Please pray!

Please pray for this precious unborn child....we sure are!!! May God bless April Rose!

These pics have no particular topic or category...just some that I wanted to share.




Lately my dishwasher hasn't been cleaning my dishes the way that I would like. I cannot stand to pull dirty dishes out or pull soaking wet dishes out. SO I've been washing them by hand but letting them dry in the dishwasher. I totally don't mind this at all but lots of times I make Madelyn help me. I usually wash and she rinses, especially after dinner when I have alot of dishes. So last night I was washing and she was rinsing and we were just talking away. I really wasn't paying attention to anything she was doing....just doing my thing and talking about life with her. Well I finished up and she still had several dishes left in the sink so I grabbed the rag and went on and cleaned the table and countertops. When I returned, Madi said "I'M DONE." She was outta the kitchen in a jippy and I looked at the dishwasher and this is what I saw. All I could do was smile. That chic rinsed the dishes and just chunked them wherever they would fit...certainly in no particular place. I never said anything to her......she really did help me out. But Travis and I did get a good laugh.



This is a picture of Madelyn holding two birthday gifts for two of her friends. She had a party to go to and she and I will try to think of creative gifts to give. I bought the cups several days prior and was trying to think of something cute to do with them. Well this is what we came up with and it turned out really cute. Inside are Walmart giftcards along with some candy all of which Madi picked out. We hand made the cards with my scrapbook stuff and we added the same ribbon that we put on the cup, to the card. Madi really liked what we did. It certainly gave us tons of ideas that we can use in the future!




This is a picture of Baker in the grocery cart at Walmart. I took him with me when we got back from DC. We were out of everything. I had so many groceries that I eventually had to take him out and carry him and pull the cart with one hand. I just thought this was cute.

My little cook

Madelyn loves to be in the kitchen when I'm cooking and she loves to have her hands ALL in it. Actually both of my kids love to cook. Yesterday after church, after our WONDERFUL nap, I let Madelyn make one of the boxed cheesecakes...which by the way are so yummy! Anyway we started with reading the directions on the back of the box and I explained what Tbs. meant and then we practiced measuring the milk and so forth. When she found out that she got to use the mixer, that made her o' so excited. Here are some pictures of Madelyn's cooking experience.

We started off by mixing the graham cracker crumbs with margarine and sugar
O how Madi really wanted to "just taste" the crust
She's now pressing it down with the bottom of a measuring cup
Measuring the milk
It's MIXING time!!
Who doesn't lick the beaters when the mixing is done???
She even shared with Jacob....only b/c I made her:o)
Pouring it in and trying to make sure that she leaves some in the bowl...sneaky little thing!
Spreading it out
Wholla!! We have a delicious cheesecake that we can't eat until it chills for a few hours. Try explaining that to an 8 yr old that just made the whole thing!
In the fridge its going

Finally....after dinner we got to enjoy a piece...or two:o)

Wow! 14 years ago Travis and I tied the knot. I can't believe its been that long. We only dated for 6 months when he asked me to marry him. There have been many changes in the last 14 years. I was trying to recall all of them last night and this is what I can remember. I'm sure some are missed.

• We have lived in a trailer
• We have lived in an apartment
• We have rented 2 houses
• We have owned 2 houses
• Travis has had 8 vehicles
• I have had 7 vehicles
• We have had 5 cats
• We have had 5 dogs
• We have 2 kids
• I have had 6 jobs
• Travis has been at the same job all 14 years!
• We have been a part of 4 churches
• Travis has been in 2 fire depts.
• Travis has started loosing his hair
• I have become a lot LARGER!

Like I said...I don't think that I've remembered everything but I know that we have certainly been through a lot together. I am so glad that God gave us to each other and I can't wait to see what happens in the next 14 years! Its amazing how much you change, but what is even more amazing is how your love for one another grows stronger every year. Thank you Travis for taking care of me and giving me your everything for all these years. I love you and will continue to love you until God decides to take one of us home. We've always said that we're in this for the long haul and that's what we mean.

Our trip to DC

I am finally getting around to posting pics of our trip to DC. It was a fun time as we hardly ever all get to be together. These days Travis is being forced to work A LOT of hours and so its usually me and the kids or him and the kids. So I'm very thankful that we got to go and have a good time together. We did not see very much b/c its all so time consuming and we only had a day and 1/2.
This is a picture of Madelyn playing office on the phone in the hotel room. She LOVES to play bank, office, school, hotel, etc. Its very amusing to watch her!
Jacob and Madelyn just posing by the window waiting for Daddy to figure out where we are going first.
On our way to the Metro
Jacob catching up so I can get a picture. Don't you just love the pictures from behind? :o)
Nice fountain in Arlington close to our hotel.
Figuring out how much our tickets for the metro will cost.
Looking for Smithsonian
A beautiful girl. I love her more than words can say. She is sooo precious, so adorable, so amazing, so, so, so EVERYTHING!!
A squirrel that was walking down the concrete wall beside us
The "tall pencil thing." Thats what Madi calls it:o)
Me and my babies. Have I mentioned that they are my sunshine, my life? I love them to pieces. They are the BEST!
Jacob in his element. Jacob loves anything old, anything to do with history or science. He could've stayed there all day!
I thought this old lawnmower was funny. I can't imagine pushing that thing around the yard! Since I do alot of our yard work(b/c I LOVE it) I found much amusement in this old machine!!
How cool!!
Our taxi ride to the church that we attended. The kids thought the music that the guy was playing was hilarious.
This is the Ebenezer's coffee shop where two services are held on Sat. night. Awesome!!
We were excited....can't you tell??
Cheesing again
Praise band getting ready. They were so awesome. This is my dream church I guess. I think its awesome to show up to church in your shorts or whatever and just love on God. He doesn't care how we look or dress.
Getting packed in there. I was definitely at home here.
After church. My kids even participated in worship. I was proud of them listening and enjoying our time of loving on God! They loved it too!

Notice in this great picture of me and my babes, there are two homeless people asleep....one on each side. Jacob and Madelyn just couldn't get over all of the homeless people. We even saw a lady with a baby under a tarp on the side of the road. It broke my heart.
JJ and Obama:o)
Yep and there's Bidden.
Goofing off in the gift shop at Union Station.

One of our many rides on the metro!!
Wonder what he's thinking about....um probably his wonderful wife:o)
We made it to the White House. It was getting dark...kinda scary walking the streets of DC at night. Travis said that I'm a scardy cat. Yeah, I guess I am!
White House....wonder what the Obama family was doing.
Again
Me and my Lovey....Madelyn said that the conditions were too bright for picture taking in front of the window:o)
Did I mention that this is the best, most wonderful, beautiful and adorable little girl on Earth???
At the Zoo. I think it had to be the most beautiful Mother's day that I can remember. The temp was around 73 with no humidity. It was a gorgeous day!!
Jacob being all cool taking pics with his cell phone.
The panda bear eating bamboo
Viewing the panda
Panda got up to get more bamboo. This was very funny to watch. He acted like tons of people were not even looking at him.
I think Madi LOVES taking pics like I do. I wish I could've had a digital camera when I was her age. I could have saved a lot of money on develping all of those pics that didn't turn out:o)
Gigantic elephant....and this was a baby!!
Madi practicing her photography skills:o)
I'm not sure if I have mentioned that this is the best, most adorable, wonderful little girl in the world!!
Getting a good look.
Ok...so yes I'm in a wheelchair. My back happend to go out during our walk to the zoo. Most everyone knows that I have disc injuries. So my wonderful husband walks off and comes back with a wheelchair and he pushed me all over the zoo!
I love this little boy more than imaginable. He is the greatest, smartest, cutest, and best kid in the world. He is definately a Mama's boy and I enjoy every minute.
Madi had to have a $3 snocone that dripped and dripped and dripped all over her shirt:o)

There's a big cat....I'm so glad I'm not the zoo keeper. I think he could eat me!!
Here's my boy again. The best, most wonderful, handsome little guy in the world!!
Yep there she is again....the greatest little chicca bug!!
Madi found a caterpillar. As girly as she is....she likes little critters like this.
And a picture in the zoo sign. We couldn't go home without one!
THE BEST KIDS IN THE WHOLE WORLD!!
The tallest escalator that I've ever seen!!
Out to dinner for Mother's day. Me and my girl!
The guys...being silly. You can tell that Jacob is laughing histerically and Travis is trying to hold back. :o)


Hope you enjoyed my pics of our trip. Fun Fun times and memories made. I love the simplest things in life. Spending time with my crue is definately at the top of my list of fun things to do!