Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Jessie!

I hope you have a wonderful 13th birthday!

I can't believe you are a teenager already, it seems like just yesterday you were a tiny little baby. I love you so much and hope that this year brings you everything that your heart desires.

A picture is worth a thousand words...

A picture is worth a thousands words...

Look close folks. That's right.

Myles is going to be a big brother.

December 15, 2009

Our staycation

Matt has taken the week off of work! We have quite a few things planned to do around here before our upcoming weekend of "mandatory fun" {more on that later}

Day #1 we decided to take the kids to Magic Springs in Hot Springs, Arkansas. We had a blast! It was SO damn hot. Okay, that is not even an accurate description. HOT!

I think Liam must have gone on this ride 20 times. I just love Matt's face. It wasn't that scary. {and this is a guy who jumps out of planes. willingly}

Then off to the water park side. At this point we were so stinkin hot it was such a nice relief. Have I mentioned it was hot? Anyways, while on the lazy river Myles got some water splashed in his face, which led to sunscreen in the eyes. They were driving him crazy so I told him to just shut his eyes and it would be all better. He did. For 30 minutes. Then he startled awake and was off again to play.

We ended the day with a few more rides. Then the rain came. We had to make a run for our car (which felt like 2 miles) and by the time we got there we were all soaked. Made for a fun ride home.

Workin 9 to 5

Well, okay. Maybe not 9 to 5 but James started his first job. YEA!!! He is a life guard at our local community center. We are so excited for him and wish him the best of luck. He is super excited to be working and earning money. It was surreal watching him walk into work on his first day. Time has gone by way too fast. This was also the best picture I got of him because apparently it is not cool to stand outside your new place of employment and pose for a picture for your mom. Hum? Who knew?

Sing. Sing a song.

Myles loves to sing. He has a crazy little memory for lyrics. Sort of. He loves to sing songs the way he hears them. Sometimes he really cracks us up with his interpretation.

Today takes the cake.

While I was making lunch he was playing on the floor near me. It went down like this:

Myles: "Jesus wants me for a zombie. A zombie. A zombie. I'll be a zombie for him."
Me: I think it might be sunbeam. Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.
Myles: Laughing... Silly, Mommy. Jesus don't want me to be a sunbeam. I learned it at church. A ZOMBIE! (to clear up any confusion) and singing "A zombie. A zombie. Jesus wants me for a zombie."
Me: Pretty sure it's sunbeam....

He's now been singing it all afternoon. Zombie style.

It's official...

It's summertime.

To the pool we go.

Thank goodness for

season passes...

There were some other kids there with us too but they didn't want to hang around kidzone.

Graduation Day!

It's official.

He made it through elementary school.

It seems as if he was just a baby.
Now he is going to middle school.

We are very proud of him.

He has done so well this year.

His wonderful teachers. Mrs. Curtright and Ms. Hagge.

Pretty sure these women have earned their spot in heaven.

We love you Liam and are very proud of you!

11 years

This year for our anniversary Matt did the sweetest thing. Every day this week he did something special, along with a flower and a card. It was so thoughtful of him and I enjoyed it so much. So here is a recap of our week so that I will always remember...

Day One~

A single red rose, a card and a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos. I had talked to him on the phone and had told him how I had gone to the store to get dinner and wanted some Doritos to go with it. I told Liam to grab some but he decided that he didn't like them. I didn't realize it until I got home. So Matt brought some home.

Day Two~
Two red roses, a card and a Michael's gift card. So excited to put this to use.

Day Three~

Three red roses, a card and a 4-pack of beer. Not to drink. We have a fruit fly infestation. It is the perfect thing to trap and kill them. It works I swear.

Day Four~
Four red roses, a card, cream cheese brownies and tickets to Riverfest. So excited to go to this!

Day Five~
Five red roses, a card and a date night. We went out to dinner to The Faded Rose. We came to this restaurant a couple years ago when we came out here for Matt to interview for his job. The shrimp tchoupitoulas was just as good as we remembered. Divine. You guys who are local should try this place. It is worth the drive and the money. Yummm....

Day Six~
Matt had to leave early to go on a Youth trip so I woke up to 4 Dozen roses. Not even kidding. 48 roses and some stargazer lillys and a cute little gift bag. So exciting. I opened it up and it was a new lens for my camera. Seriously. Love this guy.

*I have to just add that I realize a lot of the days involved food. What can I say? This boy knows me. He knows the way to my heart. Food, camera, crafts and beer. Just kidding about the beer. Really.

In Loving Memory

Grandma Krenz

August 12, 1919

May 9, 2009

Matt lost his sweet grandmother this last weekend. We made a quick trip back to Wisconsin for the funeral. By quick, I mean really quick. We got there at 5 pm on Thursday and left at 8 am on Saturday. It was too short. It was good to see the family even under these circumstances.

Wisconsin=Cheese Right?
Had to get a picture by the giant mouse and cheese

Myles playing with his cute cousins Justice, Bella and Danielle

We got to go to our nephew Collin's baseball game. This was really fun. His team did awesome even with the rain. The game got called at the bottom of the fourth inning. The kids had a blast watching him play (and climbing all over the seats).

Liam and Cameron. These boys are so much alike. They had a blast together.

Sleepy Caiden...

Myles made a cute little friend Aubree while we were there. She was just too sweet. At one point she was all up in his face saying "Hi. Myles, Hi, Myles" And he in his grumpy boy voice said "I trying to watch the baseball" Oh, boys and their sports.

So glad I could capture his face when he said it. Funny boy.

Say Cheese!

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.

You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.

~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Happy Easter!

Weekend to fall in love...

I took a weekend away. It was much needed. I got to go meet my best friend's new little man. He is precious. I fell in love. It was so nice to spend time with Adrianne and get to see her as a mommy, which by the way I still think she was born to do. I didn't want to leave them. I miss them terribly.

Seriously, who could resist this face?

Kiss him for me Ad...

Cars...

This boy has a thing for cars. Not the model, year or the engine size. He like to just line them up perfectly. Which is fine. Except when friends come over to play. Usually I try to separate some for him and some for a friend that way he doesn't have to get upset when they do their own thing with them. Today was no exception. The friend wanted one of Myles' cars. He was informed that "These cars no play. These cars no go vroom!"

And then he continued to stand guard.

It's a BOY!

It's a boy and five little girls. Lexi had her puppies! She is quite the little momma. They were born Monday March 30th. Jessie was by her side the entire time. She was a good little coach. The little boy is the one with the brown markings on his face. They are just super cute...

All cuddled up...

Have a feeling we are in over our heads.

Happy Spring!

Spring is here!

Took the kids to Daffodil Hill on Wye Mountain

"Guys, wait for me!"

Liam, Myles and Jessie

Stopped for lunch at Panera

Day One of Spring Break