God's love is unshaken!

"Though the mountains may be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my love will not be shaken nor my peace be removed, says the Lord, who shows compassion on you." Isaiah 54:10

This verse is so comforting! Human relationships can be so conditional and yet God's love is so unconditional that He says even though the most imaginable things on earth can happen....HE STILL LOVES US! It is hard to comprehend God's love for us! Only through God does peace and never ending love truly exist.

Watch out for the rear exit!!

I was waiting for the bath water for Jayce's bath to get just right and as I was standing there with him naked in my arms, I looked down and saw poop on the floor. Naturally, I thought it was the stupid dog. Then, I looked down at Jayce and saw something coming out the exit towards the rear....and realized....it was not the dog!

I'd like to give Obama a Noble PIECE OF MY MIND!!!!

I find it extremely sickening to hear that Barack Obama has won a Nobel Peace Prize. What is the world's facination with this guy? Would any of us get a Nobel Prize if we said to the murderers out there....

"It's okay. I understand that this victim is a huge burden in your life right now....why don't you go ahead and kill them, and well if you can't afford a gun we'll go ahead and provide one for you. It's your choice, it's your life....you shouldn't have to deal with something in your life that is unwanted."

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS WORLD that we would first of all stand by and let this stuff happen not to mention give the man who has the power to stop this cruelty a PEACE PRIZE!!!!

I am SO sick and tired of people only worried about themselves!! After all if two people wouldn't have been worried so much about themselves when it came to that sensual moment....then they wouldn't have had to worry about caring about the new someone they were creating!

Been there....done that! We made a selfish choice against God's will about 7 years ago and believe me it was not an easy time in our lives! BUT thanks to God's mercy and grace he turned that poor choice into a beautiful new life that we now call our son. Is Taylor's life more important now than it was at 1 second gestation....NO!!! It was important and precious the entire time.

We need to be PRAYING HARD for this country! Everyone is more worried about saving the environment than saving the lives of innocent children!!

When's the last time you listened to a "life-giving rebuke"?

"He who listens to a life-giving rebuke

will be at home among the wise.

He who ignores discipline despises himself,

but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom

and humility comes before honor."

Proverbs 15:31-33

Why would I write such a verse? I don't know....I think of the many times that I have been given a "life-giving rebuke". To me, that wouldn't be just critism but something much greater! LIFE-GIVING.....what does that mean? I think about the kind of rebuke/critism that can change a life and make it better.

When you're young it usually involves a rebuke telling you not to do something...like don't touch a hot stove, don't run into traffic, etc...

But when it comes to LIFE-GIVING I think that is a much greater thought! Imagine the possibilities! Imagine if you listened to a wise christian when they gave you a "life-giving rebuke". God's word says you will be at home among the wise....to be wise is a great accomplishment.

So....when's that last time you listened and applied a "life-giving rebuke" from a person of wisdom? Remember the last verse says that humility comes before honor. Is it time you dropped your pride to accept a rebuke in order to receive a life of honor?

Awwww...

The things a dad will do when the kids are bored...

The kids were all bored last night and I needed some space so Matt took the kids outside for awhile. After some time, I got curious to see what they were doing and this is what I discovered!

Another child potty trained...3 down, one to go!

Briella is doing so good potty training! She's been telling us when she has to go....and even tells us if she has to go poop! I'm so excited to be able to cut down on the diaper buying!! Jayce still has a ways to go though til he's potty trained. Guess I'll just have to be patient! :)

My Child of God

I was kissing my girls good night tonight and as I was standing in their doorway closing the door I heard Taylor talking. I kind of figured Matt was in there but as I got closer I noticed he wasn't and then I noticed Tay had his little eyes closed and he was praying. Talk about a lump in your throat! I could've bawled right there!! There is nothing more precious than catching your little boy praying. He had no idea I was even there until he sayed "Amen" and opened his eyes. I asked him what he prayed about and he was so non-chalant..."oh....sick people that I know....and stuff like that...."

I like to picture the big smile painted on Jesus' face as He just reclines there at the God's right hand. I imagine God looking down at His Son and saying "doesn't that feel good to see your boy praying to ya?" I think God would say "ya"....maybe not....but either way I'm giving him a good chuckle as He hears me out on this.

Huntin' practice

Cute video of Tay shooting his BB gun with Daddy.

my little stinker!

I have had to put Hailee and Briella's closet back together 3 times since Thursday night. Here I caught my little monkey in action attempting to make me pick it up a forth time! What am I gonna do with her? Is there room at the ZOO?!? I love her to death....you should've seen her jump though when she saw me standing there!!

New pics of Jayce

Summer 2009

Wow! It's been awhile since I've updated this blog. Now that I'm on facebook....my blog takes a backseat! Here's some pictures of fun stuff that have happened in our lives this summer...

Briella is growing up so fast! She's already wearing thongs....as SUSPENDERS!! I laughed so hard! About as hard as my mom is laughing in the next picture!

I took Kenzie, Yoselin, Hailee, Taylor, Briella and Jayce to the beach last week. We decided to bury the little kids. Briella kept pulling her arms out so we had to keep burying them. It was such a gorgeous day although the lake was only 46 degrees....BURRRR! It didn't phase those little kiddos though!

What a fun summer we've had! Although I am ready for school to start again....

Surprise! I'm a Michael Jackson fan...

It's true! I really enjoyed Michael Jackson's music! I know he is really wierd and sort of creepy....BUT he had some really good songs! I just can't believe that he died! How crazy!! I added my 2 favorite songs of Jackson on my playlist....of course there are many more favorites!! I used to LOVE the song "Black or White". I remember Brooke and I would crank that song up and dance and sing to it back when we were in elementary school. That was back before Michael went all creepy and he was just trying to "Heal the World". So now you know....I've officially come out of the closet as a Michael Jackson fan. Whew! I feel so much better!!!

Here they all are...

Here's my favorite pictures of our kids that we took on Saturday at Rosy Mound. Who needs to spend a ton of money on a photographer when you can do it yourself!! :) We ended up taking Jayce's picture in the sandbox because he was losing his patience at the actual beach....it works though!

Brotherly Love

I am so happy that Taylor has a brother! He is seriously so excited. He is very protective of him too! Whenever someone else is holding him, he watches them like a hawk! He is such a good big brother! He makes me so proud!!

Future Lactation Consultant

Briella has really become quite the mama these days. She is really helpful when I need her get me a pipey or a burp cloth. I was nursing the other day and she went and got her baby and started nursing her baby. She's got a little bit to learn yet though....she nurses from her belly button. :)

If I clean up any more poop....so help me!

My life revolves around poop these days!! Jayce has at leasst 6 poops a day, Briella has been poopin' like 3 times a day and lucky me, this morning Izzy pooped in the laundry room. I am so "pooped" with cleaning up POOP!!

Pics of our Jayce

We haven't posted any pictures since Jayce was born....so I thought I'd better put some out there! He has changed so much already. He weighs 9lbs 6oz as of Thursday, so he has almost gotten back up to his birth weight. He is a very healthy boy and a very good baby. I typically get up with him only once a night. God is GOOD!! :) He is so precious.
We just love him so much. I sit at night and just try to take in every little detail of him while I'm nursing in the wee hours of the morning. We are so blessed to have such good kids....Tay, Hailee and Briella have all been so good with him. They love their new brother....and yes, even Briella is sharing Mommy without too much argument!

Our Handsome Man

Isn't he cute. Loks like his mommy!!!

FINNALY

Well all has ended well!! We had a healthy baby boy. Katie tried to push him out naturally but he was bieng stubborn (for good reason though). Doc finally decide that enough was enough and said we were getting a sea section (Katie didn't argue). When he cut er open he happened to notice that the uterus was paper thin and would have probably ruptured if she pushed for to long. Baby was pulled out and mommy was stitched up. We put baby on the scale and HOLY COW he weighed 9 pounds 9 ounces (a whopper). Your probably wondering his name!! If I was a woman it would have been the first thing I told you, but I'm not:) We named him Jayce Irwin middle name after my grandpa Emmert. Sorry I'm not perfect and forgot the camera adapter to download pics. O well, mommy is very tired now and needs some rest. Little Jayce is diong well as is mommy. If you would like to come see tommorrow would be best, or when we get home. Thanks to everyone for all your prayers. Chow!!!

nothing yet

Got here at 9:00 last night decide to let Katie just to contract by herself till 3:00 am and then see if any progress would come. Well 3:00 am came and no change ,still at 3c, and still contracting very slowly after several walks around the nurses station. I've come to the conclusion they should give the men a motorized wheelchair to keep up with the women who walk 90 mph to get themselves to contract faster.(I'm lazy to) They started Patocin at 3:00am and contractions started coming more frequent.Doc came in at 7:15 and decided to break the water and up the dosage of Patocin. Contractions are about 3-4 min apart now and increasing in intensity. Hopfully things will move along well and everything will go smoothly. Please keep Katie in your prayers and little baby as well. I'll try and kepp this up to date, but I gotta get up every ten words I write to rub her back. What a good husband!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ready for the next big event

Well, we're all moved in! We had so much help on Monday it was unbelievable!! We are so grateful for all the help!! Now we're ready for the next big day...the arrival of our new baby! I found out yesterday that I have to go in to be induced on Wednesday night at 9pm. We are so excited!! I have already been to the hospital twice though. Friday night after we closed on our new house I ended up going in because I was having pretty intense contractions every 2-3 minutes. I didn't end up dialating any further so they gave me a pill to stop the false labor. Then on Wednesday night during the congregational meeting at our church I was having pretty strong ones again. I called the on-call doc to see what to do and once again they told me to come in.....and once again I got sent home!! Oh well....this baby is going to come when the time is right. Now we've just gotta get through the diner and we'll be through all of our craziness and ready to add a little more craziness having a newborn around again!

So Blessed!

Well, it is about 11:30pm on Thursday night....the night before we close on our new house. Obviously I cannot sleep because of the excitement that is in store for tomorrow. However, that was not the only thing keeping me up and I felt an extreme need to write about it.

The past couple weeks have been so hectic with preparing for this house that tonight as I was laying in bed saying my bedtime prayers I just layed there praising God for His many blessings. And NO! I am not talking about the purchase of our new house.

God has blessed me with the most wonderful family! As I was laying there I was watching Matt sleep...and I just thanked God for the wonderful man laying next to me. Sure, he has his issues....for example, he seems to be sweating really bad tonight and everytime I tuck the sheets between us so he won't soak me....he loosens them all back up so he can snuggle his sweaty self all over me. And as disgusting as that may sound....THANK YOU GOD for this wonderful, sweaty husband of mine who will take a chance at slipping right off me for just an opportunity to cuddle. I LOVE THIS MAN MORE THAN ANY OF YOU WILL EVER KNOW!!

Then I layed there and thought of my precious Hailee. She had a fever of 102.8 today. I cannot handle seeing my sweet little princess just lay there burning up! The doctor said she would be fine, thank goodness. But I just love her so much too. She is such a go-getter. She can own a room when she walks in the door. The other day, Matt shaved off his beard and Hailee looked at him and shook her head while saying, "You've got to be kidding me!" then she rolled her eyes! I could just eat her up! And yet at nearly 5 years old, this little girl knows her daddy in Heaven already. She talks to Jesus like she can see Him sitting right next to her. What Faith! She told me the other day that she has a "secret place" where only Jesus and her can be and she said, "Mommy?!?! Do you know where it is?" And I said no....wanting to hear her cute little 5 year old answer....and the answer I got was not that of a 5 year old but that of a little girl who knows her maker personally...she said, "It's right here in my heart!" And she patted her heart proudly like she herself was introducing me to Him. Now what parent would not be proud of a moment like that! Oh, I love her so much it brings tears to my eyes!

But then there is Taylor. I am SO proud of the little gentleman he is becoming. He is so caring and compassionate....even to Hailee, but only when she is sick!! Tay's friend Adam is going through a very hard time right now. His dad has been in and out of the hospital for many months now and now just a few weeks ago we found out that his mom has breast cancer and had to have surgery. These people have such incredible faith and strength that it makes the David and Goliath story look like a joke! My son, too has such incredible faith. He prays daily for that family and not just at dinnertime or bedtime. We were riding in the car the other and he asked me if we could pray for the Baar Family. So we did...and I was reminded of what trully matters in this life. Because, I too pray for the Baars frequently....but I am embarrassed to say that I have spent just as much time in prayer for the sale of this house to go through. And it took my 7 year old future preacher :) to remind me of what life is all about! I LOVE this child and am SO proud of who he is becoming.

Then there's Briella. Where should I start? She is so full of life that sometimes I just have to sit and watch her so I can make a memory of her spirit at this young age. She's catching on to sibling rivalry....although she's becoming the attacker not the victim. She is constantly pulling Hailee's hair or she'll try to tackle Tay...which doesn't work to well. She is just the sweetest little lady and I can't get enough of cuddling her in my arms.

And let's not forget baby #4. You mothers out there can relate to the undescribable power of a mother's love to an unborn baby. Lately, I have just been holding my belly and taking in the moments of pure fascination. Really, can you even believe that our God is so incredible that he can develop this child inside me and prepare it for the world outside....and yet he knows the number of hairs on this child's head and knows how long this child will be a blessing to others on our earth. WOW!! I can't even wrap my mind around it! I sit and wonder what will he/she be like. I think about how am I going to teach this young child to fall in love with the "man of my life"....and I'm talkin' about the "big man upstairs!"

Really that is all I want in this life! I want my children to love their Heavenly Father with ALL their hearts! That is my daily goal when I see these children each morning. How can I help them find their Saviour and grow to love HIM more than they love me!

I thank GOD for these blessings of my family! I could die today and have all I ever needed here on earth! This family is what makes my life worth living. I don't need a big beautiful house to feel blessed or happy....All I need is them....and I'd still be just as blessed in this life if I were homeless as long as I have my family! I thank God for helping me keep my focus on what is most important!

Almost there!

I found out at my Friday doctor appointment that I get to be induced the week of Memorial Day. We don't have a day set yet....my doctor wants to be sure he's on call that day so we're going to wait to determine the actual day. I'm excited though! I am so exhausted these days. Being 9 months pregnant and moving are not a good combination. So I am definately ready to settle down!

I'm losing my mind!!!

So we are officially moving out on Monday the 18th. Let the chaos begin! My house is such a sty right now. It is SO stressful dealing with all the stuff going on in my life right now....allow me to elaborate....it's good therapy for me! Here is a list of the things I am dealing with:
1. I want to "nest" but I can't because I need to make a nest at the new house!
2. I can't sleep at night because my frickin' hips kill because I am as huge as our new house!
3. I think that Briella is rebelling against either us moving or she suspects that she is soon not going to be the baby anymore....I don't call my kids names but to describe her attitude these days I will spell....cuz sometimes when you spell it, it doesn't seem as mean... B-R-A-T! Oops! It still looks mean when you spell it!
4. I try to start packing but I just stand there amidst the mess and just stare. I think, "hmmm, I could really go for some strawberry shortcake right now....or....I wonder if there is anything I haven't noticed on the pictures we have of our new house....maybe I should go look closely at them."
5. When I start to pack, I get done with a box and the half empty box I started in a different room has now been emptied by the B-R-A-T!! ERGH!!
6. Then while I'm packing I get such severe indigestion from bending over that I have to go puke....once I puke....I just don't feel like packing anymore.
7. At night I am so exhausted from packing the whole 2 BOXES (big whoop)that I just start to cry! Seriously! Every night for like this past week I have started crying because I am so overwhelmed with packing 2 lousy boxes....isn't that the stupidest thing you've ever heard of?
8. I get so tired that I just want to zone out....but I can't because Tay is constantly yacking my ear off and asking me wierdo questions like: "What is the biggest field in the world?" Or "How many leaves do you think are on that tree?" WHAT THE HECK KIND OF QUESTIONS ARE THESE?!??! And you can't say "I don't know" and so I just tell him to ask God when he gets to Heaven.....OR better yet! I'll ask God when I get there....because at the stress level I'm at....I'm sure it won't be long until I end up there anyway at the rate I'm going these days!!

So there you have it! How rude it is for me to complain when life is so good, New Baby coming (4weeks), New House (1week) and a body that a sumo wrestler would kill to have....now what am I complaining about?!?

Mud Spa anyone?

Yoselin and Hailee wanted to play outside yesterday...
of course I didn't think about how spongy (sp?) the ground would be after all that rain. They found a mud pit by the garden and decided to create their own little outdoor spa. They were covered in mud...even their hair was wet with it! And they STUNK so BAD!!

But hey! These little divas got their day at the spa at least! Hmmm....maybe next year instead of doing the Olive Center Diner we could do the Olive Center Mud Spa! Do you think the community would come out for that event?

We're MOVIN' on up!

For those of you who were deprived and never watched "The Jefferson's", that is where I got the title of this post. So why would I title a post that?!? Because we are FINALLY going to move!!!!!!! YEEEEHAW!!!! We found out tonight that the bank accepted our offer and we plan to close on May 18! Hopefully we'll be in the new house before Baby#4 arrives!! Here's a pic of what we'll be moving into!

Who am I?!?

I have a Daddy in Heaven who loves me!

Wedding Day woes...

Not to beat a dead horse or anything...but I guess the more people that read these posts, the more prayers there will be (I am hoping) for the relationship that I have with my dad. I am hoping that this blogging will feel like therapy for me. My shrink :) says I need to "remember" the times I was hurt in order to be able to deal with the hurt he has caused me over the years. So sorry to those of you sick of hearing the Wayne drama....but please use this as proof that Nick, Lindsey and I really need prayers for our dad!

I have come to realize why there is so much hurt yet in dealing with my wedding day in regards to my dad. It's the fact that he made it very obvious that I caused him great humiliation and disgrace. My dad acted as though he became the victim of a loser daughter. Becoming pregnant was a humbling experience for me. And at the time I needed him the most he left me. He didn't want anything to do with me. Being that I have kids now....there is nothing in the world that they could do that would make me choose to not be there for them. I just can't even fathom it.

I had just assumed that my dad would walk me down the aisle until my mom told me that he was waiting for me to ask him if he would walk me down. What daughter has ever had to officially ask her dad to walk her down the aisle. At the time, it made me want to just forget it and walk down by myself. I figured I would probably regret that someday so every day my prayer was for God to give me the courage to ask him. About 2 weeks before my wedding, I broke the silence(once again) and tearfully asked him if he would walk me down the aisle. I remember it vividly. He was buttering his toast and I was crying as I asked him. He kept buttering his toast and said, "I'm not sure if I can do that." Then he just walked away, never once acknowledging that I was bawling. He just shrugged me off....as usual. I wonder sometimes if the reason he wanted me to ask him was so that he would have the opportunity to turn me down and make me feel even worse for causing him such pain.

I remember that I moved back with my mom and dad about a month before the wedding. My dad said that "my mom needed me home" of course she did....but did my dad care if I moved back, Nope! In fact, he refused to speak to me during that entire month and would not even look at me. I don't think a day went by that I didn't lay in bed at night and just cry to God to forgive me for hurting my dad so bad that he didn't want anything to do with me. Now I think how stupid that I was looking at him like HE was the victim.

This was how life was, living in Wayne's castle though. It was always "what can we do for dad, what can we do to get dad to smile or laugh, what can we do to get him to turn off the tv, what can we do to stay out of his way so we don't bother him, what can we do to cost him less $, what can we do to make sure our housework passes inspection.....all we ever did was try to please him and find a way to make him show his love for us. He always said if I confronted him about that, "I show you I love you by going to work everyday so you can eat!" BIG WOOP! Every dad does that! But why couldn't we experience what most other kids got from their dads?

I still struggle with this in seeing the way my father in law loves his daughters. Honestly, it makes me jealous that he doesn't love me like that and it hurts when he shows affection to them when I was starving for that from my own dad. Obviously those are his girls so I won't ever be in as a true daughter....but it is just a constant reminder of what I missed out on and am still missing out on. I've talked to Matt about this and he says, "Ask him for a hug....you know he'd give ya one!" But it's not my dad, you know?!?

To get back on track....I always tell people that I hated my wedding and my wedding pictures. That day was just not a good memory for me. I hate that I am FAT in my wedding dress, I hate that I am pale because I was pregnant and couldn't go tanning, I hate that I had to have a winter wedding (I always wanted an outdoor wedding in the summer) and I hate that even on what is usually a proud day for a parent that of their child getting married....that my dad still would not even look at me. It is just a HUGE reminder that I embarrased him. It was me who broke the mold that he had maintained the perfect family. The truth is that on the outside our family was able to cover for him....but on the inside we were all hurting. To this day my dad thinks that he passed the being a dad test with A- average and doesn't even care to listen to us kids about what our feelings are about the past. He gets mad that we "always bring up the past" but the truth is we would really like to get over the past and move on to the future.....but the past keeps repeating itself in the way he fathers us or non-fathers now. So please pray that my dad's eyes will be opened to the hurt us kids are dealing with and that he will quit acting like he is the victim of everything and stop turning us into the victims.

I will be here...

A bunch of us attended the most awesome concert ever on Tuesday night! Michael W Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman....oh yeah! They sang "I will be here" and while I sat there holding Matt's hand I just reflected on all that we have been through over the past 10 years we have been together (7 married years). So I know this is probably dorky....but I'm going to put down the lyrics and write next to them what crossed my mind as I reflected on our relationship.

I will be Here Lyrics

Tomorrow mornin' if you wake up And the sun does not appear

I...I will be here

I remembered feeling like the sun didn't appear the morning I found out I was pregnant in college. But guess what! When I called Matt to tell him....he said, "I love you and we will get through this!"

If in the dark we lose sight of love Hold my hand and have no fear'

Cause I...I will be here

We went through a lot of "dark" times when we were dating. My parents were totally against our relationship. My dad especially made things very hard for us. I think I got silent treatment from him the entire 2 years Matt and I dated. If you could call it silent treatment....my dad barely took the time to speak to me ever anyways. I remember that when times were tough and I would cry to Matt about maybe just ending our relationship because it was to hard to deal with my parents, he would just sit there and listen. He knew I needed to find my way and he just sat there and held my hand and loved me.

I will be here...When you feel like bein' quiet When you need to speak your mind I will listen

There are times Matt wants to comfort me and I tell him I just need to be alone and I head to the shower to cry in private. And then there are times when I just need to yell and scream and sob about the hurt I am dealing with the issues I have with my dad....and he lets me do that too.

And I will be here When the laughter turns to cryin'

Through the winnin' and losin' and tryin'We'll be together'

Cause I will be here

Tomorrow mornin' if you wake up And the future is unclear

Right now I feel like the future is so unclear with where I am going with my dad. I feel like, God where are you in all of this?!? But then I remember my favorite verse: Jeremiah 29:11 says that God has plans to give me hope and a future. So even if I can't see the work he's doing through all of this, I know that this father has plans for me that won't hurt me, so I just rest in that knowledge.

I...I'll be here

Just as sure as seasons are made for change Our lifetimes are made for years

I...I will be here

I will be here....You can cry on my shoulder

I have spent so much time crying on Matt's shoulder. He just holds me and I feel his love for me in the strength of his arms and he holds on as if he fears that if he lets go I will just die.

When the mirror tells us we're older I will hold you

And I will be here To watch you grow in beauty

He says I'm growing in beauty now as my belly continues to protrude farther and farther. I don't understand it....but he still looks at me with lust in eyes even with what I think is so disgusting right now!

And tell you all the things you are to me

I will be here

I will be true To the promise I have made

To you and to the One who gave you to me

I...I will be here

And just as sure as seasons are made for change

Our lifetimes are made for years'

Cause I...I will be here....We'll be together'

Cause I will be here

I thought that I loved Matt when we were dating and then I thought I loved him a little more when we got married. Then with seeing him grow into the father I wished I could've experienced I knew I loved him even more. But with every day....I fall deeper in love with this man! What will it be like 50 years from now?!? I cannot imagine....All I know is that "We'll be together" and I will always "hold true to the promise I have made to him and to the One who gave Matt to me!"

Stinker Child!

I was sitting on the computer yesterday and heard Briella saying,

"Help....

mommy....

down....

stuck....."

so I went in the kitchen and this is what I saw!

She was standing on the window sill looking outside. Apparantly she knew how to climb up there but couldn't figure out how to get back down!

I seriously have fears as to how I am going to get this girl to behave when the new baby comes!! :)

Spring Break Stories

We decided to get outta the crappy weather in Michigan this year and head south to visit our "serrogate grandparents" Brian and Dorothy Mohr. They have been such a blessing to our family...especially over the past couple of years. We love them so much! Here are some of our memories....
As usual, Taylor is being a great big brother...at least to his youngest sister! Briella just LOVED the beach!! Taylor buried her and she thought it was so great! Then Daddy buried all 3 of the kids....but do you think the picture turned out? Of course NOT!! Ergh!!

Another precious memory that I won't soon forget! Matt was so sweet to take Briella in and out of the water all day! He hates the beach....and yet those kids SO have him wrapped around their fingers. He'd come out of the water with Briella and she'd be ticked....so back out they went! Notice Tay holding his sister's hand....c'mon....is there anything cuter than that?!?

We, being Michiganders, soaked up as much sun as possible down there. Even if it meant laying in Brian and Dorothy's yard. Hailee enjoyed sunbathing with her daddy! She was Dorothy's little lady all week though! She was always making sure she knew of Dorothy's whereabouts at all times!! The funny part of this is that Dorothy spent the day inside because it was only in the sixties this day....go figure....she was looking for winter hats for the kids to wear that day and here they lay in the sun! Typical southern belle!! :)

Briella enjoyed a nice stroll at a park with her pal: Mr. B.....or mmm B.....as she pronounced it! This park is known for manitees....and we got to see some really close up! The kids were pretty impressed!!

Brian had the great idea to go looking for Gators! The kids thought it was so cool! We went on an air boat ride and saw a few gators....one being 13 or 14 feet long!! Afterwards, we ate at a nearby restaurant and our kids actually ate alligator!! Most kids won't even eat brocolli let alone GATOR!! We also ate some swamp cabbage...which is palm tree! Both were surprisingly good!

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More Florida Memories that you only get with kids:

*Taylor puked in the backseat on the way down...and all we heard the rest of the way from Hailee was, "eeew....it stinks back here!!" (fyi: Febreeze does NOT help!!)

~~~~~~~~

*Hailee got ticked that she couldn't get her sweatshirt off over her head. We had just stopped so we refused to pull over just to get her sweatshirt off....and she's such a drama queen that she wouldn't even try, SO she sat with it around her neck for about 2 hours til our next bathroom stop!

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*The first morning Matt and I awoke to the smell of poop. Briella had taken her poopy diaper off and it was all over everything in her pack n play.

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*2 nights later...Briella is crying in her bed, Matt goes in and feels around in her bed for a pacifier, Matt feels gooeyness, Matt turns light on and see puke all over his hand, Matt puts Briella in bath, Katie refuses Dorothy's help to clean up her daughter's puke....UNTIL, Katie runs to the bathroom to puke herself because she HATES puke....Dorothy cleans up puke...Brian leaves the room....He doesn't like puke either! Dorothy SAVES the DAY!

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*10 minutes after Dorothy cleans up puke: Mommy is holding Briella, Briella PUKES on Katie, Dorothy starts cleaning puke off Katie, Dorothy SAVES the DAY again!

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*Every morning Taylor's goal was to get up before Brian. usually they were within minutes of eachother (6:30ish...way to early for vacation) but him and Brian would eat breakfast together and read the paper. Taylor read the funnies while Brian read the rest of the paper.

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Needless to say, Brian and Dorothy really dealt with a lot allowing a family of 5 to come and stay with them! We are SO greatful for their hospitality and we had SO much fun!!

Baby Izzy

We dressed Izzy in Briella's PJs the other night! The kids thought it was SO funny!! Poor Izzy just layed there limp...which made it look even funnier!

Smores in winter?!?

We got together with Brooke and Josh and their family on Saturday and Brooke brought an indoor smore maker thingy. So everyone gathered around it and we roasted smores! How fun!!

Brotherly Love

Awww....Taylor and Briella have such a connection. Briella really looks up to him and he is such a good brother. Since Taylor has started reading, he and Briella sit on the couch together and read books. It is the most precious thing. My siblings and I have always been really close and I pray that my kids will share the same bond some day!

Christmas Stories

It's special to see the kids reading about the Christmas story with Grandma and Grandpa Emmert. They know that this is tradition...we don't open any gifts until the real reason for the season is remembered first. They are all very patient....even with all those presents sitting there waiting to be opened!!

"You'll shoot your eye out!"

So Taylor was about as thrilled as Ralphie on the movie "A Christmas Story" when he opened up his last gift. It was a Red Ryder BB gun!! Against my better judgement Matt thought Taylor was responsible enough for a BB gun this year....only to be used with Daddy though!! It was so cute to see those two so excited though! My little boy is just growing up WAY TO FAST!!!