The King and the Princess

Here is Harrison on his throne - doing what he does best...eating.
While Julia is wearing her crown jewels mopping the floor.

Four Miracles!

My friend Shari came to visit this week from California. It is the first time we got to meet each others 2nd child (the ones in the middle of the picture) It is amazing to me to look at this picture. We both had pregnancy losses and struggled with wanting children and here are four gifts from God. It was great to have them all together. It seems like just yesterday Braeden and Julia were little babies. Now look how big they are. Time goes too fast. We had a great visit.

The many faces of Dora

We have way too many Doras in our house!
A week ago Julia and I decided to gather up the Doras and have a Fiesta. These were only the ones we could find. It doesn't include the Dora house, sheets, blanket, clothes, bags, plates, silverware, underwear, sprinkler, hats, fruit snacks, toothpaste, the ones embedded into the ceiling....etc, etc. They are making a killing off her face! Stick a Dora on it and kids want it and we buy it. Some day we will have one killer Dora garage sale. By then no one will like her and we will be throwing it away!
Please no more Doras this year!

Mommy-Daughter Day!

On Monday Paul and Harrison went to his dad's house to watch Football.....So Julia and I actually had a day together - ALL By OURSELVES!!!!
We photo documented our day...here are a couple of pictures. We decided to go to a movie on our day. We went and saw Chicken Little. Julia said she liked it, but I think she was a bit bored with it. Here she is with her popcorn just after spilling it on the floor because the seat flipped her up when she sat down. So she sat on my lap the whole movie eating her popcorn, m&m's and sprite. I think that is what she likes best about movies. After the movie we went to Michaels to pick out a craft for her to do. She picked a "make your own goldenbook - Dora theme." I drug her through a linen store that was closing. By this time she was getting crabby so we picked up lunch and went home. After lunch we crashed on the bed and took a nap. It was a fun day with my baby. She is so sweet right now. I need to do more individual time with her. I don't even remember the last time she had alone time with me. It was nice.

Coconut Cake

This is my very first totally from scratch cake.
It was a lot of work, but it was beautiful. I did bake it a little too long (according to directions) so it was a bit dry - but the icing was fabulous!

Happy New Year to me!

Since Paul was complaining that I have not posted....I will post now at 12:50 AM on January 1st. Our company just left and I finished cleaning up the kitchen. I am a bit tired....
We had a good time tonight. Friends from Small group and friends from the past came over to eat and play games.
Another year goes by.....
Time is going so quickly now. My kids are growing faster every day. The last year was a challenging one, but a good one. Harrison has grown into a little boy this year. Going from 4 months old to 16 months old. He is so wonderful. Julia is almost four and has gone from rotten earlier in the year to the sweetest thing ever. She is so thoughtful of other people right now. She wants to snuggle and says she loves me all the time. It is a nice new phase!
Paul and I have had lots of together time. It has been 10 months since Paul quit TCC. It has been a journey to say the least. God has been so good to us. I have learned a lot this year. It is hard with him out of work- financially and just the fact that he is home all the time, but on the other hand I love having him here. Paul has also grown this year spiritually and emotionally. We have grown together. Our marriage is better than it has ever been. I love him so much. I know that we made the right decision when he left TCC. I know he has us in his hands. I pray that this next year we will be open to what God has in store. I think this past year has been preparing us for our future. I don't know what is out there...but I am ready.

Happy Birthday to ME!

OK, I am two days late writing about my birthday - as it is on the 12th.
However, I wanted to post how great my birthday was.
I can't remember the last time I had a good birthday. Normally they are just the same ole day and somewhat dissapointing. I guess I usually set my standards to high!
Monday Harrison woke up early so I went downstairs with him.
I soon hear little footsteps coming down the stairs -
"Happy Birthday Mamma!" Julia had the biggest grin on her face.
She then gave me a big birthday hug and proceeded to bring three presents down stairs one at a time. She was so proud of each one.
We spent the rest of the day going to Toys R Us and the mall to let the kids look at toys they might want for Christmas. We all had fun shopping and playing with toys. Julia has definitely picked her three things she wants for Christmas. I know she is getting at least two of them, the third is up for debate.
Harrison played with several things, but hasn't told us what he wants - besides a bag of pacifiers! So, he is going to get what we want him to get! I think he will have a stronger opinion next year.
So, why was it a good birthday???? It was fun being with my family. I got presents for the first time in about 5 years or more! I think the biggest thing was the excitement Julia had for my birthday. She was happy for me and talked about my birthday all day.
So here is a quick photo of me on my birthday. By the way, I am getting old. Aghhh!
If you are wondering what my gift was - maybe you can tell by the photo - Paul bought me a hair straightener. I love it!

Two little Indians

Julia had a Thanksgiving lunch at her school. They made Indian Head Dresses...
She had a great time. Her PawPaw suprised her and came with us.
They are so cute!

Christmas time is here.....

After a great Thanksgiving weekend (we went to my parent's cabin and took our friends Josh and Chanda with us) we drug out the Christmas tree. Julia begged us all the way home from the cabin to put it up. So Sunday after church she and I started to decorate. This has been the first year that she has been able to really participate in decorating (actually helping, not just getting in the way!). We hung pine cones on our little tree outside. Put up the nativity on the mantle (up high this year away from Harrison). We put out her Little People Nativity also. She loves that thing. She acts out with all the people. Most of them usually have boo boos and need band-aids. She sent all the Kings out for band-aids last night because Mary's boo boo on her leg really hurt. The angel kissed it, but it wasn't better yet. She just cracks me up.
Harrison is officially walking. He is so cute. He is so proud of himself. It is nice that he can get around a little easier. They both managed to climb into the middle of the tree tonight. I don't know if that is a good or bad thing to let them do.
Well, I am off to bed. It was a long night last night and I have to work tomorrow. Julia was begging me tonight to not go to work. She said she was going to miss me. She is also in this habit where she wants to "say goodbye on the road" which means Paul has to stand out with her in the cold, on the driveway, and watch me drive away. If she doesn't get to do that she has a melt down. So Paul does it for her.....good Dee.
Good night.

Beauty and the Beast

Here is my pepto bismol princess and the puppy.
This was the fall festival at church.

blah blah blah

I haven't posted in a while so I thought I better.....
We have all been sick at home. I think we may be on the mend - hopefully.
I have been working more this week. It will be nice to have a few extra dollars, but my body is not used to getting up that many mornings. The kids are a bit confused also. I missed getting to take Julia to school this week. That is important to me to connect with her teacher and pray with her on the way to school. One more day, then back to normal.
We have small group tonight. I am looking forward to connecting with everyone. It seems like it has been a long time since last Thursday. We are talking about "the joy of the Lord" tonight. Interesting topic. I think we tend to get joy and happiness confused. They are not the same thing. Happiness is a conditional thing and joy is a constant that is not based on situations. It doesn't mean that we are to have smiles plastered on our faces all the time. I think it means that when we are in tough situations we can still think about the Lord and what blessings we do have and what we are promised in the future and still have Joy in the hope of Him no matter the situation. It doesn't make the situation any less difficult or painful, but gives us hope.
There is my sermon for the day. It may be theologically incorrect, but that is what I feel God says to us in the bible.

My beautiful kiddos.

They are into taking every bit of tupperware out of the cupboard and getting in it. You are also warned that my tupperware is not sterile!
Julia and Harrison like to play outside. Julia makes sure that Harrison gets the broken car.
They are really starting to play together well. Julia is getting a little rough with him, but he will soon be bigger than her and will get her back I am sure.
I am not bias to Harrison, I just have more pictures of him right now. Julia is not big on the camera and he is such a ham.

Vege Day

Here is the picture of us when we went to see Bob and Larry at the mall a few weeks ago.

Pictures from the pumpkin patch

I love Fall!

ok it has been awhile!

I was reminded today that it has been awhile since I posted. Only 10 days! Life has been busy. We have been busy with church, small group,softball, hanging out with friends, work, and of course the children! That may not sound like much, but the time goes so fast when you have something scheduled every night. I do have a amazing thing I have to brag on myself about.....I actually have read two books in the past 6 months. Those who know me well, know that I don't read...besides Hand Hand Fingers thumb. Paul can read a book a day. I can't even imagine how many books he has read in the past 6 months!
I read Captivating by Staci and John Eldridge and The five love languages of Children. Both I highly recommend to all women and those with children. I am learning a lot about myself as a woman, wife and mother. I have sooooo much to learn! I struggle with wanting to be perfect. Yet I am so far from it. I have allowed myself to loose it many times recently. I am battling a 3 year old who wants to be head of the house hold. I battle wanting to control my husband who is the head of the house hold. And have a one year old who probably has control of the house hold! At least my sleep life.
I am learning to try to pray in all situations. I need reminding to pray over the little things. I Pray constantly with Julia that we can both control our anger and our attitudes. Before school yesterday we prayed in the car that Jesus would take away our angry eyebrows and help us to be sweet. I think He came through. We were both a little more pleasant yesterday.
God has us in such a great and difficult place. We are having to depend on God for everything these days. Paul and I seem to be growing spiritually. God has blessed us with new friends in our life and a somewhat social life! We are still waiting on God to bless us with a job and finances. However, he continues to bless us and we have not starved yet.
I love my family and all the time we get to spend together. I hope one day my children will appreciate all the quality time they have had with their parents. They may not have any college money or inheritance, but they will be well grounded with two parents that loved them and invested in their lives.

Pumpkin Patch

Today we took the kids to the Pumkin Patch at Walden Farm. It is a great little farm that is so generous to share with everyone. They of course sell pumpkins, but have lots of free stuff for kids to explore. My favorite thing is getting to see all the animals. They had a baby calf that was so cute and layed right by the fence and let you pet his head. He was so soft. Harrison pet his head too. Julia wasn't into petting anything this time. Harrison is still in the not afraid of anything stage. He freely wanted to put his hands into every fence...including the goat that would like to nibble on him. It is so amazing to see things for the "first" time with children.
If I ever get my pictures off the camera I will post one. I didn't get many as the camera battery died shortly after getting there - isn't that always the way!
Everyone is now in bed - 8:00PM and I actually have a moment on the computer.

New Link

I added a new link to this woman's blog.....Sweat Pants Mom.
I originally saw it on your blog Rachael.
She is so funny. I wish I could write like her. You need to check it out.

Runaway Moms (and Harrison)

My mom and I ran away this week (and Harrison too). Life has been pretty difficult here lately for both of us (Harrison's life isn't so difficult, just still attached to the mom). We decided to get away from it all for a couple of days. We met in Chattanooga. We basically ate the whole time. I am so sick of eating!!! (until lunch time that is) We did however eat wonderful food. We found a Greek restaurant that we ate at for every meal. It was starting to get embarrassing that we kept coming back, but the food was worth it.
It was fun to be with my mom. I miss getting to just be with her. Harrison was great. He enjoyed some alone time with us and might I add that he enjoyed all the eating.
I got back home yesterday afternoon. It was good to be home, but Julia was a crab all night and both the kids were up all night - I might need to run away again! At least get a nap, that might help. Back at work - no napping for me.

finally feeling normal

You will all be happy to know that I feel like I am back among the sain again. Man, I had a rough week. I guess it was hormonal. I don't like feeling that way. I really didn't like myself or those around me! I pray that I will at least have a normal three weeks before starting this all again! Paul will probably move out that week. The kids may too.
I have actually accomplished a few things today. Julia is back at school - praise the Lord. It sure is quiet around here when she is gone. I got a couple of closets cleaned out and the kids dresser. I can't take a nap because my sheets are in the wash. So, I will just enjoy myself on the computer for a few moments.

blahhhh

I am feeling so blahh today. I wish I could just snap out of it. I feel incredibly aggitated and down. I would just like to go have a good cry and get it over, but then again I don't.
These are times when I miss my "mommy." I miss not having responsibility and having someone take care of me 24/7. It is really hard to care for my family when I feel like this.