Remi...

I photographed my childhood best friend's son Remi last week. He is just so precious - I had to share!

and they shall eat cake!

had to add a picture of this beautiful cake!

Chloe's birthday

Chloe had one of the most beautiful birthday parties I have ever seen. I hired one of the best cake decorators that I knew, invited all of my favorite people, and she had a ball! She wanted only princess themed gifts and that is exactly what she got and then some (spoiled girl). It was such a great day! I really need to plan parties for a living with how much joy they bring me.

Tomorrow I'm starting a diet (how many times have you heard that) but this time I have support from some friends starting it with me. If you put me in a competition like that then I am sure I will do well at it! Bye bye carbs...at least I had birthday cake this week!

I'm hoping to fly to Florida in a couple of months - I am getting antsy. I need to feel the sand in my toes. Although I love being a mother...I also need breaks and a beautiful beach and Le Tub is just what I need ;o)

long awaited update

Could he get any cuter???

My niece Emery (a twin)

Kaden and one of his new twin cousins...Aubrey. This picture is funny to me because my grandfather used to always hold babies and smell their heads. When I had my own children I did this (and still do!). Here comes Kaden and he just wants to hold them and smell their little heads.

A snapshot taken by one of the grandma's

An attempt at a Christmas card...

Thanks to my brother who reminded me that I started this and have neglected it (sorry). My daughter turned 4 today so the morning was full of tears and memories! She is having a princess party in a few days and is very excited about having her twin cousins come to their very first birthday party. Kaden turned 7 in November and boy did I cry that day - 7 years???? Our household is still full art - Karl has been hired to do a giant mural and I have been hired to do a very large wedding so I have been working hard at getting things ready. Not much else is going on other than the kids are horribly sick right now. I hate when they are sick. The doctor said it was a virus and there was nothing we could do. I think Chloe is over the hump but Kaden is really sick today ;o(

Chloe may be on the other side of the tube soon.

Saturday Night

Today's photograph - my daughter looking through the window of old castle ruins during our latest vacation. Boy was it beautiful!!!! This man had built the castle for his wife as a gift - what a special woman she must have been.

I had a great night tonight. I was treated to a fantastic dinner, then off to a bookstore, and then off to Krispy Kreme for dessert! Tonight was a total splurge! Our weekends keep getting later and later and Sunday mornings are getting harder and harder to wake up to!

We turned our furnace on for the first time today and started the first fire of the year in the fireplace. The entire house felt so wonderful and cozy! We were surprised with a HUGE load of firewood from someone that just cut down a bunch of tree's on their land and what a blessing that was! It's feeling like Christmas already!

I'll write more later....

Off to bed

We are getting ready to go to the lake and I'm excited. Sorry for my depressive post before - I am not usually in the "self pitty" mode. I erased my post from yesterday because I just didn't want to whine. Everything will turn out alright and I know this is true.

I feel like I must be doing something right in my motherhood journey. My son and daughter have been saying the wisest things lately. Many who know me also know that I am a huge advocate for homeschooling in the lower grades (if you are able) and that is what we are doing in our home. My children see me reading my Bible every morning and beg to be told what is in it. They love flipping through it and finding the verse and wait eagerly to hear how "special" that verse is that they chose. A few days ago I found Kaden reading his Bible before breakfast (he can only 3-4 letter words so I wasn't sure what he was doing). I asked him what he was doing and he said,"Mom, I have to feed my spirit before I feed my body." At church Wednesday my daughter was quick to remind all the children at snack time that they forgot to do their prayer. One last example - There is a little boy that Kaden knows who likes to pick on all the children. Kaden decided to start praying that his family would be nicer to him so that he would be nicer to others. Can you see where I'm going - this is an incredible feat for a 3 and 6 year old. I only hope that God is smiling. I went to bed last night with tears in my eyes at how God has shown himself in their lives already...it's truly beautiful!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!