if you love new music....

www.noisetrade.com

amazing.

These are for you, Mrs. Cort! (and others... that don't facebook!)














A millipede that Isaac had the guts to hold!














Theo wasn't touching it!














Isaac assisting Theo's first bouldering attempts.














Brothers....














One of my all-time favorite photos.














I adore the look on Theo's face.

1) What was I doing 10 years ago? Hmmm.... ten years ago this summer I was falling in love with one of Camp Krislund's Adventure Team leaders. To this day, actually, I had just gone to Creation to surprise the fellow that I was currently dating and ended up just hanging out with Matt's family in their little Creation Clearfield circle. I walked into that community and felt strangely at home. Little did I know, I WAS home. sniff*sniff.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today? (how about were?)
WHAT TO - DO LIST?! Just kidding.
I visited a new friend and her two girls up the street.
Make white chili for supper.
Return our library movies to avoid fines ;)
Ride the Carousal.
Drink Bubble Tea on Schenely Plaza's lawn.

3) Snacks I enjoy:
Bubble tea ;), freezie pops (lots of them), pretzels and cheddar cheese together (me and the boys had a pretzels and cheese party this afternoon!), combos (the more expensive version of cheese and pretzels.)

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
I would buy the Greenfield mansion. Well... the rest of it I'd give to Matt. heehee... there's a safe way to not own what I would do with it all!

5) Places I have lived:
Pittsburgh
Boston
State College
Bulawayo Zimbabwe - does 3 months count?

6) Jobs I have had:
TJ Maxx sales clerk and fitting room attendant
Eat N Park waitress
Geneva College admissions tour guide
Resident Assistant
babysitter ;)
Campus Minister
Physician Recruiter
Stay at home MOM

There you go Meggie pants! I just did this for you instead of suffering more losses to silly Scramble.

This made me weep.



While we were watching it, Isaac said, "There's our coach!!"

Regarding my BLOG - This is a temporary fix until I find my perfect graphic. Of course, you realize that I am the mother of three children and am married to a pastor - which really results in a life of chaos. Please bear with the changing page.

Beautiful things that happened this evening:

Me and my boys (Norah napped) had a date w/ "Meet the Robinsons." I was the only one who cried.

After a horrible temper tantrum resulting in having to go to bed without any stories or books, my eldest son hunted me down to apologize. He actually said, "Mom, I am sorry I cried so much tonight..." Whether the motivation was real repentance or getting his stories it was pretty amazing that he apologized! He is growing.

I made a chicken pot pie in 45 minutes... slowly perfecting what has become a family staple - and family favorite. I'm excited to know that I can actually cook the chicken/potato/veggie mix while working on the gravy. I used to do it separately and just shaved off 15 minutes! WOoT! Truly - beautiful. Now, if you really do care about that, I'll be impressed.

it's official. i am now a two cup morning coffee drinker.

T's new look!















At the Science Center -- AGAIN.















My three boys enthralled by the trains.















I left Daddy alone w/ the kiddos. He took them for a walk and apparently it rained. He kept running his hands through N's hair... and gave her a new do!















Here's a better view of that do.

A couple of videos too for you! My word... I really need to get at this computer more often.



Theo "praying."






They are pumping each other up ;)

As usual, my children are entertaining the be-geebies out of me.

We are well. Busy of course, but well. Matt was just recently at GA (General Assembly) and I managed OK home alone with all three. My mother had me over one afternoon (we were grumpy together) and I left quite cheerily but the proceeded to get myself into a little fender bender on the way home. I'm surprised they don't just automatically up your premium when you have more than 2 children. It is amazing that I get from point A to point B healthily. Anyway... the next day was bearable but come Thursday I called for reinforcement. We had a lovely family take the chillin's to their community pool - where both parties: me and them, got distance from one another. The boys had a blast ... and I got to walk around and get a couple of necessities.

This summer already feels like it's flying by. I feel like it should still be spring and technically it is - but we are already halfway through June! Doesn't that just feel odd? We have a couple of weddings this summer which we are looking forward to and a vacation in August. We have also just found out that two of our dearest friends who had a new little baby girl just a month after I had Norah are moving to Pittsburgh! We are thrilled to say the least!

Norah is moving around like crazy and really growing up far too quickly! I'm already missing my newborn. Theo is talking like mad and really quite opinionated. Isaac, well... he is just a little boy. I can't believe how little boyish he is.

Matt... well, he's growing up too ;) I can't believe how well I married. I definitely married up (I know you are going to read that mom, and say that I didn't -- I'm not knocking our family ;) I'm just sayin'.... I didn't think you could get better than the Baldauffs... heehee)

Alright. Signing out. I've been a terrible blogger - and for those of you that check frequently, I'm sorry! But hey, I'm the mother of three -- what do you stinkin' expect?

I have to do it! It is very entertaining....



Thanks Hannah.

We went to the Children's Festival in Oakland today... we actually just happened upon it. We are going tomorrow with daddy. However... a funny thing happened today. Even funnier than the goats chasing Theo around the petting zoo trying to nibble on his fingers.

We are walking around... the kids' stage announces it's show: "Ladies and gentleman, the finest show of the festival... join me in welcoming the belly dancers troupe." Isaac, excited about the loud music and the stage, desperately wanted to watch the show. C'mon - BELLY DANCERS?!?!? At a Kids' festival? Like my poor soon needs to look at any more bellies.

Well, later on this evening - more than five hours after, Isaac looks at me and asks, "mom, why couldn't we watch the belly dancers? I'm almost as old as you. I AM a big boy." Oh dear...

yes, i do not blog anymore. i can't find the words... i am not intelligent enough any longer... i feel i am only able to communicate as a three year old. i confirm. having babies kills brain cells.

my girl is good to me. she sleeps so well. the only trouble she gives me is her desire to be held from 5-7pm: which thoroughly complicates dinner time. her smiles are endearing and her lil coos are sweet.

the boys are pretty good to me as well. they fight a lot recently. toys bought are bought in pairs. so creative! we were at my sisters house yesterday (SURPRISE!) and the boys entertained themselves in a kidfree home for two hours. i love these boys. theo is starting to communicate more and more.

we are blessed. what good friends we have. hopefully i'll get some new pics up soon.

THE Zoo

Thank you sweet Australian friend who has encouraged more footage of the proud momma.















Bath time!

Alright... that's a wrap. That is all I am capable of this morning.... and possibly week. We've got to clean our house.

I promise more verbage within the month. Here are some pictures.















Her normal state... sleeping.















Happy vacation!!















Happy 2nd Birthday big boy!















The older brother... having a turn at holding her.
















"take picture ME, momma!"

blogging with three children = impossible. for ME anyway. i'll try and get more pictures posted as soon as i can. hope all are well.

Welcome to our World...

Norah has been getting a large dose of our world of late... The boys are deeply in love and gentle and dear. Here are some notables of late:

• Norah Grace SLEEPS. She has given me at least one 5 hour stretch EVERY night since we've come home from the hospital. Immediately upon nursing during that ONE feeding a night, she goes right back to sleep. Consequently, I have had more energy NOW than I had prior to having her! (Now, if only my house would reflect that fact!)
• Last Thursday morning, Norah was sleeping w/ daddy and Theo still in bed, Isaac and I had a precious and rare moment just the two of us. We were eating breakfast and it hit me that it was no longer just Isaac and Theo any longer -- there was a NEW child, new life in our family. I mentioned the fact to Isaac - in awe - and he responded by putting his fork down, looking me in the eye and asking, "wow mommy, can you handle it?" Oh, that I would handle it well.
• Anytime Norah cries - Isaac immediately runs to her (no matter WHERE she is) and says, "it's alright Norah, I'm here. You are not lonely any more. I'm here!"
  

We are enjoying our new addition to our world. We are all in love.

Theo is constantly adding to his "stuffed animal" collection that he has to have in bed w/ him at night. We thought we'd give our new addition a shot -- He was so sad when we told him he couldn't actually keep her in there all night.


















Of course, Isaac wanted in on it... They were so excited about this!


















The ever famous jaundiced Koerber.... ;) Poor thing...

Norah Grace

This is an email that Matt sent out just yesterday - while he was entirely unsupervised.

As you probably knew, Chrissie has been experiencing severe abdominal
swelling. This led to some pretty great discomfort and when she began
to have piercing pain on Monday we decided that she should go to the
hospital. Anyway, after a very short investigation, the doctors were
able to determine the cause of the problems. Believe it or not,
Chrissie had a small person living inside of her! It was amazing.
Well, the doctors have a special procedure for getting the baby out -
iI would not have believed it if I had not seen it with my own eyes.

Well, that solved everything. Chrissie is feeling fine. The pains
have stopped and her swelling has already been reduced. We have
decided to keep this new person and make her part of the family. We
named her Norah Grace (8 bls. 4 oz.) and she is cute.

Thanks for your prayers!

In Christ,
Matt (Chrissie, Isaac, Theo and Norah)

Here are a couple of pictures to satisfy the peoples ;) I'll try and get more later and up.

















Ball Bellies. Theo's new favorite game















MY ball.















Boys & grandparents meet the ball.















Daddy rests with the ball.















Look at my hair!!

To some, this will mean nothing... to others - like myself - you'll be impressed! This morning, Matt and I decided to take the kiddos to our lil breakfast place - Elana's across Greenfield Ave. Matt took the van and dropped it off to be inspected and me and boysie's walked down Lydia. As we passed Kanai funeral home at the bottom of our street, the door opened and out walked Art Rooney Jr w/ a bodyguard/driver/friend? Immediately recognizing him... I wondered... it is kosher to say hi? The poor fellow, recognized, I AM SURE, everywhere he goes, was leaving the funeral home and walking across the street to St Rosalia's to where the funeral mass was to take place. We made eye contact and acknowledged each other's presence. As we went to cross the street, the sweet owner of the PITTSBURGH STEELERS told us to be careful and wait for him to cross with us. They giggled at Theo's "future Steeler" cap that he was sporting... and we parted by asking that the Lord would bless one another.

This is why I love living in the city. I love that all of you dear folk in Boston and elsewhere with no allegiance to this lovely city would have no reaction to this story. BUT, if you are a Pittsburgher, you'd want to buy a house next store ;) just in case Art comes back... heehee.

No babies yet. I'm weary!



These sweet lil buggers keep me going ;)

A very productive weekend! We became our own particularized church, Matt landed his first senior pastor position, ordained a couple of elders, vowed to serve the Pittsburgh community, built a loft, painted a room - FUSCIA pink!, and got another week closer to having a baby girl ;).

Some fun new shots.















A bright and contagious smile. He had just gotten back from his "sitting on the step" routine that happens every night when he pitches fits about dinner ;) with that hat. He comes back with a new hat every time.















Camera savvy - always ready to take a picture. I do have a normal smile picture of him somewhere ;)















Mommy's playdate at the dinosaur museum! What a treat!















I can't handle our cat 99% of the time. (Evil, I know... but, to my credit, I already have 3 other beings craving my attention, cuddles and affection. I can't handle having to pet/touch such an attention-starved cat!) However, this is what keeps poor ole Barnabus in this home....

A couple of videos for the grandparents!

The following video was taken at PiratesFest -- we got tickets from our SWEET and dear neighbor across the street (who loves my fuscia room, by the way). The boys love baseball - and well, we only let them watch the Pirates ;) The event was fairly disappointing... you'd think that for a very under producing sports team that they would try and serve their fading fan base just a little bit. It cost over 30 bucks to get in and then cost money to "play" games. We didn't see a single player there. I did get a chance to capture the best part of our time there... The Pirate Parrot was very entertaining!



Here's a little footage of our attempts to dig up some ole dinosaur bones at the NHM (Natural History Museum.) Theo was a trip and REALLY into the whole process. He cried when I took his ridiculous goggles off (the ones that prohibited breathing through his nose.) The kids had a blast.



Alright ... signing out. It's laundry day!

I have been an extremely poor blogger of late. The last two weeks we've had the computer upstairs - which is a GOOD thing for my addictive self. That means I have to drag my very pregnant self up my steep stairs to check my email (ie - waste time on the internet,) something I find more and more tiring and troublesome. My boys rarely "play" upstairs... something I hope we change soon.

This girl is a mover and shaker! It's crazy how much she is tearing it up inside. Theo certainly did not move this much - I think Isaac did. We are getting more and more excited about meeting her and actually less intimidated (maybe that's why the Lord gives you the rottenest month of pregnancy - called the 9th month.) I'm looking forward to NOT feeling like a freight truck. I'm looking forward to not looking like one too!

We are looking forward to a visit from the in-laws this weekend ... they've committed (i think...) to painting and getting our rooms re-organized upstairs. The boys will either be built a loft or be bought a bunkbed set and finally move in together ;) The lil chica's room will be painted, the crib will be assembled and all of Matt's books will be moved... I feel very anxious about this process... once it's done... I'll be ready for her! Anyway... the boys are beside themselves looking forward to a visit from the Clearfield grandparents.















I just love this face!






























My sweet boys!