Happy 33rd Birthday Mark!!!!

Happy 33rd Birthday to Mark!! A bit belated since it was October 18th!

James was so excited for Mark's birthday...he was thrilled that we had a cake for "Dada" and couldn't wait to pose for a picture with the birthday boy. The next birthday, Mark will have another family member on the other arm! So exciting!!!!

Jennifer and Jason Rapa!

Jennifer and Rason Rapa! (just noticed the Rason Rapa...couldn't change the typo after cracking up. I think that's his new name). After 9 years of Jason being a part of our family, we officially welcomed him as an official family member on September 25th. What an amazing wedding- a fairy tale wedding! Everything the entire weekend was absolutely perfect. Jennifer looked like a princess- the most beautiful bride I have ever seen. And Tucker, the ring bearer, did a great job until he pee'd on a flower arrangement on the way back down the aisle. Yes, Tucker is a canine.

Everyone had a great time, and was sad when the evening ended. Thanks to Jen and Jason for throwing one heck of an event. Mark and I love you both and couldn't be happier. Next up.....babies! :)

10 month update..

I know this blog entry is almost shocking to my very faithful blogging friends...but I figured it was time. Better now then never, right?!

The past 10 months have been CRAZY! Crazy busy, sometimes stressful, but just plain amazing and wonderful! We are so blessed that so many wonderful things/events have graced our life in the past 10 months. To start it off....

In April, we sold our townhouse!!!!!!!! It was quite a shock for Mark and I, as it was on the market on and off for 3 years! 3 years of keeping the house clean...showing ready...and zero offers. Zilch! Then out of nowhere, the week after Easter, we had a second showing...then an offer!!! After a few days of negotiating, it was SOLD! It was almost too good to be true...but off we went a few days later to find our new home. And we found it! Not far from our stomping grounds in Batavia...just a few miles up the road in Geneva! We loved it the second we walked in and prayed that the negotiations would go smoothly. After literally 3 days of straight negotiations, the sellers finally were sick of me (realtor's words) and gave us the price that we pushed for. That was in April and we had to wait until June 25th for moving day. It seemed like it was an eternity at the time, but we are here and loving our new house. It's still a bit empty, but we have plenty of time to fill it!!!

Speaking of filling it, we are expecting our second child!!!!!! I'm almost 14 weeks and just starting to feel somewhat normal again. I THOUGHT that the morning sickness was bad with James..boy, was I mistaken! It hit me like a rock just before 6 weeks and literally didn't stop full force until about a week ago. I vomited non stop for weeks. (sorry, that's gross). I could barely eat, yet I'm gaining weight like a sumo wrestler. I still can't eat or even look at meat of any kind, but I'm starting to get my appetite back and had my first veggie today! Carrots with dip! So odd for me since I love veggies...but this baby took a toll on me and wouldn't let me eat anything except for cheese (grilled cheese especially), watermelon, nectarines, chocolate milk, and bread. But now as I'm approaching the second trimester, I'm starting to not feel sick 24/7. I just deal with bad bouts here and there. Hopefully in a few weeks, I'll be 100% . We are so excited and feel so blessed that this pregnancy happened so quickly. The baby is due April 21st...easter weekend. We've had 2 ultrasounds already and everything looks perfect! The baby is actually measuring about 5 days ahead of schedule but that could change with time. We can't wait to find out the gender! Hopefully we'll know just before Christmas or so! We would be thrilled with either. A boy- that's what we know and it would be so great for James to have a brother. Plus, everything that we have is for boy! A girl- it's something different and Lord knows how I love to shop...especially for girl's clothes! I need someone to go with me for mani's and pedi's someday! We just feel blessed that we are welcoming a 2nd child into this world next year, and all we can pray for is that he/she is healthy. We can't wait to see that little face.

3rd blessing- Jennifer and Jason are married!!!!! September 25, 2010 was their big day. And what a wedding! It was honestly a fairy tale wedding and I was so blessed to stand beside them as they became man and wife. They are honestly such an amazing couple and you can certainly see and feel the love they have for each other so we couldn't be happier. Jason has been a part of our family for almost 9 years now, so we already love him like a family member. But now it's official! I still need to upload my pictures...so next post will be wedding pic's.

So that sums up the amazing 2010 Mark and I have expereinced. We couldn't be happier and thank God every day for our blessings. Life is good.

Fa la la la la....

James making the famous Bathon Eggnog!












Shooting the BB gun with Daddy

Running with his Godfather, Uncle Tim

Uncle Andrew- The Wine Connesiour (sp?)

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Hard to believe we are approaching 2010! Not sure where the time goes?!

Since I'm on vacation until January 4th, I figured it was time to update the blog, since I don't have any excuses!

After many many delays in our travel arrangements, we finally arrived in PA last Tuesday at midnight (so technically Wednesday!). I thought I was starring in the infamous film, "Planes, Trains, & Automobiles" with the 2 days back and forth to the airport, cancelled flights, snow, etc. After much stress and delay, we finally made it which was the most important thing of all.

Although the trip was shortened, it was a wonderful Christmas! Since James is almost 3, he seemed to "get it" more this year! As James and I were laying in bed on Christmas Eve, he whispered to me "Oh me God, I hear Santa and his sleigh!". Even though he used the Lord's name in vain, it was still pretty darn cute!

Thank you to everyone for all of the amazing gifts! James certainly is a spoiled little man and I think Daddy is enjoying his toys this year just as much as he is! He came home with an interactive dinosaur, many DVD's, a Tommy Gun, Duck Tales DVD, Incredibles, books, Little People Garage Set, Thomas the Train track, a digital camara, View master, more outfits than a 3 year old can possibly wear, and much much more! It was yet again, the best Christmas that anyone could ask for. We are truly blessed and appreciate everyone in our lives. Love to all!

Next up...celebrating Christmas with the Bucholz Family this weekend. Pictures to come!

"I do it!"

Yes my friends, we are definitely in the heat of the "terrible two's". Many say that 3 is much worse...but for our sake, I hope we have reached the climax of this stage! Although James is very smart( often times saying a word both in english and spanish), very social, extremely funny, athletic, and energetic...there is also a huge side to James that is perhaps a split personality! All of a sudden, our sweet and loving angel turns into a complete crazy man with a big temper! Everything is "I do it!!!!", and God help us if we don't let him buckle himself into his car seat!!! The "corner" has become an almost nightly routine at the Bucholz residence, and is 75 % effective. I started questioning the effectiveness when he actually asked to go in the corner?! Can't figure this guy out.

Even with his new attitude and temper, we love him to death and he's most definitely the apple of our eye! He's growing and developing into the most lovable and hysterical little man!

Summer 2009

July 3rd was the date of our last post!?! Honestly, I don't know where the time has gone! What kind of blogger am I??!! The good news is, we're back! It's hard to believe that summer has come and gone! We had a great summer, despite the mild weather. The highlight of Summer 2009 was the Bathon trip to the Outer Banks, NC. It was the first time we've been back since summer 2003, the first summer that Mark and I dated! Seems like ages ago! Since then, I've ran 2 marathons, married my best friend, and welcomed James into the world! Hard to believe all of that has happened since our last visit to Duck. Who knew such wonderful things were in our future!

The trip began with a short flight into PA. We then drove down "Griswold style" to NC the next morning. It was quite the adventure, complete with James getting some major poops on the way down! Made for a fun 8 hours in the car! Once we got there, we had the best week and never wanted it to end. We laid on the beach, swam, ate way too much, drank a little more, had a family walk on the beach (some of us got lost and walked a few extra miles), almost beat up someone on the beach (wonder who that was? Mark?) watched movies in the home theatre room, cocktail hour by the pool, and just enjoyed each other's company. Family is truly the best gift in the world. Being together, makes you realize how lucky you are to have one another and never take time for granted...and I can't wait for everyone to be together again.

Lions, Tigers, and Dinosaurs..Oh my!

Today we visited the Brookfield Zoo! It was incredibly crowded due to the holiday weekend, but it was all worth it seeing James' expression while viewing most of the exhibits. I say "most" of the exhibits, because the dinosaur exhibit wasn't quite the reaction that we expected. Yes, James' favorite movie these days is Jurassic Park..but seeing dinosaurs that are life size, moving, and roaring at you from just feet away, isn't cool!. As we were walking through the path that lead to the dinosaurs, we spotted the T-Rex. I've never seen a 2 year old jump out stroller so fast in my life! He held onto Dada, tree frog style, and wouldn't even look at the dinosaurs! Naturally, we were laughing because it was pretty cute/funny! Mean parents! As we walked away from the dino exhibit, James became instantly tough and started yelling, "come here, dino-yaurs....bad dino-yaurs!. "

Other favorites of the day..the gorillas, rhino's, mere kat's, and giraffes! It was a fun day and we can't wait to go back!