Quick update!

It's been a busy couple of weeks! We'll let the pictures do most of the talking! =)

Our latest "project." We potty-trained Elijah this week! He did so great! We started Tuesday, and he hasn't had too many accidents. In fact yesterday (day four) he only had one, and today he had NONE!

One day a week or so ago, it was around 85 degrees. I think mother nature forgot this is April. In Illinois. My friend Alicia got out their slip n slide and the kids had a blast. Well, Jacob was the only kid who'd actually slide on it, but everyone had fun!

Chubby baby in her new bathing suit! LOVE IT!

Leah, Elijah and Kylee

Leah, Jacob and Kylee. Jacob was so cute on the slide!

On April 11 we had Adleigh dedicated at church. Adleigh looked so gorgeous, and she was so good! It was such a fabulous day!

Beautiful girl!

Pastor Heck praying for Adleigh Rose

Smiley girl!

The day after Easter we went to the Brookfield Zoo with Alicia, Jacob and Leah. We had a blast! Elijah did not want to leave the giraffes. I think we'll need to go back sometime!

Easter Sunday

Our three kids and our nephew Easton on Easter. I can't wait to get all five grandkids together in July when we get to meet Devilan Junior!

Happy Birthday!

29 years ago a baby was born. That baby would someday become the most important man in my life! Happy birthday my wonderful, amazing, awesome, incredible Nicholas! I love you more than I could ever say!

Look-alike?

People keep saying Adleigh looks like me. Is it that she looks like me now, or did she look like me as a baby? I just don't see what people are telling me. Someone tell me what you think.

Rolling down the hills

I need to preface this by saying we are doing the book One Month to Live in our Sunday school class. I think it has the potential to be a life changing experience if we live it out to it's fullest (and then continue to live that way!). I'm excited.

This one month to live challenge is a little hard (I say that only a day into it! hehe). It's just hard to remember to live that way. I tried really hard yesterday. But we had our moments where the kids simply wouldn't listen repeatedly and I lost it. But some parts of it were good. We learn as we go.

Let's face. I'm a scaredy cat. I'm scared of all the what-ifs. What if they fall and get hurt? What if they get hit by a car? What if they get dirty? What if someone snatches them? I'm so used to keeping them on a tight leash; it's hard to just take a chance and have some fun. I'm not uptight at all (that was said in my most sarcastic voice). When we go on walks it was hard to let them start walking instead of riding in the stroller. But we did it and the fun they have and the joy on their faces when they walk, look up at a "giant Christmas tree" (large pine tree), or touch the bush at the end of someone's driveway is priceless. They probably aren't going to get hit by a car on the sidewalk. And I do keep them fairly close. I let them run a little ahead, but not too far. They might get hurt. Kids do that. That's what soap and water, neosporin and bandaids are for. We even have doctors for the more severe injuries if they should happen.

Yesterday we took a walk after dinner. We stopped by a little area outside Perry Farm that has a pond and gazebo. We stood on the bridge and looked out at the water. Kids never cease to amaze me in their wonder of everything around them. Even staring at a pond and jumping on a bridge was a fun activity for them. Nick showed them how to roll down the hill. They had so much fun. Elijah didn't want to stop. That is what life is about. Sure, we have to keep working, cleaning the house, doing laundry, etc. But at the end of the day, life is about so much more than that. Dirt can be washed. I can't keep living in fear of the what-ifs. It only makes life mroe stressful. No, I'm not going to become a careless mom. I am still cautious because I want my kids to be safe. But I want them to have a full life. I want to have a full life. A life of no regrets.

The only thing that would have made the evening better would have been Nick rolling down the hill too. Maybe next time! I will forever have the picture of him waiting at the bottom of the very tiny hill for them to roll to him, smile on his face, laughter from them.

Check it out!

Remember this shirt?
You should really head over to my good friend Christine's etsy shop! She is quite talented and creative! Today she had some merchandise in the Spring Spree at church. I wanted to buy everything she had. For real. If I knew that it wouldn't totally put us in the red in our checking account, I would have bought out her entire table. That's how much I like her stuff! She sells nursing covers, cute onesies like the shirt you see above, bibs and burp cloths. Today I bought Adleigh a bib, and my mother-in-law bought her a bib and matching burp cloth. I totally want the matching burp cloth for the bib I bought.

Check out this sweet baby girl wearing her brand new bib:

I'll have to post pictures of the other bib and burp cloth later. I think I left them in the and it's cold and raining.

Seriously, check out her site. She does great work, and it's so incredibly cute.

I believe she also does custom orders.

Pink

Today we wear pink. Today it is not for breast cancer. Today we wear pink to support the teachers of Illinois. This is what was listed on facebook (and I verified with a teacher to be sure it was true). "17,000 teachers are being laid off in the state of Illinois this spring. The Illinois Education Association is asking everyone to wear pink this Friday (they're calling it "Pink Slip" Friday) to show our support for all the laid off teachers and to show the state our displeasure. Wear pink on Friday if you support your Illinois teachers!"

We have many friends and family members that are teachers in Illinois, some who have already been "pink-slipped."

Today we wear pink to show our support. Our prayers are with you!

New Nephew!

Devilan John Cunningham, Jr aka Junior, was born this morning at 2:43 am. He is 8lbs 4oz, 21 1/2 inches long. Just FYI, this is my sister's baby. She married someone with the same last name as my husband (no relation) so we have the same last name once again.

Here is my new little nephew