Word on the street is...

...Max's world is going to be rocked come early summer! We're pregnant with not just one baby, but TWINS!!! I had an ultrasound today and we saw and heard the heartbeats and the doctor said the babies are measuring just perfectly. We really are excited, but I must admit that I still can't totally wrap my head around it. I would appreciate your prayers for a healthy pregnancy because, as most of you know, twins can cause some complications and I obviously have a history of premature labor. So, blog prayer warriors UNITE!

I have been feeling pretty crummy the past few weeks - no throwing up but sure wishing I could! I'm only 7 weeks along and I'm trying not to think about the fact that I could be feeling like this for another 2 months. Think positive, Jennifer, think positive.

We haven't told Max yet, but probably will over the next few days. I honestly don't think he's going to understand it all. I mean, mommy has had that tummy for the past year and he's never seen a brother or sister come out of there! :)

Oh, I guess I'm going to have to rename my blog so these two new little monkeys won't feel left out...any suggestions???

Karate kid

Max started karate last week and let's just say that it's not his most favorite thing in the world. I think it's because he knows nothing about it and because it's such a structured environment. Actually, I think I may get more stressed about it than he does because I'm not able to discipline him when he's laying on the ground, blowing air in another kid's face, jumping around, etc. - that's left to Master Scota who makes them do pushups if they don't behave. But, I think it will be good for him and help him focus when in larger groups. He's good when you're working with him one-on-one, but he's easily distracted when other children are around.

Regardless, he still looks pretty darn cute in his uniform!

We voted!

Don, Max and I exercised our constitutional right and VOTED! We stood in line for about 1 1/2 hours...now the REAL waiting begins!

Well, my man didn't win. But I will support our new president-elect and do what the liberals/democrats have done for the past 8 years...criticize every single thing he does for the next 4! :)) Go get 'em Barack...CHANGE the world...PROVE ME WRONG!!!

Happy 5th Birthday Max!

My sweet boy turns 5 today. How can this be? It seems like just yesterday that we were celebrating his 1st birthday. He is such a good sweet boy and is truly my little miracle. I have been working on writing down his birth story, but just have not had time to finish it yet. Unfortunately, it wasn't a very simple birth experience (who's is, right?) so it's turning into a novel. When I post it you have my permission to skip right over it.

We celebrated Max's birthday last night with family - my parents and my sister and her family. Don's dad came into town late last night so we will have another mini-celebration tonight. This is the 3rd year Max has had a Thomas themed birthday party and the 3rd year I've used some of the same decorations...this boy of mine LOVES trains!

Busy, busy weekend!

This was a busy, but FUN weekend!

Friday night the girls from my SS class had a sleepover at our SS teacher's house. I ended up coming home about midnight because I had to get up early the next morning, but it was a lot of fun and we found out A LOT of interesting information about some of these girls (not me, of course, I have no skeletons in my past). Have you ever played the "I've Never..." game? It's where each person is given the same amount of toothpicks and then you go around the room and each person has to say something they've never done. If you've never done what the person said then you keep your toothpick. If you have done it then you have to throw your toothpick into the middle of the group. The object of the game is to be the most innocent person there and have the most toothpicks left...needless to say, I have never won this game. We played this at another SS party and it's definitely an ice breaker....you're just not as intimidated to be around certain people when you know they've been to jail! HA HA

Here we are in our pj's and sweatpants...my kind of party!

After not getting in bed until 1:00, I then managed to get my sister, Shari, and myself downtown by 7:00 so that she could run the 1/2 marathon with my other sister, Andrea - did you get all that? Shari and Andrea did GREAT!!! I, of course, was not able to run the race due to being designated the family photographer for the day.

Bright eyed and bushy tailed...before 13.1 miles!This was about mile 4...Andrea was still smiling!And Shari is still smiling too!After the race...STILL bright eyed and bushy tailed after 13.1 miles!The athletes and their cheering team!!

After being downtown at the race all morning, we then headed to a birthday party for Max's friends, Maddie and Bennett. Max had a blast jumping and sliding on the inflatable slide. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures, but trust me, he had fun!

Sunday morning we went to church then went over to my mom's for a great Sunday lunch. Shari and Eric were leaving that afternoon so mom sent them away on a stomach full of roast beef and gravy...yum!

Then on Sunday afternoon we headed over to our church's fall festival. Andrea and the kids tagged along and I'm pretty sure the kids had a good time - Clay even won a cake in the cake walk! Max wore his "fighter fighter" costume and looked pretty darn cute if I do say so myself.
I think this picture is so cute of the boys! Check out Lily in the purple shirt!Max needed to get a few more germs on his hands before he ate his hot dog...nice.Check out Max striking a pose with his neighborhood friends. As you can see he gently placed his hand in the small of Shaler's back...such a gentleman!

One more thing, PLEASE PRAY for the family of sweet Monica Pryor who battled cancer for the past few years and passed away this morning. She leaves behind a husband and three young children. I went to Bob Jones with Monica and then we were in the same Bible study last year. She had an amazing attitude about her illness and I firmly believe it was because of her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. You can click HERE to see her CaringBridge site...what a sweet post from her dad announcing that Monica had gone to heaven!

Ahhhh....

Our little excursion was so much fun and it was absolutely beautiful up in the mountains of North Carolina. The weather was perfect - 40's at night and in the 60's during the day. I think we may just have to make this an annual event!

Don and Max checking out the views or maybe a plane was flying over, I don't know.The favorite part of the trip...Max's CUBBY!!! He loved sleeping in this...I mean, what child wouldn't?!?Sitting out on the porchMax making his way to our cabin.Dinner on Sunday night...notice who's doing the talking...my FBIL, Eric.Aunt Shari and MaxMax is pretending to be asleep.The pool water was so warm...almost hot. Unfortunately, I left my thong bikini at home and couldn't get in.Eric and Sondra, my sister Shari's friend.Going on our hike to the "remote cabin." The views were so pretty!
Finally made it to the "remote cabin" and look what we found...a gun to protect us from all the bears. That's my boy...future NRA member!We went on a golf cart ride around the beautiful course. This is Don and Max in their golf cart. I rode with my sister, Shari, and I kept thinking we were on our way to a fire. That girl needs to compete in NASCAR!Check out this view!!Nice smile, FBIL.This really wasn't a posed picture, but I think it's kind of sweet.
Now, it's back to reality!!!

Livin' the good life!

We are leaving this afternoon for the mountains and this is the cabin we'll be staying in for a few days.These are the towels warmers I will gently pull my towel off of as I'm getting out of the shower.And this boarding house is where Don, Max and I will be eating our meals, going in for fresh cookies and coffee throughout the day, and sitting by the beautiful fireplace......or maybe we'll eat a few meals out here.This is the golf course that Don will be playing a round of golf on...and this is also the course that will most likely leave him a very frustrated man.
Okay, I must admit that the only reason we're able to go to this place is because my sister, Shari, and her husband own property at Balsam Mountain. They are here from Texas and will be staying at Balsam the entire week, but we will only be staying for a few days. We went last year around this time and it was absolutely beautiful...everything is so rustic but also so plush which gives you the best of both worlds. Max is making the trek with us this year and every morning when he gets up he asks if this is the day we're going to the mountains...he's so excited and so am I. I have been looking forward to this mini-vacation for several months now because a relaxing vacation for me is cool weather, beautiful fall leaves, fun with my family and, last but not least, great food!

I've got my trusty ole' boots packed...let's hit the road!!!


P.S. A big Happy Birthday to my friend, Kayla, who today is SO much older than me!!! Let me know how 38 feels, okay? :)

P.S.S. My friend, Dolly, had her sweet baby boy yesterday - Michael Leland Seckman II. Congratulations Dolly and Leland...he sure is a cutie pie!