LOVE these kids of mine!

Life as I know it is about to be insanely crazy... Natalie graduates from high school June 2, we plan to move back to Cincy/NKY soon after, and Krysta gets married September 3 in Texas! These are all happy times, events, milestones in our lives and I just hope that in the business of it all, I can enjoy them and keep the balance with everyone. To do all this, I know I need to keep my focus on Him! Continue to improve in my prayer life and give it to Him. Afterall, He is in control and everything is in His time. So thankful to Him for these kids of mine... they are my biggest accomplishment in this life and I pray I do the job of being their mother to best of the ability He has given me.

The thoughts of a child...

I suppose I'm blogging this because it's something I want to look back on and remember the sweet, sincere thoughts of my 8 year old son. Jake is such a typical boy... all about sports, especially baseball, annoys his sisters, so very happy to be outdoors playing until he absolutely has to come inside. He does have his moments of not the very best behavior, but there are moments when I know his little mind is thinking and wondering and he knows what is right and what is wrong. He told me one day that he really thinks that he is the only one at his school who goes to church. He has also told me that there is a boy on his bus who is Indian, and he's really cool, be we don't worship the same God. When I asked him who does his friend worship, he said he thinks King Tut! :) I do my best to say prayers with Jake every night. He lets me know if I've drifted off after reading a book, that we didn't pray yet. I have tried to get better in my daily walk with God and pray more throughout the day for things that weigh on my heart, or for others who have requested specific prayers. Or for thankfullness for all He has blessed me with. This is definitely a continual area of my life that I need to improve. We had some really bad storms come through last night... and I honestly kept waiting for Jake to come in our room, but he never did. This morning as he was getting ready for school, he wrote me this note. It's one of those that is a keeper. And such a good reminder that no matter what storm we are going through... whether its really bad weather, or the storms in life we are certain to face, all we have to do is pray! No, we are not guaranteed they will stop immediately as Jake's note indicates, but the inner peace we can find by giving it to HIM, can calm the storms in life. Oh, to have the mind and heart of a child.

This Girl....

This girl is my firstborn... and was my little buddy when I needed one. I am a Florida girl, born and raised... and when this girl was two, her daddy got a job that moved us north, to Cincinnati, Ohio and I had no idea what living in an area that would actually have seasons and have snow and at times very cold temperatures would be like. I had no idea what it would be like to live away from family because I had never lived more than five minutes away from my mom and dad. But, this girls dad got a job with Procter & Gamble, so off we moved to the great unknown. And let me say, it was the best thing we did. The three of us learned change and unknown together and when this girls daddy went off to his job, I can remember watching him drive off and during the day, me and this girl were on our own.

This girl became a big sister the first time when she was five years old, then again at 9, and then surprisingly again at 14. There has been some typical sibling rivalries and fights along the way... but at the end of the day, this girl has been a great big sister.

Because of this girls daddy's job, she has moved four times and move number five brought her full circle when she moved back to Florida, where she was born, to attend college. Moving has its ups and downs. One of the ups is the friends and memories you make along the way, and this girl has made many lifelong friends. No doubt, Louisiana friends will always hold a special place in her heart. And her Ohio/Kentucky friends are some of her best! Not to mention, this really great guy who came into her life over two years ago.

This girl has done well in her 21 years. Since she is my firstborn, I have learned along the way with her. I suppose as I look back, there are things I might do differently. But, this girl has been away from home for three years now and as I watch her, I know that her daddy and I did a pretty good job. She has worked since she was 15 (almost 16) and this last year of college has been able to hold down a waitressing job, while finishing up her Bachelors degree in Business, graduating with honors and working hard for every A she got. This girl is going to have an internship with the Girl Scouts this summer and then... well, we will put our trust and faith in God, and pray this girl will be able to get a job in the "real world".
And even though she will always be "this girl" to me, she has grown into a beautiful lady on the inside as well as on the outside and I couldn't be more proud. Best wishes to this girl, Krysta Lauren, as she begins this next phase of her life. I am thankful that God gave me this girl... I have truly been blessed.

Baseball Care Package

Our family loves Baseball. We love football and basketball too, but there's just something about the crack of a bat, being at a stadium and enjoying a baseball game. Here's the thing... our family is a house divided... with all sports teams. We have lived in five states and all of us are fans of different teams. Because we have lived in Cincinnati for the majority of our time since having children, we became Cincinnati Reds fans... until almost three years ago when we moved to St. Louis, and the head of the house and my little man, became Cards fans! The girls and I have remained loyal to the Reds. Krysta, our oldest who lives in Tampa now, is a fan of a few teams. Reds first and foremost, then the Tampa Bay Rays and her all time favorite player is Josh Hamiton of the Texas Rangers. I LOVE... love, love, love to put care packages together for Krysta. I wish I could do one every week for her, but the cost of shipping is ridiculous, so every few months (usually a holiday) I send her and some of her friends essentials that she needs, snacks of different kinds, gift cards, holiday decorations, etc. So...I decided to surprise her with an Opening Day care package filled with baseball goodies. I got a text this morning from her that said, "COOLEST PACKAGE EVER!!!!" Made me smile. So... here's to a great baseball season for the Reds! oh and maybe the Cards... or Rays... or Rangers... or whatever team you are pulling for.

Care package in the making... Snickerdoodle White Chocolate Popcorn & White Chocolate Popcorn... Yumminess!!

The finished product: Peanuts, Cracker Jacks, Yummy Popcorn, Baseball Fun Facts, Reds schedule and plates, Baseball tin pails filled with baseball cards and snacks. :)

Spring Snow Shower

A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water. ~Carl Reiner (Especially at the end of March... michelle woolf)

Welcome Spring...

... hoping you will stay around for a bit. :)

Spring Break 2011

We usually go to Florida...last year it was Orlando and the past few years before that we went to Destin and enjoyed the beautiful beach. This year, because of some other trips coming up that we are taking... we opted for a long weekend in Cincinnati. We spent the first part of the week here in STL and on the first morning, this is what we woke up to...

Thankfully, it warmed up within the next day and melted... because we ARE OVER IT!!!
We did have a quick trip to Cincinnati... spent time with friends and went to the zoo. A visit to Cincy always go by too fast for me... hope to be back for good one of these days.

My Favorite little man

Hello? Anyone there?

I haven't blogged in so very long... I wonder if anyone even looks on here anymore. Ever since I started doing facebook, just seems like there isn't a point to blogging. But, I do enjoy getting on here from time to time and looking through the last few years... where we were then and where we are now... and wondering what lies in store for us in the future.
At this time... Krysta is in her third year of college... finishing up her business degree in three years instead of four! If all falls into place... she will be graduating in May. She has gone above and beyond as always in her academics, working part time and becoming the sweet, young lady I knew she we turn out to be.
Natalie, is a junior in high school... having a great semester academically... and as strong willed as ever. :) In the process of looking for a part time job and needing her own spending money.
Maggie is a busy girl... still playing piano, playing basketball, and loving anything and everything about Justin Bieber. She definitely has Bieber Fever!
Jake is in first grade and if you asked him he would tell you he is not a fan of going to school. But, he is doing great and has changed so much this winter. Longer hair, lost several teeth... just growing up and being the boy that he is. He gave basketball a shot and did well, but his love is baseball and he is very excited that baseball is just around the corner and practice will be starting soon.
This has been a long winter... kids missed 10 days because of snow or ice and will be making that up. I was lucky enough to go surprise my bestest friend Sandy for her 40th birthday at the end of January and then got to see her and lots of friends just a few weeks later for a 20 year reunion in Tampa. Was a nice get away with some warmer temperatures and being with such a fun group of girls!!
Jeff is looking forward to warmer temps here so he can get back into his bike riding.
Wow... I haven't done this in so long... I'll have to refresh my memory on posting a few pics. Until next time... hopefully it won't be too long.

Play Ball!

Jake's baseball season has started. This year it is pitching machine... they get 5 swings and if they don't hit it, then they get to hit if off a tee. Jake is getting use to the pitching machine... but really is more about the uniform and just being at the ball field. He is having fun and that's okay with me. He tried to convince me the night of his first game that he needed to stay home from school that day so he would be well rested and ready for his game. Nice try, but I didn't go for it. :)

The end of the blog??

Now that I post most of my pictures on facebook, I'm not really keeping up with my blog anymore. I enjoy looking through it though to remember past events and what was going on in our lives over the past couple of years. We recently made a trip to Florida for our spring break. We spent time with Krysta & Grant and had a fun filled day at Disney World. My best friend and her family were there and it was fun to spend the time with them also. Vacations are so nice... a change from the everyday routine... but as the week was ending, I sure was ready to get back home and into a routine. Not sure when I'll post again... but will keep this blog up and running so we can go down memory lane every now and then. :)

Christmas '09... Cancun and Texas

This year we spent the holidays in Austin, TX with my family. Jeff and I were able take a mini vacation to Cancun for a few days before Christmas. A big thank you to my sister who helped with Jake while we were gone. This year we have a new member in the family to hold and give lots of kisses to... baby Corey... my brother and his wife's new little baby. Everyone was happy with their gifts this year. We hope everyone is having a Happy and Healthy 2010 so far.

Thanksgiving... just us!

This year we spent Thanksgiving in STL and it was just us plus Grant. We usually spend Thanksgiving with Jeff's family but this year plans were different for everyone so we spent turkey day at home with no extras. It was different... just weird to not have extra family members around, but it was enjoyable and relaxing as well. The big kids, Jeff and Jake went to see the movie Blind Side that night while Mags and I just chilled at home watching Elf & The Grinch. It was a good weekend. Now... to get ready for the upcoming Christmas Holiday!!

Jake turns 6!

My little guy is growing up! Jake turned six on the day before Thanksgiving and was very happy that Krysta and Grant got in town on his big day! We had a family celebration at home with an ice cream cake. Then he had a party with a few of his friends on Saturday at Planet Fun! Jake was very excited to get a skateboard, something he has been wanting for awhile now. Happy Birthday Jake!

Maggie turns 11 & Halloween Fun!

Trick or Treat fun with our Friends


Natalie bringing back the 80's, Jake as Optimus Prime, & Maggie the Creepy Clown


Hayride Fun with Friends


Maggie's Peacin' Birthday Cookie