double trouble...again

this sunday i ran the double trouble again. (i ran it the june after aubrey was born). mostly, i ran it so that i had a goal in mind... as i tried to get out of the house a couple times a week to run. believe it or not, two years later it didn't seem as bad as it did before. i don't know if it was the fact that i knew what i was in for, but it really was over before i knew it. mind you, i am a little sore from the crazy rock jumping i had to do. poor legs only got to train on road so the quick stepping (trying not to break an ankle), kind of running i had to do left me a little tender. it was fun though! the BEST part, my parents came out to see me run (or see me finish rather... you can't really see the rest of the run, it's in the woods). it made me so happy to see them waiting at the finish line with aubrey, leah and matt. i am so blessed to have parents who would make a trip all the way out to french creek, just to see me finish.

summer fun

the last thing that i saw before i got hosed down.
you should have seen the next picture of grass.

our big girl

first there was the big girl bed... then came the loss of the paci... NOW (drum roll please!) we are potty trained! i say we because i am also potty trained (trained to ask all the time).

she's so cute... she sits there saying "do you hear the splash?" and then "i getta prize!?" she has gone on the potty consistently since thursday. i am so excited. just think of it. one less set of diapers to buy for. no more diaper butt in pants.

i know the photos aren't really about potty training. but they are about my big girl who also chooses her own music to listen to at barnes and noble. may i say she has good taste?!

uh oh... here comes trouble

i think we are insane. in an attempt for one last "girls time" before baby abbey was born...jen, april and i (and all of the children) headed out to lancaster for a trip to the new olive garden. sitting and having soup, salad and breadsticks would have made the whole crazy trip worth it, but to our dismay, they decided not to open until 4:00 their first week. this left us with only ruby tuesdays as an option. (which we could have done a lot closer to home...and isn't nearly worth the trip that olive garden was.) we had already hit the outlets and the kids were getting punchy. so in a last ditch effort to keep our sanity we let the kids climb under the table and ignored the judging looks from people at other tables. the kids were having a blast, and if you could ignore the screaming and giggling from under the table...it might have actually felt like we were alone.

we are now a group of three moms with 7, yes 7 kids... this means one less hand then child making anything we do together now even more of a production, but completely worth it.

check out the newest addition to our little group, abbey grace mclaughlin.

try not to blink...again

just six months ago we brought little leah home from the hospital. our sweet baby has grown so much these past few months. each day bring new adventures with our little "leah bean".

december 7, 2007


and now....

six years?

where has the time gone? seems like just yesterday we were holding hands on campus and going for long rides in the festiva. seems like just yesterday we were counting stars. seems like just yesterday we were snow covered in the windy city. seems like just yesterday you waited for me at the end of that aisle. seems like just yesterday we drove cross country without a radio. seems like just yesterday we walked the little shops of bar harbor and ate lobster by the sea. seems like just yesterday we brought our little girl home from the hospital. seems like just yesterday we became a family of four. time is moving too fast. it all seems like it was just yesterday.

baby blue eyes

little updates for our beautiful baby girl. leah bean is doing quite well, she is growing like a weed and is finally starting to fill out a little. she has just about turned over from back to belly while reaching for a toy (a feat her sister didn't master until about eight months). she LOVES the jump-a-roo and goes to town when you put her in it... kind of resembles the lord of the dance. she plays piano (i know she's a prodigy) on her excer-saucer...smashing her little fists into the keys and yelling in her loudest voice da-da-da-da-da. she love giving kisses. she'll take your face in both little hands and plant one on you (nice and slimy). adorable!