Thanksgiving at school

Each year the schools do a HUGE Thanksgiving lunch with family and parents.  It is fun to go eat with your kids.

Next year I will get to go to 3 lunch instead of just 2!  

Z has never been a huge fan of the meals but he likes to eat the cranberry sauce and the vanilla milk.  He also LOVES that he gets to see his brother!

Jerra loves getting to show off her brother and he loves to sit next to her and eat with her.  She loves when we come.

It's awesome to see my kids and see their friends- putting faces to the names sometimes!  It's also nice to be able to see them!

Love my babies!

My 4 year old Monkey

So my Monkey turned 4!!!  How insane is that?!?!

What is great is how much fun his sibling had picking out his presents!

So. Adorable.

He was so excited about everything he got!

He asked for 'ligh pupule isee an wed speenkle'

Weird, but ok!  It is his day!

And of course he loved it.

4 Reason as to why we love Monkey so much

1- His over all adorable-ness.  He firmly believes if he smiles big, asks pretty please, and bats his eyes at you, you will cave.

2- He is never short of giving affection.

3- He is very creative.

4- His determination level is not lacking!

He came into our lives at such the right time.  We love this little man so much and so glad he is with us!

10 YEARS!!!!!!!!!

We have been married a whole decade!!!  How did that happen?!?!

Last year we went to Magic Springs and we were busy the whole time.  It was fantastic, but as we left there more tired than when we left home, we decided the next one need to be a very relaxing trip of nothing.  So we booked a beach.  Miami's South Beach to be exact.  It was an earned trip I tell you.  HoneyBuns was gone for most of April.  When I say most, I mean he was was gone for 3/4 of the month.  It was rough on him, and it was rough on me.  We earned this vacation together in that month alone let alone celebrating 10 years together!  My mommy was sweet enough to come visit and let us leave during the visit so we could go.

Here we are just before we left.  Our flight out was a later flight.  We didn't even get to Miami until about 1:30 am.  Harsh.  But we got a shuttle to the hotel, slept, shuttled back to the air port to get the rental and then headed to our real hotel.

While we were waiting for check in we decided to do some shopping and eat and stuff, we ended up finding this AMAZING Peruvian restaurant.  I think it was better than what I ate while in Peru!  It was so heavenly.

The view everywhere you looked was just amazing.  I can definitely see the appeal as to why you would want to live there. 

After dinner we took our nighttime stroll along the beach.  As we were strolling we saw the Despicable Me 2 blimp.  We thought of our angels and took the picture.  We knew they would like it.  We also liked that we were there to enjoy it without them.  =) 

The next morning we woke up to this.  How great is that.  We literally  walked out of our hotel and then to the beach.

It was so happy to wake up to the sound of the waves and the sun.  Talk about relaxing and rejuvenating! 

I had to capture us on with the beach to our back.  The water is gorgeous! 

Our consolation/bribe to the kids was to bring home sea shells and sand.  We took our job very seriously. 

*sigh* 

The fact that I get to wake up to this handsome man makes me so happy.  It is so cliche of me to say, but I really do love him more every day and every year that we are together.  He is such a good friend, he balances me, helps me, encourages me, and makes me so happy.

This is what I loved.  I laid back and  relaxed.  I meditated.  I let myself stop thinking about everything for just a few minutes and I let myself be.  It was so nice to be in the moment.

The walk back we realized that he was a bit lobster-like.  It made me think of Phoebe from Friends and he really was my 'lobster'.  (See the show then you will get the reference.) 

That night we changed swimsuits and swimsuit covers and went and ate at Kitchen 305.  It was named one of the top places in Miami to eat while you are there.  They also had all you can eat crab.  It was really good!  The creme brule was to die for.

The next day we donned  our swimwear one last time and checked out for more beaches and more shopping.

The shopping area we found was awesome.  We found some great things for people and had a great time. 

As we were driving to the airport I was so sad to see it all go!  It was such a great trip and I really loved every second away.  I was so glad to be able to strengthen the connection we have and fall even more in love. 

We were happy to be home.  They were happy we were home, mom was probably happiest we were back.  But I honestly loved every second away with my man. 

Happy 10 years and Thanks for making me so happy!!

29......

Who would have thought I would almost be 30!!!  But alas- I really did turn 29- as my daddy always says.  It's better than the alternative!  

I had a good day!

I was 'wined and dined' with the best company possible.

I was showered with love and affection and gifts with those how mean the world to me. 

It was all orchestrated by one of the most handsome men ever to grace this planet.

And who is too good to me. 

And then I was treated to one of the yummiest angle food cake with strawberries anyone could ever think to dream of.

(Do you like his 30-1?!?!  I laughed so hard at that.  He realized too late that we don't have need of a nine yet- so he improvised.  LOVED IT!!!!)

It was such a great day.  I was surround by those I love, and they were good to me!

Happy Birthday to me!!!!  

One night shortly after we sadly removed the side of the crib to make it into a toddler bed, we went to check on Chunk and Z to see how they were fairing.

This is what we found.

It sure melted my mommy heart.

As much as Chunk complains about having to share a room- he sure loves and watches out for his baby brother.  The next morning I asked why they were sleeping in the same bed and Chunk just shrugged his shoulders and said how Z was sad, and him sleeping in the bed with him made him happier.

This is what life is about.

This is why I love my 'job'.

I love my forever family.

So ages ago we moved our little JellyBean into a room downstairs.  She went from super cute pink and lace and flowers.

...... to dismal.  I can't find pictures of it right now.  Count yourself lucky.  It was a grey.  Light grey.  Very blah.  Very boring.  It didn't turn out like we were hoping.  Very sad.  Maybe someday I will post pictures of it....... maybe.

Anyway, her room was not her.  Ya know?  She is happy and creative and warm and loving.  This room was boring and cold- almost depressing.  It was sad.  She would tell me everyday how she missed her old room.  How she didn't like it in her new room and although we had promised that we would re-do her new room all cute, and make it BETTER.  She didn't believe it.

So after forever- I finally had enough.  I started.

Here is what I did.

I painted it pink.  A light pink.

Then I stenciled in purple and lime green.

Here is what it turned into.

i LOVE it!!!!!

I wouldn't let it her look.  I wanted to surprise her.  =)

Her doors were AWFUL!!!  They were kinda embarrassing really.  They needed some serious TLC.  They took a lot of wood filler, and a lot of sanding, and then a lot of paint.

Then Manly-Man finished the trim.  It took him 3 Saturdays to finish it.  It looks AMAZING!!

See look.

Isn't he talented?

I know he is.  There was a lot of cuts, and it's smooth, and beautiful.

Then he sanded and polished the hardware.  It's purty.

Then we had some decals for the doors and above the beds.

Here is door into her room.

She squealed.

Look at her happy face.  It made my day.

At one point she did see the doors, and she said that they were her favorite part.

That was kinda harsh.  But I was patient, she hadn't seen the room yet.

Here is your tour from corner to corner.

Corner 1

Corner 2

Corner 3

Corner 4

She loves it!!

She has a craft table and bookshelf and hooks, and curtains with lace.

She now says that she loves her new room.

She loves to color in it.

She loves to play in it.

She loves to sleep in it.

She told me so.

I am so glad we were able to make her happy.  To give her something that reflects a bit of who she is.

I love her, and it was such a wonderful gift to be able to give her something special.

Love you always JellyBean!!

8 YEARS!!!!!

so here we are. isn't he handsome?  this man has been such a rock for me.  he truly is a blessing in my life.  these past 8 years have been such an awesome roller coaster.  4 cars, 3 cats, a dog, 3 states, 4 KIDS, a degree (plus half of mine), a house being renovated, a broken foot,  and all the things that go along with them.  its been hard.  its been educating.  its been blissful.  its been trying.  its been joyous.  its been so great because he has been by my side the whole time.  sometimes he's carried me along the way, and sometimes I've carried him.

a true friend.

a true supporter.

a love.

happy 8 years baby.

=)

One thing for Christmas....

so i have thinking about trials, why people go through them and the different trials we all have. No one really likes them, though i think the best can look before its over can look and see what all they can learn from them. Sometimes, we think we can do it ourselves, and we dont need help from anyone. that is what i think is the hardest- to have the humility to admit the need of help, but that is what can be the biggest help. it is then that you can realize who is really there for you, what they are capable of, of what you are capable of, and also how to really feel loved. isnt that what we all want? is to feel loved, deep down unconditional love? and how great is that love you feel when that person lets you love them like that?
this subject has come up at church, and it has been on my mind. one person asked: 'why wont they let us help?' and the answer that was come up with, and the conclusion that most agreed on, is that they think they can do it alone, they are prideful, and it could also mean that satan has such a grasp on them, they are led to believe that the person trying to help, doesnt really want to help, that they will just hurt you in return, you cant trust anyone but yourself. the reply to that was a very quiet, tearful "that is so sad- cant they see love when it is given so easily and freely". and we just let that soak in.
ever since then, i am sad. not super sad, just sad for those who cant see pure love when it is offered, that they are so worried about the wordily things, then the spiritual side. if they cant accept help from those who love them, can they ever really accept and comprehend the Gift of Love from our Brother? and that is what makes me sad.
oh well, all i can do as a person is to keep trying and praying, but i wish they would all understand. i think that is one thing that i desperately want for Christmas......

Wow

This is such an amazing story...
A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?' The father who, despite having a heart condition, says 'Yes'. They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together.
One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.' To which, his father said 'Yes' . For those who didn't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island .Father and son went on to complete the race together. View this video...

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8cf08faca5dd9ea45513

this is amazing.

it made my day, i hope yall enjoy! :)