Biking in the Culdy

burning some energy in Becky's nearby cul-de-sac. good times.

Nora was just down right hilarious on her bike...as her bike would be falling after trying to maneuver curbs, she'd stay upright. and notice her zebra butterfly wings. sweet girl.

Molly. speedy.

Piper, so talented, that she can ride her sassy Barbie bike whilst scratching her tootsies.

Melanie loves her Electra.

Levi, finally getting biking. We delayed on this with him and now it's somewhat tricky for this big, nearly 9 year old boy to maneuver. Gooo LEVI!

Thanks to my cousin, Kara, who is an amazing Pinterest, Etsy, and general scout for all things cool and crafty, I will now implement JOY into every season. Not only a good reminder of a beautiful Christ-like characteristic but of a beautiful boy who was just too precious to walk this dusty ol' earth.

I miss you, Jack.

So, anyways...not much going on here except for some amazingly cool temperatures (I love you, Fall), busy schedules (holy cow, when am I supposed to breathe?), and just general struggling to keep my head above saddened waters, all is well. I talked to my incredible midwife today. I love you, Mary Helen. Thank you for thinking of me, my family and sweet little JOY boy. I hope you get your JOYful birth any day now.

I met with my friend, Christine, at Starbucks, where she had a nice display of JOY and butterfly treasures awaiting me. Today is also 1.) Stillborn, Miscarriage, SIDS awareness day, and 2.) Pumpkin Spice release date at the 'bucks. not that the two are related but....

when one is trying to make it day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second, finding JOY in the little things takes on a whole new meaning. ya know?

I do not take lightly the kind things that people, all of you, you know who you are...have done for me and for my family. I really could cry, and have, just recalling the kindnesses shown, the care given, the prayers lifted and the tears shed on our behalf.

Gosh. Thank You, Lord, for showing Yourself in Your people.

On a side note: we went downtown to visit Victory, the statute that sits atop the Soldiers and Sailors monument on the circle...I hope to "lift", borrow, use some of Tom's pix on here very soon.

I'm a scatterbrained ninny. Good night and God bless you.

P.S.  Shellee, I do hope that when you are in town, you will give me shout out so we can meet up and hug and for me to meet Grace. but be warned. I will cry.

Ok. nighty. for reals.

This will be a tear jerking post...

no words...

shock. dreamlike trance...this really did not just happen. why? what? who?.....

little peanut head

Levi's face says it all...

My sister has had almost as hard of a time as I have with this...I mean, the girl did suffer pregnancy symptoms right along with me...and what an aunt she is. Jack, you would have loved your crazy Aunt Becky...I mean it.

This is Tambo...she was also so ready for this little fella to get here...this picture breaks my heart. to pieces.

Levi was just not sure what to think. Molly was checking him out, holding him, messing with his hair. It was so sweet. Grandma was also ready for a newbie to welcome under her wings...

sweet little look a likes.

I feel so bad for Mel...she was so ready to be this little guy's big sister.

such great big brothers you have Jack! Levi didn't want to hold him but he didn't want to be too far away from him either...

and another great big bro...

I'm pretty sure that I was hovering above the room at this moment...still, 2 weeks later, it just doesn't seem possible that this actually took place.

our friends, and family laid hands on us and prayed for us...another surreal moment and so appreciative of the loving support from all of these people and others. I just don't think we could've made it this far without them.

I am truly honored to have carried Jack for nearly 41 weeks. What a sweet little guy. I wanted to share some more of June 30, 2011...a day that I will never ever forget. My family will never be the same. We have an empty space. We all pine for that precious little newborn to be here with us. But we will rest in the knowledge that he is being held by Jesus Christ.

Saturday happenings....

Our local credit union, Teacher's, hosted a Community Day at our favorite local library, Greenwood Public Library...this magician guy was pretty funny!

Mel got to represent Snow White, along with Lauren as Belle, Sarah as Aurora, and Annie as Tinker Bell. it was so flippin' adorable to see little kids walk up to them with adoration in their eyes....such sweet girls to play these roles. awwww. amazing!

such beauty...all over the place.

Levi really wanted to get his pic taken with all these pretty girls. Who could blame him? his big brothers weren't brave enough to do so...David did, but I will have to scan his pic in...he had it taken before I got there. ha ha. fun times.

Let me explain...look at the pic right below. This blue cat guy is Boomer...he is the mascot for our local Pacers team. As soon as Nora saw him, she kept her face buried for a good part of an hour...it was kinda funny. ya either love or hate him....he was a good sport. as you'll see below.

The princess squad even wanted a pic with Boomer.

Mel had to carry Piper over for her pic...she was none too thrilled.

Boomer was a good sport and snuck up behind our seated crew...notice Nora's hands. hilarious.

Grandpa and some of his girls!

Molly loves her Grandma. you just can't tell here...she was ready for some coffee.

Becky got brave and wanted a pic with Boomer!

Hi.

How are you?

All is well here...we are alive. that's about it. :) waaa. I'm such a complainer. forgive me. it's still winter.

We are thinking of high-tailing it outta here. just chucking all of our responsibilities and going to a beach or somewhere like that. Frisbee, quiet time, change of scenery. I dunno. we will see.

On a fun note, my little sister turns 33 tomorrow. WOW! I can't believe this...she was JUST 16. really. We are having her birthday party tomorrow, as well as Tom and David's. We figure it's 2 less cakes that none of us "need" (but surely want, yo). And I know she isn't fond of the combination party but....

this year, Tom turns 41. He's really ok with that. David, on the other hand, turns the big 4-0. To celebrate, we are hosting a roller skating party here in town...chock full of 80's music and good times. You know you are invited...you can contact me for the full details. It only costs 3 dollars for skate rental...admission is on us. After the skate, we are caravanning to a local restaurant, dutch, and will finish up the celebration there. This all takes place on March 19th. 3 days before David has surgery to ensure that #6 is our last. Pray for him...it's a wiggish event.

I hope to take lotsa pix tomorrow at the 3 in 1 party...I also hope to get our pix on here from last week's field trip to the Indiana Repertory Theatre's production of The Diary of Anne Frank. awesome. Promises, promises...I'll treadmill now and blog more later...I've posted the February 2011 album on Facebook so you can go see more of today's pix there...adios.

forgive the all over the placedness.

past few days....

This is CeCe....aka Cyndy. She was one of my first friends in Indy. She also was a bridesmaid in our wedding. She also just happens to be the sister of my brother in law, Scott. So fun to think we share nieces. Funny how those things work out, eh? In this pic, we are at Nora's little Christmas program last Thursday. Last night, we attended Piper's Christmas program...Surely Tom will be posting pix on Facebook for me to steal. love ya, Cyndy. you're a good auntie.

so nice to see some siding on the ol' abode!

Bye bye Tyvek...you've worn out your welcome.

due to the frigid temperatures, Randypants hasn't been able to finish the siding. Plus, he's working for D's company...there's even more than this above pic finished and even unfinished, David and I are just in awe of what a difference siding makes. Green makes me happy.

This group of kids and their mothers bought supplies for 12 gentlemen...gloves, socks, toothbrush and paste, lotion, etc....to donate to the Wheeler Mission Ministry here in Indy. My awesome, compassionate friend, Tammy, organized this. love that girl.

In other exciting yet scary news, I had my first prenatal with our uber cool midwife, Mary Helen on Wednesday. I am 13 weeks+ along and since it's early, she told me we may not hear the heartbeat. It only took her 30 seconds with her Doppler to find #6's heartbeat and kapow! it was so strong.

so real.

so undeniable that, yes, there is another Young a-brewing. Kinda makes it seem real. She was really surprised at how loud, steady the little ticker was. I bet it's twins. She also poked my finger (youch) and I am slightly anemic, which explains the breathlessness even though I exercise 6 days a week. My liquid iron should arrive on my doorstep today. We are sooo very happy with our midwife. She is so much like our previous one (who just lives too far away from us now)...and such a calming influence....yah.

I shall return later on to hopefully post more pix but for now, Mel and I are ditching the four other kids here at home while we venture out to do a little Christmas shopping/hunting.

See ya later, taters...

Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all!

I sincerely hope you had as wonderful of a day as my family and I had.

We awoke to pounding rain, wind and chill. Considering the previous 8 days, David said he just could NOT even consider getting up and enduring the annual Drumstick Dash. I was bummed. for 10 minutes. The weather said it'd be raining all morning...being wet and cold was NOT something he was up for and I followed suit. After texting my sister to see what she thought, finding out she thought that was a super idea to skip, I fell back to sleep.

I forgot to text Mel to tell her the news (she had spent the night at Beck's with Levi and Molly, who would be watched there by my gracious Mother while we hoofed it)...I got a text at 7:22, "MOM, are you coming????"

Needless to say, she was bummed. So were Will and Ethan. We got some great lime green DD shirts outta the deal and hey, our entrance fee goes to Wheeler Mission to feed the homeless....so it wasn't a lost cause.

Dinner was to be served at Beck and Scott's around 3...so we got there by 3:45. Thankfully, my dad wasn't there yet and we really can't start without him!

The food was delish and we paced ourselves. We took our annual Christmas card pic after eating.

Clean up is alwayyyyyyys fun, game time (Telestrations, referred to us by our friends, Jen and James P, a VERY fun game, go get it at Barnes and Noble), and dessert, which was strawberry Weight Watchers cake and Strawberry Dream torte (not currently endorsed by WW, folks).

Will and E. went to spend the night at my parents and David, Mel, Levi, Moo and I came home to play the Wii, which we can't seem to figure out without our older boys' help...settling for a few rousing rounds of Go Fish, which I won 2 of the 4 rounds. ha ha. (memory like an elephant).

Have you ever seen the Radio City Music Hall's Christmas show? We watched that for a bit on PBS...and my cousin Kara agrees, when they get in that line and do that leg kicking bit? I actually got a bit choked up. it was the weirdest thing...it wasn't a story about Christmas shoes or a Baby in a manger (which makes me choke up too), it was a line of leggy women, kicking in time and I got spicy eyes.

Go figure.

Today, the sun is shining, a welcome sight after the past few murky days...I have to run to the bank, avoid Black Friday sales, start taking my calendars seriously that I am making for gifts and find some more silver garland...

Tomorrow, my faithful, thoughtful, diligent, handsome husband and I will joyfully celebrate 17 years of marital bliss...Hope that this post finds you enjoying a much needed day off!

God Bless YOU!

Photo credit: Tom Greenhill photography

"You're my best friend, that's it...."

My best non-biological friend....we are both going in 150 different directions, kids here, there and everywhere, but it's so nice to know that we can pick right back up where we left off...and we have such a blast. She came into my life rather unexpectedly (I'm sure I've blogged about this) and at a time when I didn't think I needed another friend. Boy, was I wrong. God knew I needed THIS friend. She was a shoulder for me when all the friends I'd had were ditching me. And now that I look back on it, as much as it "hurt", she definitely made those times a lot less painful than they could've been. She is the most tender-hearted chick around, helpful, open to different opinions and looks at things clearly. Tambo, you are such a dear to me.

This pic of TK greeted me when I got onto Facebook today...and it's kept me smiling all day long. Love you, girl :D you are one of the finest! Lost without you, I would likely be. Thanks for holding me accountable in my relationship with Christ...I've learned so many GOOD things from you.

This gal knows me like nobody's business....I always felt bad for girls that had sister's, when I was younger and took her for granted. I knew the pain that was little sister. Now I feel sorry for girls if they don't have sisters or if they have them but aren't "tight".

in all reality, I always rather liked my kid sis. I loved to threaten her that I was going to run away if she didn't do what I told her to. I loved to try to get her in trouble by convincing her to swear when the tape recorder was on (thinking she couldn't hear the grinding sound of those cheap-o recorders)....I also enjoyed the fact that, like my Levi today, she was ALWAYS running around in just a shirt and undies. I love the fact that if I say something funny, she runs with it, getting all the credit for being funny! :D I love that she brought me a bag of Eclipse chocolates at Dr. Quill's last week...and we dug around for the Edward candies, only to discover that there weren't ANY, they were all Jacob. Wha??? she thinks of me in such fun, caring ways. I love her love language of GIFTS.

I know this past few weeks has been kinda rough on you, Beckyboo...I love you, pray for you and hope that things start looking up. I am so lucky to have such an incredible sister and BF. I'd be lost without you, too!

Hope your Wednesday has been most delightful. I don't know about your weather, but ours was simply gorgeous today. Get out there and enjoy it!!

P.S. this day last year is the day we left on our 3 week Great Adventure. hard to believe a year has come and gone. and what a year. whew.

a snippet here, a snippet there...

Sybil aka Molly

My momma

Tom with Aunt Nan

Melanie Kate

My firstborn with my Grandma's firstborn. awww.

Beck squeezing mercilessly on our beloved auntie

Barb

scoping out the scene...

Ethan James

Aunt Darlene showing her Sparty support.

Hello sweet cheeks

These stairs are irresistible for littles. You can't help but want to slide down them over and over. I slid these same stairs as a child.

David and Uncle Frank, talking biz

Piper, Uncle John, Will and Levi...we all had such a good time visiting with my Dad's side of the family.

that's about all the blogging I can handle on this day....this first day of Autumn, 2010.

I wondered why it was such a funnnnnky day...and then a friend on Facebook reminded me that it was indeed an Equinox and yes, Billy, those do mess with one's system.

It's messing with mine.

I have so very much to blog about and so little desire to do so. I know you are all waiting with bated breath to see what is next in my world. (really?)

eat your heart out!