Its Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas!!!

We got our tree up the week-end before Thanksgiving! I was so impressed with us and excited that we would actually have some time to enjoy it before taking it back down again. I'm usually one of those that is adamant that we should honor Thanksgiving before we skip to Christmas, but I knew with our schedule this year we might not get it up at all if we didn't seize the opportunity.

Here are my kids in front of the tree. I actually wanted a sweet picture, but this is as good as it got as they were being extra silly for me this day!

Here is our living room with the tree and the mantle with stockings. I like it with the holiday decor....too bad it has to come down soon!
Look what I did to my gourds?

My sister, Danina, brought all these pumpkins and gourds to me to decorate for Fall and while she was here she mentioned that she heard people painted them for Christmas so they could use them longer. So....I tried it. Looks pretty good and I felt very "martha stewart-like" too!

I love the space above my cabinets so I can have more space to decorate for the season! Like my speakers up there too? I got them for my birthday and now I have some great tunes in my kitchen. I think Billy gets just as much use out of them as I do though! : )

I hope you are feeling very Christmas-like as well!

We head to Colorado tomorrow to be with my family!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving with Billy's family in Oklahoma and had a great time. We ate very well and relaxed a lot, which is exactly what I needed.

Here we got to meet the new "cousin", Ashton. Isn't she sweet! Alyssa and Isaiah loved her and were very gentle!

Can you imagine us with four? Oh my!

Isaiah rode his first motorcycle with Great Uncle John! You can't tell he's excited can you?

My children performed for the crowd outside after lunch! They were not mad, just acting very silly!

Four generations have a very serious "after dinner" discussion!

Happy Turkey Day 2008!

Halloween

So - I've not kept up well and I have all these great pictures I've been wanting to share with you all. Here are a few that are from our Halloween in Texas. This was the first time my parents have gotten to trick or treat with all the grandkids! It was very fun for everyone! The night ended with a haunted treasure hunt where the kids found this great treasure box and the base on the "dirt mountain".

Grammy & Pa Pa George were some scary Pirates that set the stage for this "haunted house event".
Below are all the kids that we trick or treated with. All are cousins except the one dice on the top left. That is a friend of Elise. They are a pair of dice!

Here are my two. Sorry I didn't get the picture turned. Can you do that once you've downloaded the picture into blogger?

Before trick or treating the kids carved pumpkins with Grammy!

A week-end update!

I got home Friday about 4:15 from California, walked in the house feeling exhaustion in every inch of my body, but knowing that my sweet little boy was full of excitement for our evening festivities I put on my smiley face, fluffed my hair and ran back out the door with my family to Isaiah's Schools 1st Annual Winter Party. We ate chili, took pictures with Santa and made Christmas crafts for a couple hours. It was a lot of fun for the kids and the best news is, we've had our pictures with Santa now so there is no need to stand in any long lines at the mall! : )

Saturday morning Billy left to go watch the Big 12 championship Game in Kansas City. We've gone to this together the last two years, but I couldn't stand the thought of being so cold and traveling again. The kids and I went to our town's Christmas parade and then played at the park for an hour or so. It was good to be home and just enjoy the sweet moments with both of them.

That afternoon we hung some Christmas lights and put a new lighted deer out front. We have a little more to do, but it is looking a lot like Christmas here!

Yesterday the house was a wreck as we gave it little to no attention Saturday. We did a few chores, watched some movies, took naps, and went to Walmart (of course!). There were several sweet moments of the day that I'll share a couple with you.

*We read the story of Jesus' birth and Isaiah said he couldn't remember the poem he prayed when he got saved at age 4. So, we prayed the "poem" or salvation prayer again. He says he won't forget now, but is thinking about the right time to be baptized. He was very convinced that Alyssa needed to pray, but I told him she is too little to understand so he let it go reluctantly..

*Alyssa told me she loved me the best and wanted to stay with me forever. Then she lifted my shirt, gave me a big sloppy zerbert and asked sweetly, "Do I get a marble for that?!?" Is she nuts or what! She gets marbles when she makes right choices and then when her jar is full we will go have or do a special treat of her choice. She's motivated as she picked up all the toys in the shower without being asked and put her clothes in the hamper without being asked all day yesterday! She's only two! : )

Hope you have a great day and are thankful for the "little moments" you've gotten.

Thanksgiving

We spent Turkey Day with Billy's family this year. Most of you probably know but we set a holiday rotation our first year of marriage for Thanksgiving and Christmas and it has made life A LOT easier!

This year we left Wednesday about 6:00 pm and made the 3 hour drive to Billy's parents house where we stayed until about noon today. It was nice to go and have only the responsibility of my children and myself for the most part, but we were still ready to get home to our own house today.

Thanksgiving day was actually spent at "the grandparents" house where we had our traditional turkey, ham, noodles, potatoes, stuffing and rolls. We bought pies from the Mennonite restaurant here so we finished off with Coconut Cream, Chocolate Cream and Bumblebee Pie. I was stuffed!

That morning I ask the family what they were thankful for...

Isaiah sheepishly said "My Family".

Alyssa yelled out "Chapstick"!

Billy said "Our family and that we are blessed to be healthy and have the things we need this year".

I said "My immediate family, my distant family, my friends, and God's provisions".

We all felt blessed...Alyssa is just a little more simple about it right now! : )

Hope you all had a great holiday.

Much love....

Happy Anniversary to the Funnest Parents I Know!

41 Years and Still Loving Life Together!!!

Passing on the Silliness to the grandkids too!

Thanks for loving each other, loving us and loving life.

God has blessed you both......and for a reason!

Happy Anniversary!

Tis the Season.....For This Crazy Job!

So, I try not to talk about work much here. This week, however, has been full of nothing but work! The business I am in is kicking into high gear with the holidays upon us. Along with executing the final touches to hit 2008's goals I am also neck deep in planning and presenting the full year plan for 2009. On top of this....I got a new boss. He and my existing boss have both been in this week to start transitioning. That was comfortable since one is not real happy about the change. Anyway, I've had 3 big meetings this week to prepare for and present. One is now complete and the other two are tomorrow. The last two nights I've been up until 1:00 am working and tonight I will begin my work again. I'm going to be very happy when this week's over. Until then, say a little prayer that I can keep up the pace and do it with some JOY! : )

I'm alive!

Hi all. I have not been doing very well getting my posts done. I realize now that I really like to include the pictures more than the words and sometimes I just don't get through that process before I post!

We've been very busy as well. Work is busy for me and we've been out of town a lot.

Halloween week-end we were able to ride with Amy and her kids to see Danina's family. Of course Josh and my parents were there as well since they are building Danina and the family a new home. It is going to be beautiful and I'm so glad they are getting to have it there. I wish they were building it here instead, but they have a good life there and good friends.
The kids were able to trick or treat with all their cousins on my side of the family for the first time ever and they got to go through a great haunted mansion created in the new house structure. I was so glad Grammy and Pa Pa got to be there before these kids get any older as well.

Last week-end we went to see Billy's dad be honored at a football game. His football team in 1968 was the first to ever win a state championship for his school. They did a nice dinner and then brought them out on the field at half time to speak to their 1968 accomplishments and what they've done since. It was fun to be there for him. We also got to meet a new cousin, Ashton. She belongs to Billy's cousin, Crystal and her husband Butch. We have big plans for her as she'll be the girl in the family that is closest to Alyssa's age. They will be 2 1/2 years apart, which will be fun. She has a brother, Ian, who is one year younger than Isaiah so they play very well too.

This week-end Billy is back down with his parents. His mom is having some health problems with her blood pressure and a very high thyroid. He went to take her to the specialist to learn if she is going to have to have surgery or not. She was very nervous. Billy will be back late tonight or in the morning and then we have a dinner to attend at the neighbors tomorrow night. Otherwise we'll get caught up around the house and go to our church for the first time in a couple weeks. I'm looking forward to that.

Hope you are well. I'll post pics and be back soon. : )

Soccer Mom!

I always heard people talk about soccer moms and I guess I should have known someday I would be one, but really.....I figured I'd be a football mom!

Well, Isaiah is too young to play football so here we are playing a sport Billy nor I know anything about! We learned a lot season one though. Billy even helped coach.

Isaiah is a great defense player and did the very best as a goalie. He was much more aggressive on the field than he is at home; or school for that matter.

Here are some pics from his last game.

This is our neighbor, Todd, who is the head coach. His daughter is the little blond on the right.

This is Isaiah and Todd's daughter, Gweneth. They were definitely the hustlers on the team!

Driving to the goal. I don't think that goalie is ready for him do you?

The Hair!

Last Sunday was beautiful!!! We rose early. We had some new Fall clothes for the kids to wear so they wouldn't be going out in July attire. My kids posed beautifully on my front porch after lunch and gave me big smiles. We cleaned and sorted and I had a great sense of accomplishment. So what's the story? Alyssa's hair!

As you can see below in her "after lunch" picture it was laying beautifully. Her natural curl just right, with very little effort on my part. I thought she looked so pretty and grown up.

After our photo shoot Isaiah and I went to sort his summer clothes and too small clothes in his room. Billy was cleaning the kitchen and Alyssa was at the kitchen table doing some crafts. Billy came to ask us a question, which took all of two minutes, and when he came out he found little pieces of blond curly hair all around Alyssa. She had decided after 2 1/2 years it was time to give herself her very first haircut. Although she did a fairly good job of giving herself some long layered bangs they curled up like crazy and I had no idea how to fix them! You can see what she looked like for several days this week below...

Exactly one week later with a little more effort than usual and several swipes with a flat iron and curling iron here she is looking just as lovely as before! Toting her brother's puppy, which she has stolen from him and started calling her baby. Oh...and the story of the boots. Clearance for $5 last spring and in a month I'm sure they won't fit her anymore! : )

And here is Isaiah and one of his "after lunch" pictures too! He actually needs a hair cut! He and his daddy carved this pumpkin while I was traveling last week! It is rather huge amongst all my porch decor!

The second trip to the ER

Amy mentioned that Alyssa stayed the night at her house after her cousin Kacey's birthday party. Alyssa had a blast, but there was a small accident. Kacey was helping Alyssa up by holding her hands and pulling up on her arms when Alyssa cried and said her wrist hurt. Aunt Amy took great care of her and propped her arm on a pillow to rest, then she made a sling with a dish towel so that Alyssa could get up and walk around. She gave her Motrin. Nothing worked.

So, we went to the emergency room for the second time in Alyssa's short 2 1/2 years and after examining her and x-raying her wrist and elbow they sent her home assuming a sprang. Here is what she looked like that night (on Motrin)!



She got the stickers on her skirt from the hospital staff. When her Motrin wore off or when the sling wasn't just right, or when we tried to get her dressed or undressed...she was not happy like the pictures appear.

The next morning she was extra miserable after sleeping on her arm all night and while daddy was getting her ready for church she yanked her arm out of the shirt sleeve and "POP" her wrist went right back into place. Funny how we spent over two hours at the ER and then she got "fixed" at home.

Isaiah Loses His First Tooth

I needed to capture that smile with all his baby teeth one last time!
Before school it was all smiles.

Daddy did good!

I don't think I need many words to explain the fear and joy that took place in a few short minutes! : )

Funny How Things Work

Finally.....a night out with my hubby so we can have some adult conversation uninterrupted. We had a gift card so we could go to our favorite restaurant and not even have to pay for it! Isaiah had an overnight birthday party and my sister was kind enough to watch Alyssa overnight. We were set......

We arrive and although we should have gotten reservations we had not because we couldn't get in when we wanted to. So we grabbed a table in the open seating section, ordered our drinks and some wonderful crab cakes and things were looking good. We were having some good conversation, getting ready to order our entree and then....the two blond girls (ages 5 and 2) came to sit next to us. They were up and down and up and down. Their grandparents were sharing a table with friends four tables over so they came in and out and in and out to visit with the girl's parents. CRASH....all the dishes on their table went flying to the floor when one of the girls pushed the table almost over. Then the waiters and others came in and out and in and out. Once we thought they were leaving and we could finally have some sort of peace and quiet again we became the key objective of a 25 year old blond that wanted our table. She tells us that she'll just stand over us because she wants to have our table when we are done. Then, literally, her and her posse stood over us guarding us as if we were someone famous eating a piece of flourless chocolate cake. Our server came to us and said that the dessert was paid for "just because". I'm thinking that was a smart move on their part so we didn't walk out with a very bad taste in our mouth. (no pun intended!)

When we left, Billy said he wouldn't forget to make reservation less than five days prior to our date again. We laughed though thinking about how things work. Here we are without our kids, but we sit next to kids that are way more exhausting and obnoxious than ours ever would have been. All in all, we had a great night though. We just moved to a different restaurant to finish our conversation!

Thanks to those that kept our kids so we could have a night, and even better.....a morning off!

Happy Birthday to My Silly, but Beautiful Niece!

Happy Birthday Kacey!!!!!

I hope you do a birthday "jig" today!



Look who's got her eye on her older cousin.

This birthday girl is very brave too! Remember the slides?
Your boy cousins love you too!

Let me tell you a story... One night when Uncle Billy and Aunt Kristi lived in our little duplex on Lake Francis we had been invited to come for dinner at your Mom and Dad's house because Grammy was here for a visit. She was here in hopes to meet you when you came in to the world. At this time you were still living safely in your mommy's tummy. That night we had a great dinner and then we opened a gift from Grandma Bessie. It was to Aunt Kristi, who had just started working at Simmons. Because Simmons is about chickens Grandma Bessie sent me a gift that was full of Chicken bowls, figurines, candles, etc. We laughed and laughed thinking of all the chickens I would have to decorate with now. That night we all went home. I was sound asleep and suddenly my phone rang. I think it was Grammy that called me. She called to say that your mommy was going to go to the hospital because you were ready to come into this world and meet us! I hopped on Uncle Billy and said, "I'm getting a new niece!!!!". I got up and went to the hospital right away to see your mom and dad. We waited and waited for you. I went to work for a while, though I couldn't focus on anything but getting to meet you! I went back to the hospital over and over to meet you and finally you came. Your mommy was so tired from getting you here for us. I loved you the second I saw you and knew you would be a special little lady. I cannot believe that was 8 years ago now. It seems like yesterday. I'm so proud of you and I've loved every minute I've gotten to spend with you. We are so glad to have you!

Have a happy birthday sweet girl.

Oh Cinderella!

Sweep every corner, under every rug, behind every door. Take a scratch pad and get up the tough messes. Get on your hands and knees with that thick rag and a pail of sudsy water and scrub every square inch of the floor. Oh, and don't forget the trim. When your done with this task you only have to dust, clean the bathrooms, vacuum the rugs and carpets , do the windows.....oh and then the laundry maybe.

Right now as I sit and share with you I've only gotten the "hands and knees mopping" done and I'm asking myself a very serious question. Why oh why do I not hire someone to do this?!?

I've used professional cleaners before and my week-ends and evenings were so much more meaningful than what they sometimes are now. Should I make sure that the toilets are clean and the sinks aren't spotted with toothpaste or should I go on a bike ride with my kids or jump on the trampoline? Most of the time I choose the bike ride or the trampoline and my house shows it. So, today I'm playing Cinderella to the point I mopped my floors by hand. Can I just say that it was a work-out like I haven't had in a long time. My back, abs and arms will probably all hurt tomorrow. For those of you that I know do this on a regular basis.....good for you!

But.....tomorrow I'll wake up and get to be the Cinderella that has her hair done, her make-up on, her high heel shoes on and forget about what didn't get done today. It will still be here waiting on me....but at least I got my floors clean right? The evil step-mother would not like my attitude would she? : )

Feeling Doubtful?

Life is so interesting....for me at least. One day I'm feeling on top of the moon and the next day I'm insecure about everything from the shoes I'm wearing to the way I'm parenting my children. It seems wrong that one's mood can swing so dramatically..... but I have a feeling I'm not alone.

I read something today that was very much focused on family and parenting and although my heart broke for this little boy, I could relate to feeling not up to par. Feeling like I'm not as "cool" or "talented" as someone else.

I'm sharing my readings with you just in case you gain some insight from it as well...

"Long ago, even before God made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:4-5

Ronny squirmed back and forth unable to peal his eyes from the black asphalt below him. He hated this part of PE class. He shifted his weight back and forth and listened; wishing and praying that he would hear his name called.

“Simon.” The boy next to him smiled and hustled over to his team. Ronny sighed. There were only a few kids left and he knew he would be the last one picked. He was right, as he found himself standing alone, again. Ronny, shoulders drooping, joined his team. Getting picked last stinks.

There are none picked last in the Kingdom of God. God does not choose us because we are the most athletic, the smartest, the strongest, or the most religious. We cannot do anything to earn the salvation God graciously and freely gives us. It has always been a part of God’s plan to adopt us into His family, so we cannot take the credit. There is no room for pride.

Our team captain is Jesus Christ. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we are holy and blameless in God’s sight. We are set apart. Through Jesus we are a part of the body of Christ. We are on His team.

We are not picked last, but first. In fact, Jesus picked you long before any of us existed!

Isn't it great to know that God made us exactly how we are and he wouldn't change us for the world! There is absolutely no reason to feel insecure b/c God made me like these shoes, or he made me overly passionate about dealings with my kids. He made us this way! He chose for us to be who we are today.

Blessings on you today. I hope you go out in confidence and freedom to be you.

Turning 32!

I woke up this morning to the sound of the alarm, thinking..."ugh, If I could just sleep in one day as long as I wanted...". Then, Billy rolls over shuts the alarm off, whispers "Happy Birthday. I don't think you've aged a bit", and jumps out of bed to start the kids day. Me? I smiled, rolled over and thought about going back to sleep. I was fortunate enough to take my time getting out of bed, but not fortunate enough to sleep any more. The discussions resonating through the monitor were amusing. I heard things like, "Daddy, I do have to go wee wee now. Right now", and "I like to dress this way. I don't look like a ragamuffin Dad. I don't like those pants". Soon Alyssa climbed into bed with a home-made card and lots of hugs and kisses for me. Isaiah soon followed with his home-made card and a shy grin saying Happy Birthday Momma. They ran out the door to take Isaiah to school and I still laid in my bed quite cozy and smiling, but thinking I should probably start moving and get to my computer to start my day. Billy had brought me my bed buddy heated perfectly for my neck and rubbed my shoulders for a little while before I reluctantly threw back the covers and donned my robe. I went straight to my home office, sat down and began making phone calls to pull in a multi million dollar order that I need to process by day's end. This would be the best birthday present yet! Billy brought me some eggs, toast and orange juice and said he was heading out to run some errands. I'd say he started my day on the right foot! : ) He finished it well too. He shooed me out of the house for a couple hours so he and the kids could "prepare". When I got home there were balloons and streamers everywhere (which the kids were extremely excited about), the house smelled of home-made lasagna, salad and garlic bread. The salad even had calamata olives, feta cheese and a Tuscan dressing! For dessert we had home-made Creme Brulee with a raspberry sauce, chocolate slivers and fresh raspberries. It was very fantastic. :) So much better than a mayonnaise cake (which is humorous for those of you that know I've gotten a chocolate mayonnaise cake every single year for 10 years! I got some great gifts and lots of love from the kids. Overall, I'm feeling good turning 32! Here's some pics of our night.

Yes, they did buy me some "bling" to wear during the party!
My adorable kids were so excited and proud that they helped!
Billy went way out of his way to help me have a great day!

I'm lucky to have him!

We actually ate little personal creme brulee's.

However, Billy has some "leftover" so he made a big one for my candles!

I loved my presents! Thank you to everyone!

This is the "after party" look. Alyssa had covered herself in stickers. Found a party hat. Ate enough raspberries to make a grown up sick and decided she wanted to practice "cutting". She's too fun!