Saturday, December 27, 2008

The Most Exciting Christmas Ever....

That's what Ashlyn said about our Christmas this year!! We did have a great one...except for the nasty stomach bug that decided to make it's way into Ashlyn's tummy while we were at my Grandmother's house celebrating with my Dad's side of the family. She was very sick for about 8 hours and then had all her energy back within 2 days.

Each year we spend Christmas Eve with Chad's mom. We went over and had dinner with her and had a great time! We did things a little different this year. Normally we have ham and all the "fixin's" but this year we had some wonderful steak, baked potatoes, salad, and bread. It was a nice change!

Christmas day we were up by 7:00 and seeing what Santa left for Ashlyn. She didn't want a whole lot this year so Santa had it easy. She was thrilled to see the 3 things she asked for sitting out when she walked into the den with very sleepy eyes! Morgan and Madyson hit the jackpot this year too. They are at the age where they want lots of clothes and then a few things on the side. They better not complain for a while that they "have NOTHING to wear"!!

Chad and I had a great day too! We really love watching the girls get excited about everything they get and I think we both could care less if we get anything. BUT...we did get some nice stuff and were happy because of it! :-) Chad needed some new clothes so I got him a good many things. I also gave him Madden 09 for the Wii so he'd have something to have fun with. He bought me a new wardrobe which I knew about since I went and picked everything out. He did surprise me though with a gift certificate to take a stone, that was left to me by my grandmother, to a jewelry store and have it set. I was so excited and can't wait to take it. My grandmother, Nanoo, was so special to me and it's going to be extra special to wear a ring with her stone in it!


Later that day we went to my sister Amy's for a late lunch. That's always one of my favorites because we normally have soup and little finger foods to go with it. This year she made a wonderful Shrimp Chowder and Vegetable Soup. My mom made Poppy Seed Ham Rolls and wonderful Venezuelan Empanadas. I made a Red Velvet Cheesecake (click for recipe) and some sugar cookies. We always eat very well when we get together! :-) The cousins always have so much fun together. This year the big girls put on a show about the birth of Jesus and the little girls followed with their own show....or should I say shows. They did 4 or 5. My favorite was one they did about Santa and they creatively used a big box and Santa's sleigh and a gigantic dog as the reindeer.


Now, for the most exciting thing of the whole day. Chad and I had been having to talk in code OR in Spanish for the last few weeks. We had been planning something BIG for the girls. I just knew I was going to slip and tell them because I was about to bust with excitement but I did good and held it in! We were finally able to tell them that WE'RE GOING ON A DISNEY CRUISE!!! We are all so excited because this is the first cruise any of us has ever been on. My sister, Katie and Chad's mom are also going with us. We will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida on April 2nd to the Bahamas. We'll spend the first day in Nassau and then spend the next day at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. We'll return on Sunday, April 5th.

So...I think Ashlyn was right. This was the most exciting Christmas ever.

My Grandma and niece, Quinn


My mom and sister, Katie

My sister, Katie and Ashlyn right before the stomach bug hit!

Ashlyn, Madyson, and Morgan Christmas Eve in their new PJ's

Look at all the presents!


What Santa brough Ashlyn. She had about 50 more gifts to unwrap! Maybe not 50 but it seemed like it!

Ashlyn with her bed head! She didn't care though!

Madyson digging in to her first gift

Morgan finally got the camera she's wanted forever

Chad with his Madden 09

Morgan bringing a gift to baby Jesus and Bailey playing Mary in their play



Ashlyn and Avery enjoying their lunch


My mom and dad ready to open gifts


The cousins seeing what all they got My sister, Amy


The Disney Wonder Cruise Ship! Mickey Mouse here we come!


Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas!!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Up on the Housetop...

Click to play Up on the Housetop
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Sunday, November 30, 2008

Christmastime is Here!



Some of my favorite ornaments...








Thursday, November 20, 2008

She's one Terrific Kid!!






Yesterday, at Roebuck Elementary, Ashlyn was given an award that put a very big smile on her face!! Her teacher, Mrs. Bush, nominated her for Terrific Kid for this 6 weeks at school. Ashlyn was beyond excited! I am so proud of her. She IS a good girl....especially at school. She loves to learn and doesn't not want to have to "pull her ticket" for being naughty! Yesterday before it was time to walk Ash down to the library, Mrs. Bush introduced her to the class as the new Terrific Kid and all the kids started clapping. She then asked the class why Ashlyn deserved to be Terrific Kid and the hands went flying up. Here are a few of the responses:

"Ashlyn always pays attention."
"She is nice to everyone."
"She always does her work."
"Ashlyn is very smart."

The kids were so sweet to Ashlyn and so excited for her. It put a little lump in my throat to hear all those little 6 year olds saying such sweet things about my baby girl!

We are so proud of you, Ashlyn! You are definitely One Terrific Kid!













Thursday, November 6, 2008

I LOVE FALL!!

Every single day when I drive over the "new" bridge close to my house, my breath is taken away! The trees are absolutely gorgeous. As you get to the highest point of the bridge you are also at the tip top of the trees. You can see beautiful fall colors for miles. I love this time of year. It has always been my favorite. It's like each year God takes a paint brush and makes it even more beautiful than the year before. So....because I am just about to come out of my skin each day when I leave the house and see the beauty :-)...I decided that today would be a great day to take my precious children out and get some pictures of them and the beautiful leaves. They turned out wonderful! Here are a few for you to enjoy!



















Saturday, November 1, 2008

Halloween Fun!!

We had a great Halloween night trick or treating with the cousins and Aunt Amy!! Here's a little slide show of our time!

Click to play Halloween 2008
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Thursday, October 23, 2008

She's a TEENAGER!!


Wow! How time flies! It seems like yesterday when little Morgan was born! She made her entrance into this world at 8:45 pm weighing 8 lbs. 13 oz. and was 22 inches long. Today she is 6'1" and a beautiful young lady. Where did the days go? I'm so proud of Morgan. She is hilarious, caring, giving, hilarious, outgoing, friendly....did I mention hilarious? She does keep us laughing and is definitely a bright spot in our lives. We love you Morgan and hope you've had a wonderful 13th birthday!!


*Chad made sure he told me tonight that Morgan will be driving in 2 years. Oh my!!! :-)

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

My desire...Lord Reign in Me!


You thought of us before the world began to breathe

You knew our names before we came to be

You saw the very day we'd fall away from you

And how desperately we need to be redeemed



Lord Jesus come lead us

We're desperate for your touch



Oh Great and Mighty One with one desire we come

That you would reign that you would reign in us

We're offering up our lives a living sacrifice

That you would reign that you would reign in us



Spirit of the Living God fall fresh again

Come search our hearts and purify our lives

We need your perfect love We need your discipline

We're lost unless you guide us with your light



We cry out For your love to refine us cry out

For your love to define us cry out

For your mercy to keep us blameless until you return



So reign please reign in us

Come purify our hearts we need your touch

Come cleanse us like a flood and send us out

So the world may know you reign you reign in us

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

7 Things...

My sister, Amy, tagged me to tell 7 random things about myself that people may not know. I've sat and thought about it for a while and I've decided that I'm pretty much an open book BUT I'm going to try this. So...

#1~ Some of you do know this but it's the first thing I thought of. I stand on my head everyday! I have an inversion table that I get on and I invert for about 10 to 15 minutes each day. I had a bulging disc in my back a few months ago and found that the table is the best thing for me. I'm sure I look kind of strange on my head though! :-)

#2~ I HAVE to make my bed every morning right when I get up. If Chad is still in the bed I make him up in it. :-) Not really but I do make my side up and then he'll usually make his when he gets up. IF for some reason I can't make my bed first thing, I still HAVE to make it before I go to bed....even if that means making it up and immediately unmaking it!

#3~ I turn the dryer back on 15 times if I have to to fluff clothes. I HATE to iron so I always make sure I take the clothes out while they're VERY hot and I hang them immediately.

#4~ My favorite musical is "The Music Man". I could watch it over, and over, and over! My good friend Jennifer gave me the DVD for Christmas a few years ago. It was one of the best gifts she could have ever chosen for me. I love the songs "Seventy-six Trombones", "Gary, Indiana", and "Till There Was You". The whole musical just makes me happy!

#5~ I am very picky about the dishes that I eat on and drink out of. I WILL NOT drink out of a coffee mug at work. I have to have a styrofoam cup. I really don't like to use silverware anywhere but my home and the homes of family and some friends. I'm sure they are probably clean but I'm just weird about that. At restaurants I've been known to ask for a "to go" cup right off the bat.

#6~ It was always my dream to be on "The Price is Right". I really don't care anymore because Bob Barker is gone. I think I REALLY thought my dream would come true before he retired. Oh well. Check that one off the list!

#7~ I absolutely love slushy apple juice and slushy orange juice! The first time I had both was when I was in the hospital after delivering Morgan. I couldn't get enough of either of them. I sometimes put both juices in the freezer long enough to get them slushy.

OK....that's the best I've got! Now I tag
Angi and Alyssa.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Apple Squares


My friend Alyssa shared this wonderful recipe with me. Her daughter goes to Covenant and she was so sweet to make it for the teachers there. It was the best apple cake I have ever put in my mouth!! I had to share it with you all!


Appple Squares

3 cups diced apples
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup oil
1 cup nuts (any kind you like, I use pecans)
3 eggs
1 tsp cinnamon
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
3 tsp vanilla

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour 9x13 baking dish. Mix all ingredients except apples with mixer, the mix will be very thick. Stir in apples with spoon. Once mixed, pour into 9x13 dish. Cook for 1 hour. Poke holes in the cake with fork and pour glaze over dish wihile still warm.

Glaze:
1 stick butter
4 oz evaported milk
1 cup brown sugar
Bring to a boil in sauce pan.

ENJOY!

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Ashlyn


This morning as I was getting ready, Ashlyn came in and told me that she wanted to pray and ask Jesus into her heart. I expected her to tell me that soon because she has been talking a lot about becoming a Christian lately BUT I was still taken back this morning when she told me. I didn't know if I should grin from ear to ear or cry....so I did both!! We sat down on my bed and talked for a good while about what it means to become a Christian. I asked her a lot of questions and she gave me "adult answers" for all of them. I couldn't believe how grown up she sounded. When I asked her why she wanted to pray and ask Jesus in her heart she said, "because He died on the cross for my sins and I want to follow Him for the rest of my life". Wow!! My little girl was really understanding! I prayed a prayer with Ashlyn and she repeated it. I could tell she was grinning from ear to ear the whole time! After some hugs and "I'm proud of you's" we left the house. On the way down the road Ashlyn said, "Mommy, I didn't know I could be this good". It cracked me up. She was obviously telling herself that she needs to try her best to live a life pleasing to God and part of that was by being a good girl! I told her she just needs to get up every morning and tell God that she wants to do things that will please Him each day. I found out later on today that she had a long conversation with her cousin Avery yesterday about all of this. I would have loved to have heard everything....they are both 6 years old!! :-)

I pray that Ashlyn continues to grow each day in her relationship with Christ and that she loves Him more and more. I pray that she will continue to be excited about letting everyone know about this decision she has made and that she will want to share of His love with others.

We love you, Ashlyn!!

Monday, September 8, 2008

Madyson turns 12!!





On August 27th, we celebrated Madyson's 12th birthday. I can't believe I'm just now writing about it. Have I been that busy??? This year I told Madyson that we weren't doing a big birthday party but I let her invite a few of her friends from church over for a sleepover. Boy did they have fun!! We started out with pizza, then cake, and then presents. Her friends were very generous to her and put a huge smile on her face!! Then we moved on to facials and nails. I think that must be right up every girl's alley. They loved it. After a few movies and another snack the girls FINALLY went to bed at 1:30. Glad they had fun!!


Madyson is such a special girl. She has a great personality that people love. She is shy when you first meet her but when you get to know her she is a true friend. She loves you for who you are. This year Madyson is a cheerleader at her middle school and I have seen a part of her that I didn't know was there. She is doing such a great job and really gets into the cheers and sure knows how to shake her tail on the little dance they are doing. :-) I'm so proud of Madyson!


A few words I'd use to describle Madyson are kind, happy, warm-hearted, fun, and energetic. The thing that pleases me the most about her though is that she loves God with all her heart! She is so involved in her youth group at church and is just finishing up a Bible study that she's been a part of for the last few months. I can see that she is growing more and more each day and her love for the Lord is getting deeper and deeper!


We love you so much, Madyson and we hope this year is wonderful for you!!


Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Mom! Where's the Gasoline?

Ashlyn: Mom! Where's the gasoline?

Me: The gasoline?

Ashlyn: Yes, the gasoline.

Me: I don't know. Are you a car?

Ashlyn: A car?

Me: Yes. Are you a car?

Ashlyn: No, I need the gasoline that I put on my legs.

Me: Oh! The vaseline!!!!!