Not much of anything

Well, I got my wish. We were really busy during June, so I told Dave that I do not want to go anywhere in July. I just want to stay home and enjoy our house! That is what happened and boy am I bored! I am just looking for things for Alex and I to do between naps just to get out of the house! So, that being said, there is not much to bring you up to date with. This is a picture from a picnic that Alex and I went on the other day.

So how about some mundane Pacheco facts.
1. Alex is officially allergic to Milk.
2. I have been unable to fall asleep until midnight for the past two nights
3. Dave played golf yesterday
4. Dave played golf today
5. Alex ate bits of carrots tonight for dinner.
6. I changed 4 diapers today
7. During Alex's morning nap, I cleaned bathrooms
8. Alex was asleep tonight by 7:10

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'

Dave here. Well, our son is rolling over like there's no tomorrow. In fact, he said to me the other day, "Dad, I just love rolling over." Okay, that last sentence isn't true, but if he could talk, I'm sure that's what he would say.

Well, we've been working out now for almost two weeks and I have already lost 62 pounds. They're literally falling off. I now weigh less than Esther, it's weird. :)

We had a crazy storm on Wednesday, with horizontal rain, a lighting display was akin to Chicago's Fourth of July show and some deep rumbling thunder. I have never driven in such heavy rain before. I had the wipers going full tilt and there times when I still just could not see.

I just wanted to get something on the blog so our faithful readers didn't think we had perished.

Just for a laugh

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for....

1. Alex is finally crawling and he is so cute when he crawls. He started about two weeks ago. After practicing for a few days, he is a pro!
2. A great husband who made a wonderful dinner tonight; steak on the grill, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and biscuits.
3. I am going to have a nephew (not to exclude Dave's nephew, Jack, because he is way cool). I never thought Alex would have a cousin on my side of the family.
4. The Rain. It is so great to see green grass!

Where does the time go?

This is what I looked like a year ago. The picture is with my mom and my mom's mom at a baby shower I had last July 3rd. In a month from yesterday, my son (who was inside me a year ago) will be a YEAR OLD! Unbelieveable! Ohhh how different my life was a year ago. Alex was contained nicely and cutely in my belly and now I can not keep him out of the cat food!

He is an amazing kid and a true gift from God!

Fighting the Fat!

Dave here. Normally Esther would be writing her "Thankful Thursday" column today, but there is a minor glitch to that happening this week. You see, since Tuesday, Esther has had a bad case of "liftedweightsforthefirsttimeinalongtime-itis", more commonly known as sore muscles. I don't think she's been out of bed since Tuesday.

We joined Core Fitness on Monday night and the race to emaciate is on! Okay, we won't take it that far. As my dad is fond of saying, "I'm going to be a lean, mean, teaching machine." (You can substitute "counseling" or "communicating" for "teaching" depending on if you're talking about Esther or me.)

Anyway, I swam on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and I lifted weights this morning. Esther dove right into a class on Tuesday morning called "Pump & Flex". My wife cannot climb a stair, laugh, or even walk for that matter without her whole body just aching. I laugh only because I've been there before and I will probably be there tomorrow morning, although I probably did not lift today as hard as she did in her class on Tuesday.

Core Fitness is so inexpensive compared to other gyms that we looked at and they have exactly what we need, including a hot tub! It really is a blessing that we can join a club and not bust our budget. Although our muscles are sore, in Esther's case it goes way beyond sore, it feels great to get back into workout mode.

Britains Got Talent - A Star Is Born

If you have not seen this...it is a must watch. It gives you "goosepimples"

It was great to have the 4th in the middle of the week. Gave us a little break, and we had Dave home for a day! I just wanted to share with you how Alex spend this 4th of July morning.

He sat there and watched Dave mow the back yard. He was a little fussy inside, so I went outside with him and he just sat there and watched. Every so often he would get excited and laugh and kick. It was really cute. I was able to got some things done inside while he just watched!

Dave and I had our friends, Sarah and Wille Bosque over for Ribs that night. They have a son, Jonathon, who is about 4 months older then Alex. They had so much fun just playing with each other. Ok, they really played next to each other, but it was fun to watch thim enjoy having each other around. Jonathon loved to share things with Alex. It was great to watch Alex recieve things from Jonathon and then just laugh! How fun it is to watch little kids get so excited when they see other little kids just like them. It is like they are saying "Yeah, I am not alone in this world full of big people!"

Say Cheese

Alex loves and camera and loves to smile for it. Our camera beeps when it is in focus. When Alex hears the beep, he turn and gives us this really cheesey smile!!! We love it!!!

7+1=Family

As you can see, there are only 7 people in this picture. So, who is this other family member. Well, it may be hard to believe but Baby Boy Robinson belongs to Joel and Lisa! Isn't that the coolest news!!! I think I am more excited then when I found out I was expecting!!!

No word on what his name but we will get to see him at the end of November. I can not wait to see Joel and Lisa as parents...how fun! They will be wonderful parents!!!

We went to Kentucky after our time in Akron to spend time as a family. We decided to spend a day at Natural Bridg State Park. My parents have talked about it alot and have made several trips there. Now I know why.....it was beautiful. But be prepared for a hike if you every go. There is no easy way up!!!

This is my son at the begining of the hike

And this is my son at the end of the hike

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.

Best Friends forever....

A good friend of mine sent me this picture of her two girls. Isn't it precious! Ohhh the memories these girls will make over their life together!!!

Thankful Thursday

I am Thankful for.....

1. My "new" living room furniture (I will blog about it later)
2. Doctors who figure out what is wrong with your child. Alex has been sick for the past two weeks. The first week, he did not have many symptoms except for not wanting to eat and being really crabby and clingy. When you are used to a laid back, content kid, it really wears you out!
3. That God has given me, yet another year of my life. For those who do not know, I turned 30 this past Friday! I think back at this past year...what a year!
4. Baby Monitors are great. I am very thankful to be able to sit here and listen to my son talk himself to sleep as I am typing this. I just smile and laugh when I hear him having fun!