The Straus Family

Where has the time gone?!?!

2009-04-07T21:57:00.000-07:00

Okay,

So I am WAY behind on this blog thing. I guess, the holidays came and went, we got the surprising news, and I mean VERY surprising news that I was pregnant on Christmas Eve, and then my bloggin days went totally by the way side. So, here I am to update and post a few things. Big news would be that our little Isabelle will join us (if not sooner) not later then August 21st, 2009. Thats the date I have scheduled for my c-section, and the tying of the tubes! :)

We feel we are totally blessed with our three little girls, and thank God that He actually feels like we can handle three little girls! John loves it, and says he wouldnt have it any other way. He loves that fact that he has three "daddies little girls" and that the two, and Im sure the third, just love him to pieces, and think that he is their hero. Thats about it for now. I will try to get this thing updated more often now, that my horrible first 19 weeks of puking morning, noon, and night are finally over!

Been a little Busy

2008-11-15T23:12:00.000-08:00

I guess I have been a little busy because I just realized I haven't posted anything in way over a month. Which would mean that I have missed the girls birthdays on here, Annie being born, Halloween, and most likely some other big fun events that I can't remember. But oh well, the life of a Mom I guess. The girls are both growing up so fast and I have to have my camera on me all the time to catch everything "in the moment". And someday, I will get around to scrap booking all these wonderful memories!

Family Fun

2008-09-27T22:51:00.000-07:00

After Megan's shower this afternoon we got some updated family pictures. One is of all the grand kids and great-grand kids, with the exception of my cousin Jason, who wasn't here today. Also, my cousin Leah was in town from DC and she wanted one with her and her two red headed "mini-me's". So, the picture is of her, my niece Kylie, and Gracie. Also, a couple pictures of Gracie swinging for the first time! She loved it!!

Megan's Baby Shower

2008-09-27T22:48:00.000-07:00

Today we had Megan's family baby shower at Mom and Dads house. It was a fun afternoon filled with fun and laughter. After the shower we all hung out as the kids played, and then went out for dinner as a family.

Mommy's Birthday

2008-09-27T22:44:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday night (9/20) John and the girls took me for an early birthday dinner. We had a great evening together as a family. The next day on my birthday we went to church and then went over to my parents for a birthday lunch and celebration. Here are a couple pictures from the day.

Gracie pulling herself up

2008-09-06T21:11:00.001-07:00

Just this weekend Gracie has figured out how to pull herself up on things. She is so proud of herself when she does it!

Church BBQ

2008-09-03T18:58:00.000-07:00

Well, we were off to the annual church BBQ tonight. It was just the girls and I because John pulled a 14 hour day on graveyard shift last night and didnt get home until 12pm today. I got a couple cute pictures of Gracie with Auntie Megan!!

Maddy's First Day of Kindergarten

2008-09-02T09:43:00.000-07:00

Here is Maddy all ready for school. She was so excited! She is going to have a very fun year in Mrs. Rosie's class.

Mommy and her Girls

2008-09-01T22:26:00.000-07:00

A Day at the Beach

2008-09-01T22:21:00.000-07:00

Today the girls and I went to the beach. It was Gracie's first time getting her toes in the sand. It was really the funniest thing I think I have ever seen her do. She was a little reluctant at first when I set her down. But after I got her shoes and sock off she kept running her fingers through the sand and smiling and then actually started squealing. It was so cute. Maddy had a good time too looking for sea shells and "treasures" as she likes to call them.

Gracie

2008-08-16T23:20:00.001-07:00

Just a couple cute pictures of the red head!!!

Where has the summer gone?

2008-08-16T23:13:00.000-07:00

I really can't believe Maddy will be going back to school in two weeks. It seems crazy to think how fast this summer has gone for us. John has just finished his FTEP training for Marion County and as of Monday he will be officially on his own as a deputy sheriff! Wahoo!!! I can officially brag on him because he has worked so hard and Im so very proud of him. He is so dedicated to our family and taking care of us not only physically, spiritually, and emotinally, but also financially. He has worked so very hard to get where he is right now and I couldnt be prouder!

Last night I won tickets from work and took the girls to the baseball game and it was a lot of fun. HOT (101) but very fun. I posted a picture of Maddy at the game and also one of Daddy and Gracie crashed out for a nap on the floor earlier this week.

Reinhardt Wedding

2008-07-28T21:48:00.000-07:00

Here is a couple pictures of the girls and I at our friend Kris and Heidi's wedding. It was at an absolutely beautiful location in the country by a pond. Also, I added one of Gracie with my Dad, and one of my very beautiful pregnant sister Megan with her husband Brian.

Night of Fire Car Show

2008-07-19T21:09:00.000-07:00

Last night when I got home from work John had the girls all ready to go to the car show at church. It was pretty fun looking at some of the old cars. Maddy had a good time trying out the rock wall. Although I think she scaled the light pole better then the wall.

Maddy Horsing Around

2008-07-16T22:51:00.001-07:00

At my company picnic last Saturday Maddy got to ride the horses again. Its her favorite thing that she looks forward to when we go. It was a lot of fun. Here is a couple pictures. Gracie slept the entire time we were there, but I added a picture of her cuddling with Daddy on the couch at home that evening.

Fireworks

2008-07-04T23:04:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple pictures from this evening when we watched the fireworks. Pop also helped Maddy do her first sparkler this year.

Happy 4th of July

2008-07-04T22:57:00.001-07:00

Well today was a very busy day. I took the girls over to the Independence parade (which we do every year) and they both had a good time. Maddy of course met a new friend (she seems to meet one any where we go) and thats the little girl with her in the pictures. We then headed over to Megan and Brian's for a BBQ and then back home for a rest. Then about 8:30pm we went over to my folks house and Maddy got to do fireworks with the neighbor kids before heading over to our grassy spot behind Target to watch the fireworks go off after the baseball game. It was very fun, but we are all pretty tired. Im sure we will all sleep good tonight!

Safety Town

2008-07-03T18:24:00.001-07:00

Maddy just finished her first week of Safety Town. She is learning so much about personal safety, fire safety, water safety, and so much more. She has one more week of it and then she graduates next Thursday.

The Drive-In

2008-07-02T21:13:00.000-07:00

Monday night we surprised Maddy and packed up the truck with blankets, popcorn, and snacks and took her to her first Drive-In movie. We told her to get jammies on and then we got in the truck and wouldnt tell her where we were going. It was so funny to see her face and when she said "were going to watch a movie outside, sitting in the back of the truck?!". We cracked up laughing. We saw the new Disney movie WALL-E. It was okay. The whole drive-in experience was the most fun of all though. Even Gracie seemed to have a good time.

Hot Summer Days are Here

2008-06-27T23:24:00.000-07:00

Well, we hit the 90's today and it sure was hot. Daddy decided to surprise Maddy today and went out and bought us a little pool for the backyard. So when she got home from VBS and saw it she ran so fast to get her swimsuit on. After nearly 20mins of lathering all of us in sunscreen we jumped in. Well, Daddy had just filled it, and needless to say the water was VERY cold. Gracie wanted nothing to do with it so she stayed in the shade and played. I was brave and actually crawled in with Maddy. I was pretty much numb from the waste down after sitting in it for a few minutes. Maddy didnt seem to mind at all though!

Ready, Set, ALMOST Go

2008-06-27T23:21:00.001-07:00

Well, Gracie is getting VERY close to crawling. She gets very excited when she is on all fours and rocks back and forth. Im thinking our days of the Little Red sitting still may soon be over!

Daddy and his girls

2008-06-24T21:45:00.000-07:00

I had to grab a quick picture of John with the girls today on the bike. When he moves it from the back yard to the front Maddy gets to ride with him. So I grabbed Gracie real quick and got her in on the picture too!

Maddy in Camo

2008-06-24T14:23:00.000-07:00

Well,

We finally found a pair of Camo pants for Maddy. She has been begging for them for months. And to top it off she was so excited when we found a pair of matching flips flops at Target. She was quite offended with the cashier said "oh, these are for boys". Maddy had to tell her, that no, there not just for boys!!!

Watch out boys, this is one tough girl!!!

Wagon Ride to the Park

2008-06-24T14:20:00.001-07:00

Daddy had a great idea tonight. We got the wagon down and walked to the park. The girls loved it and Gracie smiled the whole way there and back. Big Sister Maddy thought the ride was pretty cool and loved riding together with Grace. It was a fun evening together as a family.

Laundry and Housecleaning

2008-06-13T12:32:00.000-07:00

Well, not much going on. Maddy is out of school now and really missing her friends. Next week she starts VBS at her old school for a week. And then the following week another VBS at a church around the corner from Mom and Dads. That should keep her busy for a couple weeks. Gracie and I are justing getting over some nasty colds. I really hate getting colds in the summer time. It just doesnt seem to go together ya know? Daddy is busy back at the Jail doing his training, and really enjoying it.

Well, we need to get back to cleaning and laundry. Fun, Fun.

Mommy and the Girls

2008-06-01T19:57:00.000-07:00

Last month I won tickets from work to ride in a limo to and from the Keizer Iris Festival parade. We had so much fun. Here are a couple pictures from the day.

2008-06-01T19:55:00.000-07:00

Johns Graduation

2008-06-01T19:46:00.000-07:00

Friday May 30th was an exciting day for us. John completed is training for corrections at the DPSST Academy and graduated. He has worked so hard this past 5 weeks and has had to endure a lot and we are very proud of him. He is now back at the jail doing his FTEP training and will continue that for the next 3-4 months before he is officially on his own. Friday was also Maddy's last day of pre-school. We quickly stopped by the school and gave hugs to Mrs.Julie (who she has had the past two years) and her classmates before heading to Daddy's graduation. Next year she will be going back to Salem Christian for kindergarten. I can hardly believe Maddy will be old enough for kindergarten!!! Little sister Gracie will sure miss her Im sure while she is gone.

Something New

2008-05-24T23:10:00.000-07:00

Well, Im going to try this blogging thing and see how it goes. I guess its a cool way to share whats going on in our lives, and whats new with the girls. Hope you enjoy!

love,

the straus family