"chemo is so 90's"

i really wasn't too sure what to label this post.. something sad and sappy or something uplifting..

the phrase "chemo is so 90's" was something erin told me lauren said when the nurse was talking about starting her chemo, and it's probably the only thing during my conversation with erin that made me smile. i was a wreck.
for those of you who don't know lauren has leukemia.
the schillers have honestly been my second family, and in fact my other name for vicki is my MOMOM (my other mom on main). erin and i became friends in 3rd grade, but truly became the best of friends probably in 6th grade. we've fought like sisters, acted like sisters and became sisters at some point in our life.  we got ourselves in a few pickles and have so many stories that probably only we would laugh at. our friendship has had it's struggles... boyfriends, different friends, different states, many different things have happened in our life, but somehow we still remain close through everything. and that is no different for her family. we have always been there for each other. i feel lucky to have shared so many remarkable memories with the schiller family, all of them. and soon this will only be something that we will look back upon... because lauren will get through this; she is strong and such a fighter. and she has her mom that will see that questions get answered and everything is done for lauren. God bless vicki for her no nonsense attitude when it comes to things like this.
the details of laurens leukemia is something i don't want to share with the world, it's not my story to tell... but i am asking and hoping for many prayers and thoughts for lauren and her family.

laurens love.

found this picture, from erin to lauren... i think it's fitting :)

blessed

i am so blessed to have my husband, my two beautiful and healthy boys, my mother and mother in law :)
...and of course the rest of our family as well.

mothers day was an absolutely beautiful day and we took complete, full advantage of it.
we woke up early, went to the park, got dressed and went out to eat at triple r in kimball for a wonderful and delicious brunch with dan's side of the family. we were there for quite a while because we enjoy each others company so much that hours go by, quick. after being there for a couple hours we said our goodbyes and shari gave sarah and i a beautiful hanging flower, love it! we then went to the smith residence to drop off a camper that dan borrowed the previous weekend for glendons bachelor party, and i got to see jer's new, cute as ever, pitbull puppy (so jealous by the way). gavin, well he was so interested in the sweet baby calves he almost followed craig into the pasture to check on a baby calf. he's pretty used to just going into the pasture with the horses that we need to instill some fear in him so he doesn't think he can just walk into ANY pasture... scary!
we continued on our way home, got jude down for naptime and spent the rest of the day outside. i got some "me" time to plant a bunch of flowers to make the front steps look a little bit better.
we honestly spent the entire day outside and have a pretty nice tan to show for it. it was glorious out this weekend and today is no different. we're currently taking a time out from the sun cause gavin was getting "hot mama" and a little red too- time to reapply that sun screen. the entire day was amazing and it really made me happy to be a mommy to my two wonderful love bugs! they were so so so good all day, i really felt lucky to have them. okay, back to what this post is about.

i have been wanting a double jogger for quite some time and have been pretty persistent in letting dan know that it is a purchase we need, not want. i have done the online search for which is best and what will have enough room for gavin and his 4 year old length (yes, he measures as tall as many 4 year olds) to grow into. we have looked high and low, asked our friends and even took a few out for a "test drive" at some stores- they'll let you do that if you ask, we felt like idiots ;) i believe our single in-step jogger we got for a sweet $50 on craigslist, even from litchfield... just two streets down. it has seen it's better days. but it works fabulous for gavin to be in and we've defiantly put on huge miles. but jude, not so much. it doesn't recline and the shade cover is pretty minimal, plus it's kind of starting to have that wear and tear look... which isn't a big deal, but i would just like something both boys could go in so we can go for walks everyday. we found this jogger, exactly what i had been searching for: schwinn turismo swivel wheel double jogger...  double seats, swivel front wheel, cup holders, thick tires... pretty reasonable price. i was set. and we were set on buying it until i found this beauty: the BOB revolution se duallie stroller... ahhhhhhh, i think i heard the angels singing :)

it is perfection. double seats, room for gavin to grow, thick wheels, annnnnnnnd a swivel AND locking front wheel. perfect for when i'm in the mood to run and push (not for awhile sadly) or just walk, easier than the fixed wheel. we talked and talked about purchasing this double but just couldn't bite it on the price. 

well, we were planning on today (monday) going to pick up the instep jogger from the cities after dans done with work but dan, the love that he is, surprised me with a picture of this beauty in my mothers day card. ah love him. we have a few extra things that need to get paid this week and if you know dan at all he's not at all about getting the account below a certain amount for extra splurges... so we are waiting until next thursday, after all the bills are out for the month and we have no payments for the next two weeks, to go pick up this beauty. 

i feel so lucky! 

lucky to have my husband, lucky to have my boys, lucky to have my parents, and dan's parents, the rest of our family and our freinds... our health, the ability to stay at home with my two kids and watch them grow, the roof over our heads, the food in our bellies and of course the love that we all share. 

this post kind of seems like it's all about what we can buy and afford, but really what i'm trying to put out is that dan is so sweet and loving and tries his hardest to make things wonderful for our family. i REALLY am blessed and so grateful for dan, and our boys and our family. 

i also am so happy to say that gavin is pretty much totally 100% potty trained. we still put on a diaper at night and if he is going to take a nap... but that's it. he's such a big boy. he isn't even going pee while sitting down, hes a big boy like daddy, and stands up ;) seriously he makes me so so happy, most days! and jude is growing up and is such a well behaved little almost three month old (one day shy)... again, i feel so lucky!

we have such a busy week with play-dates and park dates, and a shopping trip to hutch, that it's going to fly by. then this weekend we kick off the wedding season and my cousin ashley's shower dance with all of my crazy schramel family! first overnight away from my boys since the hospital trip... maybe i'll even sleep in? :)

... and to top it all off, the sandbox/playset will be built by the middle of june for gavin's THIRD birthday, where did time go?

hope all you mothers had a beautiful mothers day :)