After a long hietus ...

I'm back among the blogging world.  In fact, I consider this the first time since December that I'm actually back among the real world in general!  Today I celebrate the 6th month mark of the pregnancy of my 3rd boy.  And all things considered, I'm feeling pretty good!  Oh sure, there are things like the utter exhaustion by 7:15pm and the severe hip pain that stops me in my tracks, but those are just things I am beginning to see are reflections of my humanity; a human state that is far from perfect and a woman who is in desperate need of a forgiving, perfect God.  And oh how I praise Him for His greatness, faithfulness and sweet reminders of how much He cares for me, even when I spend most days finding fault among most everything. 

So, yes, much has happened in our little household and family since December, but I'll have to fill in the details later.  Right now the boys are napping (I think), and a record-warm day is upon us - allowing me to have all the windows and doors open, which, let me tell you, in somewhat of an anomaly in April in our part of the Northeast.  (Apparently we live just about 45 minutes away from the official "New England" cutoff.  I would think that would be enough to shrug off and include our beautiful area, but the locals are of a different opinion.  But I digress ...).  The dryer is buzzing as I sit in a jelly-encrusted chair, and the front windowsill & trim are calling for me to make them white again; I am more than happy to oblige.  But perhaps I'll bust out the can of paint after I take few moments to cut back some old vines under the window box.  I cannot convey how happy my heart is that the weather has turned warm & the iris shoots are making their appearance.  The next few months will be filled with many to-do lists and lots of hard work - something I gladly look forward to after a long, rather sickly winter. 

And of course I look forward to regularly updating the blog!  Thanks to Lisa & Ana for the kick-in-the-pants I needed to get back online!  I am blessed with such wonderful friends!

Love & blessings to all who actually still check my silliness,

Aub

And of Course, I'm Thankful for My Dog!

She's my baby girl!

I am Thankful for ... My Husband

I am Thankful for ... My Sons

Happy Thanksgiving from our house to yours!

Baking and Baking and Baking and ....

Baking!  I seem to never grow tired of it!  (Even after so much baking for Tis the Season!).  Of course, my old clothes aren't too keen on my constant baking, but my sweet-tooth sure enjoys it!

 Double layered spice cake with cream cheese frosting and freshly chopped semisweet & white chocolate chip shavings.  Can you say "Yummmm"!?

Not Me Monday

I did NOT keep getting my decorative scarf caught on the baby latches as I flew around the kitchen yesterday, baking yummy Thanksgiving treats.

I did NOT go downstairs this morning and mop the first level before I even put on my glasses or poured myself a mug o' joe.  I am not THAT starved for quiet, undivided attention.

I did NOT frost a cake last nite while watching football.  (Ok, maybe I DO actually multitask like that!)

I did NOT talk Andy into purchasing a down coat for me.  Hehe

A Chilly Lunch on the Deck

I mentioned hot dogs and Aiden declared he was eating out on the deck - Ashton and I decided to join him.  And it really wasn't as cold as I expected (it's 52 degrees - what am I complaining about; local news channel is calling it "mild".  Mild?!).

 Eating is a very serious thing ... ok, everything is very serious for Aiden!

And Ashton has recently decided he is big enough to feed himself, and there is no trying to aide him.  He's quite determined!

Happy to be warm!

There's a cat tormenting South Paw on the backside of the fence

Hands up in the air ...

Praising Jesus!

A n d 60 Seconds Later ...

 The boys declared the photo-shoot over and we moved on to the promised Oreo-reward. 

A Day Late and Undoubtedly a Penny Short

Dad, I apologize for not posting this video last, last night.  (Boys being boys and Google saying I had maxed out my blog memory capacity)  I also apologize for not sending your present on time.  I blame genetics.  (-:  But in good your-mother fashion, let's just celebrate your birthday for at least another 2 weeks.

Blog Shout Out!

This Shout Out goes to my mother-in-law.  Sharon, here's me in my happy hat!  (My MIL likes it when I wear this hat because it somehow diminishes my anal-retentive tendencies!)

Me-n-Zib

Zib: "Mom, is it ok if I break your necklace while I play wif it? "
Me: "Um, no, it's not ok to break it.  Would you like it if I played with your toys and broke them?"
Zib: "No.  ...  I won't break your necklace, Mom.  I won't."


Also, after much searching through itunes, I figured out which song Aiden was humming to me.  He was requesting "High Chaparral."  I think he has quite a bit of his Popeye in him!

Dog Whisperer

On our walk, Ashton took up conversing with every barking dog in the neighborhood (see videos).  Humorous, to say the least!  He makes sure the 3 firstborns in the family keep the mood light - his goal is to make us laugh, and he does a pretty good job at it!

 He truly loves his highchair.  Why that doesn't really relate to a true love for eating, well, I will never quite figure out.

This is one of those timeless photos