i can fly

Right now Nolan is into many things at one time which means they combine pretty often all of which he believes can fly.  See below his combination of characters.

 Jake, Superman, and his Mikey Mouse Pj's

 up up and away

his spiderman pj's most often come with 

a cape and often his cowboy boots

Jersey Day

Once in a while I can get the kids to wear something to celebrate both of our teams.  Although Gracie's is pink she is sporting a Chief's Jersey and Nolan is in Ohio State.  Just a fun Saturday at home.

a little something

Just a few favorites from the 2013 iPhone file

 my gracie girl relaxing on our way to Cincy

 Last wedding of 2013 with my friend Rachel

 My dad loving on his boys

 biggest stocking stuffer, it's like a pie

 christmas traditions

 the girls went to see frozen over our Christmas retreat in Cincy

 Troy the baby whisperer 

troy's fav peanut butter popcorn

iPhone Love

Although I made a promise to be better at the whole blog thing I have already not completed the first promise.  I can only try but when I did sit down to do some downloading of images I relized how much was on my phone that I had not uploaded.  You are getting the oldest first and what a variety there is, enjoy!

Punishment

One night Troy decided to try a new creative way for not listening.  Putting your nose in the corner/ against the wall.  Very quickly this went to something funny and became a game instead.  Nolan spent his time giggling and licking the wall and Gracie never stopped laughing.  It turned out to be more funny then effective and this was the last time Troy used this method.  Yes this is from before Christmas.

ps how much do you love the organ panels?

A New Year

Before leaving the first month of this new year of 2014 I should recognize we have come into a new year which I am overly excited for.  Most know our 2013 was a little crazy and WE were so ready to say goodbye to 2013.

Quick recap of what our 2013 looked like...

1. Troy's new job at TIU
2. Troy moved to Chicago and live on campus.
3. Lot's of flu season take overs
4. Packing
5. Putting the house up for sale
6. Troy totaled you beloved toyota corolla
7. we refinanced our house
8. my dad came for a weekend to help us buy troy a new car
9. found someone to rent our house
10. loaded up the truck for storage
11. moved in with my parents for 4 months
12. good times in cinch from friends to amazing bible studies
13. photographed wedding #1
14. the air conditioning unit went out on the van
15. photographed wedding #2
16. our move to Chicago with a truck that leaked
17. schenk family vacation
18. 10 years of marriage and back in the same city to celebrate
19. new friends, new church, new memories
20. home-school pre-school for Gracie
21. the start of a new football season
22. miscarriage, weight gain, and missing family & friends
23. we all got older
24. issues with the canton house and finding new tenants
25. Photographed wedding #3

I literally went through all the post of 2013 to just remind myself.  Although there were lots of hard times that tried on us as a family, individually, even on our marriage there were some wonderful times too.  Lots of times to love on each other as a family to see our true hearts.  Gracie and Nolan have changed and grown so much this last year and there were many first for both, lots of new friends, and new experiences in a new place.  I am so thankful that we were loved on by so many that checked on us so often and prayed for us as unconditionally.  Thank you Lord for pushing us through it and thank you for new beginings.

Growing Up, Well Kind Of

When I took on the challenge of potty training I made the decision based on a few things.  First, Nolan would take off his diaper every time he went no matter what.  I felt telling him to stop taking off his diaper was making him get use to sitting in it what he did not like.  He always told me what he was doing and he really wanted to wear undies.  Troy was leaving to go out of town and I thought starting Friday would work just fine.  Turns out my guy would not even sit on the toilet the first half of the day, on day 1.  He was terrified!  He also thought the running to the toilet was fun and would laugh and say faster.  He did get the telling me part down on going pee but as for #2 we were going no where and that lasted for a long while.  He was terrified to go on the toilet.  After things were bad for a couple days then we would have a bunch of great days and then bad and then he got sick the number 2 kind.  I felt so defeated.  I would never have taken this on now with all the stress we already have this was the worst idea.  Of course, the weekend Mema was in town no accidents not even #2.  And although I already knew he was stubborn the whole "I do it when I want to" is SO Nolan's attitude.  Scary!

As of today he is a whole lot better.  We had big victories and he is going days without accidents but then there are random days when I say what is going on.  The #2 has been conquered for the most part.  He has been sick again and the poor little guys just did so well with running.  I have been so proud of him and he is pretty proud of himself as well.  I could finish this up with pictures of some of the things that happen and the text sent to Troy with this just happened captions under pictures but some of you can't handle that kinda stuff.  But it was bad.  We are done and I know there still will be days but far a few between.  And I am so thankful for the continued support from my mother-in-law and friends and of course my hubby who have kept me sane.  This little booger makes me truly run the spectrum of emotions in a day.  Lord have mercy!