Good-bye Central Street

This Memorial Day weekend we spent some extra time with our church family.  Our community group has seen some people come and go over the last few years but we're still family and we try to live life to its fullest together.  For nearly four years, Jonathan and Heather have hosted our community group get-togethers at their home on Central Street.  They have graciously hosted time after time and we've shared so much in their living room together.  After Jonathan got his job in Ottawa last spring, they decided they needed a place a little closer to his work and also a place to start a family! :)

Story number two...

After Bud and Mackenzie got married in November, they moved into a home about 10 houses down from the Sterks, also on Central Street!  They are beginning to open their home for foster children and they, too, were needing a home available for expansion.   So, to summarize: Two of our really good couple friends from church have recently bought new homes and are moving away from Central Street.  :(  We spent our last few hours in 9120 Central Street last week eating dinner together, playing games in the front yard and, of course, moving!!  Unfortunately, we won't be able to help Bud and Mackenzie move this weekend because we'll be camping at Table Rock Lake... But here are some pics from our farewell parties last week on Central Street:

Playing bocce ball

Girls vs. boys

Across the street!

 Move-in day...

Reynolds' came down to help!

A sunny, hot morning!

The truck is getting full!!

Last pic in front of 9120 Central Street

It was a long, hard day but we got so much done and feel great about getting the Sterks moved into their new home in Paola, KS!

Branson Get-Away

Last weekend we Thorpes got together for a weekend get-away in Branson, MO.  Rob and Billie had rented a house to fit all twelve of us and we planned to just hang out together as a family.  We ate yummy food, played games, went shopping at the outlet malls, and talked late into the evenings.  It was so fun to be with family for a second weekend in a row!  We had such a special time just being all together, playing with the kids, and catching up on life.  We feel so blessed to have such wonderful families who love the Lord and make time for each other.

Jay and I got to leave early on Friday and we were able to make it to Branson just before dinner time!  Rob, Billie, Wes, Catherine and their kids were already there so we took a tour of the house and waited for the Matt Thorpe family.  Once everyone arrived, we ate dinner and relaxed well into the evening.  Saturday was fun.  We spent the morning eating our meals together and playing outside with the kids and then headed into town for some deals at the outlet mall!  Can you ever go to Branson without going to Tanger?  I think not. ;)  Shopping was exhausting (isn't it always?!) and wore everyone out so we were all ready to head back home for some dinner and relaxing.  Too bad I got car sick on the way home...  Oh well, this baby is so worth it.  After another delicious meal, we were ready to put up our feet and share some more stories together.  What better than to do that around a campfire and with s'mores to boot?  Rob made an awesome fire and we sat around the pit snapping pics, listening to music and making a mess with some sticky marshmallows and chocolate!  My in-laws are just some of the greatest people on earth and I enjoyed every minute with them.  

Aunt Cat reading a bedtime story on Friday night

There were these two stone homesteads on the property that actual people lived in hundreds of years ago.  The girls really liked them.

Playing frisbee and soccer

Fire and feet :)

Siblings and wives and kiddos!

The Wes Thorpes

The Rob Thorpes

The Jay Thorpes

The Matt Thorpes

Thorpe boys!

Uncle Jay taking the girls on a hike

I got to read the bedtime story on Saturday night!

All weekend the girls were dying to play Flickin' Chicken - so we finally got it out on Sunday morning to play a round or two before everyone left!

This weekend we've enjoyed staying home and relaxing.  When summer hits we feel like things might get a little crazy so we're trying to enjoy every second while we can.  We had a fun date night last night - BBQ at Gates followed by The Avengers at our favorite movie theatre.  Today I enjoyed sleeping in and so far we've been pretty productive while really taking advantage of the warm weather!  More on the pregnancy and a belly pic hopefully tomorrow!

Gone Country (for the weekend, at least)

This weekend Jay and I met the family in southern Oklahoma for a good 'ole country family reunion.  This is one of two that we go to every year and it's always a good time with great food and excellent company! It was a long drive down but we were able to leave round 1pm which saved us a really late night.  :)  Saturday morning we hung around Grandmother and Papa's house, on the front porch, in the beauty salon (yes, my Grandmother has one of those) and got ready to head over to the citizens center for the big meal and gathering.  The food was amazing as always and the weather wasn't so bad either for some ladder ball and playing outside!  After the meal and clean-up we came back to take naps and hang out under the shade of a tree.  After a while, one of my dad's cousin's set up a speaker and his guitar to play some live music for us.  We talked and hung out late into the night while the mosquitos bit at out ankles and the kids enjoyed the glow necklaces and bracelets.  Sunday morning we had an awesome home-cooked meal and got everything packed up to head back home.  It was a fast and furious weekend but oh-so-fun to be with family.

Flint Hills on our drive down

People gathering for the meal

Since there are so many of us every family made a poster board with pictures... quite helpful!

Setting up the food table

Stew fell asleep on Uncle Jay's shoulder while walking across the street

Everyone gathered to say the prayer

Lucy and Amelia sporting their star glasses

Hanging out under the shade tree

Amelia collected all the glow-stick necklaces!  The flash was a little bright...

What a whirlwind weekend!  We've got another family get-together in Branson this weekend with Jay's family and we're looking forward to that, too!  Have a happy week friends!

The Story of the Day We Found Out PLUS Heartbeats and A Sonogram

WARNING: Wordy and detailed posting

Since I'm 13 weeks pregnant today and since I have promised you some fun details and stories, I thought I might take some time to blog for your reading pleasure.  I'll start with the day we found out:

Well it was Leap Day (February 29, 2012) which is kind of fun in-and-of-itself and we had just returned that previous weekend from the Physicians Discipleship Conference in Colorado Springs, CO.  {This was the same conference in 2011 that had changed our perspective on timing and willingness and the Holy Spirit's leading in regards to parenthood.}  The whole weekend I was quite convinced that I could be pregnant so I took lots of precautions like drinking decaf coffee, eating healthier snacks and drinking tons and tons of water, etc.  When we got home, we were forced back into reality very quickly after such an enjoyable weekend and yet the thought of being pregnant never really went away...  That Wednesday turned out to be one of the busiest and most stressful (in regards to work for the both of us) days of the year yet.  Jay left the house before I even woke up because he was on-call.  When I got up for work, I decided I should probably just relieve my mind of the stress and guessing game of "Could this be the month?"  So I sauntered into the bathroom, tore open the "stick", followed all the instructions very carefully and... you get the drill.  About a second later I had a positive at-home pregnancy test in my hand.     I wasn't really sure what to do.  I smiled, read the instructions again to make sure I really was reading a positive result and then freaked out a little.  I continued with my normal morning routine and went to work like nothing had changed.  I went to lunch with a very dear and trusted friend who went with me to pick out some digital sticks just to be sure.  As soon as I was back at the office, I performed another test (all the while my heart was pounding, thinking "this could be it!") and, once again, received a no-questions, this-is-not-a-false-positive, yes, you ARE pregnant result. :)

"Wow, OK," I thought.  "Now I just have to go back to work pretending I didn't just receive the most exciting and wonderful and blessed news ever?  Alright, piece of cake."  Psyche!

I was dying to tell Jay but knew he wouldn't be reachable for hours, and even then, could get called in for another lengthy surgery after his regular shift.  I drove home thinking the whole time of a fun and creative way I could break the news to the hubby.  Well, when he called saying that he got assigned an appendectomy at 5:30, I knew what I could do.  Several months ago {maybe even years, now} I had bought a cross-stitch pattern that I wanted to complete for a baby's nursery in the future.  I rarely ever worked on it at home because it was so intricate and complicated and I didn't feel like I was too pressured time-wise.  As you can see, I've only finished 3 letters...

Well, that night when Jay got home, I was furiously working on my cross-stitch hoping he would notice and ask why I was working on it.  It didn't really work out that way because he had had such a stressful day at the hospital and immediately asked for prayer when he walked through the door.  :(  My heart hurt for him but I knew this news would make him delighted and wash all the stress of the day away.  So I said "Honey, I'm so sorry you've had such a stressful day and I don't want to stress you out anymore, but I think I have some good news for you..."  He smiled and said "Go ahead, I think I know what you are going to say."  I smiled in return and said "I'm pregnant!"  From there, it was all hugs and kisses and joy and overwhelming emotions.  We went to dinner the following Friday to celebrate and process together at one of our favorite restaurants.  We were able to tell our parents and siblings (via Skype or FaceTime) within the next few days and weeks and everybody was so unbelievably happy for us.  Here are a few funny things our families said:

"How do you know?!"

"Well, are you sure?!"

"This is just divine!!"

"Shut. Up."

And lots of screaming. ;)

And that's pretty much what happened.  I won't bore you with all the details of the first trimester because you probably have already been pregnant or know someone close to you who was and because I really just have two words for the first trimester: good riddance.  I'm looking forward to having more energy, less food aversions, looking more like I have a real baby and less like I have a food baby, and preparing more for our little one.  We've had a few exciting appointments, one of which we got to hear the heartbeat and one of which we got to SEE the baby!  Both were truly an amazing experience.  Here are a few sonogram pics:

Sweet profile

Hand on forehead... in frustration? in reverence? in thought? ;)

So today I'm 13 weeks, or, 3 months and 1 week and am cruisin' right along.  We can't believe how fast the time is flying by and can't wait to meet our baby!  We're thanking the Lord each and everyday and are praying for him/her to be a healthy baby!  Thanks again for your prayers and support and for all the congratulations.  We are so beyond blessed by our incredible and amazing God.

Weekend at Home and 12 Weeks Pregnant

Jay and I had a wonderful weekend together.  We love being in Kansas City and getting to spend some quality time together at home.  We're such home bodies that it's easy to spend all our time at home just relaxing, cooking or cleaning together, doing yard work, walking our dog or, more recently, bike riding!  This weekend was no exception, especially with the nice spring weather we had! 

Saturday we slept in and then headed down to Suburban Lawn & Garden for a few annuals for my pots.  We came home to spend some time outside mowing, planting and gardening.  I forgot to take pics of the house with our new flowers and planted pots but I'll try to snap some next weekend.  After gardening, we went on a bike ride down the Harry Wiggins Trolley Track Trail - which is about 3 blocks from our house so it's perfectly close!  The weather was just gorgeous and we enjoyed being together outside.  We even saw a snake! After our bike ride, we went to the grocery store for our weekly meals and decided to have a grill-out since it was so nice.  So we did.  Did I mention we DON'T have a grill?  Yep, no grill.  So we just ghetto-rigged our fire pit and grilled some Nathan's hot dogs (the best, not kidding) and fire roasted some summer squash!

The hot dogs and squash actually turned out really yummy. ;)

Cutest dog ever

Face pettin'

We sneaky-snapped this pic of some cardinal babies in our neighbors' rose bush!  Love nature.

Sunday we went to church and then had brunch at Waid's Diner to celebrate the completion of first trimester!  Yay!  I'm just over 12 weeks pregnant and couldn't be more ecstatic to saying good-bye to the first trimester.  More details to come later... I promise, but here's a 12 week belly pic for now. 

Eh, it's not very good.  Probably because my mirror is so dirty or the lighting is terrible.

I took a nap after brunch (nope, the exhaustion and fatigue haven't completely subsided) while Jay did some studying and then we went on another bike ride before we met up with Jonathan and Heather for some afternoon fro-yo at Orange Leaf!  Ice-cream cravings, anyone? ;) 

Stopped for a water break!

And that pretty much wrapped up our weekend... We stayed in again on Sunday night, made some chilli since it was so chilly {yep, I just said that} and watched a movie.  Great weekend!

An Updated Blog with a New Ticker

{Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is His reward.}

                                                                -Psalm 127:3

Yes, my friends and fellow readers, the first thing you may have noticed about our blog is the new ticker up above!  It's definitely a huge deal and we've waited so long to share the news with everyone.  It's finally time and we are so excited to tell you that Jay and I are having a baby!  There are so many stories to tell and things you probably want to know and I will get there, in time, however. ;)  But for now, let's go for the basics:

Due date: November 4, 2012
How far along: 11 weeks and 4 days {the ticker above will automatically update!}
When we found out: Leap Day 2012
How many babies: Just one ;)

So far we've had two appointments with our OB/GYN and everything is progressing perfectly normal to date!  I will post more details soon but for now we are so thrilled to share this blessed news with you all.  We are so grateful to the Lord for blessing us with a child and are beyond excited to share this journey with friends and family like you.  Thank you, in advance, for your prayers and support!

Picture Perfect Weekend (With Hardly Any Pictures)

This past weekend we had my Mom and Dad in town and we had such a fun time all together!  I hardly took any pictures {which I feel terrible about, but I'm getting used to this blogging thing after a month hiatus} but that doesn't mean we didn't have a wonderful time!  Dad and Mom arrived late Thursday night and after my half-day of work on Friday, Mom and I went to lunch at Olive Garden.  We met up back at the house to rest before dinner at BRGR in the Village.  We love BRGR and were excited to take Dad and Mom there.  We got there early to beat the crowd (that place is always so busy!) and had a great time talking about our upcoming trip to New York City!  After dinner Dad, Mom and Leslie went to see The Hunger Games while Jay and I went to see 21 Jump Street.  We didn't really like our movie but it was a fun night out nonetheless.

Saturday morning we all slept in, Dad brought back some Panera treats for breakfast and then we got ready to go to the River Market!  It was a beautiful day and perfect for shopping at the farmer's market.  I picked up some seasoning, Leslie bought some produce, Dad got some fudge and also some Amish bread!  After shopping around, we ate lunch at Minsky's pizza and then walked over to the look-out/walking trail over the Missouri River.

Pretty tulips at my house {from Instagram}

Dad and Jay walking the bridge {also from Instagram}

After walking around at the River Market we stopped by Sonic and saw this fun truck all decked out at the Westport Flea Market!

After Sonic we headed over to the Plaza for some more shopping and walking!  We spent the rest of the afternoon/evening walking around and looking for good deals and special finds!  I finally found the circle leopard earrings I've been wanting at Francesca's!  Yay!  After a rendezvous at Starbucks, we headed over to American Apparel (Leslie's place of employment) for Friends and Family night where everything was 30% off!  Talk about good deals :)  After an exhausting day of walking and shopping {it's hard work, folks ;)} we ate a late late Bo Ling's take-out dinner and hit the sack!  Dad and Mom left early Sunday morning to head to Rogers and we were sad to see them go but we had a wonderful time together.

Sunday afternoon we met Rachel for a matinee movie (The Hunger Games!) and then met up with her hubby for some Mexican food at Chelly's Cafe.  So fun to them and spend some time together, too.  This week is Jay's last week of surgery rotations and another normal week for me.  It's tough getting back into the work grind after such a fun and relaxing weekend but it makes us appreciate our time off all the more!