Easter 2009

We have a wonderful Easter celebration! I am so thankful for the hope we have in our Savior Jesus Christ!! Thank-you so much Laura for LeAnne's dress! She looked so adorable in it! She enjoyed wearing the hat and twirling around in her dress. The first time she pickup an egg she says "ball" and then threw the egg. It was too cute! We had a very nice visit with Grandma Nana & Auntie Katie! My mama prepared a beautiful feast for sure! It was a day full of love, laughter and thanksgiving!!

Thankful Thursday

Good evening! Here I am again to share what I am especially thankful for this Thursday. In no particular order I am thankful;

1. My student's parents kept him home today so he could get well.

2. I was able to come home today to get some rest myself.

3. I was able to be here with my daughter who had an upset tummy today. It's hard to not be there for her all the time. I'd love to be a SAHM. I am thankful I was there to hold her while she was sick today.

4. I am thankful Abby is well enough to go out and play with her friends. PRAISE GOD!

5. I am thankful Stellan has had long periods of no SVT. Thankful for the amazing care he is receiving. Thankful surgery may be able to be postponed until he's older. Thankful for the love and prayers. that surrounds Stellan & his family.

6. I am thankful to be able to experience life through the eyes of my daughter LeAnne. It's so much fun watching her explore her world, to see the awe & wonder in her eyes.

7. I am thankful for Audrey. While I don't understand completely I know God knew her life and death would make a huge impact on the lives of many. I am thankful for Angie's gift of writing. The way she shares her journey touches many lives.

8. I am thankful for our Savior, Jesus Christ! I am thankful He conquered death. I am thankful to be saved by grace through his sacrifice!

9. I am thankful for my relationship with Jesus.

10. I am thankful for my family. I am looking forward to seeing my auntie & grandma this weekend.

11. I am thankful to be attending a week long training this summer at the WA state school for the blind. This will help equip me to teach my student. It will be very hard to be away from LeAnne for 5 days but I know it's important for me to be the best I can be for her.

12. I am thankful for the sunshine! It makes me smile, makes the birds sing and the flowers grow.

Happy 16th Birthday Amanda

It seems unreal that Amanda can be 16 years old today! It seems like just yesterday I met her for the first time. I met her for the first time on July 4th 2000 (I'm almost positive but sometimes the years run together. I know Amanda was either 7 or 8, it was July 4th, we did go horse back riding together and at lunch Amanda ordered a Chocolate Chip pancake. One of the things that attracted me to her daddy right away was how he interacted with her. From the first day I met her Amanda has had a special place in my heart. Our first camping trip together I went to tuck Amanda into bed and she says can you stay until I fall asleep, you'll know I am asleep when I start to snore. So I wait, waited some more and then WHOA Baby she began to snore and I remember thinking how can such a loud noise come from such a little girl. Hee hee

Amanda was my first real experience as a mama, being a step-mama isn't for the faint at heart either. I am thankful for the relationship we have! I am thankful her maw maw (mom) doesn't mind sharing her girl. I HATE, I mean absolute hate that we are so far away from her and get to see her less & less these days. I loved our monthly trips when she was younger though I always cried my eyes out when we left her. Summer has always been my favorite time of year because Amanda comes to stay at least a month and sometimes the whole summer! I LOVE IT! Family game nights are the best. Our most memorable vacation was to San Diego, CA!

Amanda has certainly changed a lot since we first met. Oh I loved the years when as parents we could do not wrong! Then she hit 11 or 12 and our IQ's dropped significantly. LOL! I use to love school shopping when we could pick out adorable outfits and she's agree. I have enjoy many fun, conversations with her as she's gotten older. I love watching her play with her little sister! She adores her. Amanda has such a kind, loving and gentle heart. She is very creative and artistic. I know God has big plans for our girl and I can't wait to watch them unfold. I pray for her daily and look forward to this summer when I can hold her close, and tell her I love her in person a ton of times.

I am a better person for knowing you, Amanda! You will always be the one who prepared me for motherhood...the older years! LOVE YOU SWEETIE!

Amanda & LeAnne Christmas Eve 2008


May 19th 2001 - Our 1st family photo


Amanda & Jana - 5/19/01


Daddy & Amanda - Christmas 2002

LeAnne LOVES dirt !

Spring is here! Spring is here! Praise God Spring is here! Thank-you Lord for the Sunshine today!!

John worked hard in the yard today. He's so COOL! He completed the raised planting bed that I will use for a small garden. He also planted the 3 Concord grape plants that my dad & Elaine gave us for a house warming gift! I am so EXCITED to have our own grapes. (well in a few years)

LeAnne was in the best mood today! Full of spunk, ready to explore everything, all smiles, and trying hard to put together words.


This girl is serious about her dirt! I
love her hair put up like this. Great job
Grandma Marcia. We think she looks like
a princess!



Hi mama!!


Where's LeAnne?



Peak-a-boo Mama!!

I wanna stay home with our girl!

Good Morning!

I can't believe how quickly Spring break flew by. It doesn't help that we've all been sick at some point this week. I am still trying to get rid of a nasty cough. I didn't get quite as much done on my to do list as I'd hoped this week, just wasn't my normal task master self but more importantly I had a great time being with John & LeAnne. I certainly can't wait until Summer vacation. The count down is on for June 11th!

The last few days have been so nice! We LOVE the sunshine! LeAnne loves playing in the dirt, playing ball with the dogs, collecting stuff, playing golf, and exploring. We had lunch with daddy on Saturday & LeAnne played for a bit outside.

In other news I've been teaching LeAnne more sign language to help her communicate with us while she's learning to talk. I make sure to say the word & use the sign at the same time. She is now using the sign for more during snack/meal times, and is starting to use the sign please & thank-you. I noticed how quickly she caught onto a song I used signs for so I thought what can it hurt to teach her signs to help with everyday communication until she's talking better. Anything to cut down on the number of times we hear "me,me,me" and her frustration because we don't get it.

I don't wanna go but I'd better go warm up my car & be off to work! Have a blessed week!
***************************************************************************

6 Month old bathing beauty gettin a bath
in Grandma Marcia's sink at her old house.
I love this picture of us together. I love you so
much lil girl!


Look at this leaf mama!



What shall I dig up next?



Oh!



Dirt is the best!

Lookin adorable in her OshKosh B Gosh

*Update* Funny story; LeAnne was walking around the kitchen this morning patting the dogs, or pretending to groom them saying the same thing over & over. I am slow so after a lil bit I get what she's saying "Sit". After I did a happy dance because she's learned another new word, I thought hmmm if someone didn't know us well they might think she was saying something with an sh in from of it. We don't swear much in our house at all and now we will have to be extra careful for sure. LOL! We do tell her to sit a lot though, especially when she's on the couch & in the bath tub, she likes to stand and we say no sit down. She's napping do I shower or keep cleaning the kitchen? ****

It's a good thing she is so adorable because WOW was she ever one crabby girl yesterday. I am pretty sure she's getting a head start on her terrible 2's. Every meal she threw at least 2 temper tantrums and watch out if this girl can't get what she wants does she ever get mad! Yesterday we were standing in line at Starbucks when she starts turning on the smiles for the nice old guy behind us. We get ready to walk away and he says "Is she always this good". Hee hee!

Well lil girl is waking up so off to get 0ne good morning baby nuzzle-wuzzle hug.

Happy Friday! Have an outstanding weekend!! It's expected to be really NICE here so I plan to take LeAnne to the park.

Thankful Thursday & Scrapbook Layouts

Good Morning!

I can't believe it's really Thursday already. This was certainly not the Spring break week I had planned (illnesses, and snow) but I am thankful I have able able to be home to nurse myself & my family back to health and watch the snow not drive in it. One lesson I learned through 5 years of infertility is that God does have a plan, it may be a painful journey, it may not make sense during the journey or ever, but God does have a perfect plan for our lives. I am thankful for my relationship with Jesus. I am so thankful for the peace I have through knowing my Savior!!

I am thankful for a whole week of nuzzel-wuzzle good morning baby hugs!!



I am thankful I am a scrapbooker who loves to preserve her families memories! I completed 6 scrap book pages yesterday.

Summer Fun with Sisters - Summer 2008


LeAnne's 1st tooth - No pix of teeth so next best thing is a picture of her sucking on ice since she did A LOT of that in her early teething days!



Our New Home - Feb 2008


Giggle - Looking adorable in her beautiful pink dress from Auntie Laura!



I am thankful my husband is a risk taker. He makes me step outside of my little box and try new things! I have not even admitted this to him but I really do like our new dinning area layout.



I am thankful that God has put it on thousand/millions of people hearts to pray, to encourage, to make donations to MckMama, Stellan & the whole Mck Family! I am in Awe of the support. I highly encourage you to take some time to explore her blog, watch the news story, and see all the places people have taken Stellan. You too will be in awe! http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ Please continue to pray because they have a long journey ahead of them.

I am thankful I boycotted my to do list yesterday to spend time with family & scrap book. I am starting to relax a bit and not get so wrapped up in having everything in it's place. Now that being said I did accomplish a few of the big things on the list with my hubby's help earlier in the week. (Christmas boxes away, bathroom shower curtain changed, bathroom fans cleaned and stainless steel appliances cleaned)

and last but certainly not least I am thankful for my daughter LeAnne's newest bath time game - she throws her rubber duckies to the other end of the tub, waves at them and says "bye bye", over and over. It's very cute!

There you have it, a glimpse into our lives, a few things I am thankful for this week my most recent scrap book pages. I would love to hear what you're thankful for! Praying your days are full of love, adventure & blessings!!!