We are gearing up and EXCITED for our 3rd little bundle of joy!

We are so excited to share the news that we are having a baby!!! 26 weeks in and it is all starting to become even more real and exciting. Both kiddos are settling in to sharing a room and our little baby is sure moving around a lot reminding us that he/she is there even when we are all running around crazy busy. Our scheduled C-section is for January 15th, 2015! As of right now I have NOT a clue if our sweet little one is a boy or a girl...we shall see. 

Pregnant and 1 mile from our favorite Cider Mill...I am LOVING the cinnamon and sugar donuts. The rest of the family is too. Below is trip #1 with Papa and Grandma Cooley

The Ulrich's came for a weekend visit! We were so excited to have Brian, Mol, Benny, and brand new 7 week old Tyler stay with us the other weekend. Both boys are so sweet and we had a great time watching Benny and Luke wrestle and Elle playing mama with Baby Ty.

She kept bringing him stuffed animals and Tyler was a trooper because she kept taking his paci in and out of his mouth!

Trip #2 to the cider mill before the guys took off to go bowling on Auntie Meg's and Chad's bowling league.

My incredibly loving, kind, handsome, smart, and talented hubby on his first day of work at his new job! (October 6th, 2014!)

Mom and Dad Cooley were over to watch Elle that day because of a fever so they were able to get a shot of us before we all left for work/school. 

1 week in and Ben was flown out to Disney World for a conference in Orlando, Florida for 2 nights! Grandpa and Grandma Cooley were able to come over those few nights to help with the hustle and bustle with our growing family.

Play-Doh night! 

Daddy's home! 

We woke up a little early to hear about Daddy's trip before leaving for school. 

Elle is opening her gift from Disney...An Elsa ornament!

Luke...A Mickey Mouse ornament!

Oh, my heart be still...Luke's first sleep over with his buddies. Luke has stayed over night with people in the past but it's always because of Ben and I needing someone to watch him. This was his first straight up "going to Ayrton's birthday party and I am staying the night with my buddies" time. Luke has known Ayrton and Dylan since he was 8 mos. old when he first started at Meghan's home care. They were inseparable, everyday, until Luke was a little over 2 and even still now him and Ayrton go to preschool together. Luke was so excited that when I was hanging out with Meghan, Luke kept on asking me when I was going to leave. We love these boys and their families so much and feel beyond blessed that Luke has a circle of buddies that feels like family to him. Thank you, Meghan, for sending these pictures!

Transformer Birthday Party and Ayrton turns 5!

Movie night in sleeping bags....

The next morning, running to the downtown donut shop! 

This could very well be Luke's very favorite spot in the whole world! Donut with sprinkles, milk, sitting on the stool, and watching the cars go through downtown. (The talk of donuts again. Do you see the trend?)

 Zaydee made it out too!

 Best Buds.

 Finishing the weekend making chocolate chip cookies...

 Elle in an apron, she's pretty cute.

 And...She knows it. :)

The air is feeling crisp...Starting Fall 2014!

 We needed more space for the kiddos to hang their backpacks and jackets for school everyday without Mom or Dad trying to reach them! Independence is KEY to get everyone out and ready in the morning by 7:15! So, Elle and Dad are hanging up a coat rack just at the right level for the kiddos.

 Happy girl!

 Once the door closes we hear jumping on the bed, "Jesus songs" being sung, books falling of the book shelves, knocking at the door etc. However, once they do fall asleep, it's pretty cute. This pic was taken the first time we found both of them sleeping in the same bed. :) Since then, we've had numerous face plants in books, totally zonked, in one of their beds. 

 Ben got a new job!!! We are so thrilled to announce that Ben took a job on the Leadership Team at Oakland Schools! His first day is October 6th and we are so excited about this new adventure. Ben surprised me at my school, all dressed up, after his final exit interview with the superintendent there. I was at my teacher desk chit chatting with Patrice, my awesome student-teacher, when I heard him through the window. I knew right away he had gotten the job! He had my parents pick up the kiddos, brought me a dress to change into, and off we went for a celebratory dinner at Morton's Steakhouse! 

Cool Fact: We have this same picture that was taken 7 years ago (same table!) when Ben got his first counselor job at Lakeview. :)

 Luke's gang off to his first BIG 10 football game! Michigan lost, by a lot, but Luke thought it was the coolest experience ever.

 Ben told me that there was a moment when Luke first saw the big M outside the Big House that he hopes he always remembers. Luckily my man was thinking and shot this picture below...

Elle just getting ready for Fall. I think this is a clue that we should finally turn our heat on.

 Grandpa Johnson, (G.G.), turned 90 years old!!!!!!!!! Happy birthday, G.G.!! We are so happy that Grandpa is doing so well these days. He is still living independently part-time in Traverse City and part-time in Ft. Myers. He walks one mile in the morning and 1 mile in the afternoon. He claims that you should eat broccoli and blueberries everyday and stay away from any coffee, pop, or alcohol. Well...

 Here we are at his surprise 90th birthday party at Boone's in Traverse!

 She didn't eat a bite of her dinner but the cake...she clearly didn't hear her G.G.'s advice.

 Grandma was with us in spirit...

 The same weekend we were all able to stay at Janae's new house on Lake Leeland and it's amazing!!!

 Out to breakfast on a very windy, chilly, rainy day at Bubba's in Traverse. Yummo!

 Luke and Ayrton at Yates Cider Mill with their preschool class!

 And of course, Mikey.

With the taste of apple cider and sugar donuts we know Fall is here! 

The last, WoNdErFuL days of summer 2014...