Memorial Weekend

We have had a great Memorial Weekend...except for the fact that Derek has been working every day. However, that is the business he is in and he's been selling cars every day, so it's all been worth the time! Friday night he didn't get home until 10:00! (the joys of getting a late sale!) The fair ground car sale has been keeping him busy and has required long days! Friday when Boston and I got home Boston we blew up his kiddie pool in the backyard. He enjoyed splashing around in that! It was a hot one! A few friends from work came over later that night. Us girls and Boston hung out by the firepit, thank you to Sara for getting it started! I attempted but am apparently NOT good with a fire:) Boston stayed outside with us until midnight! He had fun showing off for the girls!

Saturday Boston went with my dad to Lowes. They have a kids "craft day" on Saturday mornings. It's a free event for kids, and this past Saturday they were making a race car! Boston had a fun time, and they plan to go for the next craft! Saturday afternoon some friends from church came over for a few hours! Saturday night we stayed inside and rented a movie. Neither Derek or I had seen the Blind Side so we rented that one. It was a great movie! Sunday we headed to church as a family. Derek went to work afterwards, and Boston and I went shopping and hung out outside! Usually if I shop I end up spending money on something for the house or Boston. I've been talking about wanting some sun dresses so Derek insisted I go shopping for myself yesterday:) I ended up getting myself 2 new things... I can just never seem to find things that I LOVE, and it's nearly impossible to really look and try things on with a 4 year old saying "mom lets GOOOOOO" all day:) I actually ended up spending a majority of our time shopping buying more plants and bushes for our landscaping project! Each year we add a few more things. This year our front yard will be complete, and we are adding a few things to the backyard near our deck! I attempted to plant 2 of the bushes myself yesterday.. The rest are sitting in the yard waiting for Derek's help. Hopefully we can get that project complete tonight!

Last night our friends Tara & Bret and their 2 girls came over for a grill out and fire. We had a fun time! The boys had a little trouble with the fire.. ended up soaking a log with some gas to get it going. They would be completely embarassed if they knew I blogged about this.. and YES, they were BOTH boy scouts! Today Boston and I are hanging out at home until later this afternoon when we head to Uncle Ron & Aunt Mary Gerdes' in Valley Springs. They have a yearly Memorial Day get together, so Boston and I will head over there for a bit. We hope you ALL have had a wonderful holiday weekend with your family and friends!

The house that built me..

You may notice I changed our blog song to Miranda Lambert's new song "The House That Built Me". It's one of my recent favorites! I love the story it tells. It brings me back to my childhood, and the memories I have in the house that I grew up in. As you all know, my parents divorced when I was 18. The house that we grew up living in was the last place that my parents, sister and I were a "family". It's still hard for me to drive by that house, and it's been 12 years since I've lived there! I have so many memories living in that house! ALL of those memories and times in my life are a part of who I am. The story behind this song just really hits home for me so I thought I'd share it with you. It really makes me stop and think about life now. The house we live in, the swingset we play on, even our dog...how everything about our life will be a memory for Boston. Now that we are a family again, I hope these walls are filled with wonderful memories for all of us!

The house that built me- Miranda Lambert

I know they say you can't go home again
I just had to come back one last time
Ma'am I know you don't know me from Adam
But those handprints on the front steps are mine

Up those stairs in that little back bedroom
Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar
I bet you didn't know under that live oak
My favorite dog is buried in the yard

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it's like i'm someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I'll leave
Won't take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

Mama cut out pictures of houses for years
From Better Homes and Garden magazine
Plans were drawn and concrete poured
Nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama's dream

You leave home and you move on and you do the best you can
I got lost in this old world and forgot who I am

Happy Saturday!

Well it's a typical Saturday around here. Breakfast, cartoons, coffee and cleaning out my purse:) It's kind of a gloomy Saturday, so Boston and I will probably spend most of the day doing things around the house. We got new carpet on our main level this week, so i've got some things to put back in place. The new carpet is so nice! It is a night and day difference from the old carpet we had. When they built our house they put in a very cheap, light colored carpet. We have lived here almost 4 years...and it was in horrible shape! The new carpet is a neutral-darker shag, and is so comfy on my barefeet:) It's like we have a completely different house with all of our home improvement projects lately! This coming week is my last week working full time. I am very ready for this change, and look forward to spending more time at home with Boston! Ok, so maybe we won't be home a whole lot, but i'm sure we'll get a lot of bonding done at Wild Water West! Boston will be turning 4 in just a few weeks. We have his birthday party planned, and he asks every day "is it my birthday today?!" We are renting a Spiderman Bounce House this year! He is very excited to have a super hero birthay party! We are actually having 2 separate celebrations this year. His "friend" party is at 11:00, and then the family party is at 3:00. He is really into his friends lately, so we thought it would be fun if we invited some of his preschool friends over for a kid party! I'm sure he will have a very fun filled day, and will be completely wiped out by the evening!


My friend Tracy that took our wedding photo's delivered our picture CD yesterday. I think i spent 4 hours last night looking at the pictures. They are all just so amazing! I've picked a few of my favorites to share with you! I can't wait to narrow down what ones we are ordering for our walls, and get them ordered!

Mr & Mrs. Gerdes!

On Saturday, May 15th, 2010, Derek & I were re-married! We had our ceremony down town at Paramount Studio. (super neat place!!) The day was perfect, and I couldn't have asked for a more memorable day! I have intentions to share with all of you some of our previous marrital struggles and about our divorce, but right now I can't put into words what I'd like to say, so we will leave that for another blog entry or two. We do strongly believe that everything happens for a reason and all that we've been through was part of God's plan for our lives. We also believe that we were put through this difficult journey so that we can help other young married couples going through some of the same struggles, and hope to expand on that work through our church some day. Right now though, we are praising God for how he brought Derek's and I's hearts together again. We love having our family together and without the prayers and support from our wonderful family and friends this wouldn't be possible. God is good, and it is because of His Grace, we are given second chances!

Boston with Grandma Glady. Boston looked adorable in his suit! Our wedding day was an extra special day for the Gerdes family, as it would have been Jerry's (Derek's dad's) 65th birthday. We know Jerry was watching us from heaven with a smile on his face.

The kiss!



My friend Tracy Pollard took pictures of us before the ceremony. She did an incredible job! Here are just a few of the pictures she's shared with me so far... I'm getting the rest this weekend and I am very excited!!

B found "Mr. Worm"!

Mr. Worm was discovered this morning in the sandbox... our first insect friend of the spring/summer! Boston is enjoying a morning in the backyard! We finally have sunshine after what seems like weeks of gloomy, rainy weather! Yeah for sunshine! The forecast is looking good for tomorrow too, so I am very excited about that :) Derek and some of his friends are heading out golfing this afternoon! I was beginning to think Derek was more excited about his golf outing than he was about the wedding, but he assures me that is not true! He just loves getting together with his friends. When they talk on the phone it's funny listening to him giggle and get all excited about their plans to see each other. We are blessed with such great friends! I enjoyed day #1 away from work yesterday! I am off until next week Tuesday. A much needed break!! Yesterday I had the pleasure of being a helper in preschool for Boston's last day of school. Hard to believe that his first year of school is over! Mrs. Korn sent home his "report card" yesterday. It says "Boston was a pleasure having in class. He will do great in Pre-K next year!". He was a little naughty yesterday, but both of his teachers reassured me it was not his typical behavior! Why is that kids act so naughty when mom is around?! Well, I best get going. I've got lots to get ready for tomorrow!! My next blog post will be after our wedding and I promise to post pictures!!

Poker Face and Boxer Briefs!

Yesterday was a fun day in preschool! It was a special day for Moms. "Mothers Day Tea" was an excellent time. I always enjoy getting to be a part of Boston's activities, and it was so sweet to hear them sing songs and serve the moms our tea and dessert! In the car ride from school to daycare, Lady Gaga's song "Poker Face" came on the radio. Boston's face lit up! We cranked up the radio and busted a move in the car! If you were driving East on 26th street yesterday and saw a silver jeep with 2 crazy people dancing..that would have been us! We just had a blast. It's those fun little moments, at the most random times that just melt my heart! Memories when you'd least expect them!! I changed our first blog song to Poker Face for your enjoyment:)

Lately Boston has been all about wearing his boxer briefs. He only had 2 pair, and it's nearly impossible to keep up with laundry around here...so he'd even want to wear dirty boxers just so he wouldn't have to wear his regular underwear. Tonight we made a stop at Kohls and picked up a few more pairs of boxer briefs. He picked out Hulk ones, and was so excited to get home and try them on. He's been wearing them around the house for 2 hours now saying "Hulk...SMASH!".. Boys are so silly!

Things that Boston loves..

This morning I was stumped on what to "blog" about... Who would have guessed that someone with a million things going on in her brain, 24/7, wouldn't have a blog topic?!.. so I thought it would be fun to turn the camera over to Boston, and have him take pictures of things he loves around the house. Of course he loves his mom and dad, and neither of us were prepared for a picture this morning, so excuse the bed head, no makeup, and Derek's bare belly! I'm sure he would be thrilled to know he was "exposed" on our blog. Guess that serves him right. He whines about never being mentioned on the blog, and now that I do mention him, and post pictures of him, he never even looks at the blog! I hope you enjoy our silly blog post!

He loves his mommy:)

I guess he loves the door:)

His dad! Derek was getting ready for work, so Boston caught him half dressed for the day...

This is probably his favorite thing of all.. his green B! (we call Boston "B", and he calls his blanket "B"..gets kind of confusing!)

And his bedroom.

And his ball..that is being kept up on top of the fridge for a week!! He was told several times on Friday night NOT to play ball in the house. He listens like a typical 4 year old boy... He ended up knocking one of my willow tree angels off the wall.. The angel is now without a head until we get some super glue..