Stamorama: October 2013

I've been trying to find the time to make a blog entry but that's no easy thing. Mainly, wanted to update on the goings on in our family. Life is good. Things are just really very peaceful and uncomplicated. Life is "normal". What's normal? Normal for me is a good marriage, happy, healthy kids. Well, stability. Everything is stable and predictable and I thrive on predictable. I cannot handle chaos or unpredictable things in my life.

Alexa and Brooke both went to Homecoming. What beauties these girls are. They are truly kind, thoughtful and cool kids. I love them. What I love most about them though, is that they GET ALONG. In the past, there was a lot of fighting between the girls when all of them were living at home. These two youngest of the girls really get along great. They share clothes, chores and are genuinely kind to each other 99% of the time. This takes a HUGE stress off of the whole household. They're just awesome, and I love and appreciate them so much!

SO-right now we are very excited for our next big event. A wedding!! Chels and Joe are engaged! They have picked a date but I won't put that out there yet. Let's just say it's a lot sooner than we expected, but it's okay, we will do our best to make sure this event is AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL for them. What a happy and exciting time in life for them. The planning of our wedding was the happiest time of my life. It still makes me smile and have butterflies. Chels will make such a beautiful bride. I can't wait to see how this all unfolds for them. We go dress shopping in November already!

All of this wedding thinking has really got me thinking about my marriage. I don't even know how to put into words how truly blessed I am, without sounding super cheesy and corny. Ben truly is one of a kind and I really don't know what I'd do without him. I love him more every day. I really do. This man will do anything for us. His family loves us unconditionally. His parents are such great people, and are wonderful grandparents to the boys and girls. They are the true definition of family. They are "normal". They are thoughtful and kind. And they help me see why Ben is such a great Husband and Father. I hope all of my girls can say the same things about their husbands someday. He loves me. I feel his love. He loves our family. He takes care of us and I of him. I think Chelsey has found this in Joe as well. I can see it. What a beautiful thing.

I'm feeling super cheesy and lovey lately. I'm excited for Christmas already, too! We have a new tree this year and I can't wait to put it up and decorate and bake with the kids and get and wrap gifts. I want to dig out my Christmas music already, but I suppose we should get Halloween and Thanksgiving out of the way first ;-) I'm even excited for Halloween tomorrow. I'm helping with Brody's class party, both girls have a party with friends and even Owen has a party at daycare, then we're all out to watch the boys Trick or Treat. Should be fun! They're at such fun ages for that. We all just really enjoy these little guys. They make us smile. Their sisters love them so much too, how neat to see that love!

Not much else going on besides wedding planning with Chels and Joe. Both boys are swimming at Med City Aquatics, which they are really enjoying. Alexa got her permit and she is actually a very good driver! I'm super impressed. She's great at parking, too! That's usually a harder thing to learn. She's working at Hy Vee and liking that, too. It's nice for her to have her own money! Anyway, that's about it for now. Until next time...of course, some photos to share! Last weekend we stayed up at Ben's sister Hanna and Darin's house. His other sister Maggie and her family and a cousin came to visit. It was a very nice visit!

Grandma reading to Brody and Tyus