For Aaron...

As most of you know I have a baby brother that I didn't meet until he was almost 16! Our first meeting was at the Seattle Airport while David and I had a layover. This is a video to remind him of how much I love him and how I don't want to miss anymore of his life. I wish I had pictures of us as kids together, :( but I am so glad I didn't go another 16 years without knowing this incredible man!

Love you Bub!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

WOW...

I hit my 100th post the other day and didn't even know it!

Also, I really need to do a better job of spell check before I post something! That last post was an English teachers nightmare!

Fun for the day!

Today...

As most of you know today is TAX DAY!!!! All the wives of CPA's are just waiting until tomorrow because most of them haven't seen their husbands for more than an hour at a time since Christmas.

Today is also the anniversary of the Titanic sinking and Abraham Lincolns death. Yes, all very depressing things. But let it be noted that both events were set in motion on April 14th. They hit the iceberg late that night and Lincoln was shot that night as well. It just took several hours for a boat that big to sink and for him to eventually pass away due to his wounds.

But don't be too sad. Things are looking up, there was a light at the end of that tunnel...I was born! Yes that's right folks, I share my day with all of that mess up there. It never really bothered me as a child because I had no concept of all that stuff. But now as an adult I realize what a huge day today is in our nation. (Mainly what a huge day it is for the post office) But seriously though, those events are huge events that changed our nation forever. So many lives lost that night in the water and a nation grieving the death of it's leader. I can't imagine being there. I can't comprehend that much loss....

And yet I saw loss yesterday...

I walked into a house of some friends of mine whose home burned down Friday night. They lost EVERYTHING... I mean everything. I can't imagine going through something like that. Everyone was safe and unharmed and we are so thankful for that, but picking up the pieces of what used to be your home, and all your memories... that's rough.

Their kids were staying the night with grandparents so mom and dad had to break the news the next day. Tatum, their 5 year old who is in Caden's class at school, her first concern was her American Girl Doll, her 2nd was for her library book! How precious! So I was wondering if any of you have a contact at the American Girl Store here in Dallas. I was wondering if they would be willing to donate a new doll for her to help her get on the road to rebuilding her sweet innocent childhood, the way it should be. Dolls and all that good stuff!

On to more random thoughts for today.

Caden is having his first tooth pulled next week. It has been loose for about 2 months but wouldn't come out, so I took him to the dentist and they said it's absessed. So that's how he will loose his firt tooth. Yanked out! How sad. We knew this was a possibilitly for a while now. When he was younger he used to grind his teeth all the time. Well he did that so much that his front teeth are HALF the size they are supposed to be. They look like molars when he tilts his head up. Perfectly flat, not thin at the bottom. The nerve has been exposed for a little over 3 years now, so the fact that it has taken this long to get that infected I guess is a good thing. At least he hasn't been toothless this whole time, and this is a normal time for him to be missing teeth, so I'm looking on the bright side.

Cami has been having a rough time with pottying. She was in the bathroom yesterday watching me wash my hands, and peed on the floor. Seriously she was less than a foot from the toilet. Seriously?! She looked up and said, "oops, well I won't be getting candy today" She gets one piece of candy everyday before bed if she keeps her panties dry and poops on the potty and not a pull up. Silly girl! Other than that, she's a doll. She can count to 40 by herself, leaving out 13, and 14, but gets all the rest of them. She writes her name, mostly ledgibly. And she loves to pray. She prays for Kinley alot, and recent has been praying for God to get better and not be sick anymore. ? huh..ok didn't know God could get sick. But she told me He could, so that's that.

Kinley, well it's jsut funny at this point. But Kinley was recently told she has a skin disease. I jliterally laughed at the doctor. I mean really, could we get any other diagnosis, other than a disease that "may" gradually go away before the age of 30! I just laugh and lotion her up and pray against it everytime I touch it. She also has been living indoors. Her asthma and allergies are insane, so playing outside isn't really an option for her. So feel free to take pity on my other two children and come pick them up for a play date outside somewhere. ;) Poor things, I think cabin fever is setting in.

David is doing good. Travling isn't our favorite thing, but whatever it takes, and I am so thankful that I have a husband who is willing to do anything in order to provide for us. He rocks!!

Well that's all the random things I got for today. Don't forget to file your extensions today!

Have a great day!

March Madness...

I couldn't let march get by without a single post, but as you can tell by my lack of posting it has been a madhouse around here!

I went on HeartQuest from the 10th - 15th, and David is currently on Quest and returning tomorrow. I can't wait to get him back! But to keep all three of my followers entertained I have some fun pics to oogle over! Also, I would LOVE to talk about HeartQuest...except that you can't! :) So go on one and then we'll talk!





Just a pic I snapped while driving one night. Apparently I have a huge thing for trees! I hate that the car headlights ruined the awesome lighting of the sunset.


My new family tree wall. Thanks to EL for showing me a creative way to display all my fmaily pictures!

Here is the tree that Caden's teacher and I painted in the first stages.



One of my favorite videos of Kinley dancing, that girl cracks me up. I love how Cami has no problem stepping right in and cutting her off! They know how to boogy!

Cami and her fishy song! It't to the tune of I'm a little teapot. Too cute! Just deisregard the lime green wall in the backgroud, it was a paint color mistake and has since been fixed!

I just couldn't resist! Hope you like it Aunt B! Watch those hips! It's hysterical!

Sweet Sisters...

Here's some sweet sister shots I have been snapping this past week. They are such good friends. Hope you enjoy!

Oh and I am going to try and get a good video of Kinley dancing this week. She has been cracking us up all week with her new dancing skills!
Doesn't she look like she's off in playland somewhere dreaming about her prince!
I thought this one was funny, and very much her personality.

Sweeties! I am in love with Kinleys pigtails right now!

Laughin it up! Mommy was being silly.

Big sister offering comfort while Kinley does the neb. She does the neb 2x everyday and that is now Cami's favortire time to hug her and love on her because she gets to be the "mommy" comforting her baby! Isn't that precious?!

January Birthdays...

Cade's room before the makeover... just ignore the mess, he's old enough to clean his own room, so it's not my job anymore. lol

Joel, b/c he's too stinkin cute not to share!

I just love this little outfit on him, the way it hugs and shows his belly :P

Because I couldn't pass up Edward!!!!
Or miss the chance to let Bella have it! I hate that the strap was in the way. :( Or the glare, you can't really tell who she is, unless you have all the Twlight charaters memorized like I do!

Sam's no longer will do ANY thing on a cake, they won't even draw a robot. I had to pick something out of their book, and this was the only thing I could find that Mr C. remotely has interest in.

The party goers! In cade's new room! (better pics to come soon, I swear! I just have two more shelves to hang and some paintings from the Par-tay!

I love Cami's disgustingly blue tongue! We had cookie monster cupcakes for Kinley's bday. Oh and note my Lime green wall, that was NOT supposed to be lime green. lol oh well too late now!

After the black icing cake! Ewww! Good lesson on brushing your teeth though!

She thought her blue mouth was so funny! It was!

I mean really, could he GET any cuter?!

Me and my 6 year old!

Please take note that Cami DOES look like me, she has my eyes EXACTLY! I don't want to hear any more how she is david's clone...I gave exactly .99999 percent of my genetics to her! So HA!

I love Cam in the background! This is Kin's cheese face!

Two posts in one day! I'm wearing myself out! Whew!

That was a LOOOONG December!

In no particular order here is our December in pictures! Kinley making Christmas cookies.

I have a thing for trees! God told me I was a good tree!

My "baby" 6ft brother! I miss him like crazy!

Kinley and Uncle Aaron! She asks for him ALL the time, he was her buddy the whole time her was here, she preferred him over me! (which means he needs to move to Texas, ahem!)

Cami and her Dora dollhouse. My BIL Jonathan is an up and coming photographer (check him out at http://jpreding.wordpress.com/ ) so we get lots of great pics of our kids when he's around, and our first ever GREAT family picture, everyone smiling and NO tongues sticking out! YAY!

This girl lives on the phone! It's hysterical!

Transformers, star wars, dinosaurs and robots, are pretty much the only things that this kid has any interest in. He got a super cool robot for his bday, and an awesome new room! Pics on that are coming, gotta go get more batteries! Boo!

Daddy and cami. She truly is a daddy's girl, and that's fine with me...she doesn't really look like she's mine anyways. :(

Our FIRST EVER great family picture!!! Thank you a million times Uncle Jonathan for taking it, and Aunt B for making them all smile and laugh!

Cami spinning her dress like a princess! Not bad for a kid who 6 hours afterwards was in the ER with walking pneumonia! Merry Christmas Cami!

Our big boy! He turned 6 Jan 20th, and has his first loose tooth! I can't believe it! Although he has informed us several times over the past few weeks that he knows better to believe in the tooth fairy. Santa has a purpose, to help people remember Jesus' Birthday, but you can't REALLY recycle teeth. He says he knows alot about science and he knows it's not possible! lol That kid! On a side note, he has been telling me lately that he is praying to go to heaven soon. I don't know if he just has it on his mind form grandmothers passing. But we have talked about about death and Heaven, more than I am comfortable with, especially for a 6 year old. I try my best to make sure he knows that Heaven is the best place ever, so much better than here, and I think that's the attraction. He has prayed for almost 3 years straight that God would save a dinosaur for him in heaven so he can see one alive, so I guess he just really wants to hurry up and get there. I'm having issues with that, but I don't know God'd plan for Cade other than that he has been and will be firmly in God's arms his whole life, that I know, and that's where I am at peace. So if you're his teacher at church, just be aware that he's talking about it alot!

My all time FAVORITE picture ever!

Sweet sisters! I love that Kinleys dress covered up her leg braces.

Couldn't you just take a bite out of this child! Precious! She is doing great with her braces, way better than her doctor expected. She has already had 2 follow ups with her two main "leg" docs and they both say that they can tell a huge difference. They still want her in them a year, but they are very optimistic about not needing surgery after that! Praise the LORD again for His healing process for my sweet baby! Kinley also just had a birthday, Jan 23rd. I officially no longer have a baby in the house, she's now a toddler, and I have been very weepy about that fact. It's final, unless God does a miracle and un-does David's vasectomy, we will not have another baby. I always saw myself with a big family, 4 kids at the least, and I know when I get to heaven I will have 4 kids, and waiting for that is unexplainable. But for here, on this earth, we have 3. The best 3 any mother could hope, dream, or ask for!

As Caden has been saying, "I'm tuckered out!" She sure was, too many presents, too little time! She needed her beauty sleep, beauty for her attitude that is!

Soon to come, Extreme Makeover: Caden's room edition!

Also I have really been thinking about starting up a shop on Etsy, and wondered about how to go about it, and how it all works, or tips and advice any of you may have. As you all know I am not a friend to technology, I barely get pics on this thing and even then it's hit and miss, so any and all help is great! Thanks!

Oh I almost forgot the best part...

We (my hubby and I) are doing better. Not great, not anywhere near where we want to be, but better. That alone is worthy of praising God for. The verses I have really been holding on to are, "For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun!" Is. 43:19 and "I have begun to deliver...Now begin to conquer and possess." Deut. 2:31 Both have really spoken to me so much and given me hope, hope that God will give us both the strength to get past ourselves and onto something greater He planned for this family!

Love you all and thanks for your prayers!

Monday Monday Monday

Before I left for a women's dinner.

At the women's dinner with Jess.

Cade's class at the thanksgiving feast!

My baby brother the last time he was here, 18 months ago!! Stinking plane tickets being so expensive!

Some purese I made.

My favorite thing I made so far!

Fabric dollhouse

I refinished our table and chairs.

My other Nana (not the one that passed away last month) and her favorite great granddaughter! Just kidding, she doesn't have favorites, ;)

Almost all of her greats...we were missing two more if you can believe that! Yes folks, that's 14 great grandchildren under the age of 6! It's a mad house! I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Why we don't pay to have this done professionally...enough said. lol, I'm still laughing about it.

A fun stocking pattern I designed, I think it turned out super cute! any thoughts?

Yes, yes, I know it's friday, but monday is the BIG day!

So I have lots of catching up to do and so here goes it, try and keep up...

Kinley was supposed to get her leg braces on on Dec 1st. Well as it turns out her chubby lil feet couldn't fit into the special (very ugly) boot that was attached to her braces. Yes, I said attached and there is no popping them off and getting another shoe, apparently there's a process. So anyways, we go on wednesday after they have ordered a different special (even more ugly) boot for her braces. So they called today to tell me that monday they will be ready. However, they didn't ask me if I would be ready and they certainly didn't ask sweet chunky monkey if SHE would be ready. I mean I've seen these things and quite honestly I may just become a hermit until she gets them off. I would miss you all, but I don't think I can handle the looks people will be giving me towards my little Frankenstein child. I know I am being dramatic and am well aware that I wouldn't survive a week in the house, but it's hard as a mom to know that people are always going to be looking at her and wondering what's wrong. It's not like I can hide them, they are worn on the out side of her clothes and they won't let her knee bend, so she will be straight legged at all times except for when she sleeps. I am praying hard that she adjusts fast and re-learns how to be a toddler quickly. I don't know if my back can handle carrying her around. We call her chunky monkey for a reason. Cami who is 3 1/2 is 28 lbs, kinley at 22 months is 33 lbs, get the picture. So now with the braces she will be even heavier and I can't put her into her stroller, she will have to walk and risk people's rude looks/comments, or be carried everywhere.

Despite all that, I know that this is the best plan for her. I know that it will be hard and I am not looking forward to it, but I have read up on the alternatives, or what doing nothing would do to her and it's totally worth it. I'd do it for 5 years if I had to, and I know that 12 months will fly by. All moms say it goes too fast and I know it does, so I am taking refuge in that happy place...it will pass!

On to all the other catching up.

Caden is loving school, and doing great at it. His first report card said he has almost mastered the majority of the curriculum for the year. His teacher is testing him for the Gifted and Talented program (no surprise there for people that know him) and she thinks he will thrive in that program. We are so thankful for his teacher, she really was/is an answer to prayer! Caden is still very into dinosaurs and has been told he needs to go on a talk show about his vast knowledge of them. He has also really gotten into star wars too for some reason. He has never seen the movie and I don't know how he even heard about it to begin with, but he is only asking for star wars related things for Christmas. Any suggestions, I've never seen the movies...

Cami is also loving school. She loves her teachers very much and is always talking about her classmates. We have decided that when she grows up she should be an informant. We hear all about who does what wrong at school, and who makes good choices and all that fun stuff. She also is sometimes doing the potty thing. She has no problem at school keeping her panties dry, but it's almost as soon as we get in the car she has an accident. It's frustrating! But I keep telling myself, "she will not go to prom in pull-ups!" Again, it will pass! She has a very love/hate/mother relationship with kinley. Sometimes she is the sweetest person to her and will be playing and sharing and if K starts to walk away b/c she doesn't want to play anymore then Cami will tell her, "come back here right now young lady, we's not through talking! You keeping disobeying you get a spank and time out! You hear me!" It's really funny to watch her. It seems I flash back to all the times (daily) I say those exact words to her, only to hear her say to me, "I's all done, you need to be done too!" She's keeps us on our toes and keeps us smiling.

Kinley obviously has no idea what is headed her way, but I have no doubt that in a week she will be right back to her old ways. She is definitely the entertainment at our house. The other two love to play with her and "teach" her things. She loves them both very much and by their words, "she hugs me all the time, can you make her stop?" It's hysterical. She really is our cuddly child. She with out fail is normally hanging on to my leg or on my hip. It's not that she has separation issues, b/c she doesn't, she just truly would rather be touching me. I can sit her at the table to eat and sit next to her and she will reach her hand out to hold mine while she eats. I eat it up. She is my last baby and I am really taking that in. She will be 2 in January and this will be the last 2 year old party I will have. It's a big deal to me. I am thrilled and excited and scared to death. Kinley is the 3rd child through and through. She is tough as nails and doesn't take anything from anybody. She dishes it right back when she gets hurt, and she lets people know how she feels. I love her so much and can't imagine our life without her.

Random train of thought that was spurred on...

I have a friend at church who has a little girl who is a few months older than her. I remember that we found out that we were pregnant the same weekend. Her pregnancy went great and mine ended in a miscarriage. I look at her daughter all the time and wonder what my child would've been like. I think about it alot. I wonder what my life would be like without my sweet kinley. It's true that God only gives you what you can handle, and He really does know how to give good gifts to his children. My niece was born the same day I miscarried. I know that God already had comfort for me that day. A few hours after that horrible morning I was holding a beautiful baby girl, and I knew that God was planning someone very special for me. He was planning Kinley...

Back to scheduled program...

Another sweet "addition" to my family will be here on sunday. My baby brother is flying in for 9 days. Some of you know that I met him for the first time three years ago, (while pregger with Kinley, what a great first impression) Anyway, he is coming and I am stoked! He is my only sibling that shares my faith and that fact alone warms me to my soul. To be able to bring him with me to church and worship with him is such a blessing. He is the most amazing 18 year old you will ever meet, I'd put money on it! I can't wait!

Side notes here...

I have started making things...random things, like purses, doll houses, stockings, blankets(I already made quilts and baby blankets, but these are big people blankets) but I was going to go to this holiday market thing to try and sell them...long story short, david and cam got a bug and I got clean up/nurse duty, thus leaving me with lots of things already made but not sold. So if any of you out there that know me need some christmas ideas then feel free to give me a call. :) I'll post some pics if my camera decides to cooperate today.

I think that about wraps it up. Here's some pics just for fun! Enjoy!

So after all that and finally getting my camera to work, the pics all loaded at the top of the post, adn messed up all the spacing of the whole post!!! Grrrrr. And now that it's saturday, I'm not goign to mess with it anymore! I hate not being with it as far as technology goes....grrrr.