One year anniversary

One year ago today at ault park (hyde park, ohio) Jordan, Cayden and I united as one with only our parents, my grandparents, his oldest sister and husband and a "bridesmaid" and "groomsman". It was short and sweet. The way we wanted it. Here are some pictures from that special day. Our friend Neysa Ruhl took our photos. She is an amazing photographer in the wedding scene and we were beyond fortunate for her to help us keep this memories.
                                                                              before....

with our little "ring bearer"

What an amazing day <3

Scale forward one year we have moved twice...I have changed jobs....we have taken major steps in shaping our future and the future of our boys, but I would change one bit of our "controled chaotic life". One day all of our hard work will be paid off.

So! Anways....back to present day! Jordan had to work so he surprised me with this...

  and on eof the best lasagnas I have ever eaten from my new favorite blog and cook the pioneer woman. It was  AHHMAZING. We also exchanged gifts last week. I got him a new Fossil watch because the traditional gift is a clock and he got me another charm for my bracelet and little baby carriage with little crystals on it and then surprised me last night with a watch! I am one lucky girl. Really.

Jammie Day & some recipes

Today was quite boring in our home. I did not feel like going anywhere and spending money, and well really did not feel like changing out of my jammies <3 So C and I sat around, ate breakfast...played...watched The Polar Express...ate...lunch...napped....watched The Polar Express....played and well to conclude the night watched half of WHAT DO YOU THINK...TPE. DUH.

In between all those playing mommy cleaned out a closet, packed a bag of pillow for goodwill or our church. Threw together my now go to Loaded Baked Potato Soup...UMM...DELICIOSO YALL!!
And...while C was napping I felt the need to bake...and what else does a preggo make in the fall you ask??? This.. Pumpkin Bundt Cake. It says bread on the title, but lets be real this is no bread. So here are a few pics of my happy cooking day :)

                                          These are the Ingredients needed...

And...the finised product. C loved it of course :)

Oh! I almost forgot, so you know those moments when you want to pat yourself on the back for being a great...not just good mommy and daddy? Well, we have obviously had moments when we feel like we are doing something right...but recently our son has started to sing along to our christian music station that we listen to everyday...KLOVE! That station has changed my life oddly enough. It brought about a change in me that for one, lead me to be baptized again and saved. Best feeling ever. But anyways, back to C. There is a song by Jeremy Camp called You are the way...its a beautiful song, but there is a set of verses that repeats na na na na na...jesus!! so on and so forth...well everytime we turn on the radio he sings the "na na na na". It is so cute and you can tell how excited he is. But the best part was today...I had klove on in the kitchen...im tending to some cleaning, a song comes on, and before I even knew that was "his" song, he said..."Mama, NA NA NA NA Na", and started clapping and dancing around in circles. I was besides myself. What better for your child to listen to...than Christian radio BUT TO ACTUALLY ENJOY IT! IS AMAZING!! GOD IS SO GOOD, AND HE SHOWS IT EVERYDAY, WE JUST HAVE TO STOP AND SEE IT ALL AROUND US...

Hope everyone has a great day!! Im closing with this picture that i played with on my new phone...this shows how blessed I am...It doesn't get much better than this. A father and sons bond.

Mommy is coming up in the world of electronics

This is going to be a short and sweet post just to document that I am beginning to make sure I spend time and money on myself and NOT FEEL BAD about it. So...as part of my first anniversary present, my hubby ordered me to get an iphone!! No, I didnt get the 4s or whatever it is...just the iphone 4 in white. I am trying to not be a little kid and play on it all day because you know...i have a toddler?!?! Although he is enjoying smiling for mommys new "cheese" but of course he can not sit still for more than 4 seconds to put up a decent pic. O well, ill sneak one when he passes out! HA!

AND we had to retire our coffee maker today :( Lately it takes longer to brew, is never hot and tastes old after only 20 minutes. I even did a vinegar cleanse 2 or 3 times before I gave up and J agreed it was time...so after about 3-4 hours of online research (thats my new hobby before buying something) C and I ran out to Target...duh where else?!? And picked up this guy...
We have never owned a programmable coffee maker...like I said technology is improving in our home...

 

And not that this picture has any significance, but I also picked up this wonderful decorative piece...all of which was on clearance @ the wonderful Target....

3 wick candle 3.95

pumpkin spice smelly stuff 3.95

glass candle holder 3.95

REALLY!!! I was more excited for this than the coffee maker. ha!

Well, anyways I need to tend to dinner were going classy here in the McClellan home with chicken fingers and fruit.

p.s. were on day 3 of one car unit...and it went much smoother this morning AND we even had to drive a bit farther to drop daddy off...I found this quote on FB today....

"IT MAY NOT BE EASY, BUT IT WILL BE WORTH IT"

GOD BLESS.

A One Car Family Story.

DAY ONE.....

About a year and half ago J and I were introduced to a man named Dave Ramsey. You  may know him, he is a FREAK about money...and a devoted christian. I was slightly interested in his "scheme" only in the beginning because he is an open christian who bases half of what he teaches on scripture. So....its kinda like when you read a step he tells you you must complete...he adds in the scripture that says why you should be doing this and all the sudden you want to do it! SO anyways, we ordered the books, took the classes...actually attended them all maybe minus one or two due to working. There was a lot we agreed with about 95%, but then a few we felt needed to be tweeked to our life. What Im getting at is this man has and will save our lives. We are headed in the right direction financially...it just can be so so hard with littles...and especially with another little on the way!

In saying that we knew something had to give with our bills. We both have student loans, car payments, and then of course household billls. How on earth were we supposed to save for a house AND feel comfortable buying it. So after a very long time of talking about this, we decided to sell my car. My car that was sucking my cute little paychecks dry, keeping us from trully paying off debt and saving what we should.

So today was the first day of our one car family...J as you know is a fireman/paramedic and has to leave for work @ 515am!!!! What the heck! But, all good things require hard work. And we are ready to work so hard for our money and buy a home!! Anyways...I rolled out of bed, kinda changed my clothes...J handed me coffee we put a jacket on C and out the door we went. Honestly...it really wasnt that bad! C was great, just kept saying bye bye daddy :( he loves his daddy! Tomorrow morning we have to go get him from work, but we wont be leaving till 6. Im kind of excited about being forced to get up early im hoping it will force me to eventually go to the gym and just be on top of the day. Im not forcing anything right now bc of this baby in the oven.... well see! Just pray that we can handle this change in lifestyle...we should, there are so many people who cant afford 2 vehicles and they make it work...so can we!!!!

Photo Cluster

We will just make this post all about the pictures...they say it better than I can.
1. He LOVES homemade sloppy joes (half the sodium and fat of the canned version)
2. So therefore he get a bath nearly every night
3. I love love to cook (especially with pumpkin)
4. he is "that kid" who has the cheesy smile.
5. Most important...family time!!! @ blooms and berries in west chester, Ohio.
6. Our first pumpkins...

We do not get to spend a lot of time together as a family. Usually once a week because of our schedules. So when we do have days off, they are dedicated family time, and I wouldnt change that for the world.

2 Posts in One day!

Here is what has been going on in our lives the past two weeks.

My best friend came to visit the first week in October. She only comes a couple times a year. She works in retail, so its very hard for her to come down unless its very scheduled. But when she does, we have a blast, I would give almost anything for her to move back down here to be with me and my family. I pray that someday she will. So anyways, while she is in town we usually shop and go out to eat (my hubbys worst nightmares) ha ha On one of those days my hubby had to do a work detail (basically they go show off the trucks and such to little kids @ functions)! The kids love it, and the guys put a smile on their faces. C loves to his daddy at work...whenever we see a fire truck he makes the loudest siren noises and screams daddy dada! It makes me tear up everytime. I am so lucky...my boys will grow up to look up to one seriously brave guy. here are some pics from the pumpkin festival....

 *he used to be very timid and wouldnt go anywhere near the trucks...but now he loves them. Im seeing a potential birthday party site in his future...and job :/

 *you see what I mean...he is absolutely smittened by the guy <3*

Unfortunately daddy got called to go on a run so they had to haul out. So in the mean time we played!! He was such a big boy today...doing all sorts of things he was too scared of a month ago.

I was so excited for him!! I dont get why he was so scared before...he should know by now he can tower over anyone. He loves to get right in the mix....

I am so glad she got to come down and be with us for a few days....

 

Mason______Mc........

Im only going to say this guys, bein pregnant...running around with a 20 month old...working...running a home...and preparing for a new baby IS HARD F'ING WORK!!! So, please excuse how long it has taken me to post.

First and foremost about Mason...today I am 25 weeks preggo. Last week I became viable!! WOO HOO! that basically means my babe could survive outside of my body but to be honest survive would be its near only accomplishment, so once again...WOO HOO for 25 weeks!! You have given me a run for money little boy...I have light contractions usually once or twice a day (never w/ C), I feel like you could just fall out, heart burn has started wayyyy early, I can not stop eating with you....my clothes really just dont fit at all anymore, im all up in daddys side of the closet and drawers, and when I show myself in public I can only wear maternity. You are kicking up a storm more so @ night, but since this past week pretty much all day long :) We went to our 23 week appt couple days ago...and you are looking and sounding fabulous <3. Till next time little bud....
ps you still have no middle name????

Oh yeah...I did start blog didn't I???

Dear C and J, please excuse my brain lately. I feel like I am kind of in transition. I am becoming more and more aware that I will be the mother of 2 in less than 16 weeks! Ummm.....holy cow. I seem to be forgetting important things this time. I feel like we enjoy putting everything on our plate at one time. I was kind of in this fantasy land that this pregnancy would be different, and stress free. And I have really come to realize no matter how planned and ready you say you are for a baby and or second, third maybe fourth. It is still another huge life change. This has for me, brought about a lot of different feelings than I usually care to let out. But it is quite inevitable during the most hormonal time of your life minus menopause. **SIGH**
We are also trying to get all needed organization and little things done around here because it has been put off now for more than a year!!
 The following is our running list...and some pic ideas of what I want...
1. work on updating the boys room (cayden bedding, frames up on walls, another dresser for mason etc)

2. Get pics up in our room.

3. Headboard for our room
4. finish putting up floating shelves in dining room (already have half the wall complete :)

5. get storage unit for toys in their little corner. perfect.

6. hoping to plan caydens birthday before mason gets here
I know in theory a few of these things wont happen like I want them to but a obsessive planner and control freak can dream right?