HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MY SWEETIE

17 years ago today I tied the knot. We did not date long and we both felt that we were for each other so we eloped. I know now that it would have been better to have a church wedding and all but at 18 and in love I could not think clearly. I was going through some rough times in my life and had just gotten back to God at a revival. I really feel that God put us together and what God puts together is always best. So after 17 years and 5 kids and numerous hurdles and trials we are still much in love.

We did have 2 wedding receptions from our families and were able to do the cake thing. We tried to do a wedding vowel renewal at 10 years but it did not work out. Who knows, may for our 20th.

CHRISTMAS BAKING

This year was Fallynn's first attempt at baking with mom for Christmas. A good friend of mine, Sandy Yohe was also here to help. Fallynn and Seth worked well together and we were able to make 10 dozen sugar cookies. We then made 4 dozen gingerbread men and 2 pounds of fudge. I thought that Fallynn would get tired and quit but she helped to the very end, even doing the clean up and dishes with Sandy. What a great helper!!. Thanks to Seth and Sandy and for the rest of the family for giving their smile of approval after tasting.

Fallynn decorating cookies and her face :p

Fallynn doing dishes...

One tired baker...

CHRISTMAS PICTURES

It is usually a time we all remember....pictures. Trying to get all my kids to smile and hold still for one pose is a difficult task. One looks away, one is talking, one is not smiling and the list goes one. My kids dread this time of the year when I want a really nice picture to put in my Christmas cards. So this year went rather quickly because after about 8 different shots, Fallynn fell off the stand she was standing on and so ended our picture session and I had to choose the best of the ones I had. Tyler was able to grab her feet and she was not hurt just scared to lots of tears. So another year of pictures have come and gone and this one was not without memories for the kids to look back on.

Also I have added some information about each of my kids under their pictures at the right of my blog. Just thought you might like to read them.


This is the pose I chose for our cards.



These are some of the other shots that I took......

Here are some more pictures of our decorations. We have never had stairs, so I really enjoyed being able to hang the stocking on the stair railing and decorating it as well with lights and tinsel.

CHRISTMAS TREE

I am usually not a early bird when it comes to decorating for Christmas, but Fallynn was so interested in "KISMAS" that we put up our tree earlier that we ever have, (do not tell my mom that it was up before Thanksgiving). It is so nice to see the magic in a child's eyes when they see all the Christmas lights and decorations that come along with it. I am still going to add a few things to our stairs and hang the stockings but I am posting a few pics for now and will post more later this week along with the kids pictures for our Christmas cards.

SLEEPING???

My youngest 2 children do have their own beds but for some reason they end up every night together in this chair fast asleep. It never ceases to amaze me at the positions they end up in. Today I came down and found them like this.

BIRTHDAYS AND MORE BIRTHDAYS!!!

October is full of birthdays at our house! Fallynn's is the 21st, my husband's is the 22nd and Eathan's is the 29th. It is really hard to believe that our baby girl is 3 years old already. She has brought lots of joy and happiness to our home and the boys have really spoiled her. (mom and dad too!!) Eathan turned 10 this year and has really grown up to be a handsome young man. He is doing really well in school and for his birthday he wanted a B.B. gun. It is so funny because his dad told him he could have one but he would have to get my permission first. So I was out shopping and Eathan called me on the phone and was trying to tell me how grown up he was and how careful he was when his brothers shot with their guns and in the back of my mind I knew what he was getting around to but I let him talk on. (mean mommy!!) Finally he asked the big question if he could have the gun for his birthday and I said "sure". He then says "mom, I asked if I could have a B.B. gun" I said I understood that and he says "for real, I can really have one" It was so cute because he thought he would have talk me into it. I have learned awhile back that with 4 boys comes guns, hunting,army men, airplane rides,military talk,race cars and lots of fishing. But I have enjoyed it all (at least most of it).
Steve is not one for cakes and such so I usually bake him a Pumpkin pie (his favorite) instead of buying a cake. I did not get a pic of him on his birthday but I did get the kids so I am posting some pics of them.

Something new......

but I thought I would try my hand at "blogging". I have never been one for keeping a journal, but this might be a little different. To all my friends and family, I hope you check back often as I will try and keep this updated.