Just a picture...

From a couple of days ago, but I just loved it! Shows how little he still is and shows that he CAN indeed sit still to look at a book (as long as mom isn't reading it). Such a sweet little guy! They all are, I just love my kids!!!

Lovin' it

2 weeks ago I would have sold my youngest to you for a fair price, he was driving me nuts on a regular basis, but I have to tell you that this week has been such a turn! He is the BEST! I'm lovin' every minute with him, even at 4 in the morning and even more suprising is even at 4 in the afternoon! This is when he normally melts!

Just had to share!

Request for prayers...

We have had some great days here... weather has been beautiful! The sun has been shining, at least a little bit each day, giving me just a little glimpse of joy! I thrive on sunshine. I know when it's been gray or dark I just start getting depressed. I hate the feeling, but there really isn't anything I can do. But God is so good and in his infitnit wisdom & grace he has given me just what I needed these last few days. He knows just what I need to get better, I am always amazed at what he provides when he provides it! His timing is so perfect!

I'm in the process of making some decisions for my life right now, still trying to figure health things out, what I want to do with my life in the future etc. I think that God is opening up some doors, at least in my heart, but I'm not sure if this is God working or if it is my diesire at work. So with that thought, I would appreciate some prayers regarding the decisions I'm about to make. Just God's clear guidance as to where to go next! I know that his timing is perfect, he has proven that time & time again. I need to trust him!

Stay safe in this lovely winter storm!

He cracks me up...

Church was at Crazy Bounce tonight for a 2008 kickoff. Elliot LOVES that place! Loves it! Probably the best place we could have been with Matt gone tonight, Elliot always kinda looses it when we are at home in the evening! So anyway... keeping this short, Elliot was bouncing in this one "house" type thing and LOVING it! There was a mesh screen around the outside so he could see me and I could see him. He LOVES to show off and always wants to make sure you are watching him when he is doing something fun! He kept looking at me, motioning toward the door and saying out... then I would go to the door to get him and he would crawl away and giggle! We played this little game over and over and over and over etc! He was loving it though and I really was too, he was cracking me up!

He is talking SOOO much! For his age at least! Out, Hot, Dex, Doggy, Ducky (same as Doggy), mommy, daddy (I think...), night-night, blankie, I think he says "Thank You" too, but that isn't confirmed, it seems like there is more, maybe he's just getting better at communicating what he wants, whether it be with words, signs or actions! He loves to be helpful, getting and throwing away his diapers, helps to clean up toys... a little at least!

enough for now... I'm TIRED! I think I need to eat better, I think I'd have more energy, today has been a terrible diet day, not that I'm officially dieting or anything (no willpower for that), but it started with a suprise donut (haven't had one since the summer walks), then icecream with E after his nap and just now I ate... are you ready, this is embarrasing... almost 3/4 of a block of cream cheese (made into dip for crackers). I don't feel so well either! Lesson learned!

Sorry about the spelling mistakes too, Editor! (Oh and I'm sure some punctuations probs too!)

You have GOT to see this picture...

go here to see it! Seriously... NOT to be missed! (check the January 7 post)

Don't you just love a compliment?

I had a great compliment today when I went to pick up pictures at Walgreens that I printed (trying to update all the OLD pics hanging out around our hosue). The employee wouldn't give me my pictures until I told her they weren't professional pics! I was taken back at first, scared she wouldn't give me my pics, but she was totally fine with it once I said no, they weren't professional. I didn't think of it as a compliment until I was leaving the store!

Off to BSF now! Hope your week started off well!

Check these blogs out

Both Christmas related, but still great none the less!

This one's a good laugh...
Tacky Christmas Yards

This one is just cute! Someone is a good writer adn good at putting themselves in Santa's spot!
Santa's Blog

I'm in love...

I got to play with a speedlight flash today. I borrowed it from a friend and I've fallen in love! So much better than the built in and the color is so much better than no flash at all.
Look at how much more detail you can see with the external flash! Are you as excited as I was?????

I love a baby in diapers! He really didn't want to sit still, but after setting up the backdrop I needed to at least get ONE picture out of him! Aren't all the bruises on his forhead lovely? One is from the Saturday before Christmas and the other is from today! Boys will be boys!

Impromptu Photo Shoot

The E we all know so well... at least the one I seem to know the best lately! But that's a whole new post!

Happy 2008

Did you all have a good new years? Ours was good, EJ & her boys ended up coming over to celebrate with us. We (I) ate way to much between dinner & appetizers/dessert, we played Pictionary, Apples to Apples, Wii, the kids watched a movie and then we watched the ball drop (exciting as usual), then it was off to bed! So really, not anything big, just low key, just like I like it!

Denver had to wear a tie for Bailey... he has a little crush!

Matt & I were going to go to St Joe on New Years day to prepare for painting at my grandpas but there was a winter storm warning all teh way south of us, so we stayed home. We'll probably go this weekend (did you see the weather yet... 50 degrees). But, after staying home all day, and E being so rough and whiney we NEEDED to get out of the house. Lucky for us Matt's mom could watch the kids (not sure how excited she was about it), so off we went to Grandville to do some returns/exchanges, grab dinner at Fridays and then Target to make a return. By the time we headed home the roads were terrible, it was snowing so hard, but it was so worth getting out of the house! Thanks Marilyn, you don't know how much that helped!

So, as I"m typing this I'm watching Super Nanny the second one of the evening. Anyone else watchign this one? It's terrible. These 17 & 14 year old girls are in charge of EVERYTHING while thier parents go off to work, including three younger brothers (who seem to scream a ton). Thier chores fully outweigh thier parents chores, at least 3 times. Then when the mom is home and one of the kids is throwing a fit, she (the mom) gives up, throws in the towel, so guess who ends up taking care of the boys again... so sad, definately a tear jerker!

Just waiting for my turn...

I'm a little paranoid and I keep thinking my stomach hurts, but then I really think about it and realize that I'm ok! My mouth waters and I worry! Nice huh? I'M NOT GOING TO GET SICK!!!!

We didn't go to church this morning, Matt was still sick & E has a pretty good (bad) cold so I couldn't put him in nursery, so basically my kids (Landon & B) would have ended up sitting in church all alone, not really productive.

I did NEED to get out of the house though, so we headed up to Grandville to exchange a few things and eat lunch. It was the best thing I could have done. E was so good the whole time, he even slept in the stroller for a bit, lunch was great (Olga's), and I got some stuff done! My kids did SOOOOO good! I couldn't have asked for them to be better, even after dragging them from one end of the mall to the other.

I need some new black boots, but didn't have much luck finding any that I like/fit! I found some super cute Steve Madden flats that I loved though and bonus they were on clearance... which means they didn't have my size... bummer! Oh well, since I WILL NOT be sick tomorow I'm going to try Shoe Carnival and Famous Footwear.

Enjoy your New Year, whatever your plans may be and stay safe!

Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given;
While angels sing with tender mirth,
A glad new year to all the earth.
~Martin Luther

Matt's got it...

I guess I'm not suprised, Matt got sick now! Not suprised, but not happy either. I know he couldn't help it, I know he would rather not be sick, but we had plans to go out tonight. Dinner and exchanges. I NEEDED to go out. I have been with Elliot for a full week (-3 hours). He's been whiny & difficult for the last three days, making it not so pleasant to be with him. Frustrating actually. I was going to take him to the store with me a little while ago, but I ended up throwing him back in his bed b/c he wouldn't stop cyring! (He was sleeping when I got home). After he recovered from the flu he got a cold (his 3rd this season so far), so he has good reason to be crabby, but good grief, I can't stand it anymore!

So while cooped inside all afternoon Bailey & I watched Karate Kid (whoa... it's been a LOOOONNNGGG time) and now were watching Hook, all on ABC Family. I watched Hairspray last night (wow after typing this I realize I've probably watched more movies in the last 24 hours than I have in the last month), good movie. I had heard of other young girls watching it and liking it... totally don't recommend that! Way to much information for my 6 year old at least. She ended up watching Blank Check with her brother (which in her movie critic words was "AWSOME!"). Who knows what else is on tonight, I'm sure I'll be parked right here watching whatever it is though!

No big plans for New Years. I think we are just going to make some yummy food and stay in with the kids. I'm scared of driving with all of the other idiots that drink and drive (one of my paranoia's) and the thought of just watchign a movie, playing some games (both board & wii) sounds good right now! But, I HAVE to get out of this house before them, that's for sure!!!!! So, what are your plans? Anything great and exciting? Bet you can't beat mine!!!

Enjoy your weekend!

Gettin' better...

The evening seems to be bringing a little more health to our house, let's hope that that doesn't change and that Matt & I don't get it! That would be terrible! E drank two whole glasses of water (and as bad as that may sound, it really is a good thing, the child is picky about what he drinks, it's got to be either chocolate milk or strawberry milk, terrible habit I know, but... he's our baby and that's just how it is, since when did I become such a terrible parent????, unable to say no or hold my ground), and ate about 10 crackers and a few chips & cheese with Matt (all of the eating took place after 5pm. Bailey ate an orange & some cheerios (after 6pm), Landon & I went out for dinner for Dimitri's birthday adn he ate a little. No one threw up after 11am, but we all slept quite a bit this afternoon. E even took a few naps on my lap and one on Matt's! E rarely ever sleeps unless he is in his crib so this was almost enjoyable for me!

On a happier note... E is communicating so much more just recently. Really I noticed it more on Christmas. He is saying a few words.

upee (when he wants to go upstairs)

eh-eh (for basically anything he can't say, no I don't really count this as a word, but I hear it so many times in a day it kinda is to me)

hot

dexter

doggy

pop (sounds like hot, for when his toast or waffle is in the toaster... it's what the toaster does)

I know there is more, I just have to think, I'll update this later

He also signs more too...more, thanks you and all done

Hopefully tomorow brings better health for all of us and I can get my house straightened up. I did get the bathroom cleaned like 5 times today (I guess someone was trying to tell me that I was taking to long to get to it) :)

Off to bed... plenty of rest, fluids and hand washing!

At least we made it through Christmas...

but now Ive got 3 sick kiddos! Matt & I were up lots last night cleaning up throw-up, and he got to leave for work this morning while I continue the task. At least teh older two can make it mostly into at least a bucket... #3 not so much though. I am just keeping the lysol wipes and spray handy so I can sanitize everything! Bummer for the kids too, Bailey was supposed to have a freind spend the night tonight and Landon had a birthday party at Laser Storm to go to... not anymore though! If they got it from who I think they got it from it shouldn't last to long at least! It's just dealing with the whinning & not being able to do anything for E!

Showing off

Just had to show off the super sweet necklace that my dear husband got me for Christmas (and here I thought I was only getting measuring spoons)! So, mine is a little different... the picture is the same, but the writing is my kids' names'!

Isn't that so cool????!!!! (OK, so he had hints... like 15 e-mails in the past 6 months from me, but he still ordered it, so I'm thrilled!) by the way, he got it from this blog... such cool stuff here and here! Totally recommend checking it out!

Hope everyone else had as good of a Christmas as we did! My tree is gone, living room rearranged (which is no small chore I tell ya), Matt & I just finished a game of Mario Party 8 on the Wii while the kiddies are all snug in thier beds! Matt is off to work tomorow, I think I'm headed to Target to get some organizing stuff (with 3 kid's, brave huh?)! Ideally I'd like to move the kids rooms around (switch E to main floor and L & B to upstairs), but that will have to wait til Matt's arm is healed a bit better! Who knows, maybe we'll sell the house soon... HA! Just kidding! That was funny huh?