tired! Super Hungry! AND Super ready to get this show on the road!

 I really thought Oliver was going to do horribly on the trip because this kid has only gone as far as Salina.  Thats only like an hour and a half I think.  This was 8 hours!!!! He did amazing! We stopped every couple of hours so that he could stretch his legs and get a fresh diaper.  Noah fell asleep immediately and was out for a good while! Not to mention grumpy.  We didnt have a good start that morning.  We stopped in Oklahoma first and stretched and got a snack.  Oliver was a goof! He was running around everywhere.  At the rest stop there was a fence that you could see the highway traffic through.  He was so fascinated by it!

Then he decided that he needed to pose by one of the trees! Mind you Oliver is a year and a half. I did not coax him for any of these poses!

This little guy is my joy! Im so proud of him!! He did such a great job on such a long trip!

Anyway, Noah started giving me a hard time about taking pictures.  I told him that I would take as many pictures as I wanted!!! I havent been on vacation in a long time and this was a first for us as a family! So I WANTED PICTURES!!!!

Im still teaching Noah's mom to use our camera. I should of just used my tripod!  He looked so grumpy so when we got back in the van I took some more pictures of us!

HAHA!!!

I did alot of reading on the trip and Noah gave me the ack seat all to myself! He got to sit up front and be the navigator!

We saw one of the coolest casinos ever!! It was in the shape of Big Ben  and all kinds of different famous structures!!  There was France, Spain, and even Rome.  It was so neat.

We then made a pit stop at a Texas rest stop a couple hours later to stretch again.

In this one there were pamphlets for all kinds of attractions all over the state.  Oliver made sure he looked at single one of them!

Before we got back on the road I got some more pictures.

Arent we too cute!?!

We finally got to our first hotel and got ready and headed over to Buzzard Billy's.  It was ok, but not the best.  The setting was really cool.  But the food was overpriced and not the best.  When we got back to the hotel we went swimming.  Noah's mom jummped in fully clothed with Oliver.  He had a BLAST!

Until the next installation...

Im still here, just a little busy

We got back from vacation LATE Saturday night.  Ive been a bit busy getting back in the swing of things.  BUT! i have losts of pictures to share with you. I also finished a book while away and want to share my thoughts about that too! Ive got alot of things in the works. Please dont think I forgot about any of you! Also Noah has a birthday coming up on Sunday, he will be 25! HOLY COW!!!  Ive got a few things in my mind for that guy!  Anyway, I need to get back to work and I will fill you all in later.

So ready for tomorrow...

Tomorrow is the day! My little family get to venture out with Noah's family to the big state of Texas! Ive only ever been to Texas one other time for a church retreat thing...and we lived there for a short period of time when I was VERY little.  Im excited because we are going to hang out on the Riverwalk in San Antonio and stay in the Hilton!!  Then we are going to spend a day at Sea World! Im very anxious about this one because Im curious what Oliver's reaction is going to be.  Then on the last day we are going to spend the day at the beach I think in Galveston.  Im so stoked! I think Ive been to the ocean once but Im not entirely sure.  If I did it was again when I was REALLY little!

In preperation Ive made an activity board for little man.  I forgot to take pictures of making it but Im going to be making another so I will have to post the steps next time.  Ive been trying to come up with things for Oliver to do while driving.  This will be the farthest he's traveled aside from Salina.  I want to have a happy baby in Texas.  No one like a grumpy baby...unless they make cute faces...

Anyway, when we get back I will share all about the trip and some pictures!

A very busy week...

This last week has been full of ups and downs! The week started in the pits, but with amazing support from my husband and some amazing friends, it was bearable! Im not entirely sure how I made it through work on Monday, since the next day Noah and I were making a three hour journey to Paola/Osawatomie, Kansas. A dear friend of mine passed away and I felt that I needed to be up there to say see ya later. I only knew from previous meetings ONE other person up there. BUT Noah and I were blessed to be welcomed into the home of my friends "brother"and his family! They were amazing! We stayed up most of that night into the wee hours of the next morning talking about our friend and cheering each other up. It was wonderfully encouraging! Somehow it ended up with "genitals, genitals, genetalia" and "charlie, lets go to candy mountain, charlie." Ive never cried at a funeral as much as did this one, (1 Ive only been to 2 others and (2 this one hit a lot closer to home! I truly wish I could of talked to him before all of this, but it is what it is. One of the things that truly touched my heart while I was up there, was that nobody knew me from anyone, but when I was introduced to the family they replied " Shauna, from Wichita?" My heart glowed so brightly that my friend held me so dear! I was lucky enough that his mom had found some letters that I had wrote him back in 2004.
On the way home, this experience led me to reach out to another friend who is in similar situations. I called him, and it was a teary conversation. I basically told him that I wanted to know that I would meet him again once our time on this earth is finished. This last week has made me realize how precious relationships are no matter how minute they are. I want to make sure that the people around me know that I love them!

On another note, the rest of the week I was on vacation. I loved every moment of it! I got to spend some time with some great friends who needed face time! I got to semi reconnect with my sister, and enjoy an amazing blueberry breakfast with an equally amazing person! Noah on the other hand went out and got our dinner! That was quite a treat! Noah was so proud of his pheasant dinner! I was so blessed to have so much time with my little boy. He amazes me everyday! He is so full of wonder and intrigue. There were so many other things that happened over the week but thats just it, there was so much to write it all down!