tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35336399253989536932024-03-13T11:54:24.658-06:00Life is A JourneyYour life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God.
(I Peter 1:18)Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.comBlogger288125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-2751718194384665262015-01-09T09:47:00.001-07:002015-01-09T09:47:26.164-07:00WOW - It's 2015I can't believe its been 3 years since I last posted. I can't even begin to fill in the blanks since then so I won't even try. I can't promise I will post much on here but I will do what I can :-) The only blank I better fill in is LUKE - the newest member of our family :-)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZkwGyi67rg/VLAGDvK6qcI/AAAAAAAAMPs/PixiM3fpCs8/s1600/DSC_7758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZkwGyi67rg/VLAGDvK6qcI/AAAAAAAAMPs/PixiM3fpCs8/s1600/DSC_7758.JPG" height="187" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-5170967654897760672012-01-17T18:14:00.001-07:002012-01-17T18:19:58.411-07:00Life<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Things have been busy here for the past couple months and blogging never seems to make it to the top of the list! I need to start making it a priority because during this season of my life it is the only "scrapbooking" I am doing. The kids are changing so much, having lots of fun, saying funny things and learning new stuff and I need to start capturing it again. Until I find a way to work it into my schedule, here are a few pics of the kiddos</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QDV3llP1jyg/TxYc9VyO-kI/AAAAAAAAMGk/iSsxx4wHdc0/s1600/DSC_3325.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QDV3llP1jyg/TxYc9VyO-kI/AAAAAAAAMGk/iSsxx4wHdc0/s400/DSC_3325.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-18udhDcNMv8/TxYc9WC1QfI/AAAAAAAAMGw/B1hVCiBGL3Y/s1600/DSC_3344.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-18udhDcNMv8/TxYc9WC1QfI/AAAAAAAAMGw/B1hVCiBGL3Y/s400/DSC_3344.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oSv1p3BtFLs/TxYc-dB5EyI/AAAAAAAAMG8/ZUSh-CYQ0CQ/s1600/DSC_3192.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oSv1p3BtFLs/TxYc-dB5EyI/AAAAAAAAMG8/ZUSh-CYQ0CQ/s400/DSC_3192.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dhQ4PkrmLCw/TxYc_NIEzAI/AAAAAAAAMHI/N2SY6Yw7dTM/s1600/DSC_2883.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dhQ4PkrmLCw/TxYc_NIEzAI/AAAAAAAAMHI/N2SY6Yw7dTM/s400/DSC_2883.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-38y-0-uqwYU/TxYc_YqV0nI/AAAAAAAAMHU/4nKbH5h14Lk/s1600/DSC_3352.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-38y-0-uqwYU/TxYc_YqV0nI/AAAAAAAAMHU/4nKbH5h14Lk/s400/DSC_3352.JPG" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-57416486502957184142011-11-04T14:34:00.002-06:002011-11-04T17:22:53.620-06:0013 Months<div style="text-align: center;">I have been trying to get her 12 & 13 month posts done before she turns 14 months! Yeah - I made it :-) She has changed TONS this month. The biggest change is she is walking! I thought it would be a long way out because she hadn't even gone from sitting to standing yet and hardly stood on her own at all. She surprised us all and 1 week after turning 1 she just stood up and took 3 steps, then got right back up and took 5 and she just kept going until she was up to 14 steps. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1OXO6eHsQgE/TrGpcex5Y6I/AAAAAAAAMDM/CCek08pmEd0/s1600/DSC_0155.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1OXO6eHsQgE/TrGpcex5Y6I/AAAAAAAAMDM/CCek08pmEd0/s400/DSC_0155.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Not so exciting has been her ongoing weight saga. She lost over a 1/2 pound this month and is now not quite 15 1/2 lbs. She started the month out well - eating much better and also seemed to be tolerating dairy. Unfortunately, she didn't do so well the last part of the month. On the way home from CO she got the flu. All the kids ended up getting it but she just couldn't seem to shake it. She puked so much - poor little thing. She seemed to be getting better but continued to puke at least once a day for nearly a week and had bad diarrhea. When she was finally done puking she continued to have diarrhea. I decided to do some googling (cuz it was such a strange color & texture) and quickly realized she wasn't tolerating dairy like I thought she was. Her reactions were so different than the past so I didn't make the connection right away. After stopping dairy she was back to normal diapers in 3 days. So . . . . goodbye for now dairy. I thoroughly enjoyed you (maybe too much) and promise to see you again someday :-) Once feeling better she was back to nursing great and eating a variety of foods. She continues nursing well - no getting distracted, no squirming and crying, no refusing. She actually gets really excited and squeals when she is about to eat. So cute!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ck_USVfz4c0/TrGpck9JwYI/AAAAAAAAMDY/5ih6az2b9Vs/s1600/new%2Bcamera3.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ck_USVfz4c0/TrGpck9JwYI/AAAAAAAAMDY/5ih6az2b9Vs/s400/new%2Bcamera3.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She DOES NOT like it when Samson licks her! I love Samson's guilty eyes - he knows he is in trouble now :-)</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ue0ECVUF0_k/TrGpdjjoVPI/AAAAAAAAMDk/GO_Wvawpg6s/s1600/new%2Bcamera1.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ue0ECVUF0_k/TrGpdjjoVPI/AAAAAAAAMDk/GO_Wvawpg6s/s400/new%2Bcamera1.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She continues to be a little talker/signer. She says, Good bye Daddy, Hannah, Isaac, Audrey, Baby, Puppy, Mommy, Daddy, All Done and More. She signs baby, puppy, all done and more. She loves playing peak-a-boo, giving kisses and hugs and hiding (she finds great spots and then pops out to "scare" us). She also neighs every time she sees a horse :-) It is really funny - as you can imagine Madison taught her that.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4rEHNp4Xe3w/TrGpecoenJI/AAAAAAAAMDw/gg-e5uodK1g/s1600/DSC_0096.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4rEHNp4Xe3w/TrGpecoenJI/AAAAAAAAMDw/gg-e5uodK1g/s400/DSC_0096.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mP2Fc2PfBP4/TrGpfWDftTI/AAAAAAAAMD8/0C5aU3IOozM/s1600/DSC_0133.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mP2Fc2PfBP4/TrGpfWDftTI/AAAAAAAAMD8/0C5aU3IOozM/s400/DSC_0133.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She loves to look at books. She really focuses on them and turns their pages slowly. She seems mesmerized by them :-)</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C6DNN2d96rQ/TrGpgZEnx3I/AAAAAAAAMEM/EwGU7cCHLz0/s1600/DSC_0152.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C6DNN2d96rQ/TrGpgZEnx3I/AAAAAAAAMEM/EwGU7cCHLz0/s400/DSC_0152.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She loves to stack things up. She would get so excited and clap each time she got a ring on. Cute!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IkHUMdA_vKk/TrGphojqA8I/AAAAAAAAMEU/jOSuFEXO_-0/s1600/new%2Bcamera2.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IkHUMdA_vKk/TrGphojqA8I/AAAAAAAAMEU/jOSuFEXO_-0/s400/new%2Bcamera2.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Her hair is getting longer and gets pretty frizzy and crazy!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v9vj92xY98k/TrGpiJ3IVhI/AAAAAAAAMEg/wh-lObE5qXE/s1600/DSC_0153.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v9vj92xY98k/TrGpiJ3IVhI/AAAAAAAAMEg/wh-lObE5qXE/s400/DSC_0153.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Off she goes</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-saJxiWjW9Uo/TrGpjBW-GOI/AAAAAAAAMEs/0fa7ch5AYBg/s1600/DSC_0154.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-saJxiWjW9Uo/TrGpjBW-GOI/AAAAAAAAMEs/0fa7ch5AYBg/s400/DSC_0154.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Our sweet little girl is growing up - she is getting more stubborn, more determined, more cuddly, more loving, more attentive, more demanding and more expressive. I am trying to take the good with the bad and savor the moments because I know they wont last long. When I am up with her 6 times in a night I remind myself <i><b>this too shall pass</b></i>. When I cuddle with her in the night I ignore my uncomfortable position and remind myself that <i><b>this too shall pass</b></i>. When she wants me to hold her (and clings on for dear life when I try to put her down) I hold her a little longer and remind myself <b><i>this too shall pass</i></b>. When she gives me a kiss and hug I remind myself to hug tighter and kiss her again because <i style="font-weight: bold; ">this too shall pass. </i>Some things I wish would pass quicker than others. Unfortunately, we don't get to pick and choose so instead I must enjoy them all! </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eHICLvpV-FQ/TrGpkB8vU1I/AAAAAAAAME8/_XKVjFisd94/s1600/new%2Bcamera4.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eHICLvpV-FQ/TrGpkB8vU1I/AAAAAAAAME8/_XKVjFisd94/s400/new%2Bcamera4.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER">Until next time . . . . I'm off to ENJOY the moments :-) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-45904756205721491142011-11-02T08:00:00.000-06:002011-11-02T13:18:19.285-06:00Field Trip<div style="text-align: center;">Last month the kids, Brock's mom and I went on a field trip to a local grizzly sanctuary. It was really cool! We were really close to the bears and the information the host gave during her talk was very informative and useful. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YPMiHXSE8Ic/Tq8MmMlIhcI/AAAAAAAAMAI/9ddWz87NqXc/s1600/DSC_0237.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YPMiHXSE8Ic/Tq8MmMlIhcI/AAAAAAAAMAI/9ddWz87NqXc/s400/DSC_0237.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Isaac and his friend Lukas</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_PbUkTkvl_E/Tq8MmSTZsFI/AAAAAAAAMAQ/oVnzxTkl4OE/s1600/DSC_0216.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_PbUkTkvl_E/Tq8MmSTZsFI/AAAAAAAAMAQ/oVnzxTkl4OE/s400/DSC_0216.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VFsau4HNXK8/Tq8Mms6M1uI/AAAAAAAAMAg/aJgdcH1xuHo/s1600/new%2Bcamera.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VFsau4HNXK8/Tq8Mms6M1uI/AAAAAAAAMAg/aJgdcH1xuHo/s400/new%2Bcamera.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mrVrGLvJmww/Tq8MnSQo4YI/AAAAAAAAMAo/0qlx8kA53ns/s1600/DSC_0203.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mrVrGLvJmww/Tq8MnSQo4YI/AAAAAAAAMAo/0qlx8kA53ns/s400/DSC_0203.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a free event for homeschoolers (each person brought food for the bears) so the kids got to see lots of their friends there :-) Hannah and Kenley</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzywMkH8_bE/Tq8Mnifd_xI/AAAAAAAAMA4/nrjjv0S_d3o/s1600/DSC_0218.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzywMkH8_bE/Tq8Mnifd_xI/AAAAAAAAMA4/nrjjv0S_d3o/s400/DSC_0218.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">It was so funny to see the things the bear would do - he would play with sticks, dig, rub his back on logs and lumber around the area. According to the owner he was even pouting because she blocked off the area he liked to dig in!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pXuMCzqyyaw/Tq8MoYmz4dI/AAAAAAAAMBA/lLcc6L9Dd-M/s1600/Collages11.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pXuMCzqyyaw/Tq8MoYmz4dI/AAAAAAAAMBA/lLcc6L9Dd-M/s400/Collages11.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">This field trip was a definite hit! Everyone from big to little enjoyed it (except maybe Audrey who just wanted to get down and run around) :-)</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1bU5Vs29pwU/Tq8MoXU66vI/AAAAAAAAMBI/WX5c-nJBflI/s1600/DSC_0214.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1bU5Vs29pwU/Tq8MoXU66vI/AAAAAAAAMBI/WX5c-nJBflI/s400/DSC_0214.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bpAw_jXeo7o/Tq8Mor0Z9PI/AAAAAAAAMBY/gL3pwMafI1M/s1600/DSC_0183.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bpAw_jXeo7o/Tq8Mor0Z9PI/AAAAAAAAMBY/gL3pwMafI1M/s400/DSC_0183.JPG" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-14816741370738464982011-11-01T15:42:00.002-06:002011-11-01T17:17:56.756-06:001 Year Old<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">On September 9th Audrey turned 1! Help - she is growing too fast!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MFuanVPpoWc/TrBn3HtzZkI/AAAAAAAAMBw/3aaWcmyyXCc/s1600/DSC_1744.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MFuanVPpoWc/TrBn3HtzZkI/AAAAAAAAMBw/3aaWcmyyXCc/s400/DSC_1744.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She is not walking yet - but still cruises all over the house. She either pushing something around or walks along anything that is handy. She signs & says "more", "puppy" and "all done". She has an adorable high voice!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EktFElBl0E4/TrBn3jeIWgI/AAAAAAAAMB8/3ZeojId16ZY/s1600/9-20112.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EktFElBl0E4/TrBn3jeIWgI/AAAAAAAAMB8/3ZeojId16ZY/s400/9-20112.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She has 4 teeth - 2 on top & 2 on bottom. She doesn't seem too bothered when getting teeth - a bit fussy is all.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--FrfFb2BraU/TrBn4oSTpdI/AAAAAAAAMCM/RRDvzqYJE0M/s1600/DSC_1787.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--FrfFb2BraU/TrBn4oSTpdI/AAAAAAAAMCM/RRDvzqYJE0M/s400/DSC_1787.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She is pretty excited about inching up to 16 lbs! She still doesn't eat very well and has frequent episodes of not nursing well either. Every ounce she gains is hard earned - whether its nursing her most of the night or tricking her into opening her mouth so I can get a spoonful in. It is a struggle and sometimes it feels like we are winning and sometimes it doesn't.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a769Z6OeJx8/TrBn6iYiQlI/AAAAAAAAMCU/ZQlLl2-MQKs/s1600/9-20111.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a769Z6OeJx8/TrBn6iYiQlI/AAAAAAAAMCU/ZQlLl2-MQKs/s400/9-20111.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">This is her new birthday outfit - isn't it cute. Grandma and I spotted it at the farmers market and bought it together. It has inspired me to try make one myself (will show the results another time)</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rU0gWAJlNA/TrBn6-bbFjI/AAAAAAAAMCg/dhrTUGca88o/s1600/DSC_1733.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rU0gWAJlNA/TrBn6-bbFjI/AAAAAAAAMCg/dhrTUGca88o/s400/DSC_1733.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Another birthday present - her trike! She LOVES it and wants to be on it all the time. It is really easy to push and holds her in well (she is strapped in tight).</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsjEqP8Uyuo/TrBn7SYOmgI/AAAAAAAAMCs/0zgDHTDSRq0/s1600/9-2011.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsjEqP8Uyuo/TrBn7SYOmgI/AAAAAAAAMCs/0zgDHTDSRq0/s400/9-2011.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She is still a little monkey - she climbs up and down anything in her way. If you turn your back she is long gone. You will have to look up and down for her because she could be on the table or down the steps! </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lPIfI1qdSQ4/TrBn71ljl9I/AAAAAAAAMC4/qsSQb5S-hBE/s1600/DSC_1845.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lPIfI1qdSQ4/TrBn71ljl9I/AAAAAAAAMC4/qsSQb5S-hBE/s400/DSC_1845.JPG" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-36112615173471486552011-10-31T12:29:00.003-06:002011-10-31T13:49:37.736-06:00Lost in the Maze<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">We had a great time at a corn maze with some friends this weekend. It was a beautiful day - a bit cool and windy but still nice. The maze was fun and challenging and the farm where it located was so pretty. Beautiful views, lots of cool old buildings and a variety of animals.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-apOrXOXP3P4/Tq7pa4RlwAI/AAAAAAAAL8w/buh47Y97NZs/s1600/DSC_0417.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-apOrXOXP3P4/Tq7pa4RlwAI/AAAAAAAAL8w/buh47Y97NZs/s400/DSC_0417.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We went right over Audrey's nap time but she did great. She looked like her eyes were going to close at any moment but she stayed awake for it all.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yzI6YFBmse4/Tq7pbPWJT3I/AAAAAAAAL88/I3R436PyzaI/s1600/DSC_0396.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yzI6YFBmse4/Tq7pbPWJT3I/AAAAAAAAL88/I3R436PyzaI/s400/DSC_0396.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zllvV1i81yU/Tq7pbVAfGnI/AAAAAAAAL9M/3HPnAH-E17o/s1600/2011-10-291.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zllvV1i81yU/Tq7pbVAfGnI/AAAAAAAAL9M/3HPnAH-E17o/s400/2011-10-291.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I wanted to LIVE at this farm. It was so peaceful, simple and beautiful</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FQa0OMnkksw/Tq7pcej7FfI/AAAAAAAAL9U/mR0maLoPl8c/s1600/DSC_0391.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FQa0OMnkksw/Tq7pcej7FfI/AAAAAAAAL9U/mR0maLoPl8c/s400/DSC_0391.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Through trial and error, multiple dead ends and many laughs we figured out the maze! If you can call random paths, lots of mistakes and being completely turned around most of the time figuring it out. :-) So, after conquering (or I mean stumbling across the exit) we pulled our map out and explored a bit - trying to make sense of where we were instead of just randomly choosing paths. Map or no map, I never knew where I was - I just followed the guys. My exact location didn't matter as long as they knew and we were all having fun :-) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Looks like I caught Brock cutting through the corn! Hey Mr. that's not allowed!!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KymwTZ7N8ZQ/Tq7pcrO-YKI/AAAAAAAAL9c/WiITgAafICs/s1600/DSC_0403.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KymwTZ7N8ZQ/Tq7pcrO-YKI/AAAAAAAAL9c/WiITgAafICs/s400/DSC_0403.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wdeZvY9rZyw/Tq7pc9H2VzI/AAAAAAAAL9s/dhWD3W6z8x8/s1600/2011-10-29.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wdeZvY9rZyw/Tq7pc9H2VzI/AAAAAAAAL9s/dhWD3W6z8x8/s400/2011-10-29.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">There was an added adventure for the kids. They were given paper bags at the beginning and had to find 5 people hidden throughout the maze with orange buckets of candy. After receiving some candy they would get their bag stamped. Once they collected all the stamps they had found all the candy givers! They had fun searching - and fun eating!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HgY-HR7dHrU/Tq7pdkfxxlI/AAAAAAAAL94/jgkCslGT0HA/s1600/DSC_0406.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HgY-HR7dHrU/Tq7pdkfxxlI/AAAAAAAAL94/jgkCslGT0HA/s400/DSC_0406.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pm9F7S9c3ec/Tq7pd6n7r3I/AAAAAAAAL-E/OTAEzTkC3PA/s1600/DSC_0426.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pm9F7S9c3ec/Tq7pd6n7r3I/AAAAAAAAL-E/OTAEzTkC3PA/s400/DSC_0426.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJ81FI1MRRw/Tq7peuxaw7I/AAAAAAAAL-Q/aIRHmyQlhuc/s1600/Collages10.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJ81FI1MRRw/Tq7peuxaw7I/AAAAAAAAL-Q/aIRHmyQlhuc/s400/Collages10.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Our whole group - us and our friends Mike and Erika with their three boys, Kevin, Luke and Andrew. Imagine all of us walking, running twirling and giggling our way through the maze. Yikes!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9fjQo8J0pYg/Tq7petaVTSI/AAAAAAAAL-g/q2EjjuRbuA8/s1600/DSC_0445.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9fjQo8J0pYg/Tq7petaVTSI/AAAAAAAAL-g/q2EjjuRbuA8/s400/DSC_0445.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">These cows were HILARIOUS. We noticed right away how short and fat they were - it was so crazy looking. We proceeded to read the sign - they were miniature cows! I had no idea there was a such thing. Look at that cow - it is shorter than Hannah! They were really friendly and the kids loved them. They all had name tags on their ears so we are still hearing about Erica, Sophie, Darla and Lucy!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OWS2pSlJGvg/Tq7pfrwHnLI/AAAAAAAAL-o/N9e-j6W6-B8/s1600/DSC_0459.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OWS2pSlJGvg/Tq7pfrwHnLI/AAAAAAAAL-o/N9e-j6W6-B8/s400/DSC_0459.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh look - there is Erica - she was the kid's fave!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8XMWKFZZbXc/Tq7pf5U5z3I/AAAAAAAAL-4/hYnD7_sMWCI/s1600/Collages9.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8XMWKFZZbXc/Tq7pf5U5z3I/AAAAAAAAL-4/hYnD7_sMWCI/s400/Collages9.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Kevin, Madison and Isaac. I really loved the neat barn! I decided I better let the kids get in the picture too :-) </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yM32WPbV1Ck/Tq7pgpZ45NI/AAAAAAAAL_A/P_0Uh9b70EA/s1600/DSC_0465.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yM32WPbV1Ck/Tq7pgpZ45NI/AAAAAAAAL_A/P_0Uh9b70EA/s400/DSC_0465.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">They had several big black horses (percherons according to our resident horse expert Madison). They were very cool to see!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8W90_adA_MQ/Tq7pg-v0R7I/AAAAAAAAL_Q/H61jymkc3iE/s1600/DSC_0489.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8W90_adA_MQ/Tq7pg-v0R7I/AAAAAAAAL_Q/H61jymkc3iE/s400/DSC_0489.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">All the kids minus the two littles - Hannah, Luke, Madison, Kevin and Isaac.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fSgsC3qbGV0/Tq7phs65dFI/AAAAAAAAL_Y/h6YYvoy5uAo/s1600/DSC_0483.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fSgsC3qbGV0/Tq7phs65dFI/AAAAAAAAL_Y/h6YYvoy5uAo/s400/DSC_0483.JPG" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">We all had so much fun and can't wait to go again next year!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-75868786689134033572011-10-29T19:40:00.001-06:002011-10-29T20:35:04.551-06:00Missing In Action<div><div style="text-align: center; ">I can't believe it has been 2 months since I last posted! At the same time I can because life has been busy. With all I need to do (or should I say GET to do!) blogging is low on my list of "must get done". I have tons of catching up to do because the last two months have been full! Audrey has turned 1, she has started walking, Madison has turned 11 and Isaac 7. I have taken a trip to Colorado to visit my sister and stopped in Wyoming to see another sister. School has started back up and Awana is in full swing. I am sure that just scratches the surface but it is all I can think of off the top of my head.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; ">Just wanted to share a few pictures today before we head off to the corn maze and pumpkin patch. The kids had harvest fest at Awana and we had fun gathering things to make their costumes. </div></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lkFeutZ-p00/TqwlVMbmF1I/AAAAAAAAL8k/42PbFohCIk0/s1600/DSC_0383.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:left;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lkFeutZ-p00/TqwlVMbmF1I/AAAAAAAAL8k/42PbFohCIk0/s400/DSC_0383.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668947076997060434" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Madison was a scarecrow and got first place. We found the hat, suspenders, bird and straw stuffing (hula skirt) at the thrift store. I had some burlap fabric from some long ago project I was going to do and she sewed herself some pants. We used a bunch of Audrey's blankets for stuffing. We went to the thrift store looking for some greens because she was going to be a tree and once I saw the hula skirt sitting next to a few scarecrow decorations a new idea took hold :-) It was fun to get a sewing class included too. She did great sewing and is already learning so fast!</div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6XA9qOMXr28/TqwkPfTBjyI/AAAAAAAAL8Y/1XaTu8TKgUU/s400/DSC_0386-1.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 400px; " border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668945879470542626" /><div style="text-align: center;">Right from the start Isaac wanted to be an indian so I had to start from scratch and hope to find things that would work. I found a pillowcase at the thrift store that I made into his shirt, the pants were at the thrift store and the boots are Madison's. We made his tomahawk out of a stick, cardboard and tinfoil. For his headdress we taped a bunch of feathers on a piece of fabric and then used washable marker for his face paint. He LOVED his costume and wanted to sleep in it that night and has wore it many times since. His group didn't give prizes but he didn't seemed bothered because he had so much fun.</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jaYLvvJSIRo/TqwkOg0EtcI/AAAAAAAAL8M/rCxrOMkJvgo/s1600/DSC_0386.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 163px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jaYLvvJSIRo/TqwkOg0EtcI/AAAAAAAAL8M/rCxrOMkJvgo/s400/DSC_0386.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668945862697727426" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Last but not least, Hannah! Her dress was Madison's from last year. We had a black wig in our dress up box but it had big streaks of white in it. We used permanent marker and colored the white in and then braided it. Once we tied the bandana around her head and added the feather - she looked awesome. I also used some cardboard, her doll, some of Isaac's shirt/pillowcase and some electrical tape to make a papoose. We tied it around her and it hung off her back. She commented continually how much she liked her costume and how great she looked - it was funny!</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pRQ7wgK-OHQ/TqwkOa-nT3I/AAAAAAAAL8A/BZi-HRo6MG8/s1600/DSC_0385.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 126px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pRQ7wgK-OHQ/TqwkOa-nT3I/AAAAAAAAL8A/BZi-HRo6MG8/s400/DSC_0385.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668945861131325298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I couldn't resist including this cute picture of Samson! He has struggled the last couple years with hair loss, weight gain, lethargy, seizures, large/sore joints and lots of limping. He is now doing great. The vet found he had a thyroid problem and some issues with the dog ACL. He has medicine for both and he is like a new spunky dog. We are so glad and hope that means many more years with him :-) He has been amazing with the kids and has been no different with Audrey. He is so careful and gentle with her. She really likes him and one of her first signs and words have been puppy!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ajw-0Xn-Vh0/TqweqXw4aoI/AAAAAAAAL6w/oL6Jii_p-R8/s1600/DSC_0352.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ajw-0Xn-Vh0/TqweqXw4aoI/AAAAAAAAL6w/oL6Jii_p-R8/s400/DSC_0352.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The weather has been awesome. No snow yet (yeah!) and crisp, sunny days. I love fall.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vLQfs4J_fbI/TqwercYisfI/AAAAAAAAL64/3vKuzA44r1Q/s1600/DSC_0332.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vLQfs4J_fbI/TqwercYisfI/AAAAAAAAL64/3vKuzA44r1Q/s400/DSC_0332.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Madison is still busy drawing and drawing and drawing. This is one of my favorites.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gmogdfqqa8g/Tqwerq025xI/AAAAAAAAL7A/zlhikQZetE0/s1600/DSC_0324.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gmogdfqqa8g/Tqwerq025xI/AAAAAAAAL7A/zlhikQZetE0/s400/DSC_0324.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Audrey is changing daily. She needs several posts of her own just to cover all her changes :-)</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AzXQPHFHyi8/TqwergAErkI/AAAAAAAAL7U/dzwmu0GNXF0/s1600/DSC_0295.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AzXQPHFHyi8/TqwergAErkI/AAAAAAAAL7U/dzwmu0GNXF0/s400/DSC_0295.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">School is going good. Slow but steady. They all love the new <a href="http://charlottemasonhelp.com/">curriculum</a>. There are of course days where everything goes great and days when it doesn't but I wouldn't trade it for anything.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PqJRy-dPKq8/Tqwesaki-gI/AAAAAAAAL7c/XLFkGZaJQM0/s1600/DSC_0315.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PqJRy-dPKq8/Tqwesaki-gI/AAAAAAAAL7c/XLFkGZaJQM0/s400/DSC_0315.JPG" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; "><i>"In Christ, there is nothing I can do that would make You love me more, and nothing I have done that makes You love me less." J. D. Greear</i></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec/product_id/7994/nm/Gospel%3A+Recovering+the+Power+That+Made+Christianity+Revolutionary+%28Paperback%29?utm_source=byl&utm_medium=byl" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(34, 68, 187); ">Gospel: :Rediscovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary</a></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jb927UyJJNc/TqwesiOHoYI/AAAAAAAAL7o/OL8yzQg5itU/s1600/DSC_0317.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jb927UyJJNc/TqwesiOHoYI/AAAAAAAAL7o/OL8yzQg5itU/s400/DSC_0317.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER">Until next time . . . . . whenever that may be :-)</div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-19401319711803000772011-08-10T08:50:00.003-06:002011-08-10T09:19:24.845-06:0011 Months<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Our sweet little baby is fast becoming a sweet little girl. YIKES - the time is flying. I can't believe she is almost a year old! Another busy month has flown by and the little lady now weighs 15 lb 9 oz. - a wopping 4 oz increase :-) At least its an increase so we are happy (and as you can see she is as well)</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Pmq5dl1zr0/TkKav9hxLQI/AAAAAAAAL4M/uhsbrU63VGM/s1600/DSC_1055.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Pmq5dl1zr0/TkKav9hxLQI/AAAAAAAAL4M/uhsbrU63VGM/s400/DSC_1055.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She wanted to show everyone her newest addition - top tooth number 1. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CqxM34nhklw/TkKaxF8LROI/AAAAAAAAL4U/cxkvCj70L0s/s1600/Collages7.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CqxM34nhklw/TkKaxF8LROI/AAAAAAAAL4U/cxkvCj70L0s/s400/Collages7.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Although she is a tiny little thing - she thinks she is big. She chases the kids all over the place, tries to cruise up the stairs at the first turned back, gets toys out of the toy box to play with, climbs into anything she can find (boxes, baby seats, bathtubs etc) and onto anything around, she isn't walking on her own but "walks", crawls or army crawls everywhere. She is always on the move.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EvBDKq6t0dw/TkKayNmI4EI/AAAAAAAAL4c/X-jxtONdluI/s1600/DSC_1059.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EvBDKq6t0dw/TkKayNmI4EI/AAAAAAAAL4c/X-jxtONdluI/s400/DSC_1059.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She babbles alot and repeats sounds she hears. She loves to copy the kids and especially loves to make them laugh. She growls all the time and keeps doing it as long as they keep laughing.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-49CvLnCJuFM/TkKayqv0g9I/AAAAAAAAL4k/qTFbTX5KFiM/s1600/Collages8.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-49CvLnCJuFM/TkKayqv0g9I/AAAAAAAAL4k/qTFbTX5KFiM/s400/Collages8.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">This little cutie has won us all over - her big blue eyes and sweet smile gets us all the time</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ay9av2Vs3xw/TkKayhX4J_I/AAAAAAAAL4s/_enYpcBgI4o/s1600/DSC_1099.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ay9av2Vs3xw/TkKayhX4J_I/AAAAAAAAL4s/_enYpcBgI4o/s400/DSC_1099.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The many faces of Audrey Elizabeth</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rc_Hs7fHYnI/TkKayx3N3TI/AAAAAAAAL40/Awx-rJiapKc/s1600/Pictures21.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rc_Hs7fHYnI/TkKayx3N3TI/AAAAAAAAL40/Awx-rJiapKc/s400/Pictures21.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Her hair is growing and getting lighter and lighter. Time will tell if it is the sun or her true color. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pr7M1Dk3KrU/TkKay1SA0tI/AAAAAAAAL48/H32SiMYHQwc/s1600/DSC_1102.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pr7M1Dk3KrU/TkKay1SA0tI/AAAAAAAAL48/H32SiMYHQwc/s400/DSC_1102.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_dtZrcK7crk/TkKazPMmVEI/AAAAAAAAL5E/zTviEpnrCVI/s1600/Pictures22.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_dtZrcK7crk/TkKazPMmVEI/AAAAAAAAL5E/zTviEpnrCVI/s400/Pictures22.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">See you in a month little lady with all your new tricks!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6hUHt5NdL3U/TkKazdBkecI/AAAAAAAAL5M/Oy4Ef8Sb19Q/s1600/DSC_1103.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6hUHt5NdL3U/TkKazdBkecI/AAAAAAAAL5M/Oy4Ef8Sb19Q/s400/DSC_1103.JPG" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-73460949731180796812011-07-29T06:51:00.000-06:002011-07-29T06:51:00.943-06:00Belly Laughing Pair<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">The kids love to make Audrey laugh. They each have their special ways to really get her going. It is so cute. I love these pictures because just looking at them I can hear them both squealing with delight</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RLHv9wJdqvg/TjA0A_uzuZI/AAAAAAAAL30/vMzFZlK068E/s1600/DSC_0765.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RLHv9wJdqvg/TjA0A_uzuZI/AAAAAAAAL30/vMzFZlK068E/s400/DSC_0765.JPG" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J-JOs9NbN3I/TjA0BPTG5_I/AAAAAAAAL38/T_Rtell1KZk/s1600/DSC_0766.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J-JOs9NbN3I/TjA0BPTG5_I/AAAAAAAAL38/T_Rtell1KZk/s400/DSC_0766.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8St_HKiNJU4/TjA0BL25-tI/AAAAAAAAL4E/HcsNNklj3vQ/s1600/Collages5.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8St_HKiNJU4/TjA0BL25-tI/AAAAAAAAL4E/HcsNNklj3vQ/s400/Collages5.jpg" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-90807708677966346952011-07-28T09:18:00.001-06:002011-07-28T09:37:33.773-06:0010 Months<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Audrey has had a fun, full, busy month. Some of the highlights were :</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">1. She finally has teeth! She popped out her two bottom teeth without much trouble and now loves to smile extra big to show them off<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CWAUtbiGeEw/TjAzWKdF-_I/AAAAAAAAL3M/zEYYR4Gbxwc/s1600/DSC_0749.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CWAUtbiGeEw/TjAzWKdF-_I/AAAAAAAAL3M/zEYYR4Gbxwc/s400/DSC_0749.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">2. She has gained 1/2 a pound and now weights 15 lbs. 5.5 ounces. Still a tiny girl but growing :-)</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bBcRDRKlozA/TjAzWQxBbQI/AAAAAAAAL3U/kKaqpRENV3g/s1600/DSC_0842.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bBcRDRKlozA/TjAzWQxBbQI/AAAAAAAAL3U/kKaqpRENV3g/s400/DSC_0842.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">3. She had her first camping trip of the year and loved it. She "walked" all over the camper, played peek-a-boo under the table, took her naps on the floor in our room and loved playing outside.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JJI_18ZEad0/TjAzWRuB_lI/AAAAAAAAL3c/Rd1dOLBqBL0/s1600/Collages6.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JJI_18ZEad0/TjAzWRuB_lI/AAAAAAAAL3c/Rd1dOLBqBL0/s400/Collages6.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">4. She LOVES to clap (and clap and clap and clap). She is so proud of herself and smiles so big, sits so tall and claps away. If she hears "good job" or "yeah" anywhere in the distance she starts clapping. So cute</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cnRI9INhEHQ/TjAzWkgI0gI/AAAAAAAAL3k/xdsyWaO2sk0/s1600/DSC_0761.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cnRI9INhEHQ/TjAzWkgI0gI/AAAAAAAAL3k/xdsyWaO2sk0/s400/DSC_0761.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">and of course she continued to wow us all with her cuteness and we loved her like crazy every day of the month!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HPRwQTFRG2Y/TjAzWq1yWBI/AAAAAAAAL3s/lbL3iEbb0Do/s1600/Pictures20.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HPRwQTFRG2Y/TjAzWq1yWBI/AAAAAAAAL3s/lbL3iEbb0Do/s400/Pictures20.jpg" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-26006220089780882002011-07-26T12:44:00.001-06:002011-07-26T12:44:42.190-06:00Things She Says<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">"Madison just bless you-ed on me" (for sneezing)<br />"I need to find my sunglasses before they get all itched up"<br />"Hey, there's a squirm - oh never mind it is a callerpitter"<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LkDuwroQ974/Ti8LCysVGaI/AAAAAAAAL3E/QVVbgdR2BtA/s1600/DSC_0605.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LkDuwroQ974/Ti8LCysVGaI/AAAAAAAAL3E/QVVbgdR2BtA/s400/DSC_0605.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-26139244561231810472011-07-26T11:38:00.001-06:002011-07-26T11:39:08.747-06:00Us<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OVpuTIfAAJY/Ti77kMorcsI/AAAAAAAAL28/dSGzmRj0NCM/s1600/DSC_0746.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OVpuTIfAAJY/Ti77kMorcsI/AAAAAAAAL28/dSGzmRj0NCM/s400/DSC_0746.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Things have been so busy. We have had a great summer - trying to pack in all that we can. We have been busy camping, travelling, visiting family, hosting guests, doing summer activities, enjoying each other and the beauty around us. One of these days I will get pieces of it posted here. Until then . . . .</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-84636301367229772242011-07-26T11:21:00.002-06:002011-07-26T11:31:40.618-06:00Experimenting with a Cutie<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I have been trying to use my camera in manual mode instead of auto all the time. I love experimenting with different settings and seeing what comes out. The kids are great little subjects and are very patient with me :-) I took a class here in town that explained how to use various settings. It was very helpful and informative but the biggest thing is just getting out there and doing it. Seeing for yourself what happens when I do this or that. While camping a couple weeks ago I was experimenting with metering (taking a reading of the light levels). I was trying to do something the instructor did in class - meter one tiny spot. I was using Audrey's eye and couldn't believe how this made her eyes pop right out! Don't they look SO blue??<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JZajc4IZbn4/Ti73orfQ7xI/AAAAAAAAL2E/p7PK1DJZeQI/s1600/DSC_0490.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JZajc4IZbn4/Ti73orfQ7xI/AAAAAAAAL2E/p7PK1DJZeQI/s400/DSC_0490.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7xu5AZ4iets/Ti73o22KAPI/AAAAAAAAL2M/hRTcQLD2tPk/s1600/DSC_0492.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7xu5AZ4iets/Ti73o22KAPI/AAAAAAAAL2M/hRTcQLD2tPk/s400/DSC_0492.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dZcRWuIKGPw/Ti73o_mz0qI/AAAAAAAAL2U/qDA5mPZl4Kc/s1600/DSC_0497.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dZcRWuIKGPw/Ti73o_mz0qI/AAAAAAAAL2U/qDA5mPZl4Kc/s400/DSC_0497.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PKF7gYPklIc/Ti73pB5hKeI/AAAAAAAAL2c/eKmwcUwFI8U/s1600/DSC_0498.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PKF7gYPklIc/Ti73pB5hKeI/AAAAAAAAL2c/eKmwcUwFI8U/s400/DSC_0498.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tEm6-Xpzqz8/Ti73pK1iglI/AAAAAAAAL2k/rnzWJWaymAI/s1600/DSC_0499.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tEm6-Xpzqz8/Ti73pK1iglI/AAAAAAAAL2k/rnzWJWaymAI/s400/DSC_0499.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ndt9q-RHHQ4/Ti73pZdwEWI/AAAAAAAAL20/jyej6gGbhyg/s1600/DSC_0501.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ndt9q-RHHQ4/Ti73pZdwEWI/AAAAAAAAL20/jyej6gGbhyg/s400/DSC_0501.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER">More experimenting to come - just thought these were too cute not to share :-)</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-81796257042664986452011-07-08T09:04:00.003-06:002011-07-09T08:33:19.573-06:00Soccer, Soccer, Soccer<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">For 6 weeks this summer Isaac was consumed with soccer. Last summer he did a couple days of park and rec soccer and liked it so this year I signed him up for team soccer. He had practice once or twice a week and a game every Sunday. He loved it and did great. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YVgFDfQgxxQ/ThccvHMVcFI/AAAAAAAAL1M/_7emW1a7wLk/s1600/DSC_5441.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YVgFDfQgxxQ/ThccvHMVcFI/AAAAAAAAL1M/_7emW1a7wLk/s400/DSC_5441.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">We had fun watching him each week (rain or shine). He was thrilled when he would score or block a goal and he would look right over at us with a huge smile! It was really cute. I am so glad we were there to share his excitement with him. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nx_z2kWWliY/ThccvPwwcPI/AAAAAAAAL1U/GEK6HGfFTQs/s1600/DSC_5445.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nx_z2kWWliY/ThccvPwwcPI/AAAAAAAAL1U/GEK6HGfFTQs/s400/DSC_5445.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">He was very aggressive and always jumped right in there. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KBniHS3dgF8/ThccvSE7pZI/AAAAAAAAL1c/jjYK9MdsG-w/s1600/6-20114.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KBniHS3dgF8/ThccvSE7pZI/AAAAAAAAL1c/jjYK9MdsG-w/s400/6-20114.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Having the games at 1 on Sundays made for quite a scramble Sunday mornings :-) I would get everything ready Saturday night (change of clothes, lunches and his soccer stuff) and right after church we would race out, get to the field, change in the car and eat quickly. It wasn't always fun but we always managed :-) Audrey slept through a couple of his games, we huddled together for some and basked in the sun for others. Grandpa and grandma even made it to a couple of them.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WAL94jnQTzw/Thccvr9kMtI/AAAAAAAAL1k/F9DaEVDoEC0/s1600/5-2011.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WAL94jnQTzw/Thccvr9kMtI/AAAAAAAAL1k/F9DaEVDoEC0/s400/5-2011.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XCw1eAzqH4w/ThccwJIYm-I/AAAAAAAAL1s/XpL5j0nizyc/s1600/Collages2.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XCw1eAzqH4w/ThccwJIYm-I/AAAAAAAAL1s/XpL5j0nizyc/s400/Collages2.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">What a lucky guy to have such a nice bunch of girls to cheer him on</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hzO2WY8itKk/Thccw0Uh84I/AAAAAAAAL10/PM_F_87oQ3I/s1600/Collages3.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hzO2WY8itKk/Thccw0Uh84I/AAAAAAAAL10/PM_F_87oQ3I/s400/Collages3.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Another goal - yeah!!!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l5xtJjOLxRM/ThccxBI_4qI/AAAAAAAAL18/n3Xu79wKHcY/s1600/Collages4.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l5xtJjOLxRM/ThccxBI_4qI/AAAAAAAAL18/n3Xu79wKHcY/s400/Collages4.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER">Isaac also did British soccer camp for one week and loved that. He thought it was pretty cool to have a coach from England. They worked on lots of different stuff and then had a world cup on the last day. Isaac was on the United States team. I brought my camera for the last day and right as I took it out to take pics the battery died! Oh well - that's life :-) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-49162833821763837802011-07-08T05:47:00.002-06:002011-07-08T06:54:13.161-06:009 Months<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Wow - this is almost one month behind! I guess you could say that represents me right now (at least how I feel sometimes) - one month behind. Things are busy this summer and I feel like I am scrambling to keep up. Maybe because summer took so long coming and when it finally arrived there was so much to pack in! There is so much we love to do this time of year - hikes, camping, trips to see family/friends, swimming, walks, sports for kids, gardening and on and on and on - so what can you do but get out and do it. Unfortunately, the house is showing signs of too much "going out and doing" so this week has been catch up week. Catch up on the house, the blog, the laundry, the emails and all other details that get swept under the rug when you are busy having fun and enjoying the hot summer days!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">This sweet little lady has yet again grown older! Wow - the time is flying by and we just keep falling in love with her. The kids adore her and are so sweet to her - it is so fun to see. Although she is getting older - this month she didn't get bigger. The stomach flu swept through our house and got Brock, Hannah and Audrey. It hit Audrey pretty bad and she was puking a lot one day and pretty lethargic and mellow for several more. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KTXZbyhcuTQ/ThbuXz7ta6I/AAAAAAAALz4/NXFbPQi6shw/s1600/6-20112.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KTXZbyhcuTQ/ThbuXz7ta6I/AAAAAAAALz4/NXFbPQi6shw/s400/6-20112.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Aside from being sick - Audrey has had a fun month! She enjoyed watching Isaac play soccer. Sometimes she watched under bright sunny skies and other times she watched all bundled up in the cold, dreary rain. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xNOO1wtEgDU/ThbuX0zz8II/AAAAAAAAL0A/aQ3pYm3jsjQ/s1600/DSC_0082%2B%25282%2529.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xNOO1wtEgDU/ThbuX0zz8II/AAAAAAAAL0A/aQ3pYm3jsjQ/s400/DSC_0082%2B%25282%2529.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She continued to perfect her pre-walking skills and walked along all things vertical. She can easily grab from one surface to another and continue on her way. This of course has added a whole new world for her (and a whole new job for us - keeping her out of many, many things).</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q-DxpUznUVc/ThbuYd5OHoI/AAAAAAAAL0I/9ua79I-Nsck/s1600/DSC_0103%2B%25282%2529.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q-DxpUznUVc/ThbuYd5OHoI/AAAAAAAAL0I/9ua79I-Nsck/s400/DSC_0103%2B%25282%2529.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She had her first pool experience and loved it! She loves splashing in the bath so I knew she would love the pool. The only problem was she kept trying to dive down and drink the water - Yuck!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3I-dWfnDs6Y/ThbuYZvuwGI/AAAAAAAAL0Q/o4zC27ULwEg/s1600/6-2011.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3I-dWfnDs6Y/ThbuYZvuwGI/AAAAAAAAL0Q/o4zC27ULwEg/s400/6-2011.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She has each and every one of us wrapped around her finger (nothing new I guess).Who wouldn't immediately scoop this little cutie up with a look like that??? Every so often she is very serious which is such a change from the little ham she usually is. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d1Xt_mPKaPU/ThbuY04Zf3I/AAAAAAAAL0Y/9NInNaVb0R8/s1600/DSC_0161.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d1Xt_mPKaPU/ThbuY04Zf3I/AAAAAAAAL0Y/9NInNaVb0R8/s400/DSC_0161.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">She has been perfecting her comedic abilities and loves to make us laugh. She is definitely used to having an audience. Her belly laugh is contagious and gets us all laughing. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-syQI2Gp6bs0/ThbuZFtdlyI/AAAAAAAAL0g/DVy-v5yDWtE/s1600/DSC_0166%2B%25282%2529.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-syQI2Gp6bs0/ThbuZFtdlyI/AAAAAAAAL0g/DVy-v5yDWtE/s400/DSC_0166%2B%25282%2529.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She has discovered a new favorite place and can be found there anytime it is open. When it is clean I put her toys up there and she plays away. However, she has gotten a bit dangerous and has started grabbing things out. This new obsession has brought on a new rule in our house - all knives in the back! Unfortunately, this one we had to learn from experience. Thankfully, we saw it happening and no injuries were sustained :-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rnuyAQfC3vA/ThbuZKoFfQI/AAAAAAAAL0o/kaM3TIylCM4/s1600/6-20111.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rnuyAQfC3vA/ThbuZKoFfQI/AAAAAAAAL0o/kaM3TIylCM4/s400/6-20111.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">She has discovered the sliding glass door and how much fun it is. She loves to watch the kids play and especially loves banging her hands on it. I suppose she is baffled by this strange contraption she can feel but can't see :-)</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dVhtG2myNnU/ThbuZa0f8_I/AAAAAAAAL0w/T8ckyom-hRo/s1600/DSC_0091%2B%25282%2529.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dVhtG2myNnU/ThbuZa0f8_I/AAAAAAAAL0w/T8ckyom-hRo/s400/DSC_0091%2B%25282%2529.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She continues to keep us all smiling and on our toes. She is FAST as can be and is into something or eating something before you can blink. She has discovered that we all stop and scramble to her side when she "chokes" thus it is now one of her favorite sounds to make! Kids are so smart aren't they! She has started eating a lot more and especially loves avocado, soft-boiled egg yolks and coconut oil. These things she gobbles up - all other things (peas, beans, peaches, squash, carrots and sweet potato) she tolerates. She still nurses a lot in the night, still doesn't tolerate dairy and continues to be a great napper (goes to sleep on her own and stays asleep).</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JFSeMqJdPZQ/ThbuZsCxxXI/AAAAAAAAL04/Q7OA19fEqgI/s1600/6-20113.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JFSeMqJdPZQ/ThbuZsCxxXI/AAAAAAAAL04/Q7OA19fEqgI/s400/6-20113.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER">Well - kiddos and hubby will be up soon so I am off to do some more catching up :-)</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-76981708695728088682011-05-30T09:50:00.002-06:002011-05-30T10:28:20.274-06:00Big Day for a BIG Girl<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">I love 4th birthdays! I remember the other kids turning 4 and how excited they were. I think it is the first birthday that is anticipated for a long period of time, the first birthday that they talk about nonstop beforehand and the first birthday that the child thoroughly enjoys every minute of. Hannah followed in the other kids footsteps and was THRILLED to turn 4. She told everyone she met how many days away it was, made songs up about it, talked about what she wanted for her birthday and remembered it the minute she woke up. It was a fun day filled with no chores, picking the menu for the day, a movie instead of "school", lots of games and playing, birthday glasses and presents at grandma and grandpa's, yummy cupcakes with ice cream and sprinkles and of course great presents! The day after her birthday she enjoyed a date with dad and mom out for pizza. We decided to do some alone time with each kid on their birthday to try to make it extra special for them. Brock and I often get time alone with an individual kid but not often is it both of us with only one kid. It was fun for all of us!<br /><br />Now for a walk down memory lane. It was fun (and a little sad) to gather up these pictures of Hannah on her birthday each year. Look at her cute little lips, piercing black eyes and thick dark hair. What a good baby she was - so mellow and sweet.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fGA01uqiQOs/TeHSc8vkMmI/AAAAAAAALyE/N31ehF6chiI/s1600/Pictures17.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fGA01uqiQOs/TeHSc8vkMmI/AAAAAAAALyE/N31ehF6chiI/s400/Pictures17.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fYWHGAj623c/TeHSdMR-XWI/AAAAAAAALyM/1lrw7rwhbiM/s1600/Pictures16.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fYWHGAj623c/TeHSdMR-XWI/AAAAAAAALyM/1lrw7rwhbiM/s400/Pictures16.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Hannah loved getting attention (and still does!) She had a huge smile and a mischievous look. She was busy busy busy trying to keep up with the other kids </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cP5BobkltME/TeHSdub1iQI/AAAAAAAALyU/gQZXu1kYRUw/s1600/6-08.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cP5BobkltME/TeHSdub1iQI/AAAAAAAALyU/gQZXu1kYRUw/s400/6-08.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Moving to MT was rough on our immune systems and we were all sick ALOT - especially Hannah. It shows in these pics - little skinny girl had just gotten over Rotovirus. She still smiled alot, loved playing princess, loved talking (and talking and talking and talking . . . . ) and was so expressive and dramatic. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bp6r0CMMxJc/TeHSdnmbtzI/AAAAAAAALyc/LDJd7zFtg8E/s1600/5-2009.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bp6r0CMMxJc/TeHSdnmbtzI/AAAAAAAALyc/LDJd7zFtg8E/s400/5-2009.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Big changes in one year - especially in the hair department :-) She now has little piggy tails to go with her sweet smile! She continues to be our little social girl - she loves Sunday School and Awana, loves talking to people, loves singing and telling stories. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3VHLsbDKabQ/TeHSdyUn4sI/AAAAAAAALyk/LN4pJCD8uwk/s1600/May%2B2010.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3VHLsbDKabQ/TeHSdyUn4sI/AAAAAAAALyk/LN4pJCD8uwk/s400/May%2B2010.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">And now our Big 4 year old!!! She is sweet and thoughtful, honest and straightforward - she says, "no thanks mom" when she doesn't want to do something (sorry girly - that wasn't a question). She is dramatic and serious (which is such a funny combination - she keeps us laughing!) She wants to pretend all day long - usually that I am her mom and she is my baby, horse or dog. She has a little temper and a stubborn streak that we are working on. She is usually very good and every once in a while she shocks us by being SO naughty. Throwing a tantrum of all tantrums. Thankfully, this is few and far between and she is usually fun, sweet, cute and loving. She isn't shy at all - she waits for someone to make eye contact with her just so she can talk (and talk and talk and talk . . . . ) What a fun 4 years we have had with this little lady!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6NhJMkJa0dQ/TeHSe5GAs9I/AAAAAAAALzM/UXdrvOiqA-Q/s1600/Pictures18.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6NhJMkJa0dQ/TeHSe5GAs9I/AAAAAAAALzM/UXdrvOiqA-Q/s400/Pictures18.jpg" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-86704904465616547472011-05-25T13:16:00.007-06:002011-05-25T14:41:34.697-06:0013 Years<div style="text-align: center;">Brock and I just celebrated 13 years of marriage!! In one sense I can't believe it has been 13 years and at the same time it's like "wow, only 13 years".</div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8g5z1QrUgRk/Td1Yehv-k0I/AAAAAAAALwo/VrvqNmTBo8I/s400/Picture.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610737992252429122" /><div style="text-align: center;">I love how each year brings us closer together, more in love, more tolerant of little imperfections and so much more in tune with each other. I can't imagine loving him more than I already do but experience has shown me that next year I WILL! </div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DdFsU6Irww4/Td1YfH3t00I/AAAAAAAALww/RAOGE4UGxgs/s1600/Pictures15.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DdFsU6Irww4/Td1YfH3t00I/AAAAAAAALww/RAOGE4UGxgs/s1600/Pictures15.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px; " src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DdFsU6Irww4/Td1YfH3t00I/AAAAAAAALww/RAOGE4UGxgs/s400/Pictures15.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610738002485433154" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Our 13 years have encompassed life to the fullest - happiness, sadness, changes, stability, fun times, boring times, uncertainty, confidence, excitement, challenges, endurance, patience, love and so much more. Through all the changes we have learned about God's sovereignty, His power and His stability. We have learned to count on this when changes in emotions, feelings, settings and circumstances occur.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c_TL3Q_UWVc/Td1Vmv85rOI/AAAAAAAALwA/6Fhu99145Z4/s1600/IMG_2688.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c_TL3Q_UWVc/Td1Vmv85rOI/AAAAAAAALwA/6Fhu99145Z4/s400/IMG_2688.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">In 13 years we have:</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">*had 4 kids</div><div style="text-align: center;">*lived in 7 different homes (4 apt. & 3 houses)</div><div style="text-align: center;">*lived in 2 different states</div><div style="text-align: center;">*made 3 big moves</div><div style="text-align: center;">*owned 1 pet</div><div style="text-align: center;">*owned 2 houses</div><div style="text-align: center;">*started and ran a business together for 5 years</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hUdFL4QFsQs/Td1Vm3ibRaI/AAAAAAAALwI/Mvt1lvmvevM/s1600/IMG_2693.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hUdFL4QFsQs/Td1Vm3ibRaI/AAAAAAAALwI/Mvt1lvmvevM/s400/IMG_2693.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In 13 years we have:</div><div style="text-align: center;">*learned about love and respect</div><div style="text-align: center;">*learned about submission</div><div style="text-align: center;">*learned about leaving and cleaving</div><div style="text-align: center;">*learned about handling our anger</div><div style="text-align: center;">*learned about holding our tongues</div><div style="text-align: center;">*learned about parenting together</div><div style="text-align: center;">*learned about compromise</div><div style="text-align: center;">*learned about encouraging one another</div><div style="text-align: center;">*learned about praying for one another</div><div style="text-align: center;">*learned about praying together</div><div style="text-align: center;">and most of all learned that our standard in ALL of this needs to be GOD and what He commands in His Word</div><div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kF4yvlV_xMY/Td1VnAQgmXI/AAAAAAAALwQ/fzsZG0FT78o/s1600/DSC_4965.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kF4yvlV_xMY/Td1VnAQgmXI/AAAAAAAALwQ/fzsZG0FT78o/s400/DSC_4965.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">In 13 years we have:</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">*been silly together</div><div style="text-align: center;">*been exhausted together</div><div style="text-align: center;">*been sick together</div><div style="text-align: center;">*been devastated together</div><div style="text-align: center;">*been happy together</div><div style="text-align: center;">*been excited together</div><div style="text-align: center;">*been scared together</div><div style="text-align: center;">*been thrilled together</div><div style="text-align: center;">and so much more</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">but most of all we have learned that the key to it all is being TOGETHER</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k2jKtX9SEiU/Td1VncYJ_vI/AAAAAAAALwY/3h6xmPlOxgM/s1600/DSC_4964.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k2jKtX9SEiU/Td1VncYJ_vI/AAAAAAAALwY/3h6xmPlOxgM/s400/DSC_4964.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In 13 years we have learned</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">*that the sole purpose of marriage isn't our happiness but to refine us and make us more like Him</div><div style="text-align: center;">*that we can't expect each other to meet all our needs - only God can do that</div><div style="text-align: center;">*that we can't find our purpose in one another or our kids but in Him</div><div style="text-align: center;">*that we will suffer hardship and He will see us through it</div><div style="text-align: center;">*that hardship and trials truly do bring us closer together</div><div style="text-align: center;">*that we can trust God to work on our spouses so we don't need to :-)</div><div style="text-align: center;">*that putting the other above ourself is always best</div><div style="text-align: center;">*that our emotions can deceive us</div><div style="text-align: center;">*that communication is key but not necessarily immediate communication :-)</div><div style="text-align: center;">*that God always knows what is best even when we don't</div><div style="text-align: center;">and we continue to relearn these lessons and so many more </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXk5Q3UG_Wo/Td1VnnuT_TI/AAAAAAAALwg/gYFLR8vTwnI/s1600/DSC_0202.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXk5Q3UG_Wo/Td1VnnuT_TI/AAAAAAAALwg/gYFLR8vTwnI/s400/DSC_0202.JPG" /></a></div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER">We know that without God in our marriage we wouldn't have the marriage we do today. We thank Him for bringing us together so many years ago and for staying with us every step of the way. He has guided us even when we weren't paying any attention to Him, He has comforted us although we were still asking "WHY", He has led us despite us being less than willing to follow. He has been more to us than we ever deserved. We have learned to seek His counsel, His guidance and teaching and we count on it as we journey through many more years together.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-80480573136231325472011-05-12T08:31:00.000-06:002011-05-13T14:46:09.415-06:00Here We Are Again<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Another beautiful day</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xffyqp9VaPo/TcvvbBWy6NI/AAAAAAAALsY/ByTSs5cco5c/s1600/DSC_5165.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xffyqp9VaPo/TcvvbBWy6NI/AAAAAAAALsY/ByTSs5cco5c/s400/DSC_5165.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">and another anxious little girl who CAN'T WAIT to turn 4!!</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8EFZsU26oHU/TcvvbSo_UeI/AAAAAAAALsg/I-tbEVPM6qs/s1600/DSC_5150.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8EFZsU26oHU/TcvvbSo_UeI/AAAAAAAALsg/I-tbEVPM6qs/s400/DSC_5150.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She talks about it all the time and tells everyone she meets (even strangers) that she is going to be 4 soon. When asked the details she doesn't know - she just knows that it is "after winter is over" and "soon" :-)</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ScjDIBzwPw/TcvvbpYMJtI/AAAAAAAALso/dEwY7_sy2l8/s1600/DSC_5145.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ScjDIBzwPw/TcvvbpYMJtI/AAAAAAAALso/dEwY7_sy2l8/s400/DSC_5145.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She made up a song about her upcoming birthday and goes around the house singing it. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >Hannah's birthday's in 14 days</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >Hannah's birthday's in 14 days</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >Hannah's birthday's in 14 days</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >And I'm Hannah</span></i></div><div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DsLrHx63UPI/Tcvvb1Q1y2I/AAAAAAAALsw/6LTufvCjSJU/s1600/Pictures14.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DsLrHx63UPI/Tcvvb1Q1y2I/AAAAAAAALsw/6LTufvCjSJU/s400/Pictures14.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She is at such a fun age - so energetic, serious and dramatic. In her dramatic way she fills you in on the details of all things. She talks or sings ALL the time. We started to worry that she doesn't knows how to keep quiet so we have started to practice this art. It is a HARD task for her and has required <i>much</i> practice :-) She is not shy at all and keeps us all laughing.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Q5853SNJb8/TcvvcGy2J8I/AAAAAAAALs4/5YIVza3Rlsc/s1600/DSC_5135.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Q5853SNJb8/TcvvcGy2J8I/AAAAAAAALs4/5YIVza3Rlsc/s400/DSC_5135.JPG" /></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-2963996232788244492011-05-11T19:02:00.001-06:002011-05-15T19:11:23.092-06:00Today . . . .<div style="text-align: center;">. . . . is a beautiful day with bright sun shining, snow capped mountains, green grass and perfect temperature</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QqmZtHV-qUE/TdB3xAnsnBI/AAAAAAAALto/yA0ax75OycQ/s1600/DSC_5089.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QqmZtHV-qUE/TdB3xAnsnBI/AAAAAAAALto/yA0ax75OycQ/s400/DSC_5089.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">. . . is a good day for relaxing in the sun - especially for our four-legged member of the family</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4POUtdkHyHE/TdB3xfbqWtI/AAAAAAAALtw/HNyZPlF5XiY/s1600/DSC_5091.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4POUtdkHyHE/TdB3xfbqWtI/AAAAAAAALtw/HNyZPlF5XiY/s400/DSC_5091.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">. . . . is a great day to bring your school outside</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4J9YmpXoKQw/TdB3xlYns1I/AAAAAAAALt4/pKag_wlwGuk/s1600/DSC_5094.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4J9YmpXoKQw/TdB3xlYns1I/AAAAAAAALt4/pKag_wlwGuk/s400/DSC_5094.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">. . . is a perfect time to take a picture of our soon to be 4 year old girl</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t54XvnSHMyU/TdB3yFQbXlI/AAAAAAAALuA/L6n9uIhv_0Y/s1600/DSC_5098.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t54XvnSHMyU/TdB3yFQbXlI/AAAAAAAALuA/L6n9uIhv_0Y/s400/DSC_5098.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">. . . is a good day to admire the majesty and power of God through His creation</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-99mxaiPb1Qk/TdB3yA1LHcI/AAAAAAAALuI/9bmfMRil-Ro/s1600/DSC_5101.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-99mxaiPb1Qk/TdB3yA1LHcI/AAAAAAAALuI/9bmfMRil-Ro/s400/DSC_5101.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">. . . is a perfect day to let your 3 year old wear what she wants ("snow" sweatshirt on a warm spring day?!?)</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bv25-jxmTIY/TdB3yTsdQ_I/AAAAAAAALuQ/-XMuVcMJSPI/s1600/DSC_5108.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bv25-jxmTIY/TdB3yTsdQ_I/AAAAAAAALuQ/-XMuVcMJSPI/s400/DSC_5108.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">. . . is a great day to snuggle up with a favorite friend</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SnafeDh3ylc/TdB3yp3L9jI/AAAAAAAALuY/CHIM80yD8rg/s1600/DSC_5114.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SnafeDh3ylc/TdB3yp3L9jI/AAAAAAAALuY/CHIM80yD8rg/s400/DSC_5114.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">. . . is a good day to be silly</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kxNH6Jf6TVY/TdB3ym7xL0I/AAAAAAAALug/yRPULGHWWYE/s1600/DSC_5118.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kxNH6Jf6TVY/TdB3ym7xL0I/AAAAAAAALug/yRPULGHWWYE/s400/DSC_5118.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">. . . is a good day to let loose and kick up your feet</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N-izBjXnjbk/TdB3y8SeNuI/AAAAAAAALuo/EKtR9urE57I/s1600/DSC_5124.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N-izBjXnjbk/TdB3y8SeNuI/AAAAAAAALuo/EKtR9urE57I/s400/DSC_5124.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">. . . is a perfect time to play legos and all other "boy" things</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i_hH0PktCMw/TdB3zGwvqEI/AAAAAAAALuw/Lg7h6FQBaEU/s1600/DSC_5142.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i_hH0PktCMw/TdB3zGwvqEI/AAAAAAAALuw/Lg7h6FQBaEU/s400/DSC_5142.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">. . . is an awesome day to perfect your playdough skills</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3AFCzeVSkZY/TdB3zVcZoQI/AAAAAAAALu4/Es9ApCU17fg/s1600/DSC_5161.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3AFCzeVSkZY/TdB3zVcZoQI/AAAAAAAALu4/Es9ApCU17fg/s400/DSC_5161.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">. . . .is a good day to SMILE!!!!!</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8GfD0GqTcRg/TdB3zmKmyGI/AAAAAAAALvA/CQoAff_JL3s/s1600/DSC_5139.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8GfD0GqTcRg/TdB3zmKmyGI/AAAAAAAALvA/CQoAff_JL3s/s400/DSC_5139.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER">Hope you have a GREAT day!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-57124655846409960962011-05-11T12:03:00.004-06:002011-05-15T19:38:30.224-06:008 Months<div style="text-align: center;">Watching your baby grow encompasses so many emotions. Excitement, pride and happiness as you watch them do new things, get bigger, stronger and more mobile. Laugh, crawl, stand, eat for the first time and on and on. Yet at the same time sadness as they leave behind (forever) this stage. Knowing she will never have her little newborn cry, her <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">sporadic</span> bird movements, her first "ma ma", nor will I ever hold her tiny little swaddled self sometimes makes me sad. She is changing so fast that I feel like I can't even keep up. I feel like I am constantly saying, "Hey! I wanted to savor that moment - where did it go?" While these sad emotions are there, they are rarely on the forefront - they are usually overshadowed by the excitement of change in our sweet little lady. God, in His infinite wisdom, made each new stage as exciting as the last, filled with anticipation and joy. He made each new stage so filled with awe and wonder that while I look back fondly on the former stage I don't mourn it. Instead I fully enjoy the moment we are in. Besides, who wouldn't enjoy every moment with this sweet little girl who is filled with curiosity, happiness and adorable giggles??</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-prEzUNIgEKM/TdB8HvwOobI/AAAAAAAALvw/FMaNh0UsdlA/s400/Pictures12.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607118008595947954" />I love how she is looking out the side of her eyes. She is always <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">lookin</span>g EVERYWHERE. She hears a sounds she whips her head over there, then quickly the other way because there is yet another sound to investigate. It is cute except when she tries to do this while I am feeding her! Yesterday Isaac was on the top bunk calling her and she was crawling around looking for him. She was looking in every spot she could think and finally realized he was UP THERE. Instead of looking straight up she moved herself so she was pointing away from him then looked up at the ceiling and then kept looking further back until she could see him! It was really funny.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kx6f01m3OVk/TdB7q9JpcHI/AAAAAAAALvI/BV43yYriU4Q/s400/DSC_5058.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607117513976017010" />She has only gained a couple ounces from last month and now weighs 14 lbs. 12 ounces. She has been very healthy this month so that is exciting. Also, the last few days she has been happily eating carrots and rice cereal. She opens her mouth wide and even fusses when it takes too long. I will see how she likes soft boiled egg yolks, avocados and coconut oil since that is such good brain food and maybe this will add some chub to her skinny little self! :-)</div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KSlYMfkxssI/TdB7rAvxfDI/AAAAAAAALvQ/3QSIyrT2qyo/s400/DSC_5061.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607117514941234226" /><div style="text-align: center;">She still doesn't crawl exclusively but army crawls SO FAST. She pulls herself up onto anything (whether she has much to hang onto or not). She is very confident while standing - either holding on with one hand or just leaning with her body. She also will hold onto something with one hand and grab onto something else with the other then take a few steps to grab it with both hands. I am sure walking will come before we know it.</div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JFle-KSGCRA/TdB7sGSqpLI/AAAAAAAALvo/x9WRYx3I_Gw/s400/Pictures11.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607117533609632946" /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">She continually lounges on her side with her top leg holding her steady. It looks so grown up and cute!<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jj_c_DuV8BA/TdB7rVEMzCI/AAAAAAAALvY/qU67GJWw3Nw/s400/DSC_5083.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607117520395619362" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She still has no teeth - which is surprising but completely fine with me :-)</div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DRqSVqfMerc/TdB7rp4zvZI/AAAAAAAALvg/epf2gwS4mjk/s400/DSC_5086.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607117525984984466" /><div style="text-align: center;">She laughs <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">alot</span>, investigates everything around her, sees the tiniest specks and grabs it, puts everything in her mouth, wakes up at least 3 times a night to eat, still doesn't tolerate dairy very well, copies everything people do (especially the kids) from sounds to movements (even waving back to grandma yesterday), goes to people (even strangers) with no problem, makes loud noises - usually growling - when we are in "quiet" settings, gets very distracted while eating but always expects to be able to get back to it when she wants and always makes us all laugh!</div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XQj4Xql4S3g/TdB8HxUkfcI/AAAAAAAALv4/Uotao-QZCLY/s400/Pictures13.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607118009016810946" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-32297138412977449172011-05-02T13:46:00.001-06:002011-05-02T13:54:40.269-06:00Cushions, Cushions, Cushions<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">On windy days the kids scramble to get the deck cushions inside to safety. Audrey loves these days because it means loads of climbing fun. Actually, she isn't the only one - the kids are always building forts or playing with these cushions. My endless dealings with them (cushions not kids) has caused me to move "deck box" further up on my need (or should I say want) list. Audrey looks so excited in this picture and I love how Samson is standing guard in the background.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zTHeuAWdXY8/Tb8KILFcNTI/AAAAAAAALnU/j4VXUGsb-8E/s1600/DSC_4638.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zTHeuAWdXY8/Tb8KILFcNTI/AAAAAAAALnU/j4VXUGsb-8E/s400/DSC_4638.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">One day we were driving home from town and had just turned onto our street when I saw several of our cushions. They had travelled quite a distance from our house and were still going. I quickly told the kids to chase after them (so nice to have kids to do those embarassing things for us!) They, thankfully, don't think this is embarrassing at all and think its pretty fun.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bmu7W4uCfW8/Tb8KIoQ29vI/AAAAAAAALnc/zajnZwqyQ_w/s1600/DSC_4642.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bmu7W4uCfW8/Tb8KIoQ29vI/AAAAAAAALnc/zajnZwqyQ_w/s400/DSC_4642.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">When we first moved into our house there were several cushions waiting for us on our front porch. We had asked for the patio furniture from the back deck when buying the house so just assumed the pillows were ours. A couple of them didn't seem to go with any of the others (they were green) but we just assumed they were ours. Mixed matched colors is in right?? We were not completely convinced and even scoped out our neighbors patio furniture to see if it seemed to belong there. It didn't so we settled in with our red/orange, taupe and green cushions. Two months later were were camping and came home to see "our" green pillows at the neighbors house tucked neatly on their furniture! It had been a real windy day and most of our stuff had blown into their yard (including toys and dog bowls). They nicely returned it all minus their long lost pillows! We laughed and laughed about it (amongst ourselves - not with them) and imagined them watching us use them month after month and trying to find a way to ask us for them back. Their daughter comes and plays with Madison all the time so I am not sure why they didn't tell her to tell us. They must not be like <em>some</em> parents who get their kids to do their embarassing things! :-)</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">As a baby Madison looked very similiar to Audrey. Although now she looks more like me as a baby she looked just like Brock (and therefore just like Audrey).</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--rGeppCIjnk/Tb8KI7M3ILI/AAAAAAAALnk/lym2ATohZVc/s1600/DSC_4643.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--rGeppCIjnk/Tb8KI7M3ILI/AAAAAAAALnk/lym2ATohZVc/s400/DSC_4643.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh the joys of cushions! They provide a nice comfy place to sit, endless fun for kids, exercise for kids as they blow around the neighborhood and lots of laughs as you remember "stealing" them from new neighbors</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6aOjJMdMJAU/Tb8KJK0rVrI/AAAAAAAALns/7bv0YE1jKPM/s1600/Pictures7.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6aOjJMdMJAU/Tb8KJK0rVrI/AAAAAAAALns/7bv0YE1jKPM/s400/Pictures7.jpg" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-31415501627766119792011-04-26T08:00:00.002-06:002011-04-26T09:28:20.641-06:00Happy Easter<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; "><p>ββHe is risen! And O the overflow of that single event. It was the cosmic Yes! from God the Father that the death had done all it was meant to do.β</p><cite style="font-style: normal; "><span>β John Piper</span><br /><span style="margin-left: 16px; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/DesiringGod" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(34, 68, 187); ">Desiring God</a></span></cite></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sx4iDcEG6DA/TbYs4t7H2oI/AAAAAAAALlE/m6_1XqjqTu4/s1600/DSC_0191.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sx4iDcEG6DA/TbYs4t7H2oI/AAAAAAAALlE/m6_1XqjqTu4/s400/DSC_0191.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">We had a great Easter. Things have been really busy since returning from MN so it was very nice to have a low key celebration with just the six of us.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C_hNsGufmHw/TbYs4nRlyJI/AAAAAAAALlM/amyIUaZy93E/s1600/DSC_0199.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C_hNsGufmHw/TbYs4nRlyJI/AAAAAAAALlM/amyIUaZy93E/s400/DSC_0199.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yH4Fq2lKG-g/TbYs4zdgaoI/AAAAAAAALlU/jyem3IVdT0c/s1600/DSC_0202.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yH4Fq2lKG-g/TbYs4zdgaoI/AAAAAAAALlU/jyem3IVdT0c/s400/DSC_0202.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Brock has a new job (which is why we were in MN earlier this month) and with that new job is a new shop/retail store. He has been busy getting it up and running. I like being there to help him and the kids love playing outside and exploring everything. We decided to do their easter egg hunt there and it was a huge success. They LOVED it. We gave them their baskets with a couple things in it - one of which was a webkinz. They were so shocked and thrilled and it was so fun to capture it with my camera.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9Tv4o6257A/TbYs7ktg8-I/AAAAAAAALms/rIcAd2hQs1o/s1600/Collages.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9Tv4o6257A/TbYs7ktg8-I/AAAAAAAALms/rIcAd2hQs1o/s400/Collages.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The hunt begins! The kids had painted eggs with grandma the day before so we had lots of eggs to hide and a beautiful sunny day to enjoy while searching.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RbL-IGmyF3w/TbYs5J7Z1wI/AAAAAAAALlc/d53U8rpNd8w/s1600/DSC_0211.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RbL-IGmyF3w/TbYs5J7Z1wI/AAAAAAAALlc/d53U8rpNd8w/s400/DSC_0211.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">It was so fun to watch Hannah because she was so excited when she would find one. This was her first egg hunt and she enjoyed it thoroughly.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6aten44_uf8/TbYs5XZCvKI/AAAAAAAALlk/U7VAtZmcHtg/s1600/DSC_0214.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6aten44_uf8/TbYs5XZCvKI/AAAAAAAALlk/U7VAtZmcHtg/s400/DSC_0214.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The shop has a lot of tall grass, a little man made pond, private road for bike riding and horses next door - what more could a kid ask for :-)</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hENX6PrMjaA/TbYs5uX4KOI/AAAAAAAALls/4DMl-pZdQoY/s1600/DSC_0221.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hENX6PrMjaA/TbYs5uX4KOI/AAAAAAAALls/4DMl-pZdQoY/s400/DSC_0221.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UDY-3Lvj2Rg/TbYs5xk4rHI/AAAAAAAALl0/Qdps_fBSJLI/s1600/DSC_0223.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UDY-3Lvj2Rg/TbYs5xk4rHI/AAAAAAAALl0/Qdps_fBSJLI/s400/DSC_0223.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uvu_unVSQis/TbYs6GzD39I/AAAAAAAALl8/_sxPUn9U1Es/s1600/DSC_0238.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uvu_unVSQis/TbYs6GzD39I/AAAAAAAALl8/_sxPUn9U1Es/s400/DSC_0238.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ATTgbqqn_qU/TbYs63rIYzI/AAAAAAAALmU/oGBU_CvcJ_A/s1600/Pictures4.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ATTgbqqn_qU/TbYs63rIYzI/AAAAAAAALmU/oGBU_CvcJ_A/s400/Pictures4.jpg" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1f09vl4E7wU/TbYs7fIXoKI/AAAAAAAALmc/AUSsasmspLM/s1600/Pictures5.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1f09vl4E7wU/TbYs7fIXoKI/AAAAAAAALmc/AUSsasmspLM/s400/Pictures5.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sAouyXvN_tk/TbYs7TcbO5I/AAAAAAAALmk/7YAX00C_NKs/s1600/Pictures6.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sAouyXvN_tk/TbYs7TcbO5I/AAAAAAAALmk/7YAX00C_NKs/s400/Pictures6.jpg" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tKUWFOuchNk/TbYs6ay7_kI/AAAAAAAALmE/efdBuKXMULs/s1600/DSC_0243.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tKUWFOuchNk/TbYs6ay7_kI/AAAAAAAALmE/efdBuKXMULs/s400/DSC_0243.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ok06O5_O0gQ/TbYs6mXr89I/AAAAAAAALmM/ZKyrb8W3Ww4/s1600/DSC_0201.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ok06O5_O0gQ/TbYs6mXr89I/AAAAAAAALmM/ZKyrb8W3Ww4/s400/DSC_0201.JPG" /></a></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-23612801106097204052011-04-25T13:27:00.003-06:002011-04-25T20:40:00.937-06:007 Months<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">We have been BUSY BUSY BUSY this month so this post is very late!! She was 7 months on April 9th and has changed so much. She is all over the place now and cannot be trusted to stay put!! She eats anything she comes in contact with (from microscopic to huge) although has no interest in eating actual food. While she hasn't been eating <i>real</i> food she has been nursing a lot better. The last couple weeks I have been slowly adding dairy back into my diet and she is doing well with it. Such a relief as it was really hard to be completely dairy free on our recent trip to MN. </div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWnD2XhSDVw/TbYwTqm9gbI/AAAAAAAALm4/dagbuyLGDMo/s400/DSC_4914.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599716301095141810" /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">She has gained over a pound this month (YEAH!!) and now weighs 14 lb 10.5 oz. As you can </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">see she is also pretty excited about her increased size.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S5SIZrCjE2w/TbXLUXW8z8I/AAAAAAAALjk/xykZD4TOzC4/s1600/DSC_0174.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S5SIZrCjE2w/TbXLUXW8z8I/AAAAAAAALjk/xykZD4TOzC4/s400/DSC_0174.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She has started to crawl this month although reverts to army crawling most of the time. It is definitely the faster of the two for her. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I-qOfn12kuc/TbXLUvt-4XI/AAAAAAAALjs/8ax4TCh52oc/s1600/DSC_0175.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I-qOfn12kuc/TbXLUvt-4XI/AAAAAAAALjs/8ax4TCh52oc/s400/DSC_0175.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She has participated in her first big road trip - 14 hour trip to MN - and did wonderful. She is a trooper getting in and out of the car seat time after time. She was especially pushed to her limit on the return trip when the second leg of our journey took 13 hours (instead of 7!!) We were in MN for nearly 2 weeks visiting friends and family and she encountered multiple strangers. She again passed with flying colors. She did awesome happily being held by many new people daily. </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RVDgiy2a0D0/TbXLU7tzoLI/AAAAAAAALj0/cmF7IvaiO6M/s1600/IMG_2773.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RVDgiy2a0D0/TbXLU7tzoLI/AAAAAAAALj0/cmF7IvaiO6M/s400/IMG_2773.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She is LOUD! I cannot sit in church (or anywhere that requires quietness) because she jabbers (loudly) the whole time. She growls, squeals, laughs, hums and anything else that makes a lot of noise. She is definitely our loudest baby. I hope this doesn't mean she will be an extra loud kid - we already have a couple of those :-)</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gC8O_1LZmy4/TbXLVGlV-CI/AAAAAAAALj8/Bvq7q6PIuxA/s1600/DSC_4882-1.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gC8O_1LZmy4/TbXLVGlV-CI/AAAAAAAALj8/Bvq7q6PIuxA/s400/DSC_4882-1.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She stands next to anything and everything. She has even started pushing things around (baskets, stools, toys) and walking along with it. It is really cute. Her new love of standing has caused many bumps and scares but she continues on. She has a death grip when she falls and hangs on for dear life as she waits for help to arrive. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fLpyidCXhu0/TbXLVTFlFAI/AAAAAAAALkE/CQtEwCdUTeM/s1600/Pictures3.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fLpyidCXhu0/TbXLVTFlFAI/AAAAAAAALkE/CQtEwCdUTeM/s400/Pictures3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-91445977726364783342011-03-11T15:57:00.005-07:002011-03-11T16:48:25.953-07:006 Months Old<div><div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Another month has flown by and once again I am amazed at how much she has grown. She was sick again this month so she hasn't gained much in weight but continues to add new skills :-)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wOSQPLD2wXk/TXqyRWyxvPI/AAAAAAAALis/mPkiVxF_nEs/s1600-h/DSC_4355.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wOSQPLD2wXk/TXqyRWyxvPI/AAAAAAAALis/mPkiVxF_nEs/s400/DSC_4355.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582970699325226226" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">She still army crawls all over the place and even gets up on her hands and knees and rocks back and forth. She is a very determined girl and will find a way (very quickly too) to get where she wants</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_HscJUDAo0/TXqo4U1G6_I/AAAAAAAALhk/a04HccOZn-E/s1600-h/DSC_4390.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_HscJUDAo0/TXqo4U1G6_I/AAAAAAAALhk/a04HccOZn-E/s400/DSC_4390.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She also recently started sitting! She is so proud of herself and sits so tall. However, she is still a bit uncomfortable up there so doesn't do too much moving around. If she moves a little her hands fly out to the side - I can just here her saying "whoa - what just happened" She doesn't go from laying to sitting on her own - we have to sit her up and make sure to stay nearby.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_eSJrpQjtmQ/TXqo4jBG15I/AAAAAAAALhs/6xXsywyvckU/s1600-h/DSC_4410.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_eSJrpQjtmQ/TXqo4jBG15I/AAAAAAAALhs/6xXsywyvckU/s400/DSC_4410.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Hannah wanted to get her picture with Audrey too. I thought this was so adorable. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RcN6Jhzotbc/TXqo4hoPScI/AAAAAAAALh0/XKorS0E3S34/s1600-h/DSC_4386.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RcN6Jhzotbc/TXqo4hoPScI/AAAAAAAALh0/XKorS0E3S34/s400/DSC_4386.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">It is amazing how much Audrey looks like Brock. I wish I had one of his baby pictures handy right now to show you all :-) She looks more and more like him as she gets older.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3vqL7hI0VDc/TXqo42KCeAI/AAAAAAAALh8/jepqagxGo9k/s1600-h/DSC_4381.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3vqL7hI0VDc/TXqo42KCeAI/AAAAAAAALh8/jepqagxGo9k/s400/DSC_4381.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She is such a silly girl - making all sorts of funny faces. She got tired of taking pictures and started crying. Her big leftover tear is too cute! </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ey6l9SkQh1Y/TXqo6Fi0wVI/AAAAAAAALic/O_b5rQtq5EM/s1600-h/Pictures1.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ey6l9SkQh1Y/TXqo6Fi0wVI/AAAAAAAALic/O_b5rQtq5EM/s400/Pictures1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">The lounging little lady. She was sick a couple weeks ago (fever and congestion) so has been a bit fussy. She is still coughing and has a runny nose. She has definitely been sick more than any other baby of ours. That is a disappointment. She still manages to wake up many times a night. I feel like she eats all night long but she isn't a great eater in the day so I don't mind. She still has dairy issues which I am hoping she will grow out of soon.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Prb-kddd-Y/TXqySX-6UkI/AAAAAAAALi8/gnTH8-4ViVo/s1600-h/DSC_4367.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Prb-kddd-Y/TXqySX-6UkI/AAAAAAAALi8/gnTH8-4ViVo/s400/DSC_4367.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582970716824425026" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">She is 13 lb 5.5 oz. - unfortunately only a couple ounces bigger than last month. If she stays healthy this month I am sure she will make up for it. I have stopped going to Awana with her to try to keep her away from groups of kids. Hopefully this will help.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pex6mIqKfJk/TXqyR0nv3cI/AAAAAAAALi0/6fcAwxmH-fI/s1600-h/DSC_4356.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pex6mIqKfJk/TXqyR0nv3cI/AAAAAAAALi0/6fcAwxmH-fI/s400/DSC_4356.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582970707332029890" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">She still loves her jumparoo and goes CRAZY in it. I have a video of her that I will have to put on. It is pretty funny to see her going wild, jumping all over the place. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OvXr8PLIYx0/TXqo6rMNfOI/AAAAAAAALik/EmLbu10XtbE/s1600-h/Pictures2.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OvXr8PLIYx0/TXqo6rMNfOI/AAAAAAAALik/EmLbu10XtbE/s400/Pictures2.jpg" /></a></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533639925398953693.post-80474229401308336652011-02-22T10:48:00.004-07:002011-03-11T15:58:20.163-07:005 Months<div style="text-align: center;">Audrey is now 5 months and growing right before our eyes! It really is amazing how much babies change in such a short time. The kids and I were gone for 2 weeks visiting my family and when we came home Brock saw a big difference in her. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RYdbthPot5M/TWP3XzSD9nI/AAAAAAAALgs/6VAnqGr-0s8/s1600/DSC_4266.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RYdbthPot5M/TWP3XzSD9nI/AAAAAAAALgs/6VAnqGr-0s8/s400/DSC_4266.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576572751889823346" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">She continues to be intrigued with her tongue. She rubs it along her gums or around her mouth and sticks it out constantly. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ROUGaRd5GEU/TWP2-1JTvnI/AAAAAAAALgM/PMEvwG-Xqys/s1600/DSC_4263.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ROUGaRd5GEU/TWP2-1JTvnI/AAAAAAAALgM/PMEvwG-Xqys/s400/DSC_4263.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She no longer likes her pacifier. That is a huge disappointment to me because it was SO helpful in getting her calmed down or to sleep. None of my other kids have stuck with the pacifier either so this is nothing new. I suppose in the long run it is good because I won't have to break the habit :-) I think her teething and also her busy hands have been the cause - she either spits it out or accidentally pulls it out :-)</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ghK2cI06zXk/TWP2_FzjF0I/AAAAAAAALgU/xI6OSBpL400/s1600/DSC_4271.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ghK2cI06zXk/TWP2_FzjF0I/AAAAAAAALgU/xI6OSBpL400/s400/DSC_4271.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She has gained more than a pound this month! Yeah! She weighs 13 lb 3.5 oz. She is eating a little better although still struggles with dairy issues (if I eat it accidentally). </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G3ppIkt0NaE/TWP2_NDcBAI/AAAAAAAALgc/bH1JPkDr3p8/s1600/DSC_4255.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G3ppIkt0NaE/TWP2_NDcBAI/AAAAAAAALgc/bH1JPkDr3p8/s400/DSC_4255.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">She is a girl on the move now! She pulls herself all over the floor - army crawls and rocks around on her hands and knees. She also jumps like crazy in her jumparoo. She loves playing with toys and sucks on them, chews on them or grabs and pulls them. She is getting quite coordinated with her fingers and hands. It is cute to see her exploring with them. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A5ju-_w7Xqw/TWP2_fh2P6I/AAAAAAAALgk/ikkOKgXzeEg/s1600/Pictures.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A5ju-_w7Xqw/TWP2_fh2P6I/AAAAAAAALgk/ikkOKgXzeEg/s400/Pictures.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/BEA379BA26D4F52924DF57F4038025BB.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346713583623608789noreply@blogger.com2