Loves of my life ... a recap from 2010.

Sometimes you just have to take a look around you and marvel in the STUNNING BEAUTY of the gifts you've been given. It's moments like this that make all the hectic days, all of the crazy nights and all of the moments of anguish just come crashing down into a meltdown of the most beautiful tears you've ever cried. Happy tears, of course. I mean, really. Look at this! How can you not just fall head over heels in love with all 3 of them.

It's only been about 2 years since my last blog, so I figured now would be a good place to pick up where I left off. I was doing good for about 2 days. Then life happened.

So, here's a short recap of the last 2 years.

2010 Summer

Lot's of mountain bike racing. Joe did pretty good and thoroughly enjoyed himself. Soren and I tagged along and had a BLAST! I got dreads in my hair. That was fun. It lasted about 4 months and out they came. I was too impatient to let them really take hold. We decided it was a good idea to put an addition on the house. We got about 6 weeks into it, when I found out number two was on the way. We were super excited and the remodel got put on hold.

2010 Winter

I don't remember. Soren turned one. Um.... Must not have been that great of a winter.



2011 Summer

More stellar mountain bike racing. Joe did AWESOME. He took 2nd place overall in the WORS citizen category. I learned how to sew. And I'm lovin it.

August 9, 2011. I woke up, called Mugga to come get Soren and woke up Joe. We headed off the the baby store and bought us an Aly Kate.  Many people have wondered where we got her name from and why it's so "normal." Well, we didn't actually have a name picked out for her at all until about 3 hours after she was born. We talked about Alyson for a long time, but never settled on it because there were names I liked better. However, we decided after getting to know her that she was an Alyson. Alyson is actually Joe's mom's middle name. We both thought it was a beautiful name but were hesitant to use it because a friend of ours had a baby earlier in the year and named her Alison. We did decide to go with it but I insisted that we spell it different. I have always wanted Kate as a middle name because of my Grandma. So ... Aly Kate it is. Her name was supposed to be Grace Kathryn, but that didn't work out so she will forever be my Aly Kate. I love her and her red hair. She has the most contagious smile you will ever see! Soren did great. He loves his yittle shisher.

2012 Winter

We also welcomed a nephew into our family. Aleksander Raymond Vanderpuy was born Sept. 25th to Tommy and Ruth.  Baby "Aks" as Soren calls him has become a daily visitor to our house. We get to spend every morning with him while Ruth works. It works out perfectly.  It's been a great winter.

And so on....


Looking very forward to doing a lot of biking this summer. Joe bought me my first road bike. I LOVE IT. We have spent many miles already together. Joe also got a new mountain bike for the first time in 13 years just yesterday. Which means I inherit his old one and the trails will welcome us with open arms all summer long.  Aly is almost walking and Soren is becoming more independent every day. We can't wait to see what the summer will bring.

And yes, there will be more babies.

We'll be sure to keep you posted on the progress.

Absence....

What a beautiful weekend. The weather, the atmosphere, the friends, the family. I love my life. I feel so blessed right now that I have the ability to enjoy what matters most to me. Thank you Jesus. Friday Joe left for Michigan and Soren and I hung out the rest of the day and took Cayman for a long walk. I had to work so Goo went by Gma V for the evening. Saturday morning Goo went by Gma P and stayed all day. I cleaned the house from top to bottom, it was wonderful. I went over to Mom and Dad's for dinner and visited with them for a while. They thoroughly enjoyed their Grandson, who is now 8 MONTHS OLD by the way. It was a great evening. I wanted to blog last night but our shared internet wasn't working. That needs to change. We don't have a TV, and I'm fine with that - I love it... but the internet... I can't live without. Ooh, did I just say that? Maybe we'll have to give it a try. I bet I would get a lot more done around the house! Saturday night I just watched my baby sleep and headed to bed early for once. That never happens. Joe and I always say we're going to go to bed early but we end up sitting up talking until the wee hours of the morning. We can sleep when we're dead, right? This morning I got up and walked to the gas station with Goo to get a press and a coffee. It was hot. I wore a sweatshirt. Dumb. It was a beautiful walk, though! It was so quiet. Everything was so still. I need to do that more often. Especially since our coffee maker is broken. Now I'm at Mom and Dad's again. We just had dinner and Soren is having a super snuggle with Gpa. I was going to try and write something profound and super intellectual tonight, but now I'm just not feelin' it. I have to pick Joe up at the car ferry at 11:30, so I think I'm gonna head home and take a shower and see how far I get on the NY Times crossword. It's true what they say, absence does make the heart grow fonder. I can't wait for my Joey to come home. God bless until next time!

I can do better...

Ok.. so I missed a day or two.  I know! I'll do better. This Goo is keeping hims mommy busy. Great couple of days, though.  I had a friends daughter the past two days. She's 5 months old and just learned how to sit up all by herself! Love it. Tuesday I had Lauren here with me. What a great day. We just hung out, she mowed my lawn and I took her to cross country practice at 3. Veronica stopped, and I realize I couldn't even make coffee cuz the coffee maker is broken. What's wrong with me! I had off of work Tuesday night so I got to spend some much needed time with my boys. We went car shopping and made a nice dinner at home and just sat in the driveway and talked until we were both too tired to even sit up. It was great! I love those times when you feel so close the the ones you love the most. I so enjoy when we can sit and talk and feel like all the stress of the world is left in the world. Or at least at the box factory.  Wednesday I just hung out with Soren and Anna all day. We took a long walk and lots of naps. It was great. The house is a disaster, but I'm looking forward to Soren spending some quality time with Gramma on Saturday so I can go through the entire house and unclutter. I am realizing at this point how much I can live without. It's a lot. Not having a TV for 3 years speaks volumes, and it just continues on from there. Maybe someday I can give up the computer. Maybe not. :) Visited Jason this morning at his new place in Howards Grove and had some coffee and bakery and then came home to a miserable husband. His allergies are AWFUL today. Poor baby. He took a big nap at lunch and while he was sleeping so soundly on the couch, Goo and I decided we needed to have a snuggle. A two hour snuggle!  Now that I finally got the internet to work again, I felt I owed it to the world to continue what I said I would do. I don't even know if anyone is reading this, but at least it's a fun way to vent.  Off to work tonight and tomorrow Joe, Tom, and Ruth leave for Michigan. I have the entire weekend to myself.

Lovin all of the livin...

Ok... So we made it to day 2! Fantastic! Just laid the Goo down for a nap and I'm sitting out on the deck. What a beautiful day. I'm hoping this week will be much cooler. I worked on Goo again today - trying to teach him ma ma ma. He knows it, but not on cue. Next week Monday he'll be 8 months old. Still breastfeeding, although it's not his only source of nutrition. What a great feeling knowing that for the past 16 months I have been his main source of life (by the Grace of God, of course)! Without me and the Big Guy he wouldn't be alive. I really can't wait for #2 to be on the way. As much as I love Magoo, I feel like I have so much more love to give! Lauren is coming today, speaking of love. I'm looking forward to spending the day with her.

Lauren was here all day. I picked her up from Cross Country practice. She starts her freshmen year of high school on Tuesday. I can't believe she's all grown up! We went to the Funky Bean for lunch. She got a blueberry bagel with cream cheese and I got a caramel frappucino. We came home and Chrissy and Emily stopped by. We tagged along with them up to see Riley for a bit and then came home and hit up Wal-Mart for some groceries so I could make soup. She helped me make soup and Gramma V came to watch Goo while Joe was at work. I just got home from work and now Joe is awake so I'm gonna go visit with him. Later!

Da Da Da

Da Da Da Da... All the cool kids say it. So we thought we'd learn it this week too. It's Sunday afternoon. We just got back from the reforestation ramble in Green Bay at 1:30 and the boys quickly retreated to the backyard to scritch in the grass and I went to the Pig stop for a giant coffee and a Press. Goo and I took a bath together to cool off and Daddy laid in the sun for about 20 min. until he decided he needed a nap. Big race today - Joe took 8th out of 38 and picked up his medal for taking 2nd in the Super D at the Subaru Cup. We added a new member to the family today - Riley Allen Knier weighing in at 6 lbs 11 oz. Now Goo is in his pack n play da da daing away and I'm trying to "scritch" up the motivation to clean the nest. I'm going to try and see how long this journal lasts. I usually do really great for a couple of days and then forget about it. So here goes! Day 1 and counting....