Hunter's 11 !!

Happy 11th birthday, Hunter!...your growing up so fast!

We love you sooooo much!!

From...Dad, Katie, and Lilee

***Before you click PLAY...Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click "PAUSE" to stop the music that's playing.

Go figure!!

When you tell a man..."Babe, it's Father's Day...do what ever makes you happy", be prepared to be taken literally...not metaphorically.

Nuf said...

One special Daddy...

For the past 3 years, I've watched the same "6:00 ritual". She hears your truck pull in the driveway…”My Daddy’s home!!!”…she tip-toe’s around trying to find the perfect hiding spot. Waiting…giggling…she covers her mouth in order to hold in the excitement. Even before you’ve opened the door, she’s running with arms wide open. At that moment…I stop and take a breath, realizing these are the special times…I’ll remember forever. As she jumps into your arms…I watch you scoop her up with a smile from ear to ear. Funny how I never get tired of watching that same moment over and over again. You are to her, someone who can do no wrong…and I love it. I love that you devote your entire evening to her…even after working since 4:30 in the morning. You’re never too tired, never impatient, never harsh…always exactly want she needs her daddy to be. Each night, the three of us sit at the foot of her bed…and this is the moment I cherish most. We say our prayers together…I kiss her goodnight and walk out of her room. I often stand around the corner, and quietly watched you turn on her night-light, pull down the shade, tuck her in and steal one last kiss…I love that you’re the last person she sees before she falls asleep. Never could I have imagined what a wonderful father you would be. I thought I knew everything there was to know about you…until the day I watched you hold our baby girl for the first time. I saw a whole different side of you. I wish I could say with words what I felt at the moment...it's impossible to express. That same feeling...that same breath-taking emotion...I've seen that side of you everyday since the day she was born. It's your voice, your words, your heart. It's the little things, silly things, when you don't know I'm watching...like when she wants you to dance with her...my heart melts. The goofy sayings she picks up from you...like, "oops, that was a mouse on a motorcycle!"...(thank goodness we're the only ones that know what that means!). I feel blessed to have you as my husband. You work very hard, giving me the opportunity to stay home with her...you sacrifice your own wants and needs to provide for your family... and don't ever ask for anything in return. For that, I admire you. You’ve always been kind and loving, but throughout the past 3 years…you far exceeded any expectation of a father I ever had. That’s what makes me love you more and more each day…as a husband, as a man, as a daddy. Happy fathers day babe. I love you.

Day at Nana & Papa's...

I loaded all 3 kids up today...Easton, Lilee, and Hunter... ...and took them to visit Nana and Papa.

Nana and Papa just loooooove having the kids come to their house!

Nana filled up the little pool...and I forgot to bring Lilee's bathing suit (oops!)...

but she didn't care!

As you can see, she stripped down anyways!

Hunter ended up taking over Lilee's Barbie Motor Car...and had a little too much fun on it...

and Easton was just his adorable self...laughing and trying to talk.

Easton stole Nana's heart with his smiles...

...he already knows how to impress the ladies!

***See the rest of the pics by clicking below...

Day at Nana & Papa's

Just wanted to say thanks...

To... Gramee & Papa, Nana & Papa (College), Big Bother Hunter, MiMi, Jake, & Easton, MiMi & Jansen, Nana & Papa (Atkinson), Dee Dee, Abby, & Grant, and Beth & Terry...

...(whew, I think that's everyone!) Just a quick "thank you" to all the fam for taking time out for Lilee on Saturday night. Knowing how busy everyone is...it meant the world to us to see so many of our family there...ready and willing to cheer Lilee on. Brian and I appreciate (more than you could know) all of you showing our baby girl your support! ***(FYI)***There were so many of us...I think we broke the record for family in attendence! When people start complaining about the number of seats we had taken...you know there must be a lot of us!!! Thanks again...love you all!

Dancing Cinderella...

Lilee's Dance Recital

(June 13th, 2009 - 6:30 p.m.)

She did such a great job and had sooooo much fun!

Rehersal was Sat. morning at 9:15...way too early for this little late sleeper!

But getting up early was worth it because afterwards, Lilee and "her girls" were treated to a "mini" manicure and pedicure before the big night! They wanted to make sure their fingers and toes matched thier dance costumes...SPARKLING!

Early Saturday morning...rehersal and primping.

Later that night...the big show!!!

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We are so proud of you, baby girl! Everyday we see you growing up...into a beautiful, loving, joyful little girl (oops...) I mean BIG girl! You did a such a great job and we're so proud of you!

We love our Angel Face!

Mommy and Daddy

What's on my mind...

What is it with people who put up a "front"? Why put on a show? The need to display a different version of yourself...while concealing your authenticity????....On the inside, I’ll bet you are one miserable person, insecure, and uncertain.
One thing I refuse to allow in my life...opinions and judgments of other people to manipulate my thinking. I’m not naive. I know they exist. And it's not that I don't care about what other people think…in some small way, I guess I do because it keeps me in check. I think people that try and prove their strength by “not caring”…are trying to create a fictional description of themselves. After all, let's face it… we all have a small speck of curiosity that wants to know what people think of us. It’s only when we hear something critical, that we try to act like that opinion is irrelevant. I just don't believe in allowing someone else’s assessment of me (especially from a distance) to effect who I am, and who I want to be. The fact that you can not control what someone else thinks of you is a part of life. I accepted that a long time ago. Only after accepting that reality…was I able to be 100% unaffected.
Go ahead and show your emotions, don’t camouflage your reactions. Allowing other’s to witness your vulnerability…that’s what makes you real. That’s what distinguishes one person from another. Be unprocessed…be rare…not man-made.

A grateful attitude...

"Thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands into." - Deuteronomy 12:18

Lately, I've needed to add a few extra minutes at the end of every day. If only to get the last few tasks finished.  Maybe I could borrow from the next day, but then I'd be cutting that day short. Seems like there's never enough time...always too much to get done...often feeling overwhelmed. One thing I'm never in short supply of...laundry that needs folded, bathrooms that need cleaned, beds that need made, groceries that need bought, and so on, and so on, and so on. But instead of complaining about the seemingly endless tasks I have in front of me every day, I guess I should try to find joy in each of them...realize the reason I have all of this "stuff" to do.  If I look at my "to do list" with a positive attitude, a grateful attitude, I am reminded that each one is a result of a gift God has placed in my life...my children...my husband...my family...my home.  I should be forever grateful for each task.  The next time I'm tempted to complain about the mounds of "stuff" I have to get done...I should turn the murmuring into praise.  God, thank you for giving me children to clean up after...a husband to pick up after...a family to keep in touch with...a home keep up on.  I am a blessed woman.

Congrats to Hunter!!!

Congrats to Hunter....
We are SOOOO proud of you! You should be proud of yourself! You're a terrific kid, with a great big heart...and your growing into such a wonderful young man. Keep up those good grades in middle school this fall, ok? You've worked really hard this year... and you deserve it! We love you tons and tons!

***************Leave Hunter a message by clicking on the "comment section" below.

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Hmmm...which do I choose?

Yes...everyone knows I love taking pictures...capturing moments, memories, silliness, and laughter. However, I'm finding it more and more difficult trying to pick which ones I want to post when there are more than a million to pick from! So...I thought I'd make it easier on myself and just post a direct link to some of my fav's! ....(upper right hand corner of blog)

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It's a GREAT day today...look who's at "Mommy 2's" house!!!

Baby Easton is here today! I'm so thankful to be
able to have the opportunity to keep him a
few days a week, and help out my sis.
Shhhhhh...Lilee is still asleep...
so I've got him all to myself before the "little mommy" gets up and starts hogging him! She luuuuuuves her Baby Easton!
I promised him I wouldn't take anymore pictures after I took these...but we all know that's a big fat lie!

His mommy was sad to have to go to work and leave her little man...but he wanted me to give Mommy a message fron her little man...
Don't be sad, Mommy, I'm already havin' tons
of fun! Love you, and I'll see you at 5:30!"

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What NOT to do with your 1,100 gallon Koi fish pond...

This is what happens when you begin a project before a baby...then, baby comes = project is forgotten.

BEFORE...

...AFTER

*********A word of advice**********

If anyone out there has a husband who one day says to you, "Babe, what do ya think about putting a Koi pond in our back yard?".......
First, smack him upside the head, then run! Run fast...so he can't catch up to you and talk you into it. Take it from me...he'll eventually convince you. Then, the next thing you know...it will have been 2 years since the nasty thing has even been touched. Your kids will want to go outback and play...but you'll tell them no in fear of some (very neglected, very angry) deformed monster Koi coming out and sucking them into the swamp!
After a while, you'll soon realize...it has to be done...the overwhelming chore of cleaning the funk. I ask all of you mom's out there...do we ever really need anything else to clean???
Nope...enough said.
In conclusion...DON'T DO IT!!!

JUST SAY NO, NO, NO,NO and again NO!!!

***(next year... he's doing this all by himself!)


****Click on the slideshow for pics of all the funky details...

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