Christmas Vacation 2009

We spent our holiday season this year in St. Louis! It was a long time coming to head out and see the Lower family. We spent 12 days with Mimi and Papa and had a great time. Traveling with 4 kids is not the most fun thing I can think of but we managed. The boys were so excited and actually did a really good job on the airplane....Sophie not so much! Thanks Marlyce and Ken for having us for so long and taking such good care of us. We will have to make it there before another 3 years goes by!

Sophie got really sick with a staff infection in her leg 2 days after we got to St. Louis! This was her before she got so sick! She had a couple of rough days but thankfully got better!
Kenny"s Aunts came for a visit! They are such fun, sweet ladies! We love them to death!

The kids decorated a gingerbread house! As you can tell Zach was not so much decorating as he was eating!We spent a day at the Children's Museum. The kids had a blast! Jackson what happened to your neck?The kids did a live Nativity!

We had a traditional Bethlehem dinner. This actually during the prayer! Zach obviously doesn't know how to close his eyes! Marlyce had us wear head dresses like they did back then. I'm not sure that the men looked quite like that Kenny, but nice try!This is Morgan my cute little niece. We became good little friends! She is such a doll.
Sophie got a dolly from Mimi and loved it!
The boys got Indiana Jones Wii, Star Wars movie and nerf guns! On one of our last nights we all went to Kobe Steakhouse. The kids loved watching the chef make our food. Sophie could have done without the fire! Jackson was entertained the entire night. I don't think we have ever gone out and he not make a peep. Thanks again Theron and Kari for the awesome dinner! Next time it will be our treat!
Thanks again for the great vacation!

Month in Review!

It has been over a month since my last post and so here are a few things that happened in October!Zach lost his first tooth! He was so excited and couldn't wait for the tooth fairy to come. About 2 weeks later he lost his second tooth at school! The tooth fairy is losing lots of money!Sophie is officially walking! We call her our little drunk penguin! She is also into everything! Love this stage of life. She loves her dollies and loves her mommy! We are good little friends! Last we had a great Halloween party with my family. All the kids dressed up and looked so cute! This is Isaac my little nephew! So Cute! Kenny even attempted to participate in the Halloween spirit. This is his rendition of a nerdy bakugan. Zach was a bakugun and James was a nerd so he came up with a nerdy bakugun. He looked ridiculous in my sweats and short shorts! Jackson was a motorcycle guy and Sophie was a bubble bee! SO Cute!! Thanks everyone for a great party. All in all it was a good month!

Family Pictures!

So I think that I have mentioned my amazing neighbor who can do EVERYTHING!!! She is seriously so talented. Well, one of her many talents is taking amazing pictures. We have not had a family picture taken in 2 years and were in need of one really bad! So, off we went on what was for me, a nightmare!It was impossible to have 3 little boys and one 11 month old smile and hold still for any amount of time. I could not have imagine that she was able to capture any cute pics of the kids. But low and behold, she did and I am so happy with the outcome. Thanks Kami for being amazing and for taking the time and having a lot of patience with us! We love the them!

By the way Mimi and Papa we will send them to you!

Yesterday Kenny and I celebrated our 9th Wedding Anniversary. Yes, I know to some of you old folks nine years is nothing! It really does seem like yesterday that I met this curly semi-long hair guy that drove a 79 Mercedes and wore Elvis sunglasses. My sister and I were talking about how crazy it is that we are expected to make the most important decision is our lives at a time when our brain is still mush. How crazy it was that Kenny and I met and 2 week later he asked me to marry him. I am so thankful that I followed my instinct and the spirit and said yes to this man.

I love you so much and I can't wait to see what another 9 years brings.

PS: It better not bring 4 kids, 5 jobs, and 8 moves!!!

Here is a trip down memory lane

The Man I fell in Love with!The night he asked me to marry him. And yes he did wear that when he proposed!!!Our trip back to St. Louis to meet his family.One of our engagment pictures.

Perspective

I usually just don't write about things that are on my mind...today I am. My sweet little niece was admitted to the hospital last Wednesday with Bacterial Meningitis. She is not even 2 weeks old. She is showing such resilience and as Heather says "such patience". I know in my heart that she is going to be Heather's little miracle just as Sophie was my little miracle.
This trial in our family has given me another opportunity to grow and gain a little perspective on my life. Last year at this time I was in a position to really gain some perspective. Each day I just prayed that Sophie would remember to breathe. That she would gain an ounce. That her little body would grow properly. Each day I prayed for these little steps and one by one they happened. Never in my life have I ever had such faith and just had to give it all to my Savior to take over. I know that Heather is feeling the same thing at this moment and I know that the Lord will take over and watch over her sweet baby.
I am grateful for the times the Lord gives us opportunities to gain perspective on life. I would not have trade the trail of Sophie... I received so many blessing at that time in my life and I know that Heather and Doug will receive the same.

Jackson is 4!

Well it's been a busy week of birthdays, and the last in the line has come. Our little man is 4 now, and proud. He took us for bowling and pizza at Fat Cats. The kids had a blast. He started preschool this year and growing up to fast. For his birthday he got several Vroom Vrooms, some Wolverine/X-Men guys, and a new bike! He trashed his old bike in less than a year, put a whole lot of miles on that thing. The tread on both tires were worn out, the pedals were down to the slim metal rod, handle grips were gone, the seat had pulled apart, and the handle bar had fallen off. Needless to say he got his money's worth out of that one, and were hoping to get a few years out of this one.

Happy Birthday Jack, we love you!

Sophie's B-day

Wow, I can't believe that an entire year has come and gone and our little Sophie is already 1!! She is truly our ray of sunshine in our family. She is always so so happy and is always caring a huge smile on her face. She loves her brothers, loves her bottle, loves her crib and of course loves her daddy. She can say dada and mama but only says mama when she is not happy.
For having such a rough start to life you would not be able to tell. She is a cubby little girl that loves life. I love her so much and am so thankful for the gift that God gave to me one year ago. We love you Sopher's and our so glad you are in our family. Happpy Birthday!!!!










Wow, I still can't believe how small you were!! We love you and we hope you had a great Birthday!!!