Can I say OMG?!?

I mean really...can I saw Oh My Gawd!!! Tonight's game was amazing! We played amazingly well! And the boys were totally into their grooves. We were hitting, we were catching, we were...well...we just were!

We played the Phillie's. Sorry Phillie's, but we came to win. So we went out there and in the first inning, made the hits. 4-1 was the score. Third inning the score is 6-4. Sixth inning score was tied 11-11...the harder we played, the harder they came after us! Tied game! We go into overtime. The tension is soooo thick you could cut the air with a knife! Our boys felt it too. Not good. I can't sit any longer in the stands...My heart is racing. I am up and pacing. I look around. Suddenly the ballpark is alive with parents, coaches, board members and other team players coming to watch our game. It is close. NO ONE ever goes into overtime! This is serious stuff! Word has spread and the people have come. Parents leaving their own kids games to come watch the ending...who will get the next score! Who will win the game??

Seventh Inning starts ~ Yankees (that's us) are up to bat first. We hit, We hit again, and we hit again!! Bases are loaded. The pressure...One batter strikes out. Another batter is out on second. Two outs. One more and we're done. Pressure....our biggest homerun hitter is up. He knows...everything...the game...the moment lies on his head. Can he do it? Strike out! We don't score in overtime. Now we just have to hold the Phillie's back. Can we do it?

They are up! We burned our pitcher up in the game, so now in overtime we have to put a new pitcher in. Can he handle the stress? He strikes out the first batter! The crowd is wild! He walks the next batter. Pressure is getting to him. Coach walks out to talk to him. Calm him down. I'm biting my fingers at this point. Game is back on. Next batter gets a hit! Two on base and one steals to third. We gotta stop them from scoring!

Pitcher throws a wild one! Catcher manages to grab it in the air to stop the third base runner from going home. We scream wildly! Catcher tosses the ball back to the pitcher, and the pitcher missed! We groan...and watch the inevitable happen. The Phillie's score and the game is over!

11-12 was the final score ~ but man oh man...did our boys give it their all and make those Phillie's work for that win! I am so proud of them! Way to go Yankees!!!
XOXO

They grow up so fast!

Austin got Contact Lenses yesterday. Where does the time go? He went and grew up on me, and I specifically do NOT remember him asking my permission! Because I am 99.9% sure I would have said NO WAY if he had. First it started with having a "girlfriend" in Kindergarten. Then it was Middle School. Next came his first school dance. Then it was staying home by himself. Then it was Contacts. Next week he goes in for his Orthodontic appt for his second set of braces. Next it will be driving and then marriage...OMG! Someone call the Police! My Little boy has disappeared! And they went and left me with a PRETEEN! ACK!

Before Contacts...

He wants to eat all the time. And sleep. And is WAY TOO OLD for childish things like playing with the neighborhood kids now. And SO BORED with his toys now. And didn't I just buy him clothes a few weeks ago that fit him perfectly? And now they are in the donation pile because they are too small. And I'm sorry...but who's idea is it to make a BOY'S shoe size 7 be in the MEN'S department and charge me $10 more for shoes now??

After Contacts...

I did not give my permission...No I did not! I did not say that he could grow up and now be on a MAJOR's team in Baseball! I did not say that he could start styling his hair now like all those "other" teenage boys. I did not okay for him to "hang out" with his friends after school at Starbucks now! And I certainly did not approve for him to go to the local skating rink to "hang" without his parents around!

I did not agree to this Puberty stage when seeing his cute, round, cuddely face wrapped in a blanket when they handed him to me in the delivery room. I did not agree to supply food to feed a never ending hunger that just keeps growing along with his height! Which I might add I did NOT agree for him to be 1" shorter then me to which he can now look me in the eye and "brag" that he is as tall as I am!

I certainly did not sign up for all this when the thought of cooing little babies entered my mind 13 years ago. I did not sign up for stinky feet! I did not sign up for dirty clothes that can walk on their own. I did not sign up for Guitar Hero being blasted from his room as he rips a chord! And I certainly did not sign up for music to be blaring out of his stereo loud enough so the neighbor can hear the song lyrics!

I did not...ask for, sign up for or wish for any of that.

But I would NEVER trade it for anything in the world! Being a parent is the hardest job I have ever held, and yet the most rewarding I've ever had. Being a parent is so much more then I could ever dream.

But they should really give out a parent handbook for the teenage years! Looking back now, the infant stage was a breeze compared to this! At least then, they couldn't talk back! ;o)

XOXO

Monday Humor...

Love it!
XOXO

Waahhh...

We lost tonight ~ we played the Angels and they are in first place ~ 11-0 ~ Our team just didnt have their spark tonight. Hopefully we find it soon...we have another tough team to play this week.

Austin pitched 1-1/2 innings ~ But they have seasoned players on that team and they all were hitting. Just wasnt our night...
XOXO

Busy Crazy day!

Sorry I haven't updated ~ I have been going, going and gone! ;o)

Soccer sign-ups this morning, shopping errands, drop stuff off at mom's, feed the little one (Ack - Mcdonalds struck again!) and home to work in the yard. Planting and watering. Ran inside to cool off for a minute (yes i said cool off, it's like 78 today and I'm sweating!) (but not complaining, I love it!) and pop in and say hi before we head out to baseball!! Another late game and 4 hours of my life spent at the fields! Don't get me wrong - I love it!

Will update how the game went...
XOXO

P.S. Has anyone survived Pre-Teen BOYS and can give me some good advice before I lose it??? :o)

Happy Friday Quote...

“The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive.” ~Albert Einstein

Happy, Happy Friday!
XOXO

I am sooo Loved!!!

Thank you to my wonderful new friend over at Spendisa ~ I was blessed with another awesome award! Thank you Lisa!I will do you proud and pass this lovely award on to other deserving wonderful beings!

Here is the description of the award:

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.”

So...let's see...I nominate:

Ellyphant

Laughing Leah Loves Lilies

Daddy Scratches

Attack of the toddler

Look it's megryansmom

Living the Watkins life

I would add Tanja, But Lisa beat me to it! ;o)

Thank you too my Blogger friends for making this journey through life a little easier...

XOXO

The Yankee's WON!!!

To my few loyal followers, I apologize for all the baseball talk lately, But I promised family and friends that could not make our games that I would Blog after each game with highlights or news of the game. So please bare with me through the season! ;o)

We WON tonight!!! Whohoo!!! Final Score: 5-4

We played against a team that is ranked pretty high, and they are a 2x in this division, and we are a new team to it. On this team we played against, were two of Austin's old coaches, and 3 former players we have had. So there was a lot on the line.

Austin playing First base!

Austin did not get to pitch, but that's ok, he's been sick all day (I think he might have Strep Throat, it's going around and will be taking him to the Drs. tomorrow), so it was better he did not. He played first base all night. And in the last inning, Austin made a double play, catching the ball at first and tagging the player out and then throwing it to second and getting the runner out there.

The highlight of the night was when one of our players hit an "out-of-the-park" Homerun!!!

Sorry the pics are dark - It was a late game so pretty dark out! I'm hoping the Easter Bunny brings me a new camera! (Hint, Hint)

What a night - I don't think I'm going to get much sleep tonight! :o)

XOXO

Baseball time...

Just a Young Baseball Player:

They stand at the plate with heart pounding fast,
The bases are loaded, the die has been cast,
Mom & Dad cannot help them, they stand all alone,
A hit at this moment would send the team home.

The ball meets the plate: a swing and a miss,
There's a groan from the crowd,
With a boo and a hiss,
A thoughtless voice cries, "strike out the bum!"
Tears fill their eyes, the game is no longer fun.

So open your heart and give them a break,
For it's moments like this - a man or woman you can make.
Keep this in mind when you hear someone forget,
They are just kids - and not a man or woman quite yet!

Author Unknown
XOXO

Monday Humor...

Ain't that the truth...

XOXO

THEY WON!!!!

Call the press! Stop the traffic! The YANKEE'S WON!!!

It was pouring down raining, and we thought they were going to call the game off any moment. And the cold??? It could have snowed. The poor boys hands were frozen out there. But they played! Boy did they play.

Austin had a great infield hit and scored one of the runs home. It was another shut out game and they finally stopped the game in the 4th inning because of the score. The Yankees won 15-0. And yes we did change up in the game, but the other team just wasn't having a good day.

Way to go Yankees!
XOXO

Saturday - Busy, Busy Day!

Thursday Night Austin had another Game - which we lost horribly too. They played the Dodgers and when they walked onto the field, all of us parents gasped! They seriously looked like high schoolers walking out - they were so TALL! Our poor kids never had a chance.

Austin started out pitching, but the coach pulled him after the 3rd kid. Every one of their players was making contact with the ball. Long story short - the Dodgers hit TWO GRAND SLAMS!!! For us laymen, a Grand Slam is when bases are loaded and the next batter hits an "out of the park Homerun" so the team automatically scores 4 runs! And they hit two of them. Plus one other Out of the Park Homerun. Our kids were mentally beat. Austin was playing first base and dove head first for a foul ball but missed it. We never made it past first base. They kicked our butts so bad. I feel horrible for them. They called the game in the third inning at 14-0. I was upset with the other coach - the courtesy thing in a situation like this is you change up your players. Put your worse infield and not stack your lineup. But he was out for blood. There was no way we could have won the game we were so far behind, but he could have let us score a few runs home so our boys didn't walk out of there with their heads hanging and have some respect. It was a tough lesson for them.

We have another game Saturday and I am hosting Scrapbook Club - So I have to clean house, Cook Dinner for 6 people, set up tables and snacks and supplies, run to Austin's game for the first hour and then race home to greet the peeps coming over. If only I had 8 arms to do it all! *Sigh*

If you dont hear from me by Sunday - Send help! ;o)
XOXO

Happy Friday Quote...

"It is what it is"



I have been living by this motto for the last year and it has gotten me through many hurdles. You can only do so much, change so much, stress so much, after that...it is what it is...
Happy, Happy Friday!
XOXO

San Diego ~ Can I go again?

Two years ago this January ~ DH and I got to go to a San Diego resort for 2 nights/3days. My DH had won the trip from his work for being top salesman for the quarter. It included our flight tickets, dinner in the "5 star must wear a suit" restaurant and the resort on Mission Bay.

The view from our balcony!
This resort was soooo nice, we didn't want to come home! It had it's own private beach area, with its own dock and kayak or boat rentals. Massages, pools, kites, sand toys, water toys...you name it, it had it. San Diego Zoo ~ Can you tell me what this is? (Hint: A character from Lion King)
At this zoo ~ You get to walk right into the Koala exhibit and walk among them)

We spent one day at the famous "San Diego Zoo" and spent another walking the boardwalk and spending time on the beach. For being January, the weather was perfect! It was in the 80's the whole weekend.

Our last night there ~ during our cuddle time on the balcony watching the sunset!

My favorite part was our last night there ~ We went to a grocery store close by and got a bottle of champagne, Chocolate and sat out on our balcony cuddling and talking until the wee hours. I love that! No interruptions, quality time, adult talk, alone time! We got to be Husband and Wife for the weekend instead of Mom and Dad.

The kids stayed with relatives and we brought goodies home for them, so they never even missed us! But two years later, DH and I still talk about that weekend and place and dream of going back some day!

I highly recommend taking time out for husband/wife weekends. It makes you a stronger couple and better parents.

The flight home we had to sit across from each other ~ and being as relaxed as we were, DH got a quick snooze in before getting home!

Thanks DH for the wonderful memories!

XOXO

Fortune Cookie Time!

I saw this on megryansmom's blog and promised to pass it on for good fortune ~ Don't we all need as much good luck and good karma that we can get? So please play along...

I guess you can say it’s an experiment. I would like anyone who reads this post to copy and paste this fortune cookie in their next post. Also, when you do it, if you can ask people at the end of your post to copy and paste it in their next blog post.I'm curious to see how far this will go, how many cookies get out there. I think it will be fun, as we all can see where these cookies go. All I ask, if you participate, to write a comment so we all can track it. How to get the cookie for all us computer challenged people. Put the mouse over the fortune cookie and click ‘save as’ and it will go into your pictures. Then when you do your post, you can click on the ‘add picture’ symbol and there it is. It will come out as a bunch of letters, but when you click, the picture will appear.

If anyone has trouble, just let me know.So let’s see how far this cookie can go, so go ahead, copy and paste and lets see where it goes.....it starts here...GO!

Christmas 2004

It is Christmas day, and daddy got around to putting together Emily's present she got.

She stood excitedly behind him as it was put together. She clapped her hands in anticipation. She giggled in sheer pleasure.

She screamed happy little girlie screams.

She ran and got brother to come see what she got.

And when it was all over...she was in pure heaven with a look that made it all worth it!

I love the hair!
Oh to be young again...

XOXO

P.S. Happy Saint Patricks Day!!

Monday Humor...

Amen!
XOXO

Spring has Sprung!

I managed to get half my garden in the ground before the rain came. I took a survey of the yard and have alot more plants to replace, that darn frost killed almost everything. We're hosting Easter this year, so we have to have the yard done and pretty, colorful plants to hide Easter Eggs in. My 15yr old Nephew is coming over tomorrow and help me get the rest in if the rain stays away long enough.

I love spring!
XOXO

Sorry I missed a post today...

But i was at Baseball for 8 hours and am FROZEN to the bone! A wind chill factor of 25! And cloudy, no sun to warm us. I can't feel my fingers, my nose or my ears. A little girl whining at my feet all day, a hubby who had to rake fields, a son who saved his team and it was all worth it!

They lost their first game, but man it was exciting. The end of the first inning, it was 9-1 and we were losing big time. Second inning our pitcher hit a kid, so coach pulls him and puts Austin in to pitch. It was 2 outs, and the the next batter comes up. Austin takes the mound and 1,2,3 pitches and struck the kid out! The team goes wild. That was the rally moment that got them going.

We're now up to bat. Bases loaded, full count on the board and 2 outs. Our player hits an Out of the Park HOMERUN!!! That ball flew...over the fence, across the parking lot, and across the street!!! The team goes wild again tackling him as he rounds home. We scored 8 runs to tie the game for 3 innings. Austin pitched 4 innings and held the score the whole time. They never made a run on him!!!

Sadly, he hit his pitch count and they had to pull him from pitching and the other team managed to get a few runs home the last inning to win the game. The final score was 12-9. But man, we gave it our all and they played awesome! We had several coaches from other teams come watch our game and board members stopped by because of the excitement. There was quite a crowd! Austin not only impressed his new coaches with his pitching, but all the parents in the stands were asking "who is that kid?" and "we need him out there for every game!"

It was a very thrilling game. I should also mention that at Thursdays practice Austin tore a huge chunk out of his knee and it has been bleeding and sore as heck since. It was hard for him to run, but he managed to suck it up and play awesome! He did not let his team down.

Way to go Yankees! I am so proud of you all!
XOXO

Happy Friday Quote

"I've learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it."

So true...
XOXO

That's it!

I'm throwing in the towel! Working from home for the last 6 months, I have had to "make do" with what was meant as a temporary computer desk (hand me down from DH's friend) and a desk chair (also another hand me down) that was once nice in it's former life. But for the last few weeks, the desk seems to be shrinking. Yep, not only does it sway when you touch it, but there is just not enough room for all that I need. And the chair...oh the chair. By 5pm every day, my back is aching. Literally. Throbbing, aching, sore and feeling 10 years older then it is. I stick a pillow on my back each day, but nothing helps.

So I'm done! Throwing in towel! With the help of a $50 off coupon/GC that Staples sent me, I am going shopping tomorrow. And I will hopefully be bringing home a new desk and chair with me. I am hoping to find something that will fit all my needs for home and office. And that fits in my non-existent budget.

On another note...my 17 year old niece came over Sunday and Spring Cleaned my whole downstairs for me!!! Whohoo...No more dirt, grime, dust, webs, clutter or laundry! My house actually looks decent now. She scrubbed bathrooms, vacummed, oiled all my kitchen cabinets and bannisters, and mopped everywhere! Gawd I'm gonna miss her if she ever moves away! ♥ ya Steph!

This weekend is geared up to be BUSY! We have Baseball all day Saturday. It is Opening Day for Baseball. So Austin has Team pictures at 10am, Ceremonies at noon, and his first game at 2:30. I also have a funeral (my bosses father died, who started the business I work at, so I kinda gotta go) from 1-5 that I need to make an appearance at. I think Sunday I just may never get out of bed. ;o)

My plans for Sunday involved going plant shopping for my garden and hopefully getting them all in the ground. It's still been pretty chilly at night, so I hope they make it. But they need to get in the ground to root.

It's so hard to believe Easter is around the corner...Where is the time going?
XOXO

Have you been on Facebook yet?

I am so behind the times. I was late starting this blog, and now apparently the last one in the world to join facebook! Sorry folks, my life is way too busy to keep up. But with working from home now, i am on a computer far more then I would be, so I can touch base and see what's out there. It has been so fun seeing all my old peeps from High School, old jobs, old friends, neighbors and even long-lost family! Boy, what a trip down memory lane it all has been. I am still figuring it out, so my page is constantly changing. Kinda like this blog! LOL ~ It is so hard to believe 18 years has passed since high school. Yes, I am telling my age now. Where in the world did the time go?

Funny story: I met my DH on Senior cut day the last week of high school. It was 2 days before graduation, and we all cut school and went to the lake. DH was there with his boat and a bunch of guys...and I was hanging on the beach with a bunch of girls...and the rest is history! We talked for hours, and he got my number. The weekend after we got back from Grad Trip, we had our first "official" date. And we have been inseparable since. He is my very bestest friend!
I'll have to dig around for some pics from those days...those are the "pre-kids/skinny/still fit in bikinis" days! LOL

XOXO

My day yesterday...

I pampered myself...I did. I had to take some time for myself...get out of my funk! It started with Sunday night...horrible night of sleep. Got to bed late, couldn't shut the brain off...finally drifted off to sleep about 2am. Monday Morning I got the kids off to school and then....I did it...I crawled back into bed and slept another hour! Whohoo!! ha ha

Then I got up and realized that if I wanted to run all my errands "kid-free" then I better get going and shower. As I was getting ready, making my mental list of things I needed to get done...I suddenly had a thought! Every week...I give up my days off for everyone else. Work, Kids, home, hubby, family. And when was the last time I did something for just me? Sooo...I crossed off my mental list and instead...

I went out to lunch...where I wanted to go! Not where the kids would eat, or DH's favorite place. Where I wanted! And then...

I went to this upscale salon and had a PEDICURE!!! It was quiet in there (only one other person) and music playing and glasses of wine they hand you, and massaging chairs, and, and, and...do I really need to go on??? I sat there for 45 minutes getting pampered...and it hit me...it's so quiet here. Can I stay? Forever? Don't make me leave...please?

I was so relaxed afterwards, I could have taken another nap! LOL...by then it was time to pick kids up from school and do homework...so the day was short for me...but it was all mine none the less! ;o)
XOXO

Monday Humor...

I really need to get out more...
XOXO

Mom and kids...

Ok - I warned you there would be more pictures...So here is the next segment of the 200 pictures I have. LOL

Oh how time flies...
I love how the sun is flowing through our hair...
I couldn't get Emily to sit up straight for nothin...

Well, the next show cases will be of the kids by themselves...as I have lots of those! LOL

XOXO

Work day...

I'm off to commit murder on those nasty little weeds growing in my garden and flower beds, to take revenge on the filth and dust that has descended on my home, and to flush out the sickly germs that have corrupted my daughters room...please call for help if you don't hear from me soon...LOL

Happy Friday Quote

"Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as you ever can."

A good motto to live by...
XOXO

Random thoughts...

I'm in a funk! I've tried, and tried to pull myself out...but there seems to be no end. Too much to do, and too little time to do it in. I really believe I should have been born an octopus. I do! I get tugged in so many different directions I don't know if I'm coming or going most days. So many peeps needing something from me. Big or small, they add up. I usually don't complain...well, at least to anyone other then DH. ;o)

So DH being the kind, caring man he is...(do I get brownie points for that?) has seen me getting burned out and informed me I should really take some time for myself. WHAT? I say...let me get this straight...are you saying what I'm thinking your saying???? Yes, he says...I am! And with that, I was on the computer booking my flight out to Timbuktu to see Kaci @ Ellyphant. Sorry Kac, but where you live from me, it feels like Timbuktu! ♥ I am sooooooooooooooo excited!!! I have my E-ticket in hand and can't wait for next month to spend a few days catching up with one of my bestests (is that a word?) friends! We'll probably stay up all night (if I can with time changes and jet lag, who am I kidding, Starbucks?) and I'm going to cover poor Elly in a million kisses before I leave, and if Big J isn't careful, he'll get a few too! LOL. Watch out Ellyphant fam, here I come!!!

Poor Emily is still home sick for the 6th day straight. Took her to the Doctors yesterday (I'm not THAT bad of a mom, come on!) and she has a pretty severe sinus infection and we caught it in time before bronchitis got it's ugly hold on her. So she's on that wonderful, yummy, bubblegum flavored Amoxicillan that we literally have to hold her down and pour down her throat because she thinks any medicine is some vial acid being forced upon her as punishment because we are cruel human beings for parents. *sigh* Her fever seems to have finally broken as of Wednesday. She has had a steady 101 degree since Friday last week.

Two weeks ago, I went to a scrapbooking club that my sister twisted my arm incredibly hard and forced me to join with her (totally kidding, like I need a reason to join anything that gets me out of the house!). I had so much fun! I haven't touched any of my scrapbooking stuff in over 4 years, I know, I know...I am a disgrace to the scrapbooking world. But if you knew my life, you'd understand. We've had a lot going on. So I got to pull it all out and drag it over and got a solid 5 hours of nonstop scrapbooking. I think next month, I'm just gonna crawl in the corner and sleep, I'm so behind on that.

And it just so happens, as is my luck in life, that ONE night I get away, my nephew Nick called from boot camp!!! Geez...I can't catch a break! DH got to talk to him for an hour!!! So unfair! He was calling to say he got my care package and was I ever his most favoritist Aunt!!! Sorry sis...but I now officially have the title! You see, he has been SO bored, and my games and activities I sent, along with the HOMEBAKED goodies made his day, week, month! He's already planning his trip home in May for his sister's graduation. So we're all excited!

Baseball is going great. Austin is having a great time on this team, and is really starting to shine. Coach loves his pitching, and in their first practice game against another team, he got to Pitch and played first base. They lost, but it was a practice game. So it doesn't count. I always forget how expensive baseball is. Soccer is not at all as much as baseball. I think because in Baseball, we hit the rainy season, so practice is always getting canceled. So coaches rent spaces at an indoor arena to practice in and we all pitch in to cover the fee. But multiply that by 3x a week, by several weeks, it adds up. Plus theres uniforms, sweatshirts, hats, cleats, coaches gifts, team mom gifts, end of the year party...I have to take a loan out! LOL...don't get me wrong. We expect it every year, and it's all worth it...but it is YOUTH sports, not the major leagues here. *Sigh*

DH casually mentions the other night as we're snuggling into bed ready to drift off into never ever land, that he wants to go stay at this lodge that we know of and spend the weekend with the kids in the snow, and could I ever so nicely during the day when i have OH so much free time on my hands, get some prices for him??? And I ever so sweetly in my NOT so sweet voice remind him that every winter he mentions this to me, and every year when he hears how much $$$ it is, he changes his mind. Yes, he says, but I mean it this time! *sigh*

Let me remind those of you who happen upon this website and don't have the luxury of knowing my crazy life, that I also work full time from home! Just exactly what "free time" does he think I have?

Let me also remind you that the same DH two weeks ago informed me that our children are old enough he wants our vacation this year to be something tropical and he wants to swim with dolphins with the kids, and aren't they old enough now for a cruise? So I spent the exorbitantly amount of "free time" I had during that day and researched cruise trips with dolphin swimming and other requirements he bestowed upon me and when I informed him exactly how much $$$ it was, he had the audacity to tell me, yea, maybe Disneyland would be fine this year!!!! *sigh*

Someone better send the reserves in for me...I'm going to the loony bin!

What a big Brother does...

I happen to be the youngest in my family with my brother being the oldest of my sister and me. There is only 2 years between my brother and sister, and they grew up pretty close. Roommates at one time, drinking buddies in college and overall friends. Several years later I came along and being 7 years apart from my brother, we really didn't have a lot in common to keep us socially "hanging out". But that didn't stop me from idolizing and admiring him. He hated having a "baby sister" following him everywhere, and I hated being picked on because I was the baby. I do remember in high school, when I had a boy bothering me, and being too scared to tell mom and dad...I called my Big Brother. He left work right then and came over to get me. He listened to my story, and promised he would take care of it. I'm not quite sure the whole story to this day...but he did "take care of it" for me. I knew then at that moment, that he would always be there for me. I could always call him for anything.

My Big Bro on his College Graduation 5 years ago.

When DH and I were ready to start our family, everyone kept asking me if I wanted a girl first. And to everyones shock, I said I wanted a Boy first. Because every little girl needs a Big Brother to protect her.

This past weekend, Emily has been really sick with Flu/Cold and hasn't had much energy to get around or do much. Big Brother Austin came home from school friday to learn his little sister was sick. He immediately went in his room and colored a "get well" card for her and has proceeded to wait hand and foot on her all weekend. Bringing her popsicles or slushies for her fever, watching movies with her, to even building her a fort, setting up her pillows and blankets in it and set up the portable DVD player we have inside. They pretended they were at the drive-in movies. He made popcorn for them to share too. He wasn't asked to do any of this. He just saw a need and immediately jumped in to help his little sister.

When Emily was scared of the train ride thru the Redwoods last summer, Brother held her hand.

These are the days I have to treasure, to help get me through the days when they are screaming at each other and slamming bedroom doors. Because in the big picture of life, when DH and I are gone, I will rest assured that Big Brother Austin will always be there for Little Sister Emily. Just as my big brother was for this little sister...

Love ya Bro.

XOXO

Dad and kids...

I promised more pics from our photo shoot last year. So this segment features DH and the kids:They started to get silly, and I had to squash them as we had many more to go, and I was afraid we were going to lose Emily and everyone get cranky.

As much as I loved this pose, I didn't buy any big prints of it because all the shots show Emily spotlight by the sun and everyone else shadowed in the shade. And the focus was to be all three of them, not just one.

More to come later...I warned you...I have over 200 proofs...LOL

XOXO

Monday Humor...

Kaci ~ that one's for you...
XOXO

Brother and Sister...

So, the other day I posted a few pics I took of the kids having a "moment" and getting along and being loving. It would surprise you that when it is requested they "act" that way, they love to ham it up. Unless their peers are watching...then it is impossible! But last year we had professional pictures done and I specifically wanted some "brother and sister" moments captured. Needless to say, I couldn't decide on them and bought them all...LOL.


The Photographer suggested this and I was all over it...and surprisingly they cooperated!

And I give you my word, I did not promise them anything in order to get these poses!


I think they all turned out good, but these melt my heart...

Like I said...I couldn't decide, so I got them all. So I have over 200 photos from this shoot. So I will definately post more another day...but had to share these now. Because with Emily being so sick this weekend, her brother went and made her a homemade Get Well card and has been watching movies with her so she isn't lonely.

I guess I'm doing something right :o)
XOXO