Ok, Dad...

Ok, Dad... you can come home now.  I am ready to go sledding, and you know mom won't take me.

Oh, by the way... can you bring some snow too?  It's basically been summer around here the past few months and if I grow out of this snowsuit without using it even once mom is not going to be very happy. Mom also says that the snow is only allowed to be here for one day.  Between you and me, she seems kind of high maintenance about this whole thing.

Anyways, can't wait to go sledding with you!

Love you, Dad!

Love, Peyton

A Beautiful Wedding

Last Friday my beautiful friend Erika married her Marine man Dan.

They are a super romantic couple that I am so blessed to know.

They are already sacrificing for our country in their short marriage as Dan was only home for 4 days after the wedding because he had to go to more training for the Marines.

Erika and I felt each others pain this summer while Dan was gone for his first batch of training and we will be there for each other during this time as well.  Dan will come home for a couple weeks in November to get things together to move to an unknown (as of now) location with his new bride.  

The military life isn't easy.  But, "we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."

Romans 8:28  

And Dan and Erika are and will continue to experience that.

I don't like to think about him coming home and then whisking my friend away to some faraway land,but I know their adventure is written by the King of Kings... so I'm excited for them.  

Their wedding was one of the more emotional ones I have ever been to.  Made me miss my military man.  But the King of Kings is writing our adventure too :)  So I know this time apart was well planned.

Congratulations Dan and Erika!  I love you both so much <3  God bless your marriage!

The Best Anniversary Gift Ever

For our 3 year anniversary Ryan made and sent me a photo book from Shutterfly.  It is seriously the best gift I've ever gotten!  I love that he made it :)  It's a homemade gift that I actually like haha!  For all you out there googleing "the best anniversary gift" here's my suggestion.

Aside from having him here, this was the best gift I could have ever thought of!  Thanks babe :) I love it!

3 years ago, today... Happy Anniversary Babe

To my love, my leader, my teacher, my helper, my husband


Ryan,


Thank you for marrying me.  


I love how in love we are today.  I love that even though you are on the other side of the earth, as far away from me as you could be, I can still feel you here.  


I love who you are. I love who you want to become... and how you strive to better yourself. 


I love how you don't settle.  I love how you dream big with me.  I love how you trust that God has big plans for our life and how you want to follow HIS lead so we can have the best life!


Even though I miss you today and every day that you've been gone, I am proud of the fact that you have made yourself available to provide for me and protect me as well as our country.  You have been given special gifts from God, He has made you how you are for a reason and you have an exciting life ahead of you!  I am excited to experience that with you.


I pray that I will always only encourage you. I want to be there for you, by your side 'till death do us part.  I want to always be your person.  You will always be mine.


You are an amazing man.  I love you more today than I did 3 years ago and my prayer is that our love will grow with each passing year.


I pray that our marriage will be blessed with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control and that God will be glorified through it.


Happy Anniversary Babe... I love you, and I miss you


Love, Sarah

Pictures I Forgot About. And Others That I Didn't.

This is one that I totally forgot about... We stopped to get lunch at McDonald's on the way to the airport last week and ate it picnic style in the back of the van in the airport's Gold Ramp

Here's Ryan with the kids... getting ready to say goodbye.

Cutie Patooties

Such a Lady

I had some watermelon that was close to being gross... so I made it into juice!

Watermelon Juice!  It was pretty good :)

I got the kids a pool to put out on the deck.

We just got it today, so there isn't water in it... yet.  I'll put it outside tomorrow!

For now, it'll be used as a cuddle spot for brother and sister.

This beauty is the FIRST EVER picture that Peyton has taken by herself!  Great job Pey!

One of these days I'm going to write a real post again... you know, one with like paragraphs and thoughts.  Today will just not be that day!

Just Some Thoughts

Whoa! New Blogger format... this could get some getting used to!  It looks like it'll be pretty simple though... I like the look of it better already :)

Today is my second night without Ryan.  I heard from him like 24 hours ago while he was in Germany via Skype in the airport and I got a text from him today at like 4 or something saying he was back in Kyrgyzstan.  I assume he is sleeping now... he "can't" sleep on planes.  Pshh.  He probably could.  Just saying.  

Tonight was my first night back to ALIVE in 2 weeks!  It was so much fun to see everyone again... I really start to miss those kids :)  We have our work cut out for us as we are down to juuuust over a month till showtime and we had to totally revamp the story line last night.  Lord... help us!

I have to find a book or something about two year old's and what to do with them when they are being less than angelic.  Peyton is in her terrible two's and I can use all the advice I can get!  Anyone know of anything?!?!

I ate quite a bit of dairy today.  We'll see how Van Man does... I'm not incredibly hopeful.

Tomorrow night I am meeting up with a new small group for our first meeting!  We are doing the video series The Truth Project.  I'm looking forward to it... but I really REALLY wish Ryan could come too... it's right up his ally topic-wise and he retains information.  I do not.  We'll see how it goes :)

It is 12:32 and I am going to get off this computer and go to bed.  I think we'll go to a pool tomorrow and get our tan/splash on.  That sounds just fabulous!

I'll post pictures if we do.  With, no doubt, something witty written with it.  Because that's what you get with this blog. Lucky you.

4 Down 7 to Go

I am so excited to get back into blogging every day!  I feel a little bit badly that I don't have a good record of what we did this last week... but it's ok.  It means that every second was just so good that I couldn't get away to blog about it!

That's a great problem to have :)

Ryan left today at around noon to head back to Kyrgyzstan for about 7 more months.  We're doing... ok. Jillian and Erika came over with some dinner tonight and we did a few things to prepare for our upcoming show for ALIVE.  It feels nice to get back into my regular busy life again.

I'm just going to post a photo recap of the past week.  I could have done more... but I spent too much time this afternoon doing really important things. Like catch up on the Bachelorette.

Here you have it!  Our week in a glance...

Ryan was a groomsman in his friends wedding on Friday night, so we went to the rehearsal on Thursday where Peyton found a cute ring bearer to play with

I was a very proud mama when BOTH my kids were quiet and very well behaved during the entire ceremony!  Praise Jesus!!!

The cutest guys at the wedding.

On Saturday we went to my Aunt and Uncles house and Peyton was wearing a dress that matched ones that my cousin's Annabelle and Gavia have.  Of course we had to take a picture :)

We had some friends over on Saturday night and played this game... Quelf.  It was fun.  Also, very looooong!

Ryan and I kept saying how this was the most perfect 2 weeks ever. We loved every minute of it and we are so thankful that he was able to come home.  

I love you babe!  Miss you already!

xoxo

How my night has gone so far...

3:59 Ryan calls to tell me that he is just pulling into the Chicago airport and has 20 minutes to go through customs and get to his gate. Meaning he's going to have to catch a later flight.  Meaning that he will not be home at 6:00.

4:42 Ryan calls to tell me that there is a flight at 6:03 that he hopes to fly out on.

5:39 Ryan calls to tell me that the 6:03 flight is way overbooked and that unless 57 people headed to Minneapolis drop dead in the airport there is no way he'll fly out at 6:03. He will be put on the 9:05 flight and get into Minneapolis at 10:29.

8:03 Ryan calls to tell me he is boarding the delayed 7:50 flight and will be leaving shortly.

8:18 Ryan calls to tell me that the plane's tire has low pressure so it is being worked on.  It'll be another half hour.

8:26 Ryan texts to tell me that his ETA is 10:10.

8:45 I put my baby (who has been crying since 7:30) in his car seat in my room to get away from the screaming because I juuust might lose it.

8:56 Baby is sleeping

9:10 Mom, Peyton, and Vandis (who I pray continues to sleep) head off to the airport to pick up daddy.

Side note- We all looked a lot cuter at 6:00.

T Minus 3 Hours

Hey friends! We're going to be heading off to the airport in only 2 hours to go get my

handsome

manly

loving

sexy

husband 

and the kid's

silly

strongest in the whole wide world

loving

embarrassing (eventually)

cuddly

daddy

We couldn't be more excited!!!  We'll be seeing/touching/loving on him in only 3 hours!  Pictures to come :)

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Fathers day to all the daddy's out in Blog World!  YOU are so special!

Here at Playing House I'm going to be highlighting 3 Dads in that are a part of my life.

Dad

My dad has always been a big part of my life.  You know those dads that are a good role model for how you should live your own life?  Yeah, that's my dad.  He's selfless, giving, and encouraging.  I am beyond thankful that I was given him as my dad, and beyond thankful that he is now my children's grandpa.

Love you Dad!

Oh, notice anything interesting about my dads wardrobe?  I think we gave him that shirt for father's day one year... a long LONG time ago.  Apparently he takes very good care of his clothing.

Father-In-Law

My father-in-law is more of the strong silent type in my eyes.  He loves to give!  I can think of numerous times that he has slipped me a 20 dollar bill and said "This is for diapers... or whatever else you or the kids need".  He has been a blessing in my life since I've known him and I am especially thankful for the influence he has had in Ryan's life.  I appreciate his kind heart toward my kids and the love he has for them.

Love you Tom!

Husband and Father to my Babies

Watching Ryan be a father is the best.  He is so in love with Peyton and Vandis and has big dreams for them. Even over Skype he still shows that he is a loving father with a strong work ethic and desire to provide.  Ryan is protective, goofy, fun, and uninhibited when it comes to his parenting with our kids.  18 hours from now he will hold his 3 month old son for the first time.  Then in 391 hours will board a plane and selflessly show him what a strong, God-fearing man providing for his family and serving his country looks like.  I am proud to call him my husband and Peyton and Vandis are proud to call him daddy.

Love you Ryan!