Happy Dada Day!

This Father's Day was wonderful!!!  I was a little afraid of being in a bad mood today.  I was up real late finishing things up with the kids for Josh's father's day gift from them.  When I woke up I was feeling like I still needed a couple hours sleep.  I wasn't really greeting my day with the happiness and thankfulness I should have.  When I  made coffee for Josh this morning I forgot to put the thingy back in the top that you put the coffee filter in and minutes later there was coffee all over the counter.   So while I was looking at the coffee puddle on our counter Houser (our dog) was whining at the door to go do his business outside.  In my head I was thinking emmmmm I want to be sleeping right now, and then Josh who had just woken up came into the kitchen.  I thought in my head, oh no!  I wanted to have his coffee made (and now cleaned up), and Houser taken out all before he woke up.  As usual though, Josh pitched in to help and took Houser out which is normally their routine anyway.  I cleaned up the coffee, added some more coffee and water to make it again and was feeling a little guilty.  Josh came in so happy the coffee was made.  One of the most amazing things about Josh is that he's always willing to pitch in and help.  He's never hesitated about changing diapers, calming Rylee down, playing with her when I needed to get some stuff done, and doing basically anything else that Rylee could ever need.  I feel that she's mostly my responsibility, I am blessed to be able to stay at home with her while Josh works for our family.  Every now and then though, you need a minute, or sometimes just a shower.  It's not always for those chaotic times though, most of the times it's just him playing with Rylee which gives me some extra time of my own.   Everyone has different views of what the husband/wife roles should be, some may agree, some may disagree with me.  All I know is that it means a lot to me to have that extra help, to know we are on the same team, working towards the same goal even if it's something as simple as getting dinner cooked while Josh and Ry read books.  There is a huge difference between offering help to someone and seeing that someone could use some help and just pitching right in to do it without saying a word or being asked.  Josh is definitely someone that pitches in.   I can't even begin to put into words how amazing Josh is as a husband and a father.  He is our rock.

So for Father's Day this year the kids and I all snuck out and I took some pictures of the three of them.  I think they turned out really, really cute!  3 amazing blessing that are in my life because of my husband!

Kids & Auburn Dinner

So after we got home from Illinois Haven and Jordan came down.  I know all kids get bored but I don't know how they possible could... scooters, bikes, a 4 wheeler, and a go-kart should be enough to keep anyone busy. 

Illinois

We finally made our way to Illinois to visit family and friends.  We had perfect weather and an amazing time.  My mom spent as much time as she could in a 24 hour period loving on Rylee, and Rylee loved every minute of it!  We took Ry to the park, the same park I grew up playing at.  How cool is it that!  I know have pictures of the both of us around the same age playing at that park, though the equipment has been upgraded some.

Grandma also made sure Rylee had lots of fun stuff to keep her busy.  So she got to vacuum, blow bubbles, color with chalk, push her lawnmower & wheelbarrow, and ride a new bike.  Did I miss something, was it all of a sudden December 25th???  Nope, it was in the 70's, that could never happen in Illinois in December.  One of Rylee's favorite things was the baby birds.  There was a bird's nest in my mom's fence that had 3 baby birds in it. Rylee was completly fascinated with them.  Everytime we were outside or looking out the kitchen window she would say "baby boo baby boo" and we'd have to go check on them.  The little ones flew away by the time we left.  Just another reminder how babies grow so quickly!  Besides missing family and friends I miss certain food from back home.  One thing I miss is the smiley face cookies from Riverside Bakery.  My mom suprised me with them and Rylee got to have  her first smiley face cookie.  She LOVED it of course!  Another fun thing we got to do was hang out with Kelly and Zoey.  We had the cutest little play/lunch date.  They are so adorable, the pictures of them just make me smile!  The girls were a little shy at first but then started having fun.  We also went over to Kristen & Nick's and got to play in the sprinkler and she got to go down a slide so woohoo!  Then my 3 friends with our 4 kids decided we would get some pictures taken of all the kids and us.  It was quite an experience trying to keep the little one's content during all that.  Luckily Shari's son Kai is amazing and kept all the little one's pretty happy.  I was a little nervous about the pictures considering it was kinda crazy but they turned out amazing.  I am currently in the process of trying to pick and will post them probably a month or so after getting them knowing how I am.  So we were real real busy.  It was just so great spending time with my parents and having them be able to spend some quality time with Rylee.  And of course it was so great to see my girls again and their kids, I need to talk them into coming down here to visit soon! 

Grandma & Ry looking at pictures.

Ry & Zo giving each other BIG hugs

My dad, me, & Ry :)

Ry after eating her smiley face cooking, waiting for more!

SLIDE!

Baby Boo