Top 10 Board Games (2 Player)

Adam likes to pick on me about being predictable when it comes to the boardgames that I pick for us to play. What can I say, I like what I like. Anyways, it got me thinking about those games so I decided to make a list.

My Top 10 Board Games (2 Player)

10. Carcassonne - This game is a tile-placement game where you are matching sides to create a French landscape in hopes to score the most points on your cloisters, cities, roads, or farms. Carcassonne is quick with 2 players. I prefer the basic game since I have found it difficult to keep my "sore loserness" in check when it is just Adam and I playing. The basic game can be mean, but not as mean as with the other expansions. I like this game because it is unique in the fact that you design the board as you go.




9. Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries - In this game, you collect cards that correspond with the board to place out trains in order to complete routes on tickets that are hidden from others by connecting different cities. In all honesty, I like this game because Adam is great at most games, but this game is one that I most consistently beat him at. So aside from winning, I enjoy this game because of being able to complete routes secretly and see them come together on the board. And it is a really pretty game.

8. Castles of Burgundy - Castles is all about building your settlement in the order that will help you gain the most points overall. This game is also in my original top 10 games ever that I wrote last January. I like this game because I enjoy putting my settlement together and that you can win with lots of different strategies. Adam likes to ship a lot and I like to collect the different buildings.






7. Galaxy Trucker: Anniversary Edition - This game is fun and crazy. Everyone races to build their spaceship before the time runs out. Then, you face all sort of good things like goods to ship and bad things like space pirates that shoot at you and hope that your spaceship can survive the trip. I hated this game the first time I played it because I ended the game with 0 points. One of the expansions in the anniversary edition even adds negative points, but I was playing the base game the first time I played. After playing a few times, I learned how to build my ship better so it can withstand the torments that it faces, making me a little better at the game. I like this game because it is unique in it's game-play as well as it doesn't burn the brain like others can. All around just lots of fun.



6. Suburbia - In this game, you lay tiles in your own little city to make money in hopes of gaining a higher population than anyone else. Everyone also has their own secret goals that gain them extra population if they are completed by the end of the game. I like this game because of the interaction between the tiles you place in your city. For instance if you place a lake next to a tile, you get $2 for that tile. So, it really matters where you place your tiles.




5. Legacy: The Testament of Duke de Crecy - Legacy is about, well your legacy. You are marrying people off in hopes to have the most prestigious legacy. I like this game because I enjoy watching my family line come together. If you were to play this with more than 2 players, you better have a very large table to play on because the family trees take up quite a bit of space.





4. Le Havre - This game is all about gaining wealth. You want to purchase buildings that are efficient and help you gain more wealth. You also want to gain resources to use to build ships to gain food to feed your family. I like this game because it moves quickly and has the building aspect that I enjoy.







3. Trajan - In Trajan, you are trying to get the most points by gaining power in different areas of Roman culture. The turns are guided by a Mancala like mechanic. This is my favorite part of the game because you are limited to certain actions by the number of cubes you have in each bowl. I also like this game because it seems to have multiple ways to win. I enjoy trying different strategies.






2. Ginkopolis - In this game you add tiles to the edge of the city or to the existing city to give you points, resources, or more tiles. I like this game because I feel like I could always do better. Adam and I just played this for our best of 3 and I lost because of silly mistakes that I had made. I already look forward to playing this one again and hopefully this time I will win.






1. Agricola - Agricola is a farming game. You have your own individual farm and farmers that you use to take actions in hopes to make your own farm more successful than all of the other farms. I like this game because I get to build my own little farm and watch it grow. This is a game I feel as though I have gotten better at, but honestly still feel terrible at. I also like this game because it is so logical that I feel like anyone can understand how to play.





If you haven't played one of these games, you should definitely come over and play or find someone who owns them and play. It would totally be worth your time. 

Top 10 Board Games

Adam keeps harassing me about writing this blog. Apparently he asked me to write quite a while ago and I agreed to do it, but until now have put it off. (If you would like to know more about any of these games just search for them here.) So, my Love, here is my list.

TOP 10 BOARD GAMES

10. 7 Wonders - This game can be played with 7 players and it does not change the length of the game whatsoever because you all play at the same time. I enjoy it because it takes some thinking, but it is not a brain burner so it doesn't have a ton of waiting on other players. And I probably like it more because I beat a table full of guys in the demo hall at GenCon the first time I played it. :)

9. Traders of Carthage - This game is 2-4 players, but I prefer it 2 player. There is more control in a 2 player game and that makes the game have more strategy. It is not a long game and it does not take up a lot of room so this is usually a date night at Starbucks game. This game is enjoyable because Adam and I can have conversation and still play a strategic game.

8. Macao - Macao is also 2-4 players. Adam and I usually play it 2 player, but I really don't have a preference for how many play. Everyone has a ship's wheel numbered 1-6 that you rotate each turn that points to the number of cubes you get that turn. That mechanic is what makes this game different than other games we play and is why I like this game.

7. Endeavor - It is funny to me that I like Endeavor as much as I do. I hate conflict so if a game offers a war element, I am not usually on board to play. This game has that element and yet I really like it. This game plays 3-5 players. I think I like it best with 4 simply because most shipping lanes open up. My favorite thing about Endeavor is that it is a fairly simple game with minimal rules, but is super strategic and can be won in a variety of ways. There are not a lot of games that I don't mind teaching and this is one of them.

6. The Castles of Burgundy - I was torn between this and Endeavor, but since this can be played 2 player it beat Endeavor for 6th place. Personally I like this game because I like that I have my own player board that I get to build on. I prefer to play this 2 player because it can be a pretty long game with more players.

5. Puerto Rico - This game is awesome. It is 2-5 players. With my own player board, I get to build again. There is shipping and trading and city building and prospecting. I think what I like most about this game is how pretty it is. Even before we bought the anniversary copy, I have always thought this game had nice bits. Not to mention that this was one of the first games we bought as a married couple. We played it a ton with our neighbors and friends Derrick and Renee. So, this game is extra special because it has been with us for most of our gaming life.

4. Avalon - Best party game in my opinion. 5-10 players. Much like Mafia with the suspense and intensity, but nobody dies so everyone gets to play the entire game. I like this game because even my Mom likes it, meaning that people that don't usually play games would most likely enjoy this one. It is best to play with people you know or at least very outgoing people.

3. Le Havre - This plays 1-5 players. I like this game because I feel like it never plays the same way twice. The buildings come out in different ways every time so you are forced to switch strategy based on there order. It is a longer game, but it feels like it goes really fast.

2. Galaxy Trucker - Unlike all of the other games, this game is very chaotic. It is in real time. Building a space ship as fast as you can, but as pretty as possible hoping it helps you last through the round. After all ships are built, you face a bunch of pirates and meteors while collecting goods. You do this 3 times. Each time your ship gets bigger. I like this game because the most strategic part of it is simply in building your ship as that is the only part in your control. It is very fast paced.





1. Agricola - This game is my favorite, but I am terrible at it. I enjoy it because no matter how badly I play, my farm still looks so nice by the end. As you can tell from above, I enjoy games where I get to build on my own player board. This one has AMAZING bits. We have the farmer meeples and the animeeples as well, making playing even more fun.








There you have it. I like games where I can build and that look pretty. That about sums it up.

TOP 10 REASONS I LOVE BEING A MOMMA

Skimming my old instagram pictures prompted me to think about how much I LOVE being a Mom. Sure, it has it's ups and downs just like everything else in life, but overall I would not trade it for anything else in the world. Here is my TOP 10 REASONS I LOVE BEING A MOMMA:

1. Snuggles - Let's face it, nobody snuggles like a child. Those little pudgy arms wrapped around your neck, squeezing as if life depended on it. Their head rested on your chest and their heart pumping slowly because they are so secure at that very moment in your arms.

2. Compliments - Since words of affirmation is my love language, I gladly will take a compliment any day. My Kaylee is an awesome compliment giver. "Thanks for dinner, Momma, I loved it!" "Good job on going potty, Mom!" Ella's compliments are usually full of grunting and then followed by a giant hug.

3. Hugs and Kisses - From their first slobbery kisses to their big smooches on my cheek once they learn how to do it the right way. From the "I have a boo-boo hug" to the big bear hug. I love them all.

4. Teaching New Things - It is so fascinating how quickly that they learn and grow. Kaylee's vocabulary grows daily and Elanor amazes me in how grown up she plays. It is fun when they pick up on new things. (Unfortunately, they pick up on not so good behaviors as well.)

5. Play Time - I love watching the girls play. They run around the house making messes and pulling out toys I forgot we even owned. They hold hands and run down the hall together. They are sweet friends and I love to see that!

6. Dance Parties - Dancing around the house used to be pretty boring when I was working the moves by myself while Adam was at work. Now I have two little buddies to dance around with me. Our favorite dance is The Interlude. One of my friends thinks it is pretty lame, but she hasn't seen my girls do it. They make it the coolest dance on the planet. Hands down. Here is the original video if you have never heard of it before.

7. Singing - Singing with and to my girls is one the many highlights of the day. It really goes hand in hand with the dancing because when we start singing, we start dancing. I know I have told you to check out For King and Country before and that you might be tired of hearing about them, but they are awesome. And I love that the girls sing along and ask for specific songs by name.

8. Cooking - My girls love to cook! Anytime I start getting bowls and pans out, I hear little feet running to the kitchen to see if they can help. It is so much more fun to have little helping hands!  

9. Clothes - Who knew getting dressed was so much fun? I really enjoy picking clothes out for the girls which is funny because I have never really cared much about clothes for myself as long as I am comfy. But with my girls, they are like having LIVE Barbies. SOOOO FUN! :0)

10. Reading - I have always enjoyed reading.  It relaxes me and gives me an escape. While we tend to read the same books over and over, I enjoy every second of reading to my girls. I love when they get their books and come climb up on the couch with me and we all read our own books. Such a blast!

What are some of your favorite things about being a Momma/Daddy?

Top Ten Things I NEVER Thought I Would Say As A Parent

As a parent, I have come to the realization that sometimes that things that come out of my mouth surprise me and make me laugh. Here is my current

Top Ten Things I NEVER Thought I Would Say as a Parent:

10. "Your diaper needs to stay on your bottom, not go on your baby." - Try not laughing when you walk in to your toddler's room and see her sitting in her own pee all because she put her dry diaper on her baby.

9. "Stay out of the toilet!" - Who knew the Sims game was so right when it came to babies? Ella is fast! She hears the toilet flush and she magically appears right next to it, pulling herself up to reach in and touch the water before I can stop her.

8. "Please stop putting toy dishes in your sister's clothes." - One night I could not figure out why Ella would not just lay down and drink her bottle. Finally, after holding her a few minutes I realized that she had a spoon under her back inside of her pajamas. No wonder.

7. "Girls, stop licking the gate!" - Tastes like chicken?

6. "Standing on your sister is not an option." - I wish I could know what is going on in their little heads.

5. "Molly (Kaylee's baby doll) does not go in the toilet." - Apparently the toilet is a doll bathtub. (Sidenote: no toy should go in the toilet.)

4. "Do not put your fingers in the cat's nose!" - It is bad enough when they put their fingers in their own noses!

3. "Please keep your fingers out of your poop." - What is with their interest with touching it? Ew!

2. "Do not throw the cat down the stairs!" - I knew the poor cat would get his tailed pulled and his whiskers yanked, but really.

1. "Keep it in the toilet, please." - I have girls. I never ever thought I would have to figure out ways to help my daughter not pee all over the seat. and the floor. and herself.

100

Well, readers, this is my 100th blog!!!! It is so crazy to think that I have written that much as I can recall days as a kid where I would write for a couple of weeks in my journal and then stop writing.  Adam and I were discussing this 100th blog and it made me start thinking about all the things that I wrote about in the other 99 blogs.  This made me decide to write the Top 10 Blogs out of my 100 Blogs. These are the blogs that had the most views and I will even tell you how many times each one has been viewed. So without further adieu:

The Top 10 Blogs out of my 100 Blogs 

1.  Sewing Sisters came in at 58 views!

2.  Kaylee Finally Walking came in at 77 views!

3. Sick came in at 78 views!

4. My Update on Ella tied with the Announcement That we Were Going to Have a Girl coming in at 79 views!

5. My Sort of Decision About the Epidural came in at 85 views!

6. Ella's Birth Story came in at 93 views!

7. My Top 10 on Things To Ask Yourself Before Having a Baby came in at 104 views!

8. Complete Surrender surprisingly came in at 107 views!

9. My question of whether To Epidural or Not came in at 118 views!

10. My Top 10 on Marriage came in at a whopping 204 views!

If you read and don't follow, please follow by clicking follow over to the right.

Thanks for reading!

Top 10 Things to Ask Yourself Before Having a Baby

Now that we are on kid number 2, Adam and I have been debating about having another kid. This debate (and my current lack of sleep) has spurred my

Top 10 Things to Ask Yourself Before Having a Baby

1. Am I ready spiritually? Kids are a ton of work. As with marriage, your relationship with God is key to being a parent. Kaylee is hitting the terrible two's (sadly) and requires LOTS of patience. This is not a fruit of the spirit that I am "fruitful" in.  There are so many days where I either beg God for patience or have to ask Kaylee to forgive me for losing my patience with her. Add to that my lack of sleep from being up with Ella at night and I am not the kindest person in the world. Ironic though that in 1 Corinthians the first two words used to tell what love is are the two things I really struggle with sometimes. Patience and kindness.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.

Don't even get me started on the things I am lacking in the rest of that passage. Either way, if you are not ready to face the facts that you have areas in which you need to work on spiritually or if you are stagnant or do not have a relationship with God at all, you should probably think twice before popping out children.

2. Is my marriage ready for kids? Again, can I just say, kids are a lot of work! Marriage is a lot of work in itself and does not need the added struggle of kids if it is a rocky road in itself. If your marriage needs some work first, check out my Top 10 Ways to Keep Your Marriage Hot for my own marriage checklist.  I cannot imagine how bad things would be if Adam and I were on the outs. When it comes to kids, you have to be a team. Working. Supporting. Helping. Having kids comes a lot easier if you have your helpmate by your side. If your marriage is great, then you may be ready for little Junior.

3. Am I ready to give up my "me" time? Let me first say that if you have a wonderful spouse like I do, you will still be able to have "me" time. However, overall, your "me" time becomes "our" time once you have a baby. Babies require your undivided attention. So, that hour that you used to spend unwinding by watching television or playing on the internet is now spent playing with your baby or changing diapers. Kaylee is at the point now where she wants your attention as soon as you walk in the door. After a long day of work, you don't necessarily feel like dealing with a whiny toddler. If you are not ready to spend time with the baby after an exhausting day at work, you probably are not ready to start the reproduction process.

4. Am I ready to give up our "alone" time? As newlyweds you are all about being with your spouse and doing fun things together. You want to do things with other couples. You want to stay up talking until late hours dreaming about the future. After you have a baby, your time together is now spent with a third person. Your date nights can still happen if you want them to, but require a lot more work. You have to find a babysitter. You have to work it out where you can go when it is not time to feed or make sure to leave a bottle. Your late night hours are spent holding, changing, and nursing a baby. All the things you used to do together, are now things you do with a baby present. You can still do those things, but that time is much different with a baby around. No more quick runs to Wal-Mart at 3am for toilet paper - at least not together. If you are ready to give up your time "alone" together, then maybe you are ready to add that 3rd family member.

5. Am I ready to put forth the time and energy it takes to have a baby? New babies take energy all hours of the day and night. Late night feedings and whatnot. If you only have one baby, you may find time to rest if you are not working and can sleep while they sleep. With two kids, you don't have time to sleep because you have to chase around your older kid while the other one sleeps. Babies need lots of love and attention. This takes time. If you have lots of time and need to burn some energy, babies may be right up your alley.

6. Am I ready for all the baby stuff? Baby stuff is everywhere. You may not be a clean freak like I am so this question might not be for you. Just move on to number 7. However, you guys out there that think everything has a place - this one is just for you. Right now as I am writing this, I look around my living room and see the clutter of baby stuff. In 2009 before Kaylee was born, my living room looked so different. I had two couches, an ottoman, a tv stand, and two side tables. Now you can add to that the pack-n-play, the bouncy seat, Kaylee's little chair, a baby doll crib, a basket full of toys, other smaller toys that sit next to it, and a large stack of books.  We keep it fairly organized and in it's place, but it is still a lot of stuff. Something that you definitely have to get used to. If the idea of having cute little baby things scattered about your house makes you excited, having a baby will help you make it extra scattered.
 
7. Do we have room for a baby? This is something I wish we would have considered before buying a car. Now we are stuck with a car much too small for our expanding family. If we would have thought about this early on, maybe we could have saved ourselves from being sardines and purchased a larger vehicle in advance. This is also something to think about as far as your home goes. Maybe you don't have an extra room for the baby.  If you don't have room, then you won't have space to fill it with your own little addition.


8. Are we financially ready for a baby? This is a really good question to think about. Not necessarily as the deciding factor, but to prepare yourself mentally for the difference in your finances.  Last year we spent $3821.28 on childcare and our general "baby" section of our budget. This does not include clothing. It is mainly diapers and other baby items that we may have bought over the course of the year. Throw in all the clothes and doctor's visits and you are looking at about $5000 added to your spending over the year. (This does not include your labor and delivery costs.) Maybe you want your baby to sport the finer things. You can expect to spend even more. If your finances seem to be pretty steady and you think you can find wiggle room for several thousands of dollars, you may just be ready for having a little tax deduction.


9. What stage of life are our friends? I find this question pretty important. One of my friends called me the pioneer of our friend group as I was the first to have a baby in the group. It was so difficult because when I was pregnant, all I wanted to talk about was being pregnant. Once I had the baby, all I wanted to talk about was having the baby and what she was doing at the time. Maybe you had the same experience after you got married. That feeling of now that I am married, I want to talk with my girl friends about being married. My friends did finally catch up with me, but it was probably the hardest transition I have ever had to make alone. If your friends seem to be on the baby move, then you may want to jump on the baby boom bandwagon.


10. Are you ready physically to have a baby? Having a baby takes a huge toll on your body. Even though you are having a baby, there are days when you feel fat and ugly. Once the baby comes, then you have to deal with the aftermath of the awkward belly flab, stretch marks, healing, and the line that runs down the middle of your belly that wants to stay with you until your babies graduate from college. Add to all of that, exhaustion, fatigue, leaking nursers, and hormonal changes. If you are not ready to take all of that on, then you may not be ready to grow a baby.


Please understand that simply answering yes or no to one of these questions alone does not answer the yes or no to whether or not you are ready to have a baby. That is why I have 10 questions.  I think you (as a couple) need to answer all of them to get a true picture of what life would be like with a baby and know if you are ready for a baby or not. Plus, as a couple take time to pray about it. (going back to question 1)  There are so many joys of having a baby/kids, but I also want to be real with you that they take work and require that you are ready to be the most selfless person that you have ever been. If you can't handle both sides of that equation, then as much as the idea of a baby excites you, you probably are not ready for one.  

Top 10 Ways to Keep Your Marriage HOT

Adam and I have been discussing marriage lately and how sometimes it can be a walk in the park yet other times it can be more difficult than getting Kaylee to follow directions. All in all, marriage takes work! LOTS OF IT!  It's not something that you can just put on or take off whenever you feel like it, in spite of what our culture wants you to believe.   All of this discussion spurred my

Top 10 Ways to Keep Your Marriage HOT

1. Put God first -This is one that I find to be THE most important thing to keep my relationship with Adam going. Things in my life always seem to reflect my personal relationship with God.  When I struggle spiritually, I also struggle with Adam. He may not even have a clue that I am upset or irritated with him. It gradually gets worse until I surrender my thoughts and my heart back to my Creator God and spend time with him.  I am also talking about a putting God first - together. Something Adam and I have tried to do ever since we started dating and even some as friends is pray together daily. Through our praying together, we are remembering that God is the author of our story and without Him, we are nothing.  In order to keep your marriage HOT, you absolutely MUST put God first!

2. Communicate - You have to talk. Nothing zaps a relationship faster than not keeping in touch with your spouse.  Some people have better communication with the check-out lady at Wal-Mart than they do with their own spouse.  You must communicate about everything.  Keep in touch with one another. Even in the mundane daily things. Surprise your spouse - ask them how their day was, listen intently, and ask questions to show that you are genuinely interested in what they have to say.  If you aren't communicating with your spouse, you might as well skip the rest of my list and just start working on this one.  If you want a great relationship with your spouse, communicate! It is key!

3. Go on dates together - I never understand why people get married and stop dating their spouse. The only super enjoyable part about dating was when I FINALLY knew I was with the man that I was going to marry and that I was going to get some one-on-one time with him away from the ordinary.  Getting dolled up. Sneaking kisses here and there. Holding hands. Now, please understand, I know having kids slows down the dating. When Adam and I were first married we went on dates once a week. Now we are lucky to go once a month.  The main thing is making time for your spouse, showing them you still need them/want them.  Giving yourselves a chance to COMMUNICATE without kids around.  If you want your relationship to heat up, dating is the way to go! (Oh and one last thing - dating could even just be telling your spouse to be ready at 8 when the kids are in bed, taking a blanket to the back yard, and lying down to look at the stars and catch up. It's free and you don't have to get a babysitter!)

4. Put your spouse's needs first - This one is super hard for me. I can be super selfish at times and truly all about me!   It is important though that I meet Adam's needs. If Adam needs me to be in good shape, I need to be in good shape. If he needs a break from our girls, I need to give him one. If he needs me to stay up with our girls because he is sick and needs to sleep, I need to do it. Not in a proud, boastful way. I want to do it because I love him. His needs are important to me. If you want to really make your relationship change for the better, put your spouse's needs first. (Here is a great book on this topic you would like to check it out!)

5. Focus on marriage - Adam and I have tried our best to make our marriage be a focus in our marriage at least once a year.  Meaning that we try to go through a book, take a class or study at church, or be a part of a marriage group to strengthen our marriage. We strive to make our marriage a top priority and this is one of the ways we do that. We don't want to see our marriage become stagnant. I encourage you, if you want to see your marriage grow for the better, make marriage a main focus.

6. Fight fair - Something Adam and I have really worked hard at is fighting fairly. If things get super heated we try to take time to calm down and remember what we are really fighting about. We try to get arguments done before bed.  We also have a rule that we cannot talk about controversial topics and issues after 8 pm. Simply because nothing good can come of the conversation that close to bed time. Also, we make an effort to hear one another out. I may not change Adam's mind on the topic, but I feel better knowing that he considered what I said. In order to make your marriage run well, you have to fight fair!

7. Set goals together - Adam and I have this long list of goals that we would like to complete by a certain time. We try to sit down once a year to go back to this list and check off the things we accomplished and write down when they were accomplished. We also add to the list at this time.  One of our goals on our list is to put in a deck in the back yard.  It may not be something we get done for a very long time, but it motivates us to save money so that it may be a possibility.  Having goals gives both of us sight into our future. A good reminder of the future you have together is to have goals that you can meet, together!

8. Write love letters to one another - Nothing can say "I love you" as clearly as a letter.  It expresses feelings and emotions that you might not otherwise usually convey. (even if you are communicating well!)  I have found that one of the best things for me to do if I am irritated with Adam about something, is to sit down and write out what I love about him. Soon, the things that I was upset about are long gone and I am all "googly" eyed toward my love of my life once again.  You want to remind yourself and your spouse how you feel?  Sit down and write them a love letter. See how hot your marriage is then!

9.  Say I love you and give kisses every day - I think this one is super duper important.  It is by far the easiest of the 10, I think, yet the most over-looked.  Every morning I look forward to Adam coming in before leaving and kissing me good-bye for the day and telling me he loves me. I cannot remember a morning that he hasn't done this.  It may be habitual at times, but without hearing those words and having that physical connection with him daily it would be easy to feel disconnected from him. This is one small thing that you can try that can make a big difference in your marriage!

10. Have sex - I put this one last because it is crucial to the relationship. Gentlemen, in order for the average woman to be interested in doing number 10. She has to (#4) have her needs met through 1,2,3,8, and 9.  Ladies, in order for your spouse to (#4) have his needs met, he needs #10.  If 10 is being met, the average man is more interested in 1,2,3,8, and 9. It is a circle and someone has to start it. Don't wait for your spouse to step up to the plate on this.  Take initiative. - Now then, I am not going to get real personal on this one. However, it still needs to be discussed.  Keep in tune with your spouse in this area. Meet each other's needs here! (See a theme) Make things fun and interesting. Try new and different things.  Make time for it! Having sex with your spouse will definitely help keep your marriage spiced up!

Adam and I have come a long way in our relationship. We still have a long way to go. However, I feel we have what it takes to keep our marriage HOT! Do you?

Top 10 Things I am Thankful For

This time of year makes people stop and think about everything that they are thankful for.  (Hence THANKSgiving.)  So this year I may only give 1 thing that I am grateful for when it comes to be my turn at the table, but for you...

Here are my

Top 10 Things I am Thankful For

1. Jesus - He is, after all, my Savior, protector, strength, provider, and love of my life! He is my hope and the reason that I live. I am undeserving of the love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness that he offers to me. I am so thankful for Him.

2. My Husband Adam - He puts up with my good and my bad. He loves and cherishes me. He is a great husband and father and I am so grateful that God brought Him into my life and gave Him to me.

3. Kaylee and my baby #2 - Kaylee is such a joy and delight to my life. Her laughter and her babbling make our home so much more exciting. I am so thankful for her. My little baby #2 (still no name) is also such a wonderful addition to my life. She moves consistently throughout the day and has actually tickled me a few times with her movement. I am thankful for her.

4. My Family - They have been my closest friends and confidants over the years. They are the ones that made me who I am.  My parents taught me what a woman of God looks like.  My brother has been a best friend and has helped me mature and shape my thoughts on life.  I am grateful for my family!

5. My Friends - My friends have had such a huge impact on my life. They have helped me through difficult times and have been there for me during the great times. They never leave my side and I am so glad I know them and that they gave me that chance. I am so very thankful for my friends!

6. My House - It is my place of refuge after a long day and it is mine. It is decorated in a way that makes me feel at home. My house is my home and I am so thankful for it.

7. My Job - My kids this year are amazing! I have been at this job for several years now and I am so thankful for my great group of kids!  These kids really make "going to work" great! I am so thankful for my job and for my kids!

8. My Church - I am super happy with our church. The people and the pastoral staff make it a phenomenal place to worship and I am so grateful for my church.

9. Food - What can I say? I love food. I am so glad that I have never had to go without food and that I am able to have traditions such as Thanksgiving dinner. I am thankful for food.

10. Readers - I am grateful for all of you. It makes writing a blog much more enjoyable. Thanks for reading!

Joyful Moment of the Day: I get to be with my family today. I am so very very happy to be with them today!

Top 10 Quick Pick-Up Tips

If you are like me, your house is not always "up for showing".  Kaylee usually has toys everywhere. Adam usually has socks everywhere.  Most days I would cringe at the thought of someone seeing my messy house. So, what do you do when that someone calls and asks to drop-by for a bit?

Here is my  

Top 10 Quick Pick-Up Tips

1.) Designate a corner in your living/family room for toys. -  Once you get that call, just start chucking toys toward that corner and if you have an extra spare moment you can organize the chaos. Otherwise, just moving the toys to the one corner does a major turn around for the living space. At least they won't be tripping over a ball or blocks while they visit.

2.) Focus on the main areas. - Living Room, Bathroom, and Kitchen.  These are the rooms that your guest will most likely be in if they stop by. Don't worry about your bed not being made. Shut your door.

3.) Shut lights off in areas that you don't want guests to visit. - Most of the time my dining room is not needed for a quick visit. While my dining room is open to my kitchen, it is not as noticeable if the light is off.  Making it unnecessary to scrub down the table or sweep the dining room floor.

4.) Keep up with major items on a regular basis. - I am mainly talking about dishes. Dishes seem to be everywhere if you let them go.  And it is the first thing your guest will notice when entering your home.  Especially if you offer them something to drink.  It is best to make dishes a top priority. Put clean ones away and keep dirty ones out of sight by putting them in the dish washer or washing them. That way when the guest calls, you have the minimum amount of dishes to put away.  Maybe a breakfast bowl and cup, but nothing major like scrubbing the pots from last night's dinner.

This can also apply to the bathroom. Keep your shower curtain shut and your counter cleaned off regularly. That way the most you have to do when a friend stops by is maybe empty the trash and make sure there is toilet paper on the roll.

5.) Let the sunshine in. - If it is daytime, open the curtains and blinds in the main areas. If it is night, turn on the lights. Lights and sunshine give your home a clean homey feel and makes the space feel bigger.

6.) Do light cleaning when you have a free moment. - For me, this is when I pick up Kaylee's toys. As soon as she goes down for a nap, I pick up the toys that she has played with all morning. Sure, I know she will be getting them out again later, but I have found that if I leave out the first round of toys then her second round of playtime makes the room worse.  There are double the amount of toys to clean up then when that friend drops by.  If I just pick up the few things that she played with during the morning, they are out of the way and then I don't have to worry about a huge mess to clean up later.

7.) Move the "junk" to the closed bedroom.  - If you have a lot of clutter that has accumulated in your main living area, just toss it into your closed bedroom. This includes the 3 baskets of laundry you have been folding for the past few days.  Again, the door will be shut so they won't see it.  No need to "find a place" for it right now.   Your friend will be here any minute and you still have a few things to do.

8.) Fluff the couches/ Rearrange pillows. - Our couch pillows tend to be in disarray.  So, a quick pillow move around really makes our living room look clean.  It is amazing how even that quick of a fix makes a huge difference in our front room.

9.) Wipe the counters. - You don't want to offer them a drink and have them put their hands in a sticky mess if they lean on your counter. This takes no time at all, makes you more comfortable with having them in your kitchen, and makes your kitchen look clean.

10.) Make sure you look presentable. - If you are still wandering around the house in your pj's, your guest will feel like they imposed. It's important that you take a few minutes to brush your hair, put some clothes on, and brush your teeth. 

This works not only for those drop- by guests, but also for the guests you planned on coming, but ran out of time to clean up for because you worked late or had a long day and forgot that they were coming. 

Joyful Moment of the Day: Kaylee woke up in a good mood today. 

Top 10 Ways to Romance Your Wife

Adam always asks me, "What do you want me to do?"

At the moment he asks me, I am usually upset or frustrated and unsure of what to say.  Not because I don't know what I want, but because it is at that awkward moment where telling him what I want makes it no longer romantic.  Then, it seems to feel forced.

Most women have a beautiful fantasy of romance.  At least I do.  I immediately think of flickering candlelight and sweet smelling roses in my favorite color.  (Maybe even elegant violin music in the background.)   I am a sap, I know.

After much thought, I figured that most men don't have this fantasy and they probably have NO idea of what this fantasy looks like or where it came from.  They think romance and think kissing you.  (Which is a part of it, but that can't just be it.)

So here are my own personal 

Top 10 Ways to Romance Your Wife (or for my husband - Me)

1. Bringing home flowers - It's always a good idea. They don't have to come in large quantities or be the most expensive, but don't ever bring carnations.  They scream cheap and funeral all at once. (Unless this happens to be your wife's favorite flower. If so, then have at it. It isn't mine.)  Also, you can't just bring home the flowers, throw them at her, and expect her to fall over weeping at your feet with gratitude (even though she is grateful).  A good way to bring home flowers is to walk in and hand them to her and tell her something like, "I couldn't stop thinking of you all day." or "I wanted you to know that I am so grateful for everything you do."  Then, ask her about her day and spend 5-10 minutes talking with her before continuing your after work habits.  I am not talking an hour question and answer time. Just 10 minutes to focus on her right after handing her the flowers.

2.  Write her a note or poem - It's free!  It doesn't have to be a book.  Just a little note telling your wife that you love her and cherish her.  Remind her that she is the one that you chose and still choose.  Don't hand it to her and walk away.  Sit down with her and offer to read it to her or hold her as she reads it.  Then, it is a special moment for you as well because you can capture her facial expressions with each word.

3.  Have a candlelit dinner - Switch things up.  It doesn't even have to be some special meal that took hours to make or maybe your wife made it.  Just add candles to the table and make dinner more intimate.  I know at our house we eat dinner with Kaylee and I think that it is fine if the kids are there.  I think it makes it even better. Your kids get to see what romance looks like and see that their parents are in love even this many years into their marriage.  After dinner, help clean up.

4.  Tell her she is beautiful at least once a day - She needs to hear it.  I don't know about every other woman on the planet, but I do know that I struggle with my personal appearance.  If I spent the whole day feeling ugly, then I am not going to feel any different once I see Adam.  To be completely honest if you don't feel pretty, you don't want to be in anything but your sweats.  So, if you want more than sweats, tell your wife daily that you think she is beautiful.  (Try to do it when you are out of arm's reach that way she doesn't think you are saying it with an ulterior motive.)

5.  Dance with her - It relieves stress!  Wait until the kids go to bed.  Turn on some music and dance.  Maybe even light some candles. This is one those "sweet nothings" come in handy.  Whisper your love for her in her ear during a slow song.  Make her laugh by being goofy during a fast song.  Have fun!

6.  Play with her hair - She styles it the way you like it.  I don't mean pet your wife.  Just touch her hair.  Maybe push it behind your ear while you are talking to her.  Run your fingers softly through her hair while you are watching a movie.  It screams intimate.  It shows her that you are devoting all of your attention to her.

7.  Rub her back - You know you like it when she gives you one.  She feels the same way.  The difference is that she most likely will see it as romantic.  Let me clarify.  She comes in from a long day and you offer to rub her back. She will be completely surprised at the thought and the offer!  It's not as romantic if you have to ask for it.  The same can be said for rubbing her feet.

8.  Call or text to let her know you miss her - Everyone likes to feel missed.  Most of the time, the woman is the one to say, "I miss you."  The man typically may miss her, but doesn't see the need to say it.  Ladies like to feel missed.  It means they are important to you and that you have been thinking of her.  Call her. Text her. Let her know.

9.  Kiss her goodnight and good morning - It's a great habit to have the rest of your life!  Thinking of your wife before bed and after you wake up by giving her a kiss is a way to show her you cherish her.  This is one that Adam is excellent at.  There are some mornings that I sleep through his alarm and his getting ready, but I know when he kisses me before he leaves.  It makes me feel extra cared for and loved.  He takes time every day to make sure he does this before he leaves for work - even when he is running late.

10.  Find something she enjoys and do it with her - Even if you hate it.  Men love doing things together where they don't have to just sit and have one on one conversation.  This is the perfect way to connect with your wife.  Find something that she likes to do that you have never done that you are willing to try with her.  Make the effort to set aside time for it and show her that you are genuinely interested in doing it.  Don't make fun of the activity or complain about it while doing it.  She will be excited to have you interested in something she is interested in.  Just enjoy the time that you spend together doing the activity.

While my list could go on and on, I will stop it at 10.  Some men probably quit reading at number 5.

The point is that wives want to be romanced.  This is just a list of things that I personally would like.

If you really want to know what your wife wants, ask her to make a list of her top 10.  Then, surprise her and do them spontaneously throughout the next few months.  She won't know what to do!

Joyful Moment of the Day: Kaylee giggled all through lunch today.  I don't know what got into her, but it was super cute.

Top 10 Things Your Mother Never Told You About Being Pregnant

You see the pregnant woman from afar. She is beaming with beauty. Glowing. Her tummy is round and resembles a small watermelon in it's almost perfectly round shape.  You all of a sudden want to be her.

With that being said it is time for...
Top 10 Things Your Mother Never Told You About Being Pregnant

1. Typically the first 20 weeks of your pregnancy you won't really look pregnant.  These are the weeks where you can somewhat still wear your normal clothes, but feel fat in them.  You aren't really that big so you don't want to buy maternity stuff quite yet so you just feel fat. (Maternity clothes are super comfortable. Even the more dressy stuff feels like you are lounging in your sweat pants!  As much as I wanted to fit into my normal clothes again after having Kaylee, I was dreading giving up my maternity pants!  So, if you are in that "I'm fat!" stage just go buy yourself one maternity outfit.  You will feel a lot cuter and be much more comfortable.)

2. You are going to be exhausted at least 2 out of the 3 trimesters. You thought old ladies went to bed at 8 and now you are finding yourself sliding into bed about that time.  On top of that you are trying to catch a little snooze here and there throughout the day.  2nd trimester is suppose to bring a burst of energy and for me it did. Hopefully, it will for you too.

3. You may have diarrhea. You may be constipated. Some women have one extreme or the other. This makes having a normal bowel movement after pregnancy such a delightful moment.

4. Glowing. Ha! With Kaylee, glowing meant all of my zits lit up my face!  It was so gross and unmanageable. I looked 13. Some women get beautiful skin that gives her a glow that is lovely. I am hoping that is my experience this time around. Just warning you though, glowing could mean lots of acne for some.

5. I mentioned earlier that you will be tired, but did I mention you may have trouble sleeping? Some nights you will just not be able to fall asleep. Other nights you can't find a comfortable position to save your life. Even with the body pillow around the tummy, the pillow under your head, the pillow over your head, and the pillow behind your back.

6. Having "morning sickness" may be something you have heard about, but you may not have heard the whole story. You may be nauseated and never puke. You may puke. You may not be sick at all. Morning sickness is just a term that is actually describing what could be "all day sickness".  With Kaylee I was on the "not sick at all" side of things which was fabulous. The only time I puked was when I took my prenatal vitamin before eating most of my breakfast.  With this pregnancy I have been super nauseated all day every day, but can't puke.  It's definitely the worse of the 2 extremes.  However, my best friend Meggan puked her whole pregnancy so I cannot even begin to complain.  With nausea you wish you could puke, but for me this seems to be just a first trimester thing.  She had it the WHOLE time. 9 months. Ugh.  I can't imagine. (She did end up with the world's best baby though so it works itself out I guess but still.)


7. You have to pee in a cup EVERY time you go to the doctor's office.  I have huge stage fright issues when it comes to peeing on demand. The worse thing is when it comes out as a small little tinkle and does not land in the cup where it is suppose to go rather it lands all over my hand. Yes, I have done this more than once. The nice thing about my doctor's office is that they give you latex gloves to handle your "specimen" with.  Thank goodness!  Did I mention that I still have this problem?

8. At 18 weeks you are no longer allowed to lay on your back.  (It has to do with the weight of the uterus restricting blood flow to the baby and to you.)  Before I was pregnant with Kaylee I was a stomach sleeper. When I found out I was pregnant, I retrained myself to sleep on my back. Then, I found out I couldn't even do that anymore. It was terrible! Ever since being pregnant with Kaylee I have taught myself to sleep on my side and have slept that way ever since.

9. You may have the world's worst breast tenderness ever.  You may not. I think I may have mentioned in a previous post about my desire to put up an electric fence around them that not even clothing could go near. If I didn't - well, that is how I felt. This time around it has not been worse than what you may experience with a monthly period.


10. You may have horrible moodiness and be irrational. You may not. With Kaylee I was all over the map!  I felt terrible for the way I treated my friends and even Adam once I realized that I was pregnant and hormonal.  The rest of my pregnancy I had to make a conscious effort to really think through things that I was upset about and see if I had the right to be upset or if it was just me being pregnant.  It was really hard at times to not think with my hormones and emotions.  Needless to say, I have been sooooo much more level headed so far with this second kid. I know Adam and my friends have been grateful.

So, now as you see that woman from afar, instead of wanting to be her, you feel sympathy for her. That little baby inside of her is taking a lot out of her.  Maybe you could let her go in front of you in the check-out line.  It is after all, almost her bedtime.

Joyful Moment of the Day: Skype date with Kim today. Pretty excited to see that baby bump somewhat in person. :)

Top 5 Things A First Time Mom Needs

I was thinking yesterday about all the baby stuff they have out now. Must haves that every new Mom must sit and debate over whether it is worth it to have it. I remember how overwhelmed I felt walking into Babies R Us for the first time, walls and walls of baby stuff all around me. Seriously, do you need a little bag to put pacifiers in or warmers for wipes? How do you keep from buying stuff that don't really need?! Well, after much debate, I registered for things I thought I would need most and now that Kaylee is here I realize I did not do half bad. So without further ado, here is my

Top 5 Things A First Time Mom Needs

1. Travel Systems. You can't leave the hospital without the carseat. I personally loved ours that you could carry into places while baby is sleeping and am glad that I picked it. Our travel system included a stroller that is the Cadillac of all strollers. It is huge, but is smooth to push. It was nice to have when Kaylee was smaller because the carseat snaps right into it for easy transfer. Now that she is bigger I only see myself using it during long outings such as zoo visits or park visits.

2. Pack-N-Play. Wow! One of the best things ever made! Ours came with bassinet and diaper changing table features. Both were so great to have when Kaylee was smaller. The best thing about the pack-n-play though is that it is a portable bed wherever you go. We like to hang out with friends in the evenings so we just load the pack-n-play into the car and go. She goes to sleep in it and then when we are ready to go home we can just pack it all up and go. Love this item!


3. Breathable Bumpers. These things rock! They, of course, are breathable. Kaylee would move around and have her face pressed up against her normal bumpers and I was so scared that one morning she would not be breathing when I went in there so I took her bumpers out. The next morning when I went in there to get her because she was screaming. She had her arm stuck between the slats! That is when I found breathable bumpers. They keep arms and legs in, but let her breathe which makes me as a Mom feel more comfortable. They also collapse so if she tries to use them to step out of the crib, she will not be able to do so. They are AMAZING!

4. Boppy. I know some Mom's may disagree with me on this one, but let me give my explanation before you write it off. I used the Boppy when I was nursing to hold Kaylee up. I would prop myself up on my body pillow and nurse Kaylee while sitting up. Sometimes I would fall asleep while nursing unintentionally, but I was never worried about rolling over her or her falling off the bed because she was nestled into the Boppy on my lap and like I said I was sitting up. Also, as Kaylee got a little older and started sitting up on her own, it was nice to have to sit behind her in case she fell back. We have hardwood floors and if we would not have had the Boppy behind her she would have hit the floor. Now we use it to let her feed herself her bottle. She lays back on the Boppy either while on our laps or on the floor and feeds herself while propped up rather than being flat. It makes it easier for her. It has been used a lot for a lot of different things, which is why it has made the cut!

5. Diaper Changing Table. Ironically, this is the one item I do not have, but definitely want for the next kid. We had the changing table feature on the pack-n-play, but Kaylee weighs too much for it now. We just use a pad and change her on the couch, but I get tired of it being in my living room and on my couch. I would prefer to have a table or a pad on top of her dresser in her room like we did when she was smaller. It is convenient and it is not a strain on your back. This is a must have to me!

Let me know what you think!

Joyful Moment of the Day: Kaylee had her first big girl bath today! She loved it! (And Titus, our cat, came in to see what was going on which made it even more amusing!)