Pat-a-cake...SO CUTE!!!

Blurb - Blog Book

Check this out! Want to forever save your blog? I think I know a few hard core bloggers (ahem....Angie...cough, cough) that this could be a really COOL way to show your kids one day how you were "cool like that" way back when! Pretty good price too!! Around $19 to start!

Blurb

I really dig how the blog can be forever preserved in a book. No worries about a server crash! Pretty neat huh???

G

The shirt says it all.

Chandler's First Year

His first year in photos! http://www.ginasphotos.com/Chandler_One.exe

It's officially over!

That's right folks, I have come to the time in my life where I no longer have a baby. Chandler has officially weaned from nursing. :( He nursed the longest and seemed the most attached to it (just like a man!). But at the grand age of 13 months, he's done. It was easy too...we just stopped gradually during the day, and night times were harder for me, b/c I like my sleep. It was easier to just roll over and "pop it in". But, this past weekend he didn't nurse at all. I am actually pretty sad about it. That was a special bonding time that we shared, and he is my last baby, and now it's over. It it weird to think that I will never be at that point in my life again. That I am no longer HAVING children, but that I am now raising little people. My job from here on out is to make sure that they grow into caring, sensitive, smart, well-rounded adults. ACK! Wish me luck. Justin and I have said, we learn from the past, so let's hope that we don't make the same mistakes our parents made. That we learn from our pasts and that these 3 beautiful children have happy and healthy lives.

Pretty deep huh? :) Goodbye to the baby years...bring on the rest of our lives!

"Far Away"

This time, This place
Misused, Mistakes
Too long, Too late
Who was I to make you wait
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
'Cause you know,
you know, you know

[CHORUS]
That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
and you'll never go
Stop breathing if
I don't see you anymore

On my knees, I'll ask
Last chance for one last dance
'Cause with you, I'd withstand
All of hell to hold your hand
I'd give it all
I'd give for us
Give anything but I won't give up
'Cause you know,
you know, you know

[CHORUS]

So far away
Been far away for far too long
So far away
Been far away for far too long
But you know, you know, you know

I wanted
I wanted you to stay
'Cause I needed
I need to hear you say
That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I forgive you
For being away for far too long
So keep breathing
'Cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Keep breathing
'Cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Keep breathing
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Keep breathing
Hold on to me and, never let me go

I love you babe! Miss you!!

Alive and well...sort of...

We made it to Houston 3 days before Christmas and it has been hectic (to say the least) ever since. Justin left Friday morning for 6 weeks in Virginia, and then will leave at the end of February for Bahrain. The next time we'll see him is the end of July for the girls' b-days. I forgot just how bad this sucks! To say it was easier with one child is an understatement. Faith and Chandler know no life without him and they both seem to be taking it harder that I thought. Faith keeps asking when he's gonna be home and Chandler doesn't sleep well at all. The girls also seem to be bickering and fighting more than usual, so that is frustrating as well. Although, it could just be that I am going at it alone, so it SEEMS worse. Who knows. So...that leads to an edgy, cranky mommy! I'm trying really hard not to be snappy, but I miss him too, and the lack of sleep isn't helping.

Anyway, keep us in your prayers. This is going to be a LONG LONG hard year!!

Chandler's Baptism

Unfortunately, this is the only photo we got. My camera wouldn't take for some reason, so here he is with Chaplain Holiman this past Saturday. I'm also kicking myself for not taking any group photos, but maybe I can snag Ryan and Angie on their way back from Orlando to grab a few of them together! :)

Faith's Christmas Program

Her 3 yr old class sang "Litte Drummer Boy" and "Jingle Bell Rock". SOOOO CUTE!!!

It's all over NOW!!

Right before this he did it all by himself, with us on the other side of the room. :( Where does the time go??



Then he got bored and did this!! LOL

SOLD!!

It only took since April, but the Lord works in mysterious ways. He knew that selling it any sooner would make it stressful on us as a family. The couple that is buying it doesn't want to close until December 29th, which gives us plenty of time after Falyn gets out of school. Now I can start looking for a place for us to rent in Houston. Everything happens for a reason! Thank you Lord!

Happy Halloween!!

Our Little Bride!

The Beast...

and Beauty (Belle)

Crusie Photos

Here ya go! Cruise

Day 1: Day at Sea (formal night)
Day 2: Cozumel, Mexico
Day 3: Belize, Central America
Day 4: Costa Maya, Mexico (sunrise pics)
Day 5: Day at Sea (sunset pics)
Day 6: Freeport, Bahamas

Photos of the "ship wreck"...that's the actual ship used in "Pirates 2 & 3"...they filmed in the Bahamas!!

This is my favorite from Belize!


Enjoy!

Viva la Mexico! (& Belize & the Bahamas!)

We're HOME from our cruise!! MUCH needed and MUCH appreciated!! We had a blast, but honestly, 7 days was too long! By day 5 we were really missing the kids and ready to come home! Had they been with us, it probably would have been ok, but we missed them. Don't get me wrong, the break from reality was NIIIICE, but 5 days was plenty! Here are some pics! I did NOT take my work camera with me (also NICE!), so all the photos you see are with my awesome little point and shoot Kodak!!

Blogger isn't being nice and letting me upload photos, so I am going to make a slideshow and link it here shortly!! :)

Peace!

Perspective

Come in. But don’t expect to find all the dishes done; all floors ashine;
Observe the crumpled rug, the toys galore,
The smudgy fingerprinted door,
The little ones we shelter here
Don’t thrive on spotless atmosphere
They’re more inclined to disarray
And the carefree, even messy, play.
Their needs are great, their patience small.
All day I’m at their beck and call
It’s “Mommie come! Mommie see!”
Wiggly worms and red-scraped knee,
Painted pictures, blocks piled high,
My floors unshined, the days go by.
Some future day they flee this nest
And I, at last, will have a rest.
And which really matters more?
A happy child or a polished floor?

Cutie Pies!!

I spent last week in Houston for some photo sessions. Faith and Chandler came with, while Falyn and Justin stayed here since she had school. One session was to be held at this park, so I took them with me to test it out. MAN, I wish Falyn would have been there too! WHAT a BEAUITFUL park!! Here's some shots of 2 of my cuties! Mostly Faith, since she cooperates more! You know they are adorable!! But I NEVER get shots this good of them!!

The day our world changed forever.

My thoughts and prayers are with those families affected by the tradgedies of this day.

(Happy 11th Birthday Niki! I love you baby girl!)

CAUTION: Vent

I don't even know where to start. I just need to vent, so bear with me.

Anyone who knows me, and knows me as a mother, KNOWS that there is NOTHING I wouldn't do for my children (yes, they are probably spoiled!), and also knows that I would NEVER in a million years do anything or put them in any situation where they would be harmed or hurt, etc. So, that being said...we have a Pitt Bull. Now, your first thought would probably be...WOW...why would she have that kind of vicious dog around her kids? Right? Let me inform you of something. OF COURSE, I had my doubts when we even first SAW these puppies...ok wait, back track a little. One of the softball moms is at our beginning of the season meeting and had photos of her puppies (yes, I am a SUCKER for puppies!), so I took them home to show Justin. He, naturally wanted to go and see them. I told him that nothing was for sure, we would just go and look at them. I needed a puppy like a hole in my head. LOL So, we go and meet the parents of the puppies, and watch them romp around with Falyn and Faith and they are laughing and having a great time...parents too. OF COURSE, I was a little intimidated at first, but WHY...the SAME reason you are....Pitt Bulls have a BAD rap. And that totally SUX!!

Ok, so now you know a little about the history...it leads me to this past weekend. Anyone that has been in my home, or around me with the dog KNOWS how much of a BABY he is. I will be the first one to put him down the INSTANT he shows any kind of aggression, but this dog...he's such a WIMP! LOL Literally!! We take him to the dog park, and other dogs bow up to him and he cowers...he's a WIMP!! We laugh about that, b/c he LOOKS so intimidating. I mean, come on...he's scared of the CATS!! LOL All THAT said, he is oh so VERY vocal when he is excited. It's really rather embarrassing! We have tried numerous things (aside from a bark collar), but it just makes him that much more intimidating. So yesterday, he has outgrown his collar and needed a new one. Now we have frequently taken him to Pets Mart, and he LOVES to go places with us, but yesterday was different for some reason. Once again, Bruiser made it known that he was there, and like I said, it's embarrassing, b/c it's LOUD, but dang it...everyone looks at ME like I am some sort of freak for having this dog around my children. One lady even said...he's pretty vicious huh? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? You do see me pushing this stroller right? Ok, yes, I admit, that bark is pretty deep, and the first time I heard it, I almost peed my pants, but COME ON LADY!! He's sitting here almost begging you to PET him!! One lady wouldn't even give him a chance, she totally walked the opposite direction when she saw him and heard him. We ended up buying him a new lead control to see if that helps with his pulling and may help calm him down in public, but damn. The cashier even said, "he really doesn't like other dogs huh?" YES!! That's the thing! He's VOCAL! We take him to the dog park and he barks crazily until we're inside the gate and he's off the leash! Then he runs around like a wild idiot playing & chasing with the other dogs.

UGH!!!!!!

Now, on Saturday we went walking around downtown and everyone would come up to him and pet him and talk to him. And honestly, that is ALL he wants. He screams for attention from people. That's pretty embarrassing too. LOL But he means no harm, and I have never seen him even remotely act like he would do harm to anyone. He just loves to play! He's a PUPPY for crying out loud! Ok, so I am off the vent for now.

If you're at my house, make a point to say hi to Bruiser, and make sure that your kids do too. They are sure to get a nice slobbery kiss on the face and hand, maybe a nibble on their toes too! :)

Watch this video, it's eye opening: http://gprime.net/flash.php/thepitbullproblem

And if you have a few minutes, educate yourself on the breed. They have SUCH a bad rep, and it's not fair. http://www.realpitbull.com/temperament.html

The "lap" dog!

LOL He thinks he's a lap dog! Little does he know he's almost 80lbs!!!

Me!!

So you never see much about me on this blog! Partially, b/c I am disgusted with how I look and partially b/c Justin just won't pick up a camera to save his life! LOL Anyway, I haven't had my hair done since December, right before Chandler was born, so it was due. I knew it would be a while, so the last time I went I had her put in more low lights. It grew out a LOT!! LOL Don't mind the pics...Falyn and Justin are still in training! ;)