There's no use crying over spilt milk.

Well, I did it.  I cried over spilt milk.  Breast milk actually.  Spilt all over the fridge.  Let's just say Saturday was a rough day.  It started out just fine; I attended Saturday school with Jemimah while Josh was able to spend some quality time at home with the boy.  When I got home we were planning on rushing out the door again to run errands.  We had A LOT to do that day.  Everything got put on hold though when I came home and saw pools of white in the fridge.  And because the husband and I got into an argument about it.  Kind of a big argument that involved saying things we didn't mean, blaming one another, and (me) playing the victim.  We hadn't had an argument like that in years.  We had turned something small into something monumental.  We hadn't believed the best about each other and we hadn't remembered that we were supposed to be one, and on the same team, as God has called us.  We forgave each other and found forgiveness in the Lord as well.  And after it got resolved we laughed about its origins.  Milk.  Really?  Well, I'm thankful for forgiveness that's for sure.  And, I'm thankful that God has a way of slowing us down and working on our hearts.  Even if it means spilling our milk.

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

-Colossians 3:12-13

drive thru date

I have always loved date night.  For 5 years of marriage Josh and I have made a habit of having a date at least once a week.  Dates can be anything from dinner and a movie to a walk around the lakes with a coffee stop (one of my faves!).  Since Ernie's been born we've missed several weeks of date night.  Josh must have noticed this downward trend so he decided to do something about it.  


One evening last week  we had finished running errands and were on our way home when we remembered we had a few movies to return to the redbox.  I returned the movies and hopped back into my usual spot (the backseat by baby) when Josh asked me from the rearview mirror if I wanted to have a little "drive thru date" with him.  I smiled; it sounded perfect.  We both ordered ice cream and I moved up to the front seat.  We sat in the McDonald's parking lot, listened to the Jayhawks on The Current, and caught up on life in whispers.

 Ernie Boy slept through the entire thing.  

It was a great date; I am anticipating the next!  

Thanks sweet husband for always finding creative ways to make me feel special.

Week Thirty Two

Josh and I had a lovely Saturday away to celebrate 5 years of marriage.  It was wonderful to drive amidst the rolling hills and open fields and reminisce together. 

We drove south and stopped in Stillwater for a few garage sales.

We then traveled to Red Wing for the afternoon.

 ice cream shop

 war museum (Josh's pick :) )

Here's the baby bump this week:

Hope you all enjoyed your weekends as well!

Much Love,

Jen

oh what a thrill

Today, at this very moment I would probably be dancing the "first dance" with my new husband.  We danced to an old country song we both grew up listening to...ever heard of "Oh What a Thrill"?  I can still picture the way he looked at me and I still remember thinking how blessed I was to be the wife of such an amazing man.  That feeling is still there today, just stronger.  Once in awhile, if I wake up before Josh in the morning and see him lying peacefully beside me, I can't help but tell God "thanks" for giving me such a wonderful husband.  These past five years have been a thrill and I look forward to many more! 

I love you Joshua!  Happy Anniversary!

Week Twenty Seven

Greetings Friends,

Here is "the bump" from this week:

Also, I just can't help gushing about my husband.  He made me "Mother's Day Breakfast" to be eaten on the front porch!  It was so sweet; he woke up early and prepared baked blueberry french toast and sausage.  It was very delicious! 

Speaking of this sweet guy...he also painted our nursery this weekend! 

I was happy with how the color turned out...light gray

Have a wonderful week!

                        Much Love,

                          Jen

Valentine's Date

Josh and I had an early Valentine's Date on Friday.  We took a trip down memory lane as we traveled down the streets of St. Paul.  We went to a restaurant on Grand Avenue called Brasa.  This neighborhood is special to us because it is where we lived our first year of marriage.  We have many fond memories of walks on Summit Avenue, ice cream stops at the Grand Old Creamery and laundry days at the Sel-Dale Laundromat.  We had never eaten at Brasa; it was delicious!  The food is described as "comfort food inspired by the creole cooking traditions of the Americas and the Caribbean".  Josh and I shared: poblano pepper dip appetizer, 1/2 rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes, romaine and mozzarella salad, and a chocolate torte for dessert.  We would highly recommend this place!  I'm sure we will be back soon.  Here are a few pictures from our lovely evening:

Happy (early) Valentine's Day!

Date Deals

Saturday the hub and I went out on a "day date".  Josh surprised me last weekend by rounding up all of our giftcards from the past year and planning a maternity shopping date (swoon :) ).  Even though I cleared out my closest a few weeks ago I realized my clothes were not quite fitting like they used to so I happily made a little more room for a few clothing purchases. 

First Stop: Blacklist Vintage
I had sold a dress here this summer for $10.50 in store credit.  I scoured the racks to find "vintage maternity" and didn't have luck.  The gal working ended up looking too and found a black skirt from the 60's!  I love it.  It is simple but the small detail of buttons on the back gives it a fun look.

Next Up: Lakeshore Learning
Yeah I know there aren't any maternity clothes here but sometimes you have to run errands on dates too :).
Next Up: Panera
Josh had a "free bakery treat" to use.  We indulged in a chocolate croissant.  He sipped coffee and I enjoyed my box of milk.

Next Up: Anthropologie
I didn't have any giftcards here and did not end up buying anything but wow, what a place to get inspired!
Here are a few pretty things from Anthro: latte bowls, paperclips (the most adorable ever made)

Next Up: H&M
Thanks Beth for the giftcard!  I bought two sweaters (not maternity, but they button in the front so I think they will work out for awhile) and a pair of black tights.
Next Up: Gap
No giftcards here but we were glad we stopped in; every clearance item was another 30% off!  Here were the purchases:

For Dinner: We stopped at Culvers for a couple of kid's meals (Thanks Jackie for the Culvers tickets!).  A hamburger and ice cream tasted so good :).

And so ended our day of deals.  Total Savings $68.00!

26 Memories

Josh's 26th Birthday was yesterday.  We celebrated with family at our house.  The guys helped Josh work on finishing the basement and the girls cooked up a storm in the kitchen.  The house was filled with the smells of good food and the sounds of laughter and good times.  I wanted to take a moment and look back on life and recall the four and half years Josh and I have been married.  I wanted to take time to remember my wonderful husband.  Looking back my mind is flooded with thousands of pictures that each have a story.  Here are just a few (26) memories that came to mind...

26 memories for you on your birthday
26. the day you asked me to marry you in parking spot v-8 (after your softball game)
25. your face when you saw me in my wedding dress for the first time
25. our crackerbox apartment on Holly Ave.: We had quite a few arguements while cooking in our 2 X 4   kitchen but I think we learned how to fight fair and we learned to forgive faster.
24. long walks on Summit Avenue (and the occasional stop at the Grand Old Creamery)
23. training for the the 10 mile race together
22. ministering in India with you
21. moving into our Huron Blvd. apartment and fighting off bedbugs from the tenants before us
20. slow-dancing in our living room
19. making tator tots at 2am for a study break
18. your internship at Medtronic and the amazing heart tools you worked with
17. Christmas Conferences in Atlanta, Chicago, and Milwaukee
16. fall walks along the riverside
15. the night you told me you felt called to move into Phillips
14. Tuesdays' new recipes night
13. you accepting the job at Graco
12. buying our first home
11. gutting our first home
10. fixing up our first home
9. trying to fit 30+ people in our living room for small group
8. fourth of July's at Wolf Lake
7. Caribbean vacations with your family
6. my kindergartners meeting "Mr. Jacobs" for the first time
5. winter weekends away at the cabin
4. walks along the greenway and drinking ice tea
3. eating outside at La Grolla and enjoying the first warm day of spring
2. the first night Jemimah moved in
1. looking at the pregnancy test with you and realizing we were going to be parents

Date Night (at home)

Josh and I try to maintain a tradition of having at least one date each week.  Dates can be anything from dinner, walking to the local coffee shop, heading to the farmer's market...the possibilities are endless!  My favorite dates are the ones Josh plans; he has great ideas.  This Thursday  when he picked me up from work he greeted me with flowers (always a great way to start date night :) ).

Josh not only surprised me with flowers but also with the offer to make dinner.  We had steak, shrimp, and vegetables.  He is a great chef!

Heart-shaped shrimp...what a guy :)

Almost 26

My wonderful husband took me out for a night on the town this Friday. We celebrated my 26th birthday one week early.

After work he surprised me with a few of my favorites....

Dinner was delightful at La Grolla in St. Paul. We had our favorite dessert (chocolate turtle cake) at Cafe Latte.

A wonderful way to celebrate 26 years!