We Survived

It is Monday afternoon which means we are back from farmland.

The great news is we survived.

Not without a tantrum or two, but all in all we had a fantabulous time.

I will never, ever take for granted the laid back

way of life I come from in small rural Iowa.

Although I did not grow up farming I appreciate the beauty of the fields and the produce they provide for us all.

My favorite part of visiting my hometown is my time with my 2nd family.

I always treasure the time we get with the Morris's.

They have and always will be soooooo good to us.

I got my baby fix by canoodling the adorable little Benjamin Bradley.

I foresee a little Mrs. Benjamin Bradley Morris joining our family in January.

Audra, are you with me on this one?

I picked up some tips on some awesome baby gear that

is hot in the Philly region. I may just have to

start some baby trend setting here in the Midwest :)

Today has been a day cram packed with unpacking, cleaning, reorganizing & meal preparation. Did I mention disciplining?

Yeah, that one falls in there too.

I have two monkeys that need to learn it is NOT OK to hit one another.

I will be back soon with pics from our weekend mini vaca.

This one is for my Mom

Where to start?
I have really missed keeping up with our family blog, but if I am being 100% honest, I just have not made it a priority. So much has taken place since my last post. Fun and exciting outings, milestone and momentous moments, big firsts, ups and downs with personal life and child rearing. Looking back now I wish I had indeed taken the time to record each of those events be them small or large. This is where I am at in life at this moment. A mom struggling to juggle all the many hats we as moms wear - homemaker, meal planner & preparer, household banker, primary child caregiver, friend and most importantly my role as a wife. Since I already stated I would be 100% honest I will share that I feel I have failed miserably in most of the above areas as of recent. I have continued to maintain the house for the most part but can say that I am more than relieved that my somewhat severe tendency toward house cleaning has been kicked to the curbside. I feel like a super star if I do indeed have a well balanced meal prepared and on the table for my family for supper. The frustrating part is 9 out of 10 times the kids refuse to eat it and I (even in my 2nd trimester) still prefer a bowl of cereal or a PB bagel, so we have wasted a lot of good meat and vegetables lately. Argh! I, for the first time in my adult life, have paid two bills (Kohl's and VISA) a day late over the course of the past month. Do you know what that equals? Late fees! And if you want to see my tail feathers ruffled charge me a late fee when it is my own darn fault!! Several friendships have fallen by the wayside as I have been wrapped up in myself and my families needs. I think this pregnancy threw me into a tailspin. Please don't misinterpret that as saying that I am not over the moon excited about this little blessing because I am! I was pretty miserable my entire 1st trimester and leading into the first several weeks of the 2nd trimester. Enter week 15 through the current and I started to panic about everything that I no longer have and need to care for a newborn. I obsessed about taking inventory of what I had remaining and started hitting garage sales & the kids consignment sales hard. If any of you are still with me I will now share the #1 reason I have fallen off the blogging stratosphere. Life with kids can be tough. I mean really tough! I have two beautiful, wonderful, God fearing children, but those two have a little bit of the devil living in them :) I do not recall going through the struggles with Gabrielle that we are currently facing with Dawson. He was our child who never rocked the boat in the sense of getting into things he shouldn't, disobeying or discrediting authority, etc etc. Starting about three weeks ago that all changed for us. We jokingly and affectionately call him Pistol Pete or Dawson the Destroyer, but let me tell you he fits the names. There have been periods throughout the recent weeks where I frequently hear myself say out loud "Dawson, I am not playing your games right now," "Dawson, we said no and no means no now get down, shut the door, come inside, etc," "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!" "Do you want me to swat your bottom?" "If I hear those potty words come out of your mouth again, you will get vinegar on your tongue" (this one always gets his attention!). You get the point. Many of you may be thinking this is normal 2 - 3 yr old behavior. I beg to differ with you. I shared with my women's Bible study group that I am contemplating scheduling a consultation with a child psychologist to establish if this is a true clinical case of sensory disorder or adolescent obsessive compulsive behavior. I could share sooooooo much more on this topic, but will spare you reading a book. Just know that I am still crazy in the love with the kid and that we have more good/great times of loving and sharing in the day than we do the bad. It is just that the bad tends to be really bad right now. We will be traveling this weekend to NW Iowa to spend time with some people that are very near and dear to us. I would ask for prayers that we have a smooth, tantrum free weekend. I am concerned as anytime we travel our kids schedules are compromised, they don't get the luxury of sleeping in their own beds and they tend to get over stimulated by the activities and surroundings.
Since this post has primarily focused on our struggles with our little man I will leave you with a handful of pictures from his 3rd birthday which we celebrated this Tuesday the 21st. Enjoy!
Please, please leave me a comment letting me know you have stopped by so I know someone out there is still reading this blog and if you have any psychologist referrals or recommendations on behavior modification I beg you to share.



"Look, I am 3!"

From the mouths of my babes

This summer is flying by and I have done a less than mediocre job of documenting our outings and activities. I have also been lax in recording things that I want to look back on and remember. Things the kids have accomplished or said and done. I am going to try my best to be more intentional about 'journaling' more of these everyday things. I know I will be glad I did so in years to come and I am sure my children will as well.

** Dawson affectionately asks me several times throughout the day "Mommy, is there still a baby in your tummy?" I answer "Yes" and he asks each time "May I kiss the baby in your tummy?" So sweet!
** I took Gabrielle to get her blood drawn at Children's Mercy yesterday afternoon and we made a necessary stop by the Costco in route home. As we were traveling South on Metcalf and were passing the cemetery she says enthusiastically, "That is the most beautiful cemetery I have ever seen. Who owns the cemetery Mommy?" To which I responded "I have no idea." She replied with "Well, I am sure God owns it!" Followed by, "I think God wants us to buy it."
** Dawson is determined he is going to school this Fall. Um, news flash son. Not this year. I want to keep you my baby as long as possible OR until January when the new bean arrives. I do attempt to use this as an excuse to get him to poo on the potty. I tell him "Only big boys who make their shooey in the potty are allowed to go to preschool." Does that persuade him to make every poop in the toilet? NO. He does it when it is his idea and no other time. No bribery for that boy.
** Gabi loves, loves, LOVES KLove radio. She insists on listening to it 99% of the time while driving in the car and at all times in her bedroom. This past week she asks me what it means to be IN LOVE with Jesus. She said, "I thought being in love meant you wanted to marry that person." GREAT teaching moment and a sweet one at that. We discussed all the people in our lives that we not only love but are in love with. She of course immediately says "I am in love with Mema and my Papa and Dawson is in love with me." So true!
** Dawson has names all pegged for this new miracle growing inside of me. If it is a boy his name is to be Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and if it is a girl her name is to be Tina. When we asked why Tina he responded very matter of fact with "Well, cause that is a girl name." He more recently said that "Mommy is going to have a baby sister because I am going to always be her baby boy." I love that his little two year old mind thinks in this way.
** Gabrielle has been repeatedly telling on herself. When I finally said to her, "Gab, I don't want to hear it" she replied "Well, I know it is always best to tell the truth." Another news flash - sometimes it is best to not tell at all :)

Cinderella

We received an invite from a very loved lady in our church to attend Cinderella at Theatre in the Park Friday night. It was a special evening for her granddaughter and several other princesses. I had some real concerns about attending because the weather Friday was beyond hot and sticky. The 1st hour which involved waiting in line and enjoying the preshow was a bit uncomfortable, but the remainder of the night was perfect. The girls feasted on all things sugar - candy necklace and bracelets, ring pops, italian shaved ice amongst other shared goodies. It was fun to see the girls (all seven of them) play & interact with one another. I am not too sure any of them sat in one place for any length of time.


Cameron Ronning, Gabrielle, Kaitlyn Beddall, Chase Cheney, Emery Caire, Nevaeh Fulk & Grace Ronning in the back row


We are excited about what shows will be coming to SM Theatre next summer!

T.G.I.F.

What a week!!
I am so glad to see this week behind me. It has NOT been a good one.
Should have been, but was not.
Tuesday I kept my girlfriends kids and I was queesy (is that even a legit word?) all day. The kids caught me laying down every chance I could. Sorry, but a girl has got to do what a girl has got to do to get through a day. My parents returned from vacation with some dear family friends and stopped by for a visit. They weren't here 10 minutes when I bolted off the couch with the 1st of MANY trips to the bathroom to regurgitate every ounce of anything I had put in my mouth that day.
Wednesday was my 35th birthday AND Travis and my 10th wedding anniversary.
10 years folks
That is a big one!
I spent the ENTIRE day in bed with the exception of the times I was in the bathroom with my head hanging over the toilet. I have dined on NOTHING but dry toast & applesauce for three days now. Can I hear a blah? Poor girl? Awwww? Travis has been absolutely amazing catering to me and checking in on me. He brought me Dairy Queen ice cream cake Wednesday night and I have yet to attempt to feast on a slice. I was so fortunate to catch one BIG break in all this madness. My Mom had taken Wednesday off work to enjoy her company and kept the kids the entire day for me. She transported them to Gabrielle's weekly literacy class, the park, McDonald's for ice cream, then back to her house for rest time. She is an amazing Mema to say the least. Thursday the kids and I had a quiet day in. I was able to get a few small tasks accomplished around the house but for the most part played it easy. Today. Today is Friday and today is a new day. Although I am definitely not back to 100%, I am feeling more energized and able to face the day. I look forward to enjoying the kids today and especially spending some quality time with Travis over the weekend celebrating a decade of marriage.

Blueberry Coffee Cake

We arrived at our Growth Group weekly meeting last night and low and behold the most delicious blueberry coffee cake was being served. I devoured not one, but two lArGe pieces (with a few bites stollen by Ms G). Shelle Cox was nice enough to share the recipe with me.
Enjoy!
Kiersten, I know you are reading this and well ... I have the blueberries and YOU have the baking skills so get on over here girl!

Ingredients
2 1/3 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar

2 large eggs
1 cup milk
1 12-ounce package frozen blueberries, unthawed, or 2 1/2 cups fresh

Preparation
Combine 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, brown sugar and cinnamon in medium bowl. Mix until moist and crumbly. Set topping aside.
Preheat oven to 357°F. Butter and flour 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Sift remaining 2 cups flour, baking powder and salt into small bowl. Using electric mixer, beat remaining 1/2 cup butter in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually add 1 cup sugar, beating until well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating to blend after each addition. Mix dry ingredients into batter alternately with milk in 3 additions each. Fold in blueberries.
Transfer cake batter to prepared baking pan. Sprinkle topping evenly over batter. Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean and topping is golden brown, about 40 minutes. Cool cake slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

The Berry Patch

Tuesday morning we visited Missouri's Blueberry Patch for our 2nd annual picking party. The kids and I went with our next door neighbor Joanne and her oldest son Noah. Noah is a blueberry eating fool so he was definitely in his elimate at the patch. We picked a little more than 3 lbs each and Joanne purchased an add'l 3 or so prepicked pounds to freeze.
Gabrielle enjoys a bowl with cool whip and we are excited to make some fresh fruit smoothies with them as well. I would love any recipes anyone would like to share.