Just because...

*****Be sure to pause the music playing at the bottom of the screen before clicking play. May take a few minutes to upload.

Make a Smilebox postcard

One Milestone Down...

Lilee loved her first day. I guess all the fun wore her little butt out. When I picked her up, she said..."mommy, I want to go home and get in my comfee's (aka...her pj's), and watch my shows in your bed. I'm really tired!"..........and it was only 1:00!

This coming from a child that never stops...I knew she was totally pooped. All in all, she had a great day...and mine got MUCH better once I got to pick her up.

We can now mark off "the first day of preschool" on the list of milestones...

(****Click on the pic below to see the rest of "Lilee's 1st Day")

1st day of preschool

I Survived Preschool...

Just dropped her off...

...hoping to redirect my focus and suppress my uneasiness.

The crying...the letting go...the separation anxiety... No, I'm not referring to my 3 year old...unfortunantly I'm referring to myself. This is definitely the hard stuff. And to make matters worse, the unsolicited advice I've recently recieved is this...

"Oh, don't worry, it'll get easier".

My response to that..."Wow. That was helpful." I really think I might flip out on the next person who says that. MY advice is this...Someone should start a crazy parent's workshop...the topic...

"What to do when your 3 year old handles separation anxiety better than you."

Now that I've gotten through the the first day...I guess I can now say....I survived preschool. Wheeeew...I sure hope this gets easier.

(*****pics of her first day, soon to come.)

Daddy's Day Off...

Took the kids to Kanawha State Forest on Friday.

Daddy's doing all that he can to get some "Hunter and Lilee" time before he has to go out of town AGAIN!!!

Now that he's gone so much..............every second counts.

What is it about watching your husband with his children...that makes you love him more than ever?

Hunter and Lilee...All star duo!

Caught on camera!

Walking into puddles, not walking around them...

having horse races on playground horses...

enjoying acting like a kid...with your kids.

He works really hard...

yet knows how to let loose and enjoy his family.

Hunter...best kid ever!

Check out Hunters new skate board!

A Mom Moment...

Sigh..........sniff..........wipe with tissue.........repeat.

Deap breath.........Ok, so my baby girl is about to start Pre-school next week. Lilee is thrilled beyond belief...I am, well, NOT thrilled. I can just picture it...

We hold hands as we walk towards the classroom door...

she giggles with excitment...

and as her little hand lets go of mine...I loose it.

I'll probably be the only mom there that is still in the parking lot when everyone else is returning to pick up their kids. Yes, I know I'm being dramatic...but it just seems way to soon. I feel like she's still 9 months old. The past 3 years have gone by so fast...it almost takes my breath. I guess I have to let go...she's ready to be a "big girl". So...in hopes of preparing myself for next week, I agreed to let her try on a few of her new school clothes. I told her it would be way too hot to wear jeans, long sleeves, and a hat. But for this girl...you can't tell her anything! (I wish I knew where she gets it from??)

I'm wiping my tears even thinking about it...I'm gonna need a lot of prayer!

Just because...

Just because... these are the most adorable kids ever!

We sure love the days Baby E stays at our house.

Lilee thinks he's her own personal play toy.

(sorry the pics are kind-a yucky in quality...I took them with my phone)

Best buddies!

Let's hope Easton's daddy doesn't see this one!

(Just in case...Jake, I quickly corrected my daughter and told

her that make-up was NOT for boys!) ...only after snapping

a picture to document it! Haha!

Hey...at least Easton has a sence of humor about it!

Oh baby...babies everywhere!

Yep...another little angel is on the way! My sis Em found out the day before my birthday! Aimee said it best when she said..."keep 'em coming!" I couldn't agree more!!!

The funny part is this...

I found out I was pregnant with Lilee on Aug. 6th...

Em found out she was pregnant on Aug. 7th...

Aimee found out she was pregnant with Easton on Aug. 8th.

How funny is that?!?! Now we will all three have kids with birthdays all in March! (...which also means we will all three be broke from buying so many birthday presents!)

Lilee's b-day is Mar. 23rd...Easton's b-day is Mar. 26th...new baby's b-day?? I guess we'll just have to wait and see whether he/she picks Mar. 24th or 25th!

Love ya Em and Jansen! Couldn't be more happy for you both!

It's no biggie turning 30...

Well...30 came amd went. And once again, my family proved to be the best family a girl could ever ask for! It really makes ya feel special when the most imortant people in your life take time out just to make you feel imprtant to them. My husband, my Lilee and Hunter, and my family...I've got all that I could ever ask for. Thanks to every single one of you. I love you all.

So my final thought is this...bring on 31!!!

...just bring it s-l-o-w-l-y.

***Oh!...and Easton stole Mommy 2's heart forever...

when he showed up with a beautiful yellow rose just for me!

He already knows how to work the ladies...but the ladies will have to get in line!

*****(To see the rest of the B-day memories, click on the picture below. There are some REALLY cute pics of Baby E!)

Katie's 30th B-Day

Sigh........

Ok, so I'm about to turn 30. ................................... Did I just say 30? I meant to say 29!! Ok that was a little fib! Yes, I'm trying to use humor as a diversion. God is trying to teach me that this is one thing in my life I CANNOT control. The fact is...I'm about to turn 30 on Saturday. I'll be honest...I was beginning to feel a little freaked out. Like..."oh crap when did I pass 25?" freaked out. "I still feel like I'm 25!...I can't be turning 30 already!"............. Wait a minute.........I did recently purchase that sunhat at the beach, because the sun was "just to strong"...and oh, I've recently acquired a taste for coleslaw and fried apples...and if that wasn't enough...I've been introduced to the first few wonderfully stunning "lines" around my eyes........ Hmmm...maybe I just need some extra Z's?.....ooooooor.....maybe I am turning 30! As I roll my eyes and realize that I'm getting on my own nerves, I quickly tell myself... ...how silly! I love my life...whether I'm 20, 30, 40, however many the years...and I start to think about all the wonderful gifts God has given me. Even while recalling some of the most incredible moments of my life...it doesn't take long for me to realize that one fear still remains. "If the past 30 years have gone by this fast...how fast will the next 30 go by? How will I ever slow them down?" That is my fear...that is my only worry. Please God, slow down the next 30. I don't want to miss a blink. As I look back over the past few years, my life has been filled with nothing but good things. Everything I've always wanted, God has graciously given me. I'm not referring to materialistic "things". I'm speaking of something else entirely. Something that can only come from one place... I have contentment. I have peace. I have God. I've been given more than I could have ever hoped for, ever dreamed of, ever wanted. He's given me so much. He's given me his love, his forgiveness, his grace. What more could I ask for? Only one thing comes to mind... God...you've spent the last 30 years of my life giving to me...may the next 30, be about me giving to you. My heart is full of gratefulness.

Well, we made it back home from my dads house.  Lilee had a great time with Grandad, Nana, Lindz, Kell, Grandee, and Mum.  Thanks Dad and Paula for showing my baby girl the layed-back, country life!!!  I think she found her niche!  



***(even though I've posted a few already...here are the rest of the pics from the fun-filled trip...click on the picture below)

Trip to Richmond, Va. - July 2009