Computer Down...

So our computer DIED.....you don't realize how dependent you are on it until its gone... So no posts or pictures until we can load all the stuff on the new computer... which means finding disks I have NO idea what happened to.... And my poor husband having to figure it all out.... I really miss my old computer :o(

This Face

I love this face

It makes me smile

It makes me laugh

It reminds me everyday that miracles do happen

I am the luckiest person around because this face says I love you momma

Missing Disneyland

I really miss out Disneyland passes. We used them all the time, but felt that having them every other year made more sense financially. I miss just getting up on Saturday and heading down to the park with the kids. How they talked about which rides to do first or what they wanted to see on this trip. I miss Shelby getting excited to see all her Mickey Mouse Club House friends and how she was finally giving them hugs and not crying when she saw them. I wonder how the ducks are and if the baby ducks are all around the park yet. I miss the smell of the spring flowers everywhere. Its a lot of little things I miss, but we will go back and it will mean so much more because we took this break.

Three Miracles

Everyday I wake up to my three wonderful miracles. There was a time when I didn't think I would ever become a mom. 7 years of trying to have a baby with no luck. It was the hardest time in my life. But with my wonderful husbands support we choose adoption. I was blessed with my oldest son Calvin in 2001 and felted like the luckiest person on the plant to be chosen to be him mother. When we were blessed again through adoption in 2004 with my son Nolan. I couldn't believe that my dream of having a family had come true. My husband and I decided that our family was complete and were enjoying every minute of our time as Calvin and Nolan's mom and dad. AND then the third miracle happened I found out I was pregnant.... we couldn't believe it, but what is it that people say when you stop trying it happens. I had always wanted three children but was happy with my boys. But here I was getting the family I had always wanted. I wondered what I had done to deserve such a blessing and the biggest surprise was it was a GIRL... Our Shelby was born in 2008. Everyday I thank God for the way that my family came to me. I have three beautiful amazing children. I think back to the time when I didn't think I would ever have children and how I couldn't understand why God wouldn't answer my prayers, but he did in his own time in his own way and his way was better. I wouldn't change a thing about my life and how it came to be. I guess sometime we just need to sit back and see how things work out and put it into his hands because in the end everything will work out the way it was intended to and in most cases better then you could ever imagine... I just look at my three miracles and know that's true...

Finding Time

I really enjoy posting things on my Blog, but I find I go in spurts... Go crazy for a few weeks then drop off for weeks and months... So I am going to try and post something once a week and see if I can do it... So wish me luck

Dad

Rob, Joe, Carol (Brama), Gavin, Gwen, Calvin, Nolan & Shelby

In every picture we take as a family we realize someone is missing. A person who we loved more than anything that is no longer with us. We see him in our children's smiles, we hear him in their laughter. This man was so much more then words can say.

I was lucky the day that I married his son. He is a wonderful husband and father. I knew he would be from watching the two of them together.

He treated me like his daughter and loved me unconditionally. Something that I had never known before.

So Happy Birthday Dad.

I hope you are proud of all these little miracles that remind us of you. You are so loved and you will never be forgotten.

Halloween Time at Disneyland

Every year we head to Disneyland in October. It's fun to see all the Halloween decorations and charterers all dressed up. We love Nightmare before Christmas, its one of our favorite movies and love the Haunted Mansion all Jacked out. And Space Mountain is all soooo scary as Ghost Galaxy. Its means fall is here and the holidays are upon us. Its a family traditions that we look forward to every year.

Love this face....


It's not always easy to get them all to smile!!!

He's a handful, but he is all mine...

My Big Boy, love how big his heart is....

All of us and Brama with the Mickey Pumpkin.

Blessed Little Nest

I really enjoy this blog. I discovered it from my friend Kristy's Blog http://www.sosobella.blogspot.com/

If you get a chance check it out. Its called Blessed little nest

http://www.blessedlittlenest.com/

I have found lots of cool new crafts ideas to try. I hope she inspires you to try as many new things as she has me. Take a look and enjoy.

Mickey Shirts

I have wanted to make Mickey Shirts for along time, but was scared to try it. I'm good at sewing quilts and stuff but appliques are not as easy as they look and I have been scared to try them on shirts or quilts. So I decided to just do it Friday Night. Make shirts for everyone, for our Trip to Disneyland the next day. You know its wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I loved the way they came out and lots of people made comments at Disneyland. So I learned to always try new things, you never know what you may be good at and it may not be as hard as it seems. Cant wait to make more of these and to try something new.

Calvin & Nolan's Shirts

My Shirt



Brama's Shirt



Shelby's Shirt

Loved the shirts too bad the letters fell off... need to find new better letters for next time!!!

More Apple Picking Pictures

Nolan making a candle....
Calvin learning how to use a bow and arrow.....

Our bushel of apples.....

Shelby putting the apples in the box with Nolan...

Apple Picking

We took the kids to Riley Farms to pick apples and they loved it. Calvin learned how to shot a bow and arrow and Nolan dipped candles. We walked around and just had fun. Then we picked a bushel of apples. I need to figure out what to do with them all. We also found these amazing donuts and cider that are addictive and I'm glad its a two hour drive to get there or we would be in trouble. It was so much fun and a great family outing. I love making memories like these. Cant wait to go back next year.

Fall

I love the Fall. The weather the colors. It is my favorite time of year. I think its because of the smells. I love the smell of pumpkin bread or cookies cooking in the oven. I get to make chicken and dumplings for dinner or some other comfort food. Rob is happy because there is football. I'm happy because I have more time to sew and create. It also tells me that the holidays are almost here, which I love. Its a time for friends and family and a time to cuddle up with the kids and watch a movie. I love this time of year.

Shelby

I love these pictures of Shelby.... Runny nose and all...

Sosobella

Hey Everyone checkout my friend Kristy's blog @ sosobella.blogspot.com it is great and one of my favorite places to visit. Kristy is having a give away so check it out, say HI and maybe win a cool prize.

Nolan

Nolan is my funny boy. Always full of energy and mischief. He makes me laugh and drives me crazy. Just like all little boys should.

Who do I look like???

I think she looks like Rob, he thinks she looks like me.... I know she is cute and all, so maybe she doesn't look like either of us !!!

Shelby's Smile

Every morning this is the smile that starts our day. It lights up her face and makes me smile. I love this grin and realize how blessed I am every morning when I see it.

First Day of School 2009

I can't believe that the first day of school is already here. Nolan is starting Kindergarten and Calvin is a big 3rd grader. Nolan was really excited and so was Calvin, they were both up early and ready to go before it was time. We had a great summer and are looking forward to a wonderful new school year filled with lots of new things.

See me skip, See me Run, I'm going to school like everyone!

See me smile, See me grin, When the bell rings, I walk in!

See me work, See me play,

I'm in Kindergarten --

My First Day !!!

Shelby's 1st Fireworks

Shelby had never seen fireworks before. So we decided to take her to Disneyland to see their fireworks show. Rob held her while she watched the sky light up. She was amazed and sat there and Ow, AH and mumbled the whole time. She loved every minute. But not as much as Rob and I did watching her.

Calvin's 8th Birthday

Every year for Calvin's birthday we go to Disneyland. He usually takes his cousin Gavin, but this year Gavin wasn't here so he took his friend Nick. Calvin had a blast running around Disneyland and California Adventure with Nick and Rob. Nolan, Brama, Shelby and I stayed at Disneyland and did rides there. We had a great day. All the kids fell asleep before we hit the freeway.

Calvin, Nolan & Nick

Calvin, Shelby, Rob, Nolan & Me

Shelby showing off !!!!

Brama, Calvin, Nolan & Shelby