Save the Date!

Alice Marie will arrive on December 7th 2009!

Fenced In!

We put our fence up!

It took a lot of help and I have pictures!!!

The Weather did not cooperate or help out at all. Saturday was really nice and the guys got all the post set and then as if right on cue it starts to rain... errrrg. Sunday Torrential Down Pour combined with about 5 post that would need additional concrete made for a very cranky day. Jake and I added the concrete late in the day once the rain tapered off. Monday (labor day) The guys all rallied and got the panels up!

I LOVE IT!

It is beautiful and the babies are safe!

We are SO Blessed!

Special Thanks to Grandpa John, Papaw, Justin, Randy, Grandma D, and Nana!

Hooray for Gas Powered Augers!

Sam is hard at work removing old nails!

Pulling Nails really is So much Fun!

On Second thought maybe Pulling nails makes you Homicidal.

On to more peaceful work.. Avelynn is working calmly filling holes back in.

Wearing a flower skirt no less!

And Now the Fence is done but the final Pictures are not so

To be continued......

PS - out of respect for the Grandma's all picture of them have been excluded ! ;-)

Samuel's First Day of Pre-School!

It was so so hard to let him go... but just as God affirms all his plans for our lives... Samuel rose to the occasion and surpassed all my hope for him! He was So very excited all day waiting and waiting for time to go (he goes in the afternoon)! I was completely nauseous all day but managed to cry only when he could'nt see. We arrived to school right on time and met all his wonderful teachers! He found his cubby and his name tag all by himself, what a great reader! To Mommy's great joy the very first thing all the kids do when they arrive at school is WASH THEIR HANDS!! Yeah! So after becoming germ free we asked what we should do next and the teacher explained that I could stay and play with him today or I could go, whatever he needed me to do..... So right, of course I am staying! NOT.. he says in a confident big boy voice... " Well okay then I will stay and you can just go! Bye Mom" AHHHHHH What... leave you here all alone.. no no no... So I held back all the tears gave him my biggest smile and asked him if I could please, please just walk around and see the toys with him (needy I know) and then I would go... he allowed me this small favor, that is until he found the costume closet, turned and sent me on my way! I made it all the way to the car, after slipping the teacher another copy of my cell phone number (shhhh) before I cried... Partly because he should not be old enough for all this and Mostly because I am SO SO Proud of him! Way to go, SAMUEL!

Alice's Quilt Face!

Mom just emailed me these preliminary photos of Alice's Nana Blanket! We dropped it off to get her beautiful name "Alice Marie" embrordered in the middle! If you can't tell from the photos the middle of each pim wheel and the entire border is covered in Owls!

I can't wait till it's done!

Duct Tape Nature Bracelets!

Today for something fun we wrapped duct tape around our wrists with the sticky side out and went for a walk! Samuel and Avelynn had so much fun finding great bits of nature to add to their bracelets! We used everything from painted rocks found in the road, locust shells, pine needles, wild flowers, marking flags and so so much more! This is after we cut them off! We just used the rule that it had to be in the road or on the sidewalk and no creatures or bugs that were still alive!

Enjoy the Photos!

Make a pregnancy ticker

Our Little Alice Marie!

These are our first glimpse's of our beautiful little Alice!

I was far to enamored to remember to ask how big she is right now but o well... The really nice Ultrasound tech kept saying how beautiful everything looked! Her heart was beating away at about 140's. Her kidneys are functioning and her bladder was full! She was moving a lot and she is breech at this point. I say she can just stay comfy since she is arriving by section in any case! Most of her movements I am feeling are really low and feel like she is tap dancing on my bladder :-) I do get the occasional punch in the belly button though. She cooperated lovely showing her girly parts! Sam was disappointed at first but he never let it show, He was so sweet hugging me and telling me how much he loved me. Avelynn didn't have too much to say and not sure she really understands what she is looking at yet.. :-)

Jake and I are very happy and excited...

we didn't have any preference already having one of each!

Now we just wait on December to roll around!

Great Appointment!

I just wanted to blog down todays events!
We saw Doc Benson.. (he rocks) The babies heartrate was 143! Which has me thinking Boy but... we shall see July 30th! Our ultrasound is scheduled for 9:45 on the 30th! The Kids are still on opposite teams and I am hoping for peace.. Boy or Girl! The REALLY great news... I lost 3 pounds.. Whoo hooo!! I lost the whole time with Avelynn I hope this keeps up!
Count Down to gender.. Maybe I will get lucky and the baby will hide the goods ;-)

Big Fun at BedTime!

Okay so Avelynn and I were all snuggled up in her bed reading. She was interrupting me asking me, What kind of baby is it? She is a determined little bugger trying to find out what this baby is going to be... Is it a boy? Is it a girl? So, I just decided to ask her and she says " I really want a pretty little girl" sniff, sniff... Just as she was pleading her case for a sister the baby moved.. I mean really moved the first "big movement" not like a little flutter but more like "hey, I'm in here!" I hope it is a memory that I never ever forget!

Of course we still have no idea, boy or girl. We just keep telling the kids that the baby loves them very much. God has a plan and though we don't get to know it just yet, It is going to be more awesome than anything we could hope for! So Until Mid-July, we will just have to patient!

Happy Weekend Wishes!

This baby is Moving... :-)

I am 13 weeks and I know I feel this baby moving in there! It is only occasionally but its movement! It will be so fun once the kids can feel too! Yesterday was a bench mark day I don't think I was nauseous at all, not even one time! I ate all 3 meals, Yeah! Now, If only I could wake up without a major tension headache all would be well! I am hoping the crazy dreams will stop and then I might get some acctual rest and then the head aches will be a thing of the past. Thats my prayer anyway.

~~Steph

My 29th Birthday Cake!

My Birthday is not really until Sunday of next week but since my Momma is going to be outta town we celebrated this weekend! My Mom is the best she made me the MOST AWESOME TWILIGHT cake.. Of course, those of you that are also twi-hards and Twilight Moms will understand that this is the symbol for the Official I Love Edward Cullen Fan Club! IT tasted great, too! Thanks Mom! Oh and I am just starting my Second Trimester also!!... Yeah Me!

Here are Sam and Ave helping Nana make the Cake!

We joined the Mochaclub!

Please consider this... Can you give just $7 a month... Your small, small sacrifice will make such a huge huge difference! If you join please make me your friend - Stephanie Dick - (It will ask when you sign up who your friends are!) Tell everyone you know!



http://www.flickr.com/photos/mochaclub/sets/72157594273509674/show/

Hello Everyone! I had my Ultrasound yesterday and Why am I shocked?? God is SO Faithful!
Everything is exactly they way it should be... No more Sub Chorionic Hemmorages!!!
and Sorry Mamaw... ONLY 1 healthy baby just they way I wanted it... LOL Maybe Randy will supply you with the twins you so desire! They baby is measuring perfectly at just over 2 inches and is a jumping bean! It was totally cute the baby was just bouncing all around! I can't get my scanner working so I am just waiting around for help;-) We are all OVERJOYED! We will get to see the baby again Mid-July so we are just waiting around for that!

Just wanted to update and give God all the Glory!

~~Steph

All Day at the Park!

We went to the park last week! Avelynn kept saying I want to go back to the Mountain! She loved playing on the fountain pretending to be Barbie..LOL We played with Jack and Harry and enjoyed the fountain! Sam was Superman dressed in Batman Trunks and Jack was a plane that turns in to people!
It was a beautiful day! I hope everyone enjoys the Pictures!

Make a pregnancy ticker

I am finding myself fearful, expecting our 3rd. All that pain of loss and confusion from the past is
haunting me but a friend reminded me of how loved I am by the creator! So with hopeful hearts we are waiting for December 15th! Only 235 days left! Just in case anyone else needs reminding of Gods love and protection I am including the following Psalms... I have read it before many times but some how when My friend sent it to me today it held a new power. Be Blessed!

Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to [b] me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Soccer Super Star??

Go # 29!

Okay, yes I might be just a little proud of my boy! Samuel is officially on a team! Amazingly enough, he ended up on a team with two of his favorite people! We will have many more stories to tell so I will be quick and say that first game he shot a goal and fell in love with the sport! Enjoy!

Sam and Elijah!

This is Coach High Fiven' Sam after his goal! YaH... see it in the goal!

Kick Practice!

Avelynn's New Pony!

Awesome Nanny showed up with a pony! Ave quickly named her Chicago, hopped on galloped away!

We rode that sweet pony all over Chucktown! All the fun of riding and petting and brushing with no POOP! Brilliant!

Samuel Loves Her, too! (but he secretly calls her Daisy, don't tell Ava! wink wink)

The Princess and the Pea

Samuel, Avelynn, Caitlin, and Oliver accompanied Nana, Jamie and Myself to The Commedia: The Princess and the Pea! We all had an excellent time at the play. The entire cast was hilarious and amazing at keeping us all laughing and engaged. I am so glad we went... a huge thank you to EIU Theater Department and the cast for an afternoon well spent! I asked Samuel when we arrived what we were there for his reply was "to see people wearing funny clothes!" LOL he is so insiteful and funny. When we left he said "I can't wait to grow up and be an actor just like Arlequin!" So again, thank you to Tim Tholl you have inspired my son, no easy feat! Here is a picture of Sam with part of the cast. First from left is Arlequin, Sam (in the Prince Hair!), Rosetta, and Punchin!

This is Oliver, Sam, Caitlin, and Avelynn (dressed like the Princess) Waiting for the preformance to begin!

All the kids belly laughed all the way through!

Busy Busy!

Wheww... what a busy couple of days! The best Kind!

This is the kids scrubbing their toy bucket nice and clean. I think this may have been more fun than going to a pool!
We spent Friday cleaning out and rearranging the kids room! It was quite an adventure..
It is amazing how quickly a room can take on a life of its own. The kids play and get out toys and its like it becomes a living monster threatening to consume the whole house! SO... we killed that monster and I am not sure who is happier Momma or the kids. It is so much more fun to play in a clean room!

That brings us to Saturday!

The City Easter Egg Hunt.

We woke and hurried around to getting dressed and eating breakfast. Not one of us was in a "good" mood. Sam was mad about last years hunt because he Quote "every year, I never win the big egg" ...Yes, he remembers everything and is SO competitive. LOL

The hunt was so much more fun this year! They had a nice assortment of games with little prizes so everyone felt like a winner!

Here are the kiddos Fishing!

Avelynn bowling (kinda... haha)

Sam Shooting Hoops

Then it was Avelynns turn to hunt some eggs.

She did pretty good for being so nervious. Ended up with Lots of Marshmallows!
She was very proud of herself. Of couse mama was bust with pride for her little blonde girl!

Sam was totally pumped that he was there right beside Jack!!

Sam went after the eggs Fast and Furious style!

And he .............WON THE BIG EGG!

This is the Soccer basket he won for getting the "big" egg!

He could not stop smiling and our cranky day morphed into a Wonderful Happy Day!