Max had his first swim lesson of the year. He doesn't like water in his face and I've tried everything. this is his 3rd ever swim lesson and he is getting better. We got him some goggles a few weeks ago and let him play with them in the tub. I was surprised to see how he has really started to push himself to get over his fear and try putting his face in. At swim lessons we forgot the goggels and had to run out to the car to get them and run back. I'm so glad we did because I think they helped give him the confidence he needed to GO UNDER. The teacher did it with him and he hated it but he did it and didn't get upset or mad or anything. Then after swim class he wanted to go practice airplane with the two blue kick boards - so we did! He's doing great and it's only the first class!

Max missed his last school pict so I was determined he would get his photo take at school. I love love love this sweater on him but it took some convensing.

Max and Mommy day - was such a great morning!

First Ultrasound

March 30, 2012 I went to my first prenatal appointment last friday and got to hear the babies heartbeat. They are certain there is a baby in there! Thank goodness it's just one,not sure if we could handle twins. It was exciting to see the baby and hear the heartbeat and to hear that the baby was measuring the correct size and the heart beat is the correct speed. I was alone this time but thanks to the iphone I was able to video the ultrasound session and e-mail it to Ben and other family members. We were remmaniesing about Max's ultrasound and how we recorded it on one of those frames like you get at Halmark. Then we recorded it from the frame to the palm pilot and eventually Ben put it on a web page. We still have the frame with Max's little ultrasound photo in there. Sometimes I forget I'm pregnant. The day gets busy and I get busy and then I remember. I didn't believe it was going to happen - not sure why - just didn't. It doesn't mean much - I never thought I would graduate hight school just couldn't see it in my future but I did! I think that's why this baby making thing takes 9 months - need some time to get use to the idea! I hope it's a girl. I think the baby might be a girl but we don't know for sure. I keep finding myself saying She, her, etc. Ben does the same thing. Not Max he is unsure and a little unsure of how all this is going to effect him. He wasn't to know if we can do stuff together without the baby sometimes. Poor kid will have to give up 1/2 his room and 1/2 his toys to make room for her - i mean the baby :) So I have to make sure we don't make it a negative thing and try to keep it all very positive and include Max in some of the decisions about where she can sleep and keep her stuff. (see what I mean I can't help it she, her etc.) Also I need to pick up some books on big brothers if you know any good ones. I'll upload the ultrasound video asap. it's a bit long and we talk a little bit about some fibroid but you can stop it before it gets to that part. :D

So apparently this photo is a bit on the suttel side. Max is going to be a big brother! YEA!!! I am pregnant and due early November. Please keep the baby in your prayers as I'm not a young as I use to be. Although the Doctors say we have no reason to think anything bad would happen I as every mother am worried - it just comes with the job I guess. Next Dr.'s apt. is March 30th. and we are all very very excited!

Max's first flight

Oh Santa!

Well I guess Santa wanted Max to have a 4-wheeler. max loves it. To someone without kids this may just look like 5 photos of the same thing but it's so much more! Look at that tiny adorable face!

Christmas with the Johnson's

Another wonderful Christmas with the Johnson's and McCluskey's. Mike & Ron's attention to detail is amazing. Their home was decorated beautifully with tiny touches of Christmas cheer in unexpected places. Looking back thru the photos Ben took that day we noticed a few decor changes mid day! We also notice a whole lot of happy people! We got a lot of smiles in every photo. It's a good thing to notice - hey - we were really happy! So it was warmish you will notice Finn's bare feet. Also the picture Mema is so excited about is a tree made up of one handprint from each great grand child. I never realized her and Papa had 10! Happy Happy Christmas!

Elmer The Christmas Elf

We finally got our own Elf December 17th. We named him Elmer and he is a really good little elf. He doesn't get in to trouble like other peoples elfs. The most mess he has ever made was when he made a snow flake one night. I will miss him when Christmas if over but hopefully he will come back Dec. 17 2012.

We celebrated Christmas at Olive Garden with my parents and family Sat. Max was so good. and it was great to see family.

Some fun photos. We were just hanging out after dinner watching Star Wars. Max is all into his stuffed animals all of a sudden he has to have all of them with him all at once. So we did the ET thing. In the process his toy snake scared me and he said "we need to work on that" so he proceeded to desynstatize me from the snake by putting it in my hair.

Thanksgiving 2011

This year we have so much to be thankful for. We have seen our way out of a few jams, stayed very healthy and been able to fulfill all our needs and a few very fine wants. We both kept our jobs and our life insurance. We got to go to Disney World for an entire week! All of our family if doing wonderfully and thriving. There is so much love in our lives we can't possibly express it, it surrounds us like the air we breath. We are so thankful!

Max's First Trip to Disney!

Well is was great! We did and saw and experienced as much as we possibly could in a week. We had a lovely hotel room on the 10th floor overlooking Magic Kingdom so the first night we had a wonderful firework show and every other night after. I have never seen a fireworks show like that before WOW. Ben got some great photos of it we will share later.

The first full day we spent at Animal Kingdom. They opened extra early so we took advantage of the small crowd and did the safari ride first then DINOSAUR a little too scary for Max and me. Then we did A Bug's Life (super awesome)

Then we stood in line to see Goofy and get our photo, his son's name is Max too! Then we headed to the Lion King show. We were a bit early and the Cast member suggested to sit in the front row to the left and maybe Max would be picket to be in the show and sure enough it worked!!! He got to shake an instrument and walk all around the stage in a big conga line. I have some video of that somewhere to be added later.

Then back to our hotel for dinner at Chef Mickey's where we got to meet and get photos with Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy.

And that was just Sunday!

Took my new point and shoot I got for our Disney trip. Not too bad. Max took some of these shots. I'll put all of the on Flicker some time this year ;)

We were invited to a wonderful wedding this weekend in Bogart GA. My beautiful Nice Megan McNeil and her high school sweetheart Matt Hardy tied the love knot at the Thomas House and Gardens October 8. It was so nice to get dressed up and celebrate with family. The meal was so decadent and the wine was delicious and I got to dance with my husband my son and my dad! Very enjoyable!

We had some out of town family to join us too. Jeremy his wife Savannah and there daughter Skyla were there. Skyla is so lovely in her gown twirling on the dance floor. Her and Max get along really well. We went to the farm Sunday and played all day before they had to go back to Wisconsin.

I love my family!