so sweet!

These two are so close, it just makes me smile! Yesterday morning when they woke up, they both came running down the stairs laughing. I asked why they were laughing and they look at each other and said, "we were snuggling in Jack's bed together." They are awesome! We have a three bedroom house so Jackson and Mackie share a room together, and I really think it's brought them so much closer. This picture was taken this morning without them knowing, they were watching a big fat squirrel eating the bird food we put outside! I don't wish this time away for anything!

Christmas celebrations!

Tim's Aunt Pauline, Melanie, Jackson and Tim

Tim's parents with all their grandkids!

Tim's parents with our three kids!

The four generations in my family!

Mackie and Anthony, Anthony kept calling her dress up girl :)

My brother, sister and I!

We always have a big dinner at my Aunt Kathy's and Uncle Jim's and they always spoil the kids with really nice gifts!

Here are the three two year old's on my side.

I just decided to post a bunch of pictures of the Christmas season! Wow, are we blessed with amazing family! This year Tim even loaded ME up with presents. We have watched every penny for quite some time and now with Tim's new job (thank God), we decided to celebrate a little bit and buy each other some really nice presents! Tim went to a little boutique in town and bought me a couple little trendy outfits and also bought me a bunch of work out clothes! Yes, I used the word trendy in my blog, I struggle as everyone knows! Anyway, Mackie's favorite gift was her gumball machine, Jack's were all his trains, and Cole liked all his baby toys too! I got Tim a new pair of shoes and a bunch of tools! The kids were so excited that Santa ate his cookies and that the reindeer only left a half of a carrot! Christmas is so fun with little kids! Merry Christmas!

One big happy family!

It's Christmas time and I have the best family in the world! I have three happy healthy kids, the best husband and the best extended family I could ask for! Cole's just trying to figure out what the heck he was born into (see the picure)! Ah, all the laughter and craziness in our life puts a smile on my face every day! I love it!

The best dinner ever!

With last week being so busy, I have really been searching the pantry and freezer trying to come up with enough ingredients to make a dinner. Well, finally things have settled down slightly and I was able to get to the store and plan some meals. I don't mean to toot my own horn (great phrase, isn't it?) but I think tonights dinner goes down as the best dinner I have ever made! It was awesome!! I love reading other blogs and getting dinner ideas, so I've got one and I'm sharing!

Mustard-Maple Pork Tenderloin (FOOD NETWORK)
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/eating-well/mustard-maple-pork-tenderloin-recipe/index.html

Along side the Pork Tenderloin was a recipe that I dared to try from my new fave blog, (it's my friend Trish's, and she makes some fantastic food)
http://feelingsaucy.blogspot.com/ which was Sauteed Brussels Sprouts with Lemon & Pistachios
When Tim opened up the refrigerator yesterday, he said, "BRUSSEL SPROUTS???" I certainly proved him wrong, they were fantastic!! I also added brown rice to go along side them!
It was a healthy and fabulous meal! Sorry about all the links, but we all ate so quickly I never got a picture. The kids ate it all too...okay, maybe not the brussel sprouts, but they inhaled the pork! Yum!

Grandpa Joe's in heaven, but his memories are much alive!

Grandpa Joe entered heaven on Friday night at age 91. He was ready to once again join his wife! Tim was a lot closer to his Grandpa than most people are with their's. Tim was given his lawn mower quite some time ago and used it to cut our lawn. Even though it looked like it was from the 50's and Tim had to go over it about 10 times literally to cut our lawn, it was his Grandpa's, and just didn't want to part with it. Tim's learned more from his Grandpa than anyone I've ever known and is often reminded of so many of those things. I'm often amazed at all the things that Tim can make, fix and do, and his Grandpa Joe is a very big reason for that (his dad too of course). When Tim and I were just dating, Grandpa Joe and his wife drove all the way to Troy (45 minutes) to come watch me play a soccer game. Although they probably didn't think much of it, I have always thought that was pretty unbelievable. He'll be really missed by so many, but what a wonderful life!

and she had another BOY!

My sister gave birth to a beautiful baby boy Dominic Edward on Friday, November 20th! This is not a very good picture, but he's gorgeous! She had another C-section as scheduled and it went as smooth as it could have. Tim came home for an hour so I could run up to the hospital when he was born. I came only with a pink bag and a pink outfit (maybe in hopes!) I was wrong, yet Jen was very prepared. They came home today and will finally face reality with three crazy boys :)

Tim has a new job!!

Yes, Tim started his new job last Monday and LOVES it! He's already had some successes and is loving having a focus at work. He's putting in pretty long hours including Saturday, but it's good for him and I haven't minded it at all. The kids miss him at home as do I, but it's so good for Tim and we're really proud of him! Yea for Tim!

SuperMEN...SuperGIRL

Halloween was very eventful to say the least! Jackson woke up from his nap throwing up which turned into nothing, thank God! Lots of prayers were said. Not sure if he ate something weird, or just had a little bug! Anyway, he felt great all evening and feels fine today! Cole just went for a ride and was so great as always! Mackie had a really unfortunate event that happened to her while Trick-or-Treating that I'm not going to go into detail with. She's fine and we're hoping for an uneventful Halloween next year. Everything happens for a reason, we are firm believers in that!

Half Marathon Champs!

On Sunday Tim and I ran the Detroit FreePress Half Marathon (13.1 miles). I'm actually going to take some time to brag about Tim and me! We rocked to put it lightly!! We both had goals in mind and absolutely destroyed our goal time! Tim wanted to be under 10 minute mile pace and I hoped to be under 9 minute mile pace. My time was 1:53:58 which was an 8:41 mile pace and Tim's time 2:04:39 which was a 9:31 mile pace. In my age bracket which was 30-34 I got 53rd out of 1156 people and Tim got 253 out of 858 people. I'd say we exceded our expectations and I must say, I am so so proud of my husband for running it and getting such a fantastic time. I got a little lightheaded at the end and ended up feeling pretty nauseous for quite some time, but I think I may have pushed myself a little too hard. Three people died and I happened to be right behind two of them (within a minute). I must say I just can't stop thinking and praying for the families and the three people that died. It sure puts things in perspective!

Lastly, Tim and I couldn't be any sorer!

Fall Pictures!

Cole 3 months

Mackenzie 3.5 years old

Jackson 2 years old

Laura and Jeff's wedding

Genevieve, Laura and I have been friends for 25 years! Unbelievable that we all still talk as often as we do after all these years. We've never lost contact for even a short time!

Laura and Jeff, childhood neighbors and now husband and wife!

Yeah for Tim and I getting a babysitter! It was sooo nice! We need to do it more often!

Apple Picking and Grandma Sandy's birthday!

We all went out to dinner to Italian Gardens to celebrate Grandma's birthday! Here she is with all her grandkids!

Apple picking is always a success, although there was a little scare that the wagon forgot us...he didn't!

This picture makes it seem like Jackson was quite the helper, but this may have been the only time I saw him with any apples.

Half marathon 3 weeks away!

Tim and I are running the Detroit half marathon on October 18th. He told me he would run with me before we had Cole, and well, I never dreamed he'd actually train for it. He has proven me wrong and is doing awesome! I ran just under 10 miles yesterday and averaged a 9 minute 12 second mile and Tim ran his today and average roughly about the same! We feel great minus a few sore knees and little aches and pains. We're following a training schedule and really haven't missed a day. It's so great to do it together, we really motivate each other and keeps us from being burnt out! Who's gonna win???

Mackie's first day of dance!

Mackie had her first day of dance last week! She really enjoyed herself and does awesome! All these little girls were crying and she just stares at them and yells, "Bye, Mom!" I'm not convinced that I'm a "DANCE MOM", but I'm loving her being in activities and enjoying all the kids!

Mackenzie 3 1/2, Jackson-2, Cole 2 months

I can't seem to flip this picture, but I think it's so cute of the three of them!

Mackie's such a huge help to me! She's the best little girl in the whole world! She's really grown up in the last month!

Our little Cole is getting so big! I just can't describe how much I love this little guy. He's an absolute blessing. He's just the best little baby to be around and so happy. He really responds to our voices!

Since Mackie's in school twice a week, Jackson and I really get some one on one time (yes, Cole is there, and just watches). I think it's so great for us! Jackson's always gone to Tim more than me, and I've really enjoyed our time together in the last few weeks. Let me tell you, we really pack in the activities while Mack's gone, just don't tell her that :)

Cole was taking a nap the other day, woke up and noticed Tim and me! I'd say he's doing a great job of holding his head up!

Our Mackie's in Preschool!

Here's Mack on the rug, where she sits when she gets to class!

Cole and Jackson while their sis is at school. Jackson really hams it up, huh?

Mackie after she found her bag hook before going in.

Here's Mack before going, we all helped her make her little tote that she had to have for school!

Mackie had her first day of Preschool on Tuesday and let me tell you, she was EXCITED! She was beside herself and did fantastic! She yelled, "BYE" as I was leaving and that was that! People asked if I cried, no way, she was so excited and I am just as excited for her. Now, when she goes every day, it may be a different story! Her first week was a success and she is so excited about all her new friends! Jackson, Cole are enjoying a little Mommy time to themself too!

Cole's Baptism

Jackson was lured with a little gum and finally stopped throwing a fit, so we actually got a picture with him. He loved walking back and forth during the actually baptism which was slightly stressful!

Cole's Godparents, Aunt Colleen (my brother's wife) and Uncle Remo (my sister's husband)

Cole was the best baby ever during the service, but once awoken got a little hungrey!

Jackson was currently throwing a fit, so he didn't make the picture.

We had about 30 people come over afterwards to celebrate the day with him. Tim and I couldn't be more thankful and blessed to have three healthy happy kids and we couldn't be prouder of them. It does amaze me on how unbelieveable babies are on their baptism. God watches over them and shows us he's hear with us!

Jackson's 2 years old

Jackson has entered the terrible twos!! Let me tell you, he has proven that statement correct in the last few days! We do have so much fun with him, but he likes to challenge us! We started Sunday morning by going Blueberry picking since blueberries are Jack's favorite. It was a blast, but we ended up getting rained on at the end. Tim and Jack stuck it out, while Mack, Cole and I waited in the car. We went up to Tim's parents afterwards for a hope of a lake day, and although it was cold, the kids still managed to go swimming! Monday was his actual birthday and we have started a family tradition of going to Red Robin to celebrate birthday's. They sang to him and gave him an ice cream sundae as well as a balloon, so he was loving it, or maybe it was all the sugar from the chocolate milk he was loving! Then to end the 3 day birthday extravaganza, we went to my parents to celebrate Jackson's birthday and my dad's (they're only a day apart)! He loved playing with all his cousins, but we are all exhausted from a busy 3 days! Thanks to everyone for all the generous gifts, our kids are blessed with so many friends and family!

On to Cole's baptism on Sunday! We're looking forward to celebrating a day for Cole! He's such a blessing and such a good baby. So, to Jack, Happy Birthday to my big big boy!!

Cole smiles!

Cole's been smiling for a little over a week now, but my mom was able to capture it Up North this weekend. We had a fabulous weekend with lots of beach time and just great weather.

kiddos

Cole is now 6 weeks and doing great! He's eating great and just a happy happy baby! We are certainly blessed to have such a wonderful baby! He sleeps like a typical 6 week old, but otherwise, he's just great! The bottom picture is on top of Monique's bed. Mackie talks about Monique's HIGH bed all the time. Emilia, Mack, and Jack all posed for me.