Picture perfect...well almost

So, we took the kiddos to get Christmas pictures made this morning. It took some coercing...(better known as a bribe) but we were able to get some good shots. I don't have any of those pics to share though. We had to go to Walmart's portrait studio (if you can call it that) because of what happened at Sears last Saturday. I made an appt at Sears and we get and it was a mad house...I knew it would be, but that was not the problem. The problem was that one of their cameras had broke down that morning and it took and hour and a half to get it working again so they were at least the far behind with their appt. Bethany, Chad and Keenan were with us. We still had some Christmas shopping to do so we choose to wait and shop around the mall. After almost an hour and half and me getting so frazzled and discovering my children are cleptos (I think Grant gave Kaylyn the bear while we were in hallmark, I did not find it until we were at the food court getting a cookie, someone came up to me and handed me a stuffed bear that was laying on the floor next to the stroller. I told them I didn't think it was mine and they said they saw her (Kaylyn) drop it. The bag was wet so I figured she had been chewing on it. See this bear was in the bag from FYE that Grant's Pokemon card had been in...so I came to the conclusion that Grant had 'given' Kaylyn the bear. So, I took it back, no one at Hallmark even had a clue, the store was so packed with people.). With all that I could not even shop we decided to go back to Sears. While we had been gone one of the afternoon photographers had called in sick so they were even farther behind and it was still going to be another hour or more. Are you kidding me! It was so frustrating and pretty more a waste of an afternoon. So anyway, that is how we ended up getting pics made at Walmart.

This afternoon we had Christmas play practice at church so I decided I would take the camera and get a picture of my kids in front of the tree at church to use for our Christmas cards. I only took two shots...hey beggars can't be choosy...they were both smiling and sitting still...I can crop it in later. So, I thought I would share these with you all.

Hey, I was pleased with the outcome...this is the one I chose....look at the end of this post for the finished product and let me know what you think :o)

After play practice we had praise band practice and Grant loves to 'play' the instruments. He really enjoys music. He started out on the keyboard and then moved to the drums.

Kaylyn had fun entertaining herself with the tree decorations...don't worry, it's plastic :o).
So, here is my pick for our Christmas card pic...I blurred out the edges and muted the colors just a little. I think it turned out well, I am very pleased.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Break here we come!!!

Woohoo! How exciting to start seeing signs of students leaving :o). I love the residents, the atmosphere and the social interaction but a break is always nice too. And everyone was especially looking forward to the end of this semester. This week has been particularly stressful since we had a student/assistant coach to pass away suddenly on Monday. Doris Wefwafwa from Kenya. She was a beacon of light, full of God's love. She was always smiling and everytime you talked with her she would say "God bless you" many times and mean it everytime. She will be greatly missed.


This has been uniquely hard semester, starting and ending on the same note...mourning the death of a student. So, yes, this break is much needed for many. It will be very nice to spend time as a family since Kenny will be off work as well. I hope we will take advantage of the time and make some good family memories.

So, after thinking about it...I realized I never shared this pics. I took this one Sunday after church in my pastor's front yard. Grant ran out and jumped in the leaves as we were leaving and I just happened to have the camera in the diaper bag so I was able to get some good shots of both kiddos.

Grant was wanting Kaylyn to have fun too. He was throwing handfuls of leaves at her.

15 days...what a whirlwind!

So starts the whirlwind of the next two weeks for us. This week is finals week so the campus is a chaotic place to be. The tests are the easy part. It's all the cleaning and packing and moving that has to be done by Friday that is the crazy part. Plus my RA's and I have planned stressbusters for each night to be kind of like a study break for the residents of the Village. I am really looking forward to a lower level of stress for a few weeks.
So, my Mountaineer is in the shop getting the breaks looked at, the ABS light has been coming on for about a week now. I am really hoping it is the back breaks...that will be a much lighter hit on the pocket book. And I really hope it is done today because we are supposed to be taking it to get it repainted tomorrow...the paint started flaking off the hood about 2 months ago. The guy that sold it to us has offered to help us out and is getting it repainted for us...Thank you God and thank you Terry :o).
And of course, we have all these Christmas parties. Then next week Grant has surgery to get new tubes in his ears. And we will stay in Louisville all week to spend time with Kenny's family. We will come back Saturday around lunch time and go to church for Christmas play practice. The play is Sunday morning then Monday we will be having a family get together at my parents house...eat, play games, gifts...the whole 9 yards. Then Christmas Day is here...I hope it doesn't go quite so fast. I would like to enjoy it and not just rush through it.
Well, with all of the things that are going on this week I also have to find time to get the kids picture made for our Christmas cards, which I also need to get out before we leave in a week..., wrap all our gifts, pack suitcases, and unfortunately I'm sure there are other things I am forgetting about right now.
I guess I type all this to say that the countdown has begun.
Take the time to enjoy this Christmas season!

Toys have many uses

Grant decided the tree needed a few ornaments since I had not yet gotten ours out of storage to put on the tree. He used Kaylyn's letter links to adorn the tree. It was so cute to watch him decorate the tree and of course I had to get a few pictures after he was done :o).

My Dancing Girl

I know this video is rather dark but I think you can still see Kaylyn dancing to the music from one of her toys. It was just too cute, I had to share :o) Sorry it doesn't play very long, the batteries went dead in my camera and it shut itself off. But at least I caught the moment!

What I am thankful for...

Well, I told Shelley I was going to be a copy cat, so here it goes...I will count my blessings, name them one by one, count my blessings, see what God has done.

1. First and the only reason these other blessings are in my life, I am thankful for God, his love, his son and my salvation
2. my husband
3. 2 beautiful, wonderful children
4. music and singing in the praise band at church
5. family
6. a loving supporting church family
7. wonderful friends
8. free housing, as cramped as it may be
9. warm house, heat
10. health
11. cochlear implants, Dr. Severtson, Dr. Windmill and Dr. Ewing
12. email and the internet so I can keep in touch with family and friends
13. all paper products, kleenex, toilet paper, diapers, wipes, paper towels, paper plates (it sure does make my life easier)
14. my digital camera
15. scrapbooking and supplies
16. sunshine
17. good babysitter
18. nap time :o)
19. a good head start program
20. little people hugs and kisses
21. a good, safe family vehicle
22. Kosair Charities
23. dishwashers (even though I don't have one now, I really wish I did!)
24. that am able to breastfeed
25. that both kids are sleeping through the night most nights
26. a extra large bath towel
27. indoor plumbing
28. tylenol
29. the ear drops the dr gave Kaylyn when she had an ear infection
30. scrapbook stores with work space :o)
31. when I get those few minutes to be by myself
32. my comfy lounge pants from Old Navy
33. all the students on this campus who love my kids and are willing to help out when I need it
34. the long Christmas break coming up! woohoo
35. the job I have so that I can be home with my kids
36. glasses/contacts so I can see
37. $2 movie night, though we don't get to go very often
38. payday! (and I am not talking about the candy bar)
39. almost being done with our holiday shopping
40. being able to take a nice long hot shower
41. a pre-lit Christmas tree
42. the Joy of the season
43. being able to get a hot meal from the caf if I want to
44. jarred baby food, and gerber puff star snacks
45. drive-thru windows
46. comfy shoes
47. cell phones
48. time to read to my kids
49. God's promise of a hope and future, and that it is all in his hands and not mine
50. not being able to read the minds of those around me :o)

Kids can sleep anywhere...Why can't I?

When Kaylyn gets her belly full she crashes. Not a care in the world. So relaxed.

Grant had been watching his daddy play a computer game. I watched his eyelids get heavier and heavier. He sat there a good 10 minutes sound asleep.

It just amazes me how children can get so relaxed and fall asleep anywhere, with whatever it going on around them. And me, I could go to bed so tired but lay there not able to fall asleep because my mind is racing with all the things I have to do the next day. Then I will just doze off and Kaylyn will wake up...just my luck. I am thankful that she has started sleeping all night again (darn ear infections). It is a perfect night when both kiddos sleep all night and I can fall asleep quickly.