The Loper House

2011-02-21T10:38:00.000-08:00

I am sitting down to my writing place again. Does anyone blog anymore? Not that it matters. I have been asked to write again and talk about my life now and how I got to where I am. I think about it and wonder where to start. You know who you are so know that I am at least thinking about it. 8o)
It is weird how it feels like I have two lives now. One, with Randy and two, my life now. I live in both all the time. Didn't I say weird? I love my family and friends and without them where would I be. A very scary thought indeed.

2010-07-16T16:21:00.000-07:00

I can't believe one year has come and gone. I have learned so much this year. About life and about myself. My emotions have been up and been way down.
I have learned that I have the most awesome friends in the world!! They have been there for me in thick and thin. In the happy times and in the sad.
I have done alot of things and traveled to alot of places and I have learned that you cant run away from problems or grief. Its always there to meet you when you get home. It is easier to face it and get it over with. I have learned that I can do things on my own. Things that I never thought I could do. I have learned to ask for help when I need it too. I know Randy would be proud of me for all the things that I have learned to do myself. I was thinking this when I mowed the grass the other night with the BIG lawn mower he would never let me use because he said"I couldn't handle it". Yea, I might not be the nerd he was with the finances but I haven't forgot to pay any bills. I have kept the budget for the most part too.
The kids and I miss you so much Randy.I miss our talks and the way we worked together. I wish you were here to pay the bills and romp with the boys and take the girls out for their birthday breakfast. I know you are in a better place and we will see you again some day. For now we are making it and moving forward. Doing what we think would make you happy.
I found this poem and I leave you with it.......

Those of us who have traveled a while
Along this path called grief
Need to stop and remember that mile
The first mile of no relief.

It wasn't the person with answers
Who told us the ways to deal
It wasn't the one who talked and talked
That helped us start to heal.

Think of the friends who quietly sat
And held our hands in theirs
The ones who let us talk and talk
And hugged away our tears.

We need to always remember
That more than the words we speak
It's the gift of someone who listens
That most of us desperately seek.

9 months

2010-04-12T20:31:00.000-07:00

One of our very good friends took his little boy with him to visit Randy the other day. As soon as he sat him down he reached up and touched Randy's face.Randy never got to meet the little guy. He would have loved him I know! This picture is precious to me.
9 months of missing,loving,longing,asking why,wishing,asking what if,

crying, running, wondering.

Even with all that we have good days. Somedays it is hard to see the sun but I know its there I just have to find it. I love the words to this song.....

Last night I had a crazy dream

A wish was granted just for me. It could be for anything

I didn't ask for money

Or a mansion in Malibu

I simply wished, for one more day with you

One more day One more time

One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied

But then again I know what it would do

Leave me wishing still, for one more day with you

First thing I'd do, is pray for time to crawl

Then I'd unplug the telephone And keep the TV off

I'd hold you every second. Say a million I love you's

That's what I'd do, with one more day with you

One more day One more time

One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied

But then again I know what it would do

Leave me wishing still, for one more day with you

So real...So Final

2010-03-29T21:09:00.000-07:00

Today I got a phone call and my heart sunk. Its one of those things I wanted but when it came right down to it I didn't. The stone had been delivered. After almost 9 months its was finally here. I couldn't stop crying. It just makes it so real. He is really there now. I didn't want to leave him. Standing there alone I just wanted someone to hang on to.

I took Konnor on the way to his swim lessons. He just stood there and looked at it. It all seems so unfair!

It is beautiful. I know he would love it!!!

some picture updates

2010-03-15T22:45:00.000-07:00

Kaitlyn took this picture of my niece Madison and Randy's Grandma. I think it is precious!!

My cousin came to visit last weekend and brought his girls. Megan and Alexis got along so good. Yes Megan is on her knees. Alexis is so small I couldn't get the picture right with Meg standing up.LOL
The 3 dirty faced amigos. My cousin's other little girl Kember. Her and Konnor were best buds. The played together so good. I love this little girl.

I went to FL two weekends ago. I needed some away time. This day was a perfect beach day.

About a month ago when we got all the snow we went sled riding with friends. I loved this picture that our fried took of Konnor.

Yes, I know that I don't have any pictures of Katie but she is boycotting the camera right now. I think it is a 13yr old thing. I will post some pictures of my San Diego trip soon.

6 months...........

2010-01-10T18:08:00.000-08:00

I love you Randy and I miss you so much! I cant belive it has been 6 months since I last heard your voice or felt your touch. With hope I will see you again. I hope it is soon!!!!

Key West,FL

2009-12-14T10:35:00.000-08:00

At the southern most point in The USA. Yes, I know my eyes are closed but there was a huge line of people behind me and when you have the person in line behind you take the picture you cant inspect it and ask them to take another one. 8o)

The B&B where we stayed

our room

I love Pelicans and this guy just stood there and posed.

My shrimp and bacon club sandwich that I had at an open air restaurant on Duval St. in downtown Key west. It was yummy

The best Key Lime pie in the world is from the Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie factory. Mmmmmmm good!!!!

The beautiful Sunset

The view from our room door. The bright light is the sun shining on the water of South Beach.

The seven mile bridge that you cross going through the Keys. The water was so clear that day. Very pretty. You can enlarge it to see how long the bridge was. I couldn't get it all in the picture even.

Thanksgiving Day

2009-12-14T10:12:00.000-08:00

Chad doing turkey duty!

The Kid table

The adult table

Three cousin buddies

My yummy cake that I made. LOL it fell apart so it is held together with Popsicle sticks. The poor thing got made fun of so much. Then Chad dropped a cup in the middle of it. I had to take it home with me since the turkey was taking up all the room in Bek's fridge. On the way home I stopped at a red light and my camera flew off the seat and landed in the middle of it. It tasted good though when we did end up eating it.Despite all the rude comments it got! LOL

2009-12-13T20:46:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't said much as of late about Randy and how I am doing. Reason being is I have been pushing it away. If I don't think about it I don't hurt as bad. Tears are falling right now. This week has been hard. Different things, different conversations, made me think. I miss him so much. I feel so alone at times like this. The kids are all in bed and no one to talk to or cry to. so I sit and write. it helps me to write how I am feeling.. This week Konnor sat in the chair across from me and said" Mom, is daddy ever coming back? I said" No, baby he is not ever coming back" He said" I just miss him so much and I want him to play with me again." It just tears this mommy up inside. Then I got the proof for Randy's grave stone. I had been looking for it but to actually see it was another finality slap in the face. It is really real. This week I had a thought cross my mind to call him again. Will it ever go away? To sing in the Christmas program choir tonight without him was horrible. I cried on the way to church and got some of it out of me but to actually stand up there and not hear him behind me and when Pastor Hooker said something in his prayer about people we love spending their first Christmas in Heaven I lost it again. You can scroll down a couple of posts and hear Randy sing his solo in last years choir. I loved to hear him sing.
On our way to the kid's program practice Megan asked if we could go in the cemetery to see daddy. As I came up on the cemetery Kade started saying" daddy daddy!" He knows Randy is there but if you ask him where daddy is Kade will say" Church". Its amazing what a 2 year old will remember. If I let myself think of how much Randy loved his kids and him not being here with them I just can't stand it.
I know we all think of what it would be like if we weren't here. Maybe I am the only one who has done that. If only Randy knew what it is was like without him here.
I cant even get into the Holiday spirit. I try for the kids but its not the same. Randy and I always took a whole Saturday and did our Christmas shopping. It was fun and it was a time we could spend together having fun. Last year we finished up then went to Starbucks and tallied up the checkbook. We loved spending the day together. This year I am struggling to get any shopping done. Either I don't have the time or I don't feel like it.I just want it over with so I can mark one more "first" off my list. I know it sounds bad but its true.
I told a friend this week it makes you feel better to cry but after this week I am tired of crying.This week I have cried till I have headaches, cried at the dinner table while my kids looked at me funny, cried driving down the road, cared for 4 throwing up sick kids, drove 17 hours home from FL with 1 throwing up kid, cleaned 4 houses, went to 2 program practices,and a Sunday full of Christmas programs. This week is looking to be just as busy. Hopefully no sick kids though.
I wish I could just go hide away on a warm beach somewhere where I didn't know anyone and pretend life is a bed of roses. I would just sit there and wish Randy was with me so why bother.
As always I love my friends!!! They call me, text me, keep me awake when I have been driving for 17 hours,give me hugs, support me and cry with me. I love you guys so much!
It is easy to sound like gloom and doom is my life when I am feeling down but it isn't always like that. I did have a good time in FL with my sisters. To get away and do something different for Thanksgiving was nice. I will try and post some pictures soon. Well it off to bed for me. Tomorrow starts another busy week.

I love my sisters

2009-12-09T19:20:00.000-08:00

2009-11-18T17:52:00.000-08:00

In the entry way above the door going into the dining room

In the half bath on the main floor
I finally got the expression up that I got from Uppercase Living. The top one my wonderful friend Sarah H. gave me that she never put up. I love them! They add so much to my walls. Thanks to my friend Jessica H. for coming over to put them up for me. Now I want some more.LOL not for a while. I need to save my pennies. TTFN

4 months

2009-11-12T22:34:00.000-08:00

I dropped a tear in the ocean. The day you find it is the day
I will stop missing you. ~Author Unknown~

2009-11-06T20:38:00.000-08:00

Just when you think you are doing good it hits you again. Grief is a weird thing. The pain is always there,so intense, but you go through your day like normal because you have to.I still clean up Kade's messes, do laundry,dishes, and cook. But at any given time or moment a big wave will hit you and down you go again. I cry at the drop of a hat and sometimes I want to cry and cant squeeze a tear out. Some days I feel I can do this other days I don't think I will make it another hour. The tasks are overwhelming and I look to the future and wonder how i will ever make it. The loneliness is to much to bear at times. I miss having Randy come home at the end of the day. Just knowing he was there would relieve the stress. Now I have no relief. I get angry but I don't know who to be angry at. I have to learn to take control of my life and learn to do things on my own. It is just one step of acceptance. It is so much easier said than done. I don't want to do it on my own but I have too.
I am dreading the holidays. I am running away this Thanksgiving. I don't want to be at home. I have to go and do something different. I am stepping out of my comfort zone and driving to FL. I hate driving long distances. Especially with 4 kids but I no longer have a trucker driver husband, who loves to drive, to drive me places so I have to do it on my own. I can do it and I will!
Slowly the fog is clearing and I am trying to get back into a routine of sorts. If there is such a thing. For those of you who know me,know I am a coupon queen.I love saving money at the store! This week I cut my first coupon since Randy died. It felt good. In 4 months I haven't had anything in me to want to do anything that was normal. I haven't started and finished one book.I want to but I cant keep my mind focused long enough to do it.Its weird how my mind wont let me do these things. In an instant of time my world changed. Nothing,Let me repeat, nothing is the same. nor will it ever be. and for a person who hates change that is something hard to swallow.
I am so thankful for my friends. They get me through my darkest hours. From the texts, the phone calls, the invites,letting me cry on their shoulder, or going to the cemetery to just talk. I feel so needy sometimes and such a burden. I hope someday I can pay them back a tiny fraction of what they have given to me. You know who you are. Thanks!!
I leave you with this...... Be thankful and live for today. You never know what tomorrow will bring or take away.

I Miss

2009-10-25T22:41:00.000-07:00

2009-10-23T23:31:00.000-07:00

Just for today I will try to live through the next 24 hours and not expect to get over my husband's death, but instead learn to live with it just one day at a time.
Just for today I will remember my husband's life, not his death, and bask in the comfort of all those treasured days and moments we shared.
Just for today I will forgive all the family and friends who didn't help or comfort me the way I needed them to. They truly did not know how.
Just for today I will smile no matter how much I hurt on the inside, for maybe if I smile a little, my heart will soften and I will begin to heal.
Just for today I will reach out to comfort a relative or friend of my husband, for they are hurting too, and perhaps we can comfort each other.
Just for today I will free myself from my self-inflicted burden of guilt, for deep in my heart I know if there was anything in this world I could have done to save my husband from death, I would have done it.
Just for today when my heart feels like breaking, I will stop and remember that grief is the price we pay for loving and the only reason I hurt is because I had the privilege of loving so much.
Just for today I will not compare myself with others. I am fortunate to be who I am and to have had my husband I had for as long as I did.
Just for today I will allow myself to be happy, for I know that I am not deserting him by living on.
Just for today I will accept that I did not die when my husband did, my life did go on, and I am the only one who can make that life worthwhile once more.

I found this today and it spoke to me. I have been at the bottom emotionally lately. Most days I feel as if I can't go on. Will it ever get better I ask myself? Some day it will I am told and I am looking forward to that day! I miss Randy so much!!!!!

Another birthday

2009-10-17T10:43:00.001-07:00

Another birthday to celebrate. I cant believe I have a teenager. It seems like only yesterday that Randy and I brought her home from the hospital. Where does the time go? Kaitlyn is so helpful to me. She does things without me even asking her. She is a good babysitter too.I am so proud of her. I don't know what I would do without her!You are a beautiful girl and I am so glad you love Jesus! Happy 13th birthday Katie Bug!! I love you!!!

Happy Birhday Konnor

2009-10-12T05:44:00.000-07:00

I am a little slow but I wanted to post and tell everyone that my big boy is 5 now. It is so hard to believe. I remember the day we found out we were going to get our boy. Randy was so excited! He arrived weighing 8 lbs. 9 oz..He was so cute. Then we found out he was sick. He was born with pneumonia. So he had to stay in the NICU for a week to receive antibiotics. It was hard for this mommy to leave her baby but I was there everyday holding him for hours and hours. He did great and grown into a big boy today. Konnor is such a good and sweet boy. I love you Konnor so much!!!

2009-10-05T11:36:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to introduce to you the newest members of our family. I have had enough of doing laundry in the worlds smallest washing machine! I have been so overwhelmed with all of my responsibilities as of late and my laundry never gets done. Several people have told me to check into getting new ones. Well this weekend there were sales and I shopped around and did some research. One store price matched plus beat the competitors price by 10%. I saved $400 each on these. My washer washes around 7 bath towels plus a few little items this one washes between 24-28 bath towels. It will wash a king size comforter. Can you tell I am excited? I will get them on Friday so I will give you a review after I use them a couple of times. TTFN

Review time:

1. I love these new machines!!

2. The washer does hold 3 baskets of clothes like advertised.

3. No it doesn't hold 28 bath towels. I had 14 towels, all of the washclothes and hand towels and a set of twin sheets in one load.

4. It doesn't hold a king size comforter. It does hold my queen sized one nicely though.

5. I cant stand to watch it wash my clothes.( it has a glass lid) I say there is no way my clothes are getting clean with so little water. But they always come out clean and smelling nice.

6. Did I tell you I love these machines? 8o)

2009-10-05T09:55:00.000-07:00

The whole group

My good friend Tamra and I

I know this is a little late but I wanted to post about the surprise birthday dinner that my friends planned for me. They planned and schemed and got me to the Cheesecake Factory all without me knowing. I guess I am a little naive. We then walked around till 10:00 shopping. It was a fun night with a bunch of great friends. Thanks guys, I love ya!!!!

Missing

2009-09-28T07:36:00.000-07:00

Wher do I begin? The dark hole around here is still here. There are alot of emotions flowing around here and it has been hard as of late. It gets better then its gets bad again. We are are missing Randy so much! Its just not right that he is not here! The kids are missing him something awful. The other night Konnor said" Mom, I wish daddy would come back to our house again". I have found Kade sleeping with the picture of Randy and him. I think its makes me most sad to think of all Randy is missing with with them. Kade has started talking so much. Something Randy never thought he would do .8o) It is just weird without him around here. Its the small things we miss the most now. Putting the kids to bed and the special things he called them. Katie said" I just want to hear him call me Bug again." The way he would chase the kids up the stairs and be up the stairs in 2 giant leaps. I hate going alone to functions. Its not the same without him. My friends help but its not the same. I have the most awesome friends in the whole wide world!!! They keep me going.
Just trying to keep things going around here keeps me busy and I hardly have a spare minute. I need to get the fall decorations out. Just one more thing to do. I am becoming a list person. Something I vowed to never become. LOL Well it another busy Monday so I need to get moving.

My Megan

2009-09-02T15:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my Megan turned 11 years old. She loves her birthday.She actually put balloons on the mailbox so everyone would know it was her birthday. LOL Randy always took the girls on birthday "dates". Well, Randy's dad filled in this year and she chose Chipotle ( her favorite). Grandma bought her donuts for breakfast and enough to share with everyone.8o) She is into horses right now so she got alot of horse stuff for presents. She is joy and I love her very much.

2009-08-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

I am missing Randy alot tonight!I just want to talk to him again. I am not stumbling through my days like a zombie anymore but the black hole still envelops my being. I feel as if I am in the middle of a scary dream that I cant wake up from. The smallest things make me burst into tears. Would somebody please wake me up!!!

2009-08-12T20:22:00.000-07:00

In the midst of everything going on around here my baby has turned two. Kade is many things. Super cute, funny, honery, a mess maker, and a great snuggler. Randy was known to say"if he was our first he would've been our last". LOL He is the only one out of four kids that we had to baby proof the house for. He definitely adds spice to our house. I cant believe he is two already. He is very much loved in the Loper house!!

Empty

2009-08-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

I feel so empty. I drove home from church Sunday night alone. My van felt so empty. My bed is so empty. I have no one to share my deepest thoughts with. Last night I cooked dinner for the kids and I. His chair at the end of the table was so empty. My heart is so empty right now. The only thing that is not empty is my tear ducts. They overflow quite often. I cant seem to stop them these past couple of days.
My boys are missing their daddy so much right now.On the way home from FL a semi truck passed us. Kade started yelling' Daddy" over and over and waving like he thought it was Randy in the truck next to us. Yesterday at lunch he looked at me and said "da da" and held his hands up as if to ask" where is he?" When ever the phone rings he runs to it and says" da da" He loved talking to Randy on the phone. Konnor prays at dinner for his daddy to come back or today while driving down the road asks when he can see his daddy again. It absolutely kills me. I don't have the words to give them. They don't understand. I don't want them to forget their daddy.
My friends and family are the only things holding my head above the grief and misery that I am drowning in right now. I don't know what I would do with out them. At my lowest moment I get a text from them telling me they are thinking about me. They come to my house or invite me over. They don't care if I cry on their shoulder.
It is late my kids are in bed. My problem is I don't want to go to bed. So, I stay up late till I am so tired that I fall into bed and am instantly asleep. The problem is that morning comes way to fast and I have a two year old who knows how to climb out of his crib now. No sleeping in for mommy. Again I am sorry for the ramblings on that you read in this blog. This is one way of getting through this night mare I call life right now. I am reminded daily that life is so fragile so.. Thank God for the breath that you have and tell someone special that you love them.

2009-08-03T20:10:00.000-07:00

I am in FL. right now trying to get away from "stuff" and relax. My sister had to finally go home( I think I would have kept her with me forever) and asked me to come with her for a week. I felt bad that my kids didn't get a vacation. I was unprepared for the feelings that I would have. I woke up Saturday morning after only 4 hours of sleep feeling like I was having a heart attack. I couldn't breath and my heart was pounding out of my chest. Just the thought of packing up our stuff and getting in the van to leave put me in a panic. All I could think of was what happened last time we did this. My home is my safe place. I didn't want to leave my house, my friends, or my family. What if something happened again? I hate driving. Randy drove a truck for a living. He drove whenever we went on vacation. What if something happened to me and I didn't have my will made yet? How can I go anywhere without my husband. We only go places together,not alone. I cant go to FL with 4 kids. I was in a total panic! I only decided to go after my good friend Michele J. said she would go with me. I not only had some moral support but someone to help me drive. I would have a piece of my security blanket with me. We finally got here after 21 hours in the van. (split between 2 days) I still feel so weird for being here without Randy. I caught myself wanting to text him on the way down to let him know what we were doing.Then I have to remind myself that he is gone and I cant do that any more. I have such a mixture of emotions. How can I smile or laugh on the outside and be dying on the inside at the same time? People ask me how I am doing. I always answer "okay". If only they knew how I really felt inside.
I went to the beach today. I stood and let the water run over my feet. It was a beautiful day and the water was so warm.I looked down into the water and I kept having thoughts of what Randy must have felt in his last minutes under the water. Why do I do this? Why do I let myself think these thoughts? How can I have fun at a time like this? I am doing this for my kids that is why.
God has blessed me so much in these past 3 weeks. People have been so generous to me. I thank God everyday for this. I have great kids and family and friends that I love dearly. If it wasn't for them I think I might be in my bed rotting right now. Not that I don't feel like it still but they wont let me. Nights are a very bad time for me. It is so late now and I am so tired. I have a hard time making myself go to bed every night. Nights are when we spent the most time together. I miss him so much!
When we get back I will post some happy pictures of the kids for a change okay. They are having fun visiting with their cousins again. I am very tired so I am going to bed now. I am thanking God for my family and friends again tonight.

2009-07-24T21:08:00.000-07:00

I love this picture of us! I have it on my desktop. One because I love it so much two because I want Kade to see his Daddy every time he looks at the computer. I am so scared he will never remember his daddy who loved him so much.
I found my diary tonight that I kept while Randy and I were dating. I started it when we became engaged. I kinda chuckled because I kept a running track of how many days were left till we got married. The first entry was on Wednesday November 4th. We had 675 days left till our wedding. It is so hard for me to come to grips with the reality that he is really gone. In this book I have all of the little cards off of the flowers that he bought me, all of the sticky notes he would leave on my pillow when he would rush out the door to get by curfew, engagement pictures, pictures of the flowers he sent me, and list goes on. At times like these I am glad I am a pack rat. I haven't even gone to the cedar chest yet. That is where all of the other stuff is. I long to hear his voice again. I have caught myself thinking about texting him or calling him in the middle of the day. Will it ever go away? I share with you the last entry of my diary:
Friday September 9, 2004
Well Honey, our day has finally arrived. I cant believe it! Tomorrow I become Mrs, Heather Loper. I am a basket case of nerves. I just want you to know that I will love you forever, till death do us part, Until tomorrow at the altar, Bye Your Fiance, Heather 0 days left

2009-07-21T20:18:00.001-07:00

Oh my goodness, I think I am going to die with grief and sadness. I am strong throughout the day but come evening I don't know how I will make it. I don't know how I am going to do this for the rest of my life. I think the only reason I can do this is for my kids. I feel as if I have an elephant sitting on my chest continuessly. No matter what I am doing it is always there. I cant sleep, I cant eat, or when I do it doesn't stay with me long. I miss him so much!!!
How do I keep Randy's memories strong in my boys little minds? It is a constant worry of mine.
I got to meet Randy's boss today. He is and was the most awesome boss a guy could have. Randy loved working for him. He was on vacation to far away to come to any services so I had not got to meet him. He cleaned out Randy's truck and offered to bring me his stuff. We were eating at Sarah H. house and so I came home to meet him. He was standing on my front porch waiting on me when I pulled up. Kade was sitting in my lap in the car(Sarah lives in my neighbor hood) when Kade saw him he said" Daddy" it about killed me.
I got to see my wonderful friend Melodie S. today. It was so nice to just sit and talk. To get a hug from her. We just talked about "things". I have so many questions. Why did God choose my husband? Why didn't He answer the prayers of so many people? It is so hard to try and answer these. I just see how any good could come out of me not having a husband any more. He was so much more than just a husband! I miss his voice. I miss the feel of his hand on mine. I miss having him in bed with me. I miss all of the little things he did that I didn't realize were that big until I have to do them myself. I am so scared of being lonely!
This is becoming quite rambly but I cant sleep and I am just writing as I sit here and cry. Sorry! Please don't leave any comments because I don't really want to know who is reading this. I would prefer to think it is only me and my rambling, jumbled up mind.
I know my friends have been praying for me but I have one particular decision to make in the next couple of weeks. I seriously need God's guidance.
My friend Martha G. gave me a book when she came to the funeral called "A Grace Disguised". I am not into it to much but what I have read has been so helpful. Thank you so much Martha for such a wonderful gift! Every time I read something that sticks out I underline it so I can find it again without looking too hard. Unfortunately I have to work tomorrow and I have to get up early. I am going to try and get some sleep. Thank you so much for praying for me. I don't think I would be this far without your prayers! I thank God every day for the wonderful friends and family that He has given me. I don't know where I would be without them.

2009-07-20T13:05:00.000-07:00

I miss him so much!!!

2009-07-15T05:43:00.000-07:00

As most of you know,our vacation ended quickly this year. I sit here at my desk reading every ones kind words and I want to thank you so much! This blog is going to be a place for me to put my thoughts. Sometimes happy sometimes sad. Not that I want the whole world to read them but for me to be able to go back and remember. If that bothers you I am sorry I wont feel hurt if you don't come back. I am a person who has a hard time talking about or showing my feelings but it is so easy for me to express them in writing. That being said I think I will go back and read previous posts and look at pictures for a few minutes. Today is going to be very hard for me. I want to remember the good times. A song I just listened to says" If home is where the heart is, I am so homesick"

Vacation

2009-07-10T19:44:00.000-07:00

Yay!!! We are leaving on vacation tomorrow morning. Be back in a week. TTFN...

2009-07-09T09:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, I just have to say that mommys can do anything. Even do plumbing. I tried my hand at it on Monday and conquered it. Sunday afternoon I found a big bowl of leftover roast in the refrigerator and decided it was a little past the due date so I turned on the garbage disposal and threw the roast in the sink. Keep in mind that I have dumped alot of things down my disposal( including roast) in the past and it has only stopped up twice. Once with potato peels and the time was with spaghetti. I have learned that whatever you dump down it must go slowly!!!!! The spaghetti went down in a flash and in a flash it stopped up. Well I was in a hurry and my roast went down in a flash and in a flash it was stopped up again. Since I was trying to get out the door to church I decided that Randy didn't really need to know about it at that time. LOL Things like that really stress him out you know. so when we got home from church I quickly went to the sink and sure enough that brown chunky roast water was still standing in the sink. So I casually mentioned that I stopped up the disposal and My wonderful husband promptly stressed and said that it was going to take him an hour to fix it when he got home from work the next day.
Now keep in mind that I had been to camp for a week and then I had family staying with us for a week after that and my house was begging for a good cleaning. My kids were all sleeping over at Mamaws( except Kade) so I had already decided to give my house a top to bottom cleaning Monday. I just couldn't clean my house with stinky, brown, roast water sitting in my sink all day. I got upMonday and said to my self," Self, I am going to unstop what I stopped up." So I cleaned out all of the cleaning supplies under the sink, grabbed a bucket and prayed that my husband hadn't twisted the twisty thing to tight the last time he cleaned it out. I undid the twisty things and broke the pipes apart. I sure am glad I had the bucket there!! Just let me tell you that I have a pretty strong stomach. Not much affects me but this was gross!! ( I was thinking about my good friend Michele as I did it. She gags quite easily) I thought I had it all out so turned on the water a little bit to see if it would run out. I am glad I had the bucket there because it ran out! So being the person that I am I decided to make sure it was out so I kept the water on just a little bit and turned on the disposal. Just let me say that It all totally missed the bucket completely!! It blew nasty roast all over the inside of my cabinet. It was then that I thought I might gag myself. I decided to get another bucket of clean water to start cleaning up the mess. I found an old bottle brush to stick in the pipes to clean them out. Have you ever seen what is growing in your pipes under your kitchen sink? Trust me you don't want to know!!! So here I am with my head under the sink trying to wipe up the nasty junk and gunk that just got blew all over the cabinet walls I turn around and see see Kade with the nasty bottle brush mopping the kitchen floor with it. Now I really gross out. Good thing I was on a cleaning mission! I get it all put together and try it out and Yep, you guessed it. Still stopped up. It was plugged up farther down the pipe that I didn't take apart. So I started over. So to make a very long story just long,I finally got it all clean up, it is very organized under my sink now, and I had no leak when I was finally done. With all that done I could finally get started on the rest of my house. I think from now on I will not never put anything down the disposal fast. Now that Randy knows that I can do it, he will make me do it every time. That is not something I want to do ever again!!!!!!! Randy said that since I did that he is going to show me how to clean out the traps in the bathtubs when they get stopped up with all of the long hair coming out of 3 girls heads. I promptly told him No Thanks!!! That's a job even a 4 year old boy says is gross. LOL

church camp 2009

2009-07-07T17:56:00.000-07:00

Church camp this year was great. Great preaching and a good time spent with family and friends. I even met a few blogging friends.
Friends( Konnor, Michael, and Bryson)

Best friends( Megan and Sarah)

Lots of Baseball

"Honey pot" duty( Randy and BIL Scott)

Watching baseball

My good looking husband!!!

2009-06-19T08:14:00.000-07:00

I just loved this picture of the kids. We went to the park for a family night last week( more pictures coming) and I caught them all standing next to each other, and in birth order at that, down by the pond.

2009-06-19T08:05:00.000-07:00

Kaitlyn was watching Kade the other day. A couple words of wisdom... Never turn your back on Kade!!!!

Still Dead

2009-06-17T11:28:00.000-07:00

Just reporting that my computer is still dead. I am going through withdraws as I type. JK That was last week actually. They now say that I need a new hard drive. Hope fully I can get it fixed when we come home from camp. We all go to Church camp next week. We love camp!!!! I have a ton of pictures to post so be prepared when I get back on here. I am now on my in laws computer. 8o)

2009-06-07T17:43:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to say that me computer is messed up again so until I get it fixed............. I posted this last post at my in laws.

We spent the weekend at our church camp working on our cabin. I took some pictures so I will save them to post later. Hopefully sooner than later. TTFN

a dogs best friend

2009-06-01T20:29:00.000-07:00

Kade loves Molly(my dad's dog) and Molly loves Kade because Kade gives her ice cream. What you cant see is the cup of ice cream in Kade's other hand. Kade spoon feeding Molly his ice cream. Yes, the spoon is in Molly's mouth and yes, Kade was using that same spoon for himself.

One bite for Molly and one bite for him. I just keep telling myself that a dogs mouth is cleaner than a humans. LOL gross! Oh well Molly was enjoying it. You can enlarge the picture for a better look. 8o)

2009-06-01T20:09:00.000-07:00

This is my grandma. She lives in S.C. and has been visiting for a couple of months. She is going home this week. I am going to miss her. I love her so much!!

Best Cousin Buddies

2009-06-01T19:51:00.000-07:00

Konnor loved playing with his cousin Chase while they visited with us. He is already asking when he is coming back.

Memorial Day parade

2009-06-01T05:02:00.000-07:00

Megan trying on the goofy hat

My adorable niece Grace
Kaitlyn and her friend Jessica H

3 amigos eating their donuts

Randy,my BIL Chad, and Paul H 3 really goofy guys

Every year we go to the Memorial Day parade in town. This year my sister Rebekah was in from FL so the day was even better. We had a fun time eating donuts and watching the guys goof off. Our friends the Holdens went with us this year too.

New Babies

2009-05-30T16:59:00.000-07:00

My sister in laws Joanne and Martha came into town for Amy's graduation. That meant we got to see their new babies. They were so cute and cuddly. It also made me realize that I have no desire to have any more kids. LOL Kaitlyn and Megan would like to convince me otherwise. 8o)
This is Megan holding Joanne's baby Reagan.

Kaitlyn holding Martha's baby Eli

Eli William Loper
Reagan Isaiah Shafer

2009-05-30T16:47:00.000-07:00

My sister in law Amy graduated from high school Friday night. Just thought I would share the pictures that we took afterwards.

Amy and her siblings (minus Rodney)

Amy and her nieces and nephews(- Rodney's kids)

Amy and her beloved brother in laws

Amy with granny Loper

2009-05-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

While eating his lunch outside Kade decided he was finished and threw his grilled cheese sandwich in the tub of water he was playing in. When I came outside he showed me what he did. Have you ever tried to scoop soggy grilled cheese out of water? LOL

2009-05-21T06:17:00.000-07:00

The other night it was very warm out and so I gave the boys the water hose, an old wash tub, and a Rubbermaid bucket to play with. They had the best of time. Its amazing that so little can entertain them for hours.

choo choo

2009-05-15T05:35:00.000-07:00

Kade has learned to love my dad's trains. As soon as we walk in the door at mamaw and papaws he starts saying choo choo. The funny thing is that every time my dad starts them up he freaks out and start crying. It is so funny that it happens every time. Give him a minute and he is loving it!

i actually caught the smoke coming from the steam engine.

A rare moment of sibling love.

A rare happening

2009-05-15T05:22:00.000-07:00

A week or so ago one morning I was on the computer. After a little bit of not hearing Kade playing and him not answering when I call him caused me some alarm.( any of you that know Kade would understand why) Konnor said mom he is in here and this is what I found when I walked in the living room. I couldn't help but grab the camera. He slept for about 20 minutes and he ready to go again. I guess we all need a power nap once in a while.

Mother's Day

2009-05-12T11:42:00.000-07:00

I got to spend Mother's Day with my mom and my grandma this year. My grandma lives in South Carolina so I don't normally get to celebrate Mother's Day with her. She wanted a 4 generation picture so I thought I would share it with you. The second one is just random. Konnor wanted his picture taken too.( did you notice that Kaitlyn is as tall as my mom now?) Yes he is in his pjs. It was time for the Sunday nap. 8o)

Dinner

2009-05-08T20:15:00.000-07:00

This is what I fixed for dinner tonight. I found it in Simple and Delicious and thought it looked yummy. I was right. The only thing I changed is I used skinless boneless chicken breast. So good!!

If you're serving this to the kids, simply omit the hot sauce and the blue cheese. It still has wonderful appeal even without the grownup flavors. Simple & Delicious Test Kitchen

SERVINGS: 5

CATEGORY: Main Dish

METHOD:
TIME: Prep/Total Time: 25 min.

Ingredients:
8 ounces uncooked linguine
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
3/4 cup chopped carrot
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 cooked Roasted Turkey Breast Tenderloins (recipe also in Recipe Finder), chopped
2 to 3 tablespoons Louisiana-style hot sauce
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
Directions:
Cook linguine according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, saute the onion, celery, carrot and garlic in butter until tender. Stir in flour and salt until blended. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until slightly thickened.
Stir in cream cheese until melted. Add turkey and hot sauce; heat through. Drain linguine; toss with turkey mixture. Sprinkle with blue cheese. Yield: 5 servings.

My awesome deal

2009-05-06T17:15:00.000-07:00

I got all of this ground beef at Kroger today. There are 19 5lb packages and 3 3lb packages. If you do the math that is 104 pounds of ground beef. I paid 22.00 for all of this. Cool huh. My mom bought half of it and I split the other half into 1 1/2 pound sections and put it into freezer bags and popped it in the freezer.

Free KFC meal

2009-05-06T16:14:00.000-07:00

My sister sent me this coupon that is good for a FREE KFC unfried chicken meal. You can only print it today though. May 6 Go here and print it.

2009-05-05T15:53:00.000-07:00

When mommies get tired of little boys digging in her flowers along comes daddies with brand new bags of play sand for the sand box. That makes daddy a hero and happy little boys!!!

Easter Picture

2009-05-04T20:33:00.000-07:00

I just figured I would start where I left off. So Here are the kiddos on Easter morning.

I'm Back

2009-05-04T20:04:00.000-07:00

Kade and his buddie Wesley Heintzelman
My cute little nephew Jackson

WooHoo!!!! My inflicted computer has been repaired. Big kudos,thanks and whatever else goes to our friend Paul Holden. He spent several hours tonight wiping clean my hard drive and then reinstalling it all back.

I have so much catching up to do and I don't know where to start. I guess I need to go back and look through my pictures and start where I left off. Gonna take some time is what I am thinking. I am so excited to be back on here!

I am just gonna post a couple of pictures that I have taken in the past couple of days. I thought they turned out good. More( alot more) coming soon.

2009-04-22T17:20:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let you know that I have not fallen off the far side of the earth! My sister wanted to know if we all died after fixing and eating the recipe that I posted about in the last post. LOL
Actually my computer started having issues. My computer wiz friend Paul Holden got a hold of it and fixed the problem that I was having. We cleaned up a few things but now my computer tells me I have lost my connection to Google. hmmmmm I can go anywhere, surf anywhere, but when it comes to signing in to anything associated with Google I cant do it. I cant sign in to update my blog, I cant sign in to post a comment on your blog, I cant log into Google Reader, anyway you get the point. I am now on someone elses computer just to let you know that I havent died.( not that anyone reads this or cares LOL). Hopefully Paul can get things worked out. I have a ton of stuff to blog about! So when I get it going I will be be posting a bunch.

One of our Favorites

2009-04-07T15:56:00.000-07:00

This is one of my families favorite meals. I like it because it is easy and it is a one dish meal. Kaitlyn actually made this tonight for us. Randy is working at the church tonight so we didn't double the recipe like normal. I am going to give you the recipe so you can try it if you would like. Konnor likes it and he is very picky. Enjoy!!

Colorful Kielbasa

1 can of condensed cream of celery soup

3/4 cp. water

1 TBS butter or margarine

1 lb. kielbasa cut up in 1 in. pieces ( I have used smoked sausage also)

3/4 cp. long grain rice

1 1/4 cp frozen peas

1 1/2 cp shredded cheddar cheese

In a skillet combine soup,water, and butter. Bring to a boil. Add kielbasa and rice. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-18 minutes or till rice is tender. Stir in peas. Cover and simmer till peas are heated through. I sometimes add a little more water at this time if it needs it. Sprinkle with cheese.

The Opening Act

2009-04-02T16:59:00.000-07:00

My azalea bush My magnolia bush

The pear tree in the front yard

My daffodils

My flox

The flowers are getting so pretty in my yard. I am waiting on the tulips to open. I love spring!!!!!

My Big Boy

2009-04-02T16:43:00.001-07:00

Today was a nice day so I suggested to Konnor that he try to ride his bike with no training wheels. He was game so I pulled both training wheels up and the lesson started. Needless to say that about 20 minutes later he was speeding down the sidewalk. It took him a little longer to learn to start off on his without a push but he soon learned that too. Daddy came home and took the training wheels off completely. He is quite proud of himself!!

Gourmet Dirt

2009-04-02T16:39:00.000-07:00

This is how Kade came to the back door the other night. I about cracked up and then ran for the camera. His whole body was covered in dirt.

The results are in

2009-03-26T05:09:00.000-07:00

I tend to be a little sceptical when it comes to new things until I really know they work. I guess I am cheap and don't want to waste $ on something that doesn't work. I really don't laundry soap that doesn't clean my clothes!This week my good friend Michele decided that she going to try a recipe she found for homemade laundry soap. Being the good friend that she is, she gave me a jug of it. I put it to the test on Konnor's play jeans that he wore to the building site at church the other night. As you can see they were pretty nasty. There was grass stain under that ground in dirt. I think it did a pretty good job don't you?I don't think it has much ( or any) scent but if your like me and like scent on your clothes use a stronger fabric softener like I did. The best part is...... the recipe makes a 5 gallon bucket full and you dilute it with water so it actually makes 10 gallons. She figured it up and if you use a top loading washer it costs....insert drum roll.... $.01 cent a load. Less than that if you use a front loader. How awesome is that. It cost her less than $10 to make it all. You can go here to check out the recipe. It only has 3 ingredients in it and she found them all in a local grocery store. How cool is that!

P.S. I forgot to add that I did spray a little Shout on Konnor's pants before I washed them.

Swagbucks

2009-03-23T12:24:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you all have heard about this cool search engine called Swagbucks or not but if yo haven't you can sign up here. I just use it instead of using google and you can earn"swagbucks" that you can save up and later use to buy stuff. They have all kinds of gift cards. I like it because I don't have to do anything that I don't already do. I just put the toolbar in my browser( you don't have to) and use it to go to all of my websites. You can sign up here its easy!

2009-03-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

I loved this picture the first time I saw it but after I woked on the colors a little bit I love it even more. They were watching an airplane take off when we went to the park this week.
Kade is not smiling in this picture but I love how his eyes look so big.

I love Spring!

2009-03-20T07:56:00.000-07:00

The boys were chasing bubbles in the back yard one evening. This isn't a real good picture but I wanted to post it all because of the cute laugh on Kade's face. Enlarge to get a better look. Konnor's arm was going so fast you cant even see it in the picture.(weired)I took the boys to the park on Monday to play and feed the ducks. My mom met us there for lunch. I think this is the first time Kade has been to the park to really play. He was kinda small last year.

These are the two things that he mastered while we were there. Thats all he did. I think he was a little intimidated by the rest.

Konnor finally found a couple of ducks to come to his bread cafe.
and they invited a few friends. The boys had fun!(okay Mamaw did too)
My miniature daffodil blooming in my flower garden. I love them!

A weeks worth of catch up

2009-03-13T08:20:00.000-07:00

Last Friday we went to my sister in laws baby shower. There were alot of people there and we had alot of fun.She also got alot of nice stuff for my little nephew coming in May. Joanne and her 3 "growing up friends" All 4 are pregnant. Trisha Ayers-Cassity,Joanne,Rachael Faulkner-Miller, Sandra Holden-Hatfield

This drove by our house on Sunday afternoon, I thought it was pretty funny since it was only March 8.

We had a couple of nice days last weekend. With temps in the 70's the kids got rid of cabin fever and played outside a bunch. Here is Kaitlyn supervising.

Konnor riding his bike.
Kade just enjoying being free from the indoors.
Megan pulled out the roller blades.

On Wednesday Kaitlyn was in the school spelling bee for the third straight year. This is the last year she can be in it because she will be in 7th grade next year. Even though she did not win she did very well.

I was sitting at the table when I looked up and saw these two sitting together. Even though I don't like them sitting on the counter I thought it was cute.I hope everyone has a nice weekend. Ours will be uneventful I am sure. I think we may grill out Saturday to celebrate making our vacation reservations. LOL TTFN.....

A deal

2009-03-12T15:59:00.000-07:00

This week Meijer has Tyson boxed chicken for 4/$10( 2.50 each)

2.50

- .50 ( doubles to $1) from 3/8 coupon insert

-1.00 Meijer frozen food coupons found in the store by the ads

= .50

makes for some pretty cheap chicken nuggets or whatever other kind that you like. I got chicken fries and boneless buffalo wings. Yumm

2009-03-06T06:43:00.000-08:00

Tuesday night was Kaitlyn's final band concert of 6th grade. They actually are doing pretty good. They are finally sounding like a band and not a crashing train. I am sure 7th grade will be a better improvement still.

Kaitlyn and her friends Kelsey and Kylie Patton who play in the band with her.

( enlarge to show detail) LOL

This is Kaitlyn's room before the concert. Actually this is what her room looked like after I pulled all of the clothes out from under her bed, church clothes stuffed in dresser drawers, and clothes that I pulled out from under her covers. Can you believe all of the ways a 12 year old will hide clothes so she doesn't have to clean up? I am pretty lenient when it comes to the girls rooms. I like them to be spotless but I have got to the place I make them clean up once or twice a week and keep the door closed between times. One thing I cant stand is when they leave their clothes on the floor. I consider it rude and disrespectful. I buy them nice clothes, was, dry and fold them so the least they can do is pick them up and put them away. I have found a way to keep them from leaving them in a heap on the bathroom floor after their shower. I take them and they don't get them back for a week. It kills Megan since she is in a stage where she wears the same three outfits all of the time. She now picks up the bathroom. Well if you see Kaitlyn wearing the same outfit for a while it is because this mean mom is showing some tough love. I figured you can say something till you re blue in the face but until you do something they just wont listen. So, I got two(yes two) trash bags and made her put all of her clothes, that were under her bed and stuffed in drawers and crevices, in them. It was two trash bags full!!! She now has to keep her room clean to earn them back. I just want to report that her room has been clean for two days now.

Some days I feel so inadequate to be a parent and I don't have the slightest idea to what

I am doing. I can only hope and pray that they still like me when they grow and leave me. Someone please tell me it gets better! Sorry for the venting of a guilty mom......

2009-03-03T11:45:00.000-08:00

When I took Kade to get his 18 month pictures taken we got it all......

THE GOOD

THE BAD

AND JUST PLAIN UGLY

2009-03-02T13:13:00.000-08:00

Me and my honey

2009-02-27T10:02:00.000-08:00

I am wishing I was here right now!! I am so ready for spring/summer. Untill July I will keep wishing.

Okay I will answer your comments here. I did take this picture and I took it on Mackinac Island. A very beautiful place!!

2009-02-24T09:56:00.000-08:00

Last nigt I had to cook dinner for the guys working on our new Family Ministries Building at church so we went and hung out there for a while. I took a few pictures while we were there.

Kaitlyn helping Nate J. with his phone.

The guys working on the ceiling in the new kids church room

one very dirty boy

The best looking guy in the building!!!

Grouting the tile in the bathroom

Drew M. the tech guy running all of the wires for sound

2009-02-24T09:52:00.000-08:00

Here are the girls and their science project. I took this on the way out the door to go to school.( Kaitlyn wasn't real thrilled about the picture. 8o) By the way they won a Superior rating for it! Go girls!

Random

2009-02-18T11:27:00.000-08:00

This might be what you would call droopy drawers!(This was in the morning and I took off his jammies and he ran away to play)( I didnt want you to think I never change him LOL) I wonder who he learned this from?

Kaitlyn at her DARE graduation on Friday.

Things have been kinda slow around here for the past week. Slow as in not alot to blog about. So I thought I would post some random things going on around here.

1. Nothing to exciting happened on Valentines Day. Randy had to work so we postponed our date.

2. Last Friday Kaitlyn had her DARE graduation and since i was babysitting I got to take 3 little boys to an auditorium to watch. Have you ever tried to make 3 little boys(2 who are 18 & 22 mo.) sit still and be quiet. I am so glad I don't have twins. LOL

3. I figured out how to keep Kade out of the pantry so this and this doesn't happen again. I took off the handles and waalaa no more cereal muncher and mess maker in the pantry.

4. Kade is not feeling well and has been running a temperature on and off since Sunday night. My active and crazy little terrorist has been so snugly quiet. If only he could be half like this and not be sick.

5. FYI... If you get ink pen on your arm don't try to scrub it off with a Mr. Clean eraser. Kaitlyn decided to try this last night and the results are not good. The ink is gone but a nasty rash/burn is in its place. ( I don't know whether it is her blondness or just being 12 is her excuse)

6. When the ice maker in the refrigerator door is jammed don't keep pushing the button. Megan tried that this morning and when it got unjammed we had an ice avalanche on the kitchen floor at 7:30 this morning.

7. When you have a science fair project to do always find out the date so you have time to prepare. My girls said it was due at the end of the month. well Tuesday they found out it was Friday. Which leads to the last portion of my post. Read on....

The are trying to find out what paper towels work the best and why. softness? thickness? price? plys? They want to know what you favorite brand of paper towel is and why. And one more request. Could you let us know this today or at the latest tomorrow. It is due on Friday remember.LOL

So far in our testings Viva has better absorbency. Well not that you are hoping that something exciting would happen around here so you don't have to read any more random thoughts, till next time.......

2009-02-12T10:37:00.000-08:00

A new picture of my Katie.

2009-02-06T19:27:00.000-08:00

How do you eat your P'scettie

What is this?

2009-02-06T19:06:00.000-08:00

Lovely huh? Yes, there is a bunch between the boxes too. This my fellow blogger friends is Kade's latest mess. Bet you can't guess what it is! No it is not dirt, pepper, or bugs. I saw some under the table and started looking for the pepper shaker because he is prone to salt or pepper the floor and whatever he can find. I just love to walk across the floor and feel the grit of salt. Oh joy! No this time he decided to push his little chair to the pantry and investigate the tea bags. He ripped a few( okay alot) open and proceeded to dump it all over the floor.
I know what you are thinking. What does she do all day? Sit on the couch, read books and eat bon bons and let her children do whatever they want.He loves to eat cereal so usually when I hear him opening up the pantry all I have to say is "Kade put the cereal away" and that is the end of it. This little boy of mine is terrorist,booger and monkey all wrapped up into an 18 month old body. Randy says he will be the first child of ours to wear a cast and I am sure he is probably right. His new thing among others is to jump. He jumps off of everything. The couch, the bottom step, the chair. What ever he can climb on he will try( yes try) to jump off of. I am constantly saying" Kade sit down!!!" This child will be the life of me! But without him it would be boring around here. Have a good weekend.

Kade

2009-01-31T11:41:00.000-08:00

Original #1

I just thought I would share a couple of pictures that I played around with at picnik.
I love taking pictures of my kids!

2009-01-31T10:01:00.000-08:00

Okay, I just thought I would post a couple of my snow pictures. I have more but didnt feel like taking the time to upload them. The snow is pretty but I want to go on record saying that I am so ready for summer and all that comes with it. Give me 90 degrees any day!!! I am so cold right now and it never goes away. I will post more later...... Have a good weekend!!

Kade wishing he could go outside with the rest of the kids.
Kaitlyn and Konnor having fun.

I finally gave in and bundled Kade up so he could go outside

some ice on my tree.

A nice day!

2009-01-23T15:20:00.000-08:00

Today it was a balmy 50 degrees outside so we decided to get out and get some fresh air. How I long for spring! I started cleaning out the flower beds and the boys had fun playing.(getting muddy actually) Just thought I would share a couple of pictures! Have a good weekend!!!

2009-01-23T15:17:00.000-08:00

WHO'S YOUR BESTEST BUDDY?

2009-01-20T06:35:00.000-08:00

Okay,So I went( finally) to get my eyes check last night. I have put it off for too long. Its one of those things that didn't hit the top of my list of priorities. We don't have any vision insurance so that was another reason I kept putting it off. Randy finally got tired of me complaining(and asking him to move the song book closer at church) and made me go. I made my way to the eye doctor at Wal-Mart. The doc was very nice but surprised that this was my first ever eye exam.
To make a long story short, I am half blind and will be joining the world of eyeglass wearers. I have a astigmatism in both eyes and half of my eye is near sited and the other half is far sited. (both eyes are like that) The doc said that is very rare. So now the hard part... picking out glasses that I can live with and wear for the rest of my life. I am seeking volunteers to come help me pick them out. LOL I am so indecisive. TTFN...

2009-01-17T15:36:00.000-08:00

Before After

I have been really intrigued by photo editing software lately. I so wish that I had alot of money to invest in good software. I love to take pictures and then play around with them to see what I can do with them. I took this picture of Megan today. I went to picnik and used their free stuff. I liked the outcome. What do you think? Do you like the original better?

2009-01-13T05:27:00.000-08:00

There hasn't been much going on around here so not much to post about. This is one of Kade's latest messes. He gets into my spices even when he knows he is going to get into trouble. This is dill. It was half full and it was all on the floor.Dill weed is tiny and there was a ton of it(everywhere!) He saw me coming and grabbed this towel and started trying to clean it up. Ahhhhhhhh what am I going to do.

2009-01-09T09:07:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I was sitting at the computer and Konnor walks up to me, sits in the chair next to me and out of the blue and says " Your hot,babe"
I said " what did you say " and then he repeated it. I didn't quite know what to say. So I said thanks and laughed. Its not every day a 4 year old tells you that your hot. LOL

2009-01-09T05:26:00.000-08:00

Our good friend Duane H. lent us his Wii when my family was staying with us. Konnor always begged to play so while Randy was playing he would give him the other controller and let him pretend(Konnor thought he was playing) It was so cute to watch Konnor mimic his daddy. Here they are playing golf and the video is a very short clip of the same.

A diaper deal

2009-01-08T12:13:00.000-08:00

This is for all of you moms with kids in diapers. I live for the day I dont have to buy diapers but till that day I shell out $ every month for them. I still buy them for Konnor because he cant seem to stay dry at night and since it is cheaper to buy diapers than pullups that is what I do.
Well Meijer this week has the big box of Huggies for $20 ( same price as Walmart) If you buy 2 boxes and one BIG pack of wipes they will give you a $10 gift card. So this is what I am gonna do.
1 box sz 4 $20
1 box sz 6 $20
1 pk wipes $8

-1.50 coupon diapers
-1.50 coupon diapers
-.50 coupon wipes(doubled to $1)
means I will get this for $44 then - $10 gift card that I will receive I will will get all of this for $34. That is cheaper than the two boxes by themselves. I think I will do this first and then use the gift card towards my groceries. Whoo hoo

Grrrrr I am so upset. I went to Meijer to get groceries and the diapers that I need and they dont even sell size 6 and they were sold out of size 4. I think I will try another Meijer.

Dreaming of Vacation

2009-01-06T18:12:00.000-08:00

I have been playing around with Picasa 3 and pulled up vacation pictures from last year. Cant wait till this year!

FAMILY PICTURES

2009-01-05T12:23:00.000-08:00

Since all of my family was in for Christmas we went to Portrait Innovations to get our pictures taken. So the day after Christmas we went and spent 3 hours at the studio.That time included taking the pictures,picking out which ones you wanted and waiting on them to print(30 minutes) It was a long time but I thought they turned out great!! Sorry about the quality of the scans. I dont know what is up with my scanner. They give you a CD with all of the pictures but my mom has it.
My Family
My Wonderful Kids

Kaitlyn-12 yrs

Megan-10 yrs

Konnor-4 yrs

The whole gang

Did you get em

2009-01-05T11:20:00.000-08:00

Hey fellow couponers! Did you get this weeks inserts? There were 5 packs this week so I went to several places this morning while I was out and finally found a Walgreens that had some leftover Sunday papers. I bought 2. Now I have to get clippin and filing. Whoo hoo I love saving $!!

Happy Birthday to Grace

2009-01-05T10:07:00.001-08:00

While my sister was in town we celebrated my niece Grace's 1st birthday. She is so sweet and cuddly. Just thought I would share a couple of pictures.

Christmas pictures( finally)

2009-01-03T12:55:00.000-08:00

I am finally getting some Christmas pictures posted. There has been alot going on around here and I haven't had too much time to sit at the computer. I forgot my camera at home Christmas Eve when we went to my in-laws so I swiped a couple off of my sister in laws blog.

Me and my sister and brother in laws playing Dutch Blitz- Fun but Melissa is the champ in this game and I lost all of the time. lol

All of the grand kids

My nephew Chase sitting on my dad's dog.
Konnor and Chase showing me their dirt bikes( Chase decided to look at his at the last minute)

Konnor Chase and Emma waiting to open their stockings
Megan and David( they have always been buddies since they are only 30 days apart)

Decorating a birthday cake for Jesus( If you don't like sprinkles you wouldn't like this cake)

We had a great Christmas this year. We got to see and visit with alot of family we don't get to see very often. We had alot of fun being together. TTFN....

2009-01-02T12:23:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to add to my last post. We have payed off all of our debts except our house. We will start on that "baby step" later after we have got our emergency fund and started saving for retirement. Just thought I would add that.I didnt want to make anyone think that we had paid off our house too.( it would be nice though)

2008-12-30T20:20:00.000-08:00

Most of you that know us know that we are big fans of Dave Ramsey and have been using his plan to pay off all of our debt. We have been working at this for 16 months now and I can now officially say......

WE'RE DEBT FREEEEEEEEE

I am so excited!! We now are starting on our emergency fund so things wont be changing to much around here. God has helped us so much. I have a wonderful husband, because if it wasn't for him I would have given up a long time ago. I was excited so I just thought I would share.

cleaning daddy's truck

2008-12-30T20:10:00.000-08:00

if you enlarge this you can see the huge grin on his face when they pulled up.

Konnor thought he was cool riding in daddy's truck

Standing on dad's bed
Last week Randy brought home his truck from work to clean it. Konnor went with him to go get it and rode home with him. Konnor thought he was king of the road. It is actually pretty big inside. He will be staying overnight in it a couple times a week probably so he wanted it to be clean. I took a few pictures.

2008-12-23T20:44:00.000-08:00

Sunday Night-Adult Cantata and Drama

2008-12-23T19:39:00.000-08:00

Sunday Evening was our church's adult Christmas program. It was a cantata and drama called"Then Jesus Came". It was a great program and God was there! Everyone did a great job. Randy sang a solo and I posted a short clip. Thanks Leanna for taking some pictures and this video.

Sunday Morning-Kid's program

2008-12-23T19:26:00.000-08:00

Sunday Morning was our church's kids Christmas program. The kids did great. Here are a few pictures that I took. They are in no particular order.

2 little angels, Jillian Craycraft and Maria Miller

Mary and Joseph, Breanna Lavy and Bryson Craycraft

Deep in thought

Angel cousins,Jenna Snelling and Lindsey Pitcher
My little wise man,Konnor

Konnor on his way to give a present to Baby Jesus

Friday Night- Cookies

2008-12-22T12:15:00.000-08:00

Konnor doing his part Megan doing her part

The finished product. The cookies with about 100 chocolate chips are Konnor's creations. He got a little carried away!

The thief doing his part.(if you enlarge the picture you can see the icing all over his fingers.

Kaite went to the zoo with the youth group so she wasn't home when we did these.

Friday- Girls Talent show

2008-12-21T12:33:00.000-08:00

On Friday the girls played a piano duet in their school talent show. They played"We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and did great! Yay, no school for two weeks.

Thursday night- Megan's concert

2008-12-19T20:03:00.000-08:00

Thursday night was Megan's concert at school. They sang Christmas songs from around the world. I thought it was really good! Here is a video of Surfin USA.( is that a Christmas song?)The kids playing Santa was hilarious!

2008-12-18T14:17:00.000-08:00

Hey! I just wanted to you to check out the new link that I put on my side bar. I know a person who started up a website that you can register to win free stuff.Dont worry she is a very nice person and it is all legit. This time it is an IPOD. You can enter once a day so go check it out. When you go to the site click on the item you would like to win and enter you info. You can put my name in the last spot and I will get an extra entry. Go check it out!!

2008-12-18T13:14:00.000-08:00

No i have not died! Just caught up in the business of the holiday season. As much as you tell yourself you aren't going to get caught up you do.
Last Friday Randy worked so the kids and I spent a quiet evening at home. Saturday my wonderful husband and I had a date day. We left early and went out for breakfast at my favorite place.IHOP! I had Pecan Strusel Pancakes and they were awesome. They were covered in crunchy pecan strusel and drizzled with a cream cheese icing. Yummmmm we then went Christmas shopping,finished the day at Starbucks to tally up the checkbook damage.(not really,we have been saving) We decided to go home and surprise the kids and take them to Fountain square in Cincinnati to go ice skating. ( hopefully i can get the pictures to upload this time.I have tried twice already)
Sunday was normal except we had a two hour program practice before the pm service.
Monday night we had our friends the Heintzelman's over for dinner.Randy and Duane built a really cool entertainment center for our living room.During that time Katie and I took the two little boys and went to the thrift store not to far from my house.
Tuesday night we took Randy's Grandma out to dinner for Christmas.
Wednesday i cleaned houses all day with my mom and that night we went Christmas caroling with people from church. It was alot of fun. The kids had a blast riding the bus and singing to some shutins who cant attend church.
Randy had to be at work this morning at 2am so we rushed home so he could get a couple hours of sleep. He ran out of hours today so he wont be coming home tonight. He will be sleeping in his big rig tonight and I will be lonely here at home. boo hoo! Megan has a choir concert at school tonight so I will be going to that soon.
So now you have the rundown on why I haven't posted. I will try to do better. By the way, I am not done with my shopping and I haven't wrapped a single gift. I work well under pressure. LOL

Fountain Square Fun