Happy Birthday, Jaxon!!

Happy birthday sweet Jaxon! We can't believe you are two! Time just goes by so quickly...

5 days old - You were so tiny

Your smile and personality are so contagious. You are so full of adventure and ALWAYS find a way to get into what you want! One day you will love all the pictures we take of you getting into things!! We love that you are so passionate. Never lose that.

Stylin with those killer eyes and curls

Now you are talking! We couldn't wait for you to start talking so we could know what was going on in your head! You are SO happy, thoughtful, caring, and patient. We love how you love your brothers. We love how you love us, your grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends.

It blesses our hearts to hear you pray, carry your little Bible, and sing to God. Your favorite songs are Holy, Holy, Holy and Jesus Loves Me. We pray that you will grow to be a Godly man, husband, and father.

Today, you wished everyone else a happy birthday as much as you were wished a happy birthday! One of your favorite things to say today was, "I two!" You LOVED your birthday pancakes, amd going to Godfather's for lunch. We can't forget playing in the arcade - that was a blast! The balloons were a hit until you figured out how to deflate them! You lit up as we sang to you, and even got a bit embarassed, which was super cute!! You are going to have so much fun at your party!! :)

Jax, we love you so so much!! Happy birthday!!

Love, 

Mommy & Daddy

I'm Back!!

Well, it's been Way.Too.Long since I've updated my blog. I started out with good intentions, but life has been going way too fast and I haven't stopped to share it. In the last several weeks there has been lots of snow, outings, and of course a TON of fun! Here's a recap:

Welcoming Ben home. Zane LOVES Ben and calls him his Army Man :)

Blizzard 2011 - The wind knocked the slide off!!

Zane LOVED playing in the snow!

What a precious face!!

Brandt's first time in the snow!

I have more pictures to upload, but the computer keeps messing up. Look for Valentine's Day pictures tomorrow!!

Happy Anniversary, Eric!!!!

I went off to college...and met a guy!

Not just any guy...

but THE guy!!

After dating for a year, I said YES!!!

We were married on February 3, 2007

So in love

Our little family started growing...

And growing...

And growing!!!

Three kids in three years!!! Whew!!!

We are SO BLESSED!!

Five years together, four years married, three kids and I love him more than ever! He is my best friend and I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have him. I truly believe God made us for each other!

Happy 4th Anniversary Eric!! I LOVE YOU <3 <3 <3 <3

Week Three Weight Loss

This pictures cracks me up!

 I was dreading writing this post today because I only lost one pound. But, I came across this picture, and it made my day! I have to have a sense of humor in this whole weight loss process because all too easily, I get depressed, stressed, and start eating again when I see no real changes. I'm totally an emotional/stress eater!

I'm finding out by trial and error what is working, and what isn't. Mainly error! I'm having a hard time balancing all of my motherly/wifely duties with working out. Do I do a load of laundry or workout? Usually, I end up cleaning because I like for Eric to come home to a clean house, or at least somewhat clean with all of our kiddos!! This week I did work out on our eliptical while doing BSF. It was interesting, but it worked.

Tonight I was walking down the stairs with Brandt and fell HARD! I held on tight to my little baby, and landed right on my rear. Now I feel like an old lady, hobbling around! It's a bit discouraging knowing that I won't be able to work out for a couple of days, but I'm not going to give up that easily! I've already got our menu planned for the week, and if I stick with that I'll be just fine! Hopefully, "YIKES!" won't end up on my scale next week!! :)

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Parksdale Farms, November 2010 - Strawberry King

This little guy holds such a special place in my heart. I love that he is able to talk, and communicate with us. It's a whole different level of being a parent that is just so wonderful. I had a hard time with Zane growing up. I wanted to keep him a baby, and then a toddler. Now he is a big boy, and I would have it no other way. It seems that every stage, as he grows, is the most fun stage. I cherish my time with him so much. I enjoy talking, and listening to him as he shares his world with me.

Saturday, Zane and I were talking, and he was being extremely animated. So animated, that he poked me in the eye! He said, "I'm sorry, Mommy! I have pretty sharp fingers, huh! If some kids are being mean to you, you should poke them in the eye!" Oh, Zane...LOL

Later on I went to the grocery store, and I was telling Zane all that I had gotten. I remembered him telling me that he eats raisins at school, so I picked some up for him. When I showed him the box he said matter of factly, "I like raisins. They make me sweet like you, Mommy!"  Love him!!

Batman and Robin - Halloween 2010

I'm ready for the day that Eric and I can share conversations with Jaxon. He is SO close!! He is learning new words every day, and is putting them together in sentences. My favorite things he says are "I love you Mommy/Daddy!", "To infinity, and beyond!", "Cool Daddy!", "My Mommy!". He also loves to sing songs. Right now his favorites are: The B-I-B-L-E; Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star; Batman Song (nana nana nana nana nana nana nana nana BATMAN!!!);and the Jaxon Song. 

Paul's Shrimp House, Tarpon Springs, FL - Decemer 2010

I can't leave my little man out!! He is babbling up a storm!! His favorite things to say are: "MaMa," and "BaBa," with lots of gurgly noises mixed in! What a cutie!!

I love my boys so much!!

Child-Like Faith

Tonight I sat down with my two oldest boys Zane (3yrs) and Jaxon (almost 2yrs). Jaxon sat there with his new Buzz lightyear that BooBoo and BaBa (grandma/pa) got him and started singing a song that I recognized...


Holy, Holy, Holy


Lord God Almighty


Early in the Morning....


As he repeated those three lines over and over, Zane caught on and started to sing with him adding a little melody. It was neat, to hear my boys sing such a great old hymn about God like that. Most of the times the songs are silly nursery rhymes, or simple like Trust and Obey... but this song is different it teaches the boys about who God is... he is Holy.


I can't take credit for that... my family has been in a Bible study for several years that is now in Isaiah this year, and that song was written out of a passage in Isaiah 6 so naturally the kids department has used that in their teaching (mostly because there is a lack of preschoolers that read with any proficiency).


That song started a 20 min conversation with Zane about God... how neat... if you've never had a conversation with a 3yr old about God you really dont understand the passage in Mark 10:13-16 where Jesus rebuked the disciples for keeping some children away from him. Talking to a 3yr old about God is so incredibly neat... Zane for instance has many questions about God ... many of the same questions we adults have like... "Dad, why can't I see God or Jesus?"... or ... "Are God and Jesus the same?" ... or ... "How can I talk to God." ... he doesn't know the answers to these questions, and yet there is no doubt in his mind whether God exists.


In this day and age we are taught: to question everything, that truth is different for everyone, and no religion has all the answers ... and yet Zane in his mind has all the same questions, and yet his faith is not rocked.... why is that?


I was reading in Romans 1 and Paul does a pretty good job of breaking it down:


¹⁸ But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.^{[i] 19} They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. ²⁰ For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.


²¹ Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. ²² Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.


-Romans 1:18-22 (NLT)


That is what Paul wrote nearly 2000 yrs ago, and yet it still holds true today. All men know God exist, and yet it seems easier to question that than to be accountable for what he has given us in the Bible. Look around at the obvious truth of this world... God created it. Behold it! Enjoy it! Drink in the idea of God's word in the beginning, creating all the majesty of this beautiful planet. Then say to yourself that a few simple unanswered questions are worth denying the existence of such a powerful being.


For those of you struggling with questions about God, I don't mean to belittle your struggles. I understand, we all have questions and doubts. I encourage you to discover the truth. Don't take some one else's word about God ... find out for yourself... read the Bible. You'll find many people in the Bible that had doubts. Just remember this passage in your study of the scriptures for answers: 


Matt 7:7  "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."


And for the rest of us, remember why God has left us here on this earth. It's not to live good lives, or to save for retirement. It's to proclaim the Good News (Gospel) of Jesus Christ. I will leave you with this reminder from Paul:


¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.^{[g] 17} This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”


Romans 1:16-17 (NLT)

written by Eric on Tiffy's blog .. she is so nice to give me my own day on her blog

Week Two Weight Loss

Drumroll, please!! This week I have lost a total of 3 pounds!!! I know that doesn't seem like a whole lot but, I am proud of myself! This week was filled with sneezing, coughing, and many kleenex boxes! So I only worked out one night. Yikes!!! Oh, my birthday was yesterday, so I had cake. Lots of cake!! My mom and dad sent me a box of presents with a box of cake mix and icing, so we enlisted Zane and Jaxon to help make it.

Woody and Robin LOVED the icing! They are good helpers!

My lovely sister-in-law Michelle also made me a cake. It was the cutest cake ever!!

This was a tiramisu cake made to look like a cup of coffee!!

So, as you can see I was sidetracked by these delicious cakes!! It doesn't count if it's your birthday, right?! My sweet tooth got the best of me, but tomorrow's a new day!!