Thanksgiving 2011

This year we have much to be thankful for!  We made our thanksgiving turkey and added many feathers of all the things we are thankful for... Here are just a few things:

We are thankful for- answered prayers and snow!  Katelyn has been praying for snow in Washington for a while now.  Not only did God answer our prayers, he did it in perfect timing!  As we landed the airplane we look out the window to snow on the ground and falling from the sky!  Katelyn said with much excitement, "LOOK, HE'S BEING NICE TO US!"

We are thankful for cousins to play with!

We are thankful for two sweet little girls who love each other and bring us so much joy!

We are thankful for baby brother who is growing strong and healthy in mommy's tummy. 

We are thankful for a Daddy who will take us on fun adventures (while I sit on the side praying that they dont' fall off the log and into freezing cold, rocky waters below).

We are thankful for a precious 4 year old who has the greatest imagination and keeps us laughing!

We are thankful for a PawPaw who got to celebrate his 60th birthday while at Camp Touchet.  I think he was holding back tears as he read the itinerary for his, Jared and James' trip to Alaska this coming summer. 

We are thankful for 3 precious kids.  They are so sweet, lovable, kind, silly and a blessing!

We are thankful for a Daddy who is willing to provide for our family.  Even if it is just holding Adelyn while we are sledding so she won't get cold in the snow.

We are thankful Jared walked away with only a few minor scratches on his hand when he decided to sled down a hill on the side of the road that had rocks sticking out of the ground!

We are thankful for sleep!  Sledding wiped her out!

We are thankful for SaSa who is on her own adventure God has called her to.  We miss her dearly, but know she is where she should be... 

We are thankful for all the kids special babies, bears and fluff-fluffs that bring them comfort. 

We are thankful for this adorable 20 month old who knows just what to do when given a purse, jewelry and sunglasses.  Such a girly-girl!

We are thankful for tickle time with Nanny!  We are so grateful for all Nanny does for us- from joining in our prayer for snow, to planning a fun trip to camp Touchet, to all the fun in between. She is such a blessing! 

We are thankful for PawPaw who will sit on the couch and read us a book before bed.  PawPaw shows such love and kindness to everyone, what a wonderful example he is to our children!

We are thankful for silliness!

We are thankful for James and Stormi who a amazing parents, sweet friends and a blessing to call family!

We are thankful to get to spend Thanksgiving with a family who brings us all such joy and happiness.  Thank you Nanny, PawPaw, James, Stormi, Caleb, Micah and Ellie for making our Thanksgiving full of wonderful memories! 

But most of all- thank you Lord for all the ways you continue to bless us even though we deserve nothing.  We are blessed beyond measure and will spend the next month thinking about how God gave us the best blessing of all- Jesus!

Jared's 30th Birthday Celebration

This past weekend we went to Dallas to celebrate Jared's 30th Birthday and hang out with lots of fun friends.  Bubba and JoJo kept Katelyn and Adelyn for us.  Since they have returned Katelyn has called me JoJo 3 times, I think they had a good time!

On Saturday we met up with some of our HSU gang to play some whirlyball. 

Here they are as the first game began.  It was pretty funny to watch and they all seemed to have a good time.  Lots of laughing and competition.  It was pretty funny to see a bunch of 30ish year olds playing this and then when you looked on the other court it was a party of 10 year olds! 

They played for 2 hours and all agreed they could have kept on playing longer! 

After whirlyball we went to a place called top golf.  It is basically a driving range that is more 'high tech' by tracking your hits and giving points for good shots.  Jared woke up the next morning with a sore back...He is 30 now!?!?

Then on Sunday we went to the Cowboys game with Travis and Tracy Crow. 

Travis just had a birthday last month, so it was a joint celebration!

Happy Birthday Jared!

Adelyn is 20 months old!

Dear Sweet Adelyn,

This month it was all about TALKING!!!  Your vocabulary has exploded and is growing each day.  You will repeat just about anything one word at a time.  You babble on the phone all the time.  You still do the high pitch squeal when you want/need something but will gladly use words when reminded to do so.  You love to read books or have books read to you. 

One day I walked in your room to find you had removed your shirt and were rummaging through your drawer in search of another one.  Long sleeves are not your favorite and seem to annoy you a bit. 

You are a happy little sleeper who goes to bed happy and wakes up happy.  You sleep with your pillow, blanket and 'baby'.  You still like to be rocked before you are laid down.  Even 30 seconds will make you happy, and you don't care who rocks you- me, Daddy, Katelyn- we all can do the trick!

You are willing to do just about anything, including this huge slide.  You couldn't even get up the ladder on the back, someone had to carry you to the top, but you wanted to slide over and over again!

You are a little lady for sure.  You love to play house, cook in the kitchen (although you get frustrated because the door falls on constantly), and play with baby dolls. 

Speaking of babies, you love them!  We spent a week with your cousin Isabella and you made sure she had her paci all the time!  Auntie would have to hide it if she didn't want her to have it because you would try to stick it in her mouth each time you found it!

You ADORE your sister.  You try to do everything she does and it is precious to watch.  We have started playing simon says and you do your best to keep up with Katelyn.  Katelyn also loves playing with you!  She loves that you do just what she does! 

You have gone through a little bit of a mommy issue this month.  You cry a bit when dropped off at the nursery or Bible study, but you are easily distracted by toys within a few minutes.  At home we have started to discipline more.  You have had a few time-outs and a few spankings.  Usually all I have to do is say, "Do you need to sit in time-out?" and you'll respond, "NO" followed by obedience.  You stayed the past weekend with Bubba and JoJo and they said you had no mommy issues, so hopefully a weekend away from me was just what you needed! 

You are typically a happy, go with the flow, kinda girl. You like to make me laugh with silly faces and are a cuddle bug.  You are sweet little lady who brings joy to us each day!

Happy 20 months!

Love, Mommy 

Happy 30th Birthday Jared!

In just 2 short days Jared will be turning 30 years old!  It has been a blessing to be a part of these last 10 years so today we are going to take a walk down memory lane in honor of Jared turning the big 3-0!

So here we are at James and Stormi's wedding in June 2002.  I had just caught the bouquet and Jared is all snazzy in his tux!

Then here we are just 2 short years later just before graduation. 

Then a few weeks later in May 2004 at our wedding (what a cutie!).

This picture was probably taken in 2005 or 2006 before we had kids. 

Moving on to October 2007- Jared is now a father to sweet Katelyn (who wasn't too happy to be dressed up as a flower)...

Then 2 years later in March of 2010 Jared now has 2 daughters!

And finally October 2011- Jared is now expecting his first son.  He is already so good with Katelyn and Adelyn- I can't wait to see him with a boy!

I said it before, but I am truly blessed to have this man in my life.  He makes me laugh, draws me closer to the Lord, provides for our family, and is an amazing husband and father.  This weekend we are going to Dallas to celebrate his birthday, but before we left I just wanted to document a small piece of our journey.  I have loved every second of my life with Jared and couldn't ask for a better man to call my husband!  Happy Birthday Love!

Katelyn rockin' Adelyn

This afternoon Katelyn asked if she could rock Adelyn before nap time. I said sure just because I was curious how long it would last and if Adelyn would be okay with it... All I have to say is Wow!!! Katelyn sat and 'held' Adelyn while rocking the chair and singing made up night-night songs while Adelyn laid happily in her arms until I finally stopped them because we were already late for nap time.  Watching them rock together made me so thankful for what a sweet relationship they have (and I took a picture so that I can remember these sweet moments when they are stealing toys or aggravating each other)!

Rockin' his baby girls

A month or so ago Adelyn started asking to "ra, ra, ra..." before bed and nap time.  It didn't take long for Katelyn to join in the rocking before bed.  It is by far my most favorite time of day!  I get to sing to them, pray for them and just cuddle with them.  Last night Jared got to rock the girls before bed and I snapped a picture.  Sweet time with our sweet girls.

Thanksgiving Turkey

Katelyn is my craft-loving little lady.  This November we decided to make our 'thankful turkey'.  Stormi makes a chain of thanks each year, so this is a variation of that.  So we went to Hobby Lobby, bought the supplies, then got started.

Adelyn couldn't really participate.  I tried to let her, but she bit a huge chunk out of the Styrofoam ball :(  Instead she just did her best to watch (and pull all the supplies off the table)!

Katelyn loved every second of the painting and couldn't wait for the paint to dry!  She asked about every 10 minutes if it was dry yet...

Once it was dry we hot glued all the needed turkey features and Katelyn got to add the first feather stating what she was thankful for.  She was thankful for getting to make the turkey! 

She named this turkey- "Turkey-Beak".  After breakfast this morning she couldn't wait to add another feather!  She even added one for Adelyn and Baby Brother.  I think by the end of the month we may have more feathers than turkey, but then again, we do have so much to be thankful for!