So... I'm IT!!??!!

Ok so this is really funny since I logged on to see if Erin had posted any new pics of LM and here I get tagged! LOL. Ok so here are 10 things about me.

1. I LOVE MY HUSBAND!!!! Yeah I know its sappy, but he is GREAT!!! Sometimes I just sit back and stare in amazement at how blessed I am to have someone in my life that truly wants to be involved in everything, even poopy diapers. Well he would probably choose to opt out of that detail, but he does it!

2. My kids amaze me everyday! They are my world and I can't imagine or remember life being better before they came along. It is so wonderful seeing them grow and change on a daily basis. And although sometimes they know just the perfect button to push, they make me feel like the luckiest momma in the world. I love you kiddos!

3. I am addicted to challenges. This could be viewed as my strength and my weakness at the same time. Tell me I CAN'T do something and I will turn myself inside out proving I CAN. Along with that comes my really bad habit of taking on too many challenges at once. There are days when I could just smack myself in the face and ask, "How did you get this involved in EVERYTHING?" It leaves little personal time, but oh man do I just love it when I can pull it off!

4. I have to read. No it's not just having a book to read, I literally have to read it all! I remember being in school and positioning the cereal boxes in front of me and reading all sides and getting frustrated when I ran out of words before I ran out of food. I even find myself reading the news ticker at the bottom of the TV instead of listening to the stories.

5. My biggest pet peeve is ignorance. Now I understand we just don't know what we just don't know, but when we refuse to look for the answers or understand fully why we believe or say the things we do it just makes me sick. I don't care if you think the sky is purple, just tell me why you believe it and don't hate me for believing it's blue. Sorry still on an election kick there. BTW the best remedy for ignorance is to READ!!! :-)

6. I am very critical of myself. I want to be the best mom, wife, christian, friend, everything. Sometimes when I realize I have fallen short, or just completely off I tend to be really hard on myself. I believe it makes me always strive to be a better person, but allows me little time to enjoy my own successes. Gotta stick that one on my Resolution List.

7. Children are my WORLD!! Of course my own two amazing kids are top priority, but I just love kids period! I definitely inherited that from my mom, who on any given day would have two, three, ten "rent-a-kids" hanging around for the day. I love to watch children grow and explore and light up. It makes me the happiest person in the world. Hey Jesus himself told us to be like the little children so what would make better sense than to completely involve yourself in a child's world! It makes me smile just thinking about it.

8. I love seeing God's Beauty and Blessings! I can look back and see exactly how HE guided me through my life even though I may not have made the best choices at the time, he knew all along where it would bring me. It is hard sometimes not to worry about the future and how things are going to turn out, but then I look back and I see that if any one major event in my life had not gone the way it did, I would not be where I am now or as happy as I am now. I know I can't take credit for that! Thank you GOD!!!

9. I am a planner. Yes I plan and write and list and plan and write some more. I even list the things I want to plan! And no Erin you are not alone, I write out lists of things I have already accomplished just to be able to show myself, "Hey, you did do something today!" With all of this planning you would think I was the most organized person in the world, but unfortunately that is not the case. I try I really do but I have to be in the mood to be organized or it just doesn't happen. So I just keep a notebook of my plans, kind of like my little journal which I can use or I can just write out the things I would LIKE to do.

10. I crave knowledge. I just have to know it, have to understand it all! I may not agree with it, but I just want to know why something is the way it is and how it relates to the world around us. I will probably end up being the professional student. I still find myself saying "Well did I learn anything today? No? Ok can't go to bed yet!"

Wow that was fun! Now that you know a little more about me, I suppose I should pass this along and since the only other person I know that has blog is Angela... TAG YOUR IT!!!!

My BABY Girl Turned 2 Today!!

Oh man, I can even begin typing this post without tears in my eyes. I just cannot believe how blessed we are to have the most wonderful children ever! Both Jakob and Hazel bless us and teach us everyday and show us who we really want to be and why. I thank God that each of my children were sent to me at just the right time. Jakob, to teach me to focus on more than just myself. And Hazel to teach me to let go and let God!! Both lessons have been very instrumental and both children reinforce these lessons for me on a daily basis. Since it is Hazel's Birthday I posted some pictures to remind me (mainly) and all of my friends and family just how far we have come!


Hazel in the NICU on her first day she was allowed to wear clothes! After all the clothes that we bought and were given we still had to hunt down Preemie clothes the night before! This was as close as I could get to a birthday shot (about 7-10 days after she was born) since hardly any pictures were taken when she was born. And those that were, were only polaroids. I just can't bring myself to hunt them out again.

Here she is at 1! My how she had changed and yet stayed the same! thanks again to my friend Stacey for taking these pictures for us on that COLD January afternoon.

These were taken today at the park with our friends. She is so big now and so grown up it's hard to imagine that we were ever worried that she was a preemie! LOL But its NEVER hard to forget how much she looks like her Daddy! Happy Birthday Baby Girl! I love you!

Birthday time with Daddy

Since Mike wasn't going to be able to be home for Hazel's actual birthday we celebrated on Sunday before he left. Just a simple pie and ice cream sort of thing, but oh man did Hazel LOVE IT!! There are so many more awesome pictures just like these but these are definitely the best. Hope you enjoy!

Hazel blowing out her candles.

Chowin down on her cake and ice cream

Ok let's everyone show our food!

Face First!!! I tried so hard to get her to do this last year! LOL

The Rodeo Parade

So the Rodeo was in town this weekend. And although I really wanted to go, it was just not going to happen. So to compromise we took the kids to the Rodeo's Parade. Oh my goodness they got more candy than for Halloween. And just had an all time ball.
Here is Jakob waiting for the parade to start. Notice the tape behind him? No, we weren't at a crime scene, that's just what they used to block off the roads. Pretty funny stuff.

Police riding by to give "fives".

Yes that horse has glitter on its butt!

Chrissy's hubby George showing off his juggling skills. Pretty impressive.

Today I was in the Presence of a MASTER!!!

Thursday we went to the Mr. Al Concert, aka "The Tootie Taa Man". We had such a blast. He is such a phenomenal performer and it was amazing to see how one person with no lights bells or whistles could command an entire auditorium of children (most of whom were preschoolers). The kids sang and danced and playedn so very hard. I was exhausted by the end of the show. Thanks to our friend Joyce for letting us come with. And especially for driving us there. Lord knows I do not do well in Miami traffic. Be sure to check Mr. Al out at his website www.mralmusic.com or at least check his stuff our from the library. It is truly amazing and fun!

Jakob jammin on his "free" air guitar that Mr. Al gave him. lol

They had a blast!

Two of Joyce's kids, Shiloh and Nyah. Such cutie pies.

All caught up!

Ok so now we are up to date on the events of Christmas and January. Hazel's birthday is next week so I hope to be able to post somewhat on time. Mike is gone to Ft Pierce for drydock so between homeschool, house, playdates, and trying to workout (which this week is a laughable mission) I find it hard to find the time. I just hope that I get us on somewhat of a workable schedule before March since that's when I start MY classes. Bring on the stress!!!

Miami Children's Museum

Every 3rd Friday of the month, the Miami Children's Museum has Free Friday so we went with the Prileaou's. It was amazing. They have all kinds of "establishments" set up like the Plublix grocery store, Bank of America, Carnival Cruise ships and more. Its all so the kids can play pretend and explore the world on their scale. The kids had a blast and I am sure we will make this a regular event, even if the crowds of people drive me crazy! Ahh the things you do for your kids (and your pocketbook).

Preschool Playdate

This week's theme was school. It was a madhouse! I loved it! But in all honesty we are going to have to split the kids up into groups on different days so that everyone is getting the most out of the time.

Decorating their lunch boxes

Making Pizzas (my favorite part of going to school.

Field Trip to the Zoo

The great thing about homeschooling and the Playgroup we are in is that we can take fun trips whenever we want and they are practically scheduled for us (and most times free). Here we went to the Zoo courtesy of our friends who came along and had their free guest passes. We were no where close to getting through the whole Zoo, but with it being 15 mnutes down the road we are able to go at least once a month. Everyone had such a great time. I can't wait to go back.

Surf's up! Dude!

Jakob and Kianna checking out the crocodiles.

Home Schooling crafts with both kids

Homeschool has proven to be very educational for all involved! The trick most days is to find activities for Hazel to do as well since she loves to do exactly what "buber" does. Here we are creating things with playdough for Creation Week. I love the fact that I can incorporate simple Bible Lessons with Jakob now that he is home.

Here we are exploring primary and secondary colors with finger paints. It seems like just yesterday that I couldn't get Jakob to touch finger paint with his bare hands. Notice the supply of wipes next to him, but he still did it. Such a trooper!

Let's not Forget Christmas in Florida

Yeah so we really had no idea how much the kids were going to get in North Carolina and we were so very glad that we did not bring all of the stuff we had gotten the kids and stuff that had been sent prior to us leaving. Needless to say over all the kids got WAY too much stuff but enjoyed every minute of it!

Here is a shot of Hazel trying out her baby doll's bed. I guess she was trying to make sure it was comfortable enough for her.

Special Times and a Message from Mike