Monday, September 2, 2013

New Beginnings

My oh my, its been awhile since I've blogged!  And, since I'm feeling less than creative, perhaps, I'll simply show some photos of what we've been up to!  

We sold our house in less than 24 hours and packed up 5 years of our lives in a few short weeks!  Or, rather 3 days, thanks Mom!  We loaded a Uhaul (and various trips with full loads to Columbus and Coldwater), drove 2 hours north and unloaded our belongings into Mike & Donna's house and a storage facility!
Last photo on the porch of 7020 Copperglow Ct (the night we left)
The boys on the truck!


We celebrated Jack's 4th Birthday...3 times!  Due to the timing of the move, we postponed the birthday party we were going to have.  Well, since he's 4 now, he knew that his birthday was coming up and I didn't have the heart to continue pushing it back.  So, we celebrated, after football, on July 31st!  Romy was in bed, but Jack ate the icing off his cake and opened some presents!
Yeah!  I'm 4!
Birthday #2 at Grammie and Pop's!  Hooray for this awesome scooter!
Joint birthday party with Avery!  Its so much fun being the same age!


We burnt through a bunch of ride tickets in less than an hour at Coldwater Community Picnic!  But, look at those smiles!
More more!
I'm gonna getchya!
Papa's "Monster Truck"!


We went to Michigan to visit the Garza's!
The boys playing with their new "Planes" toys!  
Best Buds!
Lining up cars!
Sweet Sarah and Jack "swinging'!

Jack started school!  PRESCHOOL!  He was allowed to pick out his new backpack (and no, there is no Lightning McQueen plastered on it) and also his own folder for his school papers!  He is SO excited to go to school 3 days a week and last week chowed down his lunch and had his backpack on 40 minutes before we needed to leave the house!
First day of school!

And, we spent the last official weekend of summer at Lake Sullivan with the whole Bruns gang!  The sky was a little cloudy and the water a little murky, but we had a great time!
I sure hope we go fast!!!!
My fearless fishy!
Mom & Romy enjoying the sunset cruise!
Dad and Jack cruisin'

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

8 Years Later


Well, that picture may not have been taken on OUR wedding day, 8 years ago, but it was taken ON a wedding day!  (Thanks E & JB!)

It feels like ages ago, that we stood infront of 200 of our friends and family to vow for better or worse!  Thankfully, we've had a lot of better!  And our worse...really not that bad!  There have been ups and downs and I like to believe they've only made us stronger, more united, as "one"!

Okay, okay, enough sappiness!  In 8 years...
We've gone through a couple job changes, moved from KY to OH, bought our first house, lost some hair, had some hair go gray, (both hair adventures are likely caused by me, but on Mark's head ;-)!), and became parent's to two beautiful and healthy baby boys!

In our 8th year of marriage, we're expecting another adventure!  We'll be selling our first home, moving from a big city to a 3 stop-light town, probably losing a few more hairs, and I'm certainly likely to go gray from this adventure, and who knows...maybe another baby will be joining the family (one with 4 legs)!

Cheers!

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Hello...June

As the boys grow older, I realize I have less and less to share each month!  (Especially poor Roman...his baby book is no where as complete as his big brothers!  As the 2nd child myself, one would think I would pay more attention to these things!)

Anyway, this month has been filled with summer fun!  So, I'm borrowing the idea from Amy's blog in her "Hello Monday" series!  (Thanks Ams & http://www.countingmykisses.com/ for the idea!)


Hello...my fearless child who loves to help with household chores, like cleaning the gutters!  You make sure I know I still have a pulse, multiple times, daily!



Hello...trips to the park, and Jack wanting to do everything all by himself!



Hello...to sprinkler fun!



Hello...to a house full of boys and shrubs that need watering!



Hello...to Jack becoming more fearless and harnessing his inner Uncle Hube!



Hello...to corn-on-the-cob!




Hello...to Drumsticks!




Hello...to brotherly love!



Hello...to ending our busy days, washing our stinky toes with lots of giggles and splashes!


Monday, May 27, 2013

Pictures

Memorial Day weekend marks the official beginning of summer...which means, LOTS of time outside!  Thus, leading to LOTS of pictures!  (Maybe I shouldn't mention the 4 pairs of shorts each little boy went through today!)  It was a fun-filled weekend!  Enjoy!
Attempt at a Birthday pic with the boys!
Happy Birthday to Mommy!
ChooChoo!
Its cold!

Thanks for filling my gun.  Let me see if it works!
Practicing fishing!  Ready for the lake
Lunch outside!
Get hi while he's down!
Mommy better change me into my swim gear before I dump this cup all over me!



Monday, May 20, 2013

Crazy, Stupid, Love

My oh my, its been awhile since I've shared in writing our lives!  I've been thinking about it, I just haven't hunkered down to do so.  (And, needless to say, pictures will have to wait - that's what's time consuming!)  

Spring in the Bruns' Household has been a tad on the CRAZY side!  Crazy busy, Crazy kids, and just a little full blown CRAZY!  I quit my job, started a new job, left the new job, enjoyed the unemployed life, and went back to my old job.  All prior to Mark interviewing for three jobs, which would take us closer to family.  I was an anxiety-filled nutcase (thank goodness for Fitworks) and we took each day as it came.  Needless to say, we're staying put in Cincinnati - leading to some obvious disappointment and a few sighs of relief.  Now, there's more crazy coming as we're planning our summer!  (I say this every year (and to think, it almost got 100% worse) football really cramps our life!)  

The stupid: "Don't say stupid"!  Did I mention the whole job thing?  Totally stupid.  And, since we don't say "stupid" - lets just call it SILLY.  These little boys are SILLY!  (And crazy!)  The little boys are a riot!  Roman is really turning into his own person!  He doesn't really have any words yet, but, he's a really good pointer and grunter!  His words do sound like "this" and "bowl".  (Although bowl can be a reference to any eating utensil.)  He can certainly communicate when he's not getting what he wants!  And, you definitely know when you've figured out what he wants!  He has an excited giggle when you get him a bottle or cup and he stomps his feet, grins from ear to ear, and flaps his arms when he's getting a snack.  He LOVES to go outside.  As soon as his shoes are on, he's at the door.  And if anyone opens the door, he'll plow through the world to get out first.  And as soon as the garage door is up - he's out!  He loves the sandbox, prefers Jack's tricycle, likes helping Daddy blow the driveway, and wants to do everything his big brother does outside (like jump from the retaining wall).  He has also learned to quickly climb the stairs, and after a few days with Nana, has learned to safely decent.  Not to say my stomach doesn't jump to my throat when he starts, but, atleast I've witnessed a gate malfunction, to find him a few steps down, smiling up at me.  (CRAZY...and stupid!)  He is really good at making noise and bath time is not quiet time in this house.  He hates being confined - stroller walks have been unsuccessful and long grocery/Target shopping is out of the question!  But, when in doubt...pop in his paci and hand him his monkey!  

As for Mr. Jack - he's nearly 4.  We've had a trying few months with him...listening, focusing, sharing, and whining have all been a focus.  Yet, he has his moments when you catch him giving his little brother a "strawberry" (ie a raspberry/zerbert), handing his brother a toy, helping clean up all his toys without arguing, eating all his food, saying please and thank you (without prompt), and just being a super wonderful sweet little boy.  He definitely keeps himself balanced - with every trying day, we get a wonderful day.  His imaginative play is continuing to grow - and the games he makes up makes me giggle.  I have a hunch they're inspired by a Disney show, but that's ok.  He's started singing all the time, riding his "motorcycle" (ie tricycle),  blowing bubbles, tossing the "beach ball", and learning to whistle (I didn't teach him)!  He likes to watch "his shows" in our bed at nighttime, help make muffins or brownies on the weekend, and just last week he wanted his own cart at the grocery store!

Did I mention how much I love these crazy silly boys?  Among the toy stealing they do, they are finally starting to play together.  Roman loves being anywhere near Jack and of course whatever Jack is doing, Roman wants to be doing the same thing!  Both boys still love stealing hugs, kisses, and tickles from us!  

Monday, May 6, 2013

Home

What is it about going home that makes my heart smile?  I can't decide if its the fact that I get a chance to pawn the boys off on Grammie and Pop, or the fact that the bar is free, or that instead of constantly taking care of people, I get taken care of as well.  I really think its that last part that I love so much!

I love turning left onto 161, knowing that in a few minutes I'll be home!  Driving over the railroad tracks and knowing that thankfully, I have 1 more minute to hold my bladder!  Turning right onto Maplebrook Ln and knowing that the 4th house on the left, is the one that will have the front door open, a bottle of Chard chilling, the bathroom waiting, and four arms open!

There is something about the smell of the Kensinger home that I love!  (Perhaps its the fresh stain from getting new windows!  Or the fact that I don't get a whiff of a diaper pail that doesn't quite hold in the stench!)  The sight of the off-white paint, the bench which once held our school bags now gets dumped with diaper bags and purses, the kitchen table which we gathered for nightly dinners thus leading to talks, fights, and prayers, the painting of Kuenzli Quarry, and the built-ins that proudly display pictures of my children and niece and nephew!  (Yes, notice how I didn't say pictures of me or Elizabeth ;-)!)

And, I swear, the house sits on the lot, just so, that there is always a lovely breeze coming in from the kitchen window!  The coffee smells better in the mornings!  The wine goes down more smoothly during cocktail hour!  And the food, ALWAYS tastes better!

It must be the love that seeps from the walls!

I hope that my boys feel the same excitement turning onto Maplebrook Ln, and Pauline Dr for that matter as I did turning onto Dolly Ave!  I hope they enjoy the smells coming from the oven as I did flowing from the blue kitchen!  I've heard them squeal with delight as they see the smiling faces that anxiously await for their arrival, much like the "sleeping" white haired and bald grandparents awaiting zerberts on the green davenport when I was little!  (If only we still had that sky blue Chevy pickup truck ;-)!!!)

I hope that the boys find the same comfort in coming home with their family as I do and I hope they feel the same love pouring from our walls, now and always!

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Winter Wonderland

Its March!  Winter should be over right?  Well friends, this is Ohio!  And, of course...its snowing!  (Let me just add that we recently got home from Wadsworth, where there were inches on the ground - to, wetness and no accumulation.  Typical!)

January was a month spent coming down from the December high!  It felt like it took weeks to get our lives and house organized and un-decorated!  And the 28 days of February were a whirlwind of same 'ole , same 'ole!
One of his favorite games!
Acting like Dad!

Its been a typical winter in Cincinnati...snow and warmth and everything in between!  Thus leading to some running noses and of course, with a new walker, scraped noses!  I feel like the boys have had some milestone accomplishments the past two months as well - but when I look at my list (yes, I have a list so I don't forget), its not as exciting as I thought!

But, we'll start with Jack!  We preschool shopped for Jack!  Yes, one must shop for a preschool.  (Not to mention fill out an application and pay an enrollment fee!  I'm surprised there's no essay required!)  Its taken me a year to adjust to the idea of sending Jack to school...it seems like something big kids do!  And, developmentally, I didn't this he was ready!  Well, the kid has learned a lot...numbers, songs, letters.  And, on our tour, is the size of the kindergartner's   So yes, I think its time for preschool!  His numbers need a little practice and his letters need even more!  With this decision of preschool in the near future, and trouble getting the night owl to bed earlier than 10:00, we occasionally drop a nap.  Some days are better than others, and some days he makes it through almost an entire movie before dosing off!  He's also learned to dress himself!  It is a great time saver in the mornings!  Of course, we occasionally realize he put his underwear on backwards or his head gets stuck in a shirt, but, this piece of independence is appreciated!
Puzzle King!

Weeeeeee!!!  We're heading for a treeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
All by myself!
See how fast I am =)! 
Trying to clean up the dirt!

As for Roman...his personality is developing by leaps and bounds and he is definitely a stinker!  He got his first pair of shoes, in part to losing one at the grocery and also his increasing steps!  He started clapping and playing peek-a-boo by covering his eyes with his hands.  He's cut more teeth, is repeating actions, and is trying to use silverware.  He is constantly following us around the house, thus leading him to take a tumble down the basement stairs when I was doing laundry (even though Jack and Daddy were playing in the family room).

Not so sure about the snow!  (And, unable to move!)
Time to start chores!
Why not sit in the Lego tub?
 (This also doesn't help the bumps on my head  because I fall out of this too!)
Up and Down!