NieNie

This is an amazing woman with an amazing story that I could never justify with my own words. Visit her blog by clicking on the 'nienie' link to the right. And go to you tube and look up video clips featuring Stephanie Nielson. Again... Amazing. Let us all count our blessings and hug our kids extra tight tonight.

Blessed

I get kissed by the sun each morning.
Put my feet on a hard wood floor.
I get to hear my children laughing down the hall through the bedroom door.

Sometimes I sit on my front porch swing just soaking up the day.
I think to myself, I think to my self, this world is a beautiful place.

I have been blessed!
And I feel like I've found my way.
I thank God for all I've been given at the end of every day!
I have been blessed with so much more than I deserve,
to be here with the ones who love me - to love them so much it hurts.
I have been blessed


There is so often that this song goes through my head and it may sound cliche to you, but it's so real in my life. Sometimes it amazes me how much I've been blessed. I have wonderful, beautiful children, I have a husband who loves me and provides will for the family, I have a house, I have food and clothing for my family... I could go on and on. But suffice it to say I am so greatful for all I have - it seriously doesn't get any better than this!! :)

Kris' birthday!

Yesterday was Kris' 27th Birthday!! He had a nice relaxing day, which I think he needed!! He didn't want any presents, so I decided to make his favorite food for the day. For breakfast I made him a 'sunshine skillet' from Bob Evans - he loves them, and the're pretty easy to make! It's kind of like an omlet in a bowl - egg, potatoes, sausage, sausage gravy, and cheese. For dinner he wanted homemade Chipotle, which was a daunting task, but I think we did pretty well!! I started the day before by marinating the chicken in a chipotle marinade - I found the recipe here . Then, it was just a matter of making the rice, beans, tomatoes, lettuce, and everything else that goes into it. He made it actually very easy on me because he doesn't actually like the wrapped burritos - he likes the burrito bowls (I think he likes food all mixed together... lol!) So instead of having to find the ginormous wraps, I just had to find a big bowl for him to mix it up in. He works so hard that I'm glad he was able to have a day to just relax - we went to chruch in the morning, then he got to nap until about 5! then he hung out with the kids while I cooked dinner. Here are some pictures from the day!

Here is his 'sunshine skillet' he had for breakfast. I forgot to take a picture until about half way through, but you get the idea. :)

Here he is with the kids while I was cooking dinner. It cracked me up because Savanna was being rather fussy so Kris decided to turn cartoons on his Iphone for the kids while he watched the show he was watching on the regular TV. Yup- I have a family full of couch potatoes.!

And here's his 'birthday cake'. He actually doesn't really like cake very much - he is a fan of carrot cake, but he would much prefer ice cream. So I got him his favorite ice cream and put a candle in it so we could still sing happy birthday to him. :)

Happy Birthday Kris!! Love you!!

Christmas and Snow Pictures

I'm finally posting Christmas pictures!! So fun!! :) Enjoy!

Here are the cookies Joey and Savanna left out for Santa. And I must say Santa loved them!! The card says 'For Santa, Love, Joey' He actually did a great job writing it!

Opening presents! Savanna was sooo cute - she kept saying oooooo after every present she would open! She caught on really quickly about opening presents - she really had fun with it!!

Here's Joey opening some - he had such a great christmas! This year it was so fun to watch him really enjoy the magic of Christmas. It's fun he's old enough now to really understand Christmas! The night before I asked him if he knew why we have Christmas and he said "It's because it's Jesus' birthday! And we get presents because Jesus loves us so much he sent Santa to give us presents." Ha ha - I love his logic.

Joey's big present this year is his lightning mcqueen bike! I was sooo excited for him to get it. Unfortunately, when he got it he was NOT thrilled. For some reason he thought he wouldn't get to ride his tricycle anymore since he got a big boy bike. Silly boy. But later that day while Savanna was napping, we went outside (it was such a nice day for being Christmas!) and he got to ride. He realized he could go FAST! He said "I LOVE THIS BIKE!!" I'm glad he ended up liking it because I was disappointed when he wasn't thrilled with it!

My lightning mcqueen boy all decked out! Lightning bike, shoes, coat, helmet, pads - he is stylin! The Shoes were a christmas present from grammy. Santa got him the bike, helmet, and pads, and Aunt Karen got him the jacket last christmas I think.

Here are Savanna's new boots from Santa. Aren't they AWESOME? Santa got them from Kohls for $20 and I got them 1 size too big, so she'll wear them for a while. I love them!

Seriously - does it get any cuter than this little girl??

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Next up is snow! We've had some serious snow fall around here and Meemaw got Savanna snow pants, hat and gloves. So Joey and Savanna have gotten to go outside lots despite the cold and snow.

She's not sure what to think! She's so bundled she can't really move!

I love my snow babies!! :)

Julie's graduation!!

A HUGE thing happened in our family in December! My sister, Julie, graduated from OSU!!!! :) I know - you're thinking - yea? Lots of people graduate college. Well, I am VERY proud of my sister!! She went to school for 7 - yes SEVEN - years to get her degree; which is, by the way,
Bachellors of Science in Human Ecology for Textiles and Clothing - a fancy way of saying Interior Design. She's been working at the James Cancer Hospital nights and going to school part time during the day. Some days I just didn't know how she kept functioning... she's such a hard worker! And so determined!! Here are a few pictures of her graduation that I stole off of our other sister, Amanda's blog because I forgot my camera....

Amanda got Julie a sign and hung it on her front porch announcing to the world her accomplishment! :)

Our sister-in-law Melissa made Julie's cake for her party!! Isn't it awesome?!? She's talented for sure! and it was soooooooooo good!

And here is my Julie striking a pose! :) Can you tell she's happy to be DONE?!

Julie, I really am proud of you!! You did so well! Now on with the rest of your life which will be amazing! :) You rock.

Blah da de blah blah

So obviously I've been in a blogging funk and an over all blah-y-ness. Not quite sure why. I know I haven't really blogged because we have 3 - yes - 3 computers in this house and NONE OF THEM WORK right! To blog pictures, I would have to down load them on my desk top, send them over to my lap top, do a little dance and say a prayer that it worked - then send them from the laptop to the blog. I wonder sometimes about the fact that I married a computer GENIUS yet, I have to literally beat him up to get him to fix anything computer around this house! We have far too much non-working computer equipment because he brings it home for free or super cheap intending to fix it, yet never really fixes it. At any rate, after much begging, borrowing, pleading, praying and yelling, I now have a 100% functional laptop!! Woo hoo! Let the rejoicing begin! :) Soooo I will soon create some blog vomit (a term from my friend Tiffany which I just think is hilarious!) and blog about my sister's graduation, my kids, Christmas, New years, more kids and so on. I know you're excited!! Just wanted to let you know you won't have to go without my cute kids much longer.

Much love to all of my blog-reading buddies out there!