Best of 2009

These are a few of the best photos of '09. Kind of like winning a Dundie, not worth much more to others but priceless to us. :)

Just plain ol' playground fun...
The best preggo photo and the only of it's kind...taken the day before Papa 'went home' to be with our Heavenly Father...

Loosing this man makes this photo priceless. I miss him more everyday.

Fist day of school fun!

It's great to have a big sister who loves you...sometimes:)

My sexy man on throwback night. I am so lucky I was able to witness this in person.

Best matching outfit. Easter, Love it.

Most peaceful moment...without kids:

Most romantic moment, even with 8 other people.

Most peacefull moment... with kids:

Most memorable moment. 60 years of unconditional love.

Best meltdown during a school performance.

So there it is the best no matter how you slice it I just love our life and the fact we can document it like crazy. Heres to 2010. Hopefully with more scrapbooking all of these memories.

Merry Christmas to ALL...

We are realizing more year after year that Christmas is all about the kids. They help you to better understand the meaning of 'The magic of Christmas'. It's amazing the sparkle in their smile and the twinkle they get in their eye when describing Christmas. Camryn gave me the biggest hug (the kind that melts your heart) and exclaimed, " this is the BEST Christmas ever mom, I love you. " Again I am reminded that she is wise beyond her years and she has the sweetest heart for a three year old, I am blessed to call her mine. Brady and Camryn are all snug in their bed...well our bed. Just waiting for Santa to fill our stockings. Hope that your Christmas is merry. Here are a few picks:


Kids playing with the new princess castle...thanks Aunt Sarah and Uncle Matt.

My love

Grammy and Grandpa with all of the babies... too cute.

Cousins: I can't help but wish for this couch to be full of little ones soon. More babies people!

The best Christmas gift: Avery Noelle.

Love to all.

Holiday Ready

Halls are decked around here. Baby A made a safe and exciting arrival on the Fourth and we are ready to celebrate. So much to be thankful for this holiday season, family, friends, health and simple things like getting back into a routine. Our little Avery Noelle below. We are just thrilled that she has come to join our family. Shortly before she was born Camryn, (who predicted her sex early on) told me she was an angel in heaven before she was to join our family. It's amazing what kids say and how they perceive life. I love it! I like to think that Papa who passed just one month before her arrival was taking the time to get to know her and sent her on her way just in time for the holidays. I hope they enjoyed their time together. I miss him more every day, I hope it gets easier. Camryn making a gingerbread house. Great mommy/daughter time. I am loving this age.

Yummy Christmas cookies. I love gingerbread!

Crafts Anyone?

Too long has past since my last post. But hey I've been busy. Painted the kids room apple green and the dining room a nice shade of gold, then we put an offer in on a house. We should find out by the end of the week if we got the house. So excited! I have had bursts of energy and I tackle a project with excitement...then I drag on for hours just so tired, tired of being pregnant.


Here is an oh so easy project I created:
I covered the binding of a generic note pad with paper scraps I had lying around and added a paper flower topped off with a rhinestone. Packaged it all up in cellophane bags with a cute pen to match. So easy and just the right amount of cute. I love how functional they are and how easy they were to assemble.


These are the labels I created in my label maker program (love it). I used them on Thanksgiving goodie bags for Camryn's class. Then I added a label to the back that stated what kind of cookies were included and allergy info.

Feeling pretty crafty lets hope I can get some things done between naps. :) Christmas cards are almost done, just waiting for baby A to take pictures.

Have a great day.

Monster Mash Halloween Party

For our family Halloween has become a very fun and exciting tradition. We host a party, eat M&M pancakes in the morning, pick out pumpkins at a 'real' pumpkin patch and we are known to have multiple costumes. :) Thankfully this year was no exception. Our Halloween party had a theme this year and it was Monster Mash. It was monster filled fun with a jumpy, Monsters Inc the movie, monster beach balls and around the house and yard and in the jumpy, monster goody bags, and cupcakes too. My little monsters.

Our little goody bags came from OTC (Oriental Trading Company) as a craft kit, and I assembled them and tucked loads of monster goodies inside. SO darn cute!!  Monster Suckers

Monster eggs filled with candy...

Monster mix. My recipe:

Yogurt covered raisins

Carmel corn

Pretzels

Chocolate teddy grahams

Candy corn

M & M's

Monster cupcakes

And finally Treat bags for school and dance class, just fill with candies and go. Supper easy for the mom supposed to be on bed rest. :)

Halloween was a good one this year hope you had a great one.

Link to some pretty cute Oriental Trading Company Monster Items:

OTC Monster Bags

OTC ADORABLE Monster Plush Favors

Can you hear me now?

Spent a few hours (like 5) in the hospital over the weekend. Apparently, pre-term labor with baby A.   Everything is fine now; however, I did receive two steroid injections to help with developing the baby's lungs and a prescription to help stop labor. Fun! I feel totally drugged, and jittery and I kind of like a Yo Gabba Gabba Party has been playing in my head all night long... seriously all night, with soundtrack too. More gratitude for our many blessings. This little guy went through the same issues as baby A. Just a little anxious to enter the world. At 26 weeks I was put on full bed rest with a host of meds and steroids to develop his lungs...it worked he is now a two-year-old Hulk. :) He battled jaundice, that was old hat. We totally knew what to do and weren't worried too much. His levels rose to around 20 but tapered off rapidly. But we did have our concerns when he FAILED his hearing test. He failed it a number of times in the hospital and then again at the hearing clinic. We prepared ourselves for the chance that we may need a lot of help from doctors to determine how we could help him thrive and progress developmentally and not fall behind if he were indeed deaf. Tons of doctors' appointments, and specialists. At six months he still had no startle reaction. Most babies are born with this reaction, they jump when someone slams the door or turn when their name is called, or a loud noise is heard from behind them. He had nothing. As the months went on, we were told to stimulate his hearing with musical toys. I think we went out and purchased every annoying music blinky toy there was to be had. We were told to find his favorite and keep it with him all of the time. As his words started to come, we were reassured. He is now a VERY talkative little two-year-old. We are so blessed! I look back and laugh because his issues are soooo his personality! He is energetic and full of life; he is all boy and keeps us on our toes. But better yet I couldn't imagine life without him. He is the best little brother, and he is going to be the most wonderful BIG brother ever. He is still sleeping, so I'm outta here. Have a great day.

Jellybeans and Tutus

With baby three fast approaching arrival things have been a little hectic. Camryn is loving her dance class and her teacher has recommended she move to a group with older girls. We were told that she is so focused for being so 'little'. Preschool is in full swing with picture day and fundraisers right around the corner. Brady cries daily as we drop off 'sissy', he so badly wants to be a BIG boy. In April he will start at the same school. I can't believe how fast they grow. My little guy is talking like crazy and I rarely have to wonder if he comes by it naturally. Camryn's teacher was commenting on how Brady says "Yes" rather that "ya" like so many kids. What a compliment!

So you may have wonder where the Jellybeans and Tutus came from. Well, my Lovin' Life blog fell out of blogland and I neglected to back it up so everything was lost. I needed to create a new blog with a new name. My kids are my inspiration for just about everything I do so: Jellybeans, well Brady is a huge fan. A fan of parties (where Jellybeans are great favors and treats) and a huge fan of Jellybeans in general (Jelly bellies actually). Then Tutus: Camryn is, needless to say, a big fan of everything girly. Bows, princess, dress up and YES Tutus. So there you have it that is how Jellybeans and Tutus was born.

Brady's on a playdate while Cam is at school.