July Birthday Extravaganza!

The three most important people to me all have birthdays that fall in the same week. It is a pretty crazy and blessed happenstance. (Emily's is July 9, Eliza July 11, and Kevin July 13). This year we celebrated with a big family birthday party that fell on Kevin's actual birthday this year.

Earlier in the week on each of the girls birthdays we did birthday presents from us, sang happy birthday, and ate cupcakes. Emily got a couple princess dresses and a memory game. While Eliza got a car to play with outside. She is very into anything that moves these days. It was great to take time on their individual birthdays to make them each feel special. It is definitely something we will continue to do year in and year out.

The family party was a great time as well. The weather cooperated and wasn't too humid. The kids had fun playing in the jumpy house, sprinkler, and small pool we have. We feel so blessed to have so many of our family members there to help us celebrate. The girls both received mountains of presents and felt the love from everyone. It was a great day but I am pretty happy I don't have to do it again until next year. :)

That night we had a few friends over for a fire and beverages on our patio to celebrate Kevin's birthday. It was a nice low key evening with good friends.

All and all it was a blessed and happy week.

Helping make cupcakes for her class

I want to help too! 

Happy Birthday Princess! 

Blow out the candles

Happy birthday to Liza Lou!

I love my car!

Fourth of July!

The fourth of July is my most favorite holiday. I love being outside, watching the parade, and taking in fireworks at night. This year we spent the fourth in Cedarburg. Cedarburg on the fourth is just great. It is everything you would expect from a small town. By the time we rolled into town the night before the entire parade route was already lined with chairs. Kevin found this to be incredibly amusing

We started out the morning doing the DK5K run/walk. The DK5K is a memorial run/walk done in memory of my friend Brett's father. We were able to see some of my friends from high school and had a lot of fun catching up. After the walk we found our chairs (placed the night before) to take in the parade with my parents. Emily had a great time waving and dancing and picking up the candy. She was very happy to see the princesses that were in the parade ( Fairest of the Fair and the Poppy Princess). We ended up taking home what felt like a pound of candy. Liza clapped along with the music and even got a little nap in.

That night we left the girls at my mom and dad's because they were both in desperate need of sleep and the fireworks just went too late. Kevin and I went down to the park and watched the fireworks with some old friends of ours. We had a great time.

The Sunday after the fourth we went to Aunt Monica's and Uncle Ron's for the annual Krause Family picnic. Emmy had a great time playing in the sprinkler with all of the kids. It was pretty warm out but it was a great day! It is always great to see everyone. 

DK5K

Waiting patiently for the parade to begin

Comfy spot

Nap time

Nana and Papa

All of the Krause kids

Jumping rope

A year ago...

A year ago was my last day of work before I became a mother of 2. That wasn't really the plan but we were experiencing a triple degree heat wave, Eliza was in a very low uncomfortable position, and I. Was. Done. I spent the next 10 days at home waiting. I was waiting for what I now know as our ordinary, disorganized, and perfect family life. One that no one really could have prepared me for.

A year ago our life was a little less chaotic, a little less demanding, and had a piece missing (even if I didn't know it at the time). Nothing could have prepared me for the year that we have had. Having two kids is hard work. But I have known from the minute Eliza Jane was born that we needed her in our world as much as she needed us. She is the missing piece to our family. I now feel that our little family is complete. She has taught me that I can love more than I thought, be more patient then I thought, and be stronger then I thought. I have also watched Emily grow since Eliza's birth. She now has someone to care about, play with, teach lessons to, and learn from. It is a beautiful thing to watch the two of them interact.

A year ago I had no idea what to expect of being a mother of 2. It has been the greatest joy and greatest challenge of my life. One that I would never give back.