Where have you been?

Oh wait a minute...it is been me that has been gone!!! I know, it has been a long time since I have updated our blog. I have not figured out why I have not been doing it. It could be that there is too much going on and therefore too much to write about or my writing creativity gets depleted and I just have nothing for a post. Whatever the reason...I am back again! So let me see...where did we leave off?

Two weekends ago, Dave, Alex and I headed to Akron for a "Robinson Family Reunion," or so my Grandma Robinson thought. Little did she know, her daughters had planned a surprise 80th birthday party for her. It was a great weekend.

Dave, Alex and I stayed with my Uncle Steve and Aunt Nancy (my mom's brother). They were very gracious to us...especially since I did not call them until Thursday before we left, to see if we could stay with them! Thank you Uncle Steve and Aunt Nancy!! It was great to hang out with them and their family; Ben and Joanna! I can't forget about Josh, for it would have been fun to hang out with him also...but alas he is living in Huntington Indiana. By the way, Congrats Josh on the new job!!

Anyways, at the actually birthday part, Alex had a blast with everyone and I had fun catching up with the family. I do not get to see all my cousins often, so it is always a good time.

Here is Alex with my cousins Halie and Nikki (can you tell they are sisters!)

My cousin Jonathon (3 years old) enjoying his piece of cake. He was so focused on each bit. It was hard to get the cake on this fork then to his mouth!!

This picture was taken as Jonathon was walking to his spot to eat his cake. Apparently he was not holding his plate very straight. Note that his mom (standing in the back in the orange)is laughing. This is a picture of my grandparents and all their children and spouses.

Meet Emma, she is my cousin Marianne's daughter (I am not sure what cousin that makes her to me, I always get confused!) She is 16 months and looks just like her Dad!
Well, that concludes that update for now...more later. Alex is awake and the store is calling us!!!

Great Pics

Dave was playing with the camera the other day and these pics are the product of that. I love my boys

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for....

1. Time out of the house. My fours hours of work each week plus an evening out with friends makes for a wonderful week

2. A wonderful weekend with my husband, childless, celebrating 5 wonderful years!!!

3. All the great help that Dave's mom received last weekend with Alex. Alex had so much fun with everyone!

4. Cheesy smiles! Alex has started to give big cheesy smiles full of gums and his four teeth.

5. Alex still has two solid naps a day! I treasure those few hours!

6. Garage sales. Today I was able to get Alex some great toys for just $20

It has been five years!

Marriage bliss!!! Dave and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary this weekend! Dave started planning this last year. I had no idea what he was up to until about a month ago. Being the great guy that he is...he decided to take me to Indy. We stayed in Indy our first night. He was able to get the same room we stayed in also! It was very romantic! So, on Friday we dropped Alex off at his parents house and drove down to Indy. Yes, you read that right. It was a weekend with no Alex. It was a little strange, yet very much needed. It was wonderful to just enjoy being with Dave and not have to think about feeding, naps and bedtime! We could go and do anything we wanted! It was just like life pre-kid! I would post pictures but half way to Dave's parents house, he remembered that we forgot the camera!! I told him we will have to do this in another 5 years so we can take pictures then. Thanks Dave and Dave's parents for such a wonderful weekend! Back to everyday life now!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for.....

1. Wheaton Academy! They are the reason we ended up here in Chicago. Because of them, Dave has a job he enjoys, we are a part of Crossroads Community Church, we have this great house, and ohhh the friends we have met!
2. All the rain we have received the last week. Things were looking really brown around here until the rains came.
3. Babies R US. They have everything you could need for a baby. One stop shopping!

Is it stealing?

I was out for my run this morning, and noticed a dresser and a trundle bed box springs out by the road. I will admit, I got a little excited. "Did I find a treasure that someone put out for the trash?" I stopped and opened all the drawers to see if they worked and they did! Then I walked around to see the outside condition of the dresser....and then I found it. A piece of paper, saying that if you leave items out to be donated, they will be picked up on Wednesday June 6th. I WAS SO BUMMED! It would have been stealing if I would have taken it, right???

I just checked, they are still sitting there!!! Ohhh what should it do???

I am not in this alone!

So often as a mom, I get so selfish about my own time and so consumed by what everyone thinks of me. Read Tuesday's entry on Beth's Moore's blog. It does my heart good sometimes to hear that I am not the only one who struggles!

Alexander and the Train

On Saturday, Dave and I witnessed our second class graduate from Wheaton Academy. We did get a little nervous, the ceremony was outside and the day called for thunderstorms. But, like always, it was a beautiful and sunny day! The sun was shinning throughout the ceremony and as soon as it was over, the sun hid behind clouds the rest of the day.
Don't you remember graduating from high school, so excited for what your future held; college, job, independence, future spouse, independence!

After graduation, Dave, Alex and I headed out for lunch. As we were walking out a train was coming down the tracks. Instead of just sitting in the car waiting for it to pass by, Dave decided to introduce Alex to a big train. Dave said Alex just watched, did not smile or cry, just observed the train going by.