Happy 1/2 B-day Easton

Since Easton's actual b-day is Jan. 27th. and it is a bit cold to have a water party we decided to celebrate his 1/2 b-day with some of friends today so he could finally have a water party and cupcakes. It was a great day and we all had fun.

4 1/2 candles

HMM...Color change

I played with the colors on some of the new hat pictures....What do you think??

I think they need to stay in color to showcase the hat better.....

The color makes the picture pop.

Happy B-day Carter

Makenlee's lil boyfriend Carter turned 2 yesterday.

Guess what the theme was...Mickey Mouse...The kids were SOOO excited to dress up.

The adorable cake, Natosha had made.
The cupcakes

Blowing out the candles

Going down the slide

Mickey loves to give hugs

Easton loved climbing as always

The boy and his Mama

Would you help??

I found this story of this beautiful 5 year old little girl off a blog 3 weeks ago...My heart aches for her and the family...There life was "normal" 3 weeks ago and then went in for a CT for a hand tremor and find a tumor on her brain that is cancerous. She has since had surgery but they only got some of it...She is relearning to talk, walk, etc.....She has been in the hospital ever since and their life completely turned upside down. She just started chemo last night...

Check out her story, pics and more on her Caring Bridge website.

Please pray for her and if you feel inclined to donate or send her a cute hat since she will be losing her hair the info for the hospital is
Phoenix Children's Hospital
1919 East Thomas Road
Phoenix, AZ 85016

I believe you can mail directly to the hospital. I emailed Holly her Mom so if something changes I will update the post.

Berry Picking

They loved picking the berries

We took the kids blueberry picking last week. You can't beat $2 a lb for yummy blueberries and the kids love them.

Wordless Wednesday

Breaking

In September it will be 3 years that we have been in TN. Jon and I have been on a strange journey ever since. We truly felt called to do so from God. So after nearly 3 years we still are trying to figure out,"Why TN?" We have surely felt HIS blessing in many ways but in other areas just feel completely lost. Like, "Ok, now what." At this point we feel bled...Like we don't know what to do. We have been bleeding over an issue now for nearly 3 years. So now what!! God does things for HIS reasons. Sometimes we know what they are and sometimes we don't. God has given us glimpses of why HE is doing what HE is doing...

Our eyes have been open to a lot of things. Things that I took for granted. Things I thought were a given. Things that were non-negotiable that are for sure negotiable now when HE opened my eyes. HE has stripped me of my pride many a times over the last 3 years.

But this is the fight. This is the burden we bear. God has not chosen us to fight other battles that I know others are fighting. God choose Jon and I to fight this one. So we will fight it for HIS glory.

When I think back to all we have gone through and all we have fought for. I will take it. In the whole grand scheme of things this is burden. I will take it over losing my life, my daughter, my marriage. Which is all that could have been gone and taken from us. On Christmas 2006. I nearly died in an ER while pregnant with Makenlee. I think back to that day so often and truly am thankful God spared me. He healed me and our baby girl. God did a miracle that day and many days that followed to show HIS hand.

When we are faced with the situations we all go through. All of it is a choice. We can choose to do it alone or with HIM. You can ask God, "But why." He will answer and it may be what you want to hear and what you may not want to hear but HE always answers. HE is always there. that is what I take comfort in.

I think she still thinks she is a baby

I love finding my kids doing the most randomest things...Really I do....It creates lots of laughs and great memories.

Makenlee has a baby pack n play and stroller she got for Christmas. She has never attempted to do this until today. She hopped into the PNP and laid there for a few minutes. I kept telling her to get out. She was too big and not a baby. I thought she was going to break it. Then she jumped into the doll stroller...She would not get out. This just shows my sweet baby is growing up too quick..B/c she looks like a GIANT in the stroller.

Slip N Slide

I got the kids a slip n slide. Our backyard has a hill so I thought the kids are old enough to handle it now....They love it. Maybe Jon and I will give it a whirl....HA!

M loves to do this...

M surfed down when it was her turn

Great form...Girl!

Then she tried to drink it quite a few times.....

This boy

There is this little boy that I know. He is quite sweet and loveable kid. He is always on the go. Likes to do all sorts of fun stuff. Is super cute too....But his sister is a bit of a ham these days so it seems her picture is taken a lot more then his. So it seems we don't get a lot of pics of just Easton but here are some over the last few days that shows off what a silly kid he is.

4th of July

We had a great 4th of July. Our church had a big event at a local college..Bouncers, free food, music, fireworks. The kids had a lot of fun. They enjoyed playing with their friends and having some special treats. There were no firework injuries this year. So happy about that.

The cake I made for a pre-4th of July BBQ we went to

Her shirt says it all....Miss Independent. That is our girl!!

E loved the obstacle course. He did it over and over and over...

M did not like the slide at first but then she did

Sheriff helicopter stopped by

The kids liked playing in it

Audrey made M these bows and I had to use them all to be extra patriotic.

Sno-cone treat

All jammied up and ready to watch the fireworks