Happy Birthday Hijacking Post

This is the first time that I, Andrew, have ever written on our family blog after 7 years and over close to 500 posts from Kelly. So, I’m basically hijacking the page. But I wanted to hijack it to honor Kelly, who, today, is celebrating her _____^rd  birthday (I’ll let you guess the blank ;) and list out some things I’m thankful for and love about her.

____________________

I’m thankful for a wife who thinks outside of herself and her needs, always eager to serve another person even at the cost of her own convenience and ease.

I’m thankful for a wife that is generous. She has taught me to not be so stingy in many areas of life.

I’m thankful for a wife that is like a rock emotionally, not emotionless, but strong and confident in God.

I love the fact that she rarely cries and laughs at me when I tear up at the end of Undercover Boss.

I’m thankful for a wife that is willing to care for 4 very young children full time, 24/7 when she could easily be out doing many other things.

I’m thankful that she’s always planning ahead, thinking of important details.

I’m thankful for a wife who is one of the hardest-working people I have ever met, working up to 3 jobs at once during our seminary days at the beginning of our marriage so I could work part-time, go to school full-time, and finish school debt-free....and she still runs non-stop today, mothering full-time, teaching piano, running a mom's group, and a gazillion other things.

I love that she started the Pittsburgh Momtourage which represents both her industrious nature and care for others.

I’m thankful for a wife who is an extremely gifted pianist but serves in a self-effacing manner in our local church.

I’m thankful for a wife that is different than me and for the way she has taught me that my ideas aren’t always the best.

I thankful for her hospitable spirit, caring more that her home serves others well than it serves her well.

I love her creativity in the kitchen…even when the result is kale chips. :\

I’m thankful for a wife who is realistic about life, parenting, and marriage, not expecting things to always be perfect and full of warm fuzzies.

I’m thankful for a wife that respects me but isn't necessarily impressed with me, being willing to tell me when I'm wrong or being stupid.

I’m thankful for her incredible patience with me, putting up with my inconsistencies and extending grace over my sin.

I love that it's hard to articulate all the things I love. I love you, Kelly. Happy Birthday.

An extra special 4th of July

I am slightly belated in posting.....better late than never, I guess.

Andrew & I started our holiday early (as a late anniversary celebration). On July 3rd we were able to head out for the night, the entire night (!) & next morning. It'd been 18 months since we'd had Eden's "babymoon" it was lovely to have some extra time for just the 2 of us. Ironically Kristin did our babysitting both times. Whatever will we do when she leaves for Liberty this fall?!

We booked a hotel thru priceline and got it for less than 1/2 price - yay! We spent the evening walking, walking and more walking. We love that - reminds us of our trips in NYC & DC where we'd spend 12 hour days walking! We started out in Station Square where our hotel was, walked thru Market Square where we stopped for dinner, and on to the North Shore.

The Ragatta was going on and we caught some of the boat races.

Seeing a Pirates games from the outside

dinner!

our hotel

 beautiful night

As we were taking one more walk in the morning, I suddenly started cracking up. I realized we were wearing the exact same outfit (we're both wearing khahi shorts too). Ironically I had packed for both of us. Oh well, happy birthday America. :)  

and then it was off to the fireworks....

both kids have flags, though Graham couldn't keep his still long enough for a photo. :)

I did break down & buy G a light up sword which he loved.

it was an amazing display (and no, this is not my photo!)

Somebody was a little tired the next day. :)

Celebrating x2

So Sunday is a crazy day for us.... which is why we're celebrating Father's Day on Saturday!

Andrew is juggling a lot right now, but he always makes time for daddy duty. He gladly steps in whenever I need him to and takes over bedtime when I need to be somewhere in an evening.

His kiddos adore him there is no doubt. Both kids squeal when he walks through the door at night. Who doesn't love a welcome committee like that?!

 Happy Father's Day to one of the best dads I know!

I am also very thankful for Papa Hughes who taught by example.

And I'm glad I get to be with my dad in person, this Father's Day week.

Happy day to all the dads in our life!

Now that we've had Mother's Day & Father's Day, Graham keeps asking when are we going to have Boy Day. Apparently he would like to be celebrated as well. =)

*

ALSO on Sunday...................

Happy 7th anniversary to us!

Let's see, 10 hours in the car with 2 littles.....this might not feel like a celebration. :)

BUT my hubby is all over it and booked a little overnight get-a-way for us when we come back.

SO excited as it will be our first trip sans kiddos in over a year and a half. Can't wait!!

Thankful to you, Andrew, for always leading & pointing me to Christ.

I am one blessed girl!

Valentine's Day then ~ Valentine's Day now

Just 2 carefree, fresh-faced kids.

Valentine's Day ~ 9 years ago

wow, this makes us look old now. =)

Tonight's Valentine's dinner was spent listening to a certain toddler complain about how much he disliked eating by candlelight.

Yes, we heard you the first 6 times you mentioned it. :o

-

But good news: date night is tomorrow night!

-

We did have some sweet moments today.....and by sweet I mean that Graham had eaten all 3 of his little heart box of chocolates by 10 am.

{but this was a pretty sweet moment too. xoxo.}

 {and containing the wild ones while mommy cooked dinner}

 pretty in pink.................

 I found a card that said,

I love how these moments turn into our memories.

So true.

Love you, babe.

2 years, 3 months, and 4 days

that is how long I've been blessed to have this title of mother.

It's hard to believe it's only been a little over two years, because I certainly can barely remember life B.K. (before kids)!

No matter how many books you read, classes you attend, or people you ask advice of, I don't think you can ever fully grasp what this means until that sweet baby is laid in your arms for the first time.

And then.you.get.it.

to my graham,

how much joy you have brought to our lives in the past 2 years.

You have taught me how to love better,

 that I am not as patient as I thought (or wish!) I was,

and that I will never have a dull moment as long as you are around.

Sometimes a dull moment would be ok though. =)

 

my sweet eden,

I haven't had as much time to get you know you,

but I certainly look forward to every day that God allows me to be your mommy.

You have been such a sweet, sweet baby and you patiently put up with all your brother's shenanigans.

You have taught me that a mother has plenty of room in her heart for 2 babies,

sleep is over-rated, =)

and that dressing a baby girl never gets old.

and to my hubby,

thank you for being the best mother's helper I could ask for!

Thank you for coming home from work and "taking over" Graham, thank you for doing the dishes (one of my least favorite jobs!) and honoring me as a wife and mommy.

I could not do it without you.

photot credit: onewaystreetproduction

l.o.v.e.

• my sweet brand-new little girl
• not being pregnant :)
• any piece of clothing that is not maternity
• my fun-loving, loveable and energy-filled little boy
• the daily grace of my Savior
• my husband who has done everything this weekend from laundry to everything for G to cleaning to arranging my junk drawer. :-) (apparently that was on his top ten list when he got the chance to run the household, haha. knock yourself out, babe!)
• did I mention not being pregnant?!!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Eden slightly interrupted our planned date night for Saturday....but I'm ok with that. We'll take a rain check and hopefully get the date in the next few weeks!

2+9 and still so fine

Happy 29th birthday to my dear sweet hubby!

Things I am thankful for in him this year:

• renewed commitment to getting back to consistent dates AND following through!
• being such a great daddy to Gman. Every morning G wakes up and asks for "a dad" (as he calls him!) When I tell him he's at work, he immediately says "come home". Yep, every day. He gets so excited on weekends when daddy is home all day!
• taking care of our home and family in the little, mundane things - taking out the trash, keeping our budget & savings on track, shoveling, taking care of car stuff, changing lightbulbs....all things I refuse to do. :-) But he's SO good at them, I wouldn't want to get in his way.  
• loves Graham so much, so I can't wait to see how a little girl wraps him around her little finger!
  
  
  Hope your day is extra special, please give me a little grace this year as I'm not feeling up to much party planning these days. Maybe our little girl will decide to share your birthday. In which case, you'll be extra neglected, but I will make make it up to you next year. Except that would be Eden's 1st birthday....so maybe the next year......?? :-)
• You're always #1 in my heart, babe, don't forget it.

the babymoon.....that almost wasn't

So thankful that Andrew made it happen for us to have an overnight get-a-way before Eden arrives!

I have always wanted to go to a bed and breakfast and it has just never happened. So we looked for a B&B in our area and found a quaint one, the Inn at Mt. Chestnut, about an hour outside of Pittsburgh, which was perfect for what we wanted. We had set up our check-in for 6 pm. We arrived to a empty, locked B&B. :-/ That wasn't good. So we called (and listened to the phone ring inside the home!) not good. Our plan was to use a Christmas gift of gift cards for dinner and a movie before we came back. So, we left a message and continued on with our plans. The hours ticked by with no return phone call. Getting more sick to my stomach and upset as the night went on! After the movie, about 10pm, we decided to head back out there one more time, no luck. So we started working on Plan B. We started looking into other hotels as well as considered driving back home. We were about to start towards a hotel when we FINALLY got a call from the B&B. She could not apologize enough. Said she had never had this happen before (I had the email confirmation with me, so I knew we had set up the correct day/time.) I was so upset by this time that I didn't really feel like running back there! But then she offered us about 50% off our room, so we decided to go. So, about 10:30pm or so, we finally got into our room. After that, things got much better. It was a lovely place, we had a relaxing evening, and a delicious breakfast in the morning. And of course ended up paying 1/2 of what we had planned, so in the end, it all worked out! The owner was very nice and I would still recommend staying there!I hope we have more future stays in B&B's, it was so cozy!  

Light snow was falling the entire time we were there and since it was tucked into the woods, it was so beautiful! 

 We stayed in the Key Largo room which is beach-themed. Reminded us of our beach house!

 hmmm, nice face....anyways, 35 weeks, almost to the end!

  lovely.

We are so thankful for this sweet girl in our life. She has become Graham's favorite babysitter and we were so thankful that we could leave with confidence that G was well taken care of. In fact, after we brought her home on friday, Graham told us to go buh-bye so he could play with her! It is such a comfort knowing that Graham loves her. Thanks, Kristin, you're the best!!

(Steeler party following our little trip, hence the Steeler gear!)

So now we've had babymoon #2 and sweet little Eden can arrive at any time. :)

Our Vow...........

I vow to take you to be my spouse,
to have and to hold from this day forward.
I vow to be your best friend for life, for better
or for worse, for richer, or for poorer, in sickness
and in health. I vow to treasure your thoughts,
feelings, and desires as more important than
my own. I give myself to you completely,
but first, to God, as He is my sole purpose and
passion for living. I promise to love and cherish
you until we are parted by death ~
This is my vow for life.

Blessed by the gift of marriage and by the one who calls me wife.

A Very Happy FIVE!

5 years of I Love You's...........

5 years ago this week.......Andrew told me he loved me for the first time.......and asked me to marry him!

Some of our engagement pics that were "practice" for our wedding pics that were done in the same location.

It seems like a very long time ago!
Much has transpired in a short five years from living in 3 states, going through seminary, 3 different churches, 6 different jobs (between us), a BABY........
but I couldn't ask for a better person to be by my side, thanks for asking me. :)

Happy engagement anniversary, my love.