sleigh bells ring.... are you listening?

'Hats off' to my aunt Susan for having another wonderful Christmas get together at her house. Our adult gift exchange was a hat exchange. It was a riot! We decided next year we are going to do socks... I really enjoyed meeting my little 'cousin' Logan. He's the new son of my cousin Dustin and his wife Christy. What a smiley little booger! He was so happy all day. I also enjoyed my cousin Matt and his wife Melissa's little 18 month old foster daughter Olivia. She and I liked each other at once and she cried when I left which tore my heart out! Grandma and Grandpa really seemed to enjoy the family album book that I created for them. Several other family members are ordering one too. You can view the book at this link: http://www.blurb.com/my/book/detail/504645 You'll have to cut and paste it since I can't figure out how to add the link correctly. It was a fairly nice day outside, besides the wind, so the kids (big and small) played outside and went to the park. You can see by the picture that Matt really enjoyed his ride on the little girl bike!
Matt on the bike.
Stefani and Olivia
Little Logan

Luke's word of the day

This morning Luke asked me if he could watch the weather.

"Weather?!", I asked, a bit confused.

"Yeah, you know, the meteorologist." He replied.

He never fails to surprise me with his vocabulary.....

Pete smiles

Finally I got Pete to smile for a picture! Do you know how hard it is to get a cat to smile?

Sooooooo long......

It's been so long since I've posted on my blog. So sorry! I've been busy with creating Christmas gifts and all sorts of other projects. My blog got neglected. Luke reminded me this morning that I needed to post something when I asked him why he was still sitting at the breakfast table instead of getting dressed (like I asked him to three times!). He replied, "Because I'm dating someone..." What a weird sense of humor! You NEVER know what is going to come out of that kid's mouth.

Fall Fest

Well, Joel has been gone about a week now...one more to go. I hadn't felt like pulling my hair out until this morning. I'm better now...Anyway, we had a great time last night. Liam won 3rd place for his Indiana Jones costume and Lily won second place with her nurse costume. Thanks to Willa Rae (aka Granny) for making both costumes. Our friend Shawn went with us. He was a convict...we hope he never wears the outfit for real!

Nora Schwieger

I am writing to let you all know that our beloved Grandma Nora finally got to go and be with Jesus today! She was so ready to go and Joel and I got to be right by her side until the end. What a blessing! I’m not sure when services will be, but it will most likely be next early next week. The family is all doing well, but they are sad of course. Joel is leaving tomorrow for Trinidad along with 4 other family members. Nora asked that they NOT cancel their plans because it was more important to do the Lord’s work than to go to a funeral. She’s a remarkable lady and has left an amazing legacy of which I am privileged to be a small part. I only hope that I can continue her ‘work’ and make her proud. I know when it’s my turn I will see her in Heaven and I’m filled with joy and hope. Xo, Stefani

yellow makes me sing

There's a praise and worship song we've been singing in the car and it goes, "Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Your love makes me sing". Luke misunderstood the lyrics and sings it, "howareyoula, yellow makes me sing!" A few days ago, Liam was trying to say, "Curses you truck!" (something he heard on TV) when a truck pulled out in front of us. Instead, he said, "cursive you truck". Lily calles Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory "Hoo Ha Doopy Doopy" because of the song that the Oomp Loompas sing. I really enjoy each and every funny thing they say!

Lil & Pete

Pete is really growing. He's so big now that when Lily holds him, he's feet drag the floor. He tolerates her so well. I can't believe how she wallers him and he just sits there and takes it.

Skateboard party

Luke wanted to skate board for his birthday, and so we did! We had a nice, safe time. The birthday cake Granny made was so cool!

Sharpie alert!

This is what happens when Mommy is too sick on the couch to pay attention to Lily.....

Luke's party at Shogun

We had such a great time at Shogun for Luke's bithday. He loves cooking so this was right up his alley! I had the flu that night but I went anyway and I'm so glad I did. Lily enjoyed the food so much she said, "Daddy, I yike it, you yike it?!"

Well......

Okay, I don't know if I FOUND my mind or not, but God has been so merciful to me. I've been away from my computer (at least, on it very little) and spending more time with Him. Here's a short synopsis; I have reflux, my medication quit working, switched, switched, doubled the dose, switched again. Started getting numb and tingly in my arms and legs. Then the weekend before labor day weekend my whole left side of my body was numb to the touch. Spent the weekend in the hospital. Doctors said I have anxiety. Taking Zoloft. Helps with anxiety. Still numb in spots and have muscle twiching all over. NOT taking any medication for my stomach and it feels great! Neurologist is doing lab work, MRI of the neck, and a nerve conduction study. So....all that to say, only God knows what's wrong with me and He will heal me in His own time or not as He sees fit. Until then, I'm learning to be patient and trust in Him, thankful that His hope is new each day.

Crazy

I've gone a bit crazy.... be back as soon as I can locate my mind....xo, S

Isn't she lovely?!

I know, I know, I'm TOTALLY biased, but I think Lily is so lovely. Her personality is really starting to show. As much as it can be a trial, two is my favorite age. It has been with all of the kids. Lily is my choleric personality, with a little sanguine thrown in for fun. We watched a friends little boy last Saturday and she mothered him the whole time. Liam is melancholy and Luke is sanguine/phlegmatic. Or in other terms, I have an Eyore (Liam), Tigger (Luke), and Rabbit (Lily). Lily loves to sit at her 'desk' while I'm working at the computer. The desk is really a set of 3 nesting tables, but they are just the right fit for her.

Good bye old friend

It was a hard day for Lily. She had to let both of her brothers go to school then I decided that it was time for her highchair to go too. I have to confess, it makes me a little sad to get rid of it, just because it holds so many memories for me. We've had it since Liam so all three kids have used it. Lily was so upset when I moved it to the laundry room. She just stared at it and cried like she knew it was gone for good....

Luke's 1st day of kindergarten

Luke did great today. He was nervous, but excited. I walked him to class and he was like, 'yeah, yeah, would you go already!' He didn't need me at all. What a big boy!

1st day of second grade

Liam was so nervous this morning. He kept having to go to the bathroom and he said he felt like he was going to throw up on the way to school. I felt so sorry for him. Once we got there, he seemed better. The teacher across the street from us told me there are 1,000 students in the school this year! Many of the teachers have 25 students!

Piggy tails

Lily looks like a little Swedish doll with her 'half' pig tails. This profile of her looks just like her ultrasound profile. I remember thinking that I hoped her big lips and prominent nose were going to be cute!

Two-thless

Liam came to us one day last week and said he had a tooth loose (remember, he just lost his first one not too long ago). The next day we were eating and Luke complained about his tooth and said he thought his was loose too. I couldn't believe it, but then again, he got teeth at a much earlier age than Liam. Sure enough, his exact same tooth as Liam. It was practically falling out. Anyway, this morning I finally talked them in to pulling them out with some thread. Luke was very reluctant. He said he was wanting to wait until he was 6 (five weeks away!) so he could get more money. They get a dollar for each year old they are. I KNOW! It's robbery! But the ol tooth fairy does that for their friend across the street and he was so kind to share that information with my boys, so now tooth fairy feels compelled to do the same for them.... I finally remembered to take their picture before they went to bed.

Hip Hoppers

Since it has been so stinkin' hot outside, the kids have invented some things to play indoors. One of these is a dance party. They put in one of their favorite cds and dance and jump around the living room. For some reason, it includes removing shirts and putting on hats sideways. Lily comes running to me saying, "I want shir off!" Luke got out the video camera to get some footage. I'm so glad that he thought of it! We haven't done much video lately. School starts on Wednesday and I'm going to be sad when the boys aren't here. It makes my heart ache to know that most of their day will be spent away from me and I won't get to see every little thing they do and hear what they say. On the other hand, my house SHOULD stay a bit cleaner...

So Two

Lily is well.....two. What can I say? She's adorable one minute and a brat the next. Just now I was trying to get all the kids in bed. Lily got in to my purse and took out some gum (after I took a permanent marker away from her). I made her put the gum back and told her that she was not allowed to get things from my purse. I went to change the laundry over and she came along chewing on a piece of gum... from my purse. She said, "I got gum!" and smiled, so proud of herself. She got her first 'big girl' spanking after that comment. Which means she had to come to the kitchen and put her hands on the counter... I asked her to go to her room while I tucked the boys in and she screamed the whole time until I came in to her room. She's got the drama act down for sure. Whew! Girls are sure different... Here are a few pics of her being adorable. We took the side off of her bed so she could get in and out. Then she learned to open her door to her room, which lead to the garage, which leads to outside.... you get the picture. She loves her daddy, especially when he will 'nuggle her and read her books.

Today's funnies

The boys have been playing Guitar Hero on the Wii. One of the songs is called 'Slow Ride', but Lily sings it Snow White! She shakes her hips back and forth sings, it's really adorable.

We were leaving to go to the pool and Lily was saying something that none of us could understand. Luke says, "I can't speak Spanish!" What a goober!

Layout

I just finished this layout of my stepdad and I loved it so much I had to share it. (paper and wordart are from Taylormade designs casually blending in paper and Oscraps anniversary word art freebie)

Luke's phrase of the day

Joel cut the boys' hair when he got home from work. I was commenting on how nice they looked and Luke said, "This haircut looks dashing!" He's right, it does, but where did he get that word?!

Tree climbing

The boys have been having a blast with the neighbor boys this week. They climbed their first tree and they've been playing in the flooded park. They've had so much boy fun. It's a hoot watching them do things that I did as a child!

July 4th Happy birthday USA!

This is a little late getting posted, but better late than never right!? We had a great time on the 4th and again on the 5th. We enjoyed Harry's deeeelicious BBQ at Charla and Jason's house, then when to the Ferguson's for fireworks. Jake had fun on the swing, but Owen hated the loud booms. On the 5th we headed over to Wayne's house and ate, rode the 4 wheeler, and shot off fireworks. Here's one cute picture of Lily with a surprised look on her face as the neighbor's shot off their fireworks.

Luke's phrase of the day

Pete the kitty ran away from Luke and Luke said, "But Pete, I thought we had a friendship!"

Introducing...... Mr. Toothless

Yesterday was a huge day for Liam. He finally lost his first tooth. Everyone of his friends has started losing teeth forever ago. He was anxious to join them. He's had a jiggly tooth for weeks, but I couldn't get him to work on it. Last night I offered to pull it out with a string and he agreed, much to my surprise! I tied on a piece of dental floss and pulled on the count of two! The tooth came out easily and flew out so fast, it hit me in the knuckle and made it bleed! He bit me without the tooth in his head! The tooth fairy brings Anthony (see picture) our friend across the street a dollar for each year in age, so that's what the tooth fairy brought Liam. Now he is one tooth shorter, $7 richer, and soooo adorable!