Happy 3rd Birthday to Charlotte Jo

Last week May 18 was my niece Charlotte Jo's Birthday. She was born sleeping and we miss her dearly. We go out every year on her birthday to visit her grave and take pictures. I dont understand why God took her all too soon, but I sure wish she was here playing with Ellie and Jayce.

Happy 3rd birthday Charlotte! We love you and miss you!

Pretty girls

My beautiful Goddaughter Scarlett Stevie Schaffer. We had her baptism on sat. night and it was so much fun. It is always such a blessing to see these tiny babies getting their very first sacrament and joining our church. And it is even more fun getting to be her Godmother.

Since I had the girls all dressed up I decided to take advantage and get some pics. Like usually Ellie broke out her smile. I cannot wait until she gets over this. I hate it. she has the most beautiful blue eyes and she squints so you cant even see them. We are going to a wedding in a few weeks so we will try again :) Since Jess was at his game he wasnt there but we took some photos of all us pretty ladies anyway. Ellie and that stinkin smile. she is lucky shes cute :)

I squatted down so ellie thought she needed to also. Turned out it was the best pic!

Rain Rain Go Away

It has been raining in good old Iowa and the wind has been blowing! We are all feeling it. We were stuck inside all winter long with 7,000 ft of snow on the ground and now it has been raining so bad that I feel like we could open up a pool in our backyard.
But with rainy days comes time to get stuff done inside. Although my house could use a good spring cleaning I have been scanning pictures. My scanner program is acting up so it si taking a lot longer than I planned and I have gotten frustrated and anxious so many times. It has however made me aware of how very thankful I am to have a digital camera! Not only that but to have one the entire lives of my kiddos. Now to make sure I tackle that humongus picture file so when Ellie is a senior I know exactly where they all are :)

Today is a hard day for me. Five years ago today I lost my first baby. It hurts as much today as it did five years ago.
But God is good and I am blessed. Although I do not understand why it happened I have come to terms with it but it does not make the pain go away.
But I am forever greatful for her

and her.
They are my life and they are definately worth all the rough days.

excuses excuses

I could come up with 101 excuses why it has taken so long to blog and here are just a few:
1) I have been insanely busy with church. We have 6 days left before our school year is over. I have a first communion on saturday and then another on Sun. I have reached the point where I just want to be done and so everything is a struggle.
2) My youngest brother Louie is graduating very very soon. I have oodles of pics I need to scan a book to be made. But hey I have the invites done and I have the ideas swirling in my head so it is just finding the time to actually gettin it done!
3)Ellie has decided that 6 out of the 7 days a week naps are overrated. She will not fall asleep so my once glorious naptime to have time to get stuff done turns me into hushing ellie and jayce so they dont wake up Hadley from her nap for the thrid time in 15 minutes.
4) Jess reformated my computer and I didnt know what I wanted to do with pictures. So the other day I spent 3 hours uploading and organizing my 2010 pictures. Not fun and I will never ever ever ever let them pile up that much again.
5) Jess has started football (both coaching and playing) so my 5 minutes of free time has been narrowed down enormously. The only night he is home before the girls are in bed are Sun and Mon. so I spend most of my night cooking, feeding, bathing, cuddling, and putting to bed, then of course cleaning up at least the mess from supper. By the time this is all done Jess is walking in the door to shower and eat then I get a shower and then I am so exhausted I go to bed. He loves football both coaching and playing but I am burnt out. I never wanted to be the reason for him to stop but honestly I have to put my foot down and next year this WILL NOT be happening.

I could go on but I will not. Look for recent pics to be added soon.

crazy busy

This time of year is so busy for me. iset goals and I struggle to stay afloat with all the surrounds me and all that I need to do. Everyday I add as many things to my to do list as I cross off. But I am alive and healthy and my girls are healthy and I am as in love with my husband if not more than the day I said I do. I am surrounded by great family and friends and good books.

Speaking of good books my good friend Christina lent me a book a long time ago (sorry Chrissy) and I am finally just picking it up. it is about marriage and I usually am not into non fiction books but I am enjoying this book and it is reaffirming my belief in how I want my marriage to be. I plan to update my thoughts with this book. Im thinking I might need to start a bible study. Any good ideas out there. something easy and refreshing for someone who is new at the whole bible study thing!

March already?

I cant believe it is March already. It boggles my mind how the older you get the faster time flies.
the sun has been shining and I can tell the difference how I have been feeling. I am a much happier person when the snot in my nose does not freeze when I step out the door! Ellie and Jayce are just itching to get outside as well. they spent today talking about outside and what they were going to do once it warms up some. When we were walking into Tiger tots today Jayce yelled STOP! Look Ellie there is grass! I about died from laughing. Who would have thought brown grass blades would be so exciting! Especially to a 2 and 3 year old.