How it all began

Ralph and I have been together since the summer of 2008 but it all began in 1992. Ralph's sister, Colleen and I have been best friends since 6th grade and we grew up at each other's houses throughout the years. Ralph was always around but being the younger brother was forbidden to be around us (not that he wanted to make up dances with us). We said hi during high school and when I needed a jersey to wear to school on Fridays, Ralph was nice enough to let me wear his. He visited Kent State while I was there once to look at the football team and campus but decided against attending. He joined the Marine Corps and we spoke through emails every now and then just to see how the other was doing. Life went on and our paths finally crossed again in 2008 when Colleen invited me to their families yearly 4th of July party. Ralph was home on leave from Iraq and I just moved back to Cincinnati. This time when we saw each other things seemed a little different and the rest is history. In December 2011 we were engaged, July 2012 we were married, April 2013 we bought our first house and March 2014 we had our first child, Braxten! Each year has been more blessed than the last and we are so excited to see where our future takes us!

Sunday, January 31, 2016

PJ day at home!

A fun pajama day at home! B was a wonderful entertaining big brother today! He loves his sister and she thinks he is the coolest thing in the world! You know Mom has her camera out all the time if the babies smile the second they see it, unless I want an actual good picture of all of us.                                                                                                                                           
There is not a day that goes by that these two don't have us laughing and shaking our heads at the goofy things they do!                                     
We love you monsters!!!











Sunday, January 24, 2016

Jan 5th - B at gymnastics

Braxten loves gymnastics and is starting to listen a little better with each class. Starting out with open gym was great to release energy but it definitely started a bad habit for the actual classes. He is finally beginning to try more activities than just the trampoline, balls and running like a crazy man! He climbed the mat hill (because Mommy put a ball at the top), slid into the pit, walked across a beam, jumped on the trampoline and helped Miss Jess with the bubbles. He loved catching and popping the bubbles and when it was time to go under the parachute, he though he should help Miss Jess with the bubble machine. Such a good helper - or is beginning some control issues haha. Thank goodness for spending some serious energy on Tuesday mornings!!!















Adult afternoon!

We have the best neighbor, Peyton, that came to watch the kiddos so we could have an afternoon away watching football! It was so much fun and seriously needed! We may not get out as much with just each other but we have more fun together than ever!!! 






Kane is 8 Months!!!

Sweet Baby Kane is 8 months old and time continues to fly by! She is rolling like a crazy in her crib and sleeps with a ball and a bear that Daddy gave her. She can entertain herself in there for 30-45 minutes after she wakes up which is wonderful. She loves her food and her bottle still. She screams at the top of her lungs just to hear her voice and smiles throughout most of the day. She still has 2 teeth and it doesn't look like more are pushing through. She loves her sleep and her brother even more! We aren't crawling yet but she is up on all fours just waiting for the right time. All of these pictures look so much alike but I love them all and couldn't chose. She liked to hold and eat the sign this month also dropping it over the edge and looking for it. She is an observant little girl!!!









               Kane's schedule:
7:30 wake up and eats a 7oz bottle
10:00 goes down for a nap that has been lasting 2 hours!!!
12 wakes up and eats baby food
1:00 eats a 4-6 oz bottle
2:30 goes down for a second nap for average nap of 1.5 hours
4:00 wakes up for more baby food
5:00 a 4-6 oz bottle
6-6:30 goes down for one more cat nap of 45 minutes (most nights)
7:00 wakes up happy and ready to play
7:45 another 6 oz bottle of milk
8:00 off to dream land until the next morning!!!



Friday, January 22, 2016

New Years Eve...Welcome 2016!

New Years Eve was spent with the best of friends at Kelli and Eric's - 6 adults and 10 kids!!! Every 30 minutes there was a new fun activity hidden in a balloon including decorating cookies, taking pictures, eating pizza, playing hide and seek and so much more! The kids has so much fun but I think the adults loved being all together even more. We were at home by 7:30 due to crashing kiddos but it was really a great night. Kane has learned how to stand (not stand on her own but stands once you put her there). She loves the trampoline just like B. New Years day was spent with Missi and Pop because we both worked - they played and watched football of course. Kane is officially 8 months old today but her monthly pictures will be posted later. Welcome to 2016!!!




















Christmas Day!!


Christmas was magical! It was Kane's first one and Braxten had more fun than ever! Kane had no idea what was going on but loved to stare at the tree, the lights and the activity. Braxten loved seeing Daddy early in the morning after work, the bright colors, the trampoline and of course his Pop. Presents were open for a long time and seeing responses from B as anyone opened one was entertaining. He not only loved his own new toys but he also loved stealing everyone else's gifts and carrying them around. We knew he would love the trampoline and he did! About every 3 minutes he would run over and do a few jumps and then move on. We had a yummy breakfast and then headed to Missi and Pop's. We played all day, and in the miracle of christmas, everyone got a nap - Everyone! We had an amazing steak dinner and came home tired and ready for bed. A day for of family and blessings - couldn't have asked for anything more!!!