Bring on 2011

I am excited for 2011 and happy to have 2010 behind us. I'm hoping that 2011 brings our family a healthier year. Payton will have to have an MRI in May, just for a follow up to the Syrinx in her spine, but otherwise I hope to have a quiet year. Some of my goals for the year are to get my house organized, learn to be more patient with my children, and more thoughtful of others needs. Each year we all make resolutions that we can't keep, I am guilty of that, but this year I want to try to be a little more simple in my resolutions. Maybe then I will be able to keep them. I hope the New Year will bring you happiness and joy. I am so lucky to have so many wonderful people who have come into my life over the years and who I still think of often. Every one of you is a very important part of who I am. I love you and am blessed because of you.

Have a wonderful New Year!!!

Christmas 2010

Here it is, the KITCHEN you have all been asking to see. Finally finished!!! And I'm so happy that Payton loves it. She has played with it nonstop today. Milan asked me, now that I am done with it, would I do it again? and yes I would. It was alot of fun to build and seeing the look on her face was worth it. These are my favorite expressions today. Payton lay on the ground for a little bit while trying to wake up, but once she got the hang of presents, she just wanted to open all of them hers or not. Ethan and Carson were so excited to get the number one thing on their lists and they showed it. Now if I could only keep these expressions when I ask them to clean their rooms.

We are so grateful for wonderful family and friends who love us and are always there for us. We are so blessed this holiday season to have you in our lives. Merry Christmas!!!

Payton's Surgery

Payton had sugery to remove a Lymphangioma on her back and to have her hernia repaired. Surgery went well and she is doing amazing.

We noticed a few months ago that the mass on her back was getting bigger and changing color so the Doctor told us it would need to be removed. His concern was it becoming infected since it was bleeing into the mass. She must have bumped it and caused it to start bleeding. We're glad it's over with and that she is doing so well. She is one tuff little princess.

Payton's photo shoot sneek peek

I had the kids' pictures taken yesterday since I haven't had them done since Payton was 6 months old. Mandie was kind enough to give me a sneek peek of Payton. I had to share because she did an amazing job capturing her.Thank you Mandie!!!

Phone Books

Do you ever wonder why we get so many phone books? I do. We have only been in Texas for just over 2 years and this is how many phone books we have collected in these 2 short years. A little excessive don't you think. I counted 13 books in my cupboard. Who even uses these anymore with the Internet. Big waste of paper.

Halloween 2010

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! My kids look forward to this holiday for months prior. Carefully planning what they will dress up as. This year Carson really wanted to make his costume. He finally decided on sherlock holmes. We found the hat and then went to the salvation army and found the jacket and trimmed it down to fit better and then made a vest to go with it. He was pretty excited about it.

Ethan is our indecisive one. He changed his mind so many times before finally deciding on being a SWAT member.Payton was the cutest little dorothy. She has been wearing her costume any chance she gets and throws a tantrum every time I try to take it off.

I finally got Milan to dress up so I had to document the event with a picture. This may never happen again, especially now that I've posted a picture of him.

Time Out for Women

I had the opportunity to attend Time Out for Women this past weekend with these amazing women. It was so great to be reminded that we are doing a good job and we are of worth. I feel like I left this weekend feeling rejuvinated and refreshed. I even feel motivated to do better and to be better. We need these reminders every once in a while because its so easy to feel frustrated with the things in our lives. We heard music from the talented Hilary Weeks. She shared stories, sang beautiful songs, and threw in a few jokes as well. She's a great performer. She is the other blond in the picture.

Chieko Okazaki was supposed to be one of the speakers, but due to health reasons she was unable to attend. In her place was Mariama Kallon. Chieko is a wonderful speaker, but I thourghly enjoyed listening to Mariama share her stories of survival and hope. She has a CD out with her story and if you really want to appreciate your own life more, you should get it and listen to it. You will find your life is so much better than you thought. Despite the horrible circumstances in her life, she is such a loving person. We walked up to meet her and she greeted each of us with a loving embrace. I am inspired by her, who wouldn't be.

We also had the opportunity to hear from DeAnne Flynn. Mother of 7 and she is fantanstic. She reminded me that life doesn't have to be perfect and I am doing amazingly well even though I don't feel like I am doing amazingly well. Life is about being happy with where you are and with what you've got. I wrote down one of her quotes that I loved...

"Where there is life, there is hope. Where there is hope, there is life. Where there is hope, there is Christ, Where there is Christ, there is hope."

DeAnne is the tall blond in the middle on the back row.

If you've never had the opportunity to go to a time out for women, I suggest that you go. It's a great way to feel the spirit and to learn more about yourself. And speakers have a way of making you feel like their message is just for you. I feel ready to take on my life again with a new perspective.

One last thought from Sister Emily Feeman, learn to see good days, not just have good days.