Happy 4 Years Home, Miss G!!!

4 years ago today was one of the happiest and most fulfilling days of our lives! Miss G. was finally home!!! It was a long and exhausting day, but we were filled with so much joy and happiness! Our family was finally all together under one roof!

Here are some pics of that joyous day......

~Waiting for the shuttle to come~

~We were so blessed to have my mom with us on our pick-up trip~

~Surprise decorations and snacks~

~Waiting for my dad to arrive with the boys~


~YAY!!!~


~Together at last~


~Meeting Grandpa for the first time~


~The boys spread out their blankies for G. to sit on...so sweet...R. said, "Don't let her burp up on it!"~


~And then the relatives came~


~Asleep at home...at last~

And here are a couple pics from today!






My heart is overflowing right now....and my eyes as well! Looking through those pictures brings so many emotions and a little nostalgia.....

WE ARE SO BLESSED!!!!

Happy 7th Birthday, I.!!!

7 years ago........


Today.....


Where has the time gone?!

I. is learning to read quite well, loves to eat, spends hours playing with Lego's, and also...playing house/babies with his little sister! Hmm, wonder if he'll be embarrassed at that when he gets older?! I hope not, he will make a great daddy some day :0)

This year he wanted a pie for his birthday instead of a cake. Works for me! We celebrated by going out to eat at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. The staff there was great and gave us quite the 'party'--including smearing his face with whipped cream from the fried ice cream! We laughed so hard!

Dear I., we love you so much. You were/are such a special Valentine's gift to us! Our prayer is that you will continue to grow in your love for Jesus and serve HIM all the rest of your days!
Love, Daddy and Mommy

can YOU fit in a dryer?*

Eric was repairing the dryer.......I just couldn't help but try!

*Disclaimer: simply--be. and its affiliates will not be held responsible for any injury to you or your dryer as a result of an attempt to fit in your dryer.

party pictures!

This was the third day my family was together in less than a week's time.......needless to say, things got a little crazy at the birthday party! In order to protect the innocent (or is it the not-so-innocent?!) I decided to not even show you the craziest pictures! Here is a sampling of our fun!

I. and G. making cards before the party

The table

The birthday people

My crazy brother!

Getting crazier!

Are you sure we're even related?!

Tantrix puzzle from Gpa & Gma F.

String Games book from Gpa & Gma F.

He LOVES cherry tootsie pops!

She loves Reese's!

Lego Creator set from Gpa & Gma M.

Scooter from us!

There ya have it!

Wishing you all a belated Happy New Year! May you be blessed beyond your wildest expectations! Our prayer for you, is that you grow closer in your relationship with the Lord.....may you anticipate every day with Him with the anticipation a child has for his/her birthday party!

Happy 9th Birthday R!

Nine years ago today we welcomed our tiny, firstborn son!

He was born 3.5 weeks early due to complications with my blood pressure. I was hospitalized on the 27th so the doctor could keep an eye on things. He told us the next day that he wanted to induce labor on the 29th because of the way things were looking.

My family Christmas was starting the 29th, it was/is also my brother and nieces birthdays! Only my parents knew I was to be induced....the rest of the family just knew I was in the hospital being monitored! What a FUN phone call that was!!! Everyone was quite surprised! If I remember correctly, we had a hard time convincing both my family and Eric's that we really DID have a baby!!!

R. spent a week in the special care nursery with some breathing issues. It was a tough time, but we got through it. I think it actually helped my recovery to be in the hospital that long...I wasn't home seeing things that needed to be done, I was forced to just rest, to take care of myself and our new baby.

I can hardly believe how fast the time has flown....our time with him in our home is probably about half over now...YIKES!....but it is a blessing to see him grow and learn.

R. loves to read, read, read....play with Legos, his Nintendo DS, or on the computer....climb trees, ride bikes.......typical boy things. But best of all I love seeing him grow in his love for the Lord. He will spend hours reading his Bible......many time his prayers will bring me to tears. I just pray that we continue to teach him in the ways of the Savior, and 'when he is old he will not depart from it'!

We love you R.! Keep loving Jesus and growing to love Him more! May your year be blessed!

Christmas on a budget......part 2

I got some GREAT ideas from the comments to the first post! Thanks Mrs. K, Beth and Katie!!!

I DO knit, and I'm already loving the website that Katie mentioned......very creative and NEAT ideas there!

In the past, I have knitted scarves for gifts...they are quick, easy, fun and not too pricey (depending on your yarn).

I wasn't sure what to do this year for our children....not a one of them has any big 'needs' and I sure don't want anything that requires batteries!

One idea for them I had was to make and print 'coupons' for fun things that could then be used all year. Things like 'a date with daddy (or mommy)', 'a trip to the park', 'nature walk', 'game night', 'you choose the dinner menu', etc. But then I began to feel guilty because those are things I/we should do with them anyway!

After 'stumbling' upon the perfect idea at church, yes, church, we decided it was the perfect gift for our children. ONE gift that would be enjoyed by all three of them :0) Here is a link to what we ordered, which has already arrived! It was more than what we originally thought we'd spend, but will be well worth it I'm sure. Can't wait to see their faces!

I love toys/things that are not too expensive that will provide HOURS of fun and stimulate imagination.........
My top picks? The bilibo , Find It , A String book or money folding book, classic games, Legos (although I despise the mess that comes with them!), books, etc.

Oh, here's one last place to find great, fun ideas......Family Fun Magazine!! I LOVE IT!

it's beginning to look a lot like CHRISTmas.........

....the tree

....the mantle

....the place to put cards

....the little tree

....the Reason for the season