Favorite Foto Friday #33 - The EYES HAVE IT

Had a really hard time coming up with a theme this week... but every picture that I looked at always brought me to the eyes... they truly are the window to the soul and can speak louder than words. Here are the eyes that I get to look into every day...





If you would like me to link your FFF post, you do not necessarily have to go with the theme of the week. Just leave a comment and I will link you!

Lauren's Special Buddy Brooks
Jennifer's Driving For Donors Video
Amy & Mia Lou Who
Misty, Madisyn & Lyza
Madisyn & Lyza
Christina, Emily, Madeline & Ashley
Jennisa, Avery & Olivia
Tonya, Brent, Zach & Gabe
Rachel, John & Max
Stephanie & Alex
Katie & Arianna
Lisa & Sophia
Marianne, Finley & Chloe
Amy, Brooklyn, Carson, Regan
Kelli & Bella
Sarah, Zech, Micah, Alec & Aidan
Amy, Amy Joy, Jordan & Jonathan
Kelli & Kaleb
Candy & Jagger
Candy & Kya
Tracy, Matt & Emmy - First FFF!
Denise & her three boys, E, K & F
Stephanie & Maya
Lisa & Madeline
Rebekah & Jaden
Kathy & John
Heidi & Emmi
Jenelle & Colter
Farrah, Madisyn & Grace - keep their hearts in your prayers
Tracy & Brenda
Ruthie & Lili
Kelly's Cash Crew
Kelley & Lauren
Christina & Aiden
Amy, Hannah & Tessa
Rachel & her Philippine cuties
Kerri & Ruby
Three Handprints
Heather, Kyle, Brandon, Devin, Jacob & Allie
Vitoria & Braydon - click here for picture
Natalie, Cameron & Kennedy - First FFF!
Robyn & Gabriella
Soltana, Derek & Cerah
Amy, Jeff, Kayla, Nathan & Samantha
Kim & Alex
Sabra, Hannah, Maya, Caleb & Sofia
Alleen & Gabriella
Linda, Claire & Ruth
Holly, Gia & Nino
Corey, Luke & Sarah
laurie & Bella
Missy, Molly & Will
Ellie, Angelena & Angelo
Christy, H, L & G
Amanda, Mason, Mary & Matthew - First FFF!
Sharon & Olivia
Beth & Isabella Faye
Michelle, Dylan & Dominic

Pretty In Plaid

Conversation with Sophie this morning:
Bug: It's my birtday?
Mommy: Not yet, sweetie... when is your birthday?
Bug: My birtday's May fird (3rd)!
Mommy: That's right!
Bug: I be free (3) on my birtday! I be a big girl!
Mommy: Yes, you will be a big girl! And big girls sleep in their big girl beds and go pee pee in the potty!
Bug: I not big girl yet... I mommy's baby! Not yet!!
Mommy: Yes, you are mommy's baby.

Ahhh... don't you just love what goes on in their sweet little heads?? Just some random cuteness of my baby in plaid.

Pay It Forward

UPDATE: HOLLY, SHANNON & LISA are my PIF buddies!! Don't forget to post it on your blogs!!


Thanks to my blogger friend and fellow single Guat momma, Kerri, I'm now playing the Pay It Forward game.

How does it work?

Here are the rules:

I will send a handmade gift (of my choosing) to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this "PIF" exchange, and who make the same pledge on their own blog.

I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise!

The only thing you have to do in return is PAY IT FORWARD - on your own blog.

So, if you want to (eventually - remember, I get a year!) get a homemade goodie from me, and are willing to do the same via your blog, let me know!

(Note that you'll need to give me your real (snail mail) address... which you can do by private email.) Just leave a comment and I will get with you.

So, who's up for it?

And, while you are at it... please visit Kerri's blog for an opportunity to help a family in Guatemala who can really use a hand up...

Happy Easter!!

We had a very relaxed Easter... went to church then came home and had brunch at home. We then went to see Horton Hears A Who at the theaters and basically just relaxed. And, after just having weather in the 70's on Friday, we had a blast of snow showers this afternoon with the biggest snowflakes I have every seen - UGH! So ready for Spring time!! Hope everybody had a wonderful Easter!!

Just some random Easter pics!

Dyeing Easter Eggs last night... Sophie and Grant had so much fun! Morgan was out at the movies with friends.





All four of us after church this morning.


Our traditional outside in front of the dogwood tree picture (no blossoms yet this year - so moved in front of the holly tree instead).



And my kiddos with their duck bill quackers from the Easter Bunny!




Back to work/school tomorrow!! I need a nap!!

Please check out BIG NEWS on my friend Kim's blog... she is a shining example of God's love and how He can use us to work for Him. Kim, you are my hero!

I did it anyways....

I know I said I wasn't going to torture her this year by making her sit on the Easter Bunny's lap, but after seeing everybody's Easter Memories, I just couldn't help it! I took Morgan along so that she could hold her on EB's lap (Grant was playing at a friend's house and this was very spur of the moment)... here is the result!

Not too bad... but then she saw EB's hand next to her...


And we get the full EB effect! I don't blame her... the whole EB costume thing is a little creepy to me too (i.e. pay no attention to the nose behind the teeth).


She was only partially traumatized and ended up waving bye bye to him as we left the mall with my prize! She will love me someday for this, right? (Wish I would have noticed her dress not being down, but you can't have it all.)

Favorite Foto Friday #32 - EASTER MEMORIES!

Happy Easter everybody! For this week's FFF, please share your Easter Memories! Since I have only had a digital camera for a couple years, I will share Easter 2006... and Bug's First Easter (11 months old).

Yeah... she still feels the same way about him... but I will not torture her again this year... but would LOVE the picture!


My three little peeps...


Easter Buggy!


I can't get over how tiny she was! Look at those two little teeth!


If you would like me to post your FFF, please leave a comment. You do not have to accept the FFF theme to participate, just post your favorite foto of the week!

Tricia & Sofia
Misty, Madisyn & Lyza
Stephanie & Maya
Kerri & Ruby
Victoria & Braydon(Click Here for Pic)
Katie, Madeleine & Audrey
Stephanie & Alex - First FFF!
Rachel & her Philippine angels
Kim & Alex
Tonya, Brent, Gabe & Zach
Becky & Juliana
Debbie & Heidy
Farrah & Madisyn
Jennifer & Elena
Lisa, Katelyn, Frankie & Sophia
Christina & Aiden
Rebekah & Jaden
Kelli & Kaleb
Kathy & John
Heidi & Emmi
Kelli, Kollin, Karly, Karaline & Karson
Amy & Jonathan
Dena & Allie
Lisa & Madeline
Laurie & Kari
Lauren, Amanda & Adam
Christina, Emily, Ashley & Madeline
Becca & Ella
Nancy, Danny & Victoria
Marianne, Finley & Chloe
Tracy & Brenda
Denise, E & F
Amy, Kayla, Jeff & Nathan
Amy, Brooklyn, Regan & Carson
Alleen & Gabriella
Sharon, Jeff, Claire, Ollie & AnnaMaria
Robyn & Gabriella
Jennifer, F, K & M
Krystal, Brayden & Parker
Jenelle & Colter - First FFF!
Christy, H, L & G
Kelli & Bella
Three Handprints - First FFF!
Ruthie & Liliana

Easter Food For Dayli

As most of you know, I sponsor a child in San Jorge, Guatemala as part of Mayan Families School Sponsorship (see links in my sidebar). I have visited with her and her family last November on my mission trip and have been able to periodically send things down for her in various shipments as well as purchase items to help her family. This week, I found out that I could send some money down to have Easter Food delivered to her home in time for Semana Santa (Holy Week). Some of the traditional food includes sweet breads, drinking chocolate and sugar. The food was delivered yesterday and today I received pictures of her family receiving her Easter Food! Thought I would share a couple of my sweet girl!

Look at that sweet toothless smile!! I just love smiles when they lose their two front teeth! (I think they misspelled her name on the chalkboard)


This is Dayli, her little sister, Fristy, her mother and her new baby brother (born in December... what a big little guy!)


I cannot wait to go back down to visit again this fall on my next mission trip!!

Feliz Semana Santa!!

Wacky Wednesday

See new post below this post for Grant's exciting news.

Sophie absolutely LOVES her little buddy, Roberto. We went to his house over the weekend to celebrate his two year Forever Family Day. She fell in love with his toy tool bench and all the accessories... especially the goggles!! This picture cracks me up!


Maybe I have a future carpenter on my hands!!




Watch out Ty!!

Confirmed!!

I promised a little catch up in our crazy, busy family. Last Thursday, my baby boy made his Confirmation. He has been preparing for it for two years in his Evening Religious Education program that he goes to every Wednesday night. I have been so surprised to see how serious he has been about his preparation.

Last Thursday was the big day. Grant chose Christopher as his Confirmation name as he received a St. Christopher medal for his First Communion and has been wearing it ever since. He says that St. Christopher has protected him this long, that he hopes that he will continue to protect him as he grows.

During the procession into the church (looking very serious)...


And after... notice the Chrism (oil) on his forehead. One of our dearest friends in the world, "Uncle Gilly" was his sponsor.


Father Dan with Grant at the reception.


Something you do not notice in these pictures, but is there, is a clavicle brace. Grant fractured his clavicle last Wednesday at his growth plate. He slipped while putting instruments away in band class and his arm was caught in the bars of the storage locker and yanked his shoulder pretty hard. I have made enough trips to the orthopedic in the past month and I hope this trend is over!!!

Life with two teenagers and a toddler keeps me hopping to say the least!! I struggle many days to keep up, but moments such as Confirmation for my son, who has had to deal with too many struggles over recent months,reminds me how blessed I am to have these three children in my life.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

From my little Irish-Guatemalan beauty!!!








Can I also say I LOVE MY NEW CAMERA LENS!?!?! Look at the difference between the closeups with the new lens as opposed to the old standard lens that I took the full body shot picture this morning with!

Favorite Foto Friday #31 - SPRING FEVER!

Who else is having Spring Fever??? We have gone from our 15 inches of snow last Saturday to 70 degree weather today! I LOVE IT and am so ready for SPRING!

Sophie and I made it out to the park last night and went to the playground! We had so much fun and the weather felt so awesome, despite the mud!



And, I just love this picture of her smelling the flowers from my birthday flower cake from my friends Catherine and Kelly! Thank you soul sisters!!


I have so much more to share from our event filled week! My life feels like a soap opera (without the romance)! Stay tuned!

Be sure to leave a comment if you would like your FFF linked!

Misty, Maddy & Lyza
Maddy & Lyza
Christina, Emily, Ashley & Madeline
Ruthie & Lili - First FFF!
Lisa & Sophia
Katie, Brayden & Arianna
Carrie & Savannah
Debbie & Heidy
Heather, Kyle, Brandon, Devin, Jacob & Allie
Rebekah & Jaden - First FFF!
Alleen & Gabriella the Birthday Girl
Tracy & Brenda
Dena & Allie
Katie, Madeleine & Audrey
Amy & Joey
Farrah, Madisyn & Gracie
Sarah, Micah, Zech, Alec & Aidan
Kathy & John
Shannon & Analise - Private
Lauren, Adam & Amanda
Lisa & Madeline
Kelli & Bella
Heidi & Emmi
Becky, Juliana & Amaya
Becca & Ella
Christina & Aiden
Ellie, Angelena & Angelo
Tonya, Brent, Zach & Gabe
Kerry & Cameron
Denise and her three boys - First FFF!
Rachel & Life In Manila
Kerri & Ruby
Christy, H, L & G
Amy, Brooklyn, Regan & Carson
Kelley and her 7 blessings - First FFF!
Marianne, Finn & Chloe
Stephanie & Maya
Sharon and The Big Three
Robyn & Gabriella
KCAimee, Jacob & Adam - First FFF!
Jennifer, F, K & M
Kelli's KAMDEN!!
Faith, Hope Love Mama & Autumn, Mara & Ian

Update by numbers...

Haven't updated with a real post in a while... so thought I would update what has been going on in our little family with some numbers (thanks Kimber for the idea)!

1= Laptop that bit the dust this week containing the final draft of Morgan's essay that was due on Friday (thank goodness she got that snow day). And, part to fix said laptop is not in stock anymore... e*bay, here I come.

1= Cell phone that also died this weekend that belongs to same said child... you would think the world came to an end without constant contact with all her friends via txt and unlimited weekend talk time (never fear... cell phone under warranty and being replaced).

3= The number of people who have battled the flu in our home over the past few weeks. We are all finally back to health.... only Bug still has some coughing and loose chest congestion.

7= Trips to the doctor or immediate care center over the past two weeks battling said flu virus and broken elbow/arm.

15= The inches of snow we woke up to this morning! It was beautiful but we would have enjoyed it so much more if it had fallen in January or February when you expect it to be winter time and not just days after enjoying a 70 degree day that put you into full spring fever mode.



Which leads to these numbers:

2= Happy sisters who had so much fun playing in the snow! Grant was spending the weekend with my mom... but he had fun in the snow too, just no pictures.




1= The number of Guatemalan snow volcanoes we made in the front yard (don't harass me... it would not pack into a snowman, no matter how hard we tried... so we decided to call it a volcano and Sophie was so excited!)




50= The number of times that Sissy pulled Sophie around the yard in her sled!



51= The lap that send our little Bug into a face plant in the snow when the sled tipped over... poor baby!



2= The number of little hands that enjoyed helping me bake a birthday cake and lick the beaters!




21= The number of days that Sophie wore her hot pink cast! Thank goodness it is off and all is returning to normal. I had to convince her to get it off... I told her that she could not go to the beach with a cast on. So, every morning, she wakes up and says "My arm all better... go to beach!"... how do you explain to a toddler that she has to wait a little bit longer until we get to go there?

27= The number of days until Spring Break!! We can't wait! The 10-11 hour drive... not so much looking forward to that!

40= The number of years I celebrated today! I was able to go out last night to celebrate with a wonderful group of friends! Thank you Susan, Suzanne, Donna, Peggy, Whitney and Stephanie for braving the blizzard and coming out to help me celebrate!



112= The number of posts I have created on this blog

60,000= The number of visitors who have stopped by this blog - Holy Cow (Sophie's new found word)! Thanks everybody for continuing to stop by!!