Face to Face

It's been almost four years since we saw you last Nina. We picked up right where we left off though. My mom and brothers are in town for a pretty exciting event next weekend... You hear the church bells. Wayne flew in a few days early, Mom and Alan didn't get in until about 12 at night. We had to wake the boyz up... Right?! It's been about four years since Nina and Alan had seen Samual and Louis. We talked about how many times we had gotten to see each other. A few years ago Josh, Rian and I flew in for our Grandma's funeral. Then a few months ago I had flown up to see The family after Alan had been in a very bad accident. So this is the first time in MANY years that we are all together and are together for happy days! Just by the by, no one got back to bed until about 4 in the morning. My heart is full of happiness. We are so blessed.

Ice-pack

Every now and then when we pick the kiddos up from school they come home with an "Ow-ie" report. They can range from falling off of a bike and got a scrap on their knee, to friend scratch nose. On the "Ow-ie" report there is a description of what needs and or was done to take care of the hurt kiddo. Occasionally there will be the response ice-pack and TLC. I got a report the other day that Louis needed an ice pack and some TLC. Somehow this Momma tip sort of came to mind. You know those clear gloves, the kitchen ladies use to serve food. Take one of those gloves fill it up with water and close with a bread twisty. Then put the water glove in the freezer. Once the glove is frozen you have a COOL ice pack that the kiddos will want to keep on their Ow-ie.

One Special Guy

These three look up to you and you never let them down. These three learn from you and you always teach them the right way. These three ask you to give your all at all hours of every day, you always do. These three have the best example of what a true christian man is. These three are always ready to 'help' you and you always appreciate their help. These three know that no matter what happens you are always there for them. These three love that you sit down with them to look at deep sea diving magazines. These three know that they can ask you anything and you will give them an answer ;) These three know that you are one aof the coolest Dads EVER! These three would do anything to know that it would make you smile. These three could not ask for anything more in a best friend. These three know that if they need a boost to climb a tree, you will be that boost. These three know that you will always be there to make them laugh. These three are know that even though you aren't a Cardinals fan, you will take them to a game. These three know who to go to when they need to cuddle. These three love being your shadow. These three know you will always be on their side. These three know that you are their biggest fan and that they are yours.

(These three spent hours looking for just the right card for you, because you are that special to them.)

The four of us know how very blessed we are to have you in our lives. The four of us are so thankful that we have you. The four us love you so VERY much!

Happy Father's Day Dada! We love you!!!

Graduation

I remember the first day of school, every year the look mom gave us. She would cross her arms and start to cry. It was so embarrassing. I remember thinking, no telling myself I would never never do that to my children. Well... Samual, Louis and Rian graduated preschool last month. The graduation was wonderful. The teachers made the event so very special for all of the children. They are such a blessing to us. Each class got to preform two songs. There were the kids that got on stage and started bawling. The kids that couldn't stop waving at their parents and saying "Hi Mom".... Louis. There were kids that really got jiggy with the music. The boyz were so proud of their performance. Rightfully so! They had put so much time into preparing the skits and they were wonderful!!!

It's Snicker-doodle Day

You ever see that one show 'two guys a girl and a pizza shop'... Or something like that. I feel like our life could be defined as: Four dudes, a gurl and a day It's true we have three little guys. This simple fact makes any day... Less than simple. Yes three little boyz can be overwhelming. The fact the we have a boy dog, it's like adding salt to the wound a little. Cooper is however one of the coolest dogs EVER! With the hustle and bustle of everyday stuff we have made (drum roll) "Snicker-Doddle Day". This is also known as Saturday.

A New Year

Hundreds of gallons of milk, tons of wipes, LOADS of laundry, many time outs and more cups of coffee than we care to admit 2010 is over and a new year begins.
For some reason ... I've not had the spare time to write as much as I thought or wanted to.
Where do I start to catch up on all the craziness.
2010 I don't know that we are all sad to see it go, but we are really excited to start this new year.
Josh and I are so amazed everyday how very blessed we are. We have an amazing "story" and are so truly thankful that our God has a reason for everything.
We ended the year with a house purchase. The boys have their own rooms and a field to play in. Cooper, our dog, has many beds to flop on at night. The boyz are old enough that they make messes AND "help" clean them up too!
Samual has become our little artist. With marker colored hands and tape in his hair he always has an art project underway.
Louis has now become the Car expert we all knew he would be. He also has become quite the little singer. He is very good with "Ride a black tomato" otherwise known as a country song "Ride a black tornado".
Rian is a busy little bee. Going from the dog food to the garbage and many stops in between. He learned the word "NO" and is very proud to let you know it.
We learned that REAL Christmas trees are WAY more expensive in Missouri than back home. Josh being the sweetheart that he is took us to a tree farm to cut one down. I now understand why most families out this way have the faux-trees
Thanksgiving we spent with friends and family. Get this... I COOKED! I know, I know. Not to give you a heart attack BUT it was good too. Even the boyz liked it!
Halloween, Samual dressed up as Woody from Toy Story, Louis was Thomas the Tank Engine and Rian was a Dragon! We went to the Independence Halloween Parade and had a blast. The boyz had WAY to much candy. Josh carved his first real pumpkin and Rian LOVED digging out the seeds.
Josh, Rian and I were able to go to Oregon for about a week when Grammie Dee passed away. She is greatly missed, but we know she is in a much better place.
Birthdays! We had a list of fun birthdays. Samual turned 5, Louis turned 4 and Rian turned 1. We had a costume party and a luau!
So many other celebrations!
We are so blessed to have the family and friends that we have. We miss those that we don't get to see often but really do cherish the time that we do get to see them. We are thrilled to start this new year in our home and are so truly blessed to have one another.
So here's to the Snow days and the sunny days. The ouches that don't need band-aids, but get them. The spilt glasses of milk, and smeared boogers.
2011 should be exciting

I'm fine.

You know when people ask you how you are… you just reply “Good”… “I’m fine" (my personal favorite)…”It’s been better”. You ever get someone to honestly say horrible? I mean usually they hesitate at first “Oh… I’m good”. You know you usually have to pry it out a little. Can you imagine what you would say if everyone were brutally honest. “Life sucks and your shoes are ugly.” Dude! What the F would you say then?!?
I had someone ask me that... It was in one of those moments that I really wanted to say... “Life sucks”. I didn’t I smiled and said “Doing good dude. How ‘bout you?”

Shortly after getting the how are you question and avoiding it like the plague I listened to some music. Music, has been a part of my family’s life for forever… sort of a better or for worse thang going on there. A lot of times it was for worse. I didn’t want to have anything to do with music because music… can so often relate parts of life with songs. A song can remind you of a person, place, event, feeling, taste, smell and on and on. So I denied myself of ever wanting to have an attachment to that. In that I denied a lot of me.

I can no longer deny that connection now. LOL! I KNOW, that sounds very corny I know just bare with me. Fast forward many moons (NO I will not tell you how many) I have three amazing boyz and one truly remarkable man. Watching them is beautiful. They are a song in motion. Sometimes slow and peaceful… and many, MANY times fast and absolutely hilarious. Seriously FAST & HILARIOUS, sort of like a Crazy Frog thing going on.

Every now and then I am lucky enough to catch that one song that is summing up my moment in life. Today as I clicked on that never ending purchased playlist on the ol’ iPhone. Insert >>>I may or may not have a small addiction to iTunes (thank you Amy) that is all. >>> A few songs played that just made me take a step back.

The first song… Bob Marley; Three Little Birds… brought the boyz and I through some really rough times. Every time it plays I know what strong little men they are. It reminds me to just be grateful for every spilt glass of milk, every lost shoe in the morning, every wet bed… don’t worry.

The second song… Green Day; Good Riddance… life is unpredictable. I have memories, photographs, tattoos… and in the end it all seems right.

As all that was unfolding for me another song came on… MercyMe; I Can Only Imagine. That song is, it’s just beautiful.

I have an wonderful, outstanding, beautiful life. Don’t be jealous, but I do. Don’t misunderstand me if I had to pick a song for a day to day thing… I’m sure would be a Spongebob or Veggietales song. Rock Monster or some way over played song that is on non-stop. It made me think about past, present and future. And when it all came together it just gave me this moment of peace. I know where I have been, I know where I am at, and I am truly excited for what is to come.

I can say this now from the bottom of my heart that when people do ask me how I am I can truly respond with... What a wonderful life.