Happy Anniversary!

Yesterday was our 3rd wedding anniversary! I cannot believe that we have already been married for 3 years! This was actually the first time we were able to spend out actual anniversary together, the last two he was already in training camp. We had such a great day! In the morning we took the kids and we went to look at patio furniture... which turned into us looking at everything! We went to a local sports store and tried the hockey equipment on DJ, it was the cutest thing ever! Then at night a babysitter came over and we had a night out by ourselves! We had an amazing dinner and ate way too much (do not even get me started on the dessert) and came home to 2 sleepy kids. It was wonderful!

When I think back on everything, I can't believe how lucky I am to have found Derrick so young. Some people search their whole lives looking for what I found at 15. We have had our bumps, but none of them come anywhere close to the happiness that we have. And on top of everything else, we have been blessed with two amazing, beautiful, healthy kids! I am couldn't be luckier!!!

Better Late Than Never!

Wow! It has been so long! Sorry it took me so long to finally update everyone! Be prepared for a lot of pictures!

The Bahamas. What can I say? It was an amazing trip! We had so much fun and I am so blessed that our families were able to join us. On our trip, we went to Freeport first. That was a lot of fun, it was just a little stressful because our families weren't there and Derrick had to participate in the camp. Taking two children around a place you aren't familiar with is not easy. Not to mention our hotel was not very easy to navigate with a stroller! They had stairs everywhere and NO ramps. It drove me bonkers! On our second night in Freeport, they had a welcome reception which was around a pool. It was so nice and everyone had a blast. Towards the end of the night, DJ was walking to us and someone backed up, DJ tried to avoid them and then he FELL INTO THE POOL!!!! It was so scary, my heart stopped. By the time I was able to hand Harlow to somebody, Derrick had already jumped in the pool (fully clothed) and had DJ out. Derrick was a real superhero!!! I am sure it comes as no surprise that DJ did not want to get in the pool after that, but after a little convincing (and when I say convincing I mean I forced him in and stayed in the middle of the pool with him until he relaxed) he was splashing around again.

After Freeport, we went to Nassau where we joined the rest of our family. They arrived earlier in the day and out flight was delayed, so we just said hi to our moms and headed to bed. While we were there we ate a ton (I think I gained back every pound I lost before vacation, but I am too afraid to weigh myself now!), drank lots of Bahama Mama's and daiquiris, went to the pool, and just relaxed. It was so fun. Derrick and I were able to have a night out and the kids had a sleep over with their grandma's. It was so great seeing everyone and spending quality time without everyone being on the phone or texting. I hope we can do it again next summer.

Bahamas Here I Come!!!

So I did my weigh in this morning, I lost all the weight that I wanted to! I am so excited... I just hope I don't gain it all back as soon as we land! Haha! We went shopping for a few new vacation clothes and I bought a pair of size 5 pants, I was so happy and I could barely contain myself. I really feel a lot better and even though I was not even close the perfect dieter (4th of July was brutal!), I am glad I did it!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Sorry this week has been so slow, but my week has been going way too fast! We are going on a vacation and I swear that time leading up to vacations fly. We have had so much to do, I hope we don't forget something!

Yesterday was great day! We went to the mall in the morning to find a few last minute items. I had bathing suit bottoms, but no top... I thought that might be a problem. DJ and Harlow were surprisingly good! I bought DJ a strawberry Julius and he downed the thing. I honestly do not even know if he tasted it! When we got home I made them lunch and Harlow had half of a grilled cheese sandwich! That little girl is such an eater, it makes me laugh! I am taking advantage of it because I have a feeling that she will not be interested in food in about 6 months or so. When I went downstairs to give DJ his sandwich, he was passed out in the love sac with Derrick, it was the cutest thing and I am so mad I didn't take a picture (because that's right I found the charger! Whoot Whoot!)

In the afternoon, our friends, the Greisen Family, were in Green Bay and we were able to go see them. We all had a great time! DJ made a friend, got to reunite with Clare (who is beyond adorable), and run around! Harlow just watched and admired... I think she is plotting to start walking on me soon! Oh NO!

It was a jam packed day and both kids went to bed with no problems!

Today wasn't too exciting, just errands, cleaning, and a few more errands. I did mail off my first order for a headband bowquet! That was really exciting, I hope I have a lot more orders in the near future!

Happy 4th!!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July! Sorry this is so late, we have been so busy and something horrible happened... I lost the charger to my camera! I am so sad, I need to hurry up and get my butt to Best Buy so I can get a new charger and post some pictures... until then, there will just be words (boring!!!)!

We had a fantastic 4th! It was so much fun!!! We went shopping in the morning and found so many deals. Children's Place has the best sales and our kids got so many clothes. I went to Charlotte Russe for some cheap vacation clothes, and boy were they cheap! Just about everything was buy 1, get 1 free! We had a lot of fun and then the kids took really good naps when we got home.

When they woke up, we wanted to find something fun to do. So what did we do??? Google. We found 'Fire Over the Fox' and decided to try it out. O.M.G. It was awesome! It was pretty much a fair (my diet was completely out the window) we walked around ate TONS of junk and DJ was able to ride some rides and play in some jump houses. When it was time for the fireworks, we went to boardwalk, found a good place to sit, and proceeded to eat more junk. I was really nervous with how DJ and Harlow would react to the fireworks, this was DJ's first 4th with a fireworks show and Harlow's first 4th. They loved them!!! DJ kept saying "Wow mom mom!!! Whoooaaaa!!!" and Harlow was giggling and kicking the entire time (well except towards the end when she was really tired). It was a very successful night.

I must admit, this small town life is really starting to grow on me. There are so many family oriented events and my family is really benefitting from living here.

Prairie Dogs, turkeys, and deers??? Oh my!

What an exhausting, but great day we had today! We met the Underwood family at New Zoo and had a wonderful afternoon! The Underwood's have a little boy who is only a week and a half younger than DJ and they get along great! I am so happy DJ finally has another little boy to play with. This zoo wasn't like any other zoo I have ever been to, though. It was SO small, but it was perfect for the kids. They had a portion of the zoo for little kids where they could feed the animals, DJ did better than I thought he would. They also had something where you could pet and feed the giraffes! It was so cool! DJ was terrified of the giraffe, but Harlow loved it. She fed him the cracker and kept trying to grab his face! The zoo had a playground area, DJ and Cameron loved it. They were little mad men! Cameron would push DJ on the swings and they thought it was hilarious (Harlow thought they were pretty funny too). The best part of New Zoo for DJ though- the train. He almost lost his mind when he saw it! "Choo Choo, mom mom!!! I want choo choo!" He made a run for it numerous times until we finally got on. He loved it. He made lots of train noises, but mainly just sat back and enjoyed. When we finally left, both kids were so tired and fell asleep before the car even started to move and I was pretty tired too (I guess that is what happens when you walk around a zoo following two two year olds, with a 9 month old strapped on, pushing a stroller, in the hot sun! Haha!). It was so much fun and I am really starting to enjoy this little town! Be prepared for a picture overload!!!

He loves slides!

They were giving the bear fist pounds!

Harlow feeding the giraffe, DJ was mad at me for making him be there!

Looking at the prairie dogs (which was their favorite thing!)

Silly boys

Best buddies already!

Diet Update!

So... the day I said I started my diet, I lied! I did really well that day, but if you remember we went out with our friends and I completely broke my diet. I did start Tuesday though! I actually do not hate this diet, but it was very hard tonight when DJ was eating the pizza he made (he was talking to my mom and said "I cook!" So cute!) and Derrick was eating watermelon! I went to the gym today and I have lost 2 pounds since Tuesday! I am really happy with that and it gave me the motivation I needed to keep this up. Only a week and a half until the Bahamas!

Well, it looks like I am already slacking! Oh no! The last two days were fun, yet pretty uneventful. Yesterday we took a nice little walk to the park, DJ and Harlow had SO much fun! It was Harlow's first time on the swings and I am so sad I didn't have a video camera! Her face was priceless. Her eyes would get so big and she would look so scared, then she would get to me and laugh so hard!!! It was the cutest thing ever. DJ is obsessed with playgrounds- whenever I ask him to say slide he says "WEEEEE!!!!" I love his little language! When we came home I made dinner, we played with cars and the kids went to sleep. As soon as they went to sleep, I started to bedazzle. I made a onesie for a friend and I am thrilled with how it turned out. I can't post it until she receives it but when she does I will post it here.

He looks like he is going to cause trouble!

Weeeee!!!!

Could they be any cuter???

My Princess

Our decks were washed- Harlow loved it... DJ wasn't too sure

Today was a relax day (except I didn't relax!). Both kids took great naps and we spent the day playing in the house. DJ and Harlow were playing so well together, it is so much fun to watch them start to interact. Harlow loves DJ, DJ loves her... but DJ really loves that Harlow loves him! LOL! He is such a little stud and loves to be the center of attention and make her laugh. Most of the afternoon was spent with both kiddos in their diapers (seriously, there is nothing cuter) and them crawling through the living room and dining room and lots and lots of giggling!

He finally posed for a picture!

Little stinker climbed under the chair

Well, yesterday wasn't that exciting of a day. We just stayed home, watched 'Cars' (for the millionth time!), and played. I was able to go to the gym, so Derrick took over kid duty and they love Daddy time! Harlow is turning into such a Daddy's girl, I can't decide how I feel about that yet. After the kids went to bed I made some REALLY cute headbands and clips. I was going to make a onesie, but we are missing the cord to our printer so that had to be put off. I am going to start posting about all of my bedazzling and headband activities at

lovingsparkle.blogspot.com so start checking there pretty soon!

Sibling love

I just love this picture for some reason!

So sweet!

This is what DJ does when Harlow tries to play with his toys. He goes

someplace Harlow can't get them!

A Great Day in Green Bay

Yesterday was a great day! First we ventured into my favorite store ever... Hobby Lobby! I could spend hours in that store, but for some reason... DJ just wasn't too into it. Later on, when we got home, DJ decided that he didn't need a nap (you will see how that worked out later) so he helped me clean... and by help I mean he messed up everything that I cleaned. When Harlow woke up, we took a nice little trip to Target (my other favorite store) to get a birthday card because oh yeah!!! We were having company! When we got back home, DJ was passed out on the couch... I guess he needed a nap after all. He was awoken by the Underwood family and went from 0-60 in .52 seconds. He was so happy to have kids his age come and play (for some reason I think that Harlow and I are starting to bore him???). Then the greatest thing EVER happened- the babysitters arrived. Yes everyone, we got to have a night with another couple KID FREE! It was amazing and the babysitters (there were 2 to handle all 5 of the kids) were great. I made sure to get both of their information so we can have more baby free nights in the future. We all had fun and I hope that it happens again soon!

All of the kids (minus the baby) with one of our brave babysitters

Harlow just looking cute!

How I came home to find DJ, I think his bed would have been more comfortable!

Checking out the view in our backyard

Showing me his "Choo Choo"

Making a train with the blocks that I was trying to pick up