Mini-Vacation Pics

I'm Back!!!

And busier than ever. You leave for 5 days, and have 3x's the chore when you get back. Everything waits for you! :)

But we had a good time with my husband's family, biking, swimming, fireworks, eating, birthdays, hayride, eating, campfires, did I mention eating??? ;)

Here are a few pics that I took during our mini-vacation:


Vacation isn't complete with out sugar overloads from grandma!



We went on a hayride, which was fun. Check out the driver in this pic:Here is me, Koen and Caden on the hayride.


Then some fireworks!!! Here's Deklyn:

Here is Caden and Austin:


Now back to the ol' homestead. The weeds popped up and grew like crazy, there were storms that blew off part of the roof of our barn and off part of our chicken coop. All bedding got so wet and is now breeding bugs, got some cleaned up yesterday, more to do today! Yard waited to be mowed. Lots to do, and a birthday party to prepare for on Friday!!! Lord- give me energy!

Lots happening- more to come soon!!! :)

Happy Birthday to My #2!

Today is my number #2's birthday. Austin is 8 years old today!

Austin has been a joy and NEVER fails to make us laugh. Even when he isn't trying! He is a clone look-a-like of his father. He loves baseball and anything that doesn't require any running or walking a great distance. :) He loves to read and is a GREAT speller!



His request for every birthday is to go to the zoo, so guess where we are today?

Happy Birthday Austin!!!!

Busy Week...

Boy, this week has been Spring Break for the boys. And added to the TOP of that, is that there has been 3 birthdays in our house, and my mom and mother -in-law's birthdays to celebrate! So the last 2 weekends we have had 2 parties, and on the birthday DAY, we have to make special too!

I just cannot believe I have a 9 YEAR OLD! And that my baby is 2 already... My heart hurts to think I can't keep them small, and enjoy the adoration they have for their dad and I. But, I DO enjoy seeing them become young men... But SLOWER would be great! I don't want to see them grow up so fast! :)

Monday, I will be back to blogging as normal.... But family life is the most important thing to me, so blogging waits.

Mmmm... birthday cake batter!

Happy Birthday, To My First Born

9 years ago today, I was cradling my new baby in my arms. My son, who made me a mother, who kept me up all night in labor!


The son who is most like me in many ways...


Deklyn loves space, weather, old cars and coins. He is a funny boy and a very good runner!


I am so proud of the young man you are growing to be!
I love you, Deklyn! God has blessed us with you!

Happy Birthday, Baby!

2 Years ago today, I gave birth to my 4th son, Koen. As soon as I had him, I held him for a short time before they whisked him away to the NICU. He had ingested amniotic fluid. Of course, as a mother, I cried, and prayed HARD.


I prayed that he would get healthy and strong.


Little did I know, how strong (WILLED) this little man would someday be!


Cute as a button, and ornerier than all get out... Koen keeps me on my toes.


He has been a blessing, and our family wouldn't be complete without him!


Thank you God for such a blessing!


Happy 2nd Birthday, Koen!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is MY dad's birthday (even though he may try to hide from it...). Happy Birthday Dad! I love you lots!!!

Happy Birthday Austin!

7 years ago today, we had our boy #2, Austin. And right out of the womb, he wanted to eat.

Little has changed today, as Austin is always having to confirm with us when the next meal will be arriving, and what it will be. Even though, we have NEVER let him starve, he still has to make sure!

Austin is very loving, VERY smart, and very naive. He loves animals, he loves to spell, and loves to eat. He likes baseball and soccer.

Today, we celebrated Austin's birthday by taking him to the zoo. Hubby had to work so I, my boys, my mother, and 2 sisters and 1 nephew went. We had fun, although the temps got up to 92 degrees! And it was HOT. Then I discovered when I got in our truck after the zoo, that our A/C doesn't work in the truck. Nice day for THAT to surface!

But it was a nice day. Here are some pics:

So, Happy Birthday, Boss (Austin)!

Wordless Wednesday- Mess!

Mess!

For more Wordless Wednesdays, go HERE.

Happy Birthday DEKLYN!

Happy Birthday to my #1, Deklyn! He is 8 years old today.

8 years ago, he sent me into labor during the evening of the 23rd. I had him in the early early morning of the 24th, after lots of work on my part and talk of a c-section. We welcomed our first (but not last) son into the world.

He has been a joy (and only sometimes a pain!). He loves to draw and read. He loves soccer and is starting baseball soon. He likes trains and legos. His favorite colors are red and green. He loves pizza and chocolate milk.

Happy Birthday to my Boy Deklyn!

Mother of the Year? I Think Not...

As you saw on Friday, it was my baby's first birthday. He does not know how to walk yet. In fact, he just learned how to crawl about 2 weeks ago. And since then, I have had plants (my new seedlings) pulled down off tables and dirt everywhere. I have had many a free magazine destroyed. Store envelopes, ready for shopping trips, dumped and valuable coupons left behind. He has ate many wood pellets from our stove (basically pressed saw dust), I guess he has got his fiber in on those days...


Well, in preparation for Party time on Friday, I was busy trying to get things done. I took baby Koen upstairs with me, and set him on the floor with me in the back bedroom, where I actually have my sewing stuff. I needed to throw together a costume in like 3 hours, per my oldest son's request. (This was a combined party for baby Koen & Deklyn). Deklyn wanted Magic Tree House Party, so I decided we would all dress up like someone from another place or time (just like in the books). I had an idea to make a skirt to be a prairie woman. So, as I said, I put my son down and picked up some fabric. I draped it around me to see if it was long enough (I didn't want to do too much work!), that one didn't work, so I picked up another. Then I heard it, thump, thump, thump... I thought what was that? Then I heard a cry, the cry of my baby! I ran, and there at the bottom of the steps was my boy. Crying.


I ran to him, crying myself. I picked him up, and got a juice bottle to settle him. I gave him the bottle, and he drank it. Praying, I looked his body over and there were a few scrapes on his head, and a bruise starting on his knee. But, after he was finished with his bottle he started crying crawling around like nothing happened! I started crying again. Thank you Jesus! I need to get out the baby gate!!! I'm not used to a crawler yet!


But, the rest of the evening happened with out much of a hitch... I did forget to de-thaw the meat for the tacos, but other then that, everything went great!



Here are some pics of my (wonderful, forgiving, wonderful) family:



Koen was Mickey Mouse, his favorite:





I love birthdays!

Happy Birthday, Koen!

Today's the day. My baby turns one. One year ago I looked like I was ready to pop, and at 3:15 pm today, it will be one year since my precious #4 entered the world.

Then only minutes after getting to hold him for the first time, they told me that he needed to go to the NICU because he may have swallowed some fluid while going through the birth canal. They said it would probably be only a short time like maybe an hour. So I cried and gave my new born baby to the nurse to take away, so I couldn't see. My wonderful family all came in eager to see a new baby, but only to find me. I was sad and wondering when I would get to hold him again. And waiting to see his little face again!

Then they came in about an hour or so later and told me he would probably have to stay overnight, and I could go see him. Hubby told me that he would go check on him and I should stay and rest... right. I couldn't rest.

The next morning I got up and they wheeled me up to see my baby. He looked like this and it completely broke my heart:

All of those wires and even a little needle stuck in his tiny little arm. I could hard stand the sight. They told me he was going to have to stay longer until their scans showed all of the cloudiness gone from his chest. I could only hold him that second day, when the nurse was able to hand him to me. The second day, I could take him out but the whole time I had to wear a yellow coat thingy and plastic gloves.

After 3 days, there was a mass exodus of the cloudiness (a God-thing, I know), and we got to take him home. And what a blessing he has been ever since! Here is my precious #4 today:

Happy first Birthday, sweet baby Koen! We love you!

10 Days

10 days until my baby turns 1, and in 14 days my oldest turns 8. **sniff, sniff**

Happy Birthday Jama!

Today has been one of "those" days.... But, just under the buzzer, I wanted to wish Jama a Happy Birthday!

Jama is the big 6 years old!!! Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Caden!!!

Oh, it is a sad day. Our little Caden is getting older. My husband and I would love to just keep him exactly how he is now.

He's a sweetheart. He LOVES to help and make you happy. He loves to give kisses, and to cuddle. He says the cutest things.

But today, he is another year older. He is the big 4 years old.

Happy Birthday, Caden!

Look HERE and HERE for more stories and pictures of our precious boy...

We love you soooo much, baby Caden...

Happy Birthday!!!

I wanted to wish our niece, Ali, a HAPPY BIRTHDAY (a day late)!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALI!!!

Here is Ali (left) and Jama this summer.

A Belated Happy Birthday

I got to tell him in person, but he may feel left out if I don't put a semi-embarrassing photo of him on my blog. Actually, he never gets on the computer. This is more just for family enjoyment... kidding!

So here he is:

My father-in-law

He took our family out-to-eat for HIS birthday, and took us all to see the opening night of Madagascar 2. It was very funny. There was some adult humor, but I would let my kids see it again. Of course the best part was the re-occurring song from the last movie "I like to move it, move it...". You know the one. You are singing it in your head right now, I know.