God Bless Patrick William!

I know I have a lot to update...we've been busy with swimming, Vacation Bible School, and most imporantly, Baby Tres....but this weekend we had a very special event!

On Sunday, Rob's Godson Patrick was baptised.  It was a great, beautiful day!!!!

Patrick taking in this whole "church" thing!!!  Check out his shamrock shoes...how cute are they????  Patrick really is one of the cutest babies in the world!!!!

This is probably the part where he was so excited, he pooped himself!!!!  ;)

The BIG moment!!!!

Abigail, Caitlin, and a little neighbor of B and Mo enjoying the show with snacks!!!!

The Glure-stroms!

Godfathers and Godchildren

Yesterday was a very special day for our family...but especially for Rob.  There is no greater honor in our eyes than being a Godparent and we take that serious!!!!  Rob has lots of plans for fishing, golf, and other things that only "boys" can do for him and Patrick in the future!

Our Daddy is the BEST!

Happy Father's Day to the BEST Dad and Husband in the World!!!  There isn't a Dad out there that works harder for his family...or spends better quality time with them.  I'm so lucky that he works so long all day, and then comes home and does so much for the girls.

Rob spent Father's Day doing what he loves best...spending time with his daughters!!!  The girls and Rob entered in the local fishing derby again this year.  It was Caitlin's first time fishing and she was very excited to get her own fishing pole.  The fish might not have been biting, but it was a great day!!!!

The fishing buddies!  The girls surprised Daddy with new shirts for Father's Day that said "Daddy's Sweetest Catch"...and they got him a new shirt for Father's Day that says "D.A.D.D.  Dad's Against Daughter's Dating."  I think the shirt will get a lot of use in the next 18 years!!!!

Caitlin's first time fishing....she's a natural!

So happy to be spending the morning with Daddy!!!

Happy Father's Day to the best Dad to our 2 1/2 kids!!!! ;)

Also, Happy Father's Day to all the great Dads and God-Father's in our lives!!!  We are so lucky and blessed to be surrounded by amazing men!!!   To My Dad, Rob's Dad, Uncle Al, Uncle Joe, and Uncle Brian...Thank you for all you do for us!!!! 

Flying Away

Abigail rode her 2-wheeler by herself for the first time this morning!!!!!

It's just a glimpse of our summer...I see lots of bike rides!!!

We also took the girls out to fly their kites from Easter for the first time this morning.  Basically, it was mommy and daddy running around like crazy people.....but we did manage to get the kite in the air once (and by we, I mean Beth...even though Rob "claims" to be an expert kite flyer from his youth...he blames the kite...but I didn't seem to have any problem....)

This sums up our kite flying day...Caitlin tangled up in the string!!!!

Fun start to our Saturday...and it's only going up from here because the kids are packing up and heading to Grandma and Grandpas...and we are headed down to Wrigley with my Julie and Joe, Kate, and her friend Josh, to see Brad Paisley!!!!!  Have a great Saturday, y'all!!!!

We're joining the club!!!!

These families all have 1 thing in common....

and we're joining the club!!!!

**********************************************************

Save The Date

Raising 2 kids has been such a treat,

We're adding 1 more to make our family COMPLETE!

We don't know yet if it's a girl or a boy...

But save a date in December to meet our BUNDLE OF JOY!!!!!

Baby "Tres" due to arrive 12-12-12!!!!!

******************************************************************************

And the most important introduction....

Here is our little peanut!!!!  We are so in love already!!!!!

The Sweetest Story with the HAPPIEST ending!!!!!

13 weeks old today!

**********************************************************

And as all good things have "disclaimers"....here's mine...please don't say anything on Facebook yet!  We decided to put it out on the blog because people we know and love who are close to us read it, but we won't put anything on facebook for a while now!!!!!

Also, if you are SHOCKED...we thought it would be fun to surprise you on the blog since you have followed our family on it and we are sure you weren't expecting this... so if you didn't get a call or email ahead of time, don't be offended, it was our plan!!!!!!  ;)

And I have to say, we did a pretty great job of keeping it a secret till today!!!  As you might imagine, after our last loss, sharing the news is very nerve-wracking to me.  But we are 13 weeks and have passed the NT Scan at 12 weeks with a squirmy baby with 155 heartbeat...and are so excited!!!!

Abigail and Caitlin just found out this weekend and they have taken their "big sister" roles very serious...and are already negotiating bunk beds!  :)

SURPRISE!  :)  We feel beyond blessed and lucky!!!!!!

Our Dancing Queen

Summer has officially begun...although it really officially begins next week when the pool opens!!!

We had a busy end of the year.  Caitlin finished another class of Mommy and Me Ballet.  It's her 3rd time doing this class and she's starting to get a little old for the class...but she loves dancing and it's her only option.

I know every parent thinks their kid is the cutest, sweetest, most well behaved...and talented.  But I really think Caitlin is a natural dancer.  And apparently her teacher does too.  She can't join the "recital" class next year because you have to be 3, but her teacher said when she turns 3 in November, I can add her late to the class and she can be in the recital, which surprised me.  But apparently her teacher sees potential in her too.  I know, it's only 2 year old ballet, but I'm very proud of my tiny dancer!!!

Here are some pics of her last class:

She's always on her toes

Looks like fun, huh?????  I have loved spending SIX, that's right, 6, times in Mommy and Me Ballet, but this mama is ready for a change.  The girls are signed up for gymnastics this summer at a real gymnastics studio (as opposed to the local park district, which is great but they always cancel classes).  We are going where Abigial had her bday and they are both very excited...and I'm excited for something new!  Abigail's also signed up for swim lessons (Caitlin will swim with mommy while she's in class) and Vacation Bible School, so it will be a fun and busy, but super relaxing summer!!!

And just a few pics of what we've been up too...which al involves enjoying the weather!!!

We've been playing in the sand:

And going for hikes to catch butterflies and minnows:

And playing with our water table:

And celebrating this cutie's 2nd birthday:

And Rob's been having talks with his Godson Luke about the fun of turning 2...all while not dropping a shot to celebrate the big day:

And enjoying our time together!!!!

Up next, Memorial Day!!!!

Run Like the Wind

This weekend was a local run in our town to kick off the Town's Festival.  I was excited to run because the winner of each age division won a new pair of Nike shoes and I thought I had a chance to win my age division...since I'm getting old and everything!!!

However, instead of running to win, I decided to run with my 2 favorite running buddies!!!!

Since I was pushing the running stroller, I had to start in the very back.  And since it's a course on a small path, there was really no way of passing, so I was running at a walkers pace (I swear, my first mile was like 12 minutes)...but I knew that so I just enjoyed being out there.  We did a little running, a lot of walking...and the girls ran the last few hundred yards with me which was so much fun!!

My dad decided to come and run with us that morning.  He's not used to running short distances (only 3 miles) so he didn't know how'd it go....even though we knew he'd do great!!!

Go Grandpa!!!

Getting ready to start the race!!!!

And just as we thought...my dad did GREAT...and WON his age division!!!!

The winner

He was a little surprised because there was someone his age in front of him...but the guy was actually in a younger age division!!!

And along with the pride of winning, my dad got a new pair of Nikes...and here they are:

My dad decided to give me the Nikes...which was so nice of him.  I was really surprised...and very very grateful because I really needed a new pair of running shoes!!!!  I went and got fitted for Nikes (because I've never run in Nikes before) and they gave me the BEST pair of shoes they have.  I couldn't believe what an awesome pair of shoes I got.  I CAN NOT WAIT to cross a finish line in these babies!!!

Thank you so much dad...and way to go.  It was really just fun having him run with us.

After the race, the local festival began, so we spent a few hours with the girls at the festival.  They had so much fun playing...and eating!  :)  We were sad that Rob and my mom weren't there (golf and wedding shower) but it was a great morning!!!!

Pinkalicious

Abigail had her first ballet recital this weekend.  She never really got into ballet...until it came to recital time.  She LOVED being in a recital.  She loved practicing her dance.  She loved wearing her costume (which was so adorable).  She loved the hair and the makeup and the glitz. 

Abigail did GREAT on stage!!!  She had a lot of fun...and did the whole performance.  She had a really great group of girls to dance with too!!!

Introducing....Miss Pinkalicious!!!!!

love

pose

At dress rehearsal, Abigail forgot to "strike her last pose"...at least she's easy to find!

Daddy's Girl

Grandma and Grandpa at the show

The proud family

We love this girl!!!

Melts.  My.  Heart.

Flowers from Caitlin (and mommy and daddy) and Grandma and Grandpa. 

So....needless to say...her excitement to end ballet and begin gymnastics and soccer has changed to dance again next year!  So we'll do some gymnastics this summer and then probably another year of dance...and finally soccer the year she starts kindergarten!!!!

Way to Go, Pinkalicious!!!!!  You did great and we were so proud of you!!!!