Wednesday, February 29, 2012

{Choose Joy}

As I'm wiping my eyes so I can see the screen, I'm flooded with raw emotion having watched this video, posted by a fellow blogger whom I've been following for years now. She was an inspiration to me from the start and now WELL, she's one of my HEROES! Please watch this video she calls Right of Passage, it's her way of telling the world that despite her battle with cancer, she will Choose JOY! After having a miscarriage, Ashley and her husband tried to get pregnant again which resulted in a rare form of cancer called Choriocarcinoma. Ashley Hackshaw of Little Blue Boo is the true definition of a fighter, she's battling with grace and beauty and our prayers are with her and her family. To hear more about her story click here

Rite of Passage - Shaving my Head from Ashley Hackshaw on Vimeo.


Thursday, February 16, 2012

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.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

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!
Bham 2 194Bham 2 209
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.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

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.
mia bday shoot 022mia bday shoot 078mia bday shoot 054She 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?