What a perfect day!

Today started out with Benjamin letting us sleep until 8:20! It was wonderful! We woke up, had some coffee, watched the Today show and waited for Noah to get home so the Christmas festivities could start. Once Noah got home we opened gifts, the kids had a blast! This year was scaled back compared to most years, but we got the kids things they really wanted and it was so much fun to see their faces! I love giving gifts, it is my love language and I love the feeling I get when someone is so excited that they just shriek in glee! There were lots of gleeful giggles in my house today and it was music to my ears.

My favorite thing today was being with my husband and boys for the whole day, playing with their new toys, eating homemade doughnuts, and just relaxing and laughing with each other. This is only the second time in my life that I have not spent Christmas Day at my parents house, and even though I am sad that I missed that tradition, it was such a precious gift to me to be here in my own home, with my sweet family on Christmas Day!

My second favorite part of the day was because of these little beauties!
These are the best things ever!!!!! Oh my gosh, they are the coziest cutest slippers I have ever owned! Chad bought them for me at Bath and Body and I love them so much! Aren't they precious? They make my heart so happy and my feet too! Although, my disgusting pregnant feet and legs are so swollen, so its a good thing these sweet little lambies cover up my swollen hippo feet.

Noah received a set of golf clubs and a bag from Santa, he has been carrying them around the house all day. Poor kid, we live in Kansas and he won't get to use them outside for quite sometime, its killing him.

Well, we are off to see a movie and then to drive around looking at Christmas lights! Everyone have a wonderful Christmas night!

Prayer group

For the past 3 1/2 years I have been honored to be a part of the best prayer group ever! God picked us to be together at a Women's Retreat almost four years ago and we have been meeting every month for at least 4 hours each time since then. God is so amazing in the way He has put the 5 of us together and how we have been there for each other, praying, listening, laughing and of course eating! This year we had our Christmas at our sweet Tonya's. She made us her fabulous potato soup and also the Amish Friendship Bread showed up, which was really good, it made me sad that my started didn't work out. I digress. Anyway, Tonya was an awesome host and we had a wonderful time. I love being around these girls, they are such a fun bunch and we are all so different, we each bring something unique to the group.

Here we are. Tonya, Jean, Me, and Marcy, our sweet Cindy is taking the picture, it would have been nice to get us all together, but we were too hungry to try to figure out the timer thing on my camera!

We all draw names to decided who buys who a gift. Jean is our practical girl and is not into the whole "presentation" of a gift. You need to read her blog to fully appreciate this statement. Its hilarious. Anyway, here she is trying to put some last minute touches on Marcy's gift while Marcy is in the bathroom!This is Marcy, and she is the sweetest thing ever! Jean bought her this super cute scarf and some precios votive holders.

Tonya had Jean's name and made her an awesome plaque with Jean's last name and some other great words describing her and her family, it was very cool. She also gave her a gift certificate to have one of our friends who cleans come clean her house. What a great gift!

This is Tonya. Isn't she cute, I just love her! Cindy got her some great photo coasters and in each one was a gift card to some of Tonya's favorite places. What a awesome gift!
This is our darling Cindy. I love this girl, I had her name and I love buying Cindy gift, gift giving and receiving gifts is Cindy and I's love language, so it is twice the fun buying for her! I got her some custom made coffee, a snowman mug, some cozy socks, and a reed difuser.

Marcy had my name and bought me a beautiful red calble knit sweater, I am so sad I can't wear it yet, the baby has to come out first!!!!

So, those are some of the most precious women I know, I love them all like they were my own flesh and blood sisters. Thank you Jesus for blessing my life with them! Merry Christmas Girls!

Why I'm Not Amish

Ten days ago my wonderful friend Tonya brought me a starter for some Amish Friendship bread. It is this very cool thing where a friend who loves you brings you this bag filled with this yeasty gooey mixture and a page of instructions telling you what to do to the bag of stuff everyday. Mind you, the instructions are carefully written out for each day. Most people could follow along with ease. Not me.

The intriguing thing is, apparently the Amish are the only ones who know how to make the starter from scratch. Per the instructions you are supposed to end up with 4 more starters and enough batter to make 2 loaves of bread once you correctly follow the instructions. If you give all the starters away, you can't make the bread again until someone loves you enough to give you another one.

Well, let's just say I would not cut it as an Amish woman. I managed to follow the instructions the first 5 days. They were really hard, I had to mash the bag. I had that down. Even though I kept having to ask Chad what day I was on. Then came day 6, on day 6 you get to add stuff to the bag! But I read day ten instead and added too much of the stuff, but it still wasn't ruined. I decided to keep mashing the bag and then on day 10 I would add the stuff that I was supposed to add on day 6 and all would be saved, right? Wrong.

Day 10 came and day 10 went, and I did not add the stuff. So, basically my Amish friendship bread is trashed. I will never be Amish, I just don't have what it takes.

I hope this only attests to how poopy my memory is, not my ability to be a good friend, because I am a pretty good friend, just not a good Amish woman. Thanks anyway for thinking of me Tonya, love you sister! Maybe I can come over and taste your bread since mine was not meant to be!

7 Wonderful years.

Noah Hall Lundy

He is about 3 in this picture, it was also the last time he wore overalls!

Seven years. Its been 7 whole years since my entire life changed. Those of you who knew me before can attest that I am an entirely different person because of the sweet little boy that came into my life 7 years ago. When I found out I was pregnant with Noah I was 26 years old, single, and living life all for myself. God had some drastic plans for me, He used Noah to save me, He used Noah to teach me selflessness, He used Noah to show me what unconditional love is. God gave me this precious gift, this little life that was mine to look after and care for, and I can't thank Him enough! Being Noah's mom has been the best experience ever! We have been through so much in these short 7 years, and I know there is so much more to come, but even through all the trials and hardships of being a single mom and having to deal with all the other things, I wouldn't trade it for anything!


Noah is funny, loud, and very energetic. He can drive you mad with all of his questions and his constant need to talk ALL THE TIME! He loves his friends and is incredibly faithful to each of them. He is an awesome athlete and he is very smart. He loves math, science, history, and go figure, handwriting! He has the most tender heart, but doesn't let very many people see that side of him. He will cry for a hurt animal or when his little brother gets hurt. He wants to please, and loves to help out, especially his dad. Anytime Chad is doing something "manly" Noah wants to be right there handing him a hammer or helping in anyway he can! But, he loves, loves, loves his mama. He and I have a very special bond. It was just the two of us for almost the first 4 years of Noah's life. Chad and I were married right before Noah turned 4. I wish I had some of his baby pictures on the computer, but that was before I had a digital camera. He was the sweetest baby. I remember the day I came home with him. All I wanted to do was just hold him and stare at him, he was so beautiful and so perfect.


Over the years Noah has changed so much, emotionally and physically. He also has developed quite a love for Jesus. I am so thankful for the way the Lord has gotten a hold of Noah's heart this year. I hear Noah say things that I never thought I would hear. He prays on his own, he asks us to pray for him, he prays for others. What a blessing this boy is!

Happy Birthday my wonderful son! I love you and am so glad you are my boy!

At the pumpkin patch - 3 years old.

Getting ready to take his mama out on a date - 5 years old - We went to Red Lobster that day, my favorite!What a cutie!

What form! He is such a great baseball player!

Lovin his mama again!

Did I mention he also loves bugs???

And snow?He's also absolutely adorable!!!!

My First Ever Spray Paint Project!

I never would have thought I could fall in love with spray paint. I've always thought of gross graffiti and gang signs when spray paint was mentioned. But two wonderful ladies have opened my eyes and I have seen the light! Kimba at A Soft Place to Land and Joy at Joys of Home are both spray painting geniuses or geni, what is the plural of genius anyway? Anyhoo, they have transformed some pretty ugly looking stuff into beautiful home decor, please check them out, they are both awesome, I promise you'll be inspired to go buy a can of spray paint and make something around your house fabulous!


I've had these Home Interior picture frames for years. I decided it was time to spruce them up a bit. Soooooooo........
They became this......

And this.........
And this! The picture does not do it justice. I found some of my favorite pics of Chad and I and the boys and had made them into black and whites and mounted them in my new and improved picture frames. Then I hung them on a plate rack that I wasn't using anywhere. Once I get some paint on that yucky white wall, it will be perfect! Ahhhhh, sweet spray painting bliss.

My 1st Mantle

I thought I would throw in a picture of my mantle too. Now, I know it is nothing like Nester's mantle, but in my defense it is my 1st mantle ever, and I am a mantle decorating virgin. I am sure I will give it a more Nester like touch next year! Again, its a horrible picture, it really looks pretty in real life!

ATTENTION: Eating junk food helps you lose weight!

Do I have your attention? Well, let me just explain. Today I had a doctors appointment, I am going every week now, since Ella will be born in 3 weeks and 5 days. But whose counting? Anyway, I dread the part of the appointment where you have to get on the scale to see how big your butt has become. I have a mirror at home, I don't need to see the numbers! I took off my coat, stepped out of my shoes, I almost thought about taking my sweater off, because it was a heavy one, but decided against it, and stepped onto the scale. It creaked and moaned, (I am not kidding, it actually creaked) as I hefted my self upon it. The nurse set it to a certain weight, it didn't even budge, she pushed it to the right some more, nothing, then she moved the bigger weight thingy and it finally started to balance. The whole time I'm thinking maybe I should have peed before I got on, that's what I always did at weight watchers, it was always good for a few ounces. Anyway, the nurse looks at me and says just 1.5 lb gain. I say "oh goody".
Now let me just say that I was pretty good when I was pregnant with my boys, I ate really well, took my prenatals like a champ and drank lots of water. Not with this one. Let's just say with this baby I have been really bad! If you owned stock in McDonalds the past 8 months you've probably experienced a windfall because of me! Ok, it might not be that bad, but I have consumed a bunch of crappy food, so when the doctor came in and told me that I had only gained 17lbs this pregnancy and that it meant I actually lost some weight during the pregnancy I got pretty darned excited! Does that mean I can keep eating the junk after the baby comes??? I don't think I'll chance it, my butt still looks pretty chunky, weight loss or not!

Do I look like I've lost weight, I don't think so! Crazy doctor!


So, all in all today was a pretty good day. I actually got to see the doctor for a few minutes today, I managed to take a nap, and a friend of my sister-in-law let me come over to her house tonight and "shop" through her baby girl clothes. I got some great stuff. It is so fun to buy pink pretty little outfits, boy clothes just aren't as fun!

And lastly, my sweet and talented friend Tonya, nominated me for my 1st blog award, and I am so excited. I will try to get it posted on here tomorrow, if all goes well. In the meantime, check Tonya out at More than Enough http://tkmcdaniel.blogspot.com/ , she's awesome!

Nothing in particular...

I have nothing exciting to share with everyone. I just haven't put up a new post in a looooonnnnggg time!

We have 4 more weeks until Ella is here, and boy am I ready! I have really tried to relish this pregnancy since it will be my last one, but lately I have just been wishing it was all over. I have been incredibly uncomfortable and utterly exhausted, which makes sense, considering that my 18 month old is a terror! He has got to be one of the naughtiest children I have ever met. I tried to clean Noah's room today, but everything I picked up, Benjamin took out, took apart, or stomped on. I gave up and will try again when Chad gets home tonight! We also are putting up our Christmas tree tonight, so maybe that will generate another post, one a little more interesting than this one, and it might have pretty pictures too! Until then my friends......

I am not ready!

Benjamin Elijah Graber








Daddy, Noah, and Benjamin






In 48 days I am having another baby. Am I ready? Not even a little bit. It seems like just the other day Benjamin was born. I was ready for him, his nursery was painted, I had all his clothes, all the necessary baby things that were needed. Do I have anything ready for Ella? Nope, nothing, nada!
I managed to keep my life pretty together when I was the mother of one. The house was almost always clean, laundry was usually done on a daily basis and meals were planned and eaten almost every night. As the mother of 2, I started to lose some control of the tightly ran ship! Clothes are washed daily, just not always put away. My house is not cleaned as much as I would like, and sometimes we eat whatever we can find.
My question to those of you who are mothers of 3 or more is this. How on earth do you do it? I am soooooo not ready, and sooooooo scared! I keep envisioning myself with this little sweet girl baby in my arms, and all hell breaking loose around me because I can't give enough of myself to Benjamin and Noah! I can't even begin to imagine what my already messy house will look like and how I am ever going to cook a meal for my family, let alone do laundry! It all makes me want to cry and wonder what were we thinking????
So, if any of you wise mamas out there want to share, please by all means, I am all ears! I need all the advice I can get!

Starbucks gift card giveaway!

At Mom's Marbles they are giving away a free $10 Starbucks gift card. Check out her awesome website and get signed up for the giveaway! http://www.momsmarbles.com/

Good Luck!

One spooky vampire, one little pumpkin, and two free buriitos.

Noah kind of freaked me out this year when he told me he wanted to be a vampire. I didn't even know he knew what one was, since I do not allow him to see anything scary! But, that is what he wanted and I do have to say, he looked pretty cool!
Halloween is not a real big deal for us, we usually try to go to a Trunk or Treat at a church or just go to friends houses, but this year since we live in a great neighborhood, we decided to go door to door. Here is how the evening went.

My little pumpkin!

4:30pm - Chad gets home, we hurry up and get the kids dressed, and take pictures of them on the steps, I almost pass out because Benjamin will not sit, and almost nose dives off the steps, like 20 times.
5:00pm - We arrive at our dear friend Cindy's house, she is dressed as a super cool hippy chick! She looks awesome and of course showers us with yummy coffee cake, popcorn, apple juice, coffee, and all sorts of great treats for the kids!

My kids adore Cindy, although Benjamin was not to sure about Hippy Chic Cindy!
Watch out Cindy, don't get bit! He loves suckers!
Just chillin' at Cindy's

5:45pm - After leaving Cindy's we head for Grandpa's, Noah is driving us crazy about trick or treating, and so we try some houses in Dad's neighborhood, no one is home, do people not know its Halloween? My kids are bursting to shout "trick or treat". At least Noah is.
Grandpa and his boys!

We walked up and down the street, but no one was home. One guy told us he wasn't open!


6:00pm - We head to Noah's dad's, but make a quick stop at McDonald's, so Noah can have some dinner, did I say quick? What I meant to say was excruciatingly SLLOOOOOWWWWWW. We sat in the drive thru for 20 minutes, finally we just left. Luckily Noah's step mom ordered pizza, I kissed Noah goodbye, told him to have a fabulous time, and off Chad, Benjamin and I went to find some kind of food, we were all starving. Here is how the conversation between me and my husband went.

7:00pm

Chad - Where can we eat?
Me - Well, McDonald's is cheap.
Chad - Where else is cheap, I don't want McDonald's.
Me - I don't want it either, but its the only place where we can eat for a buck a piece!
Chad - What about Arby's?
Me - Arby's is fine.
Me - Taco Bell has a good value menu.
Me - Are we going to Taco Bell?
Chad - I guess we are. I'd rather go to Chipotle.
Long pause.......................................
Me - Then let's go to Chipotle, I have some cleaning money that we can use.

So, we pull into Chipotle, get out and are walking into the store when this guy comes up to us and asks if we have our foil. What???? I thought he was crazy or drunk or something. But then I look at everyone in the Chipotle and they all have foil on or are wrapped up in it. Then some guy hand me a tie made out of foil and Chad a foil hat. Apparently they are giving free food to anyone with foil. Praise God, free food! How cool is that? Two burritos and tacos for the bambino and they were all free! I love it!

7:30pm - Trick or treating in the neighborhood and meeting out awesome wonderful neighbors!

8:00pm - Benjamin tastes his first chocolate candy bar.


Benjamin and all his loot!
Benjamin's 1st kit kat, it was love at first bite!
9:30pm, Noah's dad brings him home, with more candy than I care to think about.
I get Noah in the tub, scrub the vampire blood off, and get him to bed.

11:00pm - Chad and I fall into bed, exhausted, but so blessed.

The next morning we had a garage sale, why do we punish ourselves so?