Making Memories!

It started with an Easter Egg hunt Friday morning at Daycare..... to a flashlight egg hunt at the park Friday night..... Austin and Addi had so much fun hunting those eggs the Easter Bunny left behind. Now what's your priority ??--- hug the Easter Bunny or pull up the pants... Addi chose Hug the Bunny first....
{she has no clue this will embarrass her later}

It's hard to stop when your running in Flip Flops.... Austin almost did a header -- but only lost his headlamp!

HURRY!!! HURRY!!! HURRY!!!

"I have two mommy!!"

Finally a picture with the EASTER BUNNY !!!

Saturday morning New Hope Easter Egg Hunt.... fun with the jumping houses, petting the animals, face painting, riding a pony... lots and lots of fun.

Easter Morning -- "Mom it tastes like 'Chicken'!!" Now seriously - I don't know where he got that but it really cracked Tony and I up.... it had to taste like a mouth full of sugar if you ask me.
To the afternoon- Having fun with friends.

"OK mom if I smile one time can I go play on the slide!!!"

Mom go away!

We had such a wonderful day with friends and with each other...

Making Memories to last a lifetime.

My Little Helper!

Addi loves to help mom with all activities around the house. This was her helping with dinner a few weeks ago.



This is the finished product....mmmmm!!! They were good.

She is a big helper with the making cookies, dishes, sweeping etc. I sure hope she continues to enjoy helping as she gets older.

I guess I just need to keep making things fun - right!!!

She loves to wear her new found dress up shoes --- funny thing they are too small.... I have to find some bigger ones.... she is going to be all GIRL soon.....

I sure love this Little Princess of mine.

The ONE....My Valentine

yep,,,, he's mine all mine.
Happy Valentines Day Honey....
you are my husband, partner for life, and best friend.
Thank you for all you do and are.
You are the {King} of my heart.
I love you Forever and For Always

L'tle Ms. Independent

My little Princess is becoming more and more independent. This was taken Sunday morning and she did not want any help.... actually she took off her jeans to put back on her pj's and then took off the pj's and put back on the jeans BACKWARDS.... it was so funny to watch.

"I did it!!!"

Is she a little stubborn??? probably more like her mom than I would like to admit. I just love to watch her learn and grow. Her favorite phrase right now is "me do it, no mama, me do it."

And she is my little artist as well... She just loves to paint.

Tired..... blessed

I'm sitting here in my bed listening to DIY Bathroom remodelling on the tube, not really watching it but listening. I have so much to do (paperwork is the pits)..... but my week has been so busy that I just decided I needed to blog instead... it's been awhile since I have blogged.

I had to go to Salem last week on Thursday night for a course that was totally last minute.... I hated to leave for so many days (from Thursday until Sunday) - the longest I have been away from my kids and husband in -- well, actually ever.... I couldn't wait to get home Sunday and was so happy to see my husband had everything in order -- the laundry was done, house was straightened up and he was even entertaining a few guys for the Superbowl. We had a wonderful evening watching the game - neither one of us really cared who won. It was just fun to be with some friends.

My husband has been in Salem since Tuesday, so my kiddos are having a hard time -- first mom was gone for a few days and now dad is gone.... poor kiddos change is tough... but they are adjusting well.

My week has been a whirl wind.... sometimes I feel I am so far behind I can't see in front of me... I have enjoyed the wonderful sun earlier this week and even enjoyed the rain today - at least the wind was not blowing. I was in Pendleton earlier today for a staff meeting at the ESD and when I got home I had to go to another meeting, luckily it was a short one.... then I went to get my kids, grandmother and back to Pendleton to watch my 9 year old niece play in a Basketball Championship Game.... it was so fun to watch and it was a blast to watch my sister get so excited about her daughters game.... the team won by 1 point and won the Championship. I watched her first game a little over a month ago and I would have never put them playing the championship game, however with hard work, team work and lots and lots of practice her team has changed to become a very good little team. Good Job Rylee -- I'm proud of you, sweetie. I can't wait to watch you play as you get older -- even though you'll be a "BUCK" and not a "BULLDOG".

As I sit here tired from a busy week, I feel so blessed to have a wonderful husband... and two of the best kids ever. Our life is so 'busy' with the hustle and bustle of activity that sometimes I forget to take a step back, take a deep breath and just ENJOY!!!

Just Because......I {We} Love You!

My husband came home the other day with the most wonderful surprise after picking up the kiddos from daycare and after going to the store for 'bagels'. This beautiful boutique of roses was in one hand and the other was holding onto Addison. It was such a surprise. When we sat down to eat dinner a little later- I asked Austin, "why did you bring mommy flowers?" Daddy leaned over and whispered in his ear --- out blurted "just because {we} love you mommy!!!"

I must say I think I must have the most wonderful husband in the world. He surprises me once in awhile with a boutigue of flowers and the most wonderful smile...
I have been looking at these flowers all week and it makes me feel so special.

My 2 Precious Gifts from God

As I started my day today in our normal routine - Austin watching Diego and the Wonder Pets, and Addi, well I just try to find something that will keep her interest while I get dressed, blow dry my hair and get things organized for the day.

I went to a funeral of a relative that I have not seen for sometime, however I did get a chance to visit with her a week ago with my grandmother, (however she was not good when I saw her and she barely spoke to me or my grandmother). You know how you always say "We need to get together for a visit or I'll come out to visit soon" and the next thing you know 5 years or so have passed. Well, I realized today that those words come out of everyones mouth with good intentions and honest to goodness heartfelt truth, however life gets in the way, we get caught up in a whirlwind of activity. Yes, it is pure selfishness, however it is sad that sometimes families and close friends only get together at funerals and weddings.

The words sung at the funeral struck a cord with me today.... George Straits'

You'll Be There.
Well, hope is an anchor and love is a ship
Time is the ocean an’ life is a trip.
From the beginning of creation, I think our Maker had a plan,
For us to leave these shores and sail beyond the sand.
An’ let the Good Light guide us through the waves and the wind,
To the beaches in a world where we have never been.
Well, you don’t bring nothin’ with you here and you don’t take nothin’ back.
I ain’t never seen a hearse with a luggage rack.

I never thought of the sand as "us" human beings and the ocean as "God" -- but it really did make me think- he really does have some powerful words in this song. While we are here on this earth we get so caught up in Life, possessions, work, trivial things, but when it is our time to go we can't take nothing with us (unless I've mistaken I've never seen a hearse with a luggage rack either). We really need to focus our life on the things that really matter, because in a blink of an eye these two wonderful little creatures of mine will be adults and doing their own thing. I don't want to take a single thing for granted. I want to take time out for the things that are important -- visit an old friend or relative, laugh 'til my stomach hurts, sit down with a book, relax on the couch with my husband, snuggle with my children, look at the brighter side of a situation instead of digging my heals in when it really doesn't matter, and just plain Enjoy Life.... with Gods Grace. In a 'blink' of an eye it all could be gone. I heard once before, that it doesn't matter the date we were born nor the date we died what really matters is the "dash" that lies betweeen those numbers and what did it mean to the people around you.

FYI: my aunt was 90 years old and lived a wonderful fulfilled life, her last few years she lived with her 96 year old sister and she had over 65+ years of marriage. She had a wonderful faith and she really was wonderful woman. Sorry to see her go but I do know she is in a wonderful place with God and her husband.

Patience-Laughter

Ever have one of those moments, when you're kids on your last nerve, your tired, your blood pressure feels ski high and you have no patience. I had one of {them} this evening after picking up my kids from daycare.... we went into the hospital to see Tony and of course my kids are excited to see us-- and went running around practically climbing the walls in the hospital like two little wild monkeys. Anyway,,, after scolding them several times we finally left and loaded into the suburban and I just needed some quiet.... so I had the radio off and told the kids to play a quiet game and I looked into the rearview mirror and just had to smile... Addi is bouncing up and down in her carseat bobbing her head back and forth "dancing" and Austin is trying to reach for her hand and is joining her with his own "moves". It really struck me -- I need to have patience with my kids, trying to capture each moment enjoying them and appreciating them no matter what they do. I pray daily that I am a good role model teaching them proper behavior, right from wrong, to love Jesus, to respect others {especially adults} and molding them to become wonderful adults in time. Sometimes I faulter and wonder why I choose the battles I do and sometimes I feel like I'm too strict and other times not strict enough. I love my kids with all my heart and just want to be the Best Mother and parent I can be to them. I want to enjoy these two precious Gifts God has given Tony and I and appreciate them even when they are being little monkeys on a rampage.

Commitment

 

Tonight for Care Group we all went to see the movie "Fireproof Your Marriage - Never Leave Your Partner Behind" movie at The Assembly of God Church. It was an Awesome movie, well worth it, and very touching to both of our hearts. Marriage is not only a commitment to each other but also a covenant we make with the Lord. As Tony said "it is so easy to take a relationship for granted -- we become selfish in our mind and actions because we know the other person will always be there because of the commitment made." Marriage is full of challenges, struggles, sadness, emotional ups and downs, and at times it almost feels easier to {GIVE UP} walk away, however with God in our hearts those elements in life that create negative emotions are easily concurred with Our Partners so we enjoy the GIFT that God gave us HIS "Forgiveness".
I just want to pray for God to build a good healthy and foundation in me so that I am and will become a better WIFE to my Husband.

I would highly recommend the movie to everyone.

Hand in Hand

 

I have been reading a daily devotional book and this morning the title of the day was "Keep in Touch with God". It seems as though some days I forget to keep my focus on {Him}. The struggles of marriage, being a mother of 2, working full-time, friends, housekeeping, and dealings with family all overwhelm me at times. I sometimes feel as if I have no time to myself.... peace, quiet, laziness, nothingness, just {me} time is no longer available.... so to have time to keep in touch with God seems to be put on the back burner. I have made a committment this year {2009} to make time for HIM and to make time for ME.... enjoy the life I have and to find happiness and laughs in the struggles and challenges that I may encouter. So this picture represents {OUR} Life this year -- we are devoted to each other and we will work out our differences calmly, growing together in God, and with each other become the best parents we can to our children. Life is a journey and we do need to enjoy the ride "hand in hand" with our Trust in God to lead us down the fulfilling path of {our} Life.