Sydney's first day of ballet

Sydney loved ballet class! However, while all the other girls were learning first position..my daughter was the one holding a scarf over her face and spinning. Syd marches to the beat of her own drum...just like her mama ;p

Kids first day of school

Joe Mack started 2nd grade and Sydney started pre-k. Where does the time go???? Sometimes I wish they could stay this age forever...

Aiden loves his big sister!!!!

Aiden Michael Van Straten

Well my lil angel was born on 7/28/09. He was 6lb 12oz and just perfect!!!!! He looks so much like me(for right now)and is the sweetest baby. Joe has been off for the past two weeks to help me. It was so nice to spend that time with him and the kids. Joe Mack and Sydney LOVE their lil brother and want to do anything they can to help mama ;p
Here are a few pics, I'll try to blog more when I can. Being a mama of three sure keeps me busy!!!!!!

Aiden is almost here......

Well, here I am at 39 weeks. My scheduled induction is on Tuesday but I am hoping to go into labor naturally before then!!!! It has been a long 9 months and I am ready to be un-pregnant!!!!!

Countdown for baby has officially begun

Wowzers, I have been so busy the last couple of weeks. Having both the kids home all day has been crazy!!!!! I am now 34 wks! WOOHOO! And my ob has decided that if I have not gone into labor by the 28th of July he is going to induce me...AWESOME!!!!Now all of our family in Houston can better plan on coming out here.
Joe Mack is going away for his first time ever. He is going to Houston for 3 wks!!!! He leaves around the 4th of July and will come back with my in-laws on the 25th. I am sad that he's leaving, it will be our first time apart. ;(
Joe got a bike!!! He looks so good on it and I'm jealous that I can't go ridin with him right now. Sydney is doing good and will be starting pre-k in August. ;(
Yesterday Joe's command had a family day picnic and then we got a tour of Raymond James Stadium(where the Bucs play). We had a blast however, it was too hot for preggo here!!
Here are some pics of Joe's bike and from the tour yesterday.....

I thought I loved you then....

I heard Brad Paisley's new song this morning and it brought me to tears. I couldn't help but think of Joe and I. We have been together for 9 years, have two beautiful kids together(and one more on the way),and have persevered so much. The song took me back to the night we met and how unexpected it was. We came together like magnets and had our first date the very next night. We have been inseperable since then. Looking into his eyes, I knew I felt something I had never felt before but we seemed so young(19). Eight months later he joined the Marines and left for boot camp. He proposed to me two weeks before he left. I was a little unsure if I was ready for marriage because we were so young but I knew I loved this man more than anything. Being without him for three months is what really set it in for both of us. When he came home for boot camp leave, we planned our wedding in a week!! I told him that I wanted travel with him and that my home was where he was. I thought I loved him then, but now when I look at him, he is my whole world and I love him more than I did then. Since I am reminiscing and all, here are some of our wedding pictures. The date was 4/28/01....we were only 20. Crazy....