Tonight, Carson and I attended my nieces christmas dance recital. They did such an awesome job. The hip hop dancing was pretty cool.. didn't know you could really teach someone how to dance that way. I have no natural rhythm so trust me, I would not look as good bustin' a move as they did!
So, they had a special visitor at the end of the recital... Yep, you guessed it! Santa Claus came to visit all the little kids. Carson was 2nd in line to sit on his lap. When he was done he came down and said "mom, uncle Andy is Santa Claus!" Me: "He is?" Carson: "Uh huh!" Me: "That's really cool that Uncle Andy got picked to be Santa's helper, huh?!" Carson: "Uh huh!" He had a great big grin on his face.
So, I'm taking the kids to school the next morning and Carson says: "Mom, how did Uncle Andy get hired?" Me: "I'm not sure but he is sure doing a special job this year." Carson: "Does Uncle Andy get to go out on Christmas Eve too?" Me: "Nope. Santa Claus performs his magic that special night and makes the trip with just him and his reindeer." Carson: "What if Santa had a skinny belly like mine... would I get hired to help Santa?" Me: "I'm not sure about that.. but.. I think Santa has to have a big belly so it can jiggle like a bowl full of jelly. He has to have room for all those cookies that little boys and girls like you leave out for him to eat."  Carson: "Are we going to make cookies for Santa?" Me: "You bet we are!" Carson: "How did Uncle Andy get his beard?" Me: "It's a pretend beard."
I love talking to my kids about the magic of Christmas. It makes me love this season even more. This will be my magical year with my kids as I know that they will one day get older and understand a little bit more.

 

    This is my most FAVORITE time of the year beginning with Thanksgiving until New Years Day! We start out this special time of year with the opportunity to give THANKS for so many wonderful friends, family, soldiers fighting for our freedom and rights, homes to keep us warm and food on our tables, clothing on our backs, our health, etc. I could go on and on...It's always nice to take a breath and reflect on our BLESSINGS. I do it all year long, but it just seems that at this particular time, my heart is overwhelmed with thankfulness and love. This is a time that FAMILY and FRIENDS make time to get together.. to enjoy a night here and there of food and games and cheer! A time for serving others and making yummy holiday treats together! My observation is that people are genuinely happier and more optimistic during the holidays. I'm filled with a warmth, a sense of peace, and a smile in my heart.
     I hope that everyone will take a step back this year and look at what they can do for someone else. We have many people in our own little community in need of our help and I hope that my own little family can ponder the very service that we will give to make anothers life a little brighter.
     May everyone have a JOLLY memorable SEASON as you celebrate with your family and good friends.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Doesn't Buster look adorable?! He wanted to get in on the fun this year too so we found him a costume... and Lilly too! She's our little princess!

Now that we have the sweet little pups ready to go, I got my little munchkins ready. Carson chose to be a ninja this year... I know it's because he got to wear cool fighting swords on his back! :)

Makayla is out of the whole "pretty princess" stage and on to gore and blood. She decided to go as a bloodied hospital patient who had just been in a crazy accident.

Breanna was born in the wrong era... PEACE & LOVE! Groovy baby!

Danielle at the "masquerade ball"

Ahoy Matey! Pirate Mason on  board here!

Meet Brayden.. the 1 good armed Ninja! The other guy probably looks worse.. right Brady?

Pretty little princess Charlize!

One tired little spider... Wyatt played hard and is ready for a nap!

We had a great time trick or treating! Everybody looked so cute in their costumes! The kids got a ton of candy... here come the belly aches! Hope everyone out there has a safe and Happy Halloween!

Well, Brayden broke the big bone in his arm. He has to see the Orthopedic Surgeon next week to see if it will heal on its own or if there needs to be further action taken. Hopefully it will be good to go and he will just have to have a cast for a few weeks. Sorry buddy, looks like you and I are not compatible with the skating ring!

We let the kids go skating today after school. They have been skating several times and have had a great time. However, today, my mom got a call from the skating ring at 330 stating that Brayden had fallen and PROBABLY BROKE his arm! Mom called me immediately and I headed to the ring... It's DEFINATELY BROKEN. His arm looks a little bit deformed. When we arrived at the ER, the doc said he remembered us for some reason. I told him "that's because you were my doc when I broke my leg in February at the SKATING RING!" So anyway, he told us that it is definately broken..he could tell just by looking at it. He said it may have to be set but won't know until the x-rays have been taken. OUCH! As if breaking it isn't bad enough! I feel so bad for the little guy :( I'll have to let you know what happened when he's all done. : /

Tooth Fairy Update

Makayla lost her first front tooth on Friday, Oct. 15th and then spent the night at a friends house. So the tooth fairy didn't visit that night. The next day, she was making sure her tooth was still in her little case... she opened it and her tooth FELL OUT. She searched and searched but couldn't find it and she just started crying. I told her not to worry.. the tooth fairy would still come. I told her we would write her a note and leave it under her pillow and it would be ok. She settled down and went to sleep just knowing the tooth fairy would come for sure this time... she woke up and NOTHING! I explained to her that sometimes, the tooth fiary has sooo many kids to visit that she doesn't make it to everyone in one night. She seemed satisfied with that answer and said ok. Well, she lost ANOTHER TOOTH on Sunday afternoon. Makayla was sooo excited because now the tooth fiary was going to bring her even MORE money! So, she tucked her tooth under her pillow with her note for the other tooth and went to bed. She woke up Monday morning.... NOTHING AGAIN! What was going on?? She was starting to get upset but was trying to be sooo PATIENT! I told her that I wasn't sure what was going on : /  but not to worry... she will come. Makayla went to bed Monday night and woke up Tuesday morning to find this note.. and 10 BUCKS!! WHOA! I wish I had a tooth fairy that was sooo NICE! She was ecstatic! We had to go to Walmart that day and find her a treasure! She's such a sweetie.. I just love my little girl :)

All I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth

I know, wrong holiday month, but Makayla has lost her 2 front teeth! She has some missing bottom teeth as well... so at this rate, if she loses anymore, she is going to look like an old lady nawing on her food with just her gums! :) She didn't have any teeth until she was 18months old and then they came all at once... so I suppose it is possible for her to lose them all at once too... hopefully not!
Love you Makayla!

A Leisure Family 'Fall' Day

What a beautiful day for getting lost and twisted in the corn maze at the Swore Family Farm. To start out our fun, the kids got their faces painted. Carson decided to have it look like he had been shot in the head.. I know, a little gory for a 6 yr old.. but that's what he had them draw.

Makayla looked like a kitty cat. I don't know what happened to the picture I took :(
They played some games and earned some candy for their pockets :) There was the bean bag toss... The candy walk...


A miniature maze for the toddlers that the kids whizzed right through...


Look at those handsome cowboys and sweet little cow...


Here is the beginning of our twisting and turning and circles and circles... The maze enterance.



To guide us through the maze, there are trivia questions throughout. If you have the right answer, then you will find another question. If you have a wrong answer, then you will hit a dead end and have to turn around.



We made it through! I still think there were some questions and answers in there that were wrong :) I mean, I couldn't have got that many questions wrong.. right??





We had a fantastic 'fall' day together as a family! I love the changing leaf colors and the festivities that come with the holidays! It brings us all closer again as our lives get busier and busier and I just love it!

One Handsome Guy and a Beautiful Gal!

Cameron and Myshella, you both look amazing! I hope you guys have an awesome night of dancing, laughing, and great fun at your Homecoming Dance!

Picture Day!

Carson has been dying to get a mohawk.. I compromised and let him get a fohawk!


He does look very studly! :)

I put Makayla's hair in curlers the night before.



It did NOT turn out the way I was hoping... she looked like shirley temple! I should have taken a pic but I was so panicked to get her hair to a normal state of being that I didn't have time.

Puppies!

Our puppies are growing up! They are 3 1/2 wks old now and the time is actually going by quickly.




Makayla and Carson are getting sooo attached to these little guys! They have 3 of them named already...
Meet Buster! and the little girl that looks exactly like him is named Lillie!



The lite tan pup is named Brownie! And one of the black ones.. I can't tell which one.. is name Lighting!



SO... Anybody out there who is just dying to have a sweet little puppy.. just give me a call!

Carson lost his 1st tooth today! He was scared and begged me not to use the pliers! Haha... I wouldn't use the pliers silly boy. In fact, I couldn't get it to come out so his sister Jessica pulled it out. She pulled Makayla's 1st tooth out too. Now he can't wait for bedtime so the tooth fairy can come :)He put his tooth in a little baggie and then he put a dime and a penny in with it. I told Carson that "I think the tooth fairy is suppose to pay you for your tooth." He said, "mom, I'm putting it in there to be nice." Lol! What a sweet little boy I have.

Happy Birthday Dad!

He wasn't a hero,
Known by the world.
But a hero he was,
To his little girl.

My daddy was mighty,
Who knew all things.
And better than Santa,
With the gifts he'd bring.

I knew his voice,
Before I could speak.
And loved it when,
He would sing me to sleep.

He changed my diapers,
And sat up all night.
When my body was weak
And I'd put up a fight.

He'd come home late,
With not much to say.
And made us all kneel,
As he taught me to pray.

He taught me life's lessons,
Of right from wrong.
And instilled in me values,
That I might be strong.

And so through the years,
Like a hero he stood.
Working to give,
All that he could.

His presence was important,
And we loved to see him smile.
For no one in the world,
Could emulate his style.

And so dear Dad,
My best memory to recall.
Is the gift of your presence,
The greatest gift of all.

I love you dad with all my heart and I am so grateful for the values you instilled in me. You are the greatest example to me in the way you lead your life and taught me. You are an amazing father and grandpa and I miss you so very much.
Your birthday is definately something to celebrate. So, as you loved to take my children to feed the squirrels and enjoy nature as one of the many things that you did with them, that's what we do in honor of your birthday each year. It helps us all feel a little bit closer to you.
I love you dad! You are my HERO!

1st Day of School

Wow! My babies are really growing up. Makayla is starting 3rd grade and Carson is starting 1st grade! I'm getting old. I feel like the time has really flown and I want it to slow down! I want them to stay little forever.. but I know that's not the plan. I keep telling them to stay little as long as possible.. don't be in such a hurry to grow up. Their response is always "we want to be 12 so we can have a phone." Then Carson pipes in and says "and a pocket knife." Oh, to be their little age again with no worries or cares in the world except for dreaming BIG. Makayla wants to be a veteranarian and a cow girl. She's suddenly become very interested in horses but we won't be getting one of those. Carson wants to be a policeman. I have 2 of the most amazing, beautiful children and I am so grateful to be their proud mom.


To start out the new year, Makayla talked me into having her hair cut. She took 9 inches off! I have to admit though, it is a cute look for her. :)


However, the stylist made the back a bit poofy for my little sweetie, so we will tone it down for her first day!

Happy 13th Anniversary Andy and Kristi!



They weren't going to do much for their anniversary so we sent them on a candybar scavanger hunt. The kids all got to participate by handing them a candybar on the way to a new destination. They had a ton of fun and I think Andy and Kristi had a good time. Their final destination was the park for a picnic.
Hope you guys enjoyed your time together and we just wanted to wish you many more years of happiness to come!

Surprise!

September 7, 2010.. Sadie, our dog, had puppies! 9 of them to be exact! They are adorable and doing well. She has 4 black puppies some with white patches on their chest, 2 chocolate, 2 rottweiler, and 1 lite tan. Sadie is a rottweiler/lab so her puppies will be decent size.





This was quite the shock to us as we thought we had Sadie fixed in 2006! But now we realize that we only had our other dog, Strider, fixed. So how did this happen you ask if our other dog is fixed?? Well, we had a neighbor dog down the street jump our fence into our yard that helped himself! Don't people keep their animals on a leash or in kennels these days??!
Anyway, needless to say, we are grateful that she and all 9 puppies are doing well... and she is DEFINATELY getting fixed this time! :)
So, if any of you out there would like to bring home a sweet, innocent little puppy to your children... give me a call. :) They are only 1 week old right now so it will be about 6 weeks before they are ready for their new little homes.

July 1, 2010

Happy Anniversary to my sweet husband! We have been married for 10 wonderful years! It seems as though we have been through every crazy, exciting experiences we could have ever imagined we would have... and yet, there are so many experiences and memmories to come. You are an amazing man, father, and husband! I love you very much babe! Here's to many more years to come and cherish!
I also had an amazing time with you playing at the Wahooz center racing go-carts, getting wet on the bumper boats, enjoying our time together away! We should do this more often :) Love ya!

It's spring and that means that the kids are ready to get out and enjoy some sunshine and sports. Carson started playing flag football. This is his first time playing any sport.



So fun! This is going to be a great season! I already know that he is a better offense player than a defense player. We shall see how he turns out after the season.. which position he plays best!

He's also brushing up on his lawn mowing skills... what a STUD!