Hearts Surrendered

...pretty frightening

AHH

Aww

Aww Matt and Maddy

Melissa with Carter and Alexis

Matt, Moriah, and Madison right before trick or treating

Hi posted by mandy

This takes talent. posted by mandy

Can't crawl, but I CAN do this! posted by mandy

look what I can do! posted by mandy

hey posted by mandy

. posted by mandy

cute! posted by mandy

just hanging out... posted by mandy

Moriah and Matt's creations posted by mandy

That WAS ravioloi, but oh never again... posted by mandy

clearly, before the carpet. posted by mandy

Check out Moriah's sweet pumpkin-carving skills! But don't look at my not-watered-in-a-week mums. posted by mandy

Look! posted by mandy

Did I forget to mention, Matt and Mark did a beautiful job installing carpet over the weekend. Took them no-time at all. The wood is beautiful, but totally wrong for babies learning to stand and walk. I hated having screws put into my lovely floor, but it just turned out so well. Yay for burber, however you spell it. posted by mandy

before... posted by mandy

before... posted by mandy

after... posted by mandy

After posted by mandy

I have only ever baked stuff that came in a cardboard box with easy instructions clearly printed on the back. So, inspired by Matt's mom, I asked for a breadmaker for my birthday. Something that would benefit everyone in the house. However, something I see coming... Breadmaker + ME = fatter I was so excited this weekend to go and get the breadmaker, SO excited. We found one on special because it was the display model. Got it home, works fine. So, yay us. So far, I made a white loaf in the machine and the edges are a L-I-T-T-L-E crispy, a yummy wheat loaf and wheat dinner rolls. MMMMmm, smells goood. I also made some pumpkin bread, but not with the breadmaker. (oh and some muffins, but that doesn't count 'cause they are almost already GONE) Oh, and yeah I did have some of everything already, duh. I told you, fatter... Anyway, that is what was floating my boat over the weekend. Exciting stuff, eh? Well, if not..this surely will be. Matt, on vacation this last wee...

I have finally become able to stay at home, with my family. Nothing in this world could make me happier or more content. SO, my days have been spent caring for kids and keeping house. I have the opportunity to directly oversee Moriah's schoolwork. We have agreed that she has definitely done more this week than throughout the last month. Things are going well. I feel the most satisfaction I ever have before, for so many reasons. Knowing Madison's whole demeanor has changed this week, she is not crying for me throughout the day...she knows I am here. What more could a mother want. Working outside the home never brought an ounce of satisfaction for me. I dreaded every morning, the moment I would leave my family and leave my home. I cried each morning on my way to work, knowing what I was leaving behind. I knew they needed me, and I deeply needed them. I would come home on my lunch breaks and cry again on my way back to work. I dreaded the exhaustion that followed me through the do...

 

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and one more... posted by mandy

here are our lovely pro shots of Madison posted by mandy

Here is how we knew he would not be named Abigail... posted by mandy

Meet Matthew, Jr. posted by mandy

The ultrasound gave us unmistakable evidence that we are having... ...a BABY! A BOY BABY!!! yay