Playing in the Snow

After I got off work last Wednesday I went to Mom and Dad's house and played in the snow with the kids. We had so much fun...expect when Rachel landed face first in the snow. After a trip inside to recover she then got ticked off she wasn't outside playing so we went back outside to play some more!

Brandon Turns 5!!!

We had Brandon's birthday party on Sunday at the church he had a blast playing with all his friends, eating cake, and opening presents! We had a Cars theme I of course made a Lighting McQueen cake and he had favors to give to his friends with lots of cool loot in the bag! After eating cake he was ready to open presents he was very excited to get everything he got from Star Wars the Clone Wars movie to a Leapster to foam gun shooters!

I can't believe my baby is a big boy and growing up more and more by the day. My wish for you is to continue to grow and be true to yourself always follow the Lord and love all those around you. You are such a kindhearted soul ready with a hug and kiss and will even give away what you truly wants for yourself. Sometimes I find myself so frustrated with you but when I take a breath and see how you really are such a good kid my heart swells with emotion thinking about all that God has blessed me with in you. Brandon you will always be my baby and I will love you forever and ever even when your six foot three! Love Mom

Eleven Years....

Yesterday December 26 marked eleven years since Jesse took me into his arms for the first time and asked me to be his girlfriend! Let me tell the story from the begining since it was such a romantic moment! We had been seeing each other casual and talking for awhile but on the 26th of December 1997 he took me to see For Richer or Poorer in Peru after the movie he drove me home and walked me to the door. When we got to the door step he says "oh I forgot something in the car I'll be right back" when he came back he was carring a teddy bear and a first I didn't notice the bear had something around its neck but when I looked again I noticed a necklace with his class ring on it. When I looked up at him to ask does this mean what I think it means...I was unble to ask because he leaned down and kissed me (for the first time ever!) so good it made my knees weak!! Now eleven years later (eight of them married), two children, and lots of ups and downs, he still can make my knees weak!

Christmas Night

We headed off to Grandma and Grandpa Lawson celebrate with more food, presents, and laughter! We had a white elephant gift exchange with the grown-ups and the littlest ones got gifts more their size. My gift was a wooden surfer dude and some reindeer poop (cola and butterscotch jellybeans)!



After wrapping it up at their house we went down the road to Chet and Cindy's house to have our gift exchange. Cindy made all of us blankets Jesse and Brandon got fleece Colt's blankets, mine is turquoise and brown and Rachel's is mint green with nursery prints. Brandon also received some very cool Jedi pjs, Jesse got some accessories for the Wii, Rachel got a pull along pelican, and I got my scrapbook weekend!!! Of course that's to just name a few...our children are lacking for NOTHING!! Our Christmas hasn't ended yet though we have two more on Saturday.

Santa Came!

Well Santa's sleigh certainly landed at our house this year! Although we don't really push Santa Brandon's present from "Santa" was for the whole family and we are already enjoying it....it's a Wii!!! But before we got to that gift he opened lots of toys...a transformer, clue jr., guess who, and of course some clothes. Rachel opened clothes, a singing purse, and a ride on toy. Brandon also opened Mario Kart for the Wii and was very excited but then a bit disappointed when he realized we didn't have a system to play it on! (little did he know!!) Next we did stockings...and he got a extra controller for the Wii...he was getting really confused! Then we let him open the "Santa" present...he was ecstatic!!

He is so animated about everything!

Rachel really has the hang for riping paper!

The awesomeness of Mario Kart!

She is such a girl!! Lovin' the purse!

He loves it!

Jesse found some of his loot! Along with a CD and

"Grandpa" slippers that he LOVED!!

After relishing the tearing of all the wrapping paper we fixed cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then Rachel laid down for a nap and the boys played Mario Kart. We then got ready and went to Grandma and Grandpa Gaylourds for a light lunch, more riping of paper, and lots of visiting!!

Christmas Eve Jammies

Jesse's family always had the tradition of getting new jammies on Christmas Eve so they would have new ones the next morning. So we did the same thing this year Rachel got cute polka dot ones and Brandon got super soft fleece pants since he never wants to wear a shirt to bed! They are ready for Christmas morning!!

Paying it forward...

Last year when we were so very blessed by the Hope House during the difficult time of Rachel's birth Jesse and I both agreed we would gather some things together to donate. I mentioned this to the girls at work and they also wanted to help so two days before Rachel's birthday we drove to Fort Wayne to deliver our bags to the House. When we pulled into the drive Jesse said "this feels all to familiar" I couldn't even speak because of the lump in my throat. After we put our bags in the donation box and walked outside my tears just overcame me...just thinking how fortunate we are and how God blessed us and surrounded us by so many loving and caring people. God is so good...