Lilly Belle Craig Coming May 2015

I'm sure it is no surprise to most that I am expecting baby number two. 

What might be surprising is that I am already eighteen weeks along!

We found out we were expecting another little girl, and we are all so excited.

When we went for the gender scan, Hannah confidently told the man she was having a little sister. 

She was right : )

In case you were wondering . . . 

Weight gain : I have currently gained three pounds (as of my last appt two weeks ago.)

I went from 125lbs - 128lbs

Maternity Clothes : They are starting to creep into my wardrobe. 

I am still able to fit into my jeans without a belly band but prefer being in my yoga pants. 

Sleep : I am sleeping well and only get up when a cute little three year old wants to snuggle.

Movement : I haven't felt Lilly kick yet : (

Cravings : I haven't had any major cravings but if I see something that looks yummy I need it NOW!

Sickness : I still have to take an anti nausea pill every morning and still don't appreciate chicken.

Symptoms : I have shifted from feeling exhausted to having lots of energy. I still get a little cramping and my face is still breaking out along my chin. 

Belly Button/Ankles :  I am happy to report my belly button is still in and my ankles are still beautiful.

Emotions :  I am happy but stress when I think ahead.

Looking ahead : I am looking forward to Christmas!

~ Summer Blogging Day Eighteen : Breakfast for Dinner ~

My brother, Joshua, has been keeping Hannah and I company this week. 

I have asked him everyday what he would like for dinner. Everyday he replied with French Toast.

Tonight, I made him some delicious French Toast!

I love breakfast for dinner : )

After dinner, we went to Wendy's. 

I LOVE their frosties!!

Hannah scored two frosties when the lady made her vanilla instead of chocolate.

~ Summer Blogging Day Seventeen : Our Eight Month Update ~

I don't know what I am more shocked about, that we have hit the eight month mark, or that we are half way through the year. How crazy is that!?

This past month has gone by pretty well.
Hannah and I had a great time celebrating the 4th of July.

Now, we are trying to get everything ready for when Aaron gets home. 

We are all very anxious for this deployment to be over!!

I get butterflies every time I think of Aaron stepping of that bus : )

Hopefully, by this time next month Aaron will be home!!!

this is how excited Hannah gets when Aaron skypes.

I can't wait to see how excited she will be when she sees him in person!

p.s I love the way Hannah say Afghanistan so I make her say it a lot hehe

Summer Blogging Day Sixteen : DIY Vanity

I have always wanted a vanity!

The only problem is they are really expensive. I found a diy video on youtube and decided I could do that.

I found the desk, on sale, at Target. 

The mirror, lights, and other supplies I bought at Lowes.

I love my new vanity

: )

~ Summer Blogging Day Fifteen : Book Review : Last Sacrifice ~

Book Thirty Seven : Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

(Vampire Academy Book Six)

'I don't know," I said, leaning against his chest. "But I  think it is going to be good."

Murder. Love. Jealousy. And the ultimate sacrifice. 

The Queen is dead and the Moroi world will never be the same. Now, with Rose awaiting wrongful execution and Lissa in a deadly struggle for the royal throne, the girls find themselves forced to rely upon enemies and to question those they thought they could trust. . . . 

But what if true freedom means sacrificing the most important thing of all? 

Each other. 

My Thoughts : Wow! What an amazing conclusion to a fantastic series. I went into this book with only one wish. . . . . and it came true. I simply wanted a happiness for Rose. Even though, this book was very predictable, I still really enjoyed every minute of it. It was a roller coaster ride full of twists and turns. My emotions were everywhere. 

Overall, this has become one of my favourite series. Every book had me hooked. 

I will pre warn you that once you start this series you will not be able to stop. 

It is always really bittersweet to finish a series but I'm excited to get started with the bloodlines series. 

Read my reviews for book one - five. Just click on a book.

image from goodreads

~ Summer Blogging Day Fourteen : Motivational Monday #7 ~

I started reading a book called Becoming His by Emily Freeman. 

It is a daily journey towards discipleship.

The first chapter talks about how we can become His by becoming more. On page 13 I  read the quote, "Welcome the task that takes you beyond yourself." I immediately grabbed a pen and paper and wrote it down. There are so many times in life when we feel anxious or inadequate. I know if we will open our hearts and lives to the Saviour, and his atoning sacrifice, we can become so much more. 

It will be worth it, because we are worth it.

image created using pinstamatic

~ Summer Blogging Day Thirteen : What's in my Primary Chorister Bag? ~

This week with Senior Primary, I decided to kick back and have a little fun. 

We played Minute to Win It - Singing Time style.

I put the cards onto the board and then chose one of my primary children to pick a card. 

On the back of each card was a challenge. If they completed the challenge, in one minute, they sang more of a fun song. If they failed, we sang one of our program songs. Either way there was A LOT of singing. 

These were the challenges : 

Breakfast Scramble 

object - unscramble the two puzzles

(this turned out to be too easy for the children. If I did this again I would add a couple more)

Back Flip

object - place one pencil on the back of your hand. Toss it in the air and catch it. With each successful catch add a pencil. You win if you can catch six pencils.

Achoo

object - Empty the box of tissues

(my favourite game)

Cookie Monster

object - get the cookie from your forehead to your mouth without using your hands

Drop Off

object - drop the clothespin into a jar

(it is harder than it sounds. I used twenty clothespin)

Apple Stack

object - balance and stack three apples. They must remained stacked for five seconds

Cotton Bowl

object - use to spoon to scoop ten cotton ball from the bowl in front of you to the bowl on top of your head. Oh and you will be blindfolded.

Balancing Act

object - with the Popsicle stick in your mouth, stack and balance six dice on the other end. They must remain stacked for five seconds.

Stack Attack

object - use the cups to make a perfect pyramid and then back into one stack.

(this was the other super easy challenge. I used fifteen cups and it took her about twenty seconds)

My Primary Children LOVED this game. It always makes you feel good when they want to keep going even when your time is over. 

: )

~ Summer Blogging Day Twelve : Book Review : Spirit Bound ~

Book Thirty Six : Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

(Vampire Academy Book Five)

My dearest Rose,

 . . . I wish you well today as you take your trials - not that you need any luck. You're the best in that group, and by this evening you'll wear your promise mark. Of course, that means you'll be all that much more of a challenge when we meet again - which I'll definitely enjoy. 

And we will meet again. With graduation, you'll be turned out of the Academy, and once you're outside the wards, I'll find you. There is no place in the world you can hide from me. I'm watching.

Love, 

Dimitri 

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir's and to her best friend, Lissa. It is at long last graduation, and the girls can't wait for their real lives beyond the Academy's iron gates to begin. But Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. And this time he won't rest until Rose joins him . . . forever.

My Thoughts : It is hard to believe, because I love them all, that each book gets better than the previous one. Spirit Bound was non stop action from start to finish. I had no idea where the next page was going to take me. There were so many twists and turns. The ending was insane!! Richelle Mead truly has a talent when it comes to writing cliff hangers. 

I am so excited to read the six and final book. I really hope Rose finally gets some happiness in her life. 

image from goodreads

click on the book cover to read my review

         

     

~ Summer Blogging Day Eleven ~

Top Ten Responses when American's find out I am English.

1. "I'm English!"

 I am sorry to inform you, but just because your great grandmother immigrated from England, does not make you English. It makes you American. 

2. "I'm related to royalty." 

Prove it!

3. "Oh yeah it is really cold, foggy, rainy, green over there." 

 I know. I lived there.

4. "Are you English or British, Scottish, Irish?" 

I'm English. There really is no need to explain the difference, because being English is all that matters anyways.

5. "I love Monty Python." 

I have never seen it. I prefer Mr Bean, The Vicar of Dibley, Blackadder, Top Gear.

6. "Where is your accent?" 

I don't use it around Americans. 

7. "Say Something! Say Something!"

 NO

8. "What language do you speak there?"

 hmm, I'm English so . . . . 

9. "Do you know Harry Potter?"

Really!? I do not know Harry Potter; however, I can do Hermione Granger's voice.

No I will not do it.

10. The person attempts to do an English Accent. 

NO please for the love of my sanity DO NOT do your English Accent. Trust me it isn't good. 

This post is not meant to offend.

~ Summer Blogging Day Ten : Strawberry Cake ~

Laura Vitale's Strawberry Cake

(click here for the recipe)

I am not ashamed to say that I have never made a cake from scratch. Lets be honest, who needs to?

Companies have made it so easy and affordable. I just add a couple ingredients to the box mix and voila! Perfect cake, cupcakes, brownies, muffins, etc.

The only problem is when you forget to buy a cake mix.

I now have two choices : One, I can drive back to the store, but I live forever away and don't want to make the trip again blah blah blah. Two, not make the cake.

Luckily, I love Youtube and my new obsession has to be Laura in the Kitchen. 

She has some amazing recipes that are easy to follow, simple, and delicious. 

I found her Strawberry Cake recipe, and decided I could make that.

I DID AND IT WAS DELICIOUS!

I did a couple things differently from Laura; for example, I used cool whip instead of whipped cream, and I separated my batter into two separate cake pans. 

This really is the perfect summer cake : )

~ Summer Blogging Day Nine : The Last Care Package ~

Care Package #11

Orange You Glad You're Coming Home

I can't believe I just sent Aaron his LAST care package!!!

It seems so surreal that he will be home soon.

Here is my orange you glad you're coming home care package.

I decided to just send food this time.

Inside I filled it with : 

Fruit Snacks

Flaming Hot Fries

Chesse Crackers

Goldfish

Dried Peaches

Microwave Spaghetti O's

~ Summer Blogging Day Eight : A Book Haul ~

A Book Haul

I LOVE reading, and wanted to show you some of the books I bought in the month of June.

Rush by Eve Silver : When Miki Jones is pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game—her carefully controlled life spirals into chaos. In the game, she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures. There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says the game isn’t really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival, and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn’t. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.

Landry Park by Bethany Hagen : In a fragmented future United States ruled by the lavish gentry, seventeen-year-old Madeline Landry dreams of going to the university. Unfortunately, gentry decorum and her domineering father won't allow that. Madeline must marry, like a good Landry woman, and run the family estate. But her world is turned upside down when she discovers the devastating consequences her lifestyle is having on those less fortunate. As Madeline begins to question everything she has ever learned, she finds herself increasingly drawn to handsome, beguiling David Dana. Soon, rumors of war and rebellion start to spread, and Madeline finds herself and David at the center of it all. Ultimately, she must make a choice between duty - her family and the estate she loves dearly - and desire.

What's Left Of Me by Kat Zhang : Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead : Sydney is an alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of human and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the last place anyone would think to look for vampire royalty - a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. But instead of finding safety at Amberwood Prep, Sydney discovers the drama is only just beginning...

Something Strange and Deadly and A Darkness Strange and Lovely  by Susan Dennard : There's something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia...

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family as fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walkers by. But this is nothing compared to what she's just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor... from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she'll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including the maddeningly stubborn yet handsome Daniel, the situation becomes dire. An now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

The Diviners by Libba Bray : Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.

Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.

As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.

Rosie and Skate by Ann Bauman : It's off-season at the Jersey shore, when the boardwalk belongs to the locals. Rosie is 15 and her sister Skate is 16. Their dad, an amiable drunk, is spending a few weeks in jail while their cousin Angie looks after them in their falling-down Victorian on the beach. Skate and her boyfriend Perry are madly in love, inseparable—until now, when Perry goes off to Rutgers. Rosie is shyer than Skate, but she’s drawn to Nick, a boy in their Alateen group. What happens to Rosie and Skate in a few tumultuous weeks is deftly shaded, complex, and true. Readers will be caught up in each girl’s shifting feelings as the story plays out within the embrace of their warmhearted community.

~ Summer Blogging Day Three - Seven : Fourth of July Weekend ~

I know, I know, I failed already. . . . 

I had some of my family come for the fourth of July weekend, and we were so busy!

Thursday July 3rd

We took a trip to the playground.

Hannah was so excited to have her cousins come visit, especially her best friend, Brynn.

Trying to get four kids to smile at the same time = impossible.

Nathan and Ashlyn trying out the monkey bars.

While Hannah and Brynn, prefered the swings.

After the playground, it was time for some frozen yougurt.

Friday July 4th

We decided to head down to the beach on base. It was PACKED!

We walked almost a mile with our ice chest, canopy, beach chairs, towels, food, bucket and spades, two toodlers, and two kids. 

We did find a spot that wasn't as crowded and bonus was right by the fireworks!

The kids loved playing in the Ocean.

I don't enjoy the Ocean water, but luckily Auntie Kerri does.

The waves were really unpredictable, as you can tell by this picture of Brynn. 

Poor girls was just trying to catch some sun.

I did not get any pictures of the fireworks because my phone had died by then. 

However, they were awesome! 

What was not awesome? Three hours of waiting for the traffic to ease up so we could go home.

Saturday July 5th

Originally, we were not planning on being at the beach all day, on the fourth. 

Then we saw how close we were to the fireworks and decided to stay.

This meant the girls were not wearing their fourth of July shirts. 

made by my sister, Kerri.

Which is why they were sporting them on the 5th.

Kerri made Ashlyn's hair to look like a star.

Aren't those shirts ADORABLE!!

Tired girls get cuddles with Nanny.

Sunday July 6th

Time for Church!

I seriously can not get over how cute the girls look.

For Dessert, I made strawberry cake from SCRATCH!! 

We finished the day at the park.

Monday July 7th

I cleaned and ate a lot of leftovers : )