Big Update

Late nights were mine to blog edit pictures and relax. Since Jacob arrived this is not the case. Mostly my nights consist of a cranky baby, poo and throw up till about 2am and I would not have it any other way. The blog can wait but my baby will not be a baby for long. Patti told me recently there is a poem that says something like that. It is so true! Sometimes I feel I am neglecting my photography my blog and my hair color! Then I just think better that then my precious fat man. He is plump and sweet and cozy and everything I ever wanted my boy to be. I fall in love with him more every day. It is hard to remember what it was like before he was here. I am happy to say that nursing him has gone more than great! Usually for me it only lasts a few weeks and that is with many formula supplements in between. This time around it is like my breasts caught on, it only took five times! It has been a great experience and I am so proud of how chubby my baby boy’s cheeks are! He will be eight weeks this Wednesday. They grow to fast!

December was filled with lots of fun activities, first was getting a tree we went to Thortons tree farm, our little family tradition. We visited the animals first the girls just love them it is really their favorite part. As we were hangin with the animals I spotted a tree it was perfect! I thought no way could the first tree I see really be it! Hahaha it wasn't there was no tag on it so it was off limits! I was happy to find another tree only a few over that was just as perfect! It had a tag and that was it the fastest tee hunt ever! We got some hot chocolate and goodies and headed home to decorate. It was up in record time and I enjoyed it more this time then ever!

Next was Alexis winter choir concert. I picked the worst seat for taking pictures she was on the same side as me facing at an angle; Jon jumped up and took some shoots from a different position. She did really good they sounded nice and of course her friend Stacie brought down the house singing "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus. I cried! It was a perfect song for her to sing if you knew her story. She has gone through a lot in the last year and I think it was her way of saying she was going to make it threw and be ok.



Madison had her big Birthday party on the 19th. We were waiting for Grandma Patti to get back from Peru. It was a lot of fun not many kids came due to them having the flu and other things but she had a great day. I cannot believe how fast the last four years flew by!!









Next was Christmas week and oh what a week it was. I can honestly say that I have not had a better Christmas in my life. It was just a joy the entire week last minute shopping making cookies fudge and other goodies spending a nice night with Nathans family on Christmas Eve. I just felt so warm and wonderful the entire time. Christmas morning was so peaceful I woke up before very one and made blueberry muffins, coffee and OJ. Then my Mom woke up and we chatted and took some pics of the kids sleeping. Slowly the kids started waking up. We had to drag Alexis out of bed. She stayed up late wrapping last minute gifts with me till almost 2am! They girls were so excited to see all the presents the looks on their faces were just priceless. We are so blessed and I felt it that morning so much! The next few hours we played our new Wii I made a big breakfast after opening presents then we had to get ready to go to Nathans parents for dinner. We went from jamies to fancy dresses. It was a good reason to dress up=) we had fun opening presents eating cinnamon rolls and chatting. Then we got the big turkey dinner that Patti prepared that was beyond delish! She nails it every time! So so yummy!! Things winded down and we headed home. My Mom called and asked to have the girls spend the night... another great gift to us SLEEP wahooo!! Lol Alexis and Brandon went to their dads and Nathan and I spent the rest of the night chatting and playing the Wii. It was such the perfect day!










On the 29th we got some unexpected snow, it was the middle of the day on a Tuesday and it just started snowing, a lot!! The girls waited for Daddy to get home to go play and they had a blast! It got too cold for Trinity after about ten minutes but she had fun. It was melted by Thursday= ( We are hoping that is not the only snow we see this year how sad would that be!



New Years eve we hung out at home with my Mom Ryry Billy and the girls. We watched a movie and made margaritas. At ten to midnight we let the girls get up(they were not asleep due to fireworks). I got a pot and some wooden spoons and at 12 let them bang away they were amazed! Trinity said we get up it a holiday??? When we said yes she just got all big eyed and laughed. It was a lot of fun! Maddy was banging so hard on the pans she broke my wooden spoon!!! Good times!


We went to Papas Pizza on the 2nd to spend some time with Nathan brother Jon. He was being shipped out that next Tuesday for boot camp. We had some pizza and Family time with him it was nice. We also went over there the next day for a big steak dinner. It was the time we will see him for a long time. After boot camp he goes to Spokane WA for his training once he is done with that we are hoping he can make a trip home. It has only been two weeks but I miss him so much already. He was 10 when I met Nathan and can honestly say I feel like he is my brother. Him and I have always had a special relationship and got along so well. He is such a love. He has such a great personality and a huge heart. That night as we were leaving him with some encouraging words, I finally broke down and balled my eyes out. I know he will be on an adventure and will have so many opportunities joining the Military but is sad he will not be around here. We will not see him as much and I guess I feel we will miss out on a lot of his life due to him joining. But he is at the age he needs to spread his wings and take this journey we call life on his own for a bit. I think he is leaving as a kid and will come back a man that I am looking forward to seeing. My advice to him that night was to stay true to himself and never let anything change that big heart he has. Knowing him that will never ever happen!




Last weekend was my mom’s birthday party and Ryan’s as well. For my Moms Birthday I made a huge Holy Mole taco dinner. It was soooo sooo good! Alexis and I made a red velvet cake and she decorated it all by herself! It turned out so super cute!! We had some yummy drinks and sang karaoke it was some fun times!! Ryan had his party the next day and the kids had a blast it turned out to be a sunny day! They got to play outside! He had a lot of friends from school that came so that was so nice for him. He sure is getting big seems like Dawn was just at the Hospital having him. I love that little guy he is my buddy!! At the party we got some News form Pete’s girl friend that they are expecting a baby!! We are truly excited for them! I think Pete will be the best daddy!

So that brings us to this weekend. Whew we made it! This was a long one!
Friday night was the first time I have got to go have a drink with the ladies since getting pregnant almost a year ago!! It was really fun and I am happy to say I was home by 9:30=)
Yesterday I took the girls to a birthday party then Nathan and I cleaned out the garage and took a bunch of stuff to goodwill. (Trying to stick to some goals not resolutions we made).
Today we had a nice lunch with Nathans parents and I got to chat with Patti. I love our Sunday time with his family!!

I actually finished this before Desperate housewives came on.. wahoo!! I will try to update more often I know these long updates can get boring and have way too many pictures!!!!

Love you all xoxox

Haiti & Compassion International

This morning we received a mass email for all sponsors of Compassion International. It goes as follows

From: Compassion International To: crcomp2@comcast.net Subject: Earthquake in Haiti Devastates Compassion Children

Click here to view this message in your Internet browser. To ensure delivery directly to your inbox please add ciinfo@compassion-intl.com to your address book. Haitian Children and Families Devastated by Massive Earthquake Dear Nathan and Cynthia, The catastrophic earthquake that hit Haiti yesterday has resulted in unfathomable chaos and devastation for hundreds of thousands of children and families. Compassion sponsors and donors serve more than 65,000 children in Haiti. At least a third of them live in the areas that were hardest hit. I am asking you to please send a generous gift today to help these precious children and their families. We are working rapidly to assess the situation and determine the full extent of damage: Sadly, we anticipate there will be many deaths. We anticipate thousands of children and families will have lost everything. We anticipate many of our church-based child development centers will have been destroyed. Without a doubt, the children we serve in Haiti are in shock and face immediate needs for food, water, medical care, shelter and counseling. We have teams prepared to respond, and we are deeply committed to helping each child. We need your donation today. Please reach out in the name of Jesus to bring relief, comfort, love and restoration to precious children and families whose lives have been devastated by this crisis. Thank you for caring, Dr. Wess Stafford President, USA P.S. If you would like to give by phone, please call us at (800) 336-7676. Check donations can be mailed to: Compassion International, Colorado Springs, CO 80997. Unsubscribe / Manage Your E-mail Interests | Sponsor/Donor Number: 2066533 Compassion International is one of the world's largest and fastest growing Christian child development organizations. Since 1952, Compassion's revolutionary approach, through one-to-one sponsorship, has touched the lives of more than 2 million children. Christ Centered, Child Focused, Church Based and Committed to Integrity Compassion International 12290 Voyager Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80921 | (800) 336-7676

We do not sponsor a child in Haiti but will be making sure we do our part to support the children and the organization. If you can make a donation here is a link to their website.

Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world where 20,000 children under the age of 5 died of malnutrition and other causes in 2007. Where natural disaster has occurred numerous times in the last ten years.

It is so heart breaking that a country that already suffers from poverty, malnutrition and constant natural disaster would have to endure yet another setback in the already hard life they have. It made me think about how blessed we are in this country but at the same time how so many of us take for granted fresh water, electricity, warm soft beds and big family dinners with much leftovers. We have endured our share of natural disasters but when we live an already privileged life it seems almost fair to deal with a reality check once in awhile. For these people it does not seem so fair, but if anything should come of this it should teach us all a lesson, praise God for all the blessings we have!

Please have the men women and children in your prayers. Send prayers to the thousands of volunteers that are there and on their way. Ask God to comfort heal and bless all the people of Haiti.

Happy Birthday I heart Faces!

This picture is Trinity awake at 12 on News Years Eve she was so amazed we let her get up go out side and bang on pans!


The I Heart Faces contest this week is to showcase a photo featuring - what-else- a face. I found this site about a week ago and am so excited!







Any photographer (Beginner, Amateur and Professional) is welcome to join in on the weekly photo challenges. Enter on Mon or Tues. Challenges close down at 9:00 p.m. (central) on Tues evening. Each participant is welcome to enter ONE photo each week. If you post has more than one photo, your entry will not be eligible to win this challenge.