Nolan Turns 2

On September 30th we celebrated Nolan's 2nd Birthday!!!!! I can't believe it has been two years already. He is so big and full of life. He has such a BIG personality and jut loves his Daddy. Nolan enjoys watching Mickey Mouse and Word World and playing with cars. Nolan really likes to wrestle and fight with Daddy, Nathan and Lexi. He growls and holds his fists up and then charges like a bull, it is funny to watch. He LOVES his baby sister Ava and doesn't like to hear her cry, even though he has been growling at her and making her cry (as off a week ago). He also really enjoys waking her up from her nap, no matter what time of day it is. As I am writing this Nolan is laying beside Ava holding her hand and saying "baby, baby" attempting to wake her. He makes us laugh everyday and has leaped into the terrible two's. "This to shall pass" is what I am telling myself. We look forward to many more birthday's with Nolan.

Luis & Amy

First REAL shopping trip with coupons

Well I went grocery shopping at Bi-lo using coupons and the sales ad. I purchased several items that were buy one get one free, the meal deal of the week and normal sale items. I used 4 coupons and one was doubled. I had things like Ice cream, Cheetos and bread. I have a weekly budget for food and the goal is to spend less than my budget and get more food for the week.

I ended up spending $63 on $94 worth of food for the week. I saved $30 and also got $.05 in fuel perks. That was good for my first week of doing this. I look forward to what the future weeks will hold for me as I adventure the ups and downs of using coupons.

Amy

Coupons

I am trying my hand at using coupons. I am using the web site SouthernSavers.com. I have heard that so many people were saving a ton of money on groceries and with a family of 6 we can use the help.

I do pretty good already on our grocery bills, I have a limit per week and I stick to it. How cool would it be to say I got twice amount for the price I normally spend. With 4 kids it is crucial to save money where we can. Before I would use coupons for diapers and wipes and that was it. I am not on that likes to sit down and clip coupons but if I can save $20 that will be worth it. I am going to see what I can save next week on my groceries, and will post my results.

I told my husband that I needed a printer, so I can print off all these coupons. I told him that the money I save on groceries can pay for the printer and the ink. He has always said we didn't need a printer. I would disagree b/c we have kids in school that need it. We will see if I get a printer after saving money with my coupons.

Amy

Daddy's 28th Birthday!!!

Daddy turned 28 on the 12th of September. All he asked for was to be able to watch football all day, and that is what he got. He enjoyed himself just watching the game he loves. I fixed him lasagna for dinner, which is what he wanted. Nothing exciting really happened, we were very lazy.

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!!

Amy

Mommy's 30th Birthday

So I turned 30 on the 3rd of September. The kids were very sweet and told me "Happy Birthday" before they went to school. Then the craziness started when they got home. Nathan went to spend the night with his friend Gavin and Lexi had her friend Kaily spend the night at our house.

I went to take Nathan to his friends house. While I was outside talking to my friend Nolan was "eatin" up by mosquito's. His legs look rough. When I got home at 9 pm (didn't realize I stayed to long) we cooked steaks. They were pretty good. The girls and Nolan stayed up till midnight. When I finally got Nolan to sleep little miss Ava woke up to eat. Needless to say Mommy didn't go to bed till 1 am, wow what a long day.

If 30 is going to be as eventful as my birthday then I am going to have a busy year. I will be exhausted by the time by birthday rolls around next year.

Amy

Aquarium at the beach

We were able to take all the kids to the Myrtle Beach Aquarium and they had a blast.

One of my favorite pictures

Luis & Amy

Beach 2010

We had a great time on our family vacation to the beach. We had to delay our trip this year until after Ava was born. The kids missed a week of school, but their teachers sent plenty of work for them to complete. We had alot of fun, and were very glad that Luis' parents were with us all week. Nolan especially loved that he got all the Papa time he wanted. No one compairs to Papa, in Nolan's eyes.

Love this picture, he was playing in a hole that Daddy dug.
Ava's first time on the beach. She really liked not being COLD for the first time.

Lexi playing in the water. I couldn't get a picture of Nathan, he wouldn't get out of the water long enough for me to take one.

The boys building cars at Ride Makers at broadway at the beach.

I wouldn't trade family vacation for anything. I loved spending a week with the family that was uninterrupted with work or school.

Luis & Amy

Pictures of all the kids

Our beautiful girls

He loves "his" baby sister

Nathan, 9 yrs old

Lexi, 8 yrs old

Nolan, 22 months

Ava, 2 weeks old

I love how the flower pops in this picture

All 4 of our babies

Luis & Amy

July 14, 2010

Ava Mercedes Ackerman

July 14, 2010

6 lbs 8 oz 20 inches

We are very happy to introduce the newest Ackerman. She has been a blessing to have. I do believe she is a "daddy's girl". She turns and tries to find him everytime she hears him. I love that Luis is has a son and now daughter to share his life with. I am blessed to have such a wonderful father for my children. He is enjoying every moment of father hood.

Nolan has been a great "big" brother. He gives her kisses and wants to hold her and pick her up. Ava has his full attention, mommy and daddy no longer get his kisses, they all go to Ava. He is protective and comes running when he hears her crying. He is now wanting to change her diaper and feed her. I am going to enjoy watching how he is with her when she gets bigger.

Daddy with the kids

Luis & Amy

It has been a while...

I have been behind on the blog, I must admit I have been busy. Ava was born, school started, and we went on vacation. I am working on updating the blog by the end of the week. Hope to be back on schedule soon.

Not too much longer

We are getting excited, we don't have too much longer till the baby is here. We will be going to the doctor on July 12th to decide what day we will induce. I have so many checklist that I am checking off....

• Packing list for the hospital
• What we need to get for her
• What needs to be done before she gets here
• Packing list for the Beach

The crib is finally put together and the bedding will be here by the end of the week. I am so ready to have her bed ready, even though she won't be sleeping there for a while. I am washing and putting all the baby things together, so we will be ready. I look forward to having our family complete (one more baby is still up for discussion).

I am sure how much more room I have for Ava in my belly, but I know there is plenty of room in our house and heart for her. I am in love with all three of my kids and I am looking forward to loving all over this new little girl. I will update and have tons of pictures up as soon as she is here.

Luis & Amy

11 weeks and counting

I was just telling Luis last night that I couldn't believe we only have 11 weeks left till we meet our new little girl. He calmly said "yep". I guess I am more anxious than he is at this point. I am ready to NOT be pregnant, not that I don't love it, but this one has worn me out.

But the one thing I am really ready for is to have all 4 of my children meet each other and grow to love one another. That is every mother's wish. I guess with mother's day right around the corner I am reminded how much I love being a mommy. And how much my mom means to me.

I am ready to see who she looks like, the sound of her cry and to have her at home with the family. I am interested to see how Nolan will react to havng a baby in the house, that is not him. He is a handful and will love to see how he learns to love one more person in the house. It can be difficult for the little ones to adjust, but I think he will do well.

The parents are not the only ones excited to meet Ava, but Lexi can't wait. She is so ready to have a little sister. She is ready to have someone to share her things with (well maybe not). She is ready to not be the only girl in the house, besides mommy. That is the real reason, but who can blame her.

One thing for sure is.... Ava is going to be one lucky little girl. She is going to have the best brothers and sister, that love her. She has the most wonderful man for a father, that will truly understand the phrase "Daddy's little Girl".

Ava-
Mommy and Daddy can't wait to hold you in our arms and love you the way a little girl should be. We have loved you and will continue to love you everyday of your life. We can't wait to meet "Our little Girl". You only have 11 weeks to continue to grow and get strong and we will wait on you. When you are ready to come in to this world, Mommy and Daddy will be here waiting. We love you.

Mommy & Daddy

Easter 2010

It only took Nolan us showing him two eggs to figure out what he was supposed to do. And he loved every minute of it.

He was running around carrying his "doggie" basket. Thank you to Aunt Donna and Mema for the "best basket ever."
Sitting with Mommy looking at all his eggs.


For the past few years we have let Nathan and Lexi hunt eggs at night with flashlights, to make it more challenging. (That is why there are no photos of them, it is hard to take in the dark). They love running around in the dark trying to find the reflection with the lights. This year we had 3 golden eggs that had tickets to Magiquest in them, they loved that. They had a blast.

Lexi and Dustin, my nephew, helped Nolan hunt his eggs. Nolan had a great time and caught on pretty quick on how the whole egg hunt thing goes. We all had a great Easter and are now ready for a wonderful yet HOT Spring Break.

Luis & Amy

The New MRS. Ackerman!!!!

On March 20th, 2010 I married the most wonderful man in the world. I am very lucky that that man also happened to be one of my best friends.

Our family

There are several pictures in the photo gallery, I would put all of them up but that would take forever. Thank you to all our family and friends that made this one of the happiest days of our lives. We love you all!!!!

Luis & Amy

It's a GIRL!!!!!!!!!

We found out March 2nd that we are having a little girl. Her name is going to be Ava Mercedes Ackerman. She is named after Luis' mom.

Luis & Amy

New Addition

I would like to introduce our new addition to the Ackerman family.

These are the first good pictures of the baby. These were taken at 13 weeks.

Can you see the little face and hand. Oh so sweet.

Luis & Amy

Christmas with the Ackermans 2009

As I write this I am reminded of last year when Nolan was only 3 months old and next year when we will have a new 5 month old. Wow what a special time of year for the kids, they had a great christmas.

Nolan really liked opening christmas gifts, he has to take it out of the box right when he took off the wrapping paper. He has had so much fun going to "help" everyone else open their gifts. Nolan is bleesed to have such wonderful grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings. And we are all blessed to have Nolan in our lives.

Nathan and Lexi had a great christmas as well. Lexi was surprised with two zhu xhu pets and Nathan got bakugon traps. Their uncle Michael and Charlie got the kids "Rock Band" for the 360 that Mema got them.

One thing is for sure....WE LOVE OUR KIDS....

Nolan was worn out from opening presents all morning.

Nathan thought only Lexi got a scooter, he was very surprised and happy.

Lexi with her Zhu Zhu Pets ( I told her she would have to wait till her birthday to get one, because they were very hard to find).
Nolan's gift from Mema and one of his favorites :)

Luis & Amy