Our Little Pretty...

Can you believe how big this pretty little girl is getting?


She can now wear ponytails (though they're more like a little puff) and she woke up yesterday with 3 teeth (no, I'm not kidding).

I guess that explains the rough few days we've had here!:)

Funny thing is...2 of her teeth weren't even front teeth...they're canines!:)

Just in time for Halloween I guess.

As soon as I can get a good picture I'll be certain to let you all see!:)

Have a great weekend!

We'll be spending ours with Speed Racer, Batman and a beautiful little vampire cowgirl.:)

For Dear Ole' Dad...

I couldn't think of a more fitting tribute to you than this...


I love you!!

More posts below...I have a few today.

What do ya' say?

Let me just get right to the point.

My Studly Hubbie and I are going on a missions trip to Liberia in March of 09 and we’d love for you to come along!

What do ya’ say?

We will be joining the ministry known as ACFI in Liberia and heading to an orphanage that is home to over 400 kids! While there our main objective will be to love on the kids. We also hope to provide some medical assistance (if the Lord raises up the proper people for this) and we are also planning on helping secure a warehouse that the orphanage has on site as well as assist in some educational needs of the orphanage.

Liberia is a country on the west coast of Africa, bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire and the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2008, the nation is estimated to be home to 3,489,072 people and covers 43,000 square miles.

Liberia is a culture with an unemployment rate of 85%. Food and basic living needs are scarce. The most recent civil war ended in Liberia in 2003 (and the country is now secure) but the fighting left the country absolutely devastated in many ways.

Donn and I know that the Lord has called us to participate in this trip. We will be travelling from March 5-14th and we’d love to have you pray about joining us. Anyone (skilled or not) is welcome to join.

Specifically, we are still praying for a doctor, nurse or paramedic to join the team as well as a skilled building contractor who could help lead those of us who are less than skilled. You don’t need to live near us to join us on this trip…it is a combination of people from many churches.

Please pray about it!

Comment me or let me know if you are interested in more info.

FREE Starbucks!!!

Want a Free Starbucks Cappuccino?

Click the link below and Enjoy!!

Good until the 31st only at Barnes and Noble Starbucks.

I've been three times this week:)!

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/email/nav.asp?r=1&PID=24816&r=1

Daddy's Mad Skills...

It is 100% Daddy's deal to carve a cool pumpkin each year.

Mommy's more interested in the pictures and pumpkin seeds than anything else.

Presenting the 2008 Coolest Pumpkins:

Ayden wanted a Speed Racer Helmet

Brekyn wanted Spider Man
Give it a year or two and I can't wait to see Daddy do a princess for Elle!:)

Responsibility...

Ayden came home today with an assignment: ‘Be Responsible.’

“Mom, I need to be responsible…what should I do?”

“Umm…excuse me son while I contain myself and make a quick mental list of all the projects I have yet to complete today.”

Okay, I really said… “Hmm…let me think.”

“I know! I really need the kitchen vacuumed still! Do you think you could be responsible and do that?”

“Sure! That sounds fun!” Ayden screamed as he ran off toward the closet to retrieve the vacuum.

A few minutes later I came out into the kitchen to find this…

“Umm, Ayden…Are you cold?”

“No Mom. I’m just being responsible…oh, and the vacuum was way too loud but I took care of that!”

Hey, whatever it takes right?

All I know is that my kitchen floor is finally cleaned!

Therapy...

Well, I think it's official. My children will definitely need counseling.

You see, desperate times call for desperate measures, and after a year and a half of fighting this potty battle with Brekyn, I was absolutely desperate for success.

You've already heard about the great time I spent on the bathroom floor back on Tuesday.

Once that adventure was over, I then had to convince my stubborn little guy that the toilet really is a fun place to sit!

I moved the potty into the family room and plopped it down in front of the TV and asked Brekyn what movie he wanted to watch.

"You can watch any movie you want Brekyn...the only catch is that you have to sit on the potty the entire movie."

To most kids that would have been good enough incentive, but not to my little Brekyn.

Nope, apparently in his little world, sitting on the potty just isn't worth a movie.

As I struggled to convince Brekyn that he did in fact want to sit on this exciting plastic pee-pee device, he began crying his head off...

"No mommy! I don't want to!"

And then Super Ayden swept in.

Ayden began rubbing Brekyn's back and telling him how exciting it is to use the potty.

That's when I got the idea!

"Hey Brekyn!! How about if Ayden sits right next to you while you sit on the potty?!"

Ayden immediately jumps in and says, "Sure Brek...I'll sit by you!"

To which Brekyn responds...

"Will you take your pants off too?"

Ayden's eyes got huge as he looked at me as if to say, "MOM - WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"

What?

I thought it was a brilliant idea!

Like I said....DESPERATE TIMES YA'LL!!

Ayden and I finally reached an agreement when I said that he could keep his boxers on.

Hey, think what you may about me... all I know is that Brekyn's been in dry undies for three days now!!

WOO-HOO!!!

Way to sacrifice for the team, Ayden!! Mommy loves you!

Pregnancy Q&A...

Nope, I'm not pregnant; but I must say that this is just truly hysterical and I had to share it with all those mom's out there!

Pregnancy Q & A

Q: Should I have a baby after 35?
A: No, 35 children is enough.

Q: I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A: With any luck, right after he finishes college.

Q: What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?
A: Childbirth.

Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational. A: So what's your question?

Q: My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?
A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

Q: When is the best time to get an epidural?
A: Right after you find out you're pregnant.

Q: Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labor?
A: Not unless the word 'alimony' means anything to you.

Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A: Yes, pregnancy.

Q: Do I have to have a baby shower?
A: Not if you change the baby's diaper very quickly

Q: Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?
A: When the kids are in college..

Fall Fun!

Nope, I'm not referring to potty training...

We'll likely get back to that thrilling saga tomorrow...

Instead, let me share with you pictures of our weekend together at the pumpkin patch - no potty included!

The Tile Floor...

I sat on the cold bathroom floor for an hour and a half today...

Ugghh..

Nope, I'm not sick...

Nope, it's not something I just felt like doing.

It's just the culmination of a year and a half of unsuccessfully potty training a little boy.

I decided I had enough today. After an hour of dealing with the tears over why the potty is so scary, my little boy and I had a breakthrough as we sat in the bathroom, held hands and prayed for Jesus to help.

Sometimes I wish God would answer prayers immediately.

I must admit that after an hour of the floor I was having a very heated conversation with God in my mind...I won't grace you with all the details of that little chat, but I will say that it was deep.

Nevertheless, a full hour and a half later my sweet little son smiled as he pushed out a tiny, tiny little drop.

I was doing cartwheels and somersalts and he looked at me throughly confused and said,

"Why are you so excited mom?"

Oh son, if only you understood how much my butt hurts from sitting on this tile. I'm no spring chicken you know!

Please pray...obviously I think it takes more than one drop to actually declare that my son is potty trained...we seem to have a ways to go! :)

My life...

I have done a lot of thinking lately.

A few days ago I posted the poem written by Nadine Stair about what she would do differently if she could live her life over. See here if you haven't yet read that.

Recently I have caught myself thinking about that a lot.

Why is it that we write these poems at the end of our lives?

Why do we wait until our bodies are frail and our earthly time is ending?

If we can take anything away from the advice of these poems, doesn't it seem that we should take each day captive and live it to the fullest NOW!

I've decided that I'm not willing to wait until the end of my life to write this poem.

I'm writing it now.

At the age of 31, with hopefully many years ahead of me, I am going to try to live this life NOW.

If the Lord allows me to live until I'm 100 I hope that I will look back and realize that I lived life exactly like I wanted to.

My personal poem is below:

If I had my life to live over…
I would laugh more at my children’s jokes and not overlook their “problems” as insignificant.
I would never miss the chance to hug my husband when he entered the door after a long day.
I would spend more time building pillow forts instead of scrubbing the kitchen floor.
I would learn to run.
I would never be too busy to be a friend.

If I had my life to live over…
I would pick more wildflowers.
I would bake more goodies.
I wouldn’t think so much about “messes” but think more about “moments.”
I would cook a five course meal that actually tasted edible.
I would stand beside the ocean and breathe the scent in without worrying about my hair getting frizzy.

I would catch more fireflies.
I would hug more orphans and wipe more tears.
I would worry less about schedules and more about opportunities.

I would live life out loud and never be ashamed.
I would look at each day as new and let go of the past.
I would live life passionately and not sweat the little things.
I would follow my dreams and not believe the ‘lies’ that I am too old, too young, too poor or too rich.
I would never let the words “I love you” be far from my lips.

Yes; if I had my life to live over…
I would breathe it all in and savor every ounce.
I would hug more, love more, smile more and laugh more.
I would live more.

What would you do if you had your life to live over?
Why not start today?

Blogging Monster...

Today I'm playing the blogging monster card...

He's jumped up and bit me and my reaction must be to take a break and fight back.

Of course, I suppose since I even posted this blog stating that I'm not going to blog today; I kind-of negated myself.

Oh well...

I won't be posting today...sort of. :)

What would you do?

If I had my life to live over…
I’d dare to make more mistakes…
I’d be sillier, take fewer things seriously…
I’d take more chances, take more trips,
Climb more mountains, swim more rivers…
I’d eat more ice cream and less beans…
I’d have perhaps, more actual troubles
and fewer imaginary ones.

Yes, if I had my life to live over,
I would start barefoot earlier in the spring
And stay that way later in the fall.
I would go to more dances,
Ride more merry-go-rounds
And pick more daisies…

Nadine Stair (Age 85)

If you had your life to live over; what would you do differently?
It’s never too late to start!

And so I ask you...

...what good is having your very own blog if you can't brag about your amazingly beautiful children on it?

We finally got pictures taken of the kids that turned out decent:)!

Don't you just love it when people force you to ooooh and aahhh over their kids? :)

The Price of Fame!!

I must apologize for disappointing my faithful 3 yesterday.

You see, it's just been crazy around here since I won my big award!

The paparazzi have been swarming and the reporters and agents haven't stopped calling.

Combine that with my personal trainer appointments and my botox injections and it's just been a zoo!

The price of fame I tell ya....what can I say?

Well; maybe not so much...

I haven't actually signed any autographs since my big award acceptance, but I was in the grocery store the other day and the cashier recognized me!

Does that count for anything?

Oooh...and the gas meter man told me I had beautiful gold eyes!

Hmm...never been told I had gold eyes by a gas man before!:) That's gotta mean something!

So, maybe the truth is actually that I spent yesterday cleaning my house and folding laundry and I just wasn't quite sure how to make that sound glamorous for you all.

I wonder if Brittany Spears folds her own laundry?

Wait...did I just compare myself to Brittany Spears??!

Oh Lord, please pray for me...the gas man's comments must be going to my head!

Happy Friday Ya'll!!

Don't be jealous...

If you come by my house today, please don’t be surprised to find a red carpet leading up to my door while I prance around the house in my old prom gown (Oh my, now there’s a picture!)!

You see, all of those secret wishes I once had of being Miss America (see here if you’ve forgotten) have now resurfaced as I checked my email this morning to find out that I am now the prestigious winner of the Smile Blog Award!

Oh, be still my heart! (Please excuse me as I wipe back the tears)…

This will go right to the top of my ridiculously long accolades pile.

Like the time I won the stuffed elephant for the writing contest in second grade (I believe I wrote a poem that mentioned both my mother and the garden hose in the same sentence)! Genius I tell you!!! Sheer Genius!!

Oh yes, and then there was the time when I won the senior superlative award for the biggest drama queen (actually I believe the title was “complainer”)…the prize was a beautiful pacifier that I now have sitting on my mantle (well, maybe not).

Nevertheless, I will now say that I accept this honor of being an accomplished blog writer and I will take my responsibilities with the utmost of seriousness. I intend to use this platform to fight world hunger and maybe make a push for free Swiss Cake Rolls each time a person enters the grocery store.

I will change the world, I tell you!!! CHANGE THE WORLD!

I want to thank all of the little people who have made me what I am today (wiping a tear from my eye).

Ahhh yes; Mr. Foster, my PE teacher in first grade…Oh, Mr. Foster…where would I be today if it weren’t for you teaching me how to do a somersault.

And who can forget the “DragonLady” (as we affectionately referred to her) who drove my school bus each morning. Her loud screams and crude jokes taught me to have thick skin as I face this big, bad, ugly world.

And of course, then there’s the sweet Mr. C; my high school Vice Principal who wrongly accused me of setting off the fire alarm and costing the school money…Oh, (sob, sob) sweet Mr. C; how you shaped and molded me into the person I am today.

Oh, don’t worry…I will never forget all of the little people in my life…You may never have the opportunity to reach the status of success that I have reached, but you will always remain in my heart.

And so , with a slight wave of my hand as my beautiful sequin dress shimmers in the sunlight I say; “Thank You for this highest of all honors.”

Please now; don’t be jealous.

Your day will come too. :)

FYI: This entire post was obviously written with a high amount of sarcasm...though I must say "thank you" to my sweet friend 'Flamingo Mama' for presenting me with this honor.

Apparently I'm now supposed to award some other blogs with this high honor....Hmm...that seems like a blog for another day!

Ooohhh...I've got you on the edge of your seats, don't I?!

A Birthday To Remember...

It figures. ..

You see, if you’ve followed our lives for any amount of time, I think you would agree that we don’t do things in the “normal” fashion.

Nope. We seem to march to the beat of our own little drum.

It really isn’t intentional. Just seems to be the way our life goes.

SO, this next story should come as no surprise.

The big plan this past weekend was to take Eden (our live-in high-schooler) to Charleston to celebrate her 18th birthday.

I mean really; how much better can an 18th birthday get than to spend it clopping down cobblestone streets on the back of a horse drawn carriage or shopping through the old fashioned marketplace.

We had dreamed of this weekend for the past month (our first mistake).

The first part of the day seemed wonderful. The kids were surprisingly compliant. Our feisty little Brekyn just wanted to hold our hand all day and stayed right by our side. Elle handled the lack of normal naps well and life seemed dandy! We saw Charleston by carriage ride and did a little “Christmas” shopping. We sat by the water and ate a picnic lunch… All was well!

As part of the big day, we had found a great Japanese Hibachi Restaurant to go to for dinner. Eden walked in and got a huge smile on her face when she realized that hibachi meant they actually cooked the meal right in front of you. She had never been to anything like this and I was thrilled that we could share it with her.

We sat down at our big table … and then Elle got tired.

We spent the first 20 minutes trying to calm Elle down as she screamed her head off. The stares began from those around us and I finally offered to take Elle for a walk outside.

Up and down the street..back and forth…Elle finally stopped crying and I headed back into the restaurant.

The minute I sat down, little Elle decided that was not her favorite plan and she began screaming again.

At this point Donn decided that Elle needed some teething medicine so I agreed to go to the car to get it. Only thing is…the car was about 8 blocks away. You see, in Charleston, you park your car and walk everywhere.

Sooooo, I trapsed back to the car in the fastest pace I could manage; the entire time praying that I would have a good attitude and that I wouldn ‘t miss seeing the Hibachi chef.

Completely out of breath, I rushed back into the restaurant to see that Elle had fallen asleep finally. Donn then looked at me with his dimpled little smile and said, “I guess we don’t need the medicine.”

To which I said something to the degree of, “Oh noooo…this little girl is taking this medicine whether she wants it or not!”

I obviously then realized how dumb it would be to wake up a sleeping baby just to give her the medicine that I had labored over retrieving, so I sat down and was surprised to realize that the great Hibachi Chef had still not come to our table!

Okay, so obviously this restaurant has horribly slow service, but in my current circumstance I guess it was a blessing.

I looked to my left and saw my sweet Brekyn sitting on Eden’s lap and I began to comment on how happy I was that we were going to get to enjoy the meal now.

I then heard a scream from my left as Brekyn’s eyes got huge and he began spewing chunks of who knows what from his mouth (sorry , there’s just no pretty way to say that). Great thing is….remember, I said that Brekyn was sitting on Eden’s lap!

And so, long story short, we rushed out of the Hibachi restaurant (never receiving our meal) with the birthday girl covered in nasty puke and still having to pay a bill of $30 for sweet teas and some broth!

After showering off we then spent the remainder of the night sitting in the hotel room watching the Discovery channel.

Oh, be still my soul. Don’t you just want to spend your birthday with us?

Oh, come on…you know you do!

Happy 18th birthday Eden! Welcome to the family!

Addendum: It just gets better! I just got a phone call from Eden's school where she is throwing up. There's nothing better than a birthday at our house!

Date Night!!!!!

In a very last minute decision, my studly hubbie and I jumped in the old red mustang last night and headed out to the late show of Fireproof. I had been dying to see this movie (which opened last weekend) but I needed to wait for a night when Eden could be home to stay with the kids (leaving them at home alone is not looked upon favorably by all)!:)

Anyway, I have now seen this movie (which was made by the same church that made 'Facing the Giants' a few years ago) and I recommend it to EVERYONE!!!!!!!!! It's a movie about a marriage that is falling apart and how God can restore and heal anything.

If you haven't seen it yet, please go support it in the theaters. PLEASE SEE IT WITH YOUR SPOUSE!!!

It's one of those movies you will walk away and feel better for watching. Donn and I talked the entire drive home about all that we took away from it.

After a decade of being together, we are blessed to still have a good marriage, however, I don't think anyone could say that they don't need a jumpstart from time to time.

Please take the time to support this film! Please pray that it changes lives~ I expect it will!

Drum-Roll Please...

As a sidenote: Last night was incredible! Thanks so much for the prayers. Please continue to pray for the girls we met at the pregnancy home. One is only 15 years old but is seriously planning on raising her baby without any support...please pray that these girls turn to God and that they look to Him for guidance. Thanks.

And now...without further ado; I present you with FALL DECORATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phew! I made it! :)

Now I've just got to plan ahead for Christmas...that takes me three months to pull off!:)