Smile Box

Okay Ms. Teri! ;-) I don't have TOO much time on my hands..Smile Box is just insanely EASY! I promise you I spent more time keeping Cohen's hands off the keyboard than I did actually making the slide show! It is truly the fastest slide show program I have ever used. I think the fact that you don't have to wait for the pictures to upload is what makes it so fast. Just try it...you will be hooked!

My first Smile Box Slideshow!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Four Years Ago Today....

I was holding my sweet baby girl in my arms. She was just shy of two hours old and I was already in love. She is the first human being to every truly take my breath away. It is a tradition in my family for mom to share the "28 years ago today" story. I know every detail of the day I was born. I used to think that it was so dorky and around the age of 13 was when I really started rolling my eyes and being totally embarrassed when she would start the story. But this is just a prime example of the fact that we don't truly appreciate our parents until we become parents ourselves. Now I know the feeling you get when your child makes the leap from 11 months to 1 year. I know the joy of watching them turn 2 and start to become more independent. I've survived the age of 3 which was far more "eventful" than the "terrible twos" ever were. Now here we are at the age of 4. She is growing so fast andI have been flooded with emotion. I am positive it is because of everything that we have faced this year as a family. I know it is also because I have grown so much in my walk with God. Today I am giving HIM the glory. It is because of HIM that I am blessed over and over. On Friday night we were on our way home and were admiring His creation. I pointed out the beautiful full moon to Claire. She said "OH yes and look at that star! Mommy it's sooo beautiful. It's so beautiful I could just cry!" Four years later and she still takes my breath away. Happy Birthday Clairebelle!

THE END.
**Thanks to our dear sweet Auntie Karen who always takes such beautiful pictures!**

Happy Birthday Baby Bro!

26 years ago today, my world changed forever. My little brother came storming into this world cone head and all. As you can see, he traded in the cone head for a much rounder and very handsome head! As I have said, I have always been very close to my brother. Sure, we fought BIG TIME, but we also knew when to stick together. Jarad was always my biggest fan. When I was in Jr. High, all of his friends knew all about how many track meets I won and who I beat in the 800 meter. He was at all my games (partly because he didn't have a choice) and he always supported me 100%. I could always count on him for a hug and a pat on the back afterwards. Fast forward to high school. We rode to school together everyday. Some mornings were better than others I will have to admit, but luckily the heart remembers most what it has loved best! Before I knew it, it was time for me to move out and go to college. My mom and I had decided that I would move into the dorms at MSU even though it was only a few miles from home. It ended up being the best thing I could have done because I made a lot of great friends. (2 of which are still my very best friends!) But, the first night there was not the greatest. My roommate left and went camping so I was alone in a dorm full of people I didn't know and it was approximately 502 degrees. (I lived in the only dorm on campus without air conditioning and the day we moved in was the hottest day in years!) I was terribly lonely and feeling sorry for myself until my sweet brother decided to come spend the night! That broke the ice a little with the people on my floor because they all wanted to know who the hottie was I was "shacking" up with! After I fought the urge to vomit, I informed the "ladies" that he was my BROTHER and he was in HIGH SCHOOL and he was OFF LIMITS! Then, who could forget the years that he lived with me in my very first house. We weren't the best housekeepers, but boy did we have fun. So many nights I would come home from work at midnight (I worked 2nd shift at a drug and alcohol recovery center) and we would have late night snacks or he would check my head for lice! We got a lot of clients who came from jail and I was paranoid about getting lice! Our house was lit up like the Griswold's at Christmas and was a VERY popular hangout for a few years. Since then so much has happened in our lives and I can't imagine going through any of it without Jarad. He is a wonderful uncle to my children and we love him with all our hearts! Happy Birthday Jarad & I hope you have a wonderful day!!! We love you!!!

I was five, he was three. Does he remind you of Cohen a little?

Uncle and Claire Thanksgiving 2004

Finally!!!

After six weeks I get to go meet this handsome little dude!! This is Mr. Noah. He belongs to one of my very best friends in the world Monica and her hubby Ben. He is already six weeks old and I haven't met him in person yet. They live in Arkansas (which really isn't that far away) but I want to go ALONE so I can get in some good quality snuggle time with Noah. I am going for the day on Thursday and just can't wait! I remember when Claire was just about Noah's age. Brian had to go to a meeting in Cincinnati and my parents were going on vacation. My mother-in-law had to work during the week and I wasn't sure what I was going to do for a week. I was suffering with Post-partum depression and wasn't sure I could get through the week without Mom and Brian. I called Monica, crying of course, and told her I wasn't sure I could make it. Without hesitation she said, "I'm on my way!" She drove up from Arkansas the next day and spent the week with me! Is anyone else singing Dionne Warwick's "That's What Friends Are For" in the their heads right now? Well....you are now aren't you!! I can't wait to meet this little bundle of joy and spend the day with my bester!!!

Happy Birthday Livi Loo Loo!

Here is my sweet little niece on her 1st birthday!! I thought I would introduce her and tell everyone a little bit about the other baby girl who stole my heart!

Name: Alivia Jane

Nicknames: Livi, Livi Loo Loo, Livi Jane, Libby (Cohen's), baby Loo Loo (also Cohen's)

Date of Birth: 7-7-07

Favorite toys: Wilson (the rattle), Geoff (pronounced G-Off), her floatie car for the pool and pretty much anything she can put in her mouth.

Favorite snack: Levi and Phiefer's fingers

Favorite drink: Memory Lane Milk

Pets: Chili and Swiss

I remember the day I found out Miss Livi would be joining our family. After about 2 minutes of sitting in total shock, my heart filled with joy. I could not (and still cannot) believe that my baby brother was going to be a daddy. A few weeks later, we found out that she was in fact a baby girl! I knew how my Claire had her uncle wrapped around his finger the instant he saw her. I couldn't imagine what it was going to be like with his very own baby girl. Fast forward to the day she was born. All Jarad could say was "isn't she awesome?" Half the time he was referring to Alivia and the other half he was referring to Ashley. He had that "new dad perma-grin" on his face for quite a while! Ashley took to the mommy thing like a pro. I believe that Ashley was meant to be my sister. She is one of my very best friends and I am not sure what I ever did without her. Just another way, I am blessed. I have always been so close with my brother and I am so thankful that my friendship with his future wife is just as close.

Jarad and Ashley,

Congrats on making it through your first year. I am so proud of both of you. I am really looking forward to your wedding day and feel HONORED to be a part of it. You are wonderful and devoted parents and Miss Livi is so lucky to have two people who love her so much! I am so thankful that our kids are growing up together!

Alivia,

Sweet baby girl, you have brought so much joy to our family over the last year. I love your sweet little cheeks (all 4 of them!!) and your big slobbery kisses! I look forward to watching you grow into a beautiful young lady. I LOVE YOU!!!!

Is it November yet?

I said we are going on a trip in November. I left the details up to the husband because I really don't care where we go, I'm just looking forward to some rest and relaxation with my hunka burnin' love. He booked our vacation today and SURPRISED me with an upgrade. Here are a few pics of the room we will be staying in for a whole week!!!

The room. (Notice the stairway...it goes to our rooftop balcony!)





The rooftop balcony.





The private pool on the balcony!!!



The only thing missing from these pictures is us!! I am still completely SHOCKED that MY husband decided to upgrade to this insane suite. He is always the conservative one when it comes to vacations but he said this may be our last vacation for a while without the kiddos. He has worked so hard and is doing so great at his job and I can't wait for an opportunity to celebrate with him! I am still trying to figure out how I am going to go a whole week without seeing my babies though. I saw in another pic that the mini bar in the room is stocked with candy, so that should help take my mind off of the kids! There isn't a lot in the world that a cold bag of M&M's can't fix! Shooot fire hunny, we're goin' on vacation!!!! YAHOOOOOO!