Our Family Beach Vacation:-)

This past Sunday we were off to the beach! Emily and Ansley have been wanting to go all summer so we decided to take them to one of our favorite spots-Longboat Key! They were so excited to find out they were going and couldn't wait to get there. They had such a fun time finding seashells, coquinas, little crabs, and making sandcastles. Of course when you are at the beach the time seems to go soooo fast! The girls wanted to stay 60 days and I had to agree but it was time to come back to reality. Until next year...then there will be 3 little beach babes wading in the water! Enjoy the slideshow:-)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Paisley's Update

Well today was Paisley and my turn for a check up. Everything is going well-blood pressure is good, heartbeat is strong, belly is getting bigger...LOL! I will be 28 weeks this coming Monday! I am scheduled to go back in 3 weeks to have a 3D ultrasound. I am so excited to see her again:-) Thank you for all of your prayers-keep them coming!

Emily's 5 Year Check Up

This morning I had to take Emily in for her 5 year old check up. She weighs 36 1/2 lbs. and is 42 in. tall. The doctor said she is below average in weight but he isn't concerned about it due to her small frame. She passed her eye and hearing test and also had to get a shot. Now she wasn't too happy about that but then they gave her a cookie so she felt much better:-) I can't believe Emily is 5 already! Where does time go????

Lunch with Darlene

Tuesday for lunch I was so excited to meet up with my friend Darlene. We used to live down the street from each other when we moved into our first house after marriage. We then had our firstborns about a month apart so it was so nice to have someone so close that you could get together with! Through our many get togethers we grew closer in our friendship and I am very blessed to have Darlene as a friend. Now we don't even live in the same county so we rarely get to see each other! It was so nice to get to catch up with her in person! Darlene is a woman of God who has risen above some difficult situations and it's amazing to see how God has worked through her, is working through her, and how He will continue to do so! Thank you Darlene for lunch! I love ya girlie!

Blaine (her son), Darlene, Me, Ansley and Emily

Happy Birthday Richie!!

A couple of days ago my friend Kristin called me to make some surprise plans for her hubby Richie's 30th birthday. She asked if Andrew and I would mind driving over for his 30th birthday. Richie happens to be Andrew's best friend that he roomed with for a little over a year. They share many memories but they don't get to see each other much due to living in different towns now. The night before he figured it out so he knew we were coming so he wanted to surprise us! Richie is a guy who cannot get embarassed and keeps you laughing the whole time usually at his expense! For example, we get to their house and ring the doorbell, then the door opens, and what do we see but Richie standing there with his arms wide open ready to hug us but might I add he was only wearing hot pink speedos! He is crazy!

The birthday boy Richie

Richie and his wife Kristin
Me and Andrew
The gang
Happy Birthday Richie!

We had a great time!

We love you both!

Lunch with Erin

Yesterday I got a call from my friend Erin saying she was down visiting. I was so excited to see her-we have actually seen each 3 times in the last month which is unheard of! We grew up together but now we live quite far from each other. Usually I don't get to see her but once maybe twice a year so I am getting very spoiled! We had a great time meeting up for lunch. She is an awesome wife, mommy, and friend. She is also a Nurse Practitioner for an infertility clinic. I always enjoy her stories and the passion she shares with me on this topic. God is using her to touch people's lives that are hurting. She is awesome! I had a great time Erin and I look forward to seeing you again. Love ya!

Erin and Me

Claire (Erin's daughter), Emily, and Ansley

Lunch with Tracy and the Kids

Today after VBS was over the girls and I were excited to meet my friend Tracy and her kids for lunch. They are down for the week and it was so nice to see them again! I have missed them sooo much! We had a great time catching up:-) Tracy has been a wonderful friend to me-she is beautiful on the inside and out!

Tracy and I (Laci fell fast asleep after eating)

Lindsey, Matthew, Ansley, and Emily
Love ya Tracy!!!

VBS

This week Emily and Ansley have been attending Vacation Bible School at my parent's church. This is where I went to VBS as a little girl with my sisters. They are having a great time learning about different bible stories, making crafts, singing, and playing with some of their friends from dance class.

Emily and her friend Madison (doing the motions to a VBS song)

Katherine and Emily
Ansley and her friend Madi

Happy Birthday GG!

Today is my grandma's 82nd birthday. We took her to a local restaurant for dinner and then back to my parents' house for cake and presents. The girls call her GG short for great-grandmother. She is always very thoughtful and remembers all of our birthdays. She loves to mail cards out to people to help brighten their day:-) We love you GG!

Emily and Ansley helping GG blow out her candles:-)

Lunch with Cousins

After church on Sunday we had lunch with Andrew's cousin and her family. His cousin is married to a lieutenant colonel in the US Marine Corp. They are getting ready to leave this week to live in Germany for two years. They have two beautiful children. We always need to remember to say thank you to the men who serve our country and pray for them!

Emily, Kaitlyn, Ansley, and Collin

On a side note, during church Andrew started not feeling well. He made it through all 3 services but couldn't make it to lunch. He arrived home just in time for a stomach bug to work through his system. He is still not feeling the best but is able to keep food down. Please pray that he will feel 100% by tomorrow and that us girls do not catch it.

Princess Emily Grace!

Andrew and I decided that on each of the girls' 5th birthday we would take them to Bippity Boppity Boutique to dress up as a princess of their choice and then to the Character Dining at Disney. Well, yesterday was the big day for Emily and she finally decided after looking at the gowns that she liked Belle the best. She started off with a 3:00 apt. at the Boutique where they made her feel so special and fixed her right up! Then she had a photo shoot-the pictures turned out so good it was so hard choosing which ones to buy! Then we met up with my sisters Sarah and Audrey with Kylie for the character dining. We were able to meet Cinderella, Prince Charming, and Cinderella's step-mother and two step-sisters. They were quite funny! We weren't there two minutes before Anastasia (one of the step-sisters) asked Andrew for a dance. She thought he was quite handsome-I think I might have some steep competition....LOL! Then the girls were able to have an awesome time meeting all the characters. They also brought out a birthday cake that I had ordered and sang Happy Birthday to Emily. Emily absolutely loved it! She was the "Belle of the Ball"! (I think Ansley and Kylie had just as much fun too!) We ended the night by taking a tram ride around the park so the girls could see Cinderella's castle and they love taking train rides (what they call the tram). We all had a great time! Enjoy the slideshow!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Pregnancy Update

A couple of weeks ago when I went for my check up I had to take the gestational diabetes test along with being checked for anemia. Well, I got a phone call yesterday from the nurse letting me know that I had passed the gestational part but I am anemic. They want me to start taking iron supplements along with my prenatal. I did not have this with Emily or Ansley so I was a little surprised by the news. But now I know why I have been so tired lately. I just figured it was because I am trying to keep up with two preschoolers and our daily adventures in life! I guess there was more to it than I thought!

Sweet Significance

Last night I had the privilege of giving a devotion to a ladies group at their church. The theme for the night was "Sweet Significance" which goes along with their Confection Connection name. It was a great time for ladies to enjoy coffee, sweets, games, and just fellowship with one another. I thought I would blog a short recap of my talk last night...
I did an acrostic for "WORTH" since significance might have taken all night!

W-Wonderfully Made-Gen. 1:27 and Psalm 139:13-16
Can we honestly say with King David "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Or do we tend to find the parts on our bodies that we don't like? God made us in His image and we're arguing with Him when we start complaining about how He made us. God has a purpose for each one of us that only we can fulfill! Don't let the media make you feel less of a person. You have worth and you are significant!

O-Overcome by His Love-Zephaniah 3:17 and Romans 8:37-39
God loves us unconditionally! Nothing can seperate us from His love! As humans we tend to show conditional love to one another. Maybe you had a rough childhood, suffered from abuse, having a tough time with your husband....all of these things can make us feel worthless or insignificant but you can overcome by His love!!!


R-Renew Your Mind-Romans 12:2 and Philippians 4:8
What are we putting into our minds???? (through tv shows, movies, conversations, books, magazines,etc)
How often are we putting God's Word in???
Stay focused on Christ and in His Word. Get in it daily!!! When our eyes begin to look around and compare, our worth begins to dwindle. But when we stay gazed upon Christ we know we have worth!

T-Thankful Heart-Colossians 3:15-17
The opposite of thankfulness is bitterness. God has given each of us a role in life. The media and today's society tend to emphasize success and significance with the roles we play. No matter what we are called to do (from a celebrity to cleaning a dirty diaper for a baby) we should ask God "How can I glorify you today in my given role?" Do you have a thankful heart? Can you see the significance in your daily role? God has called you to something-step up to the plate and make the best of it for His glory!

H-Hold onto His Promises-2 Corinthians 1:20
Jesus came and lived out a faithful ministry, He never sinned, He died for us, and He is coming back for us! This is not our home so we should not put all our worth or significance into this earth. God loves us so much He is preparing a place for us. We are getting new bodies and that is what I call significant!

I had to think of a candy to pass out for each lady to go along with the theme. Here is what came to mind...
Werther's Original
You were worth the price! You are an original-God's masterpiece.

Only in Him can we find our worth and significance!

***To my bloggin' buddies Robyn and Heidi D.--you do an awesome job organizing this event for the women of your church each month. It was such a blessing for me to see God using you and the gifts He has given you! Love ya!

My Little Girl Turned 5!

Emily Grace turned 5 years old on Sunday, July 6th. She is getting to celebrate her birthday all week which she absolutely loves! Sunday she had a birthday brunch while we were in Ohio. Then Monday night she celebrated with my parents. This Friday we are taking her to Bippity Boppity Boutique for her to dress up as a princess and then eat dinner with the characters. My two sisters and niece are going to meet us there for the celebration! She is so excited to go and can't decide which princess to dress up as...I guess we'll know on Friday:-) I can't believe my little girl is 5 already...time really does fly! I am very blessed to be Emily Grace's mommy!

Emily with her birthday candle that we burn each year

Emily with my parents and Ansley
The gang


Happy Birthday Emily Grace!! We love you!

Katsanis Family Reunion!

We are back from our trip to Cincinnati! We had a great time with Andrew's side of the family and stayed very busy. Here's a short recap of our trip:
Monday-arrived and ate at a popluar restaurant chain "Skyline Chili" and then headed over to see where my father-in-law grew up as a boy.
Tuesday-Swimming and Reds game
Wednesday-King's Island
Thursday-Cincinnati Zoo, Bowling, 4th of July Parade and Party
Friday-Anuual Tennis Tournament
Saturday-Cousin Marika's 16th Birthday Party with Greek dancing
Sunday-Emily Grace's 5th Birthday Brunch
In between all of that, we had fun swimming, shopping (I was able to meet up with my childhood friend Erin at the mall), and of course eating!!! Enjoy the slideshow:-)
Thank you Mam-ma and Pa-pou for a great week! We love you!

Make a Smilebox slideshow