Notice something different....

My wonderful friend Elaine, showed me how to "Pimp my Blog". I'm just getting into the creative Digital world I'm finding that I really like it. I won't be giving up my usual creative endeavors (traditional scrapbooking, card making, stamping, crafts, sewing, etc) anytime soon just adding more to my "love to do" list.

Happy Birthday Mitch-July 11th

Mitch recently bought an electric guitar and is teaching himself to play. He has come a long way! He has wanted to learn to play since I met him (17 years ago).
We didn't know what to get him for his birthday so we bought another Guitar Hero game and guitar so he and Chaia could play together. Chaia is quite the Guitar Hero. They have a great time playing and talking about the different games.
Stay tuned I'll post some pictures.

Happy Birthday Mitch!

Fourth of July!

We went to Holiday World Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus Indiana. The day before we drove to French Lick and took a train ride. It was pretty cool. Then we had the best Pizza ever at Chicago's Pizza in French Lick--thanks to Jill for suggessting that we try it. Pizza just isn't pizza now... but anyway we drove to Jasper to stay the night and swim and have some R&R. Then on the 4th we got up and went to Holiday World. It was fun. Aneka rode her 1st roller coaster. I was a nervious mess waiting until it was over. Kaylie and I stayed grounded. Aneka's eyes were HUGE I thought she was going to cry or throw up...anyway, she said she liked it but she didn't want to go again. Then we went to the water side and played and played and played. The girls had a great time. Kaylie even rode some rides that I thought for sure she wouldn't. We watched Mitch, Chaia and Aneka go through a tube on a 4 person raft and then it shoots you out into a HUGE funnel and you swish around it and then go down the drain. We watched them on this observation deck and Kaylie said she wanted to do it. So the 4 of them take off and Kaylie LOVED it. They did it a few more times as well as some other rides. We had a great day!

Happy Birthday Aneka---June 27th

Okay so I'm a little behind. What can I say...

Aneka was born on a Wednesday afternoon, June 27, 2001 @ 4:48 pm. The day before she arrived I had a doctor's appointment and he asked that I arrive the next morning at the hospital to be induced the pockets of fluid around her were not as full or as many as he would have liked and thought it would be best to get her out. I was shocked! A baby that comes BEFORE the due date was I to be this lucky. My due date was July 7th. I never dreamed she would come in JUNE. We got home to prepare things for her arrival. Went to bed and woke at 2 am with contractions coming about 10 minutes apart for the next hour. They continued about 5 -I woke Mitch to see if we should go or just wait for our 7 am appointment. Things really didn't progress so we went to the hospital at 7. Checked in and got ready. Well once we got there and set up-things slowed down so they started the PIT to help me along. Finally about 3 I had my epidural!!! I like to call it Happy Hour!!! I was at a 4 at this point. So I thought we have a while to go. Then an hour they checked me I was at 10 and ready to go. Even though it was my 3rd baby I freaked out a little bit--what right now! Well, Dr. Miles barely got gloves on and seated. I gave one push and she was here. As he was cleaning her eyes/nose out-I could feel her shoulders and body just slide right out. She was a perfect little girl. She didn't cry - she just had these BIG blue eyes. She was so tiny and petite. My smallest baby-7 lbs! Big difference from Chaia 8-13.5. When we left the hospital she was down to 6 lbs 12 oz. I loved it!! Finally a tiny baby!! Mitch left and brought the girls back to meet her--Chaia 8, Kaylie 2 -almost 3. Kaylie wouldn't go near her or me. She just hung on to Mitch. Chaia was all over her--being the oldest she knew how this went. Aneka's little cry was so quiet and gentle. She is our Hoosier baby. Born 10 months after we arrived in Indiana. She is gentle, loving, happy she can change my mood with just a hug or kiss. She loves to leave little love notes around the house. We are so happy to have her in our family. We love you Aneka I can't believe it's been 7 years!!

Girls Camp 2008

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Happy Father's Day!

Father's Day brings back such emotions for me. First of all I'm so thankful for a Father in Heaven who loves me. I know that I'm a Child of God. I'm thankful for the Plan of Salvation that I can be with Him again.

I'm also very grateful to my Dad! He has taught me hard work, service, patience, unconditional love, how to have fun and so many more things. He was/is a great example to me. He lived as I want to live. I miss him so dearly and I'm not sure that pain will ever go away. I just try to do my best so I can be with him again.

I'm also very grateful for my Husband! He puts up with so much from a house full of women. Only a special guy can endure that. He is often home taking care of kids while I'm out serving others. He is a great Dad who plays with Barbie's, can play house, knows how to set a table for a tea party, can dress Polly Pockets & baby dolls. He can kill spiders/bugs with a single shoe. He rescues girls from top bunks in the middle of the night during a thunderstorm and they are too scared to move. He kisses boo-boos and gives great hugs. He is the best daddy! Thank you for being a great example to our daughters of what a great daddy should be--I love you!

Happy Birthday Chaia!

Yes, I'm a little behind on Blogging. Chaia turned 15 on June 12th. She arrived 15 years ago @ 4:28 am! It had been a long pregnancy 42 weeks and 1 day to be exact. I was induced and labored 22 hours to get her here. My delivery was not easy nor a good experience so I will not scare anyone who plans on having children by sharing the details. Chaia was a great baby from the start. She slept through the night from day one and didn't take too long to get her days & nights turned around. She was always happy and hardly ever cried. My mom told me that she was not a typical baby that all babies weren't as good as she was. Looking back she was trying to prepare me for baby #2 which I will tell you about next month. My mom stayed with us for the first couple of weeks. It was so great having my own OB Nurse to help answer all my 1000's of questions about birth, after birth & of course babies. I cried when she left and begged her not to go. But she assured us that we'd be fine. Chaia being the oldest has been our guinea pig. Despite all our mistakes in learning how to raise kids she has turned our GREAT-we couldn't be more proud of her. She is an awesome girl who is a HUGE help to us, she is smart, funny, beautiful and perfect! Chaia we love you and we are so glad your ours!!!