Bamas Been Good!

Did I mention how much we love Alabama? I can't say enough great things about this place...I've never lived somewhere people completely stop when they see your turn signal and encourage you to go ahead, where kids (all kids) say yes ma'm, have the yummiest food, a ridiculous amount of stuff for families to do, seriously it's insane.
My kids definitely love it and they've become really close lately... living in corporate housing has been an amazing awakening, I have less cleaning and errands to do in general so this leaves lots of time to focus on kids, scripture study, kid dates, family outings, and mommy/daddy time. I love watching them building that special bond that siblings have, they play side by side and my heart melts. Don't get me wrong it's not always sharing and caring, but when it is, there's nothing sweeter!

Video of Christmas just passed

Because we're missing a certain soldier, and I hate lost footage lurking in my photo gallery, here's Christmas '12' in a nutshell.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Hi, He's 11, yikes!!

11 years ago, I was clueless... I had no idea how much love I could possibly contain in my heart for one little soul. I was handed a baby boy wrapped in a hospital kimono and striped pastel blankets and topped with the standard nursery knitted hat. He had a FULL head of black shiny hair and was as cute as a button, even though he looked like he went a couple of rounds with Mike Tyson. Oh, how it seems like only yesterday I was swabbing alcohol around a little umbilical cord. And now, that tiny little being is almost my height, going to middle school next fall, and is interested in girls. My My where does the time go.
We are so grateful for this boy and the young man is becoming. He is kind, thoughtful, HILARIOUS, confident and brave. He is excited about becoming a deacon and has an amazing testimony of the gospel.
Happy 11th, we love you Bash!

Being that Christmas was so recent, we agreed not to go crazy over the kids birthdays, of course not all of us stick to the rules...Dad... yeah John went out and bought his baby boy a guitar and case and began giving Bash lessons...makes the hat and book I got him seem lame, although, we are reading (A Wrinkle in Time) and it's so cool to share a book that I loved at his age. Anyway, they've had crazy cool jam sessions with the Coldplay classics book John also got. Bash is a natural and so happy we let up on piano.


When asked where he wanted to go for his birthday, our little marksman opted for Hoover tactical... 3 hrs later they brought home their targets and showed off his skills.

Life with this Girl...our '3' yr old Mia

"The time has come," the Walrus said, "To talk of many things:
Of shoes - and ships - and sealing-wax - Of cabbages - and kings
And why the sea is boiling hot - And whether pigs have wings."

I remember reading this poem to her and being so anxious for her to enjoy the whole book. She is growing so fast and never ceases to amaze us with the new things she learns and is interested in. Her love for reading is unbelievable, but more than anything her comprehension of stories and ability to make up her own is beyond words.

Every Jan. I look forward to celebrating the next birthday of a few family members, yet I dread facing the fact that two of my babies turn another year older... little Mia Lourdes turned 3 last Sat.
She is the epitome of spunk, the ultimate diva, a prodigy of humor, the definition of fearless, the meaning of wholesome, distilled love, the keeper of my heart, the other half of my soul, she is a daughter of God, a spirit divine...

Happy 3rd birthday our sweet girl

Favorites:
1. Entertainment- Books (Llama Llama...,Not All Princesses Wear Pink, I Don't want a Cool Cat), and musicals (Annie, Wizard of Oz)
2. Foods- Chik fil a, chips & salsa, chicken quesadillas
3. Songs- (Scarborough Fare, Love you like a love song, Someone like you)
4. Movie- Beauty and the Beast
5. Color- Green
6. Best Friend- Harper
7. Saying- "Oh that's great"
8. Hymns- Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam, Follow the prophet, Do as I'm doing
9. Game- Hide and Seek, puzzles, and memory
10. Princess- Belle, Pinkalicious, Snow White
reading How do Dinosaurs say I love you?
daddy date

not quite sure?

I Jump party

Mia's 3rd birthday was simple and sweet. She woke up to a streamer covered doorway and broke through with a big smile...
Beckham on the other hand...
We took the kids to I Jump and let them run wild...they've thought of everything...from inflatables to go karts, arcade, toddler room, and yes JUNK FOOD concession!









after lunch and naps, we invited their friends over to enjoy some cake and sing happy birthday to Mia, they were so sweet and brought her her first collectable doll. The children are Egyptian and speak Arabic fluently, it was cute to hear Mia tyring to mimic them and John practice, they actually understood him.

McWane Science Center

Hands down a whole day of serious family fun! My kids loved this place... the McWane Science Center was endless hands on experiments/exhibits, Imax theatres, an aquarium with shark and stingray petting, shark egg hatchery, and a full on food court. We'll definitely be back.

I really need to put the camera down sometimes, what's with my ballet feet position in the back corner? Dorky!