Oh Etsy....how I love thee!

A former co-worker turned me on to this VERY addictive site. It's a jewelry/homemade baubles junkie winter wonderland!

It's where I got my mother's necklace. I love it....

It's where I got Kate's handmade baby dolls that we gave her for her first birthday.

It's also where these lovely lovies live.....

Oh...and these!

Is it my birthday yet???? Any major holiday coming up? Hmmm...Mother's Day...there we go!

Goodbye 2009....Hello 2010

What a year! It's been a busy one.




2009 included:


* Two beautiful, wonderful children. I'm so blessed...even when Luke has lost his gloves for the 5th time and we can't seem to find them when it's time to leave in the morning!

* One great husband, who stands by my side and makes me a better person.

* A great extended family that supports and loves us no matter what! My cousin Richard, who is like my brother, got married to a great girl. The occasion brought my entire family together...which is ALWAYS a good thing. I adore and cherish the times when we are all together because I know how rare it is.


* Cha...cha...changes at work. We merged with another children's agency this fall. It's been chaotic, intense, agonizing, but through it all my co-workers have been a great source of understanding and support. And for that I am very thankful...and hey...at the end of the day we all kept our jobs!


2010 I hope will bring:


* Spending more time with my kids...it never seems to be enough and they are growing up too quickly.


* A smooth transition for Luke starting kindergarten...I'll turn 34 (yikes!) and Luke will be off to "real" school...gosh...hard to believe.


* Bigger and better things at work. The merger has brought many good things to the table professionally...I'm excited to see all the great work our new "team" can pull together.


* More date nights with Robb!


* More dates with our friends...you know who are you are I miss you all terribly!


* More good food...and less bad food!


* And of course I would hate to forget, "2010...the year we made contact"! It's time to meet some aliens!


Wishing you all love and peace in 2010!

The Wilson's

All that matters.

At the end of the day....

...when the last emails are answered...

....and the last telephone call is taken....

....and the VERY last meeting has been attended...

...and all of the other distractions of the day are behind me....


I know this is all that matters.

Luke - Washer's Champion & Bon Voyage Angie!

A few weekends ago....we took the family to Robb's cousin Angie's Bon Voyage Party. Angie joined the Peace Corp and will be living in Africa for the next two years!

We'll miss you Angie!!

One of the activities at the party was washers. Luke had never played, but he could barely stand not to be outside so Robb thought he would take him outside and let him run out some of his energy.

He's the perfect person to play with...not only does he fetch his own washers...but he happily gathers yours as well!

I think Robb spotted him a few points....but Luke won! He was awesome. He was hitting the cup, too. It was so fun to see him play and see him get excited each time he hit the box or the cup. So fun!! I think he and Robb will be signing up for my Young Friends Washer's Tournament next year!

Kate's Birthday Party (Part Dos)!!!

Like I said...one wasn't enough. So party #2 moved to Southern Illinois the following weekend for celebrations with the Benefield family.

It wouldn't be a party without Grandma Ollie!!

Blowing out the candle on cake #2...although this time we went with a cupcake....that seemed to be the key!
She liked the cupcake! Smaller was key......but still chocolate:)


Robb got sick the day before we left, so we had to leave him behind for the weekend. Come to find out he had viral infection and double ear infections! So we had to wing this one on our own!


After a quick wardrobe change, it was on to presents!



All in all a good weekend! We missed Daddy, but Kate had a great time. Overall she got some great outfits for this fall, some $$ for her savings and a few toys. Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate!

Kate's 1st Birthday!! (Part Uno)

Hard to imagine, but the little chunky monkey is one-year-old. Our little Kate Elizabeth celebrated her birthday not once, but twice! This is one of the problems of large families....and too much family living out of STL.

We celebrated part one at our house with friends and family. We ended up having a little backyard BBQ because it was just 73 degrees on JULY 18!!!!! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE???

Here she is opening a few of her gifts.

And her baby doll that Mommy & Daddy got her.
Her rockin' shoes she got from Uncle Geoff & Aunt Nikki.

Waiting for the cake...and rockin' her new shoes! Aren't they cute.
Waiting for Mommy to light her first candle.

We thought the cake was going to be a huge hit....not so much....she just kind of licked the icing and that was about it!

Cake for the rest of us! A delicious two-layered, chocolate cake with whipped cream. SO YUMMY!! We love Federhoeffer's!

Thank you to all our friends and family that came out to celebrate! Especially our good friends Jack & Nick Morra!
And of course little Luke Morra!


It wouldn't be a day outside if we didn't swing! And this was day was no different. Such a great way to end a beautiful day.


We love you Katie Bug!

Bathing Beauties

Earlier this summer, Robb's parents gave us some "summer fun money" to purchase the kids a pool. They always seem to know when we need something fun for the kids....they helped us purchase the swing set we have in our backyard, as well!

Well we finally put that money to use and bought the kids their first "pool". I'm being generous when I say "pool", as it's one of those ridge plastic, 10 minutes of running the hose and it's full, kind of pools!

My Mom was up last weekend and she offered to drive to Wal-Mart and help me get it back home. Did I mention we were doing this on the HOTTEST day of the year? Did I also mention we were squeezing a pool that is about 5 feet in diameter through an opening that's about 4 feet 10 inches in diameter? Good times.

Alas...we made it back to the house...and after a few hours, the pool regained it's shape. Ten minutes later, seriously, the pool was filled up and ready to go.

Luke loved it! I think this is really the first year really like "swimming". He has gone to my Aunt and Uncle's pools respectively and he was a "clinger". He would only get in if he could hang on to you for dear life.

Well...I'm hoping this year will be better...so first he tested out the "slide".

Kate wasn't a fan so much....here she is after I pulled her out of the pool. But doesn't she look great in her green & white swimsuit!

And without any lessons, Luke has learned to hold his breath "underwater". I think it was more holding his eyes and blowing bubbles in the water.

Since we knew that the pool wasn't a hit, we decided to let Kate swing. Here she is rockin' a two-piece look.
The kiddos...


One more close up the little miss.