Happy 3

Logan is 3 today and we are celebrating a quiet snowy day at home with movies, macaroni and cheese, and chocolate cake!

a little bit early

We gave Max an early Birthday present~ Surprise Max!!!

This little almost 10 year old has been through alot this year~ He has lost an Aunt, a friend, a Grandpa and Now Nana and her funeral showing is right on his birthday.WE decided to give him an early present as the school is closed tomorrow ~so LONG weekend :) His favorite game and a new head set so he can play Xbox live with his friends.

I loved to see these moments on his face today~ He had NO idea.

We are planning on having Logan's birthday at Chuck E Cheese in OKC on Sunday (weather permitting) and Max will have cupcakes in his class on Wednesday before we take off for Tulsa. The next weekend we will have a sleep over and movie day with his friend Austin~ I need to make this birthday week special for him.

We'll meet again....donno where donno when

but I know we'll meet again some sunny day!!!!!

There has been LOTS of death for my family this past year~ My Nana died yesterday and I suppose it was a relief to my soul~ I have been praying for her non stop for weeks. I celebrate her long life and pray that my life will be long like hers. I want to see my grandchildren grow up and meet my great grandchildren. She has been so sick for so long and I know there is a special place in Heaven for a woman like her. I have written a story of her the other day that my bro in law Eric will illustrate. It says it all~ she is so missed.

Ethan and Violet

Here are a few photos of our trip to OKC to see Seth, Carol and Ethan. Ethan is the cutest, happiest little guy! Violet was very intrigued by his jumperoo. She really wanted to try it out, but, alas, she was too big. I am excited because Carol said we can borrow the jumperoo once Aurora gets old enough. Yay!

Bella and Violet

We dog-sat for our neighbor the other day.  Violet and Bella have such a special connection.  Although our dogs, Pixie and Panda, love Vi and tolerate her in ways I never expected, Bella lets Vi climb on her, roll on her, kiss her face,  and generally,  invade her space in all sorts of way.  This dog is so sweet and gentle. I captured some of this cuteness on film.

a little more loss

well what do I say...I had a miscarriage early 4am the night before last~ it was early on in the pregnancy and I am thankful for that. It all started the other day I had some cramping after church (which I thought was normal) and it got worse then I thought maybe I am having wicked gas pains (our family has notorious stomach problems) so it was gas. I went to bed I tossed and turned all night this gas pain is not going away. I can't sit still~ here comes the scary feeling~ I went to my Doctor for a blood test maybe I was having an ECTOPIC pregnancy (the Internet can be so helpful and dangerous) so we took blood they told me it would be 24 hours and to call back rest and call in the morning, it may just be a bladder infection. OOOOOH yes it is a bladder infection a REALLY REALLY bad bladder infection so I went home and drank tons of cranberry juice and water trying to get these gas pains to go away~ telling myself everything is fine I am not bleeding i just have a bladder infection or gas....it getting worse as I lay on the couch I can hardly sit up, it hurts, I am getting a fever and chills so it is a bladder infection I continued to rest but that thought was in the back of my mind always. I have never had a miscarriage before and so I was so sure this was something wrong with my body. In the evening I started spotting~ it's ok it's ok just a little implant bleeding~ keep resting~ well at 4am it hit hard and if it makes sense I felt it leave my body~ I knew in a instant I was no longer pregnant. Bleeding continued and lots of it~ I knew. I called the doctor the next morning to get my test results. I was pregnant but the numbers were going down~ they told me to REST let my body do what it does.
So I am sad but I know this situation is in God's hands~Is this tooo taboo to talk about? I know so many people out there have gone through similar losses and have kept quiet. I am sorry for all that loss it is sad~but I know God is in control. We will try again later~ and we go on trying to see the glory in everyday. Thank you for reading this~

Potty Training

We have been trying to potty train Logan for weeks and he is really good at peeing and pooping on the potty~BUT he has to be naked form the waist down!!!! He loves to be NAKED!!! We have been letting him run around in long Max shirts~ Somehow underwear gives him license to let it go~ or he doesn't want to bother pulling them down. I tried putting just pants on (no underwear) and thought that might work~ he would feel the urge and go~ NOPE. Poor fella should be training in the summer~ It is so cold outside~ I will take any suggestions from Mommies out there who have had success. Yes I have done this before but it has been YEARS and I would love to be diaper free for 9 months :)

and baby makes six!!!!

We are expecting baby #4!! I am not as patient as some of my family~ I can't hold off birth announcements!! I have taken several pregnancy tests over the past few days and was sending pics to Tara and my Mom for confirmation. Is this a line? Am I pregnant if it is a faint line? Is this a plus sign? what if it is a faint plus sign?
Ok like I have never done this before but I was seriously confused. This morning it was official I got a CLEAR BLUE EASY test and it says PREGNANT~
Oh joy~~ Tara and I are once again preggers together and these babies will be 6 months apart just like Logan and Vi~ I am planning on this one being a BOY unless ultra sound tells me different!! I can't believe we are doing this again ~I should write a book "Teenagers and toddlers"!
We are so grateful this New Year started off with NEW LIFE in the works~

New blogs

So, I have started a new blog to talk about teaching, art, writing,  and other stuff.  Check it out if you want.
http://ashlingcottage.blogspot.com/

Here is Eric's work in progress too: http://dark4day.wordpress.com/
Anyone looking for a wonderful illustrator, contact Eric. He is pretty much the best artist I know.

Holiday Pictures

We had a wonderful Holiday break with snow, presents, family and friends. I hate to see it come to an end with school starting back up on Monday.  I finished my plans for next semester and still have some left over grading (our semester officially ends Jan. 13).  I am looking forward to this new year.  I know it will be filled with healing, creating, and loving.  We will be welcoming Aurora into our world, eric is starting an illustration and design side business, and I will be continuing on my journey as a teacher.  I hope everyone has a beautiful 2010.