Oreo Cookies and One Shoe Missing

My son LOVES Oreo cookies. Example: Here he is at my dad's house chowing down on some Oreo cookies. Funny thing is, the only time he has ever had them is at my dad's house. Maybe 3 times now? But trust me, he knows what they are. And as I was going through my pictures I saw this one where he only has one shoe on!!?? Ummmm, I really don't know what to say about that one. I do know that he is the sweetest 18 month old I know! (Well, all my kids were/are the sweetest 18 month old I know).  He really is so sweet though.....I mean, just look at him! 

12 Years......Almost

Austin recently attended his first dance.....it was a Christmas dance and honestly I can't believe how grown up he is starting to look. He is my first born, my baby. I am so blessed to be his mom. Really. I'm not just saying that. He makes being a mom easy.....he really does. He will turn 12 years old in April and honestly I am kind of sad about it. I know that in about 6 years, he will be going to college and "coming into his own". And I know that I will miss him greatly. I will miss how he talks with me now, how he wants to spend time with me and how he tells me all about his day when he comes home. I know that he won't stop talking to me, but it will be different. We all change as we grow up and become adults. And we still love our parents and talk with them, but it is in a different way. And I will miss the way it is now. Don't get me wrong, I most certainly want him to grow up and become the wonderful man that I know that he will become. Lately I have just been realizing how fast time really does go by. How it really does seem like yesterday that he was a baby in my arms. And how sometimes we take things for granted......like how wonderful our children are and how we should cherish every minute. I am so proud of my son. He is the most wonderful 11 (almost 12) year old that I know. He is the most responsible child, he never gives up, he is understanding, compassionate, loving, sweet, smart, and always has a heart to help others and do his best. A lot of the time I sit and wonder how I ended up with such a child. All 4 of my kids are this way, exceptional. And I know that most mothers say this about their children, but I can guarantee you that I really believe it. It is a truly humbling experience. I am so thankful to God for allowing me to be their mother. My heart swells and I get a lump in my throat when I look at this picture. For so many different reasons.........because I am proud, because I have an overwhelming love for him, because I am sad at how fast he is growing up, because I will miss him when he goes out into this scary world, but most of all......it is because of the overwhelming love. 

Mr. and Mrs.

Today I have been thinking about when my hubby and I weren't Mr. and Mrs. yet and we were still in that "gushy" stage. You know, where you can't wait for them to call, you hope it's them every time the phone rings, and your heart melts when you see them. I have to say that sometimes I miss that. When you are married and have kids life is always so busy and you can easily get caught up in the day to day and forget those wonderful things that you used to always think about your spouse. I think that it is important to reflect on those times, to remember why you wanted to spend the rest of your life with this person. To ponder on the core of this person and all the good things that drew you to them in the first place. Today, I am pausing to remember all of those things about my husband. The friend that he was to me. The man that I fell in love with. The man that I married and the father of my children. I do miss those days now and then, but who he is to me now is all of that and so much more. And that only makes me look forward to our future and how deep our relationship will be in the years to come. Here is to you honey, I love you. 

It looks like we were really thirsty, huh!? This was about 5 months before we got married and we had taken the kids to the park that day. So, we had a water for everyone. I remember this day very fondly and I look at this picture often. 

Papaw and Nina

This is a picture of my Dad and Mom with my 4 kiddos and Evan's son Brant (Evan is my brother) at Christmas. Austin (my oldest) is the one that started calling my mom Nina when he was about 8 months old. We hadn't told him anything to call her yet, but he just came up with it on his own. It was very sweet! So, that is how she is known now with all the grandchildren, as Nina. And my dad's dad was called Poppa, so my dad wanted to be called something close to that....so Papaw it was. My kids love their Nina and Papaw so much! They pretty much hung the moon in their opinion. Here is to Papaw and Nina, we are VERY blessed to have them!! 

New Pic

This is a picture of my family at our Christmas gathering at my Dad's house the weekend before Christmas. I was being silly....trying to pose. Not sure why since I was in my workout clothes and no makeup, but I guess that's ok. If it's not, don't tell me. Ha Ha. We are finally all well. I don't think that I left my house for 2 weeks straight. Seriously. I hope all of you are doing well and I do have more pictures to post later. And I know what all of you are saying, "Yeah right!" But, I will get them on here eventually. Anyone have any ideas on a good digital camera that I won't have to get a loan for!?  

Sick.....Again

Remember how I said that I was going to post pictures!? Last weekend!? Umm, yeah, our house has been hit with some kind of sickness bomb. Caleb woke up last Friday with a fever and cold symptoms. But nothing that seemed too serious...there has been a virus going around. So that is what Jon and I thought that it was. Just a virus. Then Austin and Corey started with the same symptoms. Just a virus? Nope. Caleb was diagnosed on Wed. at the urgent care with pneumonia. In both lungs. Austin was diagnosed with bronchitis. And I took Corey to his Dr. yesterday just to be on the safe side. He wasn't running a fever, but has a bad cough. You know what they told me? That he has a really bad ear infection....in BOTH ears! Caleb had a shot of rocephin on Wed. and all 3 of them are on oral antibiotics. Austin and Corey are doing better today...Caleb is too, but his progress is much more slow. But he was the most sick of the 3. I woke up this morning not feeling so great myself. I am praying that I don't get what they have. Hopefully I am just tired. Needless to say, pictures and updates will come at some point. I just don't know when. However, there is good news in all of this.....we got a new computer!! WOO HOO!!!!!!! I am one step closer to being able to blog more and post pics more. Well, I can blog more now....but we all know that the pictures are what everyone wants to see. So, next on the list is the digital camera! I am praying for just as awesome of a deal on the camera as we got on this computer. It's brand new and was marked down like $600! How cool is that? All because someone had stolen the wireless adapter out of the box and no one wanted it. So it just sat on the shelf for 2 months. So they marked it down to clearance to get rid of it. Hello great deal!! We bought a wireless adapter and presto! Brand new awesome computer for way less!! I love it. Well, I'm going to get back to the sick kiddos. Corey is sleeping and the other 2 are watching a movie. Maybe mommy can take a quick nap?? Probably not, but I can dream, right!?

Happy New Year!

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. We have been really busy these past few weeks. I am hoping to have some new pictures up this weekend. My hubby and I went shopping yesterday to nail down what type of computer we want to get when tax time comes around. We are also shopping around for a digital camera that won't break the bank, but will be a really nice one since we are both interested in photography. So, soon I will be able to post all the time! Woo-Hoo!! (Well, maybe not all the time. I do have 4 kids). Well, just wanted to say hello to all of our family and friends out there and new pics are coming soon. Have a great weekend everybody!