5 years ago!

5 years ago....

I married my best friend!

Zac and I met at Northwestern

We were great friends for 3 years before we even dated and when we began dating we had so much fun! We continue to have fun each day and we look forward to more years to come!

We are definitely blessed with our lives together and are thankful for all that God has given to us!

I'm a big kid now!

That's right!

Aspen is now a preschooler!

Yesterday she walked through the doors at 9:15 and hung up her school bag, got on her name tag and went to her room!

Zac and I cannot believe that we are now parents of a preschooler! She loves each and every minute of her morning there. She goes three mornings a week, Tuesday through Thursday, and it's so much fun seeing the smile on her face and when she gets in the van she cannot stop talking about all the fun she had!

She is a big girl now!

The State Fair

We had a wonderful time at the state fair on Thursday! Here is all that we did...

-Riding the bus to the fair...Titus insisted that we sing "Wheels On the Bus" and we did!
-Eating Corn on the Cob
-Aspen and Titus trying cotton candy for the first time, Aspen LOVED it and Titus didn't really care about it
-Lots of rides, Aspen had a ball at the Kidway going on the balloons, swings, train, airplanes, and the fun house
-Titus got to go on his first ride - the carousel...and Zac, Aspen , and I joined him. He enjoyed waving to everyone and when the ride was all over he said "All Done"
-Visiting the barns; however, when we went they were cleaning...NOT A GOOD TIME TO GO there.
-Trying the "Deep Fried Reese's peanut butter cup" freshly made...warm...ooooey gooey goodness (and yes, i did share)
-Papa and Grandma after a long morning and afternoon took the kids home and my sister, Zac, and I walked around some more...we went on the really tall swing ride in the Midway (pictures to come)
-Finally, enjoying a night of worship with the Casting Crowns and Barlow Girl...one word...AMAZING! We along with Anderson's and Goldfarb's had a great time and the time of worship was wonderful.

There were many more fun memories of the fair, but I will save that for later, and I promise to have photos! We had a great time, great weather, great food, great experience! I have to say a HUGE THANK YOU to our insurance company for the tickets to the fair, tickets for food, and for rides...it definitely made our day SO MUCH FUN!

Bald?

The other day this is what I heard when Aspen was talking to her daddy...

Aspen: Daddy, are you bald? (pointing out that her daddy is losing his hair)

Daddy: Yes

Daddy: Aspen, are you bald?

Aspen: No daddy, Just you are! Followed by laughter from all of us!

It was just too cute! Something I wish that I could've recorded!

He can always make me laugh!

This video was taken when we had received balloon animals from Papa and Grandma. The kids love these, and so while Titus was playing with his he put it in his mouth, and well...you know what happened (it's in the video). His reaction was great and it made us all smile and laugh!

I know that is has been awhile since I have posted a blog, and I am sorry! It has just been crazy busy around here and now it is a Sunday afternoon so I feel like I have the time to post something!

What we have been up to lately:
*We attended a wonderful Go Fish concert - thank you Selness Family
*Spending LOTS of time with Papa and Grandma
*Many trips to the park
*Getting Aspen ready for PRESCHOOL! I cannot believe it, in just a few weeks she will start school...WOW!

Things to look forward to:
*Zac's brother Gabe is getting married this weekend to a wonderful girl named Abbie, we love them both dearly and are looking forward to this day!
*State Fair with my family, and my sister from Colorado will be in town!
*Casting Crowns and Barlow Girl concert at the State Fair
*Spending September with my sister...she is actually going to be here the whole month!

Zac is officially back at school teaching and loving it, but keeping very busy! He enjoys being back at work and is glad that he is finally getting over his sickness that he has had for awhile! Aspen is testing the waters and getting more of an attitude, but we are working on that and both Zac and I have been praying for her and each day is getting easier and easier. I am loving how great of a big sister she is, she really truly loves her brother. My favorite is when her and Titus give each other hugs and kisses. They are now sharing a room together and they truly have a great time! Aspen, even though sometimes her disobeying gets in the way, we just truly love her so much and love watching her learn and want to learn. She loves working on her preschool books, singing songs, coloring, and just PLAYING! Titus is learning so many new words and doing LOTS of animal sounds. He LOVES books, just like his sister! He also watches lots of Go Fish, plays lots with puzzles, and just loves to be around us...no matter what we are doing!

I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful husband, and two wonderful children!

What a fun birthday weekend!

This weekend has been such a blast celebrating Aspen's 4th Birthday Party!

This year she wanted to have a High School Musical party and that is what she got. From pancakes, to decorations, to even lots of gifts, she enjoyed it all!

Friday, on her birthday, we enjoyed the day with my parents. They took her to McDonald's for lunch and then we enjoyed a free pass to the Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America where she enjoyed LOTS of rides, face painting, and a yummy meal at the Rainforest Cafe - they even sang Happy Birthday to her!

Saturday morning we woke up and enjoyed a fun time at the Farmer's market, Aspen enjoyed picking out her flowers. Then it was time to get the food all prepped and set out before all of the guests came! When the party started it was time to nibble on snacks, then it was game time, followed by gifts and cake (the video is of everyone singing Happy Birthday to Aspen), and then ended with one final game.

Aspen truly enjoyed her birthday and is thankful for all of her friends and all of the presents! We are so blessed to have her as our daughter and look forward to many more years with her. We love you Aspen - as we say, "You are the best in the midwest!"

Guess who's turning 4?

That's right! Aspen is turning 4!

She has been looking forward to turning 4 since she found out that when you turn 4 you can go to preschool.

I cannot believe that our little girl is going to be 4...wow, time flies!

I remember it like it was yesterday...it was over 100 degrees and I was two weeks overdue with her and was ready to be induced and 6 hours later, our beautiful angel was born.

Aspen was 6 lbs. 10 oz. and almost 22 inches long...she was a peanut and still is today!

She is learning so much each and everyday and is definitely a daddy's girl. She loves singing and dancing, playing with her friends, loves to read books, and is such a great BIG sister to Titus.

She is a little girl who has definitely been through a lot and God has definitely taught us so much through her life and we thank Him everyday for her.

This is a fun time for her and on the day of her birthday we get to celebrate it with her Papa and Grandma. They are coming down in the morning and will be with us all day. Aspen and Mommy get to enjoy time at a fun sprinkler park with her MOPS friends, lunch at Culver's, then it is off to Nickelodeon Universe with Papa...Grandma...brother...mommy and daddy, dinner, and of course opening gifts!

Saturday is her HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL party! Yes, that's right, she loves HSM! She knows all the songs and loves to dance to each and every one. Lots of her friends will be over and it will just be a fun time celebrating her life and we look forward to many more fun years with her.

If you can remember, on this day, if you can say a prayer for Aspen or share a fun memory of her, that would be so great to hear!

Thank you Father, for Aspen, her life, and the JOY that she brings us!